Do something different...Yeah the last time I ran in the Big 6 Masters meet-Russia,Ukraine,Belarus,Tatarstan, Moscow, St Pete meet it was right after 100k Worlds in 2010 and I ran the most sucktastic 3000m in my career-a PW. I just hadn't recovered yet and my speed was in the toilet at the time. This time, I just looked at this meet as a nice way to get in a decent workout approach and took the whatever approach. I wanted to run the 800 since this was just a 1 day meet and there would be no 1500/3000 double as an option. I run on team Moscow for this meet and placing in 2 events as opposed to 1 brings in more points (just like in college meets) I just hate when the 800 is BEFORE the 3 instead of AFTER though. I looked at the schedule and saw I'd have about an 1:20 between the 800 and the 3000 so figured what the hell-for sh!ts and giggles it's time to do an 800 time trial. I just want to have fun and do something different. My speed has been picking up this month during my track sessions and I had a hunch I could put down at least a 2.40 ish smthg. I was 2.40 in June when I ran my 1000m track PR. That ain't great, but for a 50 and 100k specialist will do just fine. I haven't run an 800 since July of 09 and that was a 2.42 in the summer heat. I've only ever gone under 2.40 a couple times and that was ages ago in Alaska-otherwise my speed ceiling is right at 2.40-41 ish. I'm just not good at the short stuff. So after Lena let me know the bad news-that there were 2 women at 2.32 and the good news-they weren't in our division, I just figured I'd try my damnest not to DFL! There was also Sasha who at 49 can still rip off a 2.30 something 800 as well. That's just awesome.
So after we were warmed up and ready to go, we were told we'd be delayed for the opening ceremony...WTF?! That was the 30 min break that was supposed to be after the 800...and what would give me over an hour to rest between events. Aw sh!t- this is going to make the 3000 a real beyotch with little rest in between. Ah well, I wasn't planning to chase a PR there anyways or I'd have sat out the 800 and this is not the track to PR on as the turns are sharply banked and just kill your legs.
So, off we were there were 7 of us and the top 4 which was our pack with Sasha closely behind all took turns passing each other along the way. The only crappy thing that happened to me was ending up on the outside in the final 150. Finish 2.38 good enough for 2nd to Lena! I would not have gone under 2.40 if I didn't have people to push me. I have not seen an 800 under 2.40 since I ran my PR at 2.35 in 2004 at the Palmer Relays in Alaska! I think on an outdoor track not coming off a long race and in speed shape, I could still go after that if I wanted to. My 1000 would have easily been under 3.20 too good for another PR. Oh dear...I'm going to pay for that in the 3000.....
Funny- our running club has a fun little match we do where your results are scored and ranked in 11 events- 800,1000,1500,mile,3000,5000,10,000,15k,half mar,marathon,and 100k. I have now covered all of these in a year! I've also scored higher than in past years because my times from the top down have improved across the board.
Finish with Sasha on my heels
3000 time...and I had about 40 minutes between events because the break happened BEFORE the 800 not after as it was supposed to. Not knowing how my legs would respond after an all out 800, I went out behind 2 ladies in the first 400 to keep from going out too fast. No, actually I went out way too effing SLOW- 1.36!? WTF even on pooped legs this is NOT my pace so back to the original plan- just run 3.45 km pace like a tempo run and that's what I did.(AKA 5k pace) I was all alone up front though so that's all I could really make of this was just a glorified speed workout and just lapped people along the way. The next two ladies were a lap behind me. I had thought the lady who ran with me in the 800 would have kept me company in the 3000 but it didn't happen.
3000 pix - Slava Degtyarenko
So that was my speed workout for the day. My college coach used to race us 1 event up and 1 event down from what our key event was so that we could get speed fine tuned as well as endurance. That meant if you were a 5000 runner, you got sent to the 3000 and the 10,000 on occasion. I was a 10,000 specialist then and the 5 was my secondary event.Coach had me run the 3000 for speed and sometimes the first leg of the 4x800 relay (first leg so I had more rest time before running the 3 or 5 later on). I ran this 800 more so to give me the confidence to quit screwing off and sandbagging in the mile. I have to run that FAST this weekend!
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