Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! I regret not recapping my Boston Marathon!!!!!!
I need to do it and kind of want to now. But now I need to keep working at my job, so perhaps it will be up soon...now that I want to get it out.
Anyway, I haven't even visited my blog site in almost 5 months. I've still be running here and there. Won that Showmars race actually, that I posted about last....ran a reindeer romp around Beverly Woods in December, and was part of a 4 man 50k relay, which was fun.
I'm currently signed up for the Columbia Half Marathon again in March, and looking forward to running with some good running buddies: Carson, Mitchell, Josh B., David, and Paul.
My training the last couple months has kept me from loosing too much, while also not really striving to get back to high mileage/intensity weeks of training. I think the base I have maintained will still allow me to see the next level only after a good 2-3 weeks. Just a matter of time when I decide to up the ante. I've kept the legs fresh with some speed work outs on the track over the last few months, and enjoyed some easy miles with nothing more than 8-10 as a long run. Typically my average run is 4-7 miles during the week.
Well, that's all for now.
-Eggers
Showing posts with label 5k. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5k. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Race Recap: Greek Fest 5k
Good morning blog readers. Allow me to give you the story of the Greek Fest 5k...
This being my first ever full season of Run For Your Life's Grand Prix series, I can say that just getting through the season healthy is nice, but I had visions of myself breaking the 17 min mark back when I signed up in late winter. With two 4 mile races, the rest of the events have been comprizsed of 5k's. And I can say that the 5k's have been a struggle for me. I have run the 4 mile races at paces better than the 5ks, and just haven't had a good 5k all season. That all being said, I was really geared up to finish the last 5k (This Greek Fest) on a high note. Of course, given my race times this year, sub 17 was out the window as far as goal, but sub 18 was definitly something I wanted to accomplish, along with just competing against the field.
Since the last 5k nightmare, I have put in 3 good weeks of training. I am proud that I stuck to my plan, and stayed focused. I did 3 long runs every sunday morning with company in the morning; accomplished my work outs for the week; and hit my weekly mileage goals.
Now time to race. With the work being done, I needed to make sure I came up with the mental preparation that would allow me to squeez all the juice I could from the lemon. Noticing that I have done much worse when going out too hard the first mile (Blue Pts, Skyline, Twilight) and better when I went the first mile conservativly (Great Harvest, RFYC) I decided I would stay comfortable, and use David as a gauge whereby I would keep him in front of me to make sure I stayed in control. After that, I would try and negative split the second mile, and then give it all the last mile.
The week up to this race, I was in L.A. and didn't get back home until Friday night. Now, this was to be an Easy Week, as I was trying to really be rested after 2 solid weeks of high intensity/volume training, so with me missing my runs Thursday AND Friday I was sort of okay with it, although I would have liked to had a shakeout run one of those days. Along with that, the jet lag had me a little worried, as my body clock would feel like 3:30am when I needed to wake up for the race, since I was adjusting back to East Coast time from Pacific Time.
Pre race dinner: pizza...no complaints there. Pretty good nights sleep night be fore, can't complain. So the gun goes off...
I feel relaxed as I start off on the race, and happily find David up in front and from here just try and settle in. I felt way in the back, but I was sticking to the plan and would trust I would be passing a lot of these people in the not too distant future. The first mile felt more relaxed like I wanted, but I can't say I was exactly ready to hit it hard once I started on mile 2. My split was maybe still 5-10 seconds faster than I wanted, but it wasn't too bad. During mile two I tried to press the gas, but felt like I was just maintaining. However, I didn't feel like I was slowing at all, and still felt in control. Perhaps I fell asleep a little at the wheel, but David stayed equal distance ahead, and I was just trying to keep it that way until I made a final push. Also, I wanted to see what my second mile split was, before I set off too soon. Since I didn't feel as good as I wanted here, I was focusing on not loosing ground.
mile two was slower, but still not bad, and I started to really gain focus here. I recalled the workouts I have done and tried to get up on my toes more and work on my turnover. My areobic capacity is large, and I felt no trouble breathing. I did feel a little faster than my other 5ks here, but still never felt like I tapped into that next gear, which I still remember so well from my highschool and college days (the kind of gear where you start knocking off sub 5:30 miles). Anyway, I started to reel people in, and David came back to me some, but I could tell he was having a good race too and was fighting hard. The course turned us up East Blvd, and I could see the finish. See, yes, but it was very far away. Kind of a mirage, as you start to instinctivly pick it up, but then realize damn it's far away...I passed a few more people, but couldn't catch David, and tried to hold off the recent passings I just had done. As I saw the clock tick up as I approached, I dug deep and realized I was very close to accomplishing my time goal.
