September 25th, 2011
I did it…signed up for 6 races in the span of 8 weeks: 4 in October and 2 in November. My race schedule for the next 10 weeks looks like this: 5k, 5k, 5k, 4mi, off, 10k, off, 8k, off, Vegas Half. I only really care about getting a good time at the 10k and the Half, thus the non-racing weekends preceding those.
As far as the 5ks go, the last time I did a 5k pace workout was November of last year and as you know, I’ve been running long and logging lots of miles, so Real Fast is not in my current repertoire, thus I’m putting absolutely no pressure on myself for those. I’ve mentioned that a major goal of mine is to eventually go sub-20 but it ain’t happening next month – even if I was primed for that pace my Half barely predicts it as a possibility (19:56 according to McMillan). So if I can get a fresh PR and a low 20 by the third one, I’ll be satisfied.
The 10k is the one I always moan about because it starts on a huge bridge, but it’s a very popular and fun race despite the uphill start, not to mention there are so few 10ks that I couldn’t not do it.
The 8k is part of the Philadelphia Marathon weekend, though this year they’re doing it on Saturday which I’m happy about, as I’m sure the Full and Half folks are, too. My friend Nick, a 3:20 forum pal, and his wife will be doing the 8k as well (he’s also doing the Full the next day, that wild child), so that’s a fun bonus.
Aside from the obvious great race practice I’ll get from all this, it also affords experimentation. For instance, the second 5k is almost 3 miles from my house; in the past I’ve always driven to that location but this time I’m going to run there since I’ve never done a long warmup before a race and it’d be a simple way to try it out. I’m also betting that with that many consecutive weekends, there’s bound to be at least one in a downpour, so that’ll be another challenge – not one I look forward to, but it’s all in the name of hardening up.
As far as training during this time, speedwork will be non-existent since racing replaces that. I haven’t talked to Coach Adam /A muse about any of this yet because I think it largely depends on how well I recover, but for alternative workouts I do have a few options: a tempo every week, every other week or a couple weekly progression runs. I want to improve during this period but I also need to stay in one piece. Then again, it might not take that much out of me, we’ll just have to see as it goes. Experimentation is the name of the game.
Mileage-wise, I’d like to keep it high but will probably require cutting back some since I’m not into running more miles after a race and I’d prefer my day preceding the race to be short-ish. Perhaps I’ll use this time to add a double or two or maybe I won’t adjust anything. So much in the air, it’s kind of fun – I do enjoy a journey into the unknown.
Post Race Week In Review
The weather was back to sweat soup all week, temps 70s w/dewpoints also around 70. The mini spin dryer I bought has been great, I don’t have to wring my clothes out after a run anymore, just toss them in, set it for a minute, and a thick stream of salty grey water (sweat) emerges.
As far as interesting runs this week, there were only two of note: Saturday, some cute guy in his 30s passed me and then stayed in front of me for a while. He had a phone in his back waist pocket that with each step pulled his waistband down to reveal his lily-white crack. It was both hypnotic and adorable in a rhythmic trancey sort of way.
Today was an effortless and zippy 16 which started as a 14-miler but felt so good, I extended it. Around mile 6 I hit a groove in the 7:5xs and the last 4 miles went from 7:37 to 7:31. Surprisingly easy considering it was 78° by the end.
I finally got my turnarounds correct this week, so all nice round distances. 
Monday: Off (pinchy calf thing)
Tuesday: Off (pinchy calf thing)
Wednesday: 8@8:39
Thursday: 10@8:24
Friday: 12@8:21
Saturday: 14@8:05
Sunday: 16@7:57
Total: 60 mi
Posted in 
Tags: 
So if this fall race schedule doesn’t cure you of your racing phobias, probably nothing will!
I wish there were more 10K’s too. It really is a good distance but one that I have very little experience with. In fact, I did a 10k yesterday and although my time (52:30) was good enough for 3rd in AG, it is basically my marathon pace–oops!!!
I look forward to reading the (many!) race reports to come in the next couple of months.
Awwweeessssoooommmmmmeeee! That looks great! I think you are going to have so much fun. Also, just a little sidenote- (I know you already know this, but…) please don’t run every race “all out.” I’m pretty much doing the same thing as you right now, but I guage my effort at about a 7-8 on a 10 scale. I do have a race or two prior to marathon day that will be true tune-ups, 100% efforts. On those days I will taper and recover accordingly.
