More meets this week, with a dual meet on Monday and then Thursday the injury fund relays. Pretty tiring/demanding schedule and looking forward to wrapping these up.
Monday: 5 Miles
I had no 3K for this meet, but it would still be a pretty tiring meet with a triple- 1500, 800 and 4x400. I knew I probably wouldn't be ready for the aggressive start of the 800, so I just looking to run a hard 1500 and stay comfortable in the other race. Looking for about a 4:16.
1500
The weather was pretty inconsistent with it being pretty warm at first, but then the sun went away and it got windy before the race. There was pretty much no competition and with sprinter Ryan Holloway running this, we would probably go 1-4 for Westerly, if not 1-7ish. I didn't want to lead as I felt going out hard drained me at the West Warwick meet, so I stayed patient at the start and ran side by side with an SK runner and John Walker. This was a mistake as when they finally passed, neither were going very fast so I had to take the lead right after that. I wanted to hit consistent 68s and probably came through in 69ish which wasn't a great sign. There was a decent amount of wind on the backstretch which made a little tougher. John and I ran together as usual and I started to open a small gap with 2 to go. I decided to try and drop him here which was probably also a mistake as surging there drained me as well. With 600 to go, my legs were very tight and I wasn't sure if John would catch me in my pathetic last lap. Held on to win in 4:18. I wasn't too disappointed in the time. While I wish I had the 4:16, this was only slightly off. I was more disappointed in how it felt. My legs and energy just disappeared with two to go and the last 800 felt truly terrible.
Coughing a lot and nearly throwing up after that. Not sure why these events take so much out of me, but I hate the constantly coughing so I hope I can adjust out of this soon. We didn't get much recovery before the 800 and I was feeling dead. Looking for maybe a 2:07. I still wanted to get first for Westerly but it didn't mean anything here so I'd be okay with John or Aaron beat me.
800
I was not ready to go out hard and felt terrible on the first 200. Like the 1500, John (and Aaron) knew that I should be leading/I would likely lead so they wouldn't pass me even if I was slowing up. Usually, this was is annoying but it helped a lot here. After 150, I adjusted and was ready to go so them keeping the inside opening allowed to move past them with any jostling/spending extra energy. An SK guy had rocketing and I was sure he would fade. Sure enough at 300, I caught him and passed. I tried to hammer the next 200 and win the race but he unexpectedly had another gear and went past me with 250 to go. We were both fried on the last 200 so I couldn't pass him for the win but was scared John or Aaron might get us. They didn't and we finished in that order. Ran a solid 2:05 which was very pleased with. Didn't know there were any decent SK distance runner and had never heard of this guy.
4x400
The 4x4 was supposed to be an easy wrap up for me as I was on the B team and everyone on the B team had already raced so there was no pressure to do well. I was thinking about just running a comfortable 59 and calling it a day. Then I was moved to A team, B and C team were scratched and I was anchoring. Suddenly the fate of this event laid in my hands. I was both nervous and angry. The last time I was put our 4x400 team I fell and ran a terrible 59, completing blowing for the team. I didn't like the pressure of having to be on a team where I'm not good at the event. And of course, I was put in the worst situation possible of getting the baton with only a one-second lead. Additionally, the guy racing me was the one who won the 800. I went out and hammered but as usual I had nothing in the last 150 and me passed and won by just a little. I split a 57.1 which is a solid time for me, but it's just really disappointing to be the one to take the loss for the team when literally anyone else would have been in the same situation and ran a similar split.
Overall a pretty solid meet. Wish I felt a little better, could have been stronger at the end to hold for wins and run a little faster in the 1500 but absolutely nothing to complain about.
Tuesday: 7 Miles
Felt absolutely dead after the meet and this "easy" run was pretty brutal. Ran my usual comfortable 6:50 pace but completely died and had to run it in at 7:30s. Ughh.
Wednesday: 7 Miles
Another crap run. Felt a little better than Tuesday but overall still pretty bad. At least I didn't have any 7:30s.
Thursday: 5 Miles
Injury Fund Relays. Was feeling the fatigue from so many recent meets and while I wanted to hammer the DMR, potential crack 4:30 for a 1600 PR I just wasn't ready to go physically. We waited around for a long time (a good 3 hours since we got there) and finally went. I made the mistake of running a hard first lap to try and open up a lead which ended up ruining my race. Completely ran out of steam in the second half (legs were so heavy) and split 2:11/2:25. Not a terrible 4:36 time but I was disappointed because I know I'm capable of so much more. Uncontrollable coughing again. Really annoying.
Friday: 7 Miles
Another recovery run and I actually felt good on this one. Still tight/heavy but none of that awful weakness I've been constantly feeling on these. Went out sub-6:40 and stayed right there. Wanted to go for 7, but my stomach was bothering me at the end so I decided to just finish up.
Saturday: 5 Miles
Track workout. 2x1200 @3:30 (3-4 mins recovery) followed by 8x200 @35s (1-3), 33s (4-6), 31s (7-8). The 1200 were ridiculously fast (John literally just raced a 3:28 and these were 2s slower) and while I managed to stay smooth I was exhausted. Ran 3:30/3:30 and the second one was brutal. Splits were (69/2:19/3:30) and (68/2:18/3:30). The 200s were okay. I was still pretty tired but because they were short I got through. Maybe a second fast on each. Difficulty: 4/5. A quick but difficult session.
Sunday: 0 Miles
Disappointed to end the week with a zero, but this was due to doing a big hike that day. Left Westerly around 6:30 with Sam and did a 10-mile loop up mount Greylock and back before coming home at 5. Pretty exhausted afterwards and with cold/windy/rainy conditions outside, I just didn't feel like going out again. Will make a separate post. Hopefully taking a day off will solve my Achilles problem as hiking didn't seem to affect it at all.
Weekly Total: 36 Miles
YTD Total: 443 Miles
Weekly Highlight: While not an amazing overall performance, Monday was a solid triple and was happy to run decent times in all three. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I did something I was happy with.
Weekly Lowlight: Just generally feeling really beat up the majority of the week from meets. Even the days I felt good/performed well my legs were still tight. Achilles problems are still minor and have yet to affect me but are still there. Crap total weekly mileage due to taking Sunday off.
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