#athleticseastmasterstc

[cmjhawk86]

With @lynnucla after the #rocknrollarizona10k. I had 2 goals today: 1) break 44 minutes and 2) if possible, win my age group. I came up short on both. I often set lofty goals and sometimes I get ahead of myself. I’ve only been in #10ktraining for 2 weeks and I trained through this one because it was a B rather than A race. I needed to run 7:05 miles or better and did that for one mile but then fell off it. As for AG placement I ended up 4th, yeah the place nobody wants to finish. Still I can take some positives away from this. It was a good hard training run. I recovered quickly after it, even ran 2 miles back out on the course to meet Lynn and then help her finish. It’s all part of the process and I just have to trust it, and keep working. Two months until #monumentave10k. BTW this is a nice event and the weather has been amazing all weekend. I definitely recommend it. #runblr #fitblr #masterstrackathlete #mastersroadrunner #athleticseastmasterstc (at Tempe Beach Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7gtaC5nkoO/?igshid=ycoyhx3wvlj7

[cmjhawk86]

I decided to see what my fitness was like after an off-season/illness break, so I jogged over to the local high school track for a mile #timetrial. After the layoff, I had no expectations of being anywhere near the 6:12 I ran back in September at #potomacvalleygames or the sub-6 level I would like to get back to this year. So today was really just a data point. Laps: 95, 3:15, 4:50, 6:42, although my Garmin gave me a 6:33 because it read the mile split about 50 meters early. I can’t complain about the result, and will move into #10ktraining mode next week, building up to #monumentave10k in late March. #springracingseason is *almost* here! 
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And of course I couldn’t resist taking a few scenery shots today. .
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#runblr #fitblr #masterstrackathlete #athleticseastmasterstc #mcmillanrunteam #oregoncoast (at Lincoln City, Oregon)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B66qz04nEsm/?igshid=1pbbrewthdsra

[cmjhawk86]

Time for me to lock in on #rocknrollarizona10k in the morning. I’m all set with my @athletics_east_masters_tc @asics singlet, @2xu_northamerica shorts, @underarmour headband, @balega_international socks, and @altrarunning flats (The One). I’m in a positive mindset, feeling really good vibes for this one. Can’t wait for that gun to go off. #runblr #fitblr #mastersroadracer #masterstrackathlete #notolderstronger #athleticseastmasterstc #mcmillanrunteam #mcmillanrunning (at Tempe, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7fBWsTnqJK/?igshid=13kzfw3nljiqg

[cmjhawk86]

What a great day to be out for a #longrun, even if my legs complained. This has been a grueling week. 40+ hours at work, trip to and from Arizona for meetings, miles at altitude while I was there, and then two big workouts when I got home. Today I had to go 10 miles with the last two at a faster pace. I slogged along at 9 minute miles for 8, then coaxed my legs down to 8:14 and 7:49 for the final 2 miles. Finished up with a very slow cooldown mile for 11 miles on the day. That’s my longest run in a while so I’ll take it with all the struggles today. And I’m looking very much forward to a #restday tomorrow! #runblr #fitblr #springracingseason #monumentave10k #cherryblossomtenmiler #embracethegrind #altraduo #mcmillanrunteam #athleticseastmasterstc (at Fairfax, Virginia)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B87NL5-HMIj/?igshid=1dxa7mhib8gbb

[cmjhawk86]

Finisher pics from #rocknrollarizona10k over the weekend. I was laboring by the time I hit the bridge for that first photo at about 5.5 miles but tried to get a smile out anyway. The next two shots on the red finishing carpet were um, more candid. And then after the finish, oh the relief. I was initially a bit disappointed with my race on Sunday but since then my perspective has changed quite a bit. I have only been in #10ktraining for 2 weeks and had to run on guts and instinct for most of the race. And while I was bummed to not medal in my age group, the 4th place finish was actually my best ever for a large national event. As I wrote a couple of days ago, there is lots to be done between now and #monumentave10k and by the time I get there I will be a finished product as far as this cycle goes at least. Work in progress is OK for now. #runblr #fitblr #springracingseason #cherryblossomtenmiler #athleticseastmasterstc https://www.instagram.com/p/B7m3ffEHvMT/?igshid=1l2qvtbhrf6ym

[cmjhawk86]

Damn that was hard. My training indicated I was well in line for sub-44 and I hoped for sub-43. But Mother Nature always has the final word. And she laughed her ass off at us today. I still was a scoring finisher for @athletics_east_masters_tc, and we got 13th in the 50-59 age group, basically mid-pack. For a club that didn't exist a year ago, not a bad debut. My next 10k will be in much "faster" conditions at @runrocknroll Arizona in January. Pleasant weather and a flat road course. But first a little recovery time. #runblr #fitblr #fallracingseason #mastersxcrunner #athleticseastmasterstc (at Lehigh University) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6EfY-GnKW9/?igshid=gmb5m3lzxtq2

[cmjhawk86]

Wow that was tough. I did a big #tempoworkout today, 4 x 10 minutes at what was supposed to be #goalpace for #usatfxcnationals in 2 weeks. Had I been on the track I probably would have hit it, but the track stadium was occupied by a youth lacrosse tournament. So I made do by using the very large practice fields area, which in the end was probably better #xctraining. I changed directions each rep due to the 90° turns and for some reason the counterclockwise way felt harder; the times seem to bear that out, too. Overall it was a great workout that pushed me really hard, and I'm glad it's done! I'm now into the #tapertime window for Nationals. If I'm not ready now, I'll never be. The hay is in the barn, as they say. #runblr #fitblr #mastersxcrunner #athleticseastmasterstc #fallracingseason #mcmillanrunteam #we❤️xc (at Woodson High School) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gXCrbnNh_/?igshid=yioymleb09ta

[cmjhawk86]

Time to get back into #trainingmode and start my cycle for #monumentavenue10k in late March and @cucb #cherryblossomtenmiler in early April. I did a classic #mcmillanrunteam workout tonight, the kind that Coach Greg would call a #breadandbutterworkout - 10 x 25 second striders in between a long warmup and cooldown. Pace is supposed to be #5k or faster and I hit that consistently. It was dark at the track with all the stadium lights turned off and there were ice patch hazards to avoid as well. But I got my work in as did other folks from the @runpacers Fairfax group. 5 miles total for the night and #springracingseason is officially on. #runblr #fitblr #10ktraining #masterstrackathlete #mastersrunner #athleticseastmasterstc (at Woodson High School) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7FVjhfHGZ4/?igshid=q366nfliil2s