Sprinting At 60

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Training Continues Yesterday I jogged to Pilates and had a session with Megan. Then I went over to Franklin Field. I was inspired to do a 300 meter set by a workout that Bill Yelverton put on his blog a couple of days ago. I thought I would see where I am compared to him at this point in time. He noted these results: 4 x 300 w/ 2:30 rest: 47:57, 47.85, 49.99, 48.65 (Avg. 48.52)   I ended up doing 5 in total, but mostly because I realized sometime during the set that I had miscalculated the distance. I was actually running these somewhere between 310-320 meters (the lines of the Penn track fooled me again--I forgot that the main start line with the numbers is not actually the start for the 200m and 300m . . . my bad).  Overall (positive aspects first!): I was able to complete the workout. My left hamstring, though very slightly tight still, did not hurt. My times were not THAT awful. The more neutral or negative aspects: I sure can't run as fast as I tho...

Sunday, May 26, 2024 Good Track Workout Today I got up and went to track practice in Chestnut Hill. Team was light today on account of holiday weekend and a one mile race tomorrow that many will do. I ran with Bob today. He was the guy who set the pace for the workout when I FIRST joined the team back in March--and he really impressed me with his cardio strength and power (I think he's 66!). He invited me to run 400s today. He set a goal of 4 400s at about 92 seconds with about a minute and a half in between. I did a mile jog, drills, and a few 100s to warm up. I was able to run/keep up with him, and I didn't feel any pain in hammy, so I was grateful. In fact, I felt so good, I went ahead and ran 2 more 400s after Bob ended the fourth. This also gave me an opportunity to practice pacing myself. I kept getting to the 200m mark before my goal of 45 seconds. But still it was good practice to see where I'm at on the track during a dash and to check how I feel. A couple of teamm...

Friday, May 24, 2024 Mixed Feelings (Results?)  Today I did a track workout at Franklin Field. I jogged over as a warm up. My hammy felt fine. I got to the track and one portion of it was covered with a tarp (left over from graduation ceremony). There was only one other runner on the track. I decided to do a workout from the Collins book. 6 x 200m at around 32 seconds (his number) with 4 minutes rest in between (which was good--the 200m plan--because the top of one half of the track was unusable due to the tarp). About halfway through, a group of about 10 runners started using the track. That was okay I guess. So, the positive aspects: I was able to complete the workout. My hammy didn't hurt. My times were relatively okay. The negative aspects: My times were not as good as I thought they should be; my whole body felt sort of stiff and claggy; my left quad felt sort of tight on the last 3. I am not as optimistic that I will be able to run a 400m at a minute. I went to the gym after ...

Sunday, May 19, 2024: Steady Progress Had a great week! I was careful to rest each day after running. I did the new bike at the gym for a pretty good cardio workout 2 days this week. I also did the stair machine.  I find that I can really get my heart rate up on these with no strain on my hammy. I have also been doing the hammy RDL strength exercises from the video I added to a post a week or so back. They seem to really help. Megan is away, so I didn't have any Pilates sessions. I did acupuncture and cupping with Dr. Aaron on Friday. Wednesday I turned 6o years old!!! My hammy felt totally fine on Tuesday, Wednesday. and Thursday. I did not go to the track because Wally said they were setting up for graduation (which is this evening) at Franklin Field. Friday morning, before Dr. Aaron appointment, I went for a 3.5 mile run outside. I completed the the 2nd and 3rd miles in 8 minutes, 10 seconds. I felt pretty good. My hammy started "talking" to me in the third mile, so I ...

Monday, May 13, 2024 Review of Sunday Track Practice Yesterday morning I got up in the cold and light rain and went to track practice in Chestnut Hill. I was invited to do a workout with two ladies I'd met a few weeks ago--Alison and Lorraine. They are both middle distance runners, and they were going to attempt more of a "distance" workout of 300s, 600s, an 800, and a 1200. Alison is an amazing runner--tall and lean with a great stride. She's probably 15-20 years younger than I. And Lorraine is in excellent shape, shorter than Alison, and she is maybe 5-10 years younger than I [inserting info I found online after I wrote this entry--Lorraine is like 62! She looks A LOT younger!]. Anyway, I trailed Lorraine for all the splits--and Alison would start behind me, but some splits (especially the last few splits) she moved ahead of me at some point, which was impressive--that she had extra to give at the end. I did not write or memo the exact splits and times we did, or th...

Thursday, May 9, 2024 Went to Pilates this morning on my bike. My leg is feeling kind of . . . tight/tender? I'm not not aware of my hamstring area at present, ever since Tuesday's track workout, so I'm taking it easy. I went to the track to run the stadium stairs, and I got three long flight runs in (lower plus upper levels) before I was told the track was closed . . . the women's lacrosse team was practicing, and an assistant something-or-rather said it's "NCAA." I've always run on track and done stadium stairs while the mens lacrosse team practiced . . . so, anyway, have to let it go, and not push against his wrong, no matter how right I am, lol. It's a bummer to lose a full workout yet again.  I have an acupuncture appointment tomorrow morning with Dr. Aaron. I'll do one more treatment and see how it goes. Sunday I'll got to track practice.  Just a reminder to self--From a post right after my hamstring injury: "As mentioned, I hav...

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 Back on the track!  Beautiful day at Franklin Field. Basically had the track to myself again. Fine weather. Jogged to the Pilates studio for a session with Megan. Then I walked over to the stadium. My hamstring feeling pretty much healed. I feel slight tightness/a dull aching feeling in area above hamstring--like where my leg connects to my butt. It's definitely below a level 4, so I'm going to keep running! I had 9 days away; I used the compression balls during the drive from Chicago to Cali, and they really helped alleviate pains and cramps as I drove. Once in Cali, I practiced Pilates mat on three days, and on two days, I ran the nice hill next to my sister's house--5 times up and back the first day, which felt great. The day after, my butt was sore! Then I did that again another day, and I managed to run it 6 times. Yesterday I had Pilates mat in the morning, then I went to the gym and did a chest workout. I'm loving the bars! Chin-ups, dips, ha...