It ain't Chinese algebra!

After running the 5,000m at the Portland Track Classic last summer I've had the desire to run a 10,000m on a track.  They are few and far between but I was able to enter the meet at Willamette University this weekend.  There was to be a Distance Carnival starting at 7pm with the 10,000 run under the lights at 8:45.  When over 45 guys signed up for the 10,000 (I guess over 1,000 athletes entered the meet making it one of the largest spring track meets in the NW) they split the field into two heats and my heat (the slower of the two) was scheduled for 3:45.  No running under the lights for me, as well as temps a good 15 degrees warmer than it would have been (70 degrees at the start, 10 MPH winds--ugh!)  So it goes...

I ran 3 miles around Bush Park to warm up, grabbed my spikes and checked in with a few minutes to spare before they called us to the line.  My goal was to run even splits as best I could (78's) and if all went well, set a PR. 

1st Mile: 78, 74, 76, 76 (5:06).  Not sure why the 2nd lap was quicker but that's life.  I was running in 8th place through the first mile and drafting on the homestretch where the wind was the worst.

2nd Mile: 76, 76, 77, 78 (5:12, 10:18 total). I'm on pace but the heat is getting to me and the wind is starting to be annoying.  I'm not a fan of wind.  I'd rather race in 30 degrees and snow...

3rd Mile: 79, 79, 79, 79 (5:14, 15:32 total). Ugh...I was consistent.  That's good I guess but I was falling behind on the pace.  The challenge was wanting to stay on pace but also draft with the wind being strong-ish.  It was almost like 'pick your poison' between the two throughout much of the race.  I had passed a couple guys here and was now in 6th.

5k 16:12.  If I were to run the same 3.1 miles again I'd PR by only 6 seconds.  I tried to stay positive but again, the heat and wind was taking its toll and I began to doubt I could hang on for 12 more laps.

4th Mile: 79, 79, 80, 78 (5:18, 20:50). My slowest mile of the race.  The 80 second lap ticked up off so I started to pass guys and battle the wind solo.  Now in 4th.

5th Mile: 77, 77, 79, 81 (5:16, 26:06). Yikes, where did that 81 come from.  I can't remember...  But I do know that I'm in 3rd with 1 mile to go.

6th Mile: 82, 79, 78, 75 (5:14, 31:20).  It really started to be a race with 3 laps to go.  I moved into 2nd place at that point and when I saw to clock with 2 laps remaining (30:06) I thought my shot at a PR was gone.  I'd been struggling to hit 78's and if I did 2 more of those, I would be above 32:30.  I was gaining on the leader though and by the bell lap I was just 6-8 meters behind. 

.2 (68, 32:28). I gave it everything I had.  I passed the leader with 300 meters to go and kept digging deep to make sure he didn't pass me back.  That's what happened at state track my senior year of HS--I was in 2nd place in the 3200, passed the leader with 300 remaining but then lost the lead in the final 100m  It has stuck with me and now I try and finish each race with a strong push.

All in all, I'm pleased with how things went.  I'm pleased with the final 800m and setting a PR when at the time I thought it wasn't going to happen.  I still think I can go faster.  Some things you just can't control, but if the race was cooler and no wind, I'm certain I can go sub-32.  We'll see if I can find another 10,000 but if nothing else, today was a good tune-up for next weeks 10 mile race in Medford.

1 mile barefoot cool-down on the infield before driving home.

AM: 8 miles. For some reason I'm not the least bit sore from last nights race. Strange, seeing how I ran pretty hard & then 30 minutes later jumped in the car for a 3 hour drive home.

Noon: 11 more miles. I simply ran out of time this morning so had to get out a 2nd time to get the miles in. Good week. I can't wait to race again next Saturday.

10 miles this morning.  I ran to Wal-Mart and back, plus a little here and there to make it an even 10.

AM: 9 miles.  I ran out into the flatlands (north of Redwood Rd) before looping around to RCC and home via the highway.  Hopefully more miles tonight.

PM: 11.5 miles in Coos Bay.  The weather was nice out so I ran the standard North Bend/Coos Bay loop and then added on a bit more by running to Safeway to buy some chocolate milk.  I kept things nice and easy and will do so until Saturday.

7 miles in Coos Bay.  The first six were dry and enjoyable but the last mile was very wet and somewhat miserable.

10 miles this morning.  GP received a cold front last night and it was chilly this morning.  Low 30's, which is fine 1-2 months ago but a little cold for April.  Even saw a few cars driving around with snow on them.