Okay, so, not a bad race, and it looks like the training paid off. Wasn't able to catch my friend/competitor, but was at least satisfied to end these dreadful 5ks with this performance. Very happy about the last 2 races on the circuit: a 10k then a 15k! Let the training continue...
Splits: 5.44, 5.50 (11.34), 5.43 (17.17), .40 (maybe a shade long?) = 17.57
2011 5k PR and 45 sec improvment from race 3 weeks ago.
This being my first ever full season of Run For Your Life's Grand Prix series, I can say that just getting through the season healthy is nice, but I had visions of myself breaking the 17 min mark back when I signed up in late winter. With two 4 mile races, the rest of the events have been comprizsed of 5k's. And I can say that the 5k's have been a struggle for me. I have run the 4 mile races at paces better than the 5ks, and just haven't had a good 5k all season. That all being said, I was really geared up to finish the last 5k (This Greek Fest) on a high note. Of course, given my race times this year, sub 17 was out the window as far as goal, but sub 18 was definitly something I wanted to accomplish, along with just competing against the field.
Since the last 5k nightmare, I have put in 3 good weeks of training. I am proud that I stuck to my plan, and stayed focused. I did 3 long runs every sunday morning with company in the morning; accomplished my work outs for the week; and hit my weekly mileage goals.
Now time to race. With the work being done, I needed to make sure I came up with the mental preparation that would allow me to squeez all the juice I could from the lemon. Noticing that I have done much worse when going out too hard the first mile (Blue Pts, Skyline, Twilight) and better when I went the first mile conservativly (Great Harvest, RFYC) I decided I would stay comfortable, and use David as a gauge whereby I would keep him in front of me to make sure I stayed in control. After that, I would try and negative split the second mile, and then give it all the last mile.
The week up to this race, I was in L.A. and didn't get back home until Friday night. Now, this was to be an Easy Week, as I was trying to really be rested after 2 solid weeks of high intensity/volume training, so with me missing my runs Thursday AND Friday I was sort of okay with it, although I would have liked to had a shakeout run one of those days. Along with that, the jet lag had me a little worried, as my body clock would feel like 3:30am when I needed to wake up for the race, since I was adjusting back to East Coast time from Pacific Time.
Pre race dinner: pizza...no complaints there. Pretty good nights sleep night be fore, can't complain. So the gun goes off...
I feel relaxed as I start off on the race, and happily find David up in front and from here just try and settle in. I felt way in the back, but I was sticking to the plan and would trust I would be passing a lot of these people in the not too distant future. The first mile felt more relaxed like I wanted, but I can't say I was exactly ready to hit it hard once I started on mile 2. My split was maybe still 5-10 seconds faster than I wanted, but it wasn't too bad. During mile two I tried to press the gas, but felt like I was just maintaining. However, I didn't feel like I was slowing at all, and still felt in control. Perhaps I fell asleep a little at the wheel, but David stayed equal distance ahead, and I was just trying to keep it that way until I made a final push. Also, I wanted to see what my second mile split was, before I set off too soon. Since I didn't feel as good as I wanted here, I was focusing on not loosing ground.
mile two was slower, but still not bad, and I started to really gain focus here. I recalled the workouts I have done and tried to get up on my toes more and work on my turnover. My areobic capacity is large, and I felt no trouble breathing. I did feel a little faster than my other 5ks here, but still never felt like I tapped into that next gear, which I still remember so well from my highschool and college days (the kind of gear where you start knocking off sub 5:30 miles). Anyway, I started to reel people in, and David came back to me some, but I could tell he was having a good race too and was fighting hard. The course turned us up East Blvd, and I could see the finish. See, yes, but it was very far away. Kind of a mirage, as you start to instinctivly pick it up, but then realize damn it's far away...I passed a few more people, but couldn't catch David, and tried to hold off the recent passings I just had done. As I saw the clock tick up as I approached, I dug deep and realized I was very close to accomplishing my time goal.
