So a funny thing happened at the expo-

Not much of an expo, really. I was looking to speak with Carol, the race director, she was talking to a guy, he looked like a runner? So I went ahead and got my packet, After I got my stuff I turned around and she'd disappeared! So I asked the guy she had been talking with where she'd gone. He pointed me towards her as she was now sitting down behind a table on the phone, ....finally chatted with her briefly about Sundays service. As I was leaving I realized the guy Carol had been talking to was Jeff Galloway, DUH! I've only got two or three of his books! Yet all I did was ask him where Carol went. As I was leaving I realized I really didn't have anything to say to him anyway, and it's best I didn't consume any of his time. However, I wish I'd been a little more observant! Seeing as how I pride myself in that skill I failed miserably!
Bib #253- I like it!! Does your race number matter?
I'll post a synopsis of my talk tomorrow Peace!

Watchout for burnout

Lately I've been so ready for the taper!!! I think I needed to have an earlier marathon. So far I've been training for four months, only run two races, and short ones at that! What's the point?
The routes are becoming a little tedious, not the miles, yet. Me thinks the hills are wearing down some resolve. I'm ready to taper! However, that's not the plan. Three weeks counting this one until the taper.
Some things that help: New socks on the way! A new insole on the way. New shoes...the marathon shoes...so pretty and fresh:)
The track 12 miler Saturday must've really worked me! I'm still running recovery pace. Today at around 6.5 miles I began to feel pretty good and noticed I fell into a solid MP for a spell.
I'm pretty tough so I think I will be able to hold on until taper time. One thing for sure...I'm trying! Peace.
Totals: 11.2 miles/ 2:06:44/ 11:19's.

Go figure?

Today was perfect for the track! Overcast skies, slight breeze, and around 70 degrees. No one ran me off today either! So I warmed-up, did a few stretches, and went after a new mile best. My strategy was to take the first 400 a little slower and have something left for a kick. The first lap was surprisingly slow? 1:50.44. I tried to pick it up, I felt awful? I seriously considered stopping. A 1:47.36- second 400. So I kept running, a 1:54.62 third 400, here I felt a little better and tried to push it, a 1:52.65 fourth 400 for a 7:25.07 mile. That is much slower than the last track mile? Today I had better conditions but felt worse? Is my training causing me fatigue? All systems were go but the time was slow....go figure?

Anyway, right on the heels of this mile (one lap rest) I did a 4x400 with one lap rest interval. here are the splits-1:59.93, 1:43.17, 1:57.80, 1:39:31. Note: The last one was an all out 400. Maintained good form the whole time, stretched real good afterwards.

Total miles-4.64.

Observations:

1) I am learning pacing by running on the track-

2) Racing a mile can teach us about ourselves, and also is a microcosm of the marathon in many ways. Try it and see what I mean, you can't start too fast or too slow, you feel like quitting, you learn to hold on and find a second wind and then you have to dig down deep to finish strong.

3) We are a very rare breed that run and train in order to do the best we possibly can.

Keep running and racing!! I'm playing a Bluegrass Festival this weekend...but next weekend I race!! Peace.