Running Times, Online

I am racing in my first outdoor track meet this weekend.  The weather is forecasted to be 70 and rainy on Saturday.  Gone is the consistent climate of indoor track that I appreciated, but at least the track is 400m.  Barring any thunderstorm cancellations I am scheduled to run the 1500m then come back a couple of hours later and run the 800m.

I am starting to get the usual pre-race jitters already.  You would think that after all of these years I would cruise through competitions like folding laundry.  No such luck.  My legs all of sudden feel extremely tired.  I think my two sneezes just might be another cold, or maybe just allergies since the pollen is high.   I wish I had done that 8 x 200m workout last week instead of the 8 x 150m.   I am resolved to do easy jogs and strides for the remainder of the week.

Doubling-up races is a good way for me to get stronger for the 800m.   In addition, I will have a chance to go for the American masters record in the 1500m.   The current record is listed at 4:32.73.  I actually ran 4:26.49, in 2006, at the Penn Relays en route to my masters mile record of 4:46.29, but the officials were not able to retrieve the photo finish that is required to certify a USATF record.  Fortunately the Relays were able to retrieve the photo for the mile record.   In order to get acknowledgement of a record setting performance you must get the signatures of meet officials, lines judges, and starters, give proof of age, provide a meet program, and a photo finish to USATF.

The 1500m is more of a challenge to me than the 800m which is why I have focused on the 800m in my later years.  It just seems to make more sense to race in an event that is easier for you.  I could always jump in an 800m and do reasonably well even when I was out-of-shape.  On Saturday I am going to test myself in the 800m.   My plan is to go out fast and set a strong pace.  I should be heavy-legged after the 1500m, but I am curious to see what I can run with fatigue.   I don’t want to be too cautious.  It is a race!

3/25/08

Hello Readers,

I have gotten a few nice runs in with my buddies (Steve, Derik, Tim, Heather, still trying to hook up with Chris and some others just that our schedules are different and my racing has been making it hard) since my last post. It is terrific to have people that you know that keep early hours too and that are willing to run in all types of weather.

I also worked for a few hours in my community cleaning up a stream close to our house. It is a great program through Arlington County, VA called “Adopt-A-Stream”, really a cool concept and it was fun. You would not believe how many empty beer and wine bottles and bags of trash you can collect during a day.

The other reason for the clean up was in order to satisfy my “Western States 100 Miler” service requirement. This is a neat idea, in my humble opinion. Each runner in the “Western States 100 Miler” (www.ws100.com) is required to do 8 hours of “service”. “Service” can be many things but mostly it is “trail work” or “volunteer services”. I chose “trail work” in the form of “Adopt-A-Stream” and loved it.

Besides that my family and I have moved to a new house still in Arlington, VA and we are just getting used to the new house and all the issues that go along with being a homeowner (plumbing, drafty windows, etc…).

In addition, since my last post I ran the Shamrock Marathon (www.shamrockmarathon.com) and finished 2nd in 2:24:55, it was not my best time at that race but I was really pleased with it given the conditions (really windy) but a great event and course.

This weekend, I am going to try and run two (2) Marathons back to back the same weekend. I am running the National Marathon (www.nationalmarathon.com) on 3/29/08 and then the Knoxville Marathon (www.knoxvillemarathon.com) on 3/30/08, so it should be a good challenge.

Herewith a video from NBC 4 about the National Marathon:

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http://video.nbc4.com/player/?id=231814

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Hope you enjoy the video and I will keep you posted on my next endeavor which is the US National 100K Championships (http://www.madcity100k.com/home.php) on 4/12/08.

Talk to you soon.

Michael Wardian

Today I saw a ray of sunshine through the dark cloud that has been hovering over my head. Ever since the Chicago Marathon last fall I’ve struggled a bit. I’ve never considered myself injured because I could always run with continuous gradual improvement. I’ve been chronically tight. Just feeling like I lack range of motion and speed. I’ve tried massage, adding strength, and even recent acupuncture. I practically carry the big foam roller wherever I go. To sum it up, I felt like running had been quite average for me.

Today I saw the light. It was a big ray of sunshine that has brightened my world. The workout was “Gatehouse to Gatehouse” in a local park that makes for excellent training ground. The course is a 4.4 mile out and back stretch that seriously puts your hills skills to the test. Very little of the course is on flat ground. It twists and turns so you also have to be on your tangent “A” game while watching for any potential traffic hazards. Gatehouse to gatehouse is one of those workouts we only do once, maybe twice a season. It’s that workout I see on the schedule and can’t help thinking about all week long.

I hoped by doing it today I would have an advantage by having the rest of the Athletic Annex Running Club there. The encouragement of my fellow club members frequently carries me through the tough days. As I made effort to conquer each hill, they cheered with kind words of support. Nearing the end I heard “Go get him!” Meaning for me to chase down my coach, Matt. It was a wonderful distraction from the task at hand.

Well, I did it! I ended up smashing my old course record. It’s not so much the time that means much to me. It’s the fact that I felt so smooth. The tight, stiff feeling I had battled for so long was gone. I just rolled right through it. I’m reminded why I love running all over again. I can tell brighter spring days are just around the corner.

