50+ Masters Training and Racing Open Forum

A brief check-in by this used-to-be runner:

I'm doing more walking and finding that the stiffness and awkwardness of my walking stride seems to be lessening. In the past 4 weeks I've done 17, 26, 27, and 34 miles of purposeful "fast" walking (which is now typically 15-16 min/mile) and it's feeling pretty good. It gives me some optimism that the upcoming hiking/backpacking season may not be a total bust. Running, however, seems to be pretty much impossible. The last time I tried to jog at all was two weeks ago, and ended by pulling a muscle in my lower back which led to debilitating spasms for the next two days. Maybe I'll try again sometime next week.

Meanwhile, I got the brain MRI that the movement specialist wanted to see. Based on my reading of the radiologist's report, he thinks I've had a stroke and also that I may have MS. I am pretty sure that the gradual onset of symptoms over a period of many weeks is not consistent with a stroke. I also considered MS before but of its dozens of symptoms I have exactly one, the gait irregularity. I will wait to see what the movement disorder neurologist thinks before getting too excited about any of this.

Looking forward to watching the Boston Marathon tomorrow. I'll have good motivation to do my first-thing-in-the-morning walk as quickly as possible to get back to the broadcast!

Wish you the best amkelley. I am becoming the king of hip exercises. Seems to be getting better, but my hip impingement may become increasingly chronic.

Hi AMK,

As long a you get out in the morning and do what feels food for you, we are doing same same.

All the best and a nice hiking season!

correct... feels good for you... :)

I'm pretty sure you meant 4x800's right? :).

Also, do the Dragonfly's need any breaking in or good to go right out of the box?

No need to break them in, but they feel different so you do need to wear them a time or two before their first race.

A couple of weeks for me to report.

Mon 4 - 85min

Tues 5 - am 45min including 6 x 10sec hills, pm 50min including 6x600m on grass

Wed 6 - 50min

Thurs 7 - am 40min, pm 30min track with 5x200m aiming for 43/44sec (race preparation)

Fri 8 - am 40min, pm 30min

Sat 9 - no running

Sun 10 - 3000m open graded race 11:05.10 (in Dragonflies), faded badly in the last two laps. Probably in part due to too many miles this week.

Totals 85km/53miles

Mon 11 - 70min

Tues 12 - am 30min, pm 40min track with 5x200m aiming for 45sec (race preparation again)

Fri 13 - no running

Sat 14 - 5km open graded road race 19:00 chip time/19:01 gun time, UK M70 record (by 1 sec!) - subject to ratification of course. Again faded in the last km, but rallied at the end.

Sun 15 - no running (tired!)

Totals 54km/34miles

May all your runs be good and best wishes to anyone running Boston as I post this.

Thanks.

ATP, congratulations on the 5k time! I'm hoping sneak under 20:00 in 5 weeks if training continues to go well.

ATP congrats!

Super run ATP!

ATP, my sincere congratulations! Hope your national UK record will be ratified soon!

Re: "Also, do the Dragonfly's need any breaking in or good to go right out of the box?"

I know you actaully asked Cavorty this question, but...

My experience is that they are good right out of the box. I think I used them for 2-3 400s several days before I first used them in competition to make sure no 'hot spots' or rubs.

They has performed well and plan to use them in Lexington this Summer. The little extra heel cushion seems to help me when I can no longer stay up on my mid-foot during a race.

Oops, sorry. Although I guess it was obvious from the times - in the 3:00 range that it was 800m not 8000m.

I've been very cautious with the Dragonfly as I haven't run in spikes in the better part of 20 years.

Didn't need to break them in. If I'd have been used to running in spikes, I could have gone out and raced in them straight away.

I might try the 3x1000m in them. Only need 3:50-3:55 so won't be going super quick.

Congratulations, that's great running.

I'm amazed that you can recover so well to do worthwhile mileage so frequently.

I'm younger - about to turn 65, and after a good session Saturday, could only struggle around 5 miles at 8:30 on Sunday.

Generally it seems to be one good session and then two days of 3-4 miles in 8:00+ to recover.

Nightshift week which is always tough on mind and body.

Mon. 45 min kayaking tough conditions 30 kph southerly blowing.

Tue. 25 km mountain bike ride 88 mins.

Wed. 12.5 km hilly fartlek run in 75 mins.

Thu. 50 min kayaking with a bit of tempo effort, less wind and chop.

Fri. 25 km mountain bike ride in 80 mins.

Sat. 14 km trail run in 85 mins.

Sun. 35 km mountain bike ride in 105 mins.

I also managed to squeeze in around 5 or 6 kms of hilly hiking each day. All up a decent week for me. I am hoping to add in a couple of easy kms of jogging most days now.

Great running ATP.

Amkelly: enjoy what you do while someone figures out what’s going on. Patience sucks but choosing to control what you can is a good interim option.
My wife had MS and she and I are watching the slip slide pick up steam. She is now a personal landscaper for our home and an amateur chef. I am the lift the bales, tote the barge guy.

Boston 2022 is complete.
Time-wise, I was 42:00 slower than my BQ which was last summer on a rolling course. I raced conservatively and was still slow over the Newton hills and into the finish. But! I place ahead of my race number, and I finished, and I enjoy visiting Boston, and I was able to see the race through the wide eyes of a first-time qualifier who is 65. He had so much fun.

This was my 7th Boston. My fist was in my mid-20’s when being fast really, really mattered. Never occurred to me that my speed was only of import to me. Love the arrogance of youth. I am now 63. I’d like to run Boston again when I am 65, just cuz. I’d really like to run Boston when I turn 70 because that means I am alive and still healthy. For now, I’d like to put the running watch away for the next three weeks, race the IronMom 13.1, fire my clients, and practice my new amateur vocation to my heart’s content.

enjoy the week

We have some things in common MagicShoes.
Among them I also ran Boston on Monday. Had a good race and great experience. 1:29-high/1:30 mid for splits, so it was darn close to even splits and did not miss sub 3 by much. Thought I 'd make it but kind of slowed on that 25th mile and couldn't make it up. However, that really that doesn't detract from what was a really nice day. They really do it up well in Boston. And this was a much better experience than 2018, the only other time I ran this event.

CM awesome!

Workouts of this week:

Tu: 30 min jumps and drills uphill, 6x60m uphill

Sa: 6x200m with 3 min walk (200m) in 32 sec

After first track workout last week the legs were fried for 3 days... Kept the acid lower this Saturday. It is a loooong way to go...😀 (and a lot of fun).

Stay/get healthy