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Lewis Hunt...plus OTC 1500m!

July 26, 2016 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: mid 80s, pretty warm

Comments:
Time flies! It's already the penultimate All-Comer's track meet, and since I'll be in Ashland next Thursday, I *needed* to do this race (moved to Tuesday, due to the Summer Track Series this weekend), in order to get a time for 2016.

I'm feeling fit, but feeling compelled to self-handicap, to be sure I don't over-run. This includes the major threshold-grind run I did yesterday!

I ran a few this morning, then launched from the hunt. Lewis was gracious enough to escort me - AND, as it turned out, Tommy! - from the ManSpace to Hayward.

Smallish group to start:

- me, Lewis, Tommy
- Matt Thornton, KRW

Ran from the ManSpace, up and through Moon Mountain area, to the backside of Hendricks. Ran back up the Hendricks, then Tommy - who decided last-minute to run with me! - and I decided to run straight down to Hayward to get ready.

We got there JUST in time to:
- deuce
- change into spikes
- stretch a bit
- do maybe 2-3 strides

Solid group of people, BUT some of the local dumb-ass master's-ish runners -- a group know for:

A.) running way too hard (and usually too much_) all the damn time
B.) doping (one of their prominent members is a DO who's actually been sanctioned by the state for over-prescribing controlled substances like HGH and Testosterone to his runner friends)

- decided they were going to race SEVEN run events:

Jogger's mile
100m
400m
1500m
200m
800m
3000m

So a big group of them was running - but sandbagging - the 15. As such, when the gun went off, it got out SLOW. There was a younger guy out front, but going too easy. Yet I knew I didn't have it to lead the whole way - especially in a strong backstretch headwind - so I hung back. We did like a :56 fist 300 - SLOW, like what I do in my easier workouts.

I moved up slightly, right to his shoulder, at 400m (72?), then hung there. Another guy was up there, and as we hit 700m, it slowed more. I waited on the backstretch, then with 1000m to go, made my usual move to get right on his shoulder with a lap to go. I pushed pretty hard there - and rounded the outside to take the lead at 350m. That lasted about 5 seconds, when this guy just effortlessly pushed past. Then, two younger HS-looking aged guys cranked past (all-out). I felt OK, but just couldn't (or didn't want to) muster the straining effort. I pushed pretty hard over the final 200, but was still form-focused.

Finished fourth in 4:28.0. Slow race, but solid last lap in 68.4. I think I could've run about 4:22 in a better race, but did not have the freshness or sharpness to run faster, going that slow.

Post-race
- took about 8min to change back into the road shoes
- jogged easy with the fellas back to the ManSpace

Really fun! Felt very strong! These are tough to commit to, but I'm seldom NOT glad to do it!