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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 and Lorraine:
 
2 x 200 @ 800 pace (4 min rests), target 35-37:
35 and 34.4

3 x 300, @ mile target pace (62-64)
62, 60.1, 60.6

2 x 200 @ 800 pace:
33.7, 33.6.

I did Pilates and gym last week, but there was a lot going on in my life and I didn't get in another track workout.

Took this past Monday off (after my 800 meter race on Sunday); Tuesday I ran to and from the Pilates studio, practiced Pilates, went to the gym and did 4 weight chest exercises designed for 61-year-old sprinters (thanks Chat GPT). 

This morning (Wednesday) I met Lorraine and Alison again at Ursinus. We did a HARD workout in the (extreme) heat:
2 x 1000, 2 x 400, 2 x 200 (4 min rests between the first two splits, 2 minutes between the next two, and 1 minute between the last two):
I ran 3:55, 3:47 . . . 
then 1:18 and 1:20
then 34.2 and 33 for the last 200. Afterwards I went to see Josh and he took me through a rigorous set of leg exercises! 

Leaving for the lake on Saturday, so I hope to get another track workout in on Friday, and one in at the high school near lake next week before I go on my trip. I will have to do a good run outside during my trip--maybe 2! Because when I return, there is only a week and a half until my races at Nationals in Alabama!


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