50+ Masters Training and Racing Open Forum

Std week 50 minute daily slogs mixed grass and sand all barefoot

1 HIRT workout 4x30 seconds sand dune these are all out checkpoint best was 22 dropped below 20 but the sand footing plays a role but it was a nice surprise

2 easy speed 16 x 200 barefoot on grass every 60 seconds relaxed but pushing a bit with some variation keeping the effort about the same.

38-42 seconds with recovery 22-18 enjoyable workout

I might do a VR(virtual race) World Virtual Masters Challenge. Had this idea of a 2 race age graded competition :

Pick one:100,200, 400, 800 or 1500

Pick one: 5000 ,10000 or half marathon

Winner is highest sum of the 2 age graded percents.

Mopac wrote:

amkelley wrote:

[quote]Coyote Montane wrote:

39:47, getting the goal of sub 40, a bit short of secondary goal of under 39:20 and 85% age grade. I find it pretty tough to fight through in a time trial when it's just me out there vs. the excitement of running along with 50,000 people with that many or 2X as many out on the streets.

Excellent run! I agree about time trials. I'm not sure that spectators matter much for me but I'm useless without other people to race. I'm really impressed that you can do that on your own.

Agee. I don't need spectators but I need competitors. I have tried to do some "virtual" races but just can't get into it. I didn't bother last weekend.

^^^^^Agree X2 - TT are not for me. I have a hard enough time running alone at sub 'race' pace during track sessions. At best, I can stay seriously focused for about two miles running hard by myself. I do really benefit from having someone try and hang onto or reel in a faster runner during a race .

This afternoon was the first time I have run with someone else since March 16th = roughly 75 days or about 85 runs. The miles flew by while talking and getting caught up with my friend.

Training:

This was the 10th week of 60+ miles per week with an average of 15%+ harder stuff (up tempos at 10k race pace and short 200/400 session on the local track). I am ready to add in some serious harder work, but my target races are all cancelled at least through the end of July so not sense in getting in prime racing shape if the there is nowhere to race - lol!

For sure I am getting fit just hope I can cash in on these miles sometime in 2020.

Have a good week everyone....

After getting a second round of blood work done prior to my upcoming consultation with the M.D., I put myself on a course of prednisone, which is apparently the only treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica, the ailment I’m almost 100% sure I have. Wow, what a difference! Within one day I went from feeling about 100 years old to just somewhat stiff and achy, and continued to improve slowly over the rest of the week. I got in 54 miles over the first five days of the week and it felt wonderful to be able to run with something like a normal stride. But I got overly enthusiastic and strained a hamstring on Friday’s run, forcing me to take the weekend off from running. I did an easy 21 miles on the bike on Saturday and a 12-mile, high elevation mountain hike on Sunday, on which I was barely aware of the hammy, so it doesn't seem to be anything serious. Next trick is to convince the M.D. that I really do have PMR (assuming she can’t come up with a diagnosis that fits my symptoms better) and get her to prescribe more prednisone, as I’m almost out of the stash I’m using that was prescribed for one of my dogs a few years ago.

I don’t know when (if ever) I’ll be able to race again, and whether that time will come before there are any races to run. My local Memorial Day 5K was postponed until the last weekend of August and hasn’t been cancelled yet, but I’m quite skeptical that it will go. A local half-marathon that I usually run is currently still on for the first weekend of October, as is one of my two local marathons the first weekend of November. I don’t think that the chances of either race going in any remotely normal format are very high, and I don’t know whether I would want to run if the format were changed to Rtype’s chip-timed time trial type format where runners start just one or a few at a time. For now I’m sitting tight and not paying any money to enter anything.

Michael Rohl, congratulations to Michelle on a great time trial!

SCgal, too bad on the Netherlands competition being canned, but surely not unexpected. You’re wise to now appreciate just being healthy and uninjured.

Big Red, good luck on the Santa Rosa marathon going off in November. I wouldn’t put the odds too high, but it's certainly possible.

Good luck to everyone, stay healthy!

Olde Farte wrote:

I appreciate all the positive comments regarding my social distancing rant from last week. As I mentioned above, I was legally allowed to get my hair cut this week and it was a very welcome and needed event. Given the pent up demand, there was an quite a wait (75’) at the shop, but everyone was understanding and appreciative of the efforts put forth by the crew to keep everyone safe. All of us waiting our turn had been willing to put off getting our hair cuts in order to protect the health our loved ones and those of the barbers (not to mention their professional licenses and livelihoods). I am thankful for these unselfish people and know that the same sentiments exist among most here. Thank you for your continued unselfishness and consideration of others.

I wonder if the fellow on this page who bragged about getting an illegal hair cut gave any thought to the possibility of the barber losing her license. Probably not. If he didn’t care about people’s lives, why would he care about their livelihoods?

?

#besttomoldeoldefartee

amkelley,

Wish you the best on finding a solution. Keep your chin up.

