Rusted From the Rain

Another week has come and gone here in sunny Scottsdale. I can’t believe it’s been almost 3 months of living here already. The time has really flown by. It seems like just the other day I was jogging 30 seconds then walking 4 minutes and 30 seconds(x4). Progressing to alternating a jogging lap and walking lap of the track(x5) and felt like I was dying by the end of the jog…

Yesterday I hit 77 minutes for my long run and closed with a 6:15 mile; a time I couldn’t have fathomed doing for one all out mile at the beginning of January… Saturday saw me do a session on the track of 2x(3x500m w/ 2 min recovery). There was a slight decay with each rep, as I slowed by about a second on every one. I guess it’s to be expected with how little work I’ve done with that energy system in the past 11 months though. GMart and Peter only had one set and I got sucked along on the first one which probably cost me a little at the end. We also had a 200m before the start of the workout which I put my spikes on for; my first time wearing them since stepping off the track at Penn Relays last year, so I had to shake the rust off. I have to admit; I got a little excited and even had a bit of adrenaline going. I didn’t drive off the line too hard, but I accelerated out of the turn and ran a hard but relaxed straight focusing on feeling easy and staying tall. 25.5. I couldn’t believe it. In the back of my mind, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to go that fast again. At least I know my speed hasn’t abandoned me; and most importantly, it didn’t rip me open!

Today is a welcomed day off after 2 hard weeks of training and I’ve found myself looking over some of the horrible calls in the NCAA March Madness. I honestly can’t believe how bad some of them have been that actually decided the outcome of a game. There was Texas vs Arizona (the 5 second inbound violation and no call on the final shot attempt), Washington vs UNC (the goal tend and time on the clock), Pitt vs. Butler (2 calls in the final 2 seconds), and Arizona vs. Memphis (no call in the waning moments on the Memphis blocked shot). They need to let the players decide the games!!

But, maybe I’m just bitter because my brackets are in shambles.

I also went out for dinner last week to a place called Lucille’s. After cutting my weight significantly over the past month (and no longer being the fat kid), I rewarded myself by indulging in some amazing Southwest BBQ. It might be the best BBQ I’ve ever had. I had a nice platter of Beef Brisket, Sausage Link, Chicken, Roasted-peanut coleslaw, garlic mashed potatoes and watermelon. It was Delicious.

   -Linc