After back to back DNS's I was able to get out there tonite for my back and forth x 2 8 miler along Cobbs Creek Parkway.
After a late start and snow had scuppered Monday I got #$!*ed over yesterday by my landlord who told me he was coming over to change the lock on the front door"I'm on my way over" he told me at 4.30pm,by 5.50pm he was a no show and I began to fume how he'd cost me a run,I'm now looking at a third 5 day training week in a row but also 5 days in a row at 8 miles,by the weekend it'll be interesting to see how I'm holding up.
One plus of a two day respite was my legs were fresh,not something I could've said on Sunday,something else I couldn't say Sunday was the sidewalk on 61st St was ploughed and judging from my vantage point at the foot of 61st St the path through the park to the other side of Cobbs Creek Parkway has been ploughed too,though I may wait till Saturday or Sunday to see how the land lays on the otherside of Baltimore Ave b4 venturing over there.
Tonite felt comfortable,I'm no stranger to 8 milers,I logged one on Jan 31st,a 9 miler on Feb 5th b4 another 8 miler on Sunday,I've come along way from the guy who huffed,puffed and cut tangents on his back to back return to 6 milers on Jan 8th and 9th,if you'd have told me then 6 weeks ago I'd do 1 8 miler let alone 5 back to back 8 milers I'd have been cynical but the again on Jan 8th I wasn't considering the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals,so...........
A foot note to end on,I was out the door by 4.45pm and back home again by 5.50pm and it was still daylight,sunset was at 5.38pm,slowly but surely we're edging towards Spring....YEA!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Snow Check
News flash,more snow..........YEA!!!!
Granted it won't be the arsekickin' we've taken in the past 10 days{thank God!} and there's even talk of it turning to rain so maybe that'll help melt some of snow and ice currently blighting the landscape.
In fairness the slight snowfall wasn't the only reason to take a snow check today,I was a little behind schedule getting home which dosen't effect a 6 miler cos I can be out by 4.50pm and done by 5.40pm when there's still enough day light but 65-70 mins begining at 4.50 we're looking at 6pm and w/ conditions under foot in places dicey I don't want to play fast and loose,there's little or no point trying to rack up extra mileage this week if it's gonna result in falling and getting injured.
I won't front, I could also use an extra rest day for my legs to recover,I was feeling it yesterday as I notched 20 miles in 3 days which isn't a lot but again I don't want to be out there going through the motions putting miles in for the sake of putting miles in,I'd rather take a rest day and come back snow permitting fresh,plus I've proven in the past fortnite that I can put in 30 miles in 5 days,thought this week I'm looking at 40 miles in 5 days w/ an extra 2 miles a day which shouldn't be too dramatic an increase.
Here's to blue skies,semi clear sidewalks and being out the door by 4.40pm tomorrow.
Granted it won't be the arsekickin' we've taken in the past 10 days{thank God!} and there's even talk of it turning to rain so maybe that'll help melt some of snow and ice currently blighting the landscape.
In fairness the slight snowfall wasn't the only reason to take a snow check today,I was a little behind schedule getting home which dosen't effect a 6 miler cos I can be out by 4.50pm and done by 5.40pm when there's still enough day light but 65-70 mins begining at 4.50 we're looking at 6pm and w/ conditions under foot in places dicey I don't want to play fast and loose,there's little or no point trying to rack up extra mileage this week if it's gonna result in falling and getting injured.
I won't front, I could also use an extra rest day for my legs to recover,I was feeling it yesterday as I notched 20 miles in 3 days which isn't a lot but again I don't want to be out there going through the motions putting miles in for the sake of putting miles in,I'd rather take a rest day and come back snow permitting fresh,plus I've proven in the past fortnite that I can put in 30 miles in 5 days,thought this week I'm looking at 40 miles in 5 days w/ an extra 2 miles a day which shouldn't be too dramatic an increase.
Here's to blue skies,semi clear sidewalks and being out the door by 4.40pm tomorrow.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Green Green Grass Of Home
"Oh I know I'm unloveable you don't have to tell me,I don't have much in my life but take it it's yours.
