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Thursday, March 20, 2025


Here I am competing in PRC Indoor meet at the Ott Center Track at U Penn, March 8th. This was my first 800 meter race since high school (which was outdoors . . . on a dirt track!). I did okay, I guess. It was a new experience, running around a crowded indoor track! My time was 2:30.83. The All-American standard for my age group is 2:40.  

Trying to make it work in California this week and last. This week has been easier because I found a track to run on near Mom's place. It's a dirt track, but well maintained. I ran Monday and yesterday on it. I had to use my watch to mark 200 meters, 120 meters, and 150 meters.

Monday: 4 x 400m with 2 minutes between. First 200 of each came in at 40/41 seconds, then ran as fast as I could for last 200. All four were pretty consistent, coming in between 70-74 seconds. Legs felt lactic last 150 or so meters of each.

Wednesday: 3 x 120m, then 3 x 150m; each 120 in 20 seconds (last one in 19) (again, using my watch to measure out the track, so it may be slightly off in the distance). 4 minutes between each split. 150s: 27, 27, 26 seconds. Tried for 90-95 % effort. 

Paired these workouts with my PT leg exercises and Pilates mat.

Last week in the desert, I wasn't able to find a track, but one day I ran around soccer fields, and the other sprint day I ran on asphalt (street). I had access to the gym, so I was able to do my Pilates mat, PT leg exercises, and some weights every other day. Plus the spas every day, which helped with recovery. 

Soccer Field workout: 3 sets of a 250m and a 150m at 90% effort, a minute between splits and 8 minutes between sets. Had a hard time getting the distances right with my watch:

260m / 48 seconds
163m / 32 seconds
*
222m / 42 seconds
163m / 32 seconds
*
238m / 44.5 seconds
160m / 34 seconds

Street workout: 6 x 300 meters (more or less--used my watch and I'm not sure I ever got the distances exactly right); 2 sets, 8 minutes between sets, 3 minutes between splits:

305m / 54 seconds
305m / 57
305m / 57
*
300m / 56
300m / 55
300m / 52

Running on the road was a little tough on my feet and legs, but I survived.

Also had a couple of nice 4 mile runs outside in the desert. I was hoping to do that here, but with the hospital visits to see dad, it has thrown my schedule off a bit. I fly home Saturday, and hopefully I can make track practice Sunday morning. The 400 heats at Worlds are a week from this Saturday; I leave for Florida on Thursday.

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