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Protection of Pride & Power

January 14, 2010 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
The run started like any other Extended Bike Path-
With me complaining that it was too short for any sort of quality, and Farmer trying to explain the significance of easy days in the training cycle
(Though I recognize the merits of his point, I feel like you should take an easy day when your body tells you to, and not necessarily when your calendar tells you to.
Further, though along the same lines, because I take Sunday off completely, the importance of a rest day in my week is seriously diminished.)

Anyway, it wasn't really a debate to be had, and we headed down to the bike path at a notably quick clip pulled along by myself, mildly consciously trying to pull out in front with Connor as I did yesterday. Today though, the group wouldn't let us pull away, and because I wanted to be in front of it, and was getting equated, if not challenged by Nick and Connor, the pace kept clicking just a little quicker. Another very logical explanation for the pick up that others will deny, but I will confirm, and would even try to implement in to training, is that the pace picked up so much because we were catching and passing the girls team (whether you interpret this as us impressing them, them keeping us focused, or coincidence is up to you).
Regardless of how you explain it the pickup was undeniable, for as we hit each of the 400, 800, and 1200 meter marks, I was able to confirm that we were running at 5:56 pace. This would all change at 1200 meter mark. Here somebody (i think it was Blake) noted the run's similarity to a tempo. Simply wanting to have a little fun, and to get a cool number on my watch, I suggested that we retain the pace until the mile marker. Farmer would have none of it, immediately challenging me and Connor into tempoing away with him.
Not wanting to let him get the better of me this easily, I pursued, and though he opened up a 10 foot gap, Connor and I maintained this distance for about a half mile. (It should be noted we went through the mile at 5:42). After a hlaf mile though, I felt the legs relax a little and was comfortable enough to surge up to Farmer (a move which Connor didn't follow). I stayed with Farmer all the way to where you leave the bike path but, as he did on any incline regardless of size, Farmer pulled away as we exited on to the sidewalk. This second mile in here Farmer claims was a 5:35, though I am not sure if I was with him for all of it, but I think I was for I actually caught him again before the light. The rest of El Camino consisted of (in order) Famer drops me, I catch Farmer, Farmer pulls away by a lot, Farmer waits for me for less than 10 seconds, we cross Del Mar Heights, Farmer kills me up the hill heading up to Quarter Mile Drive. As we turn left I catch him but we must now head up a hill, where the theme of Farmer's climbing dominance continues, and it is not until he waits for me (again less than 10 seconds) in the school parking lot that I catch up to him. He would though break away and beat me to the drinking fountains in what would have been described as a kick if either of us had any speed left.
Farmer then delivered a speech on recovery days, and team captainship, and effort, and stuff, the entirety of which all sounded great, for he had indeed forced me into humility.
It was a high quality, high effort, low mileage run, that was hopefully very beneficial.
It should also be noted, that it was followed by 6x150.