A New Job and the 800 Meter Run
Wow- How quickly did that happen? I was so unhappy with my "old job" of 90 days- but was able to find out, apply and get the position due to someone moving out of California. Funny thing, they won't have to print out new business cards as the person leaving has my name. I have had a week off between jobs and trying to get as much done around the house, my spritual house, and also enjoy the time outside before I get back to work. The business of floor coverings, soft or hard, is now so oversaturated in both the high and retail end. It is very competitive for the little business coming in and hard to support somebody starting with few accounts. I am looking forward to working in a different industry and needing a break from the building and specific industry that I have been involved in for the past 7 years. Now I move across the street- with a different energy of people, showrooms and the opportunity to build connections and the chance to inprove the client base successfully as we slowly build the sales goals through networking.
I just got back from my 800 meter time trial. I brought my bedside clock (don't have the watch yet..) with me for a timing. Upon entering the nice Piedmont Track I saw that it was empty except for a lone jogger. I asked him if he would time me in the 800 and and he said he would. As I warmed up around the track for the run (about 800 meters) and a few stretches I decided I would go for a 2:33 instead of the 2:30. I started to psych myself out that I was not really ready, haven't run enough the past 2 weeks, blah blah blah. All that "mind chatter" that weighs one down. I did run in Tahoe on two of the days that I was up there, my runner friend said it was like your lungs were burning. I likened it to having one lung- you start out tired, period- and then it continues to get harder! My timer, Don woke my up out of my "head tailspin" and said I should be happy to just be able to go out and run it and being healthy and strong enough to attempt it. That is was all in my head (tell me about it...) I knew that was where the race was going to happen, not in my legs. I also believed that slowing down to about 77 seconds a lap HAD TO BE EASIER then 65 seconds. He said, ready-set-go- and I took off. I felt a little bit tired the first 200 but quickly warmed up in the bright warm sun- as I came upon the second turn- I felt strong and was hoping I would be under 1:20 for the first lap around the first track and Don shouted out 1:17. I felt like I had enough in me - to go twice, but oh how I wanted to stop and do this another time. As I came to the beginning of the first turn on my second lap, I pushed a little bit harder because I knew I would be fading so I had to work harder now- and not save it for the last 100 yards. I felt strong as I came out of the turn and started working the back straightaway. Don was supposed to be shouting out the 200 meter splits- if he did, I could not hear him. I came into the final turn, and now I am working hard and leaning into the turns- breathing a lot of air. As I came to the straight away- I had a bit of a kick and lightly crossed over at 2:32- exactly the time I wanted. I was happy with that- but I know it is going to take tremendous work to shave 5-10 seconds off that time in 6 months. I am looking at the Los Altos all comers meet in January. My competition did a 2:25 time last year- my age (50-55). I read that is is about 6-8 weeks of concentrated speed work before a race. Should be a hell of a lot easier then training for a marathon, but I can so feel the strength in my legs from having completed that- and know that is a part of how I can run that 2:32 with running only 20 or so miles a week around the Lake in the last month.
Just bought some new guitar strings- oh baby does that sound good. Thinking about buying an amp to play around with- but this Epiphone accoustic guitar screams when you play it hard- and the sound is pure joy when you touch it just softly. I want to teach my daughter some chords- but with piano and cello already in the mix- I will wait a few years. She is my main singer for the songs that I play frequently.
Next Friday I will be at work- today- this Friday at 4 pm, I am having a beer for my reward on that 800- and am enjoying the sweet sound of a friday afternoon in the sun instead of the daily grind of the commute on the Bay Bridge!
Cheers to you avid readers! and share with me your battles and or gains- running or not.
I just got back from my 800 meter time trial. I brought my bedside clock (don't have the watch yet..) with me for a timing. Upon entering the nice Piedmont Track I saw that it was empty except for a lone jogger. I asked him if he would time me in the 800 and and he said he would. As I warmed up around the track for the run (about 800 meters) and a few stretches I decided I would go for a 2:33 instead of the 2:30. I started to psych myself out that I was not really ready, haven't run enough the past 2 weeks, blah blah blah. All that "mind chatter" that weighs one down. I did run in Tahoe on two of the days that I was up there, my runner friend said it was like your lungs were burning. I likened it to having one lung- you start out tired, period- and then it continues to get harder! My timer, Don woke my up out of my "head tailspin" and said I should be happy to just be able to go out and run it and being healthy and strong enough to attempt it. That is was all in my head (tell me about it...) I knew that was where the race was going to happen, not in my legs. I also believed that slowing down to about 77 seconds a lap HAD TO BE EASIER then 65 seconds. He said, ready-set-go- and I took off. I felt a little bit tired the first 200 but quickly warmed up in the bright warm sun- as I came upon the second turn- I felt strong and was hoping I would be under 1:20 for the first lap around the first track and Don shouted out 1:17. I felt like I had enough in me - to go twice, but oh how I wanted to stop and do this another time. As I came to the beginning of the first turn on my second lap, I pushed a little bit harder because I knew I would be fading so I had to work harder now- and not save it for the last 100 yards. I felt strong as I came out of the turn and started working the back straightaway. Don was supposed to be shouting out the 200 meter splits- if he did, I could not hear him. I came into the final turn, and now I am working hard and leaning into the turns- breathing a lot of air. As I came to the straight away- I had a bit of a kick and lightly crossed over at 2:32- exactly the time I wanted. I was happy with that- but I know it is going to take tremendous work to shave 5-10 seconds off that time in 6 months. I am looking at the Los Altos all comers meet in January. My competition did a 2:25 time last year- my age (50-55). I read that is is about 6-8 weeks of concentrated speed work before a race. Should be a hell of a lot easier then training for a marathon, but I can so feel the strength in my legs from having completed that- and know that is a part of how I can run that 2:32 with running only 20 or so miles a week around the Lake in the last month.
Just bought some new guitar strings- oh baby does that sound good. Thinking about buying an amp to play around with- but this Epiphone accoustic guitar screams when you play it hard- and the sound is pure joy when you touch it just softly. I want to teach my daughter some chords- but with piano and cello already in the mix- I will wait a few years. She is my main singer for the songs that I play frequently.
Next Friday I will be at work- today- this Friday at 4 pm, I am having a beer for my reward on that 800- and am enjoying the sweet sound of a friday afternoon in the sun instead of the daily grind of the commute on the Bay Bridge!
Cheers to you avid readers! and share with me your battles and or gains- running or not.
posted by Tomba at 6:19 PM
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