4/2/2018 to 4/15/2018: Terrible Taper & 2018 Doyle's 5 Miler Race Report

Let's start with Doyle's.

After injuring my back/SI joint on Friday, I was a little bit nervous heading into Doyle's.  Thankfully, a few ibuprofen had me feeling like I would get through the race, but there was still a distinct twinge every now and then.

That first mile I was running right in the middle of the lead pack.  It wasn't particularly windy or cold, but as we went off the line I reacted slowly and ended up surrounded.  We were moving at a perfectly reasonable clip, but I was a little uncomfortable as I'm not the greatest pack runner.  Going through mile two was more of the same and Steven Curley was just off the front of the lead pack, but not extending his gap - so the pack was content at the moment.  I was feeling extremely comfortable at this point.  With TJ, Wallace, and Klucznik all right there I was looking to stay relaxed for as long as possible.

Right after the turnaround point a small gap had opened up between me and the lead pack.  Curley had been overtaken, and I was closing in on him - but I was frustrated to see the pack breakaway and not be a part of it.  I was working hard at this point trying to stay within striking distance, but as we crossed the bridge on the way back I could tell that though TJ and a WMDP guy were trading blows - neither would come back to me.  I was still ahead of Klucznik though, and I've never beaten him - so I continued to press knowing he was likely right on my tail.

Going under the bridge and passing by Scott Mason, I was well aware that if I had any gap on Chris, it was minimal at this point.  I passed Sue McNatt and she gave me a big cheer and some key information that amounted to...don't slow down or you'll get passed.

On the final straight I started to turn the screws just a little bit.  I was hoping the gap was large enough that Chris would need to do at least a mini-kick to get to my shoulder.  With about 30 meters to the line, I finally saw him just off my right shoulder.  With that kick-to-the-gut feeling getting ever stronger, I knew I had a 30 meter sprint in me so I sucked it up and went to whatever gear I had left and maintained my 6th position.

I'm thankful for that Pub Series competition, as without Chris I'm not sure if I would've pushed as hard that last mile and I ended up finishing in 26:42, which is a ~10 second PR.  And as per usual, it was a great time at the post race party in the parking lot.

Scott Mason Photos
Results

The Taper:  It isn't going well:

2-Apr		Hilly Run		1:03:19		8.14		AM: 8+ with a weird section of Watertown that I did 5 times or so to get in elevation change.  Average 7:47/mile.
		Easy		0:39:04		5.09		PM: 5m at 7:41/mile.
3-Apr		Easy		0:49:31		6.22		AM: 6+ at 7:58/mile.
		Harvard Indoor		1:11:00		11.37		PM: Run home and to the track.800/1000x5.  Everything ended up in the 8k-10k range.  That's fine.  I was very tight and cold from the pouring rain.
4-Apr		Easy		0:30:41		4		AM: 5m at 7:56/mile.
		Easy		0:41:14		5.2		PM: 4m easy at 7:40/mile.  Ended up getting bonkish though w/.5m to go.  Oof.
5-Apr		Off		0:00:00		0		AM: Off, a 7:30 meeting in Worcester.
		Easy		0:49:08		7		PM: 5m steady + 2m with Raleigh.
6-Apr		Off		0:00:00		0		AM: Another early meeting in Worcester.
		Easy		0:45:42		6.38		PM: 6+ at 7:10/mile.
7-Apr		Moderate		0:48:48		7.01		AM: Tweaked my back last night, so didn't look at the watch for this as I was just trying to stay relaxed.  Ended up a bit quicker at 6:58/mile.
		Off		0:00:00		0		PM: Off.
8-Apr		Doyle's 5 Miler PS		0:26:42		5		Doyle's!  Pub Series! 6th place!  26:42!  PR!
		Warm up Cool down		0:35:00		4.6		Warm up and cool down.
9-Apr		Easy		0:48:40		6.09		AM: 6m easy at 7:59/mile.
		Easy		0:50:35		6.36		PM: 6m easy at 7:57/mile.  Back or SI joint is an issue.
10-Apr		Easy		0:47:48		6.04		AM: 6m at 7:55/mile.
		Harvard Outdoor		1:37:52		12.28		PM: Commute home and to track.  800x6.  Back was a little tight.  Probably should've skipped this.
11-Apr		Easy		0:40:39		5.19		AM: 5m at 7:50/mile.  MEH!
		Off		0:00:00		0		PM: Off.
12-Apr		Easy		0:42:41		5.4		AM: 5m at 7:54/mile.  MEH!!!
		Off		0:00:00		0		PM: Off.
13-Apr		Off		0:00:00		0		AM: Off.
		Easy		0:36:00		4.06		PM: 4m easy with Raleigh.  Back not good.
14-Apr		Easy		0:36:00		4.1		AM: 4m easy with Elizabeth & Raleigh.
		Off		0:00:00		0		PM: CSU Carbo Load Party.
15-Apr		Easy		0:30:33		4.1		AM: 4m on feel.  Back is going to be an issue tomorrow.  The question is, how big of an issue?
		Off		0:00:00		0		PM: Rest.

