Sunday, January 31, 2010

FITCHBURG 10K; 50:55 (3min PB)

Hmmmmm.  Well I'm not sure what to think.  This was a very lowkey race-only 50+ runners maybe?  And I mean lowkey...popsiscle sticks and everything.  The course was on a very busy road making me even MORE excited to hit the trails....also a very negative split return out and back...interesting.  BUT  this was the first race I could kind of pick people off and not get constantly passed- even on the downhill return.  My lower legs hurt again and I still feel like I don't have much of a "stride"or a proper or efficient one- like I'm slapping the road (ouchie), not sure what it is- these are things I need to work on.  In any case I wasn't comfortable until mile 4 like usual, which is why the half marathon is my favorite distance, and I need to come up with a warm-up routine because i think those early miles are uncomfortable because I don't have one....another thing to work on.  I did PB by over 3 minutes in 30 days of work so I guess I can't complain really.  I did ammend my goal for New Bedford to 1:52 - its only 2 minutes, but I don't want to set myself up for disappointment- sub 1:50 for another year.  I think that is more realistic- after taking off 12 minutes last year I have to be aware that the chunks of time will be harder and harder to take off! Don't want to get greedy and end up discouraged.

It was a good way to get a quality run in, I wouldn't push myself that hard on my own I don't think.  And chatting about running, running people, and upcoming running goals is always fun with a friend (that's your shout out Karen G!).  Karen picked a great place to eat afterward and I think we have a lot of miles to put in together as she prepares for Boston. 

So the take home lessons today:
1. GET A WARM-UP ROUTINE!
2. GET COMFORTABLE/EFFICIENT IN STRIDE
3. FIX LOWER LEG PAIN (I wish I knew an athletic trainer....oh wait...)
4. CAR EXHAUST SUCKS, CAN'T WAIT FOR TRAILS!
5. MORE RUNNING WITH OTHERS (Karen G, Jenny P)

I'm not going to run the Half at the Hamptons, but rather Foxboro 10miler and then Amherst 10miler the following weekend (almost just want to watch that one, all the fast boys and girls will be there).  I think I may ammend my HM goal after those- who knows.  It's a process....and I love it....

2 comments:

  1. Jen, I think you looked great out there today! Great effort! So good to see you snag another PR...Yes, we should have warmed up...all the best runners warm up; esp. for these shorter distances-- it can make the difference of a few seconds or even a lot of seconds. You were great company-- I can talk "running" til the 'cows come home' ...always good to have someone of like mind to talk to... We MUST get out there and do some long runs; it will be good for both of us! Again, nice work today! :)

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  2. Ok so we need to plan a run we can do together. I have a few weekends in May I would be able to do something, do you have anything in your area? I'm just getting over being sick, today was my first day back in the gym in 5 days. I was sweating pretty bad, not like workout sweat but sick sweat, is that bad? lol. Kudos on the run this weekend!!

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