Todd-
That race in Boston, over 1500 meters, was a huge step in my preparaton for the Olympic Trials in Atlanta. To run 3:41 may seem not that important, but I had over trained the two weeks leading into the event.
I had run a 3k in 8:09 at North Central college, in 88 degree heat and felt terrible the last 2 laps running 66's. Two days later, put in an 11.0 mile workout, with about 8 miles on the track consisting of 6x200's, 5x250's, 500, 5x200's, 4x250, 400, and 3x200 with bookends of 10x100 to start and 8x100 to finish. 87 degrees.
Another workout on Tuesday and Thursday, then the Pre 5000m in Eugene - 13:52.65 - I did not even write down my place. Not the form you want to exhibit 4 weeks before the Olympic Trials finals.
A 13 mile run after the flight to Chicago from Eugene, a 3200m paced interval at 71 pace, running 9:28 followed by a 5:06 mile on Tuesday, and another track workout on Wednesday. I was toast.
I took Thursday off, and ran 17 minutes and no strides in Boston on Friday. The first time I felt good, was on the warm-up before the race. Here's what I wrote in the log:
"1500m - 3rd, 3:41.1 mt. Felt really good. Knocked to lane 4 with 1 lap to go. Did not care. Just good to feel good racing again. Cost me the win. But really encouraged."
Next week rabbited the 5k for 3200m at South Bend, running 8:37, with 8:05 at 3k.
You had goals of your own that day, and ran the race you wanted. Here was a 36 year old runner ahead of you, with a goal of "hoping to feel good again."
js