Okay, so, not a bad race, and it looks like the training paid off. Wasn't able to catch my friend/competitor, but was at least satisfied to end these dreadful 5ks with this performance. Very happy about the last 2 races on the circuit: a 10k then a 15k! Let the training continue...
Splits: 5.44, 5.50 (11.34), 5.43 (17.17), .40 (maybe a shade long?) = 17.57
2011 5k PR and 45 sec improvment from race 3 weeks ago.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Frustration (Re-cap of Blue Pts 5k)
I'm writing this days after the race, so it's hard to capture the true emotion I felt right after the race.
Had a good speghetti dinner and beers and wine the night before, and was in bed and asleep by 10:30pm. That's good. My legs felt fresh from my most recent easy jog on Thursday. That's good. I got to the race on time, and was able to warm up exactly how I watned. That's good. However, the weather was warm, and VERY humid, as we had a storm blow through the day before. That's not good.
As the gun went off, I found myself try and find my pace, yet I noticed I was in the group of runners who useually are in the low to mid 17s. That's probably not real good. Anyway, I didn't back off too much, and low and behold I hit the fastest 1 mile split I have had this year by 10 secs (5:30). Good, I thought at the time, not good now looking back.
As the group I was just behind started to move on, and I started to back off, I could tell that the first mile was going to give way to a tough rest of the race. I don't know how long I felt "okay", maybe a mile and a half, but as soon as we turned up Morehead (long hill of a road) I already knew I was done for. Having this kind of thought didn't make matter any better. People started to catch me, and pass me. In the last race, when the one person who came up to me got beside me, I went with him and was able to race the rest of the course. Opposite of that was true for this 5k.
Still, I hit 11:30 at the 2 mile mark, and my pace at this point combined put me in good posistion for a seasonal PR, but I knew before I hit that 2 mile split that I was fading. More people passed me, and slower I became.
I wasn't able to fight, and mentally I threw in the towel. It wasn't racing. It was aweful. I would pass people cheering and taking pictures, and would joke arounud with them as I passed. I was not into it after mile 1. Yea, the first mile was a mistake and took out my legs, but I think my up and down training gave way this race, which can't be avoided from time to time. At three miles the clock hit 18:09, and I immediatly thought back to my 3 mile split in the RFYL 4 mile race where I hit 17:30, and realized what a sad performance this was.
Thinking back, at Great Harvest and the RFYL 4 miler a few weeks ago, when I hit the first mile, I knew I had another gear and could start racing. At this race, when I hit the first mile, I knew I couldn't go faster, and could only HOPE to hold on. So, again, I need to learn to be true to my training (which isn't much) and respect that and go out slower, and try and keep it more even. That's part of it. I think the other part is that I was able to skate by and run off fresh legs at Great Harvest and the RFYL 4Miler, because my training during those weeks leading up to it was very minimal.
My training recently has been a little more consistent, with-out bachelor party and 4th of July trips, so my legs might not be ready for peak performances, and when you combine that with too agressive first miles, not to mention some of the worst racing weather we have had with the humidity, it kind of gives reason as to why I couldn't keep my legs going.
But mentally, it was not a good effort. So, I have 3 races left, and I am focused on finishing the series on a high note. Dedication to long runs, and consistant training, and workouts and keeping my mileage higher and still looking to build, as there are still a couple of months to go.
With .1 to go in the race, more people came up to me, and this time I fought them off. I closed in 32 secs, which is my best .1 of the year, so that right there tells me I just folded mentally.
Miles for day: 7
Race: 18.42
Pace: 601 (530, 600, 639, 32)
Had a good speghetti dinner and beers and wine the night before, and was in bed and asleep by 10:30pm. That's good. My legs felt fresh from my most recent easy jog on Thursday. That's good. I got to the race on time, and was able to warm up exactly how I watned. That's good. However, the weather was warm, and VERY humid, as we had a storm blow through the day before. That's not good.
