Monday - back to work

Actually, I have Mondays off from my job, but today it was back to the track on a spring like winter day, low 60sº at sunset.

Since aerobic conditioning is my weak link - requiring almost constant maintenance - and is the first thing to go when not training, I did long sprints today. A pretty good solid and tiring workout. Also, a good day to continue breaking in the Saucony Showdown training spikes.

800m warmup, stretches, drills

800m - 2:27

2 x 300m - 44, 48.5

2 x 200m - 29, 28.5

400m jog cool down

I did not take measured rests but they were about medium, ~5 min or so. The new shoes feel good and will likely be great practice spikes through the outdoor season.

Inventory: Have recovered from the joint pain but still feel it slightly in the hip. Notice a tinge of pubalgia everry now and then, but certainly nothing significant. After a weekend splurge, weight is still nominal: 140.4 after workout.

Indoor 400m strategy: As I watched the US Indoor T&F Championships, I noted that the indoor 400m seems like a different animal than the outdoor. 1) the splits were more lopsided - typically 21.5 and 25. and, 2) 90% of the time, the leader after the break wins. 100% of the time, the leader after the break takes 1st or 2nd. Leads me to take a very aggressive strategy on the first 200m in an indoor 400.

Also, an amazing story about Nolan Shaheed - a fellow musician (jazz trumpet) and masters track athlete set the M60 world record in the 1500m on Sat. The guy flew to LSU to run in a sanctioned meet and spent the night in a hotel stairwell because he didn't want to spend $200+ for a room. He also went without dinner, since the only nearby food was a BBQ joint. I can definitely relate to both those points. One awesome dude.