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800 Tempo Run

December 15, 2010 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: SO DAMN COLD

Comments:
Well, the idea was we'd run over to the Woodlands loop and run an 800 or two at a fast pace. Unfortunately, it was fucking cold (22 degrees, although the wind made it 13, according to Accuweather), so we only ran one and my fingers were in agony for 10 minutes after we finished cooling down. Supposedly our first 400 was a 65, although I suspect the measurement was off, followed by a 73. It felt like I was faster the second half, so I dunno what happened. Anyway, play by play:

So Mr. Paul ran until we could barely see him, then gave us the signal by waving his hand to start. We couldn't really see him though, so I decided since I had a watch I'd just time us, and told everyone to start. Sam, Henry, and Thomas all took the lead, and right off the bat they had a couple meters on me. I decided to let them go, and hung back. They slowed down a bit after the first 30 seconds, and I caught up so I was right behind them at the "400" mark. I was pretty surprised that we were already halfway through, and since I was feeling great I did a quick burst to take the lead. From there I didn't look back, and it wasn't until the last 100 meters that I felt someone, who I later found out to be Thomas, was challenging me. I sped up, and finished in 2:18. A pretty slow time, but considering I was running an estimated 800 for the first time in 6 months in trainers in 13 degree weather on the road... it was pretty good.

Also this will be my last run in these trainers. They are really starting to show their age (the right one has a bunch of holes in the flywire upper, and both have been ravaged by the mud of Thetford). I decided to replace them after New Englands, unfortunately they've been discontinued, so the only reputable dealer I could find was a shop in Utah selling them for 10 dollars more than I bought them for 2 years ago. Still, I love these and I could never switch to another performance trainer, so I had to go ahead and buy it. They should come on Friday, so that will be when I hang this pair up for good :(. They've lasted me a long time though... Through my 8th grade races (they were my first shoes with which I broke 2:20 in the 800 and 1 minute in the 400) and so many High School workouts. They've been to the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, Thetford in Vermont, even Iran! Goddamn, I love these things. There's something special about them, too. People who have never seen the trainers are always asking about them. People rarely know that there once was a Nike Zoom Victory trainer, and it's cool being able to show off mine. And fuck me if they aren't the coolest looking trainers ever. I swear, I can't think of a single pair of shoes that looks cooler than these badass trainers.

Wow, that was long. The scary part is that was only the tip of the iceburg; I can't really put how I feel about these shoes into words. It's weird, because I didn't feel this way when I retired my Saucony Hurricane 10s, and I had a lot of miles on those (around 450, if I remember correctly). I guess part of it is nostalgia for Middle School. Oh well, let's just hope the new pair lasts me as long as these did, because it's possible those will be the last pair I can find before I have to choose a new favorite Performance Trainer.