Sunday, March 21, 2010

Going at a Different Pace

Each week I get on here and write how the previous week was my "best week of running" and so forth, and I am hear to say again...... that last week was nothing less than my best week of running ever. After a long and enjoyable week in Boulder, I came back to Ohio with even more ambition for this unique art of running I have instilled in my daily routine, continuing to run fast, the unconventional way. As much as I love running on trails and knowing the future will be filled with the majority of running on them, interesting enough, the pure thrill of running on the track still breathed fire deep within my legs. Other "serious" college 5k runners are running multiple speed workouts and running 60 miles a week at 6:30 pace; I, on the other hand, am running well over 100 miles a week at about 7:30 pace, making my legs work the hardest on trail runs, and absolutely loving every second of it! (it is at least unconventional based on what I have saw) This is not to knock the other way the least bit, because I believe I could race just as fast doing that, I just enjoy this way more! So, here is a little breakdown of the week.....

Monday: 3/15
15 Miles (1:40:00)
This looks like a fast time for 15 miles, but this included a track workout at the illustrious Spartan Stadium. We did 1200, 800, 1200, and then 6 x 400. This workout went well, even with tired, "road trip" legs, running 3:30's for my 1200's, 2:18 for the 800, and keeping it around 66 for the 400's. I even surprised myself with a 62 second 400 for my last one! I have leg speed left?

Tuesday: 3/16
#1: 16 Miles (1:53:30)
#2: 4 Miles (28:00)

Wednesday: 3/17
#1: 9 Miles (1:12:00) Orange trail from Hangover route.
Great find on the trail, great single track, and some nice hills and scenery. Ran it with Shane, Reece, and Wysocki. Enjoyed a first of the year milkshake at Buckeye Dairy Bar
#2: 7 Miles (50:00)
Ran a nice 7 mile night run when I got home.

Thursday: 3/18
#1: 6 Miles (43:00)
#2: 3 Miles (21:00)
Was short on time, as we were leaving for NC at 4. I worked till 3:15 and had class from 8 to then. Ran before school and fit in a little more before we left.

Friday: 3/19
#1: 4 Miles (30:00) Shakeout in NC.
#2: 9 Miles (1:05:00)
Total for warming up and cooling down
#3: 5k Race at UNC Charlotte (15:00.20)
As you can see, I didn't quite break 15, see more below.....

Saturday: 3/20
17 Miles (2:01:00)
Ran a lot around the track meet, since I wasn't racing this day. Found some sweet trails that didn't last as long as I wished.

Sunday 3/21
21 Miles (2:30:00)
This is my longest run at once, did it all with Blake Jones, as he is training very well for the Boston Marathon.

Total Miles: 114.1
Total Time: 13:28:30

Friday, was the race at UNC Charlotte. It is a beautiful campus. Someone in Colorado told me I shouldn't race after coming down from altitude, but I did not see the negatives to it, so I did it. And I probably was not getting out of running it anyway. The overall trip to North Carolina was a blast and no one could ask for a better day for racing. The 5k was scheduled for 9:20 on Friday night, the weather was about 65 degrees, absolutely no wind, and perfect for a fast race.

Eric had asked me to go out at around 4:40, so I went with it and did what it took to do that, and that meant taking the lead. As I was in the lead, knowing that there were people behind me with PR's in the mid 14's (including coach who has ran 14:13!), I felt strangely comfortable. Comfortable enough to hold my lead until 1800 meters into the race. My mile split was 4:42. Soon after that point, about 6 guys passed me, and I tried to just go with that flow. Another lap and a half into the race, I somehow decided to take the lead again. There wasn't much deciding involved since most every move in a 5k is a reaction. The only thoughts are more general actions (like "I hurt so I'm going to slow down" or "hey that last lap was 71 seconds"). So I am in the lead after lap 7, well on pace to run something faster than ever, in fact, I was 5 seconds faster than my 3k PR in the middle of this thing and my 2 mile improved 4 seconds, as I came through at 9:31. At that point the fast guys were a few seconds up on me and really showing me that I shouldn't of led for that second time. But I didn't care who led or what, I was running faster than I ever have. The last mile was pretty much all out, which wasn't as all out as other runners in the race. I finished in 10th place, at 15:00.20. (Couldn't I have just went .21 seconds faster somewhere in that race!?)

Anyone could say that it was not "the right move" to make when I took the lead the second time after a mile and a half. But, I would not change the way I did it. I led a total of 6 laps out of 12, and loved every second of it, not even caring who was behind me. It ultimately led to a 18 second PR! Assistant coach Blake Jones went buzzing by me in the last 100 to run a 33 second PR of 14:58 and the rest of the team PR'd as well. Coach ended up going 14:37 for second place. The Bears were having a good night!

The weekend was young, as I grabbed 17 HOT miles in the NC sun the next day as everyone else raced. Today, I also got a long run in. Blake and I did 21 miles in 2:30:00. We ran the 12 mile Kentucky loop and 9 more miles in town. We ran a solid pace the entire run and we both felt strong the entire time. It was both of our longest runs in one run time wise(besides his marathon).

Now, the week is over, and I am here writing this instead of doing the loads of homework I have to do. The only motivation I have for school right now is that there is only 5 weeks left! The multiple projects I am in the middle of are pretty stale and..... easy..... but time consuming.

I am really looking forward for more running, it is going really well right now!

RESULTS FOR THE 5k

WMO

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