Masters Weekend Races and Runs

Another week of 40+ miles, 7th in a row. Ran a low key 10K without much competition...imagined I was Ryan Hall except I was running 5:50's instead of 4:30's. Oh well, a guy can daydream. Felt good to get out and work it a bit in prep for the run at Boulder.

As runguru stated, woke up to 6" of white stuff this morning and went down hard twice on ice covered by snow. I believe I'm no worse for the wear but still a gorgeous run with the trees along Dyson Hollow Road coated with the white blanket. I feel sorry for you folks who do not get to experience that. I know...you want me to keep my 10 and 20 degree runs but there is something to be said for cold crisp air and swirling snowflakes.

Added "head hs track coach" to my resume' this week...anybody know anything about the shot put?

I don\'t know much about the shot put, but I\'ve learned a tiny bit about the discus and a bit more about the javelin. One of my HS kids took 2nd at the state meet last year -- but I think I\'ve learned more from watching her than she ever learned from me. It\'s a beautiful event and one of the ones I am tempted to try (that and steeplechase -- the same kid did both! ;-) )

It SNOWED in Portland this week, stretching my kids\' 3 day weekend into 5. I did run every day, though -- not because I love the snow or because I\'m crazy, but because after a while, you DO need a break from the kids! ;-) They made it hard to work from home, but mostly it was fun.

Ran about 9 miles in the white stuff on Tuesday and about 7 on Wednesday. Even after 11 years of running in Minnesota\'s winters, I still suck at running in the snow. Apparently my forefoot striking shuffle (no knee lift) is the absolute worst for running in snow. On Thursday, I ran at work, 45 miles south -- and NO snow -- it was great to get in my hard workout on grass & not snow.

Friday, I tried the trails, but it was just too frustrating to run more than an hour. It has been melting, but up on the trail, it isn\'t all gone yet. Today, I abandoned my long run on the trails to run on the roads watching the local 1/2 marathon. It was fun to cheer people on and I did find a little bit of trail to run on, but I won\'t be giving up Wildwood any time soon.

I\'m looking for trail/xc races for the next two weeks to prepare for Boulder. I won\'t be that fast, but at least I\'m a little bit thinner.

MG

Congrats on being head track hs coach ! very cool

This guy did my USATF Level 1 for the throws parts, and he was great:

www.throw1deep.com

Has videos on site.

I realize that your question was amusing, but...

Masters photo of the week;

Alisa Harvey, of Manassas, Va., stretches for the finish line at the conclusion of the Womens' Elite race at the 40th Annual Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile Saturday at Cornell University. Harvey won the event with a time of 4 minutes, 51.32 seconds.

Results are not posted yet

RE: Hartshorne Mile, there are some great posts including Kevin Forde's excellent "highlights" at

http://www.masterstrack.com/blog/

Being that I was 0 for 2 in yesterday's football games, my wife (a Penn State alum and therefore all knowing in the world of football)has suggested I refrain from such picks in the future...for once, I'll have to agree with her.

MF

From the Naples, FL half-marathon:

Women/masters

3. Terry Mahr 1:31:01 55+

Terry is British, living in Oregon, OH. Perhaps the best masters performance on the weekend (Harvey's terrific mile & Special Ed Whitlock's 5:31 1500m also in consideration)?

Awesome week of trail running in snow plus some skate ski cross skiing on Lief and on the trails. Snow stayed for several days. About 5 inches of the stuff.

Ran 14 yesterday starting at Saltzman including Maple Trail. Saw zero runners. Powered back to the car on the long grind up Saltzman from Lief. I figure it's close to 2 miles and I kept picking up the pace. A bit of life still in these legs.

MF,

Do post your picks so we can bet on the other team and make money. Don't worry about us.....

If you ladies and gentlemen don't mind I'd like to start hanging out on this thread. I'm not yet officially a masters competitor (I'll be 38 in March) but seem to relate much better to this crowd then some of the youngsters on the board.