Recently, I received and e-mail from my dear friend Jessica. I met Jess back in 1996 when both of us were taking English as a Second Language classes at Davis School in Costa Mesa, California. After a year at Davis, we both went different ways and lost track of each other. It was not until yesterday night when I got her e-mail that we got connected again. The e-mail reads in part as follow:

“Hi Zoila, I don’t know if you still remember me. I am Jessica. We met at Davis School (Costa Mesa). I have been curious to know what had happened to you so “I goggled you” I had done that before, but could not find your e-mail address. This time I had more luck and found your In the Arena’s blog site. I am glad to know your running career is going great. If you do not remember me it’s fine. Either way Congratulations and I hope your dream to become an Olympian becomes true and as a bonus I hope you bring back with you a medal.. God Luck! Jessica”

This e-mail really touched my heart and basically made my day. So many great memories have been running through my head. Jessica and I did not speak a word of English when we first met. After regular classes (9:00a.m-12:00p.m) at Davis we both would stay for a conversational class from 1:00p.m until 3:00p.m. When we were invited to join the advance group at the conversation table our conversations would always go like this:

“Hi, My name is Zoila/Jessica. I am from Mexico.
I do not speak English. What is your name?”

Those were in fact, great times and getting this unanticipated e-mail really makes reflect upon my life and the blessing God has granted me. I truly appreciate who I am and where I come from. I am so proud of my background, friends and all my memories. I guess Jessi and I will have to make some time to share what we have done and where we have been for the past 10 years.

UN CORREO INESPERADO!

Recientemente recibí un correo de mi querida amiga Jessica. Conocí a Jess en 1996 cuando ambas estábamos toando clases de ingles en la escuela Davis en Costa Mesa, California. Después de haber estudiado un ano en Davis las dos tomamos caminos diferentes y perdimos todo tipo de comunicación. No fue hasta hace poco cuando recibí una nota de ella que textualmente decía así:

“Hola: Zoila. No se si me recuerdes soy Jessica, nos conocimos en la Davis school (Costa Mesa), la verdad es que tenia curiosidad de saber que había sido de ti, así que “I Google you”. Lo había hecho tiempo atrás pero nunca había encontrado un email address tuyo. Esta vez tuve mas suerte y encontré tu site/blog. Me da mucho gusto saber que tu carrera como maratonista esta de maravilla. Si no me recuerdas de todos maneras no importa hace mucho tiempo que nos conocimos así que no lo tomaría a mal. Pero de todas maneras Felicidades y que tu sueño de ir a las olimpiadas se te haga realidad, y de pilón que te traigas una medalla.¡Buena Suerte! Jessica”

Este mensaje realmente toco mi corazón y me alegro mi día. Tantos recuerdos comenzaron a correr por mi memoria. Cuando Jess y yo nos conocimos no sabíamos ni una palabra de Ingles. Después de clases regulares en la Davis, ambas nos quedábamos a clases extras de conversación de 1:00 a 3:00p.m. Cando nos invitaban a la mesa de conversación con el grupo mas avanzado. Nuestras conversaciones eran algo como:

“Hola, Me llamo Zoila. Soy de México,
No hablo Ingles. Cual es tu nombre?

Esos fueron en verdad grandes momentos. El recibir este no tan esperado correo me hace reflexionar acerca de mi vida y las bendiciones que Dios me ha brindado. Verdaderamente aprecio quien soy y de donde vengo. Estoy orgullosa de mi pasado, mis amigos y todos mis recuerdos. Creo que Jessi y yo tendremos que hacer un espacio para poder compartir que es lo que hemos hecho y donde hemos estado por los últimos 10 años.

On Saturday I ran in the Van Metre 5-Miler in Ashburn, Virginia. I eagerly entered the race in order to represent my new racing sponsor The Running Store of Gainesville, Virginia. A five mile road race is not an ideal training addition for an 800-meter-runner, but I often use road racing as hard effort aerobic training. I was suffering from a cold, but only a fever will keep me from racing. Years ago a coach of mine told me never to run with a fever. He said it was bad for your heart.

By Saturday morning I was still sick, but no fever. At the start I assessed my competition and chatted with fellow runners. During the first mile of the race I was quickly passed by a female local runner. I was dreading her challenge since I was hardly at my best, but I locked on to her pace. The leader kept forcing the pace up and down the hills of the course. By the fourth mile I was feeling confident enough to challenge her pace. I gave it my all during the last 200 meters to finish first. At the post race refreshment area it was nice to get a chance to speak with fellow local runners and chow down on fruit and sports drinks.

After the race I returned home briefly for a shower and breakfast then off to work. I have been working part-time at The Running Store since it opened in November ‘07. I happened to meet one of the owners, Rob Dulin, at a road race last fall. I had just finished first overall for both men and women in a small 5K race. I had noticed Rob before the race while he was setting-up a tent advertising the store. A few weeks later I met the other owner, Jason Grant. Rob and Jason are both high school cross-country and track coaches.

Rob has been working to get me sponsorship from a major equipment corporation. Jason sent out a fabulous press release after I returned from the U.S. Indoor T&F National Championships. I have never received such generosity from an employer. Goodness knows, it takes more than just talent and hard work to pursue a goal.

I was pleased to find a nice race day photo of me taken by Kathy Freedman, on runwashington.com. Rick and Kathy of Capital Running have provided me with the opportunity to write my article “On The Track”, in the Washington Running Report since 2006. Kathy takes great photos.

Unfortunately, my cold worsened after my five mile race. My chest is now congested, but improving. My doctor prescribed antibiotics yesterday and cautioned me to take a few more days off from running. I realize I probably should not have raced on Saturday, but I have no regrets. I’ll be back on the track tomorrow.