Landover...my window of opportunity...move over!

Wed, 3/21-

Went to the Y in this storm to do mile/lift & stretch/mile/lift & stretch/mile/lift & stretch. Treadmill miles were in 8:00, 7:45, and 7:30. I took 4:00 between each.

Tues, 3/20-

With the megastorm approaching, I took the liberty of getting in a quick workout outside in the cold (30-degrees). Well, actually, I began inside at the Y with a mile warmup an stretch. I then headed to Hillsborough HS (even though school was in session) for 2x100, 3x150, and 2x100, a repeat of what I did on this day after 2014 nationals in Boston. Goals for the first set of 100s: 14-mid, 13-mid; goals for the 150s: 21-mid, 20-mid, and 19-mid; goals for the second set of 100s: 13-low, 12-mid.

Actuals: 14-high, 13-mid; 20-mid, 20-high, 19-mid; 13-flat, 12-low

Mon, 3/19-

Went for a recovery run on the trail. 4.25M. 17:30 down, 16:05 back for 33:35.

Sunday, 3/18-Today was my "tough" day. I had a pretty good warmup, but my piriformis was bothering me. With about 12 in my, we would do an alley start; I was up top with three other guys, including Mark Williams.  Mark exploded at the gun. I was relaxed and far too tentative, having convinced myself the nest I could so was third.  I hit 31-low at the 200.  As I hit the 400-meter mark, I saw 62/63.  Mark crossed in 56.xx seconds.  Crazy! I saw 1:36/1:37 at the 600. I was dragging, but I figured I had third in the bag. Someone flew by me on the last turn. He wound up having a 30-second last lap. I could feel myself tire and dropped a 2:11.67, a disappointment.  I just can't get that damn last lap.  A nearly 34-second last lap will not get the job done.  31-low/63-low(32-low)/1:37-low (33-high)/2:11.67(34-mid). Mark hit the wall big time and collapsed across the finish. 2:07 should be within my reach. I psyched myself out!

2018 Nationals Landover 800 meters

Place		Athlete	Time	Heat	Pts	Splits
1.		Mark Williams 45 - Garmin Runners	2:07.67	1	8	27.80 [27.80]	56.40 [28.60]	1:28.11 [31.72]	2:07.68 [39.57]
2.		Brian Shadrick 45 - Bullseye Running	2:09.26	1	6	33.15 [33.15]	1:05.77 [32.62]	1:38.30 [32.54]	2:09.26 [30.96]
3.		Sherman Lau 46 - Central Park Track Club (CPTC)	2:09.31	1	4	30.62 [30.62]	1:02.89 [32.28]	1:36.24 [33.35]	2:09.31 [33.07]
4.		Delvin Dinkins Sr 46 - Greater Philadelphia TC	2:11.67	1	3	31.06 [31.06]	1:03.28 [32.22]	1:37.09 [33.82]	2:11.67 [34.58]
5.		Darryl Walker 45 - Unattached	2:13.10	1	2	32.81 [32.81]	1:06.14 [33.33]	1:39.10 [32.96]	2:13.10 [34.01]
6.		Sean Nyhan 49 - Unattached	2:19.04	1	1	32.15 [32.15]	1:07.74 [35.59]	1:44.09 [36.36]	2:19.04 [34.95]
7.		Kevin Cooke 48 - Greater Philadelphia TC	2:19.46	1		33.38 [33.38]	1:06.54 [33.17]	1:41.35 [34.81]	2:19.46 [38.12]
8.		Brent Fields 46 - Atlanta Track Club	2:22.59	1		33.00 [33.00]	1:09.25 [35.25]	1:46.57 [37.33]	2:22.59 [36.02]
9.		James Cooper 48 - Potomac Valley Track Club	2:26.33	1		35.75 [35.75]	1:11.96 [36.21]	1:50.34 [38.38]	2:26.33 [35.00]
10.		William Martin 46 - Unattached	2:26.89	1		33.50 [33.50]	1:09.07 [35.57]	1:48.57 [39.51]	2:26.89 [38.33]
11.		Tim Stewart 48 - Fork Union Track Club	2:33.47	1		32.94 [32.94]	1:08.83 [35.90]	1:49.28 [40.45]	2:33.47 [44.19]
		Kyle Lanier 45 - TNT International Racing Club

