2014 Running Goals

One might ask: A little early?  I would say, not when you live in the North!  My racing season will come to a close in 19 days, maybe 26 but that is not nearly as important.  I will probably shut down the running for a week or two to refresh mentally or physically.  Currently, I am leaning towards a shorter break and will probably cycle a bunch.  I didn't really start training for my racing season until July so my body isn't too beat up.  When I start up again, I will be training for 2014 races because there are not really any quality races in the area until spring.  Below you will find my goals for training, racing, and what plans I might have for the upcoming year.

Training goals:
These are the most important goals for if these goals are completed then the other goals will follow.

1. I will train consistently.  This year (2013) I half-assed it through April, attempted to run a 50k, didn't run for about a month, tried to train for an 800, got hurt, didn't run for about 6 weeks, and then finally got it right.  I will train smart and hard the whole year.  I would have run much faster this fall if I hadn't taken off about 10 weeks during the year.
2. I will train for races that I plan to run.  That means that if I decide to run a marathon or longer, I will do sufficient long runs on the proper surface.  If I decide to run Jelm again, I will practice running up and down hills more.
3. I will actually incorporate more workouts into my running.  I didn't hardly do any of these this whole year and I would have been better off if I had done more.  I did one every 2-3 weeks at most and often they weren't high volume or intensity.
4. I will drive to run outside of town more.  I know it's not good for the environment but I biked to work every day from May to September.  Some people commute for a lot longer than I will be driving to some beautiful trails.  I believe that running on trails this summer has made me stronger and healthier than I otherwise would have been.
5. I am currently reading "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald.  Throughout my running career I have always been one of the bigger runners out there.  I know that by decreasing my body mass, I will be much faster.

Racing Goals

1. To dominate.  This may sound arrogant or not specific enough but I don't really care.  I ran well with limited training this fall and know that I am capable of much more.
2. Run and place well at the 'Big 3' in Laramie.  Pilot Hill, Jelm Mountain, and Silent Trails.  It isn't unrealistic that I could win any or all of them but there are some solid athletes in the area and others that travel here to run these races.
3. Complete my first marathon. I started one once but had bronchitis and quit at halfway.

Race Report: Always a Cowboy 8k 2013

I love to race so I had signed up for this one despite knowing that it would be run immediately after I got off an overnight shift at the hospital.  The day before I prepared by running right after I got off work at the same time as the race.  I felt ok, definitely not good by any means.  I felt worse on race morning.  My stomach was out of its rhythm and a mess.  My mind was in a fog.  However, I had paid for the race and was there to do business.  Luckily for me, the race got out fairly slowly.  Chris Schabron set the pace early and there was a pack of 4.  Ragan was on Chris's shoulder and a UW walk-on named Jesse was hanging in there as well. Through 3k, I felt like I was hanging on for dear life.  After that the race started to shake up, Ragan made a big move in the 4th K and I passed that mark in second behind him in 13:38.  He started to tire in the next K and I took the lead, passing 5k just over 17 minutes.  From there it was a long push to the finish.  I felt way better in the 5-7k then I did at any other time before or after.  The last 5k was a struggle but I finished it strong.

Overall, I think this race bodes well for the SDSU Classic 8k in 3 weeks.  NCAA altitude conversions (if they existed for 8k) would put this at least a minute faster in Brookings.  If I were properly rested and feeling well I think I could run much faster.  I am excited.  Jelm Mountain is up next Saturday.

Update:
I emailed coach Joe Stephenson about getting some results for this race.  He sent back the top 5:
1. Kyle Schmidt 27:15
2. Ragan Driver 27:39
3. Jesse Gray 28:07
4. Chris Schabron 28:09
5. Jeff Kreuter 28:15

Routine Time- 8/19-8/25

This second half of the summer has been riddled with guests.  Don't get me wrong here, I love my family and friends but they do make it hard to devote enough time for my full running schedule.  The second half of this week won't have visitors so it is time for me to start developing my routine for working, running and school.  I will be busy and time management is key.

8/19- I got one run in while Danielle was getting her wisdom teeth taken out in Loveland, CO.  34 minutes.  Luke, Lars and Krista arrived mid-afternoon and I got another run in at Vedauwoo of 33 minutes.  I am excited to see what Luke can run at the SDSU Classic as a 47-flat 400 runner who is starting to get into distance running.  After the run we scrambled to the top of Turtle Rock.

67 minutes after one day.

8/20- Didn't run today but got 13 miles of hilly hiking done at 10,000+ feet for the whole thing.

8/21- 32 minutes of easy running, feeling a little sick to the stomach.

8/22- 31 minutes of running and still not feeling the best.  Looking forward to trying to get back into the routine starting tomorrow.

8/23- I had to get back on the track today.  The plan was to run 8 to 16 x 400 at my goal pace for the Sioux Falls 5k.  My goal time is 15:40 so essentially 75s.  I have been battling a cold for awhile now and that made breathing a little hard for the first two but after that I was hitting 73-74 every time.  I used about 30 meter walk and 170 jog for my recovery.  It was usually between 55 and 65 seconds.  I ended up running 16 400s and felt like I could have done more.  I think 15:40 is within my reach right now.  Total time with a long cool down was 96 minutes.

226 minutes after today.  I should still be able to hit 400 minutes this week with a solid long run tomorrow morning.

8/24-

8/25-