I know I'm unloveable you don't have to tell me,message received loud and clear,I don't have much in my life but take it it's yours
I wear black on the outside cause black is how I feel on the inside,and if I seem a little strange well that's because I am.
But I know that you would like me if only you could see me if only you could meet me"
"Unloveable" The Smiths
Ok let's get the bleedin' heart section of the entry out of the way,another Valentine's Day has come and gone w/ not so much as blip on my radar,there's an old adage"lucky in cards,unlucky in love"....well I don't play cards so I'm not sure why my mail box is bereft of cards from well wishers or secret admirers it just is,as each year goes by my belief in "soul mates" gets more and more diminished,sure I've done alright for myself all by my lonesome for all these years but it's those special moments,the world records,pr's,Club Records, Millrose Games medals,National Championships Golds,5th Avenue Mile victories etc that you celebrate alone that make you wish there was someone to share them w/,so rather than rag on Valentine's Day I wish those of you lucky enough to have that special someone in your lives an enjoyable day.
For the 4th week in a row I logged another 30 mile week,for the second week in a row it was 30 miles in 5 days.
Today was not just about running an 8 miler to log another 30 mile week it was also about sussing out a course for the upcoming week,for numerous reasons I'm not running the NJ C'ships at Tom's River next Sunday and due to a fiscal oversight this pay period not only do I not have the money for a weekly transpass but also I'm bare bones on tokens, the upshot of which is I can't get off the el,hit Franklin Field for repeats and get back on the el home......SO rather than piss and moan I figured why not have a week of long runs to get extra milage in,I'm just under 6 weeks out from Boston and Indoor Nationals but also 3 weeks out from the Mac C'ships so why not take advantage of a built in opportunity to log a 40-48 mile week,providing I get 5 or 6 8 mile runs in,hence the need to suss out a new 8 mile course as the old tried and tested course is still and for the forseeable future under a mound of snow.
Yet again I had to brake from tradition and wear my watch on this run to gauge how far/how long I'd be out there going back and forth on Cobbs Creek Parkway between Market St and Baltimore Ave.
Turns out it's 2 complete back and forths from my front door,along Cedar Ave,right on Cobbs Creek Parkway,down to Market St,back along CCP to 61st St,right on 61st St down to Baltimore Ave and back again.
The whole run took 1.11.20. but factor in stops at red lights and extra caution where the snow and ice still exist I kept running till I got back home rather than stop at 65 mins which is give or take my 8 mile mark.
So 2 complete back and forths it is,Mon,Tue,Wed,Fri,Sat,Sun,Thur is a rest day more by necessity than design........it's pay day and I need to go food shopping..........it's not like there's any stinkin Valentine's Day candy to eat!!!
As to the homage to Tom Jones in the title,I sandwiched my 8 miler in between FA Cup soccer this morning,first up Spurs away to Bolton followed by Crystal Palace at home to Aston Villa.
Palace are one of the three South East London soccer clubs in the Premiership/Football League back home,and while I'll be a Spurs fan till my dying day I'll always root for my roots Palace,Millwall and Charlton.
I know I'm unloveable you don't have to tell me,message received loud and clear,I don't have much in my life but take it it's yours
I wear black on the outside cause black is how I feel on the inside,and if I seem a little strange well that's because I am.
But I know that you would like me if only you could see me if only you could meet me"
"Unloveable" The Smiths
Ok let's get the bleedin' heart section of the entry out of the way,another Valentine's Day has come and gone w/ not so much as blip on my radar,there's an old adage"lucky in cards,unlucky in love"....well I don't play cards so I'm not sure why my mail box is bereft of cards from well wishers or secret admirers it just is,as each year goes by my belief in "soul mates" gets more and more diminished,sure I've done alright for myself all by my lonesome for all these years but it's those special moments,the world records,pr's,Club Records, Millrose Games medals,National Championships Golds,5th Avenue Mile victories etc that you celebrate alone that make you wish there was someone to share them w/,so rather than rag on Valentine's Day I wish those of you lucky enough to have that special someone in your lives an enjoyable day.
