50+ Masters Training and Racing Open Forum

40.7 miles. Hobbling. Im probably taking more time to train now than when my weekly total was double this. Ran on the treadmill twice just a couple of miles and I did the last .25 all out. The temperature here is 113-118 so all of my workouts have been between 3-4am. With the treadmill and weight lifting later just to get out of the house.

I had so much fun going back home to race, I’ve decided on doing a farewell tour of back home races. I’ve stopped racing and volunteering here where I live.

The race I’ve got my plane ticket bought for really brings back memories. ( 1987 or 88) Another of those Midwest festival races where you smell either cow poop along the way or something on a slow cooker barbecue along the side of the street. This race was notable because I ran 17:41 that day and it was my third 17:41 5k of the year. Sort of strange. But what really stands out as a memory there was the time this real competitive buddy that I knew wanted to win BOTH trophies. The overall 5k and 1 mile winner. Both trophies were nice BUT as we tried to explain to him , the one mile is for the kids!!!! Middle School, elementary school and occasionally maybe one or two freshmen kids.

It didn’t matter. He wanted both trophies. He won a hard fought 5k. He and a University of Evansville runner both nearly broke 16 minutes and then it was time for the kids mile. And nobody left.

The kids were lined up. And here he came. My buddy and he was wearing track spikes! Everyone howled!!! The last thing I remember before the start was the little kid next to him… not quite waist high, looking up at him!

Well sir, he fell apart. I think he did finish second but one of those little kids beat him and the ground shook with laughter….he didn’t even pick up his 5k trophy.
And that’s where I’m going. So long running.

wow, some of the temperatures people are reporting sound awful. Plenty hot here (DC) and humid, but not reaching 100.

Cross-training and easy runs for me this week except for one set of strides, which felt ok. Ran parkrun as a progression run (23:51), and I plan a test track workout tomorrow before deciding if calves/hamstrings ok enough for my club's annual track mile friday night. From watching women's 1500 from Paris today I think I have the strategy down (run incredibly fast), so now I just need fitness, speed, and health.

have a great week,

Dave

I had a somewhat disappointing but unsurprising result in my 10k Thursday. I was hoping to keep it around 7:10/mi pace, but ran 7:34/mi pace. I confirmed that a stretch of inconsistent training at lower volume and lower intensity does not lead to better race results. I got the first mile out in 7:07, but then was stuck in the mid to high 7:30s for the rest of the race. What did surprise me was my race heart rate. My normal 5k-10k race effort HR the last couple of years has been in the 155-165 range. On the 4th I averaged 130HR with a max of 138, with my legs feeling heavy and slow. I clearly need to get back to my usual training volume with an appropriate amount of high intensity, high HR work in it. My next race will be the late August first race of our local XC series. Plenty of time to improve by then.

Good running to all!