“Mid summer conclusion”
G’day RTRE blog reader,
Good night’s sleep Monday night into Monday morning…..
Awoke at the usual hour, brekky # 1 and onto the motor bike to be at UPS at 4.20am…. very warm weather right now and an intense physical shift, excellent workout. I left work around 9.15am and headed to DD for some r&r….. It was extremely warm and sunny and humid out. Temperatures would reach 100 degrees in certain parts of the tri state area Tuesday.
On line coaching through the day after brekky # 2 and then along with my two boys, Ray, Wheat Thin and B2, we left for the track meet around 4pm… arriving there super early as is my usual M.O. we stopped near the track at Starbucks to sit in the cool for a half hour rather than sit at a warm track. Temperature at 5pm was 95 degrees…… After arriving at the track around 5.15, we met Rocket Man and the Jet and Rocket’s girlfriend, Stephanie who was visiting from AZ. where she runs track, in addition to Muzz, Diva girl, MCM Frank and John. We were all racing the 1500. Except Ray who ran well later in the 800 in 2.20 placing 3rd overall. We found a great shady spot to set our stuff down.
Usual warm up and strides and a 150 that was too quick (23)…..
The highlight for me was watching my son Sam, with his one arm and barefeet racing the 200 out of lane one against bigger kids…… I didn’t even know he was going to race but he ran really well and much more importantly had a huge smile on his face whilst doing it……!!! He just decided to jump in it…
So the College and high schoolers were definitely in to taking on the old man for sure…… but I had my eye on another competitor, a 45 year old runner getting ready to race the 1500 at USA Masters Nationals at month’s end.
Elliott, started the 1500 in the wrong place, about a meter and a half long as compared to the many 1500 meter races I have raced at these meets over the years. Enough to make a difference. The plan was 72 pace or a 4.30 1500.
There was confusion at the 300 meter mark as I followed behind Jet, Wheat Thin, Stephanie and another runner about to go to TCNJ. The timer called out 51 but my watch said 55.41….Nothing much changed in the next lap position wise….. the pace felt comfortable but the lack of track racing was impairing my mid distance race turnover….. I split a 73.53 in the next lap (2.08ish at 700 meters so in the ballpark), at the 150 to go marker of the third lap I overtook Stephanie, and then she worked hard to chase me down in the home stretch and passed me at the start of the bell lap, split here was 73.81. then I tracked Stephanie through the last lap and made my move on her with 150 to go. This time the move was decisive and I pulled away to finish third behind The Jet and Wheat Thin in 4.34.19, splitting 71.44 on the last lap… This was good enough for a certified track meet Masters All American 1500 meter time which was cool. It was also long and each runner could legitimately take a second off their time but whatever….. conditions at race time, between 87-90 degrees, 70-75% humidity but with a light breeze, sunny and actually with a 7.15-7.20 type start time, the weather seemed surprisingly manageable…. We all enjoyed a nice 2 mile cooldown and stretched and we just had a great time…awesome to have my boys there and Sam had a blast with his buddies doing the long jump.
This brings the curtain down on my summer racing season which has been a great deal of fun and overall very successful….. there will be no off time from training, just from racing. I will race again next month but now in my head the page turns, it is a new chapter and it is entitled, Marine Core Marathon preparation……
I came home last night, ate, showered, kissed my family good night around 10pm (late for me but it was an exception as it was race night) and then I rose this morning at 2.10am, completed 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, new core routine and 100 back extensions and 50 reverse crunches…. Then I set out for a very relaxed paced 5 miler in warm humid conditions on a clear starry night with temps at 75 degrees….. great stuff ! Then off to UPS then to DD to meet a new client and home to work and watch the USA in the Women’s World Cup and a good nap ~
Before dinner there will be “300” workout with lighter bell at 35lbs and100 more pushups…then family time…. Thanks for checkin’ in to my blog !
G’nite all, G’nite Dad, I love and miss you..
Let the good times roll !
Walk in Peace
