The training is slowly ramping up as a fall half is on my radar for likely November. I did my first speed workout which was 8x1min with 1 minute rest. It went well enough and was done on the treadmill because of thunderstorms. I'm looking forward to some focus in the training.
I also had the Harvard 5 miler which was my 5th year doing it and a new one minute PR. I didn't really know what I wanted to do going into it although chasing a PR is always on my mind, but this course has a very tough up hill at mile 2.5. Like, I need to walk up hill. So I wrote to my coach saying that I didn't have a plan other than to just stay focus. And I did!
I kept thinking 1) you're okay and aren't dying and 2) do it for David Roche. Yes, you read that correctly.
David Roche is a running, author and podcaster who just attempted Western States and DNF. He had big goals for it and, on the most recent podcast, went though the feelings of that failure. Not on the same stage, but I've felt all those feelings and sought the redemption from those failures. I don't know why I decided that would be my focus, but it was.
I wanted to walk verrrry badly at one point on the hill, but just as my step slowed I said "no" and kept the soft pace up the hill. It ended up being my fastest time up that hill and I managed an under 7 minute last mile. It wasn't pretty (not sure how those photos will look...) but I did it. I tried to "go hunting" for a woman who I had in my sights for nearly 2 miles, but I never caught her. I did get caught on the last 400 meters by a yung gun flying by but that's okay.
I'e gotta say, I was not expected these two shorter races to go well, but they did. It's nice and exciting and makes the fall goal of breaking 1:40 seem possible.
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