For the 4th week in a row I logged another 30 mile week,for the second week in a row it was 30 miles in 5 days.
Today was not just about running an 8 miler to log another 30 mile week it was also about sussing out a course for the upcoming week,for numerous reasons I'm not running the NJ C'ships at Tom's River next Sunday and due to a fiscal oversight this pay period not only do I not have the money for a weekly transpass but also I'm bare bones on tokens, the upshot of which is I can't get off the el,hit Franklin Field for repeats and get back on the el home......SO rather than piss and moan I figured why not have a week of long runs to get extra milage in,I'm just under 6 weeks out from Boston and Indoor Nationals but also 3 weeks out from the Mac C'ships so why not take advantage of a built in opportunity to log a 40-48 mile week,providing I get 5 or 6 8 mile runs in,hence the need to suss out a new 8 mile course as the old tried and tested course is still and for the forseeable future under a mound of snow.
Yet again I had to brake from tradition and wear my watch on this run to gauge how far/how long I'd be out there going back and forth on Cobbs Creek Parkway between Market St and Baltimore Ave.
Turns out it's 2 complete back and forths from my front door,along Cedar Ave,right on Cobbs Creek Parkway,down to Market St,back along CCP to 61st St,right on 61st St down to Baltimore Ave and back again.
The whole run took 1.11.20. but factor in stops at red lights and extra caution where the snow and ice still exist I kept running till I got back home rather than stop at 65 mins which is give or take my 8 mile mark.
So 2 complete back and forths it is,Mon,Tue,Wed,Fri,Sat,Sun,Thur is a rest day more by necessity than design........it's pay day and I need to go food shopping..........it's not like there's any stinkin Valentine's Day candy to eat!!!
As to the homage to Tom Jones in the title,I sandwiched my 8 miler in between FA Cup soccer this morning,first up Spurs away to Bolton followed by Crystal Palace at home to Aston Villa.
Palace are one of the three South East London soccer clubs in the Premiership/Football League back home,and while I'll be a Spurs fan till my dying day I'll always root for my roots Palace,Millwall and Charlton.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Back And Forth
Well the good news is,not only did I manage a 6 miler I stayed upright throughout!!!!yea go me!
After mapping out a potential route on Gmap I discovered the first major road I needed to run along was non accessable and thus shooting down that plan b4 it could even begin.
Ever the Boy Scout{Dib,Dib,Dib}for once I took my watch w/ me on this run to get an idea of being out on my run for 50 mins the average time for my 6 milers since based upon yesterday the old tried and tested route is off limits for a while.
I opted to run north along 63rd St/Cobbs Creek Parkway today just to suss out the lie of the land,my sources told me the drives were runable but aside from getting there and back I also needed to scope out a route closer to home for next weeks 8 milers.
Technically a work in progress I think I have a route for tomorrow,it's alot of back and forth along the side of Cobbs Creek Parkway I usually favour, down to Baltimore Ave and back upto Market St and back but if it occupies 65 mins/8 miles at 8 min mile pace then sobeit.
I can also factor in some minor hill repeats just after Cedar Ave so while it's not what I had in mind it'll surfice,in running as in life sometimes you have to improvise!
Oh yeah,I did some research on Ireland's Winter Olympic team:Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin Bobsled,Kirsty McGarry Alpine Sking,Pat Shannon Skeleton,Shane O Conner Alpine Sking,PJ Barron 15K Cross Country Sking......Erin Go Bragh
After mapping out a potential route on Gmap I discovered the first major road I needed to run along was non accessable and thus shooting down that plan b4 it could even begin.
Ever the Boy Scout{Dib,Dib,Dib}for once I took my watch w/ me on this run to get an idea of being out on my run for 50 mins the average time for my 6 milers since based upon yesterday the old tried and tested route is off limits for a while.
I opted to run north along 63rd St/Cobbs Creek Parkway today just to suss out the lie of the land,my sources told me the drives were runable but aside from getting there and back I also needed to scope out a route closer to home for next weeks 8 milers.
