This would be my first road race, where I really went all out, in two years. The last time I did a road race all out was the 2009 Human Race 8K. At that race I had a average min/mile PR. In 2009, I did the 8K in 36:40 at 7:20 min/mile pace. Less than a month after that race is when I stopped running for 9 months due to my tibial stress fracture. The day I ran that race I felt pain in my left leg, continuing to think it was just shin splints that would go away.
Anyway, back to 2011. I felt pretty good, I had not goal, eventhough secretly I wanted to go under 40 minutes. I saw people from OHP and from Gear West, which helped get me going. Also, my friend Eric came out to do it with me. About 6 years ago, before I did triathlons and duathlons, Eric and I would do a bunch of 5Ks over the summer and he would always beat. No more. I have gotten a lot faster than him.
I went out pretty hard, and it hurt, it took about 2 miles to get into a good feeling grove. I had to remember to keep my hands turned up, so as not to drop my shoulders and to lean forward, keep the hips forward, so I could get more on my fore/mid foot. I think I did a good job form-wise. The good thing about this course is that it is mostly uphill on the way out and mostly downhill on the way back. I did not keep exact time of each mile, but I am willing to bet the first mile and the last mile were my two fastest.
In the end, my time was 38:49 which is a 7:49 min/mi. I am very happy with this time. Very happy.
On to the training summaries. Below are my totals for this March and previous Marches. The last week or so I have felt a little tired and blah during some of my workouts. Hopefully, that is not a continuing trend. I don't think it is, because I swam this morning and it felt pretty good. In addition, I did almost and hour of strength training, plus about 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer.
Total is a little lower than previous years, but that is ok. April I will need to ramp up a bit, mostly in terms of starting some speed work. If I have not mentioned it, I am not being coached this year, which is strange in terms of working out. Working at OHP has helped a lot, it allows me to get my bike workouts in consistently. I think without it I would have trouble getting enough bike in at an appropriate intensity.
So far this year, my weight has been slowly trending down. Hopefully, that continues.
I will break a million yards, since I started swimming in April 2007.
March 2011 Totals and Totals for Previous Marches
Totals and Averages Since 2007
2011 YTD and Totals Since 2007
