5k

Hi all, Race number 23 was the Fred LeBow Cross-Country 5k in Van Courtland Park. Goals:  I had run 19 miles on the treadmill the day before, so this was really just a test to see how well I could race after a long run. 

It's a crucial phase in the Colorado Runner Racing Series,. We've had nine events ranging from the opening 5k in January to a half-marathon, and there are seven to go before the Series finishes with the Panicking Poultry 5k in November.

I was feeling sick, tired and weak when I got to Potts Field for a key final track workout before heading to England for the British Championship 5k for Old Gits who Really Should Know Better.

I didn't think the flying-downhill lessons of the Greenland Trail 8-miler would come in handy for a 5k race, but little did I know that about two-thirds of the Cottonwood Classic 5k course spins gradually downhill. Not only that, but there were some groovy fast corners, too.

Cottonwood was the sixth race in the 16-race Colorado Runner Racing Series, and I'd taken a risk by missing number 5, the Colorado Half-Marathon in Fort Collins a couple of weeks ago. Luckily, I went into Cottonwood still leading the Male 55-59 overall points table and I was gunning for an 18:30.

In a moment of madness I decided that as I was going to be in England on business, I would take the steam train up north to Lancashire and compete in the British Masters 5k championship road race. Everything went fine until I sent off my entry form; then it all unravelled.

After having a great 10 miler on Sunday, I had a 5K circuit race the next Saturday. If it wasn’t a circuit race, I would not have gone because I was already signed up for a half marathon the very next day. I wanted to do well for my Fleet Feet team, so my strategy was to really try for the 5K and take the half marathon easy.

There are Three Desires I have about any race or time trial I go for. The first desire is to hit the time that will get the job done. The second is the time that I would feel really pleased with. The third is the secret time that, in my heart, I really really want to hit: a time that would constitute at the very least, a breakthrough.

I had all three desires in place for my 3200k time trial -- 8 laps, or two miles. Getting under 12 minutes would merit "Job done". 11:45-ish would be a real boost. "Secretly" I was hoping for something even faster.

I had a weird moment at the start of the Sharin' O' the Green 5k. I lined up in the front row, the gun went off -- and a yellow shoe came bouncing through the ranks. Now, blame the fact that I'd "just" got off the plane back from England or whatever, but for some strange reason I thought it was mine...

Hi all, Race number 6 (4^th 2009 marathon-qualifying race) was the Coogan’s Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5k.  This race is in my neighborhood, so I got to sleep in this morning!  Well, I woke up early, but stayed in bed longer.  We run along Fort Washington Avenue from 168^th Street until we enter Fort Tryon Park, skirting a big rock formation until we are in the open ag

Ooo, I'm so proud today!

Patty just emailed from Italy to say she DID win the silver in the 5k -- you couldn't tell from the weird way the world masters championships organizers post the results, and the slightly weird way these races were run.

My training partner and YourRunning.com blogger writes from Riccione:

"The 5000 was a final -- they had a slow heat and a fast heat. I was in the fast heat with two Belgians ranked under 17:00 and I pushed the last mile with a final 75-second quarter to pass one of the Belgians, so I did get the silver medal.