Busy week / Ras 5K

Monday, March 10: 8:30PM - 4 Miles, 28 min (after traveling)
Tuesday, March 11: 6:00PM - Track workout @ Reggie - 22 min w/u, 5 x 2400m w/ 1.5mr - 7:39, 7:38, 7:37, 7:39, 7:36, 23 min c/d
Wednesday, March 12: 0 Miles (bad day at work)
Thursday, March 13: 8:00AM - 8 Miles, 52 min
Friday, March 14: 0 Miles (another long day with no time to run)
Saturday, March 15: 7:30AM - 10 Miles, 66 min in the Fells w/ Goode and Diesel
Sunday, March 16: 11:00AM - Ras na hEireann USA 5K - 14:57 (1st), 22 min w/u, 22 min c/d
6:00PM - 4 Miles, 28 min

Week Total = 50 Miles, 1 track workout, 1 race, 2 days off

Another busy week for me with many distraction (both good and bad). My training was very sporadic and it certainly wasn't what I was hoping for mileage wise. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to balance everything. This is something I'll have to remedy in the upcoming weeks. Needless to say, there was a lot going on this week so I'll try to sum up the highlights for you.

I started the week by spending some time up in Maine with my folks, where I was able to get some things done, see some friends, and spend some quality time with Kim. I didn't get a chance to run in Auburn and I got back to Medford pretty late so I just put in a few miles to loosen up the legs. Tuesday's workout went really well and was one of my better sessions of 2008, as well as my longest track workout ever. I joined up with Ryan C. for 7.5 miles of tempo stuff and felt really really comfortable at 5:05 pace. Ryan's training is going really well right now (as evident in New Bedford today) so it was great to be able to cruise through that workout with him. So Tuesday ended on a good note, but was soon pushed aside as Wednesday started and continued throughout the day with several bad notes. It was my worst day at work yet as "The Edge" was further torn apart by Marathon Sports and I was tossed around in the mix with a complete lack of respect or acknowledgement of my capabilities to manage this store. I won't go into it anymore, but I just hope there won't be too many more days like that one. I didn't have time to run in the morning and as I was lacing up my shoes to go out for what would have been a terrible run, I was thankfully interrupted by my good friend and confidant, Mark Driscoll. We talked for over an hour and, per usual, finished the conversation feeling much better about everything. I didn't get out for a run that night but I think the hour with Mark proved to be more beneficial than any run I was about to do. After a good night sleep, I had a great run Thursday morning on the trails followed by a not so great 11 hour day at work, concluded with a long conversation with Mario that evening (another needed mental boost).

Friday was another busy day with more distractions, but they were great distractions. Several of my friends, past teammates, and former roommates were in town and we all spent the evening together. As some of you will understand, an evening with Goodie, Chuck Diesel, Dave Manz, Triple H, and Mad Dog Maloney is never a dull experience especially when you throw in lots of Brazilian BBQ and one too many Gin and Tonics for Dave Manz. After a great night with the crew... Chuck, Goodie and I had a great run up in the fells and I went in to work for what was another busy day.

Finally, Sunday rolled around and I had a race to run. I didn't have any expectations going into it and no real goals other than to run at a hard but comfortable effort. Keith Kelly had to scratch from the race as he's been having some knee trouble so I figured my chances were pretty good. Nick Weidman took it out hard leading the first half mile but then backed off and I took over the lead. I hit the mile in 4:38 with about a 10 meter lead and ran the rest of the race by myself. I finished comfortably in 14:57, 17 seconds over Wilson Perez and 33 seconds over Nick. I felt this was a solid effort for this point in my training and therefore happy with the result. The post race party was great as we all went over to the Burren for free beer and food. I caught up with Carter and Jen, made the mistake of offering Jen a beer on her birthday, hung out with Mariko and Nick quite a bit, and had a great time talking with Bill Rodgers, Rosemary Ryan, and Charlie Breagy. Throw in $400 in prize money and I'd say it was a pretty good way to close out the week.

Now, I have another day of work ahead of me and then I get a nice little break as I'm venturing down to North Carolina Tuesday morning and returning on Sunday. I think this trip will be very beneficial for me both mentally and physically and will be a good start to better training, better attitudes, more rest, and overall rejuvenation.

Lastly, as promised, here is my tentative spring schedule (as it stands right now)

April 11 - Bucknell Bison Distance Carnival (5K) - if I feel ready to go
April 25 - Oregon Relays (5K)
May 9 - Oregon Twilight (5K)
May 24 ? - Boston High Performance Meet? (1500?)
June 7 - Midwest Distance Solution @ Hillsdale (5K) - last chance!
June 27 - Olympic Trials ?????