As the gun went off, I found myself try and find my pace, yet I noticed I was in the group of runners who useually are in the low to mid 17s. That's probably not real good. Anyway, I didn't back off too much, and low and behold I hit the fastest 1 mile split I have had this year by 10 secs (5:30). Good, I thought at the time, not good now looking back.
As the group I was just behind started to move on, and I started to back off, I could tell that the first mile was going to give way to a tough rest of the race. I don't know how long I felt "okay", maybe a mile and a half, but as soon as we turned up Morehead (long hill of a road) I already knew I was done for. Having this kind of thought didn't make matter any better. People started to catch me, and pass me. In the last race, when the one person who came up to me got beside me, I went with him and was able to race the rest of the course. Opposite of that was true for this 5k.
Still, I hit 11:30 at the 2 mile mark, and my pace at this point combined put me in good posistion for a seasonal PR, but I knew before I hit that 2 mile split that I was fading. More people passed me, and slower I became.
I wasn't able to fight, and mentally I threw in the towel. It wasn't racing. It was aweful. I would pass people cheering and taking pictures, and would joke arounud with them as I passed. I was not into it after mile 1. Yea, the first mile was a mistake and took out my legs, but I think my up and down training gave way this race, which can't be avoided from time to time. At three miles the clock hit 18:09, and I immediatly thought back to my 3 mile split in the RFYL 4 mile race where I hit 17:30, and realized what a sad performance this was.
Thinking back, at Great Harvest and the RFYL 4 miler a few weeks ago, when I hit the first mile, I knew I had another gear and could start racing. At this race, when I hit the first mile, I knew I couldn't go faster, and could only HOPE to hold on. So, again, I need to learn to be true to my training (which isn't much) and respect that and go out slower, and try and keep it more even. That's part of it. I think the other part is that I was able to skate by and run off fresh legs at Great Harvest and the RFYL 4Miler, because my training during those weeks leading up to it was very minimal.
My training recently has been a little more consistent, with-out bachelor party and 4th of July trips, so my legs might not be ready for peak performances, and when you combine that with too agressive first miles, not to mention some of the worst racing weather we have had with the humidity, it kind of gives reason as to why I couldn't keep my legs going.
But mentally, it was not a good effort. So, I have 3 races left, and I am focused on finishing the series on a high note. Dedication to long runs, and consistant training, and workouts and keeping my mileage higher and still looking to build, as there are still a couple of months to go.
With .1 to go in the race, more people came up to me, and this time I fought them off. I closed in 32 secs, which is my best .1 of the year, so that right there tells me I just folded mentally.
Miles for day: 7
Race: 18.42
Pace: 601 (530, 600, 639, 32)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Summer Breeze 5k
I remember when this race was called the BB&T Summer Breeze. It used to be run downtown. Also, back in highschool, I garnered awards for the two times I did it. Today would be a different result. Funny how it seems I work a lot harder, but am running pedestrian like times, compared to highschool. I knew my training was light the last few weeks (9 miles, 9 miles, 18 miles), and that being at a Phish concert the night before is never the best pre-race preparation, and that I had been running relatively quicker this week in an effort to drop my pace...so I didn't think anything reall fast was in the books. But I was hoping I would be where I should (Sub 18!?!) Anyway, after a warm up - I was lined up, and let my buddies take it out quick. I knew Mitchell wouldn't be reachable probably at all, and Jason and David shot out a little quicker than normal - so I let them go. I held on and was right where I wanted at mile 1. 6 mins. Just like last race, I was at 6.04 and then was able to drop my splits significantly. This time, I would feel like I was upping the pace slightly, but the clock indicated otherwise. The field was pretty packed, so that was nice to work off others, and I made a good move the second mile to not fall off, especially since I clicked off a 6.15 for that mile. The next and last mile was supposed to be fast, so I tried to open up, but just wasn't happening. When we got to the Lake at Freedom Park for the finish I sped up so, realizing guys were breathing down my back, and I didn't want to get totally passed by everyone. I was able to ride it out and finish strong. My time kind of sucked (19.09) but it wasn't the worst race ever.
