August 31st, Saturday

Happy to get back to the cinder track for 4 1/2 miles with 15 speed segments (SS). This felt very good, best running workout for a while. I alternated one minute run with one minute walk (MMF) after half a mile warm up and with a half mile cool down. The total was 51 minutes. The time and distance passed quickly, tempered with some classic rock and a catch-up  conversation with Rob via my high tech ear piece and phone along the way. The speed (SS) segment’s pace averaged between 7 minutes and 8 and 1/2 minutes.

I just checked my written calendar log and realized that I just completed one full year of entries.  (Picture above)  Need to buy a new calendar. It’s a year of work, mostly in preparation for the senior Nationals. Somehow it worked out and I was ready to go in June.  Since then I’ve been on cruise control but still ran a decent 5K last week.

Stats are solid.

Need to set a new medium-term goal as I start the month of September.  Maybe a 10K in October or November.

August 25, Sunday

The feeling is back!

Today was the annual Jason Memorial 5K run at Hillsboro. I entered this year with some apprehension because I was not very happy with the consistency of my training this summer. I’ve mentioned in earlier posts that I have been less motivated to get out on a daily basis since returning from the Senior Nationals.  I entered today’s run with two basic goals. The first was to not exceed 30 minutes. The second was to attempt to run a negative race; that is to finish stronger in the third mile than in the first mile.  It has been difficult to have confidence in my aerobic fitness given the large number of days I have not run for the last 2 months. So I approached the line with some trepidation today, but was relaxed because of my limited goals.

The race-

I was very comfortable running just below 9:00 pace for the first mile. During the second mile I tried to sustain the same pace.  The split times were 9:01 and 9:06.  I was quite surprised at how comfortable all of that was. I made a conscious effort to try and increase patience during the third mile. My watch was telling me that I was running somewhere in the 8:30 range.  So, I finished feeling pretty frisky and not too drained by the race at all.

The final 5K time worked out be 27:31.  🙂

The third mile time was 8:30.    🙂   🙂

So, both of my goals were achieved.   🙂   🙂   🙂

This performance restored confidence in my ability to run a competitive 5K in the future.

With my renewed enthusiasm I’m sure that I will be much more focus on stats in the upcoming days. Right now I will just say things are stable.

August 21, Wednesday

” You may be right, I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.”      Billy Joel

It was 91° at 7 p.m. tonight with a real feel of 99°.   I had chosen not orun for two days because of heat and humidity. The Jason Walton Memorial 5K is on Sunday.  So, today was likely the last day I could do any serious work in preparation. But I thought to myself doing   a running workout on the roads in 99* real feel is a bit of lunacy. But then I thought ,  “Why not be a lunatic once in awhile?”  I set out tentatively but kept going for 4 miles which took me 46:37.   I was soaked with perspiration when I finished and weighed 149 pounds before I took a shower.  It was a rather comfortable and pleasant run considering the conditions.   Rich Refi referred me to the song posted above which seems to fit the occasion.

Steady stats.

August 17, Saturday

” I have to give up so many things, makes so many personal sacrifices, to perform at my level, that I cannot even contemplate losing.”   SEBASTIAN COE

Thursday- Got 3.36 miles around Lake Carasaljo during x-country practice.  The final 2 miles were under 10:00.

Friday- I spent 1 hour of work at the clubhouse and pool, bike, weights, swim and running.

Saturday-  Ran 3.75 on the boardwalk this morning.            10:30 average!

It has been a pretty good week of work. I feel fittingly tired tonight.

Stats-

Weight– 150lb

Sleep- 10 hours

Diet- 9

Indexes are ok.2/3

Body weights- good.  Stretching- ok

a.m. HR = 54 bpm

August 14th, Wednesday

It’s been 6 days since I have written a post. I really don’t write these posts; I actually speak them and correct afterwards. Sunday and Tuesday were decent runs with some speed work in the middle. Rest of the days were very light. Today I did not work out. So, I ask myself what exactly is going on here.  Since I returned from Albuquerque I have not done many demanding workouts nor have I posted very much. There doesn’t seem to be a lot to write about.  I guess it’s a post Nationals funk. I think I’m asking myself the question,  “Do I want to be a competitive runner or just a semi- fit 76 year old guy? What is keeping me  from gettin out on these summer days? Too hot? Too lazy?   I am eating very healthy, getting plenty of sleep, and at this moment I am totally devoid of any aches or pains or injuries. What more could I want.? Can I really keep improving if I worked my ass off?” When I do get out and get rolling I am anxious to work hard and usually do. But after each serious workout I recoil from work if I feel the slightest tinge of an injury coming on. And I opt for a day off.  I tell myself that my enthusiasm may return when the weather cools off or when I set a new goal.  I’m not sure if I want to publish this whiny nonsense that I’ve been spewing here. So here’s what I’ve decided. I’m going to keep doing some hard MMF workouts and get on the bike or to the pool and the clubhouse in between so that I stay away from injury. That worked for me before and it’s going to have to work again.

Good talk, Bro!

