Winter Running

Although it appears that the Northeast has settled into the winter doldrums, the need to get out the door each day and get the work in doesn't change. Getting creative with workouts in the frigid weather in an attempt to spice things up a bit is essential. So that is why yesterday I decided to ask my good friend Josh whether he wanted to do a tempo run down on the River in a way that both of us would be pushed a bit more. Josh is a fantastic basketball player, he once played on UNC's reserve team, and he is currently eyeing his first marathon this spring at Vermont with his wife Becca. We warmed up to Lloyd Hall at the start of Boathouse Row, and decided that for the tempo that we would start at the same time, and Josh would go 1.5 miles out and turn around for a 3 miler and that I would go out to 2 miles for my planned 4 mile tempo. He was shooting for roughly 7:40 pace for the distance and I was aiming for 5:40 pace, with the goal of finishing our workouts at the same time. After a couple drills and some easy striders we started, and the freezing temps didn't feel nearly as bad with the knowledge that someone else was getting the work in as well. Well, Josh exceeded his stated goal for the workout and came in with a solid 22:33 for the 3 miles with an ideal step down of pace each mile. I was a little off my desired 22:40, and came in at 22:53(5:43 pace instead of 5:40), but my last mile got back on pace largely because I knew I was chasing someone off in the distance. The frozen fingers, even though I had two layers of gloves on, weren't noticed until after the workout was done. Again, the importance of having a workout partner was irrefutably proven. Just don't ask me for the scientific evidence.

Several days ago I was reminded again of how delicate life is when I read of the tragic death of Jason Long, a former star runner for James Madison University. Jason was the same year as me in college, and while I was at William and Mary he was a four-time All-American, Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 800, and eventually a sub 4 minute miler(3:59.99- a cool way to do it) while running post-collegiately for ASICS. His team at JMU was a heated rival of ours at William and Mary and over the four years I was in school our teams battled on the track and cross country course untold times- at the conference, regional, and national level each year. While I cannot say that I had the privilege of knowing Jason personally(from all accounts he was one of the nicest people you could meet), I can speak to his absolute nastiness on the track. He always seemed to be enjoying the races he was in, and even if he was running at a sub 4 min pace in the 1500 or hammering along at 1:47 for the 800, he was one of the rare guys who didn't seem to fear the pain that a balls to the wall effort requires. From all accounts it appears that he had put this intensity and drive into being a top line commercial pilot and flight instructor in recent years. The focus and love of competition that is needed to be great in running carried over into his flourishing career as a pilot. Tragically, Jason lost his life on an instructional flight on New Year's Eve day. But with all sincerity, I hope his family and friends take some solace in the fact that he was doing what he loved when he passed.

In the spirit of a devotion to flight, my Uncle Mike, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force(and Gulf War vet) as well as a 20 year veteran of US Airways, celebrated his first birthday yesterday since his double lung transplant on March 1 of last year. His perseverance to battle back from his transplant(and pulmonary fibrosis) has been inspiring to us all. And less than a year removed from his transplant my Uncle is in the process of getting cleared to be back where he loves and belongs...flying. The same intensity that drove him to be walking over 5k a day around the hallways of Duke Medical Center just days removed from his transplant will lead him back to the friendly skies. Happy birthday to the Man.

This week also saw me on the track for the first time since the summer, and although it felt weird to be running in circles again and making the four left turns each quarter mile, it was a pleasure to feel the burn again. Doing 8 short rest quarters(200 jog between each)was not an overwhelming proposition, but I was reminded of the distinct difference between threshold pace(sub-max effort) and the distinct pain you feel on the track. I am going to continue to keep a workout a week on the schedule in which I get on the track for intervals, and continue with one tempo/fartlek effort as well. The races that I am pretty set on running this spring are the Adrenaline 5k in Haddonfield in March, the Broad St. 10 miler the first week of May, and the spring marathon is most likely going to be the Vermont Marathon the last weekend of May. Other races are going to be fit in around these three, but those are the ones I am most focused on.

Before I wrap, I would like to congratulate one of my Breakneck Track Club members on a big pr in the mile. Andy Elkan, a former Cherry Hill East and Dickinson runner, pr'd by 4 seconds in the mile in 4:31.4 up at the Armory in NYC on Thursday night. It's great to see guys hit new levels when they get out of college. Big things can happen if your willing to let the mind buy into the proposition of new heights at any stage of your life.

Eric