Sunday, November 18th, 2012

8 miles total.
USATF-NE XC Championships (Masters 8k) in Westfield, MA.
I've been putting off writing about this, if only because I'm just having trouble facing the reality that is me just not running well, training well, etc.
I got what I deserved at this race. I realize that I ran a marathon (or at least came away with the effects of having run one) 3 weeks ago and that I should have known that despite a decent workout on Wednesday, I was simply not ready to roll through a challenging course against the the best competition.

Got there early, warmed up for 3, got to the line with spikes (glad I did, as the hard-pack dirt would have made my race even slower if I'd gone without,) and went off at the gun, going with Lemme, Burdett, Putnam and the rest for a 1/4 before I just dropped back. Went through 1, which was flat, in 5:13 and should have known right there that this was going to be a long one.
Hit 2 with a 5:26 and was already way back.
The rest was just a struggling blur where I just hoped I didn't get passed. I didn't and, in fact, I picked up two guys en route to an 8th place 27:21. I was nearly a minute off the win and way, way off the 26:12 I ran at Mayor's Cup 2 years ago.
These guys were just so ready to roll and ran the race I wish I could have. Hats off to Greg Putnam, Kent Lemme, Francis Burdett and everyone else who had a great day.
My legs were trashed by the end as well, which is another sign I'm more tired than I'm willing to admit.
I just don't have it and I'm a fool if I think that things are going to get better by racing this weekend. I'd be struggling to get under 16:10 if I ran a 5k coming up, so what's the point?
It's back to getting in some rest, some health and then getting down to really training for the Spring.
Could have been worse, but man, it could have been better.

M- 10
T- 10
W- 10.5
Th- 9
F- 4.5
Sa- 7.5
Su- 8

week- 59.5 miles