Runnin a little tired

I haven't been feeling 100% the last 2 weeks. On some of my runs my legs have been feeling like logs, other runs my lungs have been struggling with the normal process of respiration.

I may have been starting to feel small effects of solid training as soon as the Brandeis meet when I ran 4:22 for the mile. I was happy with the race, but I began to feel a little more tired. For most of late December to Mid January I felt almost invincible; I ran solid workouts and my runs felt pretty easy. One thing that may have added to this tired phase is the fact that I started doubling in Mid January as well. I could have introduced that earlier into my season.

So the progress continues, I ran (what I think) is a sub par performance 2 weeks ago at Tufts when I ran 2:36 for the 1000m. I know that Ive been and am fit enough to take seconds off that time.

This past week I ran the mile at BU. I was pretty excited to get out and race at a fast banked track. The week before I had felt pretty dead on my runs, so I even had a day off to help freshen me up. I ran 4:25.69 for the mile.

I'm tempted to be disappointed with the time because it's slower than my PR and (since I'm someone who tends to habitually compare himself to others or others performances) I didn't get an immediate PR like a lot of people get from their first race at the BU venue.

I hate excuses, and I'm someone who immediately looks for reasons when something doesn't go the way I would've liked it to. In this case, the race actually did play somewhat to my disadvantage.
I was in the 8th heat of the mile, and all of the races before mine did not have a problem with someone taking the race out with a quick pace. Mine was the first one to go out slow,

We were running straight 33s and 34s for our 200 splits for most of the race. Went through the 800 in 2:12. This caused a bunch up at the front of the race. The whole race was pretty physical. I spent a lot of energy trying to maintain my position near the front. Everytime I would try to get into 2nd place, I would get shoved and/or elbowed. I returned the favor to a number of other races, if someone came on my outside I would stick my arm out and try to get him to move forward so that I wouldnt become boxed in.

I ended up getting 4th in my heat. It was an interesting race to say the least. I was looking for another gear with 200 to go, but I didnt seem to have the wheels that day.
It's a learning experience, John said that I probably should have not gotten in the mix of things until past halfway, I should've relaxed in the back and then made a move later on. This is pretty true, I made a ton of contact early on in the race.

Well, this week I've still been feeling somewhat tired. I only ran 10 miles for my long run on Sunday, ran up Comm ave again with Devon, Mike Stone and Some guys. Ran the 10 in about 69 minutes.

Picture of us running up Comm Ave this Sunday:

From Left to right:
Devon, Mike Stone, Udel, me, and our buddy Kiprotich from Kenya behind us in the background.
You know, just a casual run up heartbreak hill.



I actually have to take a moment to give props, kudos (whatever you want to call it) to Devon. This weekend he broke 4:20 for the first time in the mile at BU. He's been working really hard, and it's good to see the work pay off for him. He's incredibly motivated and meticulous about his training regime. He was injured most of last year and he's bounced back pretty well. 4:19 is a great mid season run.

Anyways, the Big meets are ahead of us.
This weekend I might be racing the mile at D3 Regionals at MIT. I really want to run this race, but it'll be a matter of how I feel this week. I want to be fresh and peaked for UAAs in early March, so whatever John and I work out will be good.

The plan is,
race the mile at D3s at MIT, mile at All New Englands at BU the next week, and probably mile at the UAA Conference Meet at the Armory in New York City.

I want the focus to be UAAs. The Armory is a sweet track, and the UAA Conference is really competitive, so it'd be really cool to race well and show the conference what we've got. I'm not putting down the possibility of NCAAs, but that would take a certain time, a big PR. Definitely not out of the realm of possibilities, but I want the focus to be on UAAs. It will be only my second time running at the conference meet, I have to make up for my blow up at Cross Country UAAs at Emory (haha!).

Well, I've had a good winter of training so far. We have a lot of talented and focused guys, so it'll be good to see what happens when we bring our sharp legs and focused attitudes to the big races.