Monday, September 16, 2013

Winning at Guajome Park

One month ago, Zach pulled out of the Wild Duck 5K, which was run at Guajome Park, due to injury. All healed up, Zach returned to Guajome Park for the first cross-country meet of the Independent Middle School League for 2013.

The course was 1.7 miles long, over mainly dirt trail, with a bit of grass, and a small hill.  Zach, who is the one bringing home the medals for the San Elijo Hills Running Club, ran the course in 10:45, which is a 6:19 mile pace, and took first place.  He finished 20 seconds ahead of the next competitor - the way I'd like to win a race (good luck).


Zach told me he led for most of the race, but allowed one runner to pass him when they turned into the wind. He deliberately drafted off the runner for a bit, before passing him on the hill.  Zach said he could hear the runner breathing really hard as they ran up the hill, so once Zach crested the hill, he picked up the pace and never looked back.

Congrats to Zach!

San Elijo Hills Running Club


Monday, September 9, 2013

Running, soccer and life

At the moment, my life is a whirlwind of running and soccer.  Somewhere in the middle I find the time to work, keep up my house, service my cars, walk my dogs, garden and do all the things necessary to keep my life moving forward.

I am trying to simplify, if simplify means not doing anything but run and watch my kids play soccer.  Last weekend I went to eight soccer games!  This went beyond a healthy dose.  Watching my kids play soccer is stressful.  Watching my daughter play goalie is even more stressful.  Doing it all in 90 degree heat just adds to it.  After doing nothing but stand and watch, I came home exhausted.

But this is the window of time I have to watch my kids play sports and there is nothing better than watching my son score goals and my daughter make saves.  If my running suffers,  so be it.  I'm in the middle of following Jack Daniels' Running Formula and am trying to run 50+ miles a week.  I did it for six straight weeks.  This week I felt tired.  I only ran 45.  I let it go.  I can't be a slave to my running spreadsheet or I'm going to end up hating running.