4 miles tonight while watching 'Running Brave,' one of the best movies of all time. ;)

5 easy miles. My legs feel heavy and somewhat dead. Hopefully they can turn around before tomorrow.

Took 4th. Just didn't have 'it' today. Not sure what the deal was. More later...

Here is my Pear report from 2009

I'm not really sure where I'm going with running right now.  By that I mean I haven't got any other races on the books and so today's race was my spring race--the race that I've been focusing on for the past few months.  I had ran the Pear Blossom in 2009 as my final tune-up for the Eugene Marathon 3 weeks later.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, loved the course and ran a solid time.  I thought today would be just the same and that a 51:30 (or better) would easily be obtainable.  Not so much...

In the days leading up to most races I get pretty stoked.  The night before is full of anticipation for the race the following day, regardless of the race size and/or distance.  Race morning is exciting, especially once I arrive at the starting area for a warm-up and then the juices really start flowing.  I love to race.  Racing is what makes all the early mornings and countless miles worth it to me.  Running is fun but racing truly is the reward.

I write all of that because for whatever reason, this week, and this weekend, didn't pan out that way.  Not sure why.  I was happy to run, but the pre-race excitement wasn't there and the race-day magic was nowhere to be found.  Maybe I left it in Portland?

I ran three miles for a warm up and saw some familiar faces; Max King (6 time champion and course record holder who 3 weeks ago ran for USA cross country in Spain and was the 2nd place American), Eric Skaggs, and a number of other quick looking fellas with BAC, PR, and Foot Traffic (running clubs from Portland) running gear on.  After a couple pit stops and a change of clothes I was lined up at the starting line in perfect 38 degree weather.

The race director informed us there would be a 10 second countdown, followed by a gunshot to get the race underway.  He counted 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and then we heard gunfire??  I was standing next to Max and Eric and we sort-of started, halfway running, halfway jogging.  Three seconds later there were two other gunshots so we slowed even more.  I think most of us quicker runners, being familiar with track meets and the procedure for false starts/bringing runners back to try again, were expecting a re-start.  So we stopped running but nothing was said about a re-do and a number of other runners kept charging away from the line.  Uh...I guess the race started?  So much for a quick first mile.  When the chase pack crossed the 1st mile (Max and the eventual 2nd place finisher had a decent lead) we kissed 5:10 out the window and saw 5:19 instead.  By no means did I loose 9 seconds in the confusion but easily 5-6.  I'm not trying to sound bitter--I'm really not.  Just explaining why the first mile was so off goal pace.  As for the second mile?  No clue why we were off on that one as well.  5:18's this year were feeling harder than 5:14's from two years ago. 

The eventual 3rd place finisher and I both picked up the pace after mile two and left the others from the chase pack.  We both commented on how we felt 'off' today and weren't hitting 5:10's like we'd hoped.  However after saying that we dialed the pace in pretty good and hit consecutive miles of 5:09, 5:10 and 5:09 until the turn-around.

Mile 5 included a slight incline and it did a number on me (5:21).  I lost ground on the 3rd place guy and couldn't seem to reel him in during the following miles.  As I reflect on my splits now, I wonder why I felt so defeated at this point?  The 5:21 was a slap in the face but subsequent back-to-back 5:16's aren't horrible.  I saw 42:00 through 8 miles and realized that a shot at a PR was going to be VERY hard (impossible?).

I just didn't feel like there was any race day magic to draw from.  I didn't feel bad--but I didn't feel good either.  I kept telling myself "this isn't a run, this is a race;" a mantra a college coach kept yelling at his athlete at last weekend's 10,000 but it didn't seem to help.  Again, I didn't feel bad but I was struggling to put up the fight I was telling myself to.  Two years ago I was able to catch Trevor Palmer during the final couple miles and I was trying to do the same again but it wasn't happening.  I hit 5:11 for 9 and 5:00 for my final mile but I only gained 5-10 meters on him at best.

Mile	2009 Splits	Total Time	2011 Splits	Total Time
1	5:11	--	5:19	--
2	5:14	10:25	5:18	10:37
3	5:14	15:39	5:09	15:46
4	5:15	20:54	5:10	20:56
5	5:06	26:00	5:10	26:06
6	5:15	31:15	5:21	31:27
7	5:11	36:26	5:16	36:44
8	5:17	41:43	5:16	42:00
9	5:11	46:54	5:11	47:11
10	5:03	51:57	5:00	52:11

When I crossed the line I still felt fine.  That was perplexing as well.  I wasn't disappointed, wasn't mad, wasn't....anything.  I'm not sure what to say?  There just seemed to be a lack of feeling with the whole experience.  I'll figure it out and hopefully get the body and mind on the same page for the next race.  I cooled down for 3 miles which included finishing the race with my sister who was completing her longest race to date.  (Way to go Jill!  I'm proud of ya!  You're going to do great in Seattle!)