I'm in my second running career now, my first was from age 8 to age 22 and included competing in high school and college (5k/10k). Then I entered the real world of work and marriage after college and took a decade off with only a handleful of runs in those 10 years. Well I'm back and have been slowly trying to take off the weight and build back-up hoping to get back into some real shape by the time I hit 40. My oldest daughter (10) is in the beginning of her first running career and I enjoy being able to run some with her and share our great sport with her.

I'm currently working on getting my marathon time down under 3:00. I've worked up to 80+ mile weeks and am now trying to slowly get the pace down some.

This past weeks work gave me 87 miles on 7 runs (the most I've ever done on singles (either career). My mid week hard workout was a 15k run at marathon goal pace (6:45 per mile) and my long run was somewhat of a breakthrough for me. I hit 21 miles (albiet flat ones) at a 7:03 pace (marathon pace + 20 seconds) and felt fairly good doing it. My next marathon race is Feb 17th in Myrtle Beach.

I've found that two good solid hard workouts a week is all I can handle (unlike my first running career when I could go hard every other day) and am just trying to pick the right ones.

This thread each week has served as an inspiration to me on this second chance at running.

To all its posters: Keep up the great work.

Who,in any way, insulted him? There are alot of reasonable questions surrounding his comeback. Right now he's just another former great who's not competitive. I don't really understand all the blind hero worship. I'm alot more impressed by those who have stayed with it over the years and are still cranking out good times. It's great that he is sober and getting back in shape, but right now it's really a non story until he runs ALOT faster. If you find that insulting, than so be it.

Well, it sounds like you're doing alot better than some of us older guys. Good luck at Myrtle and don't be a turtle. Sorry I couldn't resist.

Look my point is is this, if you have question about his comeback , go to that thread and discuss it. Why come over to this thread ? you either dont post here and came over here to bad mouth someone or you do post here and are too ashamed to use your regular handle. Either way its ugly .

Missed 15 Days due to lower back problem. Jogged a mile yesterday. Back is starting to feel better--probably still another week from returing to training. Sucks!!!

Welcome aboard MTH.

Good solid training with the right attitude towards hard/eas(ier) days. Injuries are the killers at this level!

I think that if you are not quite 40, but bring doughnuts in every Friday until you are, then your input is permissable!

Pretty cool to run with your kid. My son kills me the first few miles until I get warmed up.

Best of luck,

tony

Old Man by the Sea wrote:

Look my point is is this, if you have question about his comeback , go to that thread and discuss it. Why come over to this thread ? you either dont post here and came over here to bad mouth someone or you do post here and are too ashamed to use your regular handle. Either way its ugly .

There's nothing ugly about it at all. The first guy posed an interesting, valid question and I supported him. Is this thread only for rah rah butt slapping? If so, then that's too bad because there is a wealth of great perspective and experience here. But you have to be open minded. Too ashamed to use my regular handle? I suppose your legal name is Old Man By The Sea?

northwest master wrote:

Welcome aboard MTH.

Good solid training with the right attitude towards hard/eas(ier) days. Injuries are the killers at this level!

I think that if you are not quite 40, but bring doughnuts in every Friday until you are, then your input is permissable!

Pretty cool to run with your kid. My son kills me the first few miles until I get warmed up.

Best of luck,

tony

Thanks. Its a deal. Do you prefer sugar, glazed or jelly filled?

Its great running with my daughter.

Workouts out well, six days a week I get in my run first then stop back by the house and pick her up and we hit 3 to 5 miles together. Gets me some time with my daughter and some easy extra miles (except her tempo runs are getting pretty quick - she cranked out a 22:31 5k on her last tempo workout). Well hopefully I can keep up for a few more years.

but right now it's really a non story until he runs ALOT faster.

If it is a non-story why did post the question about him to begin with?

Terry is actually 55 +3 = 58 - that is an awesome time!