May Update

Finished up my extended base-building period after having to take 6 weeks off in February and March due to illness and then back spasms. Feel like I am now back to where I was at the end of January. Got in my two hill sessions this week: first with 5 reps of high knees and then with 6 reps. Next week shooting for 7 and then 8. Then it's two weeks of bounding and then 2 weeks of springing before a transition week and then into 1-mile type training with lots of 400 meter repeats etc.

A couple weeks ago ran the Wednesday night XC 5K for a second time this year at took 42 seconds off my first effort for a course PR of 19:48. Last year my best (well, only, actually) time on that course was 20:30 in mid-July. So I seem to be well ahead of last year, which is the plan. A week later I paced Will to a 25:28, 1:42 below his course PR of 27:10 from the previous week. The course wasn't even that fast as it was soaked from rain all week but it was perfect running weather as it was a bit cool with a bit of a mist coming down.

Planning on pacing Will through the Ridgewood 5K on Memorial Day and then perhaps racing the Tenafly 5k on my own the following Sunday. If so would be shooting for sub 19:00 with 18:36 (6:00 pace) as a stretch goal.

Easter Run with Scott Jurek

Will and I did one loop (6.55 mile quarter marathon) around Van Cortland Park at the Easter Holiday Marathon. Scott Jurek was there jogging with the crowd. He jogged along with us for a bit and asked Will a bunch of questions. The course was mostly flat but had two hilly sections with pretty good climbs. Will did 1:07 (10:15 pace) for the loop.