First Race of the Outdoor Season

Ok so on my last post I talked about how the competition down at the Larry Ellis wasn't going to be that crazy....I was wrong. In order to enter the race I had to seed myself at 3:50 for the 1500. I thought this was obsurd! Then I found out that I was the 13th seed in the 4th section, which I also found obsurd. Whatever, people like to lie. So I wasn't really too worried about where I was seeded, just annoyed that I was that far back with my seed. There were some really good runners at the meet. The winning time in the first section of the 1500 was 3:40 and three peeps ran that: Andrew Bambalugh from Georgetown (forgive the spelling, I don't want to look it up), Sam Burley and Matt Debole. I was real nervous before my race as well just due to the fact that I haven't raced in a while. Coach Mike and I talked the night before and we agreed that it would be best that I go out slower and come back harder since I have been working on a lot of strength work and not much speed work. He told me that it will feel fast and not to worry about that during the race. The goal was to hang out till the last 300 and then start picking it up and work hard the last 150 and try to win, where ever I was just to be in contention to win. The race SUPPOSEDLY had a rabbit from Iona who was supposed to run 2:02 for the half. He ran 58 for the first quarter then dropped out....WEAK. So I was 60 at the quarter and I actually wanted to be a little slower so I backed off a tiny bit. We were 2:04 at the half and somewhere around 3:07-3:08 at the 1200. I had slid up into 3rd I think with 300 to go and felt really comfortable, and with 200 to go I felt really in control and just took over the lead and cruised in to run 3:52.5. Aerobically I felt great, my legs felt pretty good as well but on the last 50 meters or so I could feel them, but I know it is because I am not used to that pace. I was happy with the results for the day and then went for a nice and easy 4 mile cool down along the river and then stretched out while watching Bobby Curtis run 14:02, no big deal. The weather was beautiful, sunny and about 80 degrees. I did my normal 15 minute run 1 hour before and then my drills, followed by 4 slower longer strides, and then a couple of quicker ones on the track right before the race.

The next day I worked and then drove up to Boston to stay with Jeff and watch the Women's Olympic Trials marathon followed by the Boston Marathon on Monday. It was my first Boston Marathon experience and I felt that it was AWESOME and worth the trip. I didn't sleep as much as I wanted to or eat exactly what I wanted but it was still awesome. Rich Heffron and Jay Lumpkins were staying with us and they were running on Monday. They both ran awesome! Jay ran a 35 minute PR and ran 2:28:15 good for 38th overall and Rich ran 2:45 while only training 20 miles a week for the past 6 weeks due to injuries. It was awesome to watch. Then I drove back yesterday afternoon and followed up my drive with a workout up at Irvington. My legs felt heavy but it still went well for having driven 4 hours right before a workout.

Next on the schedule is the Oregon Twilight Meet on May 9th at the University of Oregon. I am pretty excited for that meet, it really should be fun. Plus I am gonna be staying with Jeff Caron more or less while I am out there. We are on the same flight from Salt Lake City to Eugene and then will be in the same hotel. Hopefully won't need to mooch too much off of his team for rides, but the possibility is there.

Wed. April 23, 2008
9 miles easy after work on BRX bike path

Tues. April 22, 2008
DROVE HOME FROM BOSTON
3 mile warmup, 3x800 1x400, 3 mile cool down
(2:13, 2:10, 2:05, 60)
Legs felt pretty heavy from driving

Mon. April 21, 2008
OFF - watched Boston Marathon

Sun. April 20, 2008
13 miles @ Fells in Boston with Jeff, Nieskins and Lansing

Sat. April 19, 2008
Easy 1hr run, legs are a little heavy

Fri. April 18, 2008
LARRY ELLIS INVITATIONAL, PRINCETON NJ
1500 meter Elite, 7:20 pm, 13th seed 4th heat
3:52.5, 1st in heat, 31st overall

Thurs. April 17, 2008
4 miles + strides

Wed. April 16, 2008
1 hour on BRX bike path

Tues. April 15, 2008
3 mile warmup, 2x800 2x400, 4 mile cooldown
(2:07, 2:06, 59, 60)
Nice night, felt very smooth

Mon. April 14, 2008
8 miles + strides

Sun. April 13, 2008
13 miles w/ Bill on Palisades path in NJ over GW bridge

Sat. April 12, 2008
3 mile warmup, 3x2 min hill 5x50 second hill, 3x25 second hill, 3.5 mile cooldown

Fri. April 11, 2008
9 miles easy with Kirby at Rockies
Kirby raced at Bear Mountain and won the 10k in 52:15.....WOW that is friggin painful