Technically a work in progress I think I have a route for tomorrow,it's alot of back and forth along the side of Cobbs Creek Parkway I usually favour, down to Baltimore Ave and back upto Market St and back but if it occupies 65 mins/8 miles at 8 min mile pace then sobeit.
I can also factor in some minor hill repeats just after Cedar Ave so while it's not what I had in mind it'll surfice,in running as in life sometimes you have to improvise!
Oh yeah,I did some research on Ireland's Winter Olympic team:Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin Bobsled,Kirsty McGarry Alpine Sking,Pat Shannon Skeleton,Shane O Conner Alpine Sking,PJ Barron 15K Cross Country Sking......Erin Go Bragh
Friday, February 12, 2010
Arse,Plate,Served
"I ain't superstitious,but a black cat crossed my path,I said I ain't superstitious but a black cat crossed my path,bad luck hasn't got me so far,but it ain't finished w/ me yet"
"I Ain't Superstitious"-Rod Stewart.
It's been a while since I've suffered"one of those days" at work,today was one such day,given two snow days I knew the"cheque was in the mail"in terms of us getting nailed....I just didn't expect it to be delivered today.
From the time I sat on the left hand side of the subway going into work this morning I knew I'd potentially set myself up for a fall,I'd say I'm more a creature of habit than superstitious so I prefer to sit on the right hand side of the subway car,as soon as I sat on the left hand side after switching from the local to the express I thought"uh oh"and sure as shit we got mullered on the dock today.
Despite the hammering we took today,myself,Chris and John took it on the chin w/ good grace and a positive attitude and kept smiling and laughing.....ok so there was the brief moment when the black hearted celtic pagan in me surfaced for a cameo appearance,cliff notes version: one of the linen guys got wreckless rolling linen carts out to the dock,the first one that missed me by inches earned him an icey glare,seconds later he did it again,I wasn't as forgiving second time around and made my feelings known"that's twice,the next one that just misses me is going up your arse"call it an Irish cease and desist order I wasn't side stepping full linen carts for the rest of the day!!!!!
After a rough day like today all I could think about was my run,bad enough I missed out on my race yesterday but hell no I wasn't missing out on a 30 mile week,even if like last week I had to do it in 5 not 6 days.
Rude awakening #1 I got up to Cobbs Creek Parkway and found a mound of snow ploughed onto the path which forced me to hop over the guard rail for 100m b4 a traffic light allowed me back onto the path.
Rude awakening #2 b4 the turn off of CCP the path disappeared beneath a few feet of snow,back out into the road again,no worries the park and Cobbs Creek Parkway were just ahead.....
Rude awakening #3,where as on Monday after a two day breather due to the snow the paths and sidewalks were clear today they were still under the 15.8 inches of snow that fell Wednesday,fuckin ada I know tonite is the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics but this was meant to be a run not a cross country ski!!!!
I was at times up to my knees in snow,eventually when a chance presented it's self I leapt out over the guard rail again and along side the road,not only was I rethinking the route home but the rest of the weekend and next week,final insult to injury just b4 my turnaround a whole tree was down over the snow covered path,I'd passed branches of trees but now a whole tree...what the fuck!!
The route home took a few detours,at times I'll be honest I didn't really know where I was going but my inner GPS got me back onto Cobbs Creek Parkway and I made it home in one piece....minus my first fall in winter in a few years.
I'm not sure if I tripped on the side walk,hit a patch of snow or ice or just misplaced my footing but b4 I knew it I went arse over tit on 58th St.
Thankfully only my pride was hurt the snow and ice provided a soft landing,and much like my spectacular face plant into the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland in 08 no witnesses,always a plus!!
So a rough ending to a rough week but I sit here one eye on my pc,the other on the tv as the Parade Of Nations at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony gets under way,we're up to the C's,I'm curious if Ireland sent a delegation,we're not known for our Winter Olympic prowess.
I will confess I'm more of Summer Olympic fan but this year I'll try to cop as much of the action from Vancouver as I can...................
