week 10: a long time coming

(Monday, 10 March)
Ran pretty easy today, didn't sleep well last night though. It's very warm out, so I need to be drinking lots of water. Still deciding on what to do (5k/10k) on Friday. I've thought about the ODC so many times over the last year it's hard to be almost there with no real plan. I guess sometimes things don't work out the way you think they will.

(Tuesday, 11 March)
I've decided to do the 10k on Friday. I don't have the speed I need to run a 5k right now that I will be happy with, and honestly, I think running a bad 5k at this point would be more disappointing than running a bad 10k. I need 10k experience if I'm going to make another shot at the record this year, and this is my chance to get that experience. It will be a big mental effort. Last year, my physical effort was good, but I thought at the time that my mental toughness wasn't there. Maybe, this can be an opportunity for me to be mentally tough the whole way, even if the physical effort is not quite returned. My other options for the 10k this season seem to be a meet at Chabot College on April 4th, and a meet at San Mateo later on in May. Let me know if anyone reading this knows of more local 10k's.

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Workout: PM. It was HOT today, I was sweating like a donkey. So, I think it was particularly tough. Ran an easy track workout with Scott: 2 x mile, 2 x 800. The goal was to be slightly above race pace, but I ended up faster than that: 6.48, 6.54, 3.18, 3.12. The first mile felt easy. I couldn't believe it after how impossible that pace felt last week. I'm going to have to remember to take it really easy the first part of the 10k on Friday and then start notching it up.

I may have given myself more rest than I should have (about 3 minutes of jogging in between the miles, jog down to the hammer cage and back between the 800s). But, it felt good to just practice staying in control and holding a pace. I didn't want to tire myself out too much.

I would have felt great about this workout if Bob didn't tell me afterwards he thought I looked tired. :(

(Wednesday, 12 March)
Ran easy on the South field for about 45 minutes, part of the time with Chief, part of the time with Heather. Got some good vibes for Friday. Feeling pretty good, trying to keep it easy. Eating real well these days because my folks are in town until tomorrow. :) Just trying to take care of biznatch.

Also, getting a bit worried about Friday. When I think about it my tummy gets all fluttery and my heart rate goes up ridiculously. Gotta visualize. Gotta plan. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do all day on Friday.

---------------- BIG GAP (slacking and visiting grad schools)--------------------
Just a note, when this happens I usually keep my spreadsheet up to date, if you really need a Breedog moment.
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(Thursday, 13 March)
Prerace on the NF. I have silly, silly looking legs that when I tried to wear the bummies it looked stupider than a tutu-wearing gorilla. My judgement: they're all the embarrassment of going streaking, with none of the things that make it fun.

(Friday, 14 March)
Oxy 10k.
Spent all day being really, really freaked out and feeling like I was going to puke. Why do these things have to be at night?! What am I supposed to do all day?

The 10k felt good, and it was overwhelmingly due to the fact that I felt focused and relaxed during the race. I didn't try to do anything bold; I just wanted a solid, even time that I could feel good about even if it was slow (I wanted it to just be consistent). The plan was to hold the first 3 miles at 7 pace and then to reassess. I didn't want to be jumping all over the place pace-wise.

Lots of really helpful folks were there: Phyllis, Jasper, Zane, Jeremy, Howard, Dave, Megumi... so I felt a lot of support (also the Oxy guys were cheering, that made me feel un poquito bashful). Another helpful tidbit was that Phyllis told me to stride every so often, and it helped me stay at my pace, because I was regularly increasing past the pace and then relaxing back into it. I tried to stay on my toes and have good form as much as possible. Splits were 6.55,7.07, 7.00, 6.56, 7.02, 6.50, 1.26 (last mile 6.32!).

I think I have a lot more in me at this distance (sub 43!) especially with better prep than I've had the last month, and a little more boldness. The focus was key. Definitely a breakthrough in that department. All in all, not a fast performance, but a valuable one.

(Saturday, 15 March)
Off, travel to Stanford. Calves sore, such a long day. Not a great impression of the egos at Stanford, but some really neat research.

(Sunday, 16 March)
Off, travel to UBC. Calves even more sore! Good solid bonding time with my mom. Rainy and a little cold. Lots of walking around the campus, so I was not completely sedentary.