Time To Race

It’s about time for me to start racing again for the outdoor season.  I spent the last two months training through a move to Co Springs.  I don’t feel like I’m really settled in yet, but atleast I have a bed and a couch (still no kitchen table!).  I don’t know how this will affect my outdoor season, but I have to keep reminding myself that all I need to do is 1) stay healthy 2) remember this is my first year back in 5 years of NO RUNNING and 3) keep the pressure low.

For instance, on Monday it was kind of cold here. I got out on the track to do this workout and I just struggled to get through it. In fact, it was so bad that I went home crying and ate two pints of ice cream.  Next day, it was 76 and I decided to go back to the track for “round two” and it all came together. I was running 300s in 40 (at elevation!) with  a 20 mph head wind coming into the last 100m for each 300 (pushing me back a few seconds- 200s were through in 26s).  You don’t need drugs to get hair on your chest…just run in some of this wind up here! Yesterday, it was “hurricane force” strong (70mph).

Back when I had such a good year right out of college in 2004, I remember being in New Mexico and telling my coach that I just couldn’t get through those 300s in 42  at 5,400 feet….now I have a really bad day here and come back even better (and I’m atleast  6,000 feet).  So right now, I have no idea what to expect in racing or training.  What I’m really trying to do is get some consistency here. That’s why I moved.  My goal is to get consistent so that I can prep for 2011 and 2012 (Olympics).  If I can get in the groove for the outdoor season, I’ll be so happy. If I don’t, I’m going to try not to get down about it.

I’m racing tomorrow in Ft. Collins. This week has been wishy-washy. ..just like the weather. I’m hoping it ain’t freezing because it’s pretty hard to sprint when it’s below 50 degrees, but I have to see what kind of shape I’m in.  Time is ticking down to USAs.

Photo by Ed Flores (www.bodyandline.com)