Ready to Race

I am looking forward to racing soon. It has been a long and sometimes frustrating road to get fit again. I have had quite a few good training sessions and am looking forward to testing the fitness out as well as getting some races in to get the legs ready to go fast. I had a nice tempo this week at 5:30 pace. It was a low-tempo effort and I was surprised at how well I felt. The speed work is paying off and the short hill repeats have given me more speed than I expected to have at this point in the training. There is a winter series coming up here in Denver, and I will register for those races to get a feel of how I am doing before next year's track season starts up.
Right now it is all about consistency and a gradual build. I feel strong, the legs are healthy, and the hardest thing I am going to have to battle in the near future is the weather. We got over 2' of fresh snow yesterday. I'm going to throw the snowshoes on today and take Guinness out for a run. Should be fun!

Finch

Good Times

I don't know why, but I continue to find it amazing that I am able to run reasonably fast after some training. I know that is how it works, but I had been dealing with injuries, lack of motivation, etc, for quite awhile, and now it has been nice to train, and train hard. Tuesday I did 11miles at lunch, out to Wash park, around, and back. I was cruising under 6:30 pace for the entire run. Real easy, and smooth. I hit 8 yesterday in the freezing rain at around 7 min pace. Today was on the treadmill where I did 4x400 at 72, 1xmile at 5:30, 2x400 at 72. Got in 7 miles. The legs are tired, but the workout was pretty relaxed. The treadmill only goes 72/400 pace so that is what I have to deal with right now. I have been adding in some strides and that is making 72/400 feel very very easy. I still don't have a lot of endurance to hold a fast pace like that for over 1 mile, but the 5:30 in the middle of the workout was reasonably comfortable. My legs were tired, and it was good to get some more work in. I have been feeling fasater and more comfortable each week. The training is paying off. :)

Finch

San Diego

I had a good run down in San Diego when I was there this weekend. Ran up the Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail. It was a beautiful view from the top and had a little sign-in book. Left a small note, appreciated the view, and was off down the mountain. It was 90 something degrees, so that was a bit difference, but I was surprised to find out that I could climb well. I have not been climbing at all, but I have been puting in a good amount of speedwork . It was nice to have good fitness and be able to hit a long hill hard and finish strong. That has been missing for quite a while. I tried to find a race while I was out there, but no luck. Just walking events over the weekend.

Back up to altitude, and back to training. Should be nice. I had a problem in my hamstring last week while doing some short hill repeats and I can still feel it. I will make sure I am watching that while building back up in the speed. I have felt good doing repeats under 5 min pace, tempos around 530 and some solid long runs. It is feeling like the fitness is coming back! Finally!

Finch

Coming Together

I have been running more consistently. I need be more consistent on the weekends and then I think that I will be going pretty well! I have been running every Monday with Peter Vail, and we talk about life and running. He was right in what he said a couple weeks ago. Just keep running, going to the fast Niketown run, and getting in some workouts. The motivation will most likely follow the effort. I am excited to be more motivated than I have felt in a long time. I have been doing a longer tempo run each week (6ish) and then hitting the 400m repeats. They have come along nicely as well. I do 8-12 at 72secs. That is as fast as the treadmill will go and that is what I have to work with at lunch. Probably putting in 50-60 miles in a good week and take 10 or so off when I suck on the weekends (more often than not). All in all, it has been fun. 6 min pace was easy the other day, and that has been a long time coming. I will do some racing this winter, and then get ready for Westmont's new track facility opening. I would like to race a mile and then maybe a steeple or 5k. So, I will be running. It is nice to have some fitness back!

Finch