In a few hours I'll be running the Newport 5K. This is a wonderfully flat course in New Jersey and 2 years ago I ran my best there...20:40...far and away my fastest time ever. Can I do it again? Can I do even better?
No and no. I don't think so. My training times don't suggest it because they're not as good as they were back then. But they have been getting better. My heart rates are becoming lower and I'm feeling stronger at the end. That's all for the good and that's why I'm hopeful of doing fairly well and certainly better than I've been doing for most of this year.
Just not as good as back then. Besides, I think the weather won't be as runner perfect as it was 2 years ago and as it was last weekend for the cross country.
I definitely think I can break 7 minutes, so that means a final time of under 21:42. Under a 7 minute pace is always respectable in my book. Better than that, however, should be possible so I'm going to say that 21:30 would be pretty good. I'd smile broadly if I could muster a sub 21:20. I don't think I could break the 21:00 barrier (I've only done it that once); that is certainly a long shot. Fine, so, let's call it my Long Shot Goal.
Of course, what I REALLY want is a new personal best. Here's why I don't think I can: I ran 400 meters X 6 this week and my average for each 400 meters (about a quarter mile)was over 2 seconds slower than when I ran the same workout before my speedy performance in 2005. Don't get me wrong...this week's workout was good, just not SO good. It suggests that I should be over 8 seconds per mile slower this time...maybe more if the weather is a negative factor. And THAT means I can't possibly break 21 minutes.
But I'll give it my best shot. And then we'll see. But I'm definitely feeling more hopeful than 2 weeks ago.
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