Training Log Archive: Mr Wonderful

warmup jog for the Lilac Festival 10K. Out and back on the gorgeous highway with a Mackinac Bridge view. Mmmm mmm mm

Walk from the school to the start area.

C • oh come on post the race al... 2

My wife and I needed an excuse to come up to Mackinac for our anniversary. So we entered the Lilac 10k, part of the Lilac Festival, and booked a room at the Lilac Tree Suites. Given the amount of sneezing since our arrival, maybe I am allergic to lilacs.

Based on my two previous races and exhaustive past results, I predicted a 45:29, and entered the 185-199 category - I should only need to run 7:59s to place.

Unfortunately I did not lose weight, so I was really at 203 lbs. Maybe it won't matter....

Weather was great! Maybe just a touch warm if you are 203 lbs, but certainly livable.

I figured with only my wife to embarass, I would go with tri shorts and my new sleeveless shirt. Surprise! Oh, Hi, Pastor's Wife JoAnne. Wonderful to see you!

The Go went off right at 9:30.

It felt so great and so easy. Something like 50 people took off in a lead pack..at 6:00 pace. Yikes, I shouldn't be doing that, even if it feels easy. I backed off. 6:15. Backed off more. 6:30. Back off again. I finally got to 7:20s by the bottom of the hill.

I took it easy on the hill. My target for most of the race would be high 170s bpm; on the climb, even 10:30 was good for 180s.

The climb...so long... Finally got on top and tried to roll 7:30s on the flats, trying to stay at 177 ish as much as possible, so relaxing on the climbs and turning over on the downhills. On the flattest part of the top by the airport I tried to open up a bit while still being comfortable. I didn't think I was too bad on pace since I only got passed once after the big climb.

But then, right when I needed to be on top of cruising, I sort of went flat. Downhill to the circumferential road, and I couldn't wind it up. I passed one guy, but later a woman passed us, and then he passed us back. I didn't have any thing left to dig for, it felt. I wish I could have kicked harder. I should have been able to pick off a few more!

My watch says 47:00 or so, give or take a second. 90 seconds off my estimate; AP may give most of that back for the climb. Gun time is all screwy, say 45:06 or something, but I stood on the start so I'll use my watch for PR purposes (no previous official 10ks).

I got creamed in 185-199. I should have contacted them to move up to 200-220, as I would have easily won it - I think first was 8:30 pace or so. Last I checked, I might have placed in M35-39, so I could also have run honest in that category. :(

I suppose given my weight and lack of running, that 47 isn't all bad. Maybe this will light the fire on calorie tracking and then my summer plan is to at least get to 20-30 mpw. I think I could pr in the fall in a half off that, based on today - without the climb I think I could have held 7:55 for another ways, especially if cool.

Looks like my biggest problem was fading at the end - I didn't realize I slowed down that much. There's the 90s right there. :(

Dearest wife was right about on her target, 63:15 versus I told her to shoot for 62:xx, I forget the seconds.

C • Now 3rd in 185-199 6

Back to the hotel, in a non direct manner. So easy to pick up a mile here or there when you have no car.

Tried to find the snow pile, but didn't see it or it finally melted.

Leisurely bike ride up and over and then back around, aiming to enjoy the scenery and not sweat...which was a challenge on the 155 bpm, 3 mph mega climb right out of the box.

Missed logging the pre dinner walk. Here be the post.

Poll: modesty (running shorts) or no thigh rub (tri shorts) for my 10k? (I guess both is option as well. This would be easier had I not failed at WT weight loss.)

C • For slight indecision, I wo... 9

Reduced for bugs.

C • They were starting to get b... 1

One potential SMOC summer off season project would be to update some of the sad, sad flags in the standard 31-61 lineup. One of those things only has two working strings so the flag always hangs collapsed. Another was probably fine in its day but has a massive rip or two. The contrast between Infiterra's spiffier new ones and the fading SMOC ones was very noticeable at the Fury!

Although that would take away from the flags available to get the new punches into the lineup, for which I want to have ready for Saturday night o hour of power if I decide to go that way.

I wanted to vote for 40 new flags instead of 20, but everyone's eager to get to the pot luck. :(

sump pump failed; today's activities are basement stair reps

C • Yikes 7

So Kidder and McKeachie host an interesting relay event.

http://www.wildsideevents.com/silvergallup.html

I only learned of its existence because apparently they are using SI for timing and I had the pleasure of being the last SMOC person with the equipment.

C • Cold hard cash 2

My best crack at our o course route from memory. Pink line is my one regret, that may have been a little faster than our actual red, we started to get bound up in fight going north plus it was extra distance, but my brain couldn't really crack the west to that building area route. It happens.

C • Route 2

Paced along wife's jog this morning.

Family gravel road stroll