I got over the 800 and made my way, mentally, to the 4x400. The lineup was Phil, Kevin Cooke, Chuck Kruelle, and me. I was going to run leadoff, that is, until we saw the other teams' lineups and I suggested changes in the order. It would be Phil, Kevin, me, and Chuck. With five teams in the race, I knew it would be a fun one.  Phil (58) powered the first lap of his leg and tried to keep it close when he handed off right behind Michael Jackson of TNT.  Kevin took the baton in 2nd place, seven meters back. He held steady, right behind Kareem Lanier of TNT.  I got the baton in second place, seven meters behind Kyle Lanier. I was fairly aggressive over the first 100, cutting significantly into his lead. At the 150 mark, I was right on his tail. I was relaxed. Kyle picked up his pace some, so it seemed. I knew I needed to make a move and soon. Coming off the turn and onto the backstretch, I went for it. I pulled even and then pushed hard to pass him before the turn, which I did. Kyle came back at me over the final 25 meters. We handed off in the virtual tie. I posted 54-high. Chuck ran a smart 400, running strategically, but he came up a little short at the end.

2018 Nationals Landover 4x400MR

2018 Nationals Landover 4x400MR (From Raine, John's wife)

After a tough weekend, I was ready to go home.  Given that this championship meet was a lot less competitive than the one I attended in Boston in 2014, I could've done better: I could've won an event! But, I goofed. I hope I haven't missed my window of opportunity. While I was slightly disappointed, I was happy to have had the time to spend doing what I love with some of my favorite guys!

Saturday, 3/15-Today was more of a relaxed day.  After stopping by to see some 60m dash action (Wayne did very well, and Ross improved in the finals), I headed back to the hotel room to hang out.

I was excited for the 4x200. John would lead off, I'd run second, Wayne third, and Ross fourth. We were in a two-team race, as we were bumped from the stacked M40 race and placed in the M45 race, which was down to two teams because of scratches. John handed me the baton in first, posting 25.1. I ran the same, with Wayne and Ross running 26.5 and 26.4 respectively. Too bad the officials made us stand at the top of the fly zone rather than at the actual exchange zone.

2018 Nationals Landover 4x200 MR

We were pleased overall, having with 1:43.25 (FAT), much slower than expected. We didn't race until after 9:00, as the relay registration and such became disorganized. The 4x800s took much longer as well. Speaking of which, the 4x800 teams had good runs.

Friday, 3/14--I had a nice breakfast.

During this busy weekend, I was Mr. Organizer, in Chuck's absence. I traded in my Executioner title for the weekend.

Today was my 400 day. I had lane 3, the one I wanted. To my right were Mark and the two other competitors. I figured I'd catch Mark and take the straightaway. However, he got out hard and I got out too slow. I found myself in third at the 150 mark. I knew I was behind at the 75m mark. I just tried to keep it close. Coming up the homestretch I closed the gap and tried to pass Mark on the inside. Nope. I had to settle for third in 55.63, not too far from what I ran the last time I was in Landover. The winner ran 55.02; Mark ran 55.52. I could've, and should've, won the race!

2018 Nationals Landover 400 meters

Place		Athlete	Time	Heat	Pts
1.		Winston Chambers 49 - 2nd.MD Racing	55.02	2	8
2.		Mark Williams 45 - Garmin Runners	55.52	2	6
3.		Delvin Dinkins Sr 46 - Greater Philadelphia TC	55.63	2	4
4.		Kevin Bowen 46 - TNT International Racing Club	58.97	2	3
5.		Edward Carr 45 - Mass Velocity Track Club	59.29	1	2
6.		Andre Baynes 47 - Mass Velocity Track Club	1:01.53	1	1
7.		William Martin 46 - Unattached	1:03.19	1