Monday: 0
Tuesday: 0. Enjoyable to not worry about running, but last day off of three-day break post-track.
Wednesday: 6 Miles. First Westerly Fun Run for me, second for many others. I've decided to run the fun runs hard this year, attempting to run 5:50 average (18) at Stonington and 5:30 average (17) at Westerly. Not having run in a few days, my legs felt a little funny with weird and random. I was thinking about doing 8 total: 3 WU, Fun Run, 2 CD, but my watch started glitching and freezing during an update. It took me a while to figure out, and I had to cut a mile out of the Warm-up. It wasn't a good sign that I had to use the bathroom immediately before the race. At first, I thought the top 3 had been completely rearranged from last week's top three, which was Jonny H, Jonny E, and Dad. I knew the latter wasn't coming, but I expected the other two to be there, and it didn't seem like they were coming. However, Tom B and Justin B were there, some of the WTAC's finest 5K runners. Then both Jonnys showed up, making it 5 WTAC runners who had run low 17s or sub-17 minute 5Ks. This was going to be quite the fun run, and I was looking forward. I figured most of them would be shooting for around a 17-minute 5K. I was planning on running about mid 5:30s the first two miles, then if I felt good push the last mile. I figured I'd run out easier and not take the lead until Crandall ave (0.5 mi in). However, Tom B said something like Jonny H is running this hard so you'll have someone near you, which implied, disappointingly, that neither him nor Justin B were running it hard (Jonny E showed up last minute). I hadn't run 5:30 miles on the road in so long that I even did a few strides before race (run). Even though it was hot and others were going shirtless, I decided not to, something I would regret postrace (run).
As we lined up, I expected to run behind both Jonnys until Crandall, then make a move for the lead. But they called go, and I was off. I didn't plan on starting that fast, but I just went and immediately got a lead. Of course, I was still checking my watch constantly and looking back on turns. The first quarter mile felt great. No aches or weird feelings in my legs, plenty of energy, 5:20 pace seemed easy. And then I was actually slowing down, already. After the first turn, my average pace seemed be dropping by quite a bit (it wasn't actually) and it was getting less comfortable. This was really odd because I've done 5K at 5:18 pace, and I had only gone a quarter mile at 5:20 pace. I felt merely okay the rest of the first mile. Not good, but not tired either. I settled in at mid 5:20s pace, and it felt like Jonny H was catching up and about to pass the entire time. I didn't want to pick it up, but I also didn't want to be passed. Fortunately, I didn't have to (pick it up). He wasn't gaining on me (or not by much), it just wasn't far behind. I went through the mile in about 5:25, although the timer's split was 5:31 (extra distance on turns). I no longer had track of Jonny Eckel, but it still felt like I had gone out too fast and now Jonny Hammett was going to catch. And now, I was starting to feel awful. A little bit of a full stomach, a lot of discomfort and fatigue. Another half mile passed. The pace dropped off a little, but not too much. I finally shook the feeling of being chased down and realized I had a solid lead when I got to the top of the course's only significant hill. Mile 2 was 5:29. I was trying to simulate target 10K pace, but this felt much harder than that. Mile 3 was brutal. I hated every second of it. I knew I had the win, but felt like I was ready to collapse and die. I somehow brought it back down to mid 5:20s again during the third mile. I decided not to kick completely the last quarter, but I picked it up a tiny bit (5:00 average for last 0.2). I finished in 17:14 (possibly 17:15 or 17:16, I never checked), faster than I expected. If I had ran 5:30s exactly, it would've been 17:3x. I was very happy with the time (a course PR by nearly a minute, my GPS got the 5K split in 16:45 (16 seconds off PR gives a good indication I can hit a PR before XC), and (second?) win ever), but not how it felt. I don't think I could've held that pace for more than 4 miles, and I'll be trying to run it for 10K next month. However, there are a few reasons why it maybe didn't feel so great and I shouldn't count on this everytime:
1) Pace I planned for 5:30 average, and ran 7 seconds faster per mile. The 7 seconds could make it feel much worse than it should, as that's a lot in a 5K. Also, I went out at the very beginning much harder than planned. Perhaps it would've felt better to go out more conservatively.
2) Eating I had taken a nap midday, and woke up a little later than expected. I had to eat a little closer to the fun run than I would have liked, and felt a full stomach effect during the race, causing discomfort.
3) Heat I don't think I need to explain this one.
4) Days Off I hadn't run in the past few days, and perhaps I needed a run to shake things out before (that sounds weird, but you know, a shakeout before a fast race).
I'll be back next week, trying to stay on pace a little more. I may be doing a 5K that weekend, so I could possibly adjust my target time. I know this was like a race write-up, but this fun run felt important enough to get this kind of write-up.
Thursday: 7 Miles. Waited around all day, but strangely this wasn't a run I was absolutely dreading to go on. It probably should have been, because nearly the whole thing was unpleasant and tiring. However, it didn't feel as bad as Wednesday, and I was really happy with 6:07 average pace, my third fastest training run ever and fastest from the house (top two from school). I was able to finish reall strong despite the fatigue, so I'm glad I didn't drop off (5:49 and 5:52 final splits).
Friday: 5 Miles. After fairly hard efforts both Wednesday and Thursday, I took a little easier Friday. Unfortunately, it didn't feel good, but not bad either. The time passed much quicker than both Wednesdays and Fridays runs. 6:43 pace for 5 mile, an out back on happy valley/watch hill, loop around setting sun and ice pond. Not a bad route, and not a bad run.
Saturday: 7 Miles. Watch Hill/Yosemite Loop at midday. I'm actually getting more and more used to the summer heat, as I don't really notice how hot it really is until I'm running in direct sunlight or when I finish. It was hot a usual, but it didn't feel any different from runs earlier this week. I felt less weak than usual, and my legs felt pretty good except that my thighs were a little tight. It wasn't fun, as I don't like running mid-day (but didn't want to wait around until evening). This was just one to get it over with. Pretty happy with pace (6:23), but I'm starting to feel more tired each day, so I'll probably take Monday off.
Sunday: 8 Miles. Fun and easy Burlingame trails w/Dad. Conditions were very nice, not quite as hot or humid with practically no bugs. Trails were great, many of them I hadn't been on before. Nice recovery for me, I had been tired recently, and felt less fatigue on this run.
Weekly Total: 33 Miles (even with the days off this week, I still ran more than last week)
YTD Total: 985 Miles
Weekly Total: 33 Miles (even with the days off this week, I still ran more than last week)
YTD Total: 985 Miles
No comments:
Post a Comment