JAYSUS!!!!!!!!!Paddies at the Winter Olympics!!!6 athletes,our flag bearer is in the Bobsled I'll have to google who our other 5 athletes are and what event they're in.
"I Ain't Superstitious"-Rod Stewart.
It's been a while since I've suffered"one of those days" at work,today was one such day,given two snow days I knew the"cheque was in the mail"in terms of us getting nailed....I just didn't expect it to be delivered today.
From the time I sat on the left hand side of the subway going into work this morning I knew I'd potentially set myself up for a fall,I'd say I'm more a creature of habit than superstitious so I prefer to sit on the right hand side of the subway car,as soon as I sat on the left hand side after switching from the local to the express I thought"uh oh"and sure as shit we got mullered on the dock today.
Despite the hammering we took today,myself,Chris and John took it on the chin w/ good grace and a positive attitude and kept smiling and laughing.....ok so there was the brief moment when the black hearted celtic pagan in me surfaced for a cameo appearance,cliff notes version: one of the linen guys got wreckless rolling linen carts out to the dock,the first one that missed me by inches earned him an icey glare,seconds later he did it again,I wasn't as forgiving second time around and made my feelings known"that's twice,the next one that just misses me is going up your arse"call it an Irish cease and desist order I wasn't side stepping full linen carts for the rest of the day!!!!!
After a rough day like today all I could think about was my run,bad enough I missed out on my race yesterday but hell no I wasn't missing out on a 30 mile week,even if like last week I had to do it in 5 not 6 days.
Rude awakening #1 I got up to Cobbs Creek Parkway and found a mound of snow ploughed onto the path which forced me to hop over the guard rail for 100m b4 a traffic light allowed me back onto the path.
Rude awakening #2 b4 the turn off of CCP the path disappeared beneath a few feet of snow,back out into the road again,no worries the park and Cobbs Creek Parkway were just ahead.....
Rude awakening #3,where as on Monday after a two day breather due to the snow the paths and sidewalks were clear today they were still under the 15.8 inches of snow that fell Wednesday,fuckin ada I know tonite is the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics but this was meant to be a run not a cross country ski!!!!
I was at times up to my knees in snow,eventually when a chance presented it's self I leapt out over the guard rail again and along side the road,not only was I rethinking the route home but the rest of the weekend and next week,final insult to injury just b4 my turnaround a whole tree was down over the snow covered path,I'd passed branches of trees but now a whole tree...what the fuck!!
The route home took a few detours,at times I'll be honest I didn't really know where I was going but my inner GPS got me back onto Cobbs Creek Parkway and I made it home in one piece....minus my first fall in winter in a few years.
I'm not sure if I tripped on the side walk,hit a patch of snow or ice or just misplaced my footing but b4 I knew it I went arse over tit on 58th St.
Thankfully only my pride was hurt the snow and ice provided a soft landing,and much like my spectacular face plant into the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland in 08 no witnesses,always a plus!!
So a rough ending to a rough week but I sit here one eye on my pc,the other on the tv as the Parade Of Nations at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony gets under way,we're up to the C's,I'm curious if Ireland sent a delegation,we're not known for our Winter Olympic prowess.
I will confess I'm more of Summer Olympic fan but this year I'll try to cop as much of the action from Vancouver as I can...................
JAYSUS!!!!!!!!!Paddies at the Winter Olympics!!!6 athletes,our flag bearer is in the Bobsled I'll have to google who our other 5 athletes are and what event they're in.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Oh Balls........Snowballs!!
Well I'm not going to The Armory tonite,"the best laid plans of mice and men"as they say.
Between the snow{all 15.8 inches of it.....on top of the 28.4 inches we got Friday}my ride to and from The Armory falling through and not having the funds to take the bus or train upto Manhattan means my plans to lower the club record of 10.05.8.for 2 miles will have wait untill early January.
On a slightly more frustrating note,my inability to race tonite means the whole do I don't I run the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals question goes unanswered for now.