Time: 19.09
Pace: 6.10
place: 35th
Results:
Time: 19.09
Pace: 6.10
place: 35th
Results:
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Great Harvest Bread Co. 5k
I fully aware my content on my posts has diminished. I'm sorry I'm not sorry! haha and I also realize that my writting is cheaper and not as well put together when there is content. Just a phase. Times are busier for me, and maybe I'm just less inspired - blogging wise.
Well, as every race has started at 8am, David nor I really didn't think this one would be any different. After leaving my place at 7am, I ate a Cliff bar on the drive to the parking lot, and we parked and jogged down to the course start. We noticed there were people lined up, and we asked someone going to the line when the race started and he said "now." That's when I heard the race director say, "5 minutes until the start!." oops.
We were able to get our chips and pin our numbers on our jerseys in those 5 minutes and also get a relatively good spot near the front all by the time the gun went off at 7:30.
My goal was to go out slower the first mile because I was tired of dying in the race and coming in dragging. I knew I was on plan when I allowed myself to chat with David and Jason during the beginning, and felt less agrresive going through the participants. I hit 6.04 on the clock my first mile. I didn't wear a watch, so I only had the "mile clocks" that were posted to go off of.
The second mile I came up on a pack of runners and decided to take the lead for them. Another runner in that pack came with, and he and I would go along for the next mile and a half. He would surge, then I would go with, and vice-versa.
After we split the second mile, on the clock, at 11:58 I realized I dropped a negative split with my second mile around 5:54. So far so good. At this point, the guy with me went up a little and for maybe 8 seconds I let him go and receeded to not fighting and upping the pace with him. Then I snapped out of it. I used the downhill we were on to open up my stride and catch back up. Here I passed him and I think he fell behind for good right then. Less than a mile to go and I knew we had one more climb before the finishing straight away.
I was able to catch some runners in front on that last hill, and some more on the downhill/flat straight away. At the 3 mile clock, I saw 17:35. Awesome! Another quicker mile, with this one being my fastes in a 5k all year, 5:37. I tried my best to kick it in to the finish for the last fraction of a mile, but it wasn't my best effort. Rounding the parking lot kind of threw me off, and it felt longer than it should. Turns out I was probably right as many have gone on to say that their GPS watches measure the course by half a tenth or so longer. Right at the tape I saw David Brinkly come up to me, which was a surprise, and we officially tied on time but the officials gave me the posistion, which earned me my first age group award of the year. 3rd place, male 25-29.
Result: 18.22 5k
Splits: 6.04, 5.54, 5.37
Website Results
Well, as every race has started at 8am, David nor I really didn't think this one would be any different. After leaving my place at 7am, I ate a Cliff bar on the drive to the parking lot, and we parked and jogged down to the course start. We noticed there were people lined up, and we asked someone going to the line when the race started and he said "now." That's when I heard the race director say, "5 minutes until the start!." oops.
We were able to get our chips and pin our numbers on our jerseys in those 5 minutes and also get a relatively good spot near the front all by the time the gun went off at 7:30.
My goal was to go out slower the first mile because I was tired of dying in the race and coming in dragging. I knew I was on plan when I allowed myself to chat with David and Jason during the beginning, and felt less agrresive going through the participants. I hit 6.04 on the clock my first mile. I didn't wear a watch, so I only had the "mile clocks" that were posted to go off of.
The second mile I came up on a pack of runners and decided to take the lead for them. Another runner in that pack came with, and he and I would go along for the next mile and a half. He would surge, then I would go with, and vice-versa.
After we split the second mile, on the clock, at 11:58 I realized I dropped a negative split with my second mile around 5:54. So far so good. At this point, the guy with me went up a little and for maybe 8 seconds I let him go and receeded to not fighting and upping the pace with him. Then I snapped out of it. I used the downhill we were on to open up my stride and catch back up. Here I passed him and I think he fell behind for good right then. Less than a mile to go and I knew we had one more climb before the finishing straight away.
