Sunday, October 8th

Back in New Jersey after a whirlwind trip to Boca Raton to run in the USA Track and Field national cross country championships  on Saturday. I left Friday morning, ran Saturday morning and returned by Saturday night late. I emerged from the race in  pretty good shape after running an acceptable but less than outstanding 31 minute 5K. It was, however, good enough to help our 70+  team from the Shore Athletic Club finish second in the overall Team Championship.  I learned that there are some serious Masters 5K runners at these meets.  I actually finished 4th out of eight 80 year old guys.  On the positive side the time was a minute and a half faster than my 5K last Saturday. It was a picturesque, grass covered course and the temperature was about 90° at the gun. My lack of aerobic fitness was apparent as my mile times went from 9 minutes to 10 minutes to 11 minutes along the course of the race. My recovery was much more difficult and much longer then usual, I would guess as a result of the heat. It was an interesting experience and a lot of fun to be part of a team. But the toll that the travel takes on my body makes me believe I will be running races closer to home for the foreseeable future. But it is also nice to have a USA TF Masters National Championship medal!

STATS are steady and positive.  I am feeling a little soreness in my achilles tendon right foot today probably as a result of wearing spikes for 5K for the first time. I will have to watch that carefully.