Missed It By That Much

Ran fast, ran smart but slowed down just enough somewhere in mile 4 or 5 that I think I missed my PR for 10K by a grad total of 8 seconds. Don't think the 20 mile wind in my face the last 2 miles helped either. Still only my second sub 53 minute 10K. Next week I am assured a PR at 15K since I don't think I have ever run a race of that distance before. Both happy and frustrated with today's results. Frustrated by the miss, happy with the tantalizing prospect of things to come. Nice brunch with my Loyola colleagues and former Brooklyn colleague Jennifer Rosato, now the running dean at NIU College of Law.

Great Expectations

I planned to run without any expectations. Then -- and here's the mind outwitting itself -- I came to believe that the expectation-free run was sure to produce a great result. (I have precedent for that: in 2001 I planned "just to finish" a race in San Diego and set what remains my PR.) I ran the smartest race I've run in years. I spent 21 miles on the hip of a woman who held a perfect 7' pace -- any variation was surely due to marker placement rather than her pacing. I stayed in sight of her for the next two or three miles after mile 21. When the piano fell on me at mile 24, I fell apart like I never have. Somehow I tacked on 6 or more minutes in the last 2.2 miles, without walking a step. I could barely muster the strength for the "assault" on the Iwo Jima Memorial and may even have stopped before the finish line. Colors washed out and I sat, feeling just dumb, on a grassy hill. I'll be pleased if I never, ever experience that again.

The final result isn't embarrassing. My inability, in now 11 marathons, ever to anticipate the degree to which the train can derail after 2 1/2 hours is. I'm also experiencing a painful realization that simply being fit, running a dozen or more races a year, is not good enough to accomplish lofty goals. I will need to do what others do, and plan for a race months out, hitting the target workouts, doing the prescribed long runs . . . Maybe if I pull myself together mentally I'll see what I can put together for Boston.

The Market Speaks

Lots of talk around my institution about the recent press on the likely future of the market for legal education. Some seemingly non-rigorous conclusions are being floated in academic discussions, the trade press and even Slate that we are sure to see downsizing. Some on this blog have seen the cycles come and go. I assume we will be teaching next year and the year after, but one does wonder if changes -- like more courses per semester, or increased emphasis on monetizable work -- are in the works.

This weekend's 10K

While Max decides what to do about the Marine Corp Marathon, I will be lining up to take a shot at a PR in a 10K on the lakefront. Turns out we have a pretty decent size running group from the law school akin to what Ted blogged about way back at the beginning. Its almost ten people and includes profs, staff, and some spouses (not mine who is contributing by driving me to the race). They started with 5Ks in the spring which is why this somehow escaped my radar. A few are now trading up to 10K. Brunch afterwards is also part of the program. Should be great running conditions and quite good fun. Hoping no one is running in costume which would make brunch awkward.

Good luck Max! And my cousin's husband Craig is also running Marine Corp, his first marathon in 25 years ago. Back in the day he could a 2:30. We will see how cunning, guile and wisdom do a substitute for 25 year old legs.

Go Craig and Max!

Sinus Infection

Do I toe the line at MCM? I can't get antibiotics until the next day. I've missed a few important runs over the last week trying to kick the cold (obviously, with no success!). Army 10 miler probably made me sicker. Probably I go but leave the expectations at home. Bummer.

Injured in NYC during Marathon week . . .

I usually love the couple of weeks before the NYC marathon.  You can feel it on the running paths.  Runners just have a little bit of extra spring in their step.  They are trying out new gear.  They are a little bit jumpy.  This Fall, wrestling with an injury, the joy of crisp fall runs is joined with a bit of jealousy, and a lot of frustration.  Eight weeks ago I was in fighting trim.  I've kept up the cross training, but each time I head out for a run, I am reminded that there's no substitute for "event specific training."  My legs are dead, and everything hurts.  Ugh!!

Pomp and Circumstance

Before the organizers let us in to packet pickup for the Army 10 miler a piccolo trio dressed in Revolutionary War garb greeted us, we watched a formation fly-over by military jets, and several parachutists trailed red smoke overhead. At the start of the race soldiers again wearing classic uniforms displayed the flag ("colors," in military lingo). The Army chaplain gave the invocation, a nice non-sectarian prayer asking only that we be permitted to do our invidual bests. After the early start for "wounded warriors" and wheelchair racers, the band played soul-fortifying marches. When our time came to start, the Secretary of the Army gave the countdown and a cannon sent us on our way. And it took most of the first mile (at 6:17) for me to dispatch the guy playing a piccolo while running. (He kept it up, too; I heard him again, still playing, on the out-and-back portion of the course, when he was 6 miles in.)

I'm not a fan of all things military, or, frankly, nearly anything military. But this was neat. Here's looking forward to the Marine Corps Marathon next weekend.