The great thing about running is you can do it anywhere. Yesterday I was in Spokane, WA and took a little jaunt through the city. The latest Runner’s World had blurb on Spokane, showing 3 or 4 paths all of varying distances. This day I had 5 miles on the schedule so I strapped on the GPS and just went.
Spokane sits by itself in the eastern part of Washington. It’s a fair sized city that clearly represents a mix between old and new. The streets of downtown are lined with old cement buildings—high-rises and parking structures—signs of new growth and redevelopment shoot up between like weeds growing in a field of grass. Development is present and on its way, but for the time being, it just seems out of place.
Spokane holds an annual race…the Bloomsday 12K. There is a statue on the middle of town of 40 runners that pays tribute to this annual May event. I stayed near the town’s icon, Gonzaga University. Gonzaga is famous for the small town, small school competitive basketball team it fields every year. This year they made it all the way to the NCAA Elite Eight and dominated UCLA for most of the game that could have brought them to the Final Four. Their star player, Adam Morrison, could not hang on…and UCLA moved forward. In fact, as I ran through the Gonzaga campus, I think I spotted Morrison sitting on the grass…still in uniform….crying his eyes out like he did on national television.
The run was scenic. I went through the Gonzaga campus on a trail that can make its way all the way into Idaho if one wanted to keep going. I wanted to get done quickly today…it was perfect weather and good for people watching. As I left the campus I came upon the downtown, right along the Spokane River, which was moving rapidly, flowing at its banks. The spring runoff is already high this year. The trail followed the river, right into the heart of town. Then I crossed the little foot-bridge that took me right over the raging Spokane Falls…BEAUTIFUL…and I doubt I’ll ever come back here. So I took it all in for a moment and then went on.
So, I wrapped up the run, showered, and looked for a good local pub to observe the Thursday night Gonzaga social scene…another topic for another time my friends. Until then, happy running!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The 5K Time Trial
As I alluded to in my previous post, the Wednesday night track work out was not going to be easy. The good old fashioned 5K Time Trial is a bitch and I would be happy to never do one again. For those who don’t know, a 5K is just over 3 miles—3.1 to be exact. That’s 5,000 meters or 12.5 times around a 1600-meter track. What’s the big deal with 3.1 miles you ask? Nothing….nothing at all if you are going out for a quick warm-up or jog. However, the 5K race and 5K time trial is much more than that.
Let me explain…
Each race type and distance is designed for a specific reason. The primary thought is to achieve the best results possible for the given distance. That being said, one can deduce that a shorter should be run at a much faster pace than a longer race. Now in reality aren’t many races shorter than a 5K or longer than a marathon. In fact, the 5K is the most common because of the short distance. Further reasoning would show that one would then run the 5K at a much faster pace than one would a marathon. So one can than say a 5K is run at almost "full throttle".
Therein lies the problem, my running friends…
When I run my marathon pace, I think that is fast!!! So you ask me to run at 5K pace…much faster…and I say "F^#^ you!" No, I don’t really come out and say that, but I’m not happy when you want me to suffer for 3.1 miles.
There is a huge upside, however. It’s only 3.1 miles…we will be done in under 20 minutes!!! That 20 minutes seems to last forever, especially doing this on the track. But when its over, the legs feel pretty good, the adrenaline and endorphins seem like nature’s answer to pain killlers…and now…IT"S BEER TIME!!!
So we finish, on a measured track under good conditions, and what does everyone say? "I think this was measured a little long…my 5K is much, much faster."
Who the hell knows…I’m just happy to be done.
Let me explain…
Each race type and distance is designed for a specific reason. The primary thought is to achieve the best results possible for the given distance. That being said, one can deduce that a shorter should be run at a much faster pace than a longer race. Now in reality aren’t many races shorter than a 5K or longer than a marathon. In fact, the 5K is the most common because of the short distance. Further reasoning would show that one would then run the 5K at a much faster pace than one would a marathon. So one can than say a 5K is run at almost "full throttle".
Therein lies the problem, my running friends…
When I run my marathon pace, I think that is fast!!! So you ask me to run at 5K pace…much faster…and I say "F^#^ you!" No, I don’t really come out and say that, but I’m not happy when you want me to suffer for 3.1 miles.
There is a huge upside, however. It’s only 3.1 miles…we will be done in under 20 minutes!!! That 20 minutes seems to last forever, especially doing this on the track. But when its over, the legs feel pretty good, the adrenaline and endorphins seem like nature’s answer to pain killlers…and now…IT"S BEER TIME!!!
So we finish, on a measured track under good conditions, and what does everyone say? "I think this was measured a little long…my 5K is much, much faster."
Who the hell knows…I’m just happy to be done.
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