Eurocross

10 dollars to enter... training with daughter... being with her for her first race... priceless.

We ran the race together and she took 2nd in her age group.She and I were pumped. She is a very tough 13 year old. I am as always very proud of her and her sister.
Cool morning and ditches were full… Great conditions for this year’s Eurocross. The water crossings were wild.

We started out in the middle of the pack. This was her first 5k race.
The water was over the banks, so when we crossed the extra water concealed the drop off for the original bank. Slick and muddy it was wild at the crossing. Mike Greene had advised me to wear old shoes and embrace the mud.

I think we started out a little fast for my daughter’s normal pace. She seemed a little overwhelmed during the first 1.5 K. She hung in there and we maintained a good pace. We got muddy and had a blast. During the last lap I told her to save something for the finish.

When she turned it on with the finish in site she shot out ahead of me. Great race and a great day with my family.

By the numbers.
1. 5:43 fast start
2. 6:10 reality set in
3. 6:34
4. 6:29
5. 6:02 strong finish
Total 30:59 for both of us (she finished second place in her age group)

Over Training

OK I should have slacked this week, but I did not. Hills and a 20 mile bike ride do not leave much left.

Week in review:
12 mile long run Saturday, 23 mile bike ride Sunday, .8 mile swim Monday, 6.2 mile hill workout Tuesday, 20 mile bike ride Wednesday, 6.2 mile tempo run today.

Oops guess I blew it.

Ran my 10K tempo route today and I had nothing. Best I could do was long run pace.

5K Euro cross Saturday will not be a good outing for me. I will swim tomorrow for a easier Friday and to give my legs a break.

We will see what happens Saturday. No predictions just hoping to average under a 7 minute mile.

My daughter will be running. It is our first race together, so it should be a good day any way it turns out.

Change is Good

I ran with a friend of mine this AM. We ran my hill route. He suggested running it a little differently than I usually run it. It was a great change of pace and I think I will try it this way for a while.

I am really anal about routines. If it works, I keep it until something better comes along.
Guess what… something did this morning?

Thanks a lot Wayne for the change.

Glorious Day for Running

59 Degrees at 6:00 am. What a good morning for a run. Made better pace than last week.
It has been a great week of training.

The swimming was better this week. 3 quarters of a mile in 33 minutes.Very little recovery between laps. Kept thinking jog instead of running. Thanks for the advice Mr Fagerman.

Bike riding for tomorrow.

Long run by the numbers.
1. 7:15
2. 7:19
3. 7:15
4. 7:13
5. 7:11
6. 7:21
7. 7:21
8. 7:29
9. 7:21
10. 7:24
11. 7:28
12. 7:20

Total 1:28:03 7:20 per mile pace.

Good Week of Activity

Biked, swam and ran this week. Looking forward to running with my daughter in a couple weeks. Her first race.

Road the infernal stationary bike today.Long run Saturday. Off the usually pace, but it feels good to ramp up the mileage and get back to a long run on Saturday.

Warm humid weather makes for slower running.
Saturday's run by the numbers:
1. 7:31
2. 7:28
3. 7:21
4. 7:24
5. 7:27
6. 7:32
7. 7:36
8. 7:42
9. 7:46
10. 7:47
11. 7:53
12. 7:37
Overall 1:31:09 7:36 average pace

Jesse Owens 10K

Good race. They do a great job organizing this race. My pacing was better and I made my goal.
The race course is not strictly flat there are some rolling hills to keep you honest and make you work. A shower cooled down the air some, but it was still muggy and warm.

Started out with the leaders and then after half a mile let them slip further ahead. I would never have been able to pace with them. I just use them to establish my initial pace. I kept them in site most of the race. Started at a good pace and managed to not lose too much on the last miles. I was passed a few times late in the race.

By the numbers:16th overall 3rd in age group
1. 6:29
2. 6:40
3. 6:44
4. 6:50
5. 7:04
6. 7:03
7. 1:28 Last .2
42:22 total 6:50 per mile

Posting a goal really motivates me to achieve it. Nothing like making a goal public to hold your feet to the fire.

Jesse Owens is a great race and I hope to run it next year. They give real trophies and a glass mug to finishers.

Good Light Week

Jesse Owens 10K tomorrow. I have had a good week. My goal is to break 43 minutes.

Did around 44:35 2 years ago in a bad effort. Hope to do better tomorrow.

Weather maybe a concern. We will see.

Goals are Great When You Attain Them

My goal for the Steeple Chase 8k was to run it in under 34 minutes.
I made it. Great race, the organizers did a great job laying out the course. Really nice tee shirt and free stuff. I will try to run the race next year.

Started out at almost 5K race pace. I always have a good first mile. I try not to have to good of a mile. Still I usually have my best mile during the first mile. Leaders were in sight but minutes ahead. I paced off a young guy till I passed him after mile 2. I then paced off of another 25 year old. I passed him after mile 4. He blew by me in a well-timed sprint for the finish at about 5 blocks from the end. I had my time and did not give up my pace much. Pacing was pretty good on the last .97.

I did not realize until later that the 2nd place in my age group was only 1 second behind me. I had no idea anybody was that close. If I had known that, I might of picked up my pace a little towards the end.

By the numbers:
8th overall and first place age group.

6:29
6:46
6:52
6:59
6:41 Last .97
33:48 Total

Great race and the race benefits the Neighborhood Christian Center. Kudos to the organizers for a great race benefiting a great cause. My only regrets are no long run this morning. Next week Jesse Owens 10K.