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Wednesday, January 29, 2025


Sunday's meet in Providence (the East Region Championships) went pretty well. The best news: I ran the 400 meters, and I did not re-injure my hamstring! I did end up scratching the 200 meters, just to be safe. Before I ran, while I was warming up, I did feel that low-grade tightness on my right side where my leg meets my butt. It made me a little apprehensive. But I kept thinking about all the training I've done on the track to build back my strength, and all of the PT exercises prescribed by Josh that I have been doing regularly.  So I was pretty sure I would be okay, and I was.

The track there is flat, and it's very hard. It's like a carpet--like an industrial carpet-- that must sit on concrete. I was in an appropriate heat, with Own Barrett as the top seed in lane 4. I was given lane 2. No one was in lane 1. There was a 56 year old in our heat, lane 3, and another 60 year old who I think is new to Masters track as well. I had a better start (I was down in my stance), and I feel like I started out faster. When we got 3/4 of the way around, there was the cut in; Owen and the 56-year-old guy cut over and were in front of me. I followed them that whole lap, really, and was back maybe 10 meters from Owen in the lead when we hit the final straightway. But I hit it, and I passed the guy in second position, and caught Owen--missing the first spot by .2 of a second. His time was 1.02:70, and mine was 1.02:90. It was a privilege to race against Owen in my very first indoor 400. I actually felt pretty good in the last stretch, like I had a lot of gas left. I probably should have gone harder about 10-20 meters before I did . . . or maybe even on the straightway on the other side? Not sure . . . it was definitely a learning experience running on the smaller track.



Teammate Paul Brock got silver in the M65, and also a silver in the M65 200 meters. A few GPTC throwers were there as well, and all placed in their events. All in all, it was a great experience. 

I rested Monday (I did Pilates mat at the gym and chest [weights and bars] ). Megan cancelled Pilates on Tuesday morning, so I went to the gym, Pilates mat, PT leg exercises, and chest exercises, and bars. Today I went to the Ott Center track and met Alison, and two other teammates. We did basically the same workout we did last Wednesday, only with faster times and shorter rests, and we split the last 400 into two 200s:

600: 2.02

2.5 minute rest

600: 2.04

3 min rest

400: 1.14

3 min

400: 1.16

3 min

200: .34

3 min

200: .34

Afterwards, I ran to the gym, did Pilates mat, and weights (shoulders). Tomorrow I have Pilates at the studio at 9, then I'll run to the gym and do my PT leg exercises again. I will go back to the track on Friday, where I will be running solo I believe, attempting to do one of the workouts Alison has given me. Saturday should be a rest day, and Sunday outdoor track practice with the team. Alison and the other distance runners will be out--doing a meet--so I can either do another Alison workout, or I could try working out with the sprinters. I made an appointment to see Josh next Wednesday. Next Friday I head to NYC and will race in the 4x400 relay with my team at the Millrose Games. 


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