Fitness Test: C+

Not sure what to make of this week.  It was supposed to be a major testing week after many months of long miles, early mornings and countless workouts.  There were actually two tests, the first being on Labor Day, the Victory 10k.  It was a beautiful morning and this is a flat, fast course, so you would expect some PR's.  I went out relatively easy and after I was passed by a fellow AG-group competitor, I decided to open things up and try to keep up.  That strategy lasted less than a mile and finally I had to let him go.  I was able to hold pace, but fell a little short of my goal of 36:xx coming in at 37:03, two seconds faster than last year.  A solid B plus.  I ran well the rest of the week, and gave myself a mini taper for the second test, The City of Lakes Half Marathon.  No excuses today, beautiful weather and I felt rested.  Same strategy as last year, go out at 6:19 pace, drop down to 6:15 in the later miles, than put the hammer down for the last mile or two.  Unfortunately, mile 1 was 6:30 and it was not an easy 6:30.  I managed to settle into 6:19 pace in the next few miles, but I was working too hard and already sweating quite a lot.  The good new was that I ran even splits, but the disappointing and inexplicable thing is that I could not find that 6:15 and faster gear...  So, fitness test #2 was 1:23:10, 90 seconds slower than last year, so barely a C-.

So, not a big confidence booster going into the final three weeks before the Twin Cities Marathon.  Perhaps the taper will work some special magic, but I a convinced that sub 2:50 is off the table, and the Moose Mug may be in jeopardy as well.  I feel good, just not racing that well right now.

On a positive note, Boston Marathon registration opens tomorrow morning at 9:00am CST and I will be poised at my computer, with mouse in hand registering for the big, big event.  Pretty darn excited!

Happy Running!
Rick