June 26, Wednesday

” We may train or peak for a certain race, but running is a lifetime sport.” ~ Alberto Salazar

Well, it’s been a week since I ran the 800m in Albuquerque. I have enjoyed basking in the feeling of accomplishing a goal and even hearing and reading all the congratulations from people who are aware of my victory.  But I have had little incentive to run or to post during that time. I have come to believe that the five-day trip to New Mexico was a complete drain of my energy resources. I’ve been sleeping 10 or 11 hours at night and still feeling pretty tired. So, I made a decision on Sunday to enter a 5K race in Princeton just to force myself to get moving again. Last night I ran the Firecracker 5K in 31:12. I wasn’t trying very hard and the time was not very good, but I think it was what I needed to start my reboot. I did get a medal for winning the over 75 year-old division which consisted of exactly two men.     I have a whole list of rationale as to why the time was so slow:

It was very hot and muggy.

I forgot to bring my watch so I never knew how fast I was going and there were no markers along the course.

I had no incentive to run fast.

I am probably not fully recovered from my trip to Albuquerque.

I haven’t run more than 2 1/2 miles on any single day for 17 days.

They were six Hills on the course including three that were about a half-mile from the Finish.

Sean Dolan from Hopewell HS, and Meet of Champions winner and one of the fastest High School runners in America, won the race in 17:15. I think he is easily capable of running 2 minutes faster than that on a road 5K.

There it is!   My plan is to log lots of miles in the next 2 months in preparation  for a respectable performance at the Jason Walton Memorial 5K in late August.

Have not been monitoring stats.  Must start.