Gearing Up

Wednesday I scored a free Brooks windbreaker during a give-away at the store!

Thursday I wore it. I planned to wear it for the warm up only, but it was windy and cool (50's). This was just thin enough that I didn't get hot, yet it blocked the wind. I met my coach at the 1/2 mile track and we ran to a new school track I found. I think it is a jr. high. They just built it and when I got lost driving through neighborhood the other day, I passed by the side of the school (side road) and saw not only a nice field with a track around it... but NO FENCES! I'm so tired of paying taxes and not getting to use tracks. It only has 4 lanes and the straight-aways are longer than usual with sharper corners to accommodate the space available. It was GREAT! We had the track to ourselves and no one said anything.

4 x 800 then 400 with 200 then 400 rest respectively.
Goal Times: 3:25 - 3:30 for the 800's and 1:30 - 1:35 for the 400's

1st set
3:15 (this was perfect, I was 10 sec fast at 200, so nailed the pace for next 600)
1:29

2nd set
3:26
1:30

3rd set
3:24
1:29

4th set
3:24
1:27

I zoned out a lot on the workout, so I'm pleasantly surprised I hit my times. Might be due to a couple missed meals recently from being tired and sleeping through a meal (way weird for me) or I missed a bit after that Gu. I wore my iPod for the first two and the 800 of the 3rd. Didn't want to get reliant upon music, I won't be doing shorter races with it (who knows with the half).

Tomorrow is a day off and I am going to do a 5K on Saturday. I'm not sure how speedy I'll be. I've been placing very well lately, but my times are not so hot. I'm not complaining - they were good enough for those days.. but just not what my personal goals were. I'm taking the pressure off - I'll try to break 20 next season. If I do it now, I'll do the happy dance (hell, I'll do it regardless of when!), but just going to have fun. Oh, and a few of my races were long - so they would have been faster, but that doesn't really matter, just reminds me that I'm not running *that* much slower than my goals were.

My coach & I were on different pages about my goals. I'm not sure where he was, but he started talking about the half.. that I got roped into as a training run since everyone that was going to do the relay w/me was bailing to do the half. Anyway, I now know that I'm going to more clearly define them & on paper (my training calendar) next season. This season - the 10Ks are pretty much gone and he isn't a fan of me focusing on 5Ks this season because I'm doing that in the Spring and he doesn't want me to wear out. Fair enough. So I'm more running race to race & having fun w/it since the season ends around the holidays. Anyway, 5Ks really are not the focus. Also, pacing Bob will probably do a number on my legs (I thought this out well before I ever signed up - I think the benefits for the mileage will pay off, along with the sheer fun & how often do you get to do something like this - yes Bob, I know - often if I'd just get that Ultra bug - fat chance). I'm going to kind of focus on each race as it comes. As I said, my times have been off but my places have kicked butt - so no complaints. I don't want to keep beating a dead horse with times that bring me down - so I'm having fun with all of it and will get serious about aiming for times next season. And I am not RACING the crazy half. That is a TRAINING Run. Even if I wanted to start racing halves, I would want to do a "baseline" race first where I don't race others - but go for a pace and build confidence (as I did on my 10K). I've got some goals in the Spring (qualify for that best in the metroplex/invite only 8K) and some other things. So I'm just having fun this season... isn't that what post-college amature running is all about? I'm excited because I'm trying new things without pressure (well, must be able to keep up w/Bob for all those miles if I'm pacing him... Bob, don't laugh because you think I'm fast - I do SHORT, this will be a challenge, albeit a fun challenge!). Anyway, don't think I'm hiding from goals because my times are off (not an excuse), but I guess I didn't clearly define them to my coach and I don't think he did to me.. so lesson learned, but the timing is perfect because I am having a blast goofing off with crazy things like pacing. Heck, maybe I should do the mud run instead of the 5K this weekend. haha!