Cave Hill Classic

Made it to the run after a too short Friday night's sleep. Arrived in time to register and take a look around--yes, they really were going to have the finish at the TOP of the hill, in front of the Peace Pagoda itself. Back down to the parking lot, where I got the very Buddhist robes colored T-shirt offered, and then hooked up with Ivan G. It was chilly, and I wasn't keen to go down to one layer on top, so in the end I put the new T on top of my running shirt. This was probably a good compromise, though on the last mile I wished I were carrying nothing (I'd taken the saffron T off by then).

It was a great run, and I'll post more about it in my LJ. There were apparently about 150-200 runners (including the barefoot gal from the Monson half, and a few other faces I think I recognised), and while Ivan and I started together, I pulled away after about a mile. Couldn't tell how many ahead, but I seemed to have a nice balance of picking people off and being passed. In the end, arrived in 15th place with a time I'm happy with, considering the course.

Time: 36:21
Speed: 8.12 mph
Distance: 4.92 miles (sic)

Comment: this is a MUST-DO next year, and a good practice course too. I felt sore the way one would expect, given how little prep I'd gotten, and I'm still just getting by. But it encourages me for the summer -- basic conditioning seems to be keeping up, more or less. Might need new shoes before Japan though.

April 18: scoping out Cave Hill

After work and with much more to do, ducked out to see Cave Hill first hand. Found the Peace Pagoda, and on a very warm evening in adequate daylight, set off on what I thought the course would be. Strong downhill start, first mile up in 5:25, but it flattened out and then after mile three was uphill. GPS measured more than 5 miles, but it turned out later I had missed a cut in the course.

Time: 39:39
Speed: 8:67 mph
Distance: 5.73 miles

Comment: a VERY interesting course. The end is brutal, but the beginning balances that out: so you're left with the flatter sections to push on (but knowing that the harder you push, the worse the ending will be). After getting back to the car park ( and stopping the timer) I jogged up to the pagoda to see the view. It was great: left me looking forward to the run (and hoping for one more run pre-race. . .)

April 16th evening 10k

Posting this a week after the event, and I can't even remember the route I ran. Oy. That's precisely why I need to run more, and limit other activities further -- I am spread too thin right now. Well, I _do_ recall that it was a pleasant run and the I completed the 10k (just over, in fact) short of home and cooled off for the remainder.

Time: 47:17
Speed: 7.95 mph
Distance: 6.27 miles

Comment: slowish because I didn't want to push, but was thinking more of distance; I think some of this was trail running too. The last two "laps" (i.e. mile 6 and the partial mile) were the fastest, in fact. A surprisingly encouraging exercise, all in all.

Trying _harder_

Time is rushing by and there's going to be NO time to practice for the Cave Hill run. Still, I got out last night - just a short one, and after so long it didn't feel too bad. Did my home basic 5K and tried pushing it hard every time I got tired: this is a start on the way to CrossFit, sort of. The theory that short duration and uncomfortably hard on yourself is effective.

Time: 12:57
Speed: 8.47 mph
Distance: 3.1 miles

Not bad for solo on a slightly hilly course of an evening. Yes, I know the first run after a long off-time is easiest - but still this was good. Top pace was 5:00 :-0 When will I get the next chance, I wonder. . .

March 30th, two laps

Just a couple of trips around campus with Mark on a beautiful Thursday evening. Ran and chatted, nothing too serious.

Time: 35 minutes or so
Speed: 7.5 mph or so
Distance: 4.4 miles

Comment: not so much keeping it real as trying to keep it alive. Ouf! But it always feels good to get out there, especially in such pleasant company.