August 8, Thursday

Wrestling with the hint of a few lower leg aches that I don’t want to develops into  actual injuries.  (Achilles tendon,  lower calf) Thus so many ‘rest, caution’ days.  Still got to run 3.5 miles with 11 SS on the cinders in 85* on a humid evening.  Have lost appetite for biking and swimming lately.  Don’t know why ..?   Anyway still keeping steady stats; particularly weight at about 150 lb, getting good sleep, eating well and keeping injury indexes at a low level. I wouldn’t say I’m actually killing training, but maybe staying somewhat fit.  Don’t want to embarrass myself at Jason’s run in 2 weeks.  I thought I would be fit to post a good time at that event, but my confidence is waning.  Definitely not getting enough miles in for a strong 5K. Pushing on……..:-):-)

August 1, Thursday

Tonight I watched three college runners break the 4:00 mark in an exciting mile at Monmouth University.  My own mile effort was not as impressive.  (7:13)

My goal was to run close to 6:30 for that mile. I’m not sure if I am really in that condition right now. But I thought it was possible. I was in the heat with 24 people all of whom had seed times in the 6 minute to 7 Minute range.  I was the seventh seed in the race. My plan was to run under 3:15 for the first half and hope that I had some juice left to make a run at that 6:30 Mark in the second half. At the start of the race I was pretty stunned and taken back by the quick pace at which everyone began. I had assumed I could run with the top 7 or eight runners, but I was mired in the back of the pack.  I was confused. Was I running so slowly that 20 people out of 24 were beating me? As it turned out, at the 400m and 800m marks I was right on schedule with 1:34 & 3:14.  But after that it felt like I actually stopped trying. I don’t know if it was because I was just getting tired and had nothing left, or did I approached the Black Box and just back off?  So, I went on cruise control and ended up running 4:00 for the second half.  I was most disheartened by my lack of toughness in that effort. Then I watched those elegant college guys banging in that Monmouth Mile and had to be contented with the realization that I am now 76 years old and can still run 7:13.

A fortunate guy who still has to work on toughness!  :-):-)

STEADY STATS

July 28, Sunday

“The thinking must be done first, before the training begins.”                                                      Peter Coe   (That’s Seb’s Dad.)

Quick post – Still 86*  at 8p.m. What!?  Today I was looking for a final chance to run a workout before I race the Monmouth mile on Thursday night. I waited all day for the temperature to cool down, but when I got to the track at 7 pm it was still 88°. As I warmed up I went through a litany of possible workouts that I can do in such conditions. I settled on 400m repeats in the shaded part of the track.  The original goal was to do four under 2 :00 with equal rest. As I went along I was feeling pretty good: so I decided to up it to six. I continued to feel strong: so I made the call and decided to go for eight.

400m x 8. –  2:04,  1:58,  1:56,  1:53,  1: 51,  1:47,  1:54,  1:45  with equal recovery + a little

15:00 w-up, 12:00 c-down.    60 minutes in motion

That was more than I expected to accomplish.

STEADY stats.

July 21, 22, 23 and 24

Sunday, Monday,Tuesday & Wednesday

Still mourn and miss you, Jason, your gentle manner and unparalleled explosiveness. 

Sunday- just a late evening visit to the clubhouse during the biggest heat wave in New Jersey history to do 20 minutes of weights and 20 minutes of swimming and running in the pool

Monday- A good session at the clubhouse of 15 minutes on the elliptical and 40 minutes on the treadmill doing alternate 2:00 intervals at 10:00 pace and 15:00 pace.  Probably my longest treadmill run, much better than anticipated.

Tuesday – 3.5 MMF miles on the road with 14 solid SS of :30 to 1:47  @ better than 8:00, 7:00  and even under 6:30 pace occasionally.  My body felt good and got better as the run continued.  Last SS was the longest sustained and up hill.

Wednesday – Took a chance at 8 days from the Monmouth Mile to do some longer speed segments at faster than target 6:30 mile pace. Started with a 400m at 1:40, a little slower than hoped.  Probably not warmed up enough.Next 400m was @ 1:31.. on target!   But had an unusually hard time recovering.  This led me to believe that I could not possibly run a mile at that pace, a little discouraged. I almost called off the rest of the workout, but took a little time and decided to continue with the goal of running some quick 200m instead.  So, I ran 5 more 200m ranging from :48 to a final at :45.  I seemed to be much more relaxed and composed in those 200m while maintaining a respectable speed.  I can’t predict if this will transfer to a mile, but I’m glad I got in some speed work a week before the race. Also running on a rubber track, in spikes, at 6 p.m. with supporters should give me an edge.

So, I cruise on, happy to have no injuries and maintain stable stats throughout.

July 18, Thursday

One brick at a time………

This morning I was at the cinder Track by 6:30. That’s the earliest I’ve gotten there so far. It was a overcast morning and quite unit with the temperature probably in the high seventies already. It was not unbearable running conditions but it was someone tough getting oxygen. I managed to get in a pretty good workout under the conditions.

A total of 5 miles in motion.

Half mile walking and stretching-

4 miles of MMF with 24 x SS of  30, 45,  60 and 120 seconds done randomly with equal walk.  45 minutes

Half mile jogging walking and stretching to cool down

STEADY STATS