Another day. Another zero.  It was an early morning and then a late night--just no time to run.  Hopefully tomorrow is better.

13 miles on the 13th of April.  Perhaps I'll do 14 tomorrow and 15 the following day?  Doubt it but it's a nice thought.

I ran Pre's trail in Eugene for 90 minutes.  I felt good and it was nice to just be alone with my thoughts for a while.

10 miles on the treadmill in Eugene.  For some reason I just can't stand to run in the rain in this city, which makes running outside this time of year awfully hard.

6 miles in GP. In the rain. Again.

20 miles in Medford.  Once again, this is my favorite city to run in, hands down.  It's the perfect size to where you can a large loop to hit 20 miles without feeling like you have to zig-zag and be extra creative to get some decent mileage.  And don't even get me started on the perfect weather...

I left the Walker's and ran south to Home Depot, crossed into Phoenix and ran north to the National Guard armory for 10 miles.  Average pace was 7:06/mile.  I used the bathroom, grabbed a drink and embarked on the second 10 mile portion--to the mall, to Costco and back to the Walker's.  This portion felt fantastic--better than last Saturday.  I averaged 6:15/mile and it just sorta happened.  It wasn't my intent to hit tempo pace but I felt good and my legs wanted to turn over so I let them.  Great finish to an otherwise pathetic week.

10 miles around GP.  The first 5 around the middle school to the fire station, the next couple up 7th Street to Midland Ave and then home via 6th street.  I ate too many Swedish Fish last night and paid for it this morning.

12 miles around GP.  I ran out along Redwood Rd and then back into town to the HS and Albertsons and home.  Finally a cloudless run in Oregon.  This week is supposed to be pretty good weather-wise so that will be nice for a change.

Not sure what to call today's loop.  I ran around Albertsons, then the middle school and hospital.  Basically I zigged and I zagged to eventually reach 10 miles.

11 miles in Coos Bay, OR.  Same as yesterday in terms of a course; lots of zig-zagging around the downtown portion of Coos Bay.  No rain!

12 miles in Portland.  I'm staying in Lake Oswego for the weekend so I was able to run one of my favorite old routes.  I ran the Tigard HS/Home Depot loop.  I loved it and didn't realize how much I missed this area.

16 miles in Lake Oswego.  I ran from the hotel into downtown LO and then the backroads to the Tualatin hospital (part of my old hospital loop).  I continued through Tualatin (McDonalds, Mashita's, the library) and then back past Home Depot to the hotel.  It was great to be back in the old stomping grounds the past few days.

7 miles with my dad in GP.  The wind was howling and rain came down intermittently but it wasn't too bad.  Typical Monday morning run when I eat poorly on Sunday night and pay for it later.  I dropped my dad off, changed my shoes to break in some new Lunar Elite's and ran a quick 5 miles to finish off the morning. 

AM: 6 miles on the hospital and middle school loop.

PM: 7 miles on Pre's Trail in Eugene.  I can cross an item off my bucket list.  I've ran on Pre's Trail a number of times but not in my Five Fingers....until tonight.  I picked a pretty good day to try it out; the earlier rain made the trail extra soft.  Pretty enjoyable but I fear I may have gone too far for my first fivefinger run of 2011.  We'll see how my legs feel tomorrow.

13 miles in Eugene.  I ran to Pre's Rock, then out to the Amazon trail (both east and west).  I circled back to the west and tried to find the Butte to Butte course from 2008 but never found it.  Eventually made it back to the hotel before too late.  One of those runs where I felt, both mentally and physically, like I could go forever.

10 miles along the Willamette River in Eugene. I ran along the south trail, crossed over to the north trail and then back to the University before returning to the hotel. Calf muscles are really sore from my fivefinger run on Tuesday. Really sore...

10 easy miles this morning.  A little cool but it felt nice.  The weather looks amazing for the Eugene marathon this weekend.  Wish I was running it...  But then again, I ran part of the course yesterday and remember how much I didn't care for the trail portions along the river so maybe I'm not missing out on much.

By far one of my best runs....ever.  I felt fantastic.  I'll write more tonight when I have more time but for now, the stats;

6 mile warm up in exactly 42:00 (7:00/mile pace).

12 mile tempo in 1:08:08 (5:41/mile pace).

1 mile cool down (7:41).