I was able to catch some runners in front on that last hill, and some more on the downhill/flat straight away. At the 3 mile clock, I saw 17:35. Awesome! Another quicker mile, with this one being my fastes in a 5k all year, 5:37. I tried my best to kick it in to the finish for the last fraction of a mile, but it wasn't my best effort. Rounding the parking lot kind of threw me off, and it felt longer than it should. Turns out I was probably right as many have gone on to say that their GPS watches measure the course by half a tenth or so longer. Right at the tape I saw David Brinkly come up to me, which was a surprise, and we officially tied on time but the officials gave me the posistion, which earned me my first age group award of the year. 3rd place, male 25-29.
Result: 18.22 5k
Splits: 6.04, 5.54, 5.37
Website Results
Saturday, April 30, 2011
CPCC Skyline 5k
I'm uninspired to really talk about this race, but I know I would value at least a few comments on how I felt and my splits, when I look back.
18.37 (1 second slower than Cupid Cup 5k in mid Feb.)
Splits: 5.49, 6.00, 6.11, .35
Reflections: Mile 1 started off fine. Not too fast like Cupid Cup, and not too slow. Just right. First mile was uphill, but I didn't feel too bad. Second mile I seemed to fall off, and people started to pass me. I thought, let them go, save it for the end. I also got a stich in my side. When people were passing me I didn't put up a fight. Third mile I wasn't able to turn it on, and just trying to hold pace became tough. Despite the downhill mile, I never was able to quicken the pace. Last 200m I had a nice kick, and felt like I was pretty fresh.
Overall, I would say that I just was not tough on this. I wasn't prepared for the race mentally, and physically it was just a bad day. I felt like I had so much left at the end because my legs were not tired and I was fine. I know I didn't race it like a 5k. I let my foot off the gas on the first mile, and you just can't do that. Obviously it's disapointing because I have put in consistant work since Feb. What I am taking away from this is that I need to keep on my training, not get hung up on just a bad day, and to approach a 5k with a more aggressive "over-before you know it" type attitude. Can't sit and wait.
18.37 (1 second slower than Cupid Cup 5k in mid Feb.)
Splits: 5.49, 6.00, 6.11, .35
Reflections: Mile 1 started off fine. Not too fast like Cupid Cup, and not too slow. Just right. First mile was uphill, but I didn't feel too bad. Second mile I seemed to fall off, and people started to pass me. I thought, let them go, save it for the end. I also got a stich in my side. When people were passing me I didn't put up a fight. Third mile I wasn't able to turn it on, and just trying to hold pace became tough. Despite the downhill mile, I never was able to quicken the pace. Last 200m I had a nice kick, and felt like I was pretty fresh.
Overall, I would say that I just was not tough on this. I wasn't prepared for the race mentally, and physically it was just a bad day. I felt like I had so much left at the end because my legs were not tired and I was fine. I know I didn't race it like a 5k. I let my foot off the gas on the first mile, and you just can't do that. Obviously it's disapointing because I have put in consistant work since Feb. What I am taking away from this is that I need to keep on my training, not get hung up on just a bad day, and to approach a 5k with a more aggressive "over-before you know it" type attitude. Can't sit and wait.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Cupid's Cup 5k
It was cold and I wore pants. Not doing that again.
Went out way too fast - 540 (all uphill), and then died. Mentally couldn't regain focus after "hitting the wall" at mile 1. Everyone passed and I just trotted it in.
mile 2, 620, mile 3, 600 (all downhill = no good!)
Anyway, 18:36 for the race. Could have been better (wearing shorts and not flying first mile.)
Motivated to improve so I can get up in the standings.
Miles: >5 for the day
Went out way too fast - 540 (all uphill), and then died. Mentally couldn't regain focus after "hitting the wall" at mile 1. Everyone passed and I just trotted it in.
mile 2, 620, mile 3, 600 (all downhill = no good!)
Anyway, 18:36 for the race. Could have been better (wearing shorts and not flying first mile.)
Motivated to improve so I can get up in the standings.
Miles: >5 for the day
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)