never enough time in america

could have called today's diary entry just about anything the way today went, but what is going through my mind right now is how there is never enough time to do everything i want and need to do here and so choices have to be made and frustrations have to be dealt with. one of the nice things about living in "the tent" in oxford is that there really is not much to do with the house unless there is an emergency and even though we have had our shares of those they all get seem to get fixed one way or another.

but here in the states back in my real world there is much to do and not enough time to do it all. and especially frustrating is when one loses their car keys- still lost at this point in time--

today started early enough with my run as i knew it would be getting hotter and more humid every moment i delayed getting out. and today i decided i would try to run my own 5k time trail. just won't have enough time to do the race tomorrow and still get to philly with the stops i need to make on the way there.

so i was out early to the track- first time i noticed the car key was missing, but fortunately the track is only a mile from the house and somewhere i have a backup key. not for now though. have to be off of the track before the kids from school come out. was just over 70 degrees already and humid enough, but i had plenty of water in me and carried another bottle with me.

so off i went - in truth i expected this to be more of a mental test than a physical test. i had not raced in a few years now and the few times i tried a time trail i wasn't able to go more than two miles. the plan was to start steady and pick up each lap for about 6 laps. this would be the turning point i was sure. the only real goal i had other than to do the entire 5k was to get under 9 minute pace.

the first lap went by in 2:13 and felt ok, though not warmed up enough. there would be no stopping for stretching and i intended to use the right leg today. a 2:11 lap was right on pace and then i ran the third lap in 2:09 and the fourth in 2:07. so far so good. i was following the plan and the right leg was ok, didn't feel too hot though it was building and i was still in control of the pace and the planning, meaning the heat had not taken over yet.

the second mile started in 2:06. i could see kids over by the gym but they were going in rather than coming out. on the track i could keep pace at each 100 and that was helpful though i was running the pace i wanted to and didn't have to adjust yet. the 6th lap went by in 2:07 and it was the first time i felt the heat building up and i concentrated on my breathing pattern which fell into my old racing pattern of one breath every 2nd left foot hitting the ground. not as confusing as my writing makes it sound. breathe 2,3,4, breathe 2,3,4-like that. another 2:06 and by the end of this lap i felt better and now knew i could go the distance. the question left was would i have to slow down to complete the 5k. the second mile ended in another 2:06--two miles in 17:08. my last two mile trail was 17:11 about 6 weeks ago. all good so far. and i felt stronger now than i had two laps ago. but it was warmer for sure.

started the third mile with a 2:05 lap and it was good knowing i had not slipped back. just staying smooth and concentrating on my breathing and looking about 8 yards ahead so i could keep my lungs clear while maintaining my posture. then a 2:04 which felt easier than all of the other laps and now the tough lap was next. anyone can do the last lap, but first you have to do the next to last lap. it was warm now and i knew that i couldn't have stopped for water even if someone had been holding out the cup like they do at races. i was running hard and trying to be relaxed, but wasn't that relaxed. decided to run the first 200 steady and then pick up a tad on the curve. ran the lap in 2:02 and knew i could push it in from here. held that pace and again at 200 i picked up a little bit. with 100 meters to go i started to stride for the finish line. down the stretch and finished the 3rd mile in 1:58 - 25:18 for three miles. ran the curve hard enough and the last tenth in 26 seconds for a 25:44 finish.

the right leg had held up and the pf wasn't too bad other than a little tight. i had lost about 12 seconds in the first mile by not warming up enough, but i knew that even though i liked to run 2-3 miles before a race of almost any distance, i would not have done the ti e trail if i had warned up that much and thought i could go out fast enough and then pick up. this turned out to be true enough. a couple of other people running might have made a difference, but not sure. i am pretty good at pushing and pacing myself. racing flats would have cut another 6-10 seconds so all in all i think on the right day i can go another twenty seconds faster. lose another 10 pounds and get another 20 seconds. closer to getting under 25. one step at a time.

stretched really well and jogged three really easy miles. then ran several easy 100 yard striders at 8 minute pace. my heart rate at the end was 164. the heat added something to that, but figuring i was just about 93% at the end, my max is still about 172. not too bad and having just read the article by coach benson about older runners hearts being ahead of their legs, something i have blogged about before, i knew he was right. so had i been. the legs are strong enough and hopefully more stretching will get a little longer stride.

knowing my old 5k pr is 18:22 doesn't make this time impressive, but it is my fastest in several years. age graded it would be a 20:33 - that is for another blogging day. this is a local class time. need to take 2-4 minutes off of it to be any good for real, but will keep plugging away at my goal and see where it brings me. my lasst really decent 5k was many years ago - maybe 6-7 and was 22:10 if i remember correctly. was the philly race for the cure-7:09 pace i remember. but i can remember the friday night 5k summer series where my friend rob and i always ran the first mile in 5:50ish on our way to 18 something. but that was 25 years ago or so.

the rest of the day was busy - lots of yard work mowing the lawn and re-planting stuff and cleaning up from the storm. then the termite guy came and eventually the plumbers showed up. then i took some time to hit some chips and pitch shots and run up to the store. dealt with some bank stuff and went to the driving range to practice short game and hit a bucket of wedges. then home to deal with the basement and laundry.

and here i am at 1am and needing to pack and get some sleep. so off i go. will retool my run plan making the speedwork adjustment changes. i just will not have the time to run as much when we get back or if i do i will need to see what i am willing to give up. time will tell. maybe just a better balance of things- that will delay improvement, but allow for more to be done and enjoyed. at my age that may be the ticket. wanting it all and needing more time are not the dance of balance and the bear is just waiting to climb on the back. forgot to say that i did do a really nice little weight workout last night after the bike ride. i do think riding the bike helps leg turnover, but not sure it doesn't contribute to my pf problem.

run, breakfast and off to philly in the morning. will skip tonight's ride. actually, as it is now tomorrow it was last night's ride. a very hot week ahead weather wise and that will help decide what gets done and doesn't.

53 days to go.