Closing out the year

Well, after getting all motivated to start spring running, I got some sort of head congestion cold.  I pushed through my wife's b-day, xmas eve and xmas celebrations - then basically passed out yesterday.  I'm a little better today - but still not running.  I thought I would rank my top 3 races this year.

Number 1: Adrian Martinez mile.  There is actually a video tape of this online - in which I seem to be running comically slow.  Nevertheless - it is a Mente record of 5:59.  My only sub-six of my life.  It was also a really fun track meet.  I my goal this year is to lower that time - and maybe look better doing it.  In the fall - I'll try to translate my new found speed to a longer distance.

Number 2: The arlington town race.  Sure - it was 2.7 miles. But more than the marathon itself - this race reminds me of all those days doing marathon training.  The race came after I ran a pretty rough 18 miler - and it kinda percked my spirits.  And I finished second overall!  Second fastest man in arlington.

Number 3:  Ras Na 5k.  I could pick the marathon - but I really didn't like melting down.  So I'm going to go with this.  The race was pretty average for a 5k - but at least the after party was fun.  Great day, great food and wonderful friends.

Ragnar was fun this year also - but i ran pretty poorly with allergies - and it isn't really a race.

Closing out the year.

I have my last race of the year this weekend - the bill rodgers jingle bell 5k in somerville.  The course is familiar - a little hilly - but I managed my fastest ever 5k there a few years ago.  i'm guessing those days may be gone - but I'm still going to try to go out fast and see how I do.  It's kinda funny that as hard as this year's marathon training was - more miles - I'm actually less prepared speed-wise.  Yes, I did some track work, but that ended in mid-august - and I transfered to those 'strength' workouts (2x3 miles or 3x2 miles - but at a 7:10-7:30 pace).  In the end - how fast I go may come down to back issues - sore back lately - I never race well with a sore back.

This week has been pretty good.  lazed around monday.  Did 8.2 from home on Tuesday, and then did 4.6 with doug wednesday from work - had some faster miles with doug: 7:36 and 7:44 - but conversational for the most part.  I've also manged some solid strength work - the most I've done all year.

Goals for next year: I think I'm going to come up with a mile plan - and try to hit the track mile hard this spring.  Then maybe eye an enjoyable fall marathon - maybe aim for early november - maybe do two!  I still want to try doing 30 miles in 30 hours - or 50 in 50.  Those would be best done with zero family obligations - but I'll keep it in mind.

21 this week

not bad considering I'm training for nothing.  I finished the week out with a another 4.8 lunch run, but dropped some solid miles: 7:22 and 7:16.  Trying to push a little, but not too much.  Felt really good.  The weather sucked Friday/Saturday, so I waited until today.  I think I did about 5, but strava kicked it, so it's just an estimate.  21 for the week.  I'll try again starting tuesaday next wee.

Building longer

Last week, I did a bunch of short runs for some reason.  I started with a lunch 4.5 miler Monday - it was slow 8:21 pace.  Tuesday was suppose to be really bad rain - so I ran 1.7 in the morning - kinda thinking about my day/weekend of short runs - then went out in the rain anyway with Larry but cut it short (3.4) and slow 8:15s.  Thursday I did 5.1 miles at a mixed pace - very slow to start (9:01 and 8:52), but then did 8:-7 and 7:13 for the middle two (8:21 jog in).  14.5 miles total.  Some solid strength training mixed in, and one bike to alewife.

Yesterday I did a 6.8 miler from home.  Jogged down to alewife - then back up minuteman - then home.  8:19 pace.  Today I headed out with larry - a little faster: 8:28, 8:03, 7:55, 7:20 and 8:19 - I like those runs.  Weather was overcast - but perfect for running.