Tuesday 10/20

I took Monday off, save for a little light strength training of pushups and sit ups, and it was back to track Tuesday...
There was one outstanding goal not yet completed before the New York marathon. When I say outstanding, I mean in the sense of not completed, not in the sense of brilliant.
All else that I wanted to achieve I have been fortunate to complete. The amount of longs I wanted. The tempos I wanted including a sub 38 10k on a very challenging local 10k course. I made the goal of 10 weeks of 5 x 1 mile each and every Saturday. An encouraging prep race in the LBI 18 miler on October 11th with a 1.58.43 finishing time. The one missing piece was a sub 18.00 min 5,000 meter Time Trial. A week ago Thursday, I attempted it and just did not have it.The same again tow days later on the Saturday. Perhaps there were circumstances that contributed to the shortcoming but no need to go into them now.
Yesterday. after a new work schedule which began earlier at 3.45 in the morning, I was not sure how my new body clock would be affected; I was watching the wind when I pulled up at the track and temp read 68 degrees but it felt cooler than that. There was a soccer match taking place in addition to cross country practice on the track itself.
I waited it out for about 45 mins in my car. The flag seemed to be blowing less as time went by and the temp seemed to to be cooling as the fall evening drew closer. XC practice concluded and I decided to start my mile warm up and mile of strides. It was nice to have a bit of a crowd there (of course I knew they were not there for me but I am so used to running completely solo that perhaps this would provide me a little impetus).
My main concern was not the match itself but the bench players all standing along side there benches and spilling into lane 1 and kicking soccer balls around.
I had gone over various tactical scenarios designed to best allow me to accomplish the goal but with every scenario the first lap was always the same, run relaxed and run effort based. I could go for it in mile 1, back off, go again or I could go easy, pick it up late, or I could run even paced throughout. All had their pros and pitfalls.
I started the 5,000 and it felt quick but relaxed thru 200 ( but it can be deceiving; sometimes it can feel quick because the legs are tired and not producing much power) but to my surprise when I looked at the 200 split it read about 37 or 38, ( way quick) - this had the net effect of calming me and I told myself to relax thru the 400... the wind was there on the northwest corner coming into my way on the 2nd turn of each lap but it was not brutal and the temps were lovely and the sky clear. I came thru in about 78 -79 (also way quick) and now I knew I had time in the bank but it was early.... I needed to average 86 per lap in order to break 18 mins... about 2.42 at 800 and still way ahead of pace, 5.32.98 at the mile and it was game on as I felt good.... I had time in the bank, I could relax, and relax I did, cruising thru 8 laps in 5.43.51 (total of 11.15.5) - The big problem I had was having to run out into lane 3 and on one occasion into lane 4 to avoid the soccer bench players. In the final mile I ran a 5.45.98 then a 39.79 last 200 meters to close out in 17.42.26. I had allowed myself to take another shot this coming Thursday and Saturday if needs be but when I finished and achieved my goal I was thrilled to be able to set up my final 'rotation' (baseball analogy) of training prior to New York in a relaxed no rushed manner. I can really take my time and pick my spots now prior to the marathon.
I finished up the day with a yoga class and was extremely happy.