Hi , fellow harriers !

Thank you for allowing me to join your elite company. I have been a "pretender" in many ways as I've toyed with the notion of a sub 5 minute mile on my 50th. I have just under 3 months before I make my attempt. The question ( a legitimate one , I must admit )I often get is: " What can you run a mile in now ? " I need to find that out at some point. I finished an interval workout , two weeks ago , with a 75 second 400. This past week I did a 70. I was well within myself , but knew that my foundation ( virtually nonexistent ) won't let me handle that new stress. I'm going to turn it down a notch , and focus on nutrition and slower running on grass , whenever possible.

I'm in awe of what is happening in master's track and field. Kip Janvrin and Jim Sorensen redefining what middle age is. I am , once again , relegated to the realm of the mediocre , when I consider Jim's quest for sub4. I'm living in the Montgomery county , Maryland ( D.C.) area. I have yet to step on the track to race , but the guys I run with make it feel close at times.

Final thought - I always ran the 440 ( remember that , metric folks ? ) , and would run scared that whole way. I would hit the stretch and discover how I had done ( had I made up the stagger , or had they ? ), but it wasn't too much fun. Now that I'm focused on the 800 and mile , I have a chance to lay back and try to rally in the final two laps. There is always the chance that I'll lay back , and continue to fall further behind with each passing lap , but the point is to be in the race. I want to try to stay out of races where I might get lapped. So....I'm going to become a closer. I know that it's common courtesy to take turns leading , but I think I'd rather see the race develop from a good vantage point. Sorry - a lot of words to say " Hi ".