Two Mile Fitness Check

Jumped in the Tulip Festival 2 Miler this morning to see where my 5k and under fitness was and I ran a decent 10:40. The first mile was a bit uphill, then it headed out onto some trails. I hit the mile in 5:15 and started feeling a little winded very soon after. I had a few guys nipping at my heels and I kept them at bay until about 1.5 miles when one guy went by. I though I could hang back and kick as we came into the final 400, but that didn't happen, as I closed in 5:25.

I hung onto 2nd place and was fairly pleased with the race overall. I haven't gone faster then 5:15 or 5:25 in any of my recent workouts, so I guess it not too bad to step out and race faster then I've been training.

Spring is in the air, it's time to get fast!!!!!

Return to Tobacco Road

This blog is getting a little dusty, so I figured I'll give it a quick brush off.

Our trip to NC was great. It was wonderful to catch up with Doug and Company, Dan and Pam, and visit with my sister. Isabella was charmed by Luke and they got along like peas in a pod. Chase will be the man, he is a Little Doug that is for sure!!!

Brennan, Doug and I got a chance to throw down at the Cary Road Race and we represented well!!! In the 10k, Doug and I placed 7th and 4th, with times too slow to report. Brennan blazed the 5k course with a new record in 18:13, finishing 2 seconds up on the 2nd female who was trying to make it a race. Hopefully, I can make it back to NC for the Battleship 1/2 in November in a little better shape.

All in all NC was a fabulous time, but there is something about those backroads from Jacksonville to Raleigh!!! Many demons I'd say. They remind me of an old David Lee Roth tune...

I was born in a trunk
Mama died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die alone
In the middle of Tobacco Road.

Growin' up rusty shack
All I had was hangin' on my back
Only you know how I loathe
This place called Tobacco Road.

I hope everyone is well. Happy Easter Weekend.

Finally got back on the track today:

5 x mile (jog 400)
5:52
5:51
5:44
5:36
5:42

Baby "Jogger" PR

Isabella and I got her birthday weekend started off on the right foot by setting a Baby "Jogger" PR with the "Blue Bomber"(aka BOB). Despite a tough headwind we blazed out hard with the lead group and tried to remain as competitive as possible for as long as possible. As I pushed hard through the opening miles, Isabella clutched firmly to her raffle tickets for the post race drawing and sported her new Princess helmet with style and grace(safety first).

With a little wind at our back, we rallied in the last mile to set ourselves up for a PR and the possibility of stealing 3rd place. The 3rd place thing didn't workout as we were outkicked by a few prideful souls in the last 400 meters, but we hung tough to finish in 17:48, beating last year's time by 18 seconds. All in all it was great fun, but Isabella is gettting heavier and I am getting older(and heavier as well), so I am not sure how many more "pushes" we have left.

Peace out!!!

Turning of the Screw

After several months of long runs, slow mile(and longer) repeats and tempos we jumped on the track for a "little" turnover. The menu was set at 6x1200, then 1x800 to round it to 5 miles. The goal was a steady heap of laps, while droping the pace a little each rep. The 800 would be icing on the cake and "just don't pull anything"!

Here is how she went:

1200's
4:12, 4:15, 4:12, 4;06, 4:04, 3:54(got excited)

800
2:26, going 77, 69(37/32)

All in all it was a good workout and I'm happy with the times. I felt young whippin' thru my last 200, we'll see how I feel tomorrow morning:)

Orcas Island 25K

Just did my first trail race - what a blast! I have had an almost 2 year hiatus from any competition and since moving out to the Pacific Northwest I had been wanting to break into the trail running scene. This one was a lot of fun - despite being sick and just having come back from a week of wine and cheese in Nice (It's called a French Taper - you should all try it). I'll post a few pics below. I hope everyone is well. Cheers, Jude

Here's the race profile - with about 6000 of elevation gain.






Below are a couple of views of Mt. Baker from the top of Mount Constitution (mile 7 on the run)

This is the aid station... and I mean THE aid station. The only one on the course. Also no plastic or paper cups. Everything is BYOB here in the tree-hugging Pacific Northwest.
Did I mention the snow? We had about a foot of snow on about a mile of the course near the top of Mt Constitution. Didn't have my snowshoes either. This is me about 15 minutes from the aid station.
Take care. See you all before too long. Jude

Adding An Apple

I've invited Jude to join us at the DITC Blog. I had to add a little more Northwest Flavor:)

Hope all is well with everyone!