Class 2

This was the first of three running tests you’ll take during the term. In week five, you’ll double today’s distances. The final week, your runs will be five or 10 kilometers.

Starting today, I give an extra-credit “prize” for the runner whose performance is most impressive each day. Jannik is our first winner.

Next Tuesday’s distances will be 2.25 and 4.5 miles. You’ll run through the neighborhoods south of campus. If you take a long run for half-marathon or marathon training this weekend, or want to go longer than we've scheduled on Tuesday, let me know.

TODAY’S ONE-MILE TEST

(with comparison to Tuesday’s pace; target was to go faster)

Lyanne – 10:38 (-50 sec.)

Amina – 8:47 (-1:57) 2^nd most improved

Maca – 8:36 (-57 sec.)

TODAY’S TWO-MILE TEST

(with per-mile pace and comparison to Tuesday’s; target was to go faster)

Erik – 16:14 (8:07 pace, -58 sec. per mile)

Alex – ran untimed

Jessica D. – 16:22 (8:11s, -1:06)

Jannik – 12:40 (6:20s, -2:17) most improved, earning extra credit

Daniel – 16:13 (8:06s, no target)

Rana – 14:49 (7:24s, -1:13)

Claire – 15:26 (7:48s, -1:22)

Scott – 13:18 (6:39s, -1:41) 3^rd most improved

Jack – 14:17 (7:08s, -1:29)

Julian – 14:02 (7:01s, -1:36)

Alli – 16:37 (8:18s, -56 sec.)

Arthur – 14:56 (7:28s, -1:09)

James – 15:19 (7:39s, -33 sec.)

LESSON 2: WINNING WAYS

A great beauty of running is that it gives everyone a chance to win. Winning isn’t automatic; you still have to work for success and risk failure. But unlike other sports there’s no need to beat an arbitrary standard (such as “par” or an opponent’s score). You measure yourself against your personal records. To the runner, a “PR” does not stand for public relations or an island in the Caribbean. It means “personal record,” and this PR may represent the greatest advance in the history of this sport. The invention of the digital stopwatch worn on the wrist turned everyone into a potential winner. Here was a personal and yet objective way to measure success and progress. It didn’t depend upon beating anyone, but only upon how the new numbers on the watch compared with the old ones.