Becoming Elite

I'm Branden "Skip" Brooks and after a couple of false starts, I decided to get serious and start running again. As a person who always set lofty goals, I hope to become an elite runner someday.

[becomingelite]

I "retired" from running a few months ago but meeting Meb Keflezighi last night renewed my interest in becoming elite.

[becomingelite]

Group run last night

[becomingelite]

2 x 2mil

[becomingelite]

2 mile warm up 5 x 1000m @ tempo 1 mile cool down.

[becomingelite]

4 mi @ easy pace 4 strides

[becomingelite]

4 mile @ easy pace

[becomingelite]

Speed work. 2 mile warm up 4 x 800m @ 5k

[becomingelite]

Group run yesterday.

[becomingelite]

Easy 8 before church.

[becomingelite]

2 mile warm up 2x 2 mile tempo 2 mile cool down.

[becomingelite]

Speed work. 12 x 200m @sub 5min pace

[becomingelite]

5 miles @ easy pace.

[becomingelite]

Ran my first race yesterday and finished with a 42:59. I averaged 6:56 a mile. My initial goal was to average 7:00 per mile but my training went so well that I felt I could pull a 6:45. 

Since this was my first race and I didn't know what to expect, I quickly sprinted out with the others to make sure I didn't fall too far behind. Two runners were running what seemed to be a 5:30 pace while two others were running at 6:00 so I soon found myself in a pack of 6 runners trailing the other 4 at a 6:30 pace. However, the second mile had a steep hill and when I looked down at my watch, I noticed the pack was slowing down to a 7:10 pace. I started to panic and made my move after the second mile to separate from the pack. The third mile brought even more hills but one of the main problems was that I basically ran the rest of the race by myself. 

Overall, I finished 5th out of over 200 runners (although the website says 7th) and got a medal for 3rd place in my age group (once again the website says 4th). I think the website erroneously added 2 more runners because I honestly only saw 4 people a head of me during the race. I'm a little disappointed with my time but I got a PR and it's not bad seeing how I was sitting on the couch doing nothing a few months ago. Becoming an elite runner is a journey and this race just added fuel to my determination of reaching my goal. 

The best part about this race was that my entire family got involved. We signed the kids up for a 1 mile fun run. The initial plan was for me to run with my son Alex (age 6) and my wife was going to run with my daughter Avery (age 4). After my 10K, I didn't think I could run with Alex (due to cramps and fatigue) so I elected to run with Avery. However, right before the race, I decided to give Alex the best chance at winning the 1 mile run, so I elected to go with him and we ran a 7:41 mile together. Alex came in 3rd overall in the 10 and under race and finished 1st in the 6 and under division.  

Great day overall for the Brooks family

[becomingelite]

Speed work. 2 mile warm up 3(3x200m + 1x400m) @ 5:10-5:20 pace 2 mile cool down

[becomingelite]

My 34th birthday was last week which means that my parents were in town. I only logged 18 miles and gained 4lbs thanks to eating out almost every night. Good times overall but bad for my fitness level.

My first race ever is this Saturday (a 10k), so I decided to get the engine roaring up again.

[becomingelite]

Decided to do a little speed work today and walked away with a 5:52 mile. The sad part is that I was coasting at 5:30 for most of the mile until I fell apart at the end.

[becomingelite]

Didn't feel like running today but still managed to get out there.