MASTERS WEEKEND RUNS AND RACES

Congrats to Single Speed and wife on Sam's safe and healthy arrival!

It's been a very tough physical and emotional week for me, with way too much running around. It was the week of our districts (state qualifiers) and also my daughter's last meet, so those added to my son's baseball and school Olympiad and the regular dancing stuff, I felt like I was driving all the time -- and oh yeah, there was work too.

My running suffered with mostly shorter runs squeezed in between other activities, but I wrote it off as a "recovery" week. At districts, my top boy (training on maybe 10-15 miles a week) ran a beautiful, intelligent race to win the 3k (and pulled 6 guys under the automatic qualifying standard). He's finally figuring out that he may be a runner and it will be interesting to see how this plays out when he moves to a small Texas college this fall.

But, my top girl runner missed the auto qualifier (we have a very strong district), in the 3k by .03 seconds. The top girls in the race went out far too fast for her (and then they slowed significantly) and she ended up running all by herself into a pretty strong wind. She was under pace at 1600m, but slowed enough that she had to kick hard at the end -- and came up just the tiniest bit too slow. They wouldn't let me view the film of the finish, but .03 is just the blink of an eye. She was devastated as she'd qualified for both distance races last year. Her best friends, twins, were *also* sobbing since one had a bad day in the LJ & didn't qualify and her sister, one of the best javelin throwers in our classifications, missed a berth by an inch. Sadly, I didn't monitor the measuring of the throw that edged hers -- they had kids doing the marking and I have no idea whether they marked it from the right spot or not (it landed tail first) and being accurate at spotting the mark is VERY hard. So, I had 3 sobbing girls to deal with.

The twins later qualified in the TJ and one in the low hurdles, but the distance runner gamely tried to make the auto qualifier in the 1500m -- requiring a good 6 sec. PR -- and crashed after 2 laps. :-( I admit that I have a heavy heart.

I was pretty mentally "done" after Saturday and tripped and then fell on my trail run that night. sigh.

Today, I was so tired I slept in and while I set out for what turned out to be a very nice 15 miler, my lovely children tidied the house (a bit) and made me breakfast. (No breakfast in bed for me -- but my kids know what I like!!) Too bad I had to mow the lawn myself!

Have a great week everyone. I am looking forward to the end of track. I haven't decided if I'll be back next year -- the faculty made it so hard to run a program, that I think I'm done (an outdoor "survival" week the week before districts? No wonder she had trouble with .03!!)

Plantar troubles now in 4th month. Dang.

Solid week w/crummy/worrisome Sunday. Total- 241 miles

Tues- 48m/23.0mph, group (take no prisoners) ride, a few flat tires, dropped riders over rolling/hilly route

Sat- 53m, club ride

Sun- 27m, felt awful from start, symptoms similar to past when I had low iron count (meds cause bleeding...), throw in rain, headwind and coolish temp...yuck!

Am working on iron situation today (test). I fear the worst.

On more positive slant- appears we have a new face on the masters front w/Carl Rundell (masters win at 5th 3rd 25km).

Congrats to the new parents!

I ran about 20 miles last week. On Saturday after a buddy's 40th birthday, with a beer and a brat and some chocolate cake in my belly, we managed to jog a lap around Devils Lake. I got a pretty bad sideache after dry-heaving an accidentally-inhaled lake fly, but I finished the run.

This week the goal is to run 25 miles. If I keep this up, eventually I should stop gaining weight, right? I'm at 186. 186 is about 30 pounds more than I was a few years ago, but I feel... normal.

Congrats to the new parents.

My daughter hit her first home run ever in her U10 softball game on Saturday. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to see it since I was working high school track regionals. Some good races, and the boy's team title came down to the 4x400. Even though my kids aren't in HS yet, the school we're zoned for won it's first team title, so I was happy (the school has only been open for 5 years).

I haven't posted in a while. Stepped on something during a race a couple weeks ago and twisted by foot badly - same leg as the hip injury earlier this year. Had to lay low for a week, but starting to come around now. Had 2 good sessions last week (4x 800, 4x 200 on the track and a hills session of 2x 2mins; 2x 1min) then jumped in a local 5k yesterday. The last half is a shallow uphill and I could feel the week's work. Led the pace for about the entire race only to get outkicked at the end by a 23 y/o firefighter. Don't like getting outkicked, even by a youngster, but I just didn't have the extra gears. The last 1K was 7+ seconds faster than the first 2, so can't complain.

JM

Congrats to the entire Single Speed family!

Mark down 42 miles for me this week. I've been lucky so far in the chemo department, with minimal side effects. For a while I was concerned that they'd forgotten to put the chemo drugs in my IV bag, but this weekend's massive hair loss put that worry to rest.

Seriously, aside from a strong urge to take afternoon naps (an urge I've been indulging), I'm feeling amazingly well. I spent part of last week teaching a workshop in beautiful northern Michigan, where I was able to run on pine-needle covered trails through the woods. I flushed a group of 10-12 deer one morning: watching them bound away inspired me to abandon my usual shuffling stride, pick up those feet, and bound a little myself. It may or may not have been good form, but it was definitely a lot of fun.

I really envy those of you who live where you're able to hit the trails regularly!

My first post after reading this thread for a couple of months.

Raced a 3000 at a very small meet here in Atlanta yesterday. Only four of us -- but it was the only meet in the area offering FAT. Ran 9:15, despite 35+ mph winds on the back stretch. Not fast enough to make it to Eugene, I'm afraid.