I’m also looking forward to seeing what kind of swag you win. It’s always interesting and surprising to me which races give away the best (or funniest) stuff.
Go, girl!
You the shit!! Is Vegas half the one at night?? If so, that should be very interesting
Beth, congrats on the placing, lol on the MP oops. Some days the pace you’re looking for can be an elusive thing, it seems. And so true, by the last race, I hope to be all Eh about it.
Rebecca, I can’t see being able to do them all out even if I tried (which I won’t) especially with no tapering beforehand. Yeah, it’ll be fun to see what winnings I can get, that dinky 5k next weekend has great ones. Seems like the dinky races often do better than the bigger ones.
Steph, lol, I might just feel like shit when it’s all over. Yeah, Vegas is at night, which actually makes me think it might not be that great a race. Kinda worried about seeing my Garmin or tripping on a drunk.
Hah! I’m loving the fact that you’re now back in full racing gear. Just proves how well your shift to “run whatever the hell I feel like” worked
It’s awesome to see you so positive!
You urbanites and your plethora of races! I think we get three 5Ks all summer and fall.
My 5K PR is from a race I ran 2.4 miles to get to. I think a long warmup helps!
Cris, thanks girl, it’s a true pleasure to be excited and not dreading races for a change.
Ilana, it’s true, there are tons of 5ks for about 3 months in Fall and Spring, but then no racing at all for summer and winter. Yay on the warmup testimonial, I’ve heard that from a few people but I always had this ridiculous fear of wasting too much energy beforehand. Which is especially stupid since I’d never even do a tempo run after 1 stinkin’ warmup mile, yet I do for a race…senseless.
oh I can’t wait to hear about raceathon! And I think a long warm up is really going to help.
Channeling the Dog!
Exciting! I know you aren’t necessarily going for it, but I don’t think a sub-20 is out of your reach this season at all. Running tons of miles makes you faster at all distances!
Looks like you’re doing a Rebecca impression!! LOL You’re gonna have fun doing this-and get some snappy threshold (I have been banned by Coach from calling it ‘tempo’;)) workouts.
Bring on the schwag!!
Elizabeth, muscularly it’s possible but the effort level for even 10k pace seems difficult to me now. It could be that with the weather changing that’ll improve but only time will tell.
Adrienne, why the ban on Tempo? That’s a funny one. Psychological reasons or a stickler for the term “threshold run”?
The latter-Bill’s old school like that and he uses Daniels’ terminology. Personally, I guess I don’t really care-they’re both hard!!
So we’ll be getting to see a steady stream of race results from Flo-land. Can’t wait. Three 5Ks on consecutive weekends? I’ll let Adam do the finger-wagging. I think you’ll find that a 3 mile warmup works surprisingly well. Plus you get to jog 3 miles home again, so 9+ miles that day.
Coaches are all over the map on Tempo/Threshold/Foobar running, and that’s just fine.
Nice job not finger-wagging finger-wagging. Though you didn’t mention the 4-miler on the 4th week…that one’s not worth a non-wagging wag?
Heh. if you make it that far, you are doing something right
The way I figure it is this, that I’m backing into 5k pace. Because I’m real doubtful of being able to push it hard enough in the first two so hopefully the 3rd is a charm. The only crimp is that in all 4 Oct. races, I think the 2nd one is the only one that’s certified, so it’s kind of like a bunch of fun runs as far as PR capturing. But the upside is that I’ll feel less compelled to bust a gut.
Pity the second is the certified one, since one strategy might go like this:
First one all out. Figure out what areas need work. Use the second one to work on those (but don’t kill yourself) Then go all out again in the third one. Still, it’s going to be interesting. Good Luck!
That would have been the perfect scenario. Oh well. Thanks Jim, knock on wood for it bettering as opposed to lameing me.
I like the schedule. Can’t see you not being able to handle the weekly racing if you go easy/short the day before and easy/long? the day after. Yes, I’d be going the doubles if you want to hang onto highish mileage. Also like the idea of long warm-ups. Geoff introduced me to those in the 90s – ran heaps of PBs after that.
Thanks for the encouragement, Ewen. And cool hearing about “heaps of PBs” with long warmups preceding them.
Glad to see that you are racing again. You have a gift for running and will do well in anything that you enter. Those of us who can no longer keep up will just have to live vicariously through you. Good luck!
Aw, that was above and beyond sweet, Steve, thanks! Hugs.