Sunday, 10/13/2013: 11.1 miles, 1:58:28, 10:40 pace, 64F, 68% RH, sunny, a nice breeze.
I was up early like usual but it was too dark at 6:45 AM to run plus my stomach didn't feel very well. I surfed the web and saw the Chicago Marathon start at 8:30 AM. I knew I needed to run trail. I had just signed for the Dirt Cheap Stage Race plus I am still thinking of running the Mendon Trails 50K.
Garmin Connect Activity for Mendon Ponds Park - 2 loops
I told Christine that I was heading out for a long trail run and headed down to Mendon Ponds Park. I couldn't park in the Beach parking lot since it was full. I had forgotten that the Breast Cancer 5K and Ride was on Sunday. So there were a lot of bicycles being unloaded and being rode around. But I had some trails to run so I geared up and headed out. My plan was to head out on my usual Blue and Green trails for two or three loops. I settled into a nice and easy trail pace and just ran. It had warmed up and the sun was out so it got a bit hot on the trails. I was a bit tired by the end of the first loop. I had a gel and walked for a bit before I got back up to a run. I discovered that I may be in road running shape but I was not in what I consider to be trail running shape. The ups and downs were tiring. I decided to quit after two loops and two hours of running. I need to find some hills and do some hill repeats.
I was hungry when I got home so my darling Christine and I had our usual coffee and bagel. I watched the Buffalo Bills play the Cincinnati Bengals at the Ralph. The Bills battled back from 2 TDs down to force OT but lost 27-24, link here.
Monday, 11/14/2013: Rest day ...
Tuesday, 11/15/2013: 6.2 miles, 48:39, 7:50 pace, 66F, 64% RH, dusk, calm.
Garmin Connect Activity for Nice Negative Split 10K in Irondequoit
I needed to run and knew it. I dilly dallied around, had some cereal, read the paper but I did get up and out by about 6:20 PM. I wore my reflective vest and carried my headlamp until I needed it. I took it out nice and easy and just built my speed up. My paces were: 8:17, 8:09, 7:59, 7:45, 7:32, 7:31 and over 7:04 the last 0.2 mile. Negative splits baby!
Wednesday, 11/16/2013: Rest day ...
Christine and I both got dressed to go to LA Fitness but just couldn't get out the door ... FAIL! Next time, we will just turn off the TV, get up off the couch and go! I also got a refurbished Nook Simple Touch from 1sale.com in the mail that I monkeyed with for a while. I had waited for it for a month. I plan on rooting it and seeing if I can make it into a cheap, dirty, slow and B&W tablet that runs Android 2.1. OK ... so it's just a geeky way to spend an evening.
Thursday, 11/17/2013: Another rest day ...
This coulda and shoulda been a run but my darling Christine was cooking up spaghetti with home made sauce so I didn't go out, stayed in and had a marvelous supper. Christine has been on a cooking tear lately ... yum! Now I just need to run more. I think getting up early and hitting LA Fitness would be good too!
Friday, 11/18/2013: Yet another rest day ...
A guy I knew told me at the Finish Strong 5K on Saturday so ... I went down to the Grace and Truth Sports Park to sign up. I needed to race.
Saturday, 11/19/2013: 3 runs of 1.3, Finish Strong 5K and 1 miles, 54F, 62% RH, overcast, a bit breezy.
I woke up early. My darling Christine groaned and said "Have a good race", turned over and went back to sleep. I headed out and got to the race start in plenty of time. I headed out for a 1.3 mile warmup run.
Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before the Finish Strong 5K
I got to the start line about 10 minutes before the race. The start was uneventful. I settled up into a fast pace with a first mile pace at 6:22. I felt good. But I started feeling a bit out of breath. I slowed to a second mile pace at 6:56. I slowed to a short walk three times in the last mile. Some runners passed me. I just didn't have the mental toughness to continue. I knew the race was almost over. My third mile pace was 7:13. I did my best to get up to a full sprint and closed to the finish line at 6:16 pace. I crossed the finish line at 21:22. I was exhausted and got a quick 2 cups of water. I got out for a nice and slow cooldown run afterward on the way to the post race grub ... which was epic! A spread of 4 types of pizza, 4 types of pasta, sausage, pulled pork or chicken and Gatorade, water or coffee.
Garmin Connect Activity for Cooldown after the Finish Strong 5K
I did OK. I finished 20th out of 196, link here. I finished 2nd out of 9 in my M55-59 age group, link here. I think I know what happened. I finished my warmup about 10 minutes before the race. Then I didn't do any strides before the race and allowed my heart rate to calm down. The race started up and I was unable to handle the stress of 6.30 mile pace, thus the 3 walks during mile 3. That's my take. Next time, I will try it differently and see what happens.
Christine and I lazed around the rest of the day. We just watched shows off the DVR ... nothing too exciting.
