by Larry EderThe need to race, the desire to race, for a distance runner, is like breathing. At first, I was terrified of racing. Later, I embraced the queezy feeling as a good sign.
I remember that my best friend won the first race he ever ran. I won my first race as a senior in college, so after about 300 races. In the 1970s and 1980s, we raced 35-40 times a year. Sometimes, twice on a weekend.
Adrian Royle battles Alberto Salazar, November 1981, Burbank, CA, photo by Joe Volk
There were also races where my best times were achieved, and I was near the very back of the pack. Running teaches humility. I recall the 1981 USA XC Champs, watching the lead pack of Steve Scott, Herb Lindsay, Adrian Royle, and Alberto Salazar churning up the sod in the Burbank Golf Course, as they ran sub 4:30 miles. I was 250 meters back, and had the perfect view, as this long, quickly moving, breathing mass of humanity responded to the dwindling leaders pack. Finally, Adrian Royle and Alberto Salazar, four weeks after a NYC win, were together, and Royle took the upset win. (To read about this race, go here: https://germanroadraces.de/?post_eng=the-halcyon-day-of-adrian-royle-shooting-star-butchers-blog)
Have a big race, Make your dreams a reality.
Saturday, October 26, 2019: warm up, 5k race, similar to league or conference race, jog ten minutes, then 8 x 150m strideouts, cooldown
Week 17, Summer mileage, Training week 16, time to focus on the racing
Monday: 55 – 60 minute park run
Tuesday: 20 minute warm up run, 20 minute tempo run, run this 20 minutes on a track or flat road, at 30 seconds per mile above last weeks 5k race pace, 10 minute jog, then, 8 x 150m, strideouts, 20 minute cooldown
Wednesday: 30-45 minute run, relaxed
Thursday: 20 minute warm up, 6 times 100m hill, jog down, 10 minute jog, 30 minute fartlek, 10 times 2 minute, 5k pace, 1 minute easy, 20 minute cooldown
Friday: 30-45 minute minute park run, relaxed
Saturday: warm up, 5k race, similar to league or conference race, jog ten minutes, then 8 x 150m strideouts, cooldown
Sunday: 85-90 minute long run
