Sprinting At 60

Wednesday, June 25, 2025: Competing in the 800 meters race (my first outdoor 800 since high school!) at the NJ International/Elliott Denman Meet in West Long Branch, New Jersey, on Sunday, June 22. I had a good race--finishing in 2:23.52. This was 7 seconds faster than my first indoor 800 in early march. I felt pretty good. It was an "open" event, so there was only one other Master, and that was the world-class 800 runner Mark Williams--the rest of the runners looked like they were in the teens or twenties. Mark pushed me, though; my first 200 split was 31 seconds-ish. My first 400 split was, I think, 1:05 . . . which is fast. So the second lap was really hard--I did it in 1:18-sh, so much slower than the first lap. But, I did not get completely lactic, so it was good. It was hot and humid, but that kept my muscles loose. Teammate/training buddy/de facto coach Alison ran hers in 2:25, and she looked great.  Training review last week and this:  Wednesday, June 18--with Alison ...

Monday, June 16, 2025 USATF New York Open and Masters Meet Saturday was my first meet of the 2025 outdoor season. This is a pic I took of the track when I arrived at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island in NYC: it was a cold, rainy, and windy day! I competed in the 200 meters and the 400 meters. The meet was not very well attended, and the weather kind of made it a bummer. It was my first 200 meter race since high school. They haven't even posted the times as of yet (kind of a disappointing meet overall in terms of logistics, etc.) I think my time in the 200 was low 28 (which, considering the weather and drenched track, is okay--though I think I can do better!) All of my competitors were older (62 up to 69), so there wasn't anyone there to push me (though the older guys are great sprinters, don't get me wrong!, and nice guys, too). After I finished the race, I was walking over to collect my (wet) stuff from the start line and they called for the 400! So the turnaround was like,...

 Sunday, June 8, 2025 Since last post, it has been difficult to get on the track at Penn. I tried Monday and Tuesday, but they were cleaning up the Grand Slam meet. I did Pilates solo on Monday and Tuesday (Megan had to cancel our reformer lesson on Tuesday). I did a nice, easy run down the river trail--6 K, pace 5:56/km, basically a 35 minute run. Tuesday at gym I did PT  leg exercises and chest. Wednesday I went out to Ursinus and worked out on the track with Alison and Lorraine. We did this: 3 x 1000m with 400m jog recoveries. We did 4:13, 3:58, and 3:53. Then we did 4 x 200m with 200m jog recoveries. Our times: 36, 37, 38, 39. Thursday I had Pilates reformer, then I went to the gym and did shoulders. Friday I went back to Penn, BUT the track was closed again (sports clinic!). I went to the gym and did PT legs and Pilates.  I took Saturday completely off for rest. This morning I went to Chestnut Hill for track practice. I FINALLY got to do the 600 workout that Alison a...