May 22, Friday

Lots of thoughts are running through my mind today as I sit waiting for the weather to clear for a chance to attempt a workout session. As a result this will most likely be a stream-of- conscience post.

Five days ago I decided to you try a time trial to see if I have made any progress in my training lately. I have had this fantasy goal for a while now that maybe I can run a 6:00 mile if I did the right training for about a year. I have never run anything close to that in the last seven years that I have returned to training. My fastest 1500m  effort was 6:13 three years ago. I figure that to be about a 6:40 mile. I have run  2:57 at 800m which indicates that I have the speed to run 6:00, but I have not demonstrated the aerobic capacity to do that.  So, the plan on Sunday was to run something at 6:00 per mile pace.  I did run 2 x 400m to 6:00 per mile pace and felt quite pleased.  But it is now Thursday and I don’t believe my legs are fully recovered. I have kept moving during the intervening days but have not been able to run comfortably. My legs are heavy and sore each day. So I have been asking myself if running at 6:00 per mile at this time is really a good idea.  My evaluation after running the two 400m was that I am lacking middle-distance repetition workouts to develop the aerobic strength I need. I will be adding from now on a session per  week of repetitions ranging from 600-1200m.  Probably the next time I will compete in a track middle-distance event will be in September if they hold the New Jersey Senior Games in Woodbridge. That gives me 13 weeks to prepare . I would consider it a major accomplishment if in September I could run the 1500m under 6:00. That would convert to a mile under 6:30.  The National 1500m race was won in 6:01 buy a fellow from New Mexico last June. I finished third in 6:40, which I believe was somewhat affected by the altitude.  The next National Senior Games will be held in 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  My friend, perennial national  champion, Gary Patton, will be in the 76 to 80 year old category by that time.  It would be fun to challenge him at that time if he comes to Fort Lauderdale. I hold little hope of beating a man who has the national record for the 1-mile at 5:01, but it would be fun to make him work a little for it.

Well, I have opted for beer and barbecue instead of a workout today. I will have to settle for a 30-minute walk with the dog.

I am still trying to understand why it is harder to post every day during a quarantine, when I have more time on my hands than ever, than it was to post daily before the quarantine.

That is all for now.