I still have the option of the Mac C'ships on March 6th to determine that,at worst I'll have to fork over an extra $15 in late entry fee to add the 3k,if it all goes tits up at Mac then I'll have saved myself $50 by only entering the mile and 800m by March 1st.
The postponement of my foray into the 3,000m could be to my advantage,I've already tweaked my schedule next week to amp things up b4 returning to the tried and tested speed/strength programme for the following two weeks.
I had a wry smile to myself today recalling one of Eamonn Coghlan's finest moments on the indoor circuit back in 83.
"The Chairman" had set his sights on being the first man to go sub 3.50 for the indoor mile at The Meadowlands in New Jersey that Febuary only for a blizzard to postpone the meet by a day,when he returned Eamonn made history by running 3.49.78. and later went on to win the inaugural World Championships 5,000m in Helsinki,food for thought indeed!!
I skipped today,following Friday's snow I waited two days b4 hitting Cobbs Creek Parkway so I'm hoping tomorrow will be more "user friendly" as if I can go 6,6,8 on Fri,Sat,Sun I can still notch another 30 mile week,to quote Coldplay"Everything's Not Lost".
Between the snow{all 15.8 inches of it.....on top of the 28.4 inches we got Friday}my ride to and from The Armory falling through and not having the funds to take the bus or train upto Manhattan means my plans to lower the club record of 10.05.8.for 2 miles will have wait untill early January.
On a slightly more frustrating note,my inability to race tonite means the whole do I don't I run the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals question goes unanswered for now.
I still have the option of the Mac C'ships on March 6th to determine that,at worst I'll have to fork over an extra $15 in late entry fee to add the 3k,if it all goes tits up at Mac then I'll have saved myself $50 by only entering the mile and 800m by March 1st.
The postponement of my foray into the 3,000m could be to my advantage,I've already tweaked my schedule next week to amp things up b4 returning to the tried and tested speed/strength programme for the following two weeks.
I had a wry smile to myself today recalling one of Eamonn Coghlan's finest moments on the indoor circuit back in 83.
"The Chairman" had set his sights on being the first man to go sub 3.50 for the indoor mile at The Meadowlands in New Jersey that Febuary only for a blizzard to postpone the meet by a day,when he returned Eamonn made history by running 3.49.78. and later went on to win the inaugural World Championships 5,000m in Helsinki,food for thought indeed!!
I skipped today,following Friday's snow I waited two days b4 hitting Cobbs Creek Parkway so I'm hoping tomorrow will be more "user friendly" as if I can go 6,6,8 on Fri,Sat,Sun I can still notch another 30 mile week,to quote Coldplay"Everything's Not Lost".
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
We Wait,And We Wonder
It just figures,two days b4 a pivotal race on my schedule and I can't be 100% sure I'll be able to travel to New York to run it because of the threat of another major snow storm heading our way tonite heading into tomorrow.
Like most things out of my control I can't worry about it,all the praying in the world isn't going to stop the snow,all I can hope is it isn't as bad as they're predicting and that the drive up I95 Thursday isn't in jeopardy.
Like yesterday the plan was to run,I knew I could access the track at Franklin Field and unlike most tracks in the area it wouldn't be under the two foot of snow that fell Saturday,Franklin Field always gets ploughed and made usable,the beauty of working out at an Ivy League school I guess!!
The plan was a mile to warm up,a 2 mile run and then a mile run to cool down,basically the same distance I cover when I do my 6x600m repeats,the difference being I wouldn't be going flat out two days b4 a race.
The plan for my 2 mile ran was to get into a rhythm of 36-38 second pace per 200m so on laps 1,3,5 and 7 I would try to clock 37-37-1.14 pace then jog laps 2,4,6,and 8.
Conditions were grey and overcast but mild enough to ditch the ski hat and gloves,I was also fortunate enough to to be at Franklin Field by 4.30pm and ready to roll by 4.40pm.
37-34-1.11,I was "out of the traps"quickly and had to remind myself to pace myself,it's important to get used to 1.12-1.14 pace per 400m for Thursday,and again at the Mac C'ships on March 6th and maybe Indoor Nationals at 3,000m on March 26th.
