Cotton Rape
Not good. I was just thinking to myself yesterday that I am about 90% healthly and 50% fit. Probably not a good combination to race excellent talent and a challenging course. Anyhow, I needed the challenge and lined up, very optimistic to run between 32:00 & 33:00 for this challenging 10K course in Huntsville. My main physical concern was my right hip. My main mental concern was my 55 Mile/Week average and knowing that I have not done enough work to "race" a 10K.
And so, for one morning, Huntsville, AL, turned into Mombasa, Kenya. There must have been close to 20 Africans lined up for this legendary 10K. With temperatures in the 60's it was warm, but nice. The only major concern would be, not only the competition, but the famous "hill" at 3M that climbs at a walking pace. The CR remained at 29:10 from John Wellerding from back in the 1980's. Olympians the likes of Sean Wade and Dan Browne had unsuccessfully tried to take it down, with Browne coming the closest and running 29:20 in 2003. Alas, we were lined and ready to run.
I started out conservatively, keying off of Scott Strand and Dewayne Miner. Passing through the Mile in sub-5:10 (uphill) I was a bit worried, but felt comfortable. By 2M, fans had cheered the elite women and the guy next to me was like, "you have to be kidding me", to which I replied "I hope so". An elite woman, so early in the race, not phased by a sub-5:10. By 2M in sub-10:40, she had charged past and for the next 4M I hated this woman. Diminuative Russian. Just running. Working, piston-like, passing the fading Kenyan men. I tried to close at every opportunity, but to no avail. The closest I would get was 10-meters at 5.5 Miles, but by then my soul had thrown in the towel only to launch into a furious final 600M drive that pushed me past a Kenyan, but not within reach of the record-setting Eastern Block athlete.
The race was a disaster at the second mile by one simple fact: my left foot was not functioning. It was wildly slapping around, not able to be controlled. Had I laced my shoes too tightly? Perhaps it was the over 1,000 miles I had driven in the past 24 hours... pinched a nerve. I hated it. It just did not work, until those final 600M. Anyway, I have a long way to go. A very long way to go. At Peachtree the goal is 2:00 faster: at least 31:28. If not, things will need to change. I am not a patient man. That, I am not.
Oh, and additionally, I have run faster and more controlled on my even hillier homecourse 8K loop. How I wish I could bottle those days... days of complete power and control. I just need more mileage. This past week was a paltry 48 miles. Yeah, 48 miles. No wonder I ran 33:28. At best, on a flat course, this is worth a sub-32:30. Horrible.
Monday, 5-28-2007
AM: Mercedes Benz Cotton Row 10K in 33:28 (17th Place Overall)
5:10-5:22-5:45-5:35-5:09-5:21-1:02
5:10, 10:32, 16:18, 21:54, 27:03, 32:24
PM: 5 Miles Recovery with Direct Gilbert Backwards in 36:12
Tuesday, 5-29-2007
7 Miles Recovery around Pigeon Hill in 48:06
Wednesday, 5-30-2007
9 Miles Recovery in Seabrook with Rudy in 1:01:44
Thursday, 5-31-2007
Move
Friday, 6-01-2007
7 Miles Steady around Pigeon Hill in 45:01
Saturday, 6-02-2007
20 Mile Long Run around Kolb Farm and The Reserve in 2:18:13
Sunday, 6-03-2007
7 Miles Recovery around Pigeon Hill in 47:28
Total
62 Miles
And so, for one morning, Huntsville, AL, turned into Mombasa, Kenya. There must have been close to 20 Africans lined up for this legendary 10K. With temperatures in the 60's it was warm, but nice. The only major concern would be, not only the competition, but the famous "hill" at 3M that climbs at a walking pace. The CR remained at 29:10 from John Wellerding from back in the 1980's. Olympians the likes of Sean Wade and Dan Browne had unsuccessfully tried to take it down, with Browne coming the closest and running 29:20 in 2003. Alas, we were lined and ready to run.
I started out conservatively, keying off of Scott Strand and Dewayne Miner. Passing through the Mile in sub-5:10 (uphill) I was a bit worried, but felt comfortable. By 2M, fans had cheered the elite women and the guy next to me was like, "you have to be kidding me", to which I replied "I hope so". An elite woman, so early in the race, not phased by a sub-5:10. By 2M in sub-10:40, she had charged past and for the next 4M I hated this woman. Diminuative Russian. Just running. Working, piston-like, passing the fading Kenyan men. I tried to close at every opportunity, but to no avail. The closest I would get was 10-meters at 5.5 Miles, but by then my soul had thrown in the towel only to launch into a furious final 600M drive that pushed me past a Kenyan, but not within reach of the record-setting Eastern Block athlete.
The race was a disaster at the second mile by one simple fact: my left foot was not functioning. It was wildly slapping around, not able to be controlled. Had I laced my shoes too tightly? Perhaps it was the over 1,000 miles I had driven in the past 24 hours... pinched a nerve. I hated it. It just did not work, until those final 600M. Anyway, I have a long way to go. A very long way to go. At Peachtree the goal is 2:00 faster: at least 31:28. If not, things will need to change. I am not a patient man. That, I am not.
Oh, and additionally, I have run faster and more controlled on my even hillier homecourse 8K loop. How I wish I could bottle those days... days of complete power and control. I just need more mileage. This past week was a paltry 48 miles. Yeah, 48 miles. No wonder I ran 33:28. At best, on a flat course, this is worth a sub-32:30. Horrible.
Monday, 5-28-2007
AM: Mercedes Benz Cotton Row 10K in 33:28 (17th Place Overall)
5:10-5:22-5:45-5:35-5:09-5:21-1:02
5:10, 10:32, 16:18, 21:54, 27:03, 32:24
PM: 5 Miles Recovery with Direct Gilbert Backwards in 36:12
Tuesday, 5-29-2007
7 Miles Recovery around Pigeon Hill in 48:06
Wednesday, 5-30-2007
9 Miles Recovery in Seabrook with Rudy in 1:01:44
Thursday, 5-31-2007
Move
Friday, 6-01-2007
7 Miles Steady around Pigeon Hill in 45:01
Saturday, 6-02-2007
20 Mile Long Run around Kolb Farm and The Reserve in 2:18:13
Sunday, 6-03-2007
7 Miles Recovery around Pigeon Hill in 47:28
Total
62 Miles
