training

So I'm not progressing, but at least I've stopped the rot.

A 1:47 600-metre time trial is near enough the same time I clocked last time I did it -- back in April. But that's good: it's fast enough -- I just have to work on keeping that pace going for another 1009 metres - and more importantly my hamstring and butt muscles didn't seize up on me.

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'll teach me", is the phrase that comes to mind :)

I was upset enough about what I felt was a poor performance in the mile on Sunday, that instead of awarding myself ice cream and the rest of the day off, I took myself out for a punishment run. Abby and a friend visiting us from England were doing some of the Boulder 360, which is a 20-mile (or so) "citizens" bike ride on some gorgeous trails round the city. My original plan was to ride with them; I decided to run.

No, not quite what you expect to hear, especially at my age chasing a sub-5 mile and super-fast 5k.

What Ric means is I need to make sure my easy runs are...easy. And yes, the pace has been creeping up again. Even on Sunday's run at Magnolia and especially over the last couple of days, I've been finishing them at a brisk pace. I do start slow, but then finish as if they are tempo runs.

The result: feel-good on the trail; dead-ish legs when I get to the track for my quality workouts.

New research claims that expensive running shoes are a waste of money and may lead to increased injury.

Cheap and moderately priced running shoes are just as good, if not better, in terms of cushioning impact and overall comfort, concludes the study led by Prof R J Abboud, Institute of Motion Analysis and Research at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Scotland.

"There's no secret in our training programme", says Deena "...what really makes the athlete stand out from the next -- at an elite level -- is the amount of time you put into the exemplary things, the ancillary work, the stretching, massage therapy, the work in the gym, all the other things to make us a more well-rounded athlete."

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.

Wow! I have come a long way since January. I can’t believe I am now running a full 5K! It’s amazing! I’ve never been a runner before but I’m seeing how it’s a really good thing. I’m feeling better, losing wieght and have more energy. Plus my clothes fit better - I’m into my jeans easily! Not to mention I have some really cool muscles in my legs now!