40-33-1.13.40 second 200s won't cut it on Thursday,that's 5.20 mile pace,great for a 5,000m but let's get the 3k down pat first yeah?
40-34-1.14.Having started out well I was creeping up oh so slightly per opening 200m,I know a race is a horse of a different colour compared to running against the clock by your lonesome not to mention on an outdoor 400m track compared to an indoor 200m banked track,but.
41-30-1.11.I'll take a 30 second closing 200m on Thursday!!
Combined my mile split was 4.49. 9.30 pace,a 9.10 3,000m,all good....in theory,it's putting it into practice isn't it!
Remembering the old Roy Keane adage"failure to prepare,prepare for failure"I've done all I can the past two days to be ready for Thursday,chances are the snow will 86 any hopes of running tomorrow,all I can hope is it isn't so bad that a trip up to The Armory is off the table on Thursday,at worst my hopes of the club record for the 2 mile will have to wait another year,I still have a 3,000m also at The Armory on tap on March 6th which will determin if it's a 3,000m/mile/800m treble in Boston or 3,000m/mile double,3,000m/800m double or the more traditional mile/800m double.......moving up in distance hasn't hurt Bernard Lagat any has it?and while I'm no Bernard Lagat he's shown what a miler can do w/ some strength training added to their speed,what's the point having heroes if you can't emulate them I say.
Like most things out of my control I can't worry about it,all the praying in the world isn't going to stop the snow,all I can hope is it isn't as bad as they're predicting and that the drive up I95 Thursday isn't in jeopardy.
Like yesterday the plan was to run,I knew I could access the track at Franklin Field and unlike most tracks in the area it wouldn't be under the two foot of snow that fell Saturday,Franklin Field always gets ploughed and made usable,the beauty of working out at an Ivy League school I guess!!
The plan was a mile to warm up,a 2 mile run and then a mile run to cool down,basically the same distance I cover when I do my 6x600m repeats,the difference being I wouldn't be going flat out two days b4 a race.
The plan for my 2 mile ran was to get into a rhythm of 36-38 second pace per 200m so on laps 1,3,5 and 7 I would try to clock 37-37-1.14 pace then jog laps 2,4,6,and 8.
Conditions were grey and overcast but mild enough to ditch the ski hat and gloves,I was also fortunate enough to to be at Franklin Field by 4.30pm and ready to roll by 4.40pm.
37-34-1.11,I was "out of the traps"quickly and had to remind myself to pace myself,it's important to get used to 1.12-1.14 pace per 400m for Thursday,and again at the Mac C'ships on March 6th and maybe Indoor Nationals at 3,000m on March 26th.
40-33-1.13.40 second 200s won't cut it on Thursday,that's 5.20 mile pace,great for a 5,000m but let's get the 3k down pat first yeah?
40-34-1.14.Having started out well I was creeping up oh so slightly per opening 200m,I know a race is a horse of a different colour compared to running against the clock by your lonesome not to mention on an outdoor 400m track compared to an indoor 200m banked track,but.
41-30-1.11.I'll take a 30 second closing 200m on Thursday!!
Combined my mile split was 4.49. 9.30 pace,a 9.10 3,000m,all good....in theory,it's putting it into practice isn't it!
Remembering the old Roy Keane adage"failure to prepare,prepare for failure"I've done all I can the past two days to be ready for Thursday,chances are the snow will 86 any hopes of running tomorrow,all I can hope is it isn't so bad that a trip up to The Armory is off the table on Thursday,at worst my hopes of the club record for the 2 mile will have to wait another year,I still have a 3,000m also at The Armory on tap on March 6th which will determin if it's a 3,000m/mile/800m treble in Boston or 3,000m/mile double,3,000m/800m double or the more traditional mile/800m double.......moving up in distance hasn't hurt Bernard Lagat any has it?and while I'm no Bernard Lagat he's shown what a miler can do w/ some strength training added to their speed,what's the point having heroes if you can't emulate them I say.
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