SERENITY NOW?????

It has now been several weeks since the last post. I know I mentioned the 5k that I was hoping to run (I did), but as of now I am working on forgetting that one. I just put it this...after all the has happened the past several months I was not mentally in a place to race. I went in with a goal of a time and when I got stuck in "no man's" land about a mile in I shut it down to a comfortable pace and basically tempo'd the race. I felt miserable afterward and it was the first ever that I did not stay for awards even though I finished with a result that would get me a prize. I felt as though I had to redeem myself the following week so I jumped in a 5K down in Harrisburg with just the idea of running a mentally strong race. I did a better job that weekend. While the time was not spectacular (17:50) it was 75 degrees and extremely humid at the start and everyone ran conservative with the winning time being 16:50. It was also a slow course with three 180 degree turns in it. Mentally I stayed in this race and did not shut down at all. Now this week, I am planning on a 5k in Mifflinburg which has a pretty big hill about 1.5 miles into the race. Goal = run faster than last year and focus on that.

Training continues to go very well. I have been keeping the mileage at 55-60 miles per week and plan to slowly increase that over the next few weeks. I also have got back to see my chiropractor several times at it has made a difference in stride mechanics. I feel much smoother and the back is not tight when I wake up in the morning. Workouts the last few weeks:

Week 1
6 x 800 @ 5k pace with 200 jog
averaged 2:46 for the 800's

5k - 17:50

Week 2
8 x 600 @ 5k pace with 200 jog
2:05 average per 600 (hot and humid)

12 x 200 @ 36.5 average with 200 jog
felt difference in stride since

week 3
3 x Mile on road at 5k pace with 2:30 jog
hit 5:35 on all and felt relaxed and strong

will do 200's again on Thursday - not peaking for this 5K

So as you can tell, physically I look good for Saturday. I have been working on the mental side with some very good and sound advice. It has been helpful in getting me to be patient in this "comeback" if you want to call it that. even as a coach, it is always good to hear those words from another person. It really helps put things into perspective.

I look forward to a nice blog entry after this 5K. Next race after this will be the Summer Fun Run (3 miles) at Bucknell University. That will be July 17th.