2/5/2018 to 2/11/2018: Training & 2018 BU Valentine 1-Mile Race Report

The BU Valentine Invitational is pretty dang hectic.  Same as every year, I showed up early in order to wait around 2+ hours for my heat.  Not a huge deal except my ~4m run to the track serves as a probably-a-little-early warm up.  But, at least I was rewarded with watching an entertaining heat 1, where Craig Engels ran 3:53. 

After watching heat after heat after heat of the mile, I started to feel the adrenaline pumping and decided to do an hour+ warm up.  I bumped into Andrew Holmes, an old HFC rival, and we did some outdoor miles in the unusually nice outdoor temps.  With time to spare, I was able to get inside, spike up, and do some strides in the outside lanes.  Once on the line, I was hoping for a fast opening lap...

I struggled to find room on the rail, and didn't feel that bounce in my legs that said, "lead it!"...so I impatiently looked for an opening, which wouldn't reveal itself until just after 600 meters.  Once on the rail, I didn't feel very comfortable.  I wasn't gassed, which is encouraging, but I felt tight.  After re-watching some of the race I can tell I'm not running relaxed - especially through the shoulders.  

The lead runner was leaving a small gap along the rail, and I was tempted to squeeze through but it was early and that could lead to some unnecessary carnage.  Coming around the turn at the half mile mark, a BU runner looked to squeeze in, but I wasn't about to give up my spot on the rail and gave him a friendly "no-room" forearm.  He actually responded right away by staying on the outside and not forcing himself in...so instead he hammered it to the front and dropped the field!

I stayed the course and tried to press just a bit with 400 to go, and again at the bell.  There was not much pop though.  In the end I finished 5th in my heat in a time of 4:40.59.  A PR by something like 4 seconds, but not quite satisfying...

Splits, roughly:

35.92

33.99

34.85

35.54

35.59

35.47

1:08.76 (didn't catch the 7th lap split)

Training Data:

5-Feb		MLR Moderate		1:12:52		10.11		AM: 10m commute at 7:13/mile.
		Easy		1:03:21		8.22		PM: 8+ home at 7:42/mile.  Ran most of it in the low 7s before meeting up with Eli and Raleigh for the final 2m.
6-Feb		Harvard Track		1:24:52		10.53		AM: Harvard Track.  200x2/(400x4)x2/200x2.  1min rest between reps, 2min between sets.  400s alternating a little slower and a little faster than mile pace.  Workout didn't go great.
		Easy		0:48:35		6.44		PM: 6+ at 7:33/mile.  Tried to nap, but couldn't.  Pretty tired for this one.
7-Feb		Easy		1:03:18		8.17		AM: 8m commute at 7:45/mile.  A bit sluggish.
		Easy		0:55:28		6.31		PM: 6+ commute home in freezing rain & slush, no traction, bonked.  Generally no fun.  Went to LYMBR in Newton at 7pm for a free stretch session though, that was good.
8-Feb		Easy		1:04:52		8.05		AM: 8+ at around 8 flat.  Felt alright, just all ice and slow going even with the yaktrax.
		BU Track		1:00:00		10.16		PM: Commute home then BU.  200/600x3/200x2.  Felt pretty dang solid.
9-Feb		Easy		1:03:36		8.17		AM: 8+ at 7:47/mile.
		Easy		0:46:48		6.16		PM: 6+ at 7:36/mile.
10-Feb		Valentine Invite		1:00:00		8		AM: Ran to BU, checked in, waited, warmed up.  Then ran to TJs after the race.
		Valentine Invite		0:04:40		1		PM: 4:40.59
11-Feb		CSU Long Run		2:34:21		20.18		AM: 20+ at 7:39/mile with the CSU crew followed up by awesome breakfast made by me.
		Off		0:00:00		0		PM:  Worked on the hallway.

2/6 Splits:

200-35.0

200-35.2

400-1:13.6

400-1:10.4

400-1:11.7

400-1:10.6

400-1:11.2

400-1:09.0

400-1:12.4

400-1:09.6

200-32.3

200-31.2

2/8 Splits:

200-33.7

600-1:45.3

600-1:45.2

600-1:43.2

200-33.4

200-33.4

Total: 111.5