Igy

Test

Long time follower of the 50+ thread. 1st time poster. Turned 60 this year and hoped to run some races, but plans have changed. Running on/off for 40 years. The Off times probably allows me to run relatively injury free nowadays.

Trying to stay focused by doing tempo/time trials regularly. Staying away from speedwork since there is no target races available.

Did 45+ miles last week with a couple of 5K tempos at 18:06/18:03, as well as an 8-mile progression run at 6:47.

glad you started posting; we can all learn from each other. and belated happy 60th!

with 5k tempo's in low 18's you must be in great shape. Hope you [and all of us] can use that fitness in regular races before too long.

best,

Dave

Texas runner wrote:

Did 45+ miles last week with a couple of 5K tempos at 18:06/18:03, as well as an 8-mile progression run at 6:47.

That's very fine running at age 60. Welcome to the 60+ club and I, too, hope that you have a chance to use that fitness in some races soon!

Texas,

Welcome as well. I coached track at Blinn College (82-83), Texas A&M-Kingsville (83-85), and University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (85-96). Good times as a 60 year old. You should compete at the USATF Masters Nationals where you would place very well while having a lot of fun.

God bless Texas.

Igy

Late to the party this week. Away from home travelling now restrictions have lifted.

Mon. 1 h 25 m kayak in howling gale. 26 min mtn bike ride.

Tue. Out on the mountain bike in the dark for 1 h 15 min.

Wed. 11 km hilly run in 1 h 4 m. with 2 x 1 k in 4.32 and 4.23.

Thu. 1 h 10 m kayak.

Fri. 1 hr 40 m mtn bike ride.

Sat. Hilly 19 km run in 1 hr 50 m.

Sun. Hilly 6 km run 37 m.

This week will be a bit messy training wise but I hope to do some running every day while we are travelling about.

I realised I have either paddled, ridden or ran on every day of 2020 so I better try to keep the streak going.

St. Jude opened the registration for the December race today, but I am not signing up... at least not yet. I think they will probably end up with a "virtual" race, which they are already suggesting in their email as strong possibility.

Illinois marathon officially cancelled the race a few weeks ago, and offered us three options. (1) Virtual race, (2) free entry to the 2021 race or (3) free entry to the 2022 race. After debating between #2 and #3, I chose #3. If they are ready to hold a race next year, I can pay for the entry.

My week was another planned cutback. I did 3km x2 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I plan to run four times this week, and do that for three more weeks before moving to five times a week. My knee is probably 95% back to normal.

RF reader wrote:

Illinois marathon officially cancelled the race a few weeks ago, and offered us three options. (1) Virtual race, (2) free entry to the 2021 race or (3) free entry to the 2022 race. After debating between #2 and #3, I chose #3. If they are ready to hold a race next year, I can pay for the entry.

I probably would have made that choice too. I have no confidence that races will be held a year from now. Two years from now seems a lot more likely. Of course, I'd have to balance that against the likelihood that by age 64 I won't be able to do this at all...

It's just too bad that we didn't modify how haircuts could be done during these lockdowns and follow how China did it.? And I think the Chinese know a thing or two about living with pandemics. ?

Not Done Just Yet, and Texas runner: Nice work! Damn. You guys inspire me.

amk -- glad you got a good week in. Prednisone is a real boon here. Just don't stay on it too long, as it has side effects. Over time it is bad for the bones, I assume you know the risks.

Not sure about the long term side effects of low dose prednisone, however I was on high dosage five days of each chemotherapy treatment (six). I have an eye exam Wednesday to monitor prednisone effects on cataract growth. The ophthalmologist established a base line in December, and this week’s exam is a follow-up.

Overall my volume is at 80%, and volume of quality sessions also dialed back some as I build up slowly. I hope to get closer by end of summer, at least for a few weeks, before dialing back some.

And I'm not a time trialer--even though I'm doing these sessions for motivation and to break up just training a bit--I also think having people in the race just helps (social facilitation). As for spectators, well that's one part of what makes BolderBoulder special, it's not the altitude nor the easy course. Everyone is out and it adds to the excitement of the day. Instead of NYC or Boston, why not run the Illinois backroads marathon? So that is a long-winded way to say, I don't run Bolder Boulder or Boilermaker because of the crowds along the way, more for the challenge of the courses and good competition. However, the community enthusiasm along the way makes races like these all the more unique and fun. Running alone on a bike path, just doesn't quite seem the same. And I won't be able to reach the level I did last year by running time trials by myself.

Texas runner, those are some fast tempos! If they are at LT that would indicate fitness at or under American record level for the age at 5K (i.e., tempo run for 16:45 5K fitness is about 5:50 per mile). But you no doubt know that. Keep up the good work and hope that there are opportunities for you out there this year.

Coyote...maybe they should be characterized as TT. I know I could not go 16:45, maybe 17:30 if I had a good day.