I'm now thinking of coming out to So Cal for the Cerritos meet. My apologies for bringing this up again, but what time of day is the 3000 scheduled?

Kristian

Spent the early part of the week recovering from Bloomsday. Managed a solid 3-mile tempo run on Thursday evening dodging the grade school track practice - a group who are very good about keeping out of lane 1 and I am grateful for their sharing of the track.

Saturday morning a 5K in 16:43 with two solid even splits for miles 1 and 3 but mile 2 with the hills and 180 turn were where I deviated from the plan. Turned the warmdown into a nice 12 mile run home. Legs were dead tired yesterday morning.

Bay to Breakers this weekend and then the racing madness (8 races in 7 weeks when all is said and done) will be over for a bit.

SSU - I might add some thoughts to what others have said. When coming back from a long layoff you lack the base that many others on this board have so results are going to take longer to come and being over 40 is an added factor. Give it time. As others have said fall is a long way off - we have not even exited spring yet. Build your base through hills and tempo runs and resist the temptation to hit the track for 400s and other shorter intervals until you have worked on your overall base. The miles this year will pay huge dividends next year.

This is the website for the So Cal Striders meet on 5/23.

Good luck!

Did we meet Dave? I was in the Team Nebraska singlet for the race, was up on stage doing the awards afterward.

Biggest news of the weekend:

Dennis had a 1:22:09 (5:17 pace) for a pending American (and possibly World) record for the 45-49 age group.

Dave can attest to the toughness of the course. It kicked my ass after mile 14. My longest race or run of any kind since Boston '96. I hobbled home in 1:53:25 but may have been one of the happiest cats in Grand Rapids.

Howdy Masters,

I'm late to the party this week but then I'm a bit slower than most of you anyway.

Decent week here, about 45 miles with two workouts that went pretty well. Could've had more volume, could've been a little more solid on the trackwork. I'm having a little trouble with the quality/quantity mix. Some of my "easy" runs have become little more than a convalescent shuffle.

Big congratulations to Single Speed and Mrs. Single Speed. Glad to hear Olivia is well too, 1500Master.

If a couple of you new parents don't mind my asking — and let's just say for now it's a random out-of-the-blue question for the sake of conversation and totally apropos of nothing — how old are the new moms and, if they're approaching eligibility to post on this board, did you have any health concerns regarding the pregnancy?

OK, gotta get back to work.

Have a great week everybody.

You and the other 3 horseman need to get together next year and write a book: How we did it: Age 40-47-

7 golden years rewriting the record book!

5/7 3x(3x300) 90 second recovery and 500 jog between sets 45-47 seconds

5/8 3.5 miles

5/9 Couple easy miles and 4x 100 grass strides

5/10 2x100 3.x300- 41.95, 42.2, 43.2 3:00 minute recovery between. 3x 200 27-27.6 seconds, 200 slow jog between, and 1x 100 in 13.1 from start around turn.

5/11 7.25 miles 6:11 average

5/12 Speed

Welcome aboard, Kristian.

Humbled, it's good to have you posting and really good to hear you're doing well.

3rd complete week of running since the end of a taxing winter.Managed a 1/2 marathon under good conditions at Eagle River, WI. 1:39:58 said the clock; touching base with the clan ,and soaking up some sun made for a good day, nonetheless.

28 total miles for the week.Taking care not to repeat the error made last year of trying to rebuild too fast.

Hats off to my brother-in-law who knocked 15 minutes off his marathon PR,in addition to a several minute stint of aiding a fallen fellow runner.

In an interesting footnote,9 of the top 11 places in the half went to runner's 40 year's of age and older. Is this a trend elsewhere in the country??

Congrats to Steve Frericks with what appeared to be an easy 1:15 win.

An especially good week to the new parents in the mix.

In the meantime all trails lead to Lambeau Field next weekend.

3rd complete week of running since the end of a taxing winter.Managed a 1/2 marathon under good conditions at Eagle River, WI. 1:39:58 said the clock; touching base with the clan ,and soaking up some sun made for a good day, nonetheless.

28 total miles for the week.Taking care not to repeat the error made last year of trying to rebuild too fast.

Hats off to my brother-in-law who knocked 15 minutes off his marathon PR,in addition to a several minute stint of aiding a fallen fellow runner.

In an interesting footnote,9 of the top 11 places in the half went to runner's 40 year's of age and older. Is this a trend elsewhere in the country??

Congrats to Steve Frericks with what appeared to be an easy 1:15 win.

An especially good week to the new parents in the mix.

In the meantime all trails lead to Lambeau Field next weekend.

Sorry about the double post(blush, blush). Dang touchy laptops anyway.

runguru wrote:

Did we meet Dave? I was in the Team Nebraska singlet for the race, was up on stage doing the awards afterward.

Probably not...I walked thru the chute, to the parking garage, changed my clothes in my truck and headed home. 15 minutes after I finished I was on the highway. I really should hang around races longer...I don't know why I don't.

No worries,

Mrs. 1500Master is 37 and has run a couple of marathons so in great condition. No health problems, in fact a very easy pregnancy. Quite a bit has been written recently about women successfully having children later in life - 40's, with few complications. I think that is very good.

Are you and your significant other going to join the Masters Weekend Runs and Races With Baby thread? The list is growing. :-)

SoCal Pete,

I'm not a master but i read this thread often. Am I correct that you had been using joe rubio's training philosophy in the past? What made you tinker with it?

Actually you already kind of answered that question. Any more specifics on generally what has changed in your training?