TrackMeet (Dual Race Report)

[GordM]

I thought it would be a good time to post a race report. I raced the 3000m last week, and the 1500m today. (High school track meets)

Last week when I ran the 3000, my calves were sore all day. I had done a hill repeat workout two days before, and I guess that wasn't enough recovery time. These 'races' have very little competition. With the way we had been training, me and my school coach thought 10:00 was a good time to aim for. Its still a ways from where I need to be, but its the first race of the season. First lap was a little fast, then I consistently held a pace for 4 laps, then the last 2 were a little slower. The last lap was faster. I felt like total crap after, as though someone had kicked me in the stomach. it was quite painful, and i still can't figure out what i did/ate to cause it. I've only ever had it once before. My breathing was under control for the race, and my coach did a video analyses, so I will be curious to see what my cadence was. Final time was just over 10:00.

After last week's race, my coach thought it would be beneficial to try and keep things as consistent as possible, and not go too hard off the start. I have mixed feeling about this, I know that when I do have good competition, you have to get your place off the start. At the same time, I don't want to be going too fast for too long off the start, and burning out.

Anyways, this race (1500m) was very consistent. I got a good warmup in. 18sec quarter laps, (72 second laps) to aim for a 4:30 time. I felt really strong throughout the race, and kept everything under control. Finished strong, around 4:30. I need to get my time down to 4:13:70 to qualify for provincials. I know this is totally realistic. I'm just looking forward to finding some good competition where I'm not lapping the younger kids. I feel like such a bully.

Things have been extremely busy with school lately, and I'm happy with my results considering the amount of track training I have been able to fit in. Can't wait to take on some kids from the coast... I'm planning on doing an out of town track meet this weekend, and hopefully make it down to race the ridge the following.

[Andrew]

Very strong times Gord.

Now, a little more information for us.

1) Were you able to record and download your HR data, so we can see if the dropping pace in the 3,000m was also shown in the HR response?
2) When you say the breathing was "under control", do you mean at a rate of 4:4 or were you at 2:2, and feeling OK with the higher rate?

Just an idea...the stomach pain may NOT have been stomach, but rather abdominal muscles or even diaphragm giving you discomfort from the sustained respiratory effort and stabilization required for proper form. I would like to see the video...see if you can post it here for us to examine, so we can view the cadence changes and stride length changes along with posture as it changed through the event.

Have you been consistent with the work on cadence that we discussed previously?

I have NO doubt that 4:13 is within your reach!