I have lost a step or two

Sat, 1/13/18-Went to the Y at about 11AM to warm up for the workout, which I'd do at Hillsborough HS. 

Went to Hillsborough for 200s on this windy, 30-degree day. The plan was 8x200 with 60 seconds' rest, with the goal 31-sec pace.

32-mid
32-mid
32-high
32-high
32-mid
35-low (wind monsters got me!)
33-low
32-low

Fri, 1/12/18-took off

Thursday, 1/11/18--I left work much earlier than usual (4:15) to meet to head to The Armory.  I arrived early at about 5:45 and changed in the parking lot.  I  headed upstairs to the venue at about 6:00.  HS students were still practicing on the track. They were dismissed at 6:30, at which time those waiting to compete in the evening's meet were permitted to warm up. The meet was to start at 7:00. I stood in line beginning at about 6:30 to verify my registered and get my number.  

The events for the evening were simple enough: 1000, 600, 4x400, and 3000, women before men and fast to slow. I was happy to join a few of my teammates there: John Curtis, Wally Hernandez, Chuck Kruelle, and Carl Stocking.

I did a mile.  I stretched much like I had for the Sprint Night in December.  I felt a little sore.   

I waited around a bit and realized there were three heats of the women's 1000 and five heats of the men's.  I had warmed up too early. The women's 600 went off at about 7:45.

Eventually, our event was called and we checked in.  It was well after 7:45 at this point. With a pre-registered seed time of 1:30, I was placed in heat 3, lane 4. There were nine or ten of us. Men hit the track at 7:55.

When our heat for the 600 meter was up, I felt a little sluggish. I tried to turn my thoughts positive.  There were eight of us, all on the curved line. When the gun went off, I was not very aggressive at all.  I went out as if it were an 800.

I was in fifth place at the 200, which registered 31-mid.  OMG!  I surged at the 300 mark.  Coming up the homestretch and closing in on 400 meters, I saw 59, 60, 61 (high). I was in third place. Knowing I should have hit the 400 two seconds faster, I started to push, going to my arms, trying to get my knees up and pressing with my toes.  I felt myself gaining on the group.  I kept driving.  I saw the clock as I hit the top of the straightaway: 1:24, 1:25, 1:26, 1:27, 1:28, 1:29, 1:30, 1:31...1:32.29 it was.  This was .8 second slower than last year. I was of course hoping to better my time, comparable to what I ran three years ago.  I went out too slowly! A little more umph on that first lap, and I could have run 1:30.  

Armory 600-meter race January 11, 2018

Dinkins, Delvin           46 Unattached             1:32.29   3 
        31.454 (31.454)  1:01.807 (30.354)  1:32.286 (30.479)

Even though I underperformed, I felt good about the even pace, particularly since I ran 31.454 (31.454) 1:01.807 (30.354) 1:32.286 (30.479). I have some work to do. I have lost a step or two because of the weather. The treadmill work I have been doing has not been enough. It wasn't great to be passed on the homestretch. I know I am a second or so off where I should be for the 400 and two or three off where I should be for the 800.  

Because Carl's plantar facia was plaguing him, I stepped in for him for the 4x400, with only 12 minutes' rest. Whereas John led off in 54.22, I anchored in 65.5. 

Greater Philadelphia TC  'A'                        4:07.13  
           54.221 (54.221)        1:55.789 (1:01.569)        3:01.597 (1:05.809).       4:07.128 (1:05.531)