Totals: 70 & 53.6

2017 Doyle's Emerald Necklace 5 Miler Race Report

2017 is not getting off to the start I was hoping.

If not for Scott Mason taking some kick ass photos and managing to get my good side in each one, then this race would get a big fat 'meh.'  But he did get those photos, so I'll have to chalk this one up to 'not bad, I suppose.'

Looking strictly at the Garmin splits, my second mile was a major issue with this race.  I went from a 5:20 first mile to a 5:42 second mile.  I'm not sure what caused the slowdown; there was a bit of a headwind...but not that much.  In any case, I was still in good position at that point, and should've been able to compete better than I did.

That third mile after the turnaround, I was still doing well running with Pickleman and another guy from the Cambridge Running Club.  They started to pull away between 3.5 and 4.25, and I'm really disappointed with the way I responded.  It's hard to tell if I could have responded or I wish I could have responded.  But since I can't say for sure, I'll just be safe and remain disappointed.

The final mile I counted off the gap that had created, then made a hard surge, and counted again.  No change.  So I started to back off, since I had little or no chance to make up the gap.  In the end, I have another race coming up that perhaps I'll be better served by not going to the well.  We'll see.

Results
Pub Series Men's Standings
Pub Series Women's Standings

Doyle's 5 Miler 2016 Race Report - It's Good to be Hated

Finally the Pub Series is back!  After coming in 4th last year, I've been itching to get back to it.  ITCHING!  Elizabeth has as well, but unfortunately she's come down with the flu at a bad time - she still raced, but in less than ideal circumstances.

I woke up race morning to some achy calves.  I walked around the house getting laundry out of the dryer, getting coffee ready, snacking a bit, and basically just moving around to get the blood moving.  After going through my normal routine of coffee and granola on the couch with the laptop, Eli, Raleigh and I were ready to hit the road.

Once we parked, I bumped into Jonathan and started a very laid back warm up.  I was looking to keep my calves loose and the conversational two miles did the trick.  Jonathan split off, and I ran a few more miles, then Elizabeth joined and we made our way to the starting line for drills and strides.

I lined up at the front, ready to go out hard.  I know I'm in relatively new territory fitness-wise so my plan was to simply mix it up as long as I could.  When the gun went off, I knew that two of the runners would be off on there own - and that's how it went for David Wilson and Bronson Venable (overall #1 and #2).

I wasn't sure what to expect, but after those two I was in a pack of 6+ moving at a good clip.

I passed the mile marker in about 5:15 and was feeling alright.  I was forced to let two other runners and TJ Unger separate from the pack, and I soon found myself semi-leading a chase pack that wasn't going to be catching TJ at any point.

I could feel different runners on my shoulder at various times, and I was focused on keeping them on my shoulder as best I could.  An HFC guy, Stephen Curley made a move to create some separation early on, but not more than a few meters.  We passed two miles in 10:30, and I felt pretty strong.  I had quickly closed the gap, and then re-passed when Picklesimer passed me and created a big gap of his own (this may have happened before the two mile mark, I'm not sure).

I worked hard to keep the gap at a reasonable distance and I could feel HFC's Holmes and Curley on my shoulder.  The course takes a sharp right followed by a sharp left about a mile and a half after the turn around - and sometime around here I put my head down and closed the 10 meter gap that Picklesimer had.  It burned some energy, but I felt like I needed to close the gap or risk it growing.  Once I was on his shoulder, I stuck there for a short while to recover.  With TJ just out of sight, we had to yell "which way!?!?" twice in order to stay on course.  Thanks to Curley and Holmes for not letting us take a wrong turn!

When we made our way over Scarboro Pond we went up a slight hill and I felt like Pickleman was hurting a little so I tried to make a hard move.  After opening up the smallest of gaps, he quickly closed it on the subsequent downhill.  With less than a mile to go, we traded spots probably three or four times.  I had a slight lead going through the tunnel, but I was on the pain train.  When we made our way on to Williams Street, Pickle made a really hard move.  I knew I couldn't hold that pace to the finish and a gap of 10-15 meters quickly opened up.  I focused on staying quick and light, and hoped he made a move too early.  With maybe 100 meters to go, I switched gears and ended up just behind him - I clearly mistimed my kick, but he likely had something left if I came up on his shoulder...no way of knowing now!

I finished in a time of 26:52, good for 7th overall and I improved my PR from last year by 56 seconds.  I'm happy with all of that, and I think there is more in store.

Elizabeth wasn't especially happy with her race, but she was only 5 seconds slower than last year - ans she had a fever and was in rough condition six days prior.  She clearly wasn't 100%, but I thought it was a really gutsy run for her.

Results
Scott Mason Photo

The after party was fun as always.  A good portion of the CSU crew was able to get a small section of the pavement to trade race stories.  As things were winding down Kevin and Mariani were leaving, Kevin said, "I hate you!"...coming from Kevin, that's the highest of compliments.  It's good to be hated!