Class 1 (2 & 4 miles)

Welcome to this bittersweet day for me. Sweet because it’s my first time to teach this favorite class since spring term 2017. Bitter because this is the last time the combined 5K/10K class will be offered. I’ll do my best to make it fun for you and a fitting sendoff for me.

Starting today, I posted results on Canvas and also the class blog. Each day’s report includes a mini-lesson on running.

Sorry there were a couple of misdirections today. They all worked out in the end, and Thursday I’ll give more and clearer directions.

Thursday’s run – and all further runs – will meet outside on Turf Field 1. Our next class will start with a good warmup, then move to a test effort of one or two miles. I’ll compare your time with today’s pace, for half that distance.

TODAY’S 2.0 MILES

(with per-mile pace; target was to run relaxed, saving faster effort for Thursday; these are “raw” times from my watch and yours might have been faster)

Amina – 19:35 (9:47 pace)

Leah – 2.1 miles in 20:30 (9:46s)

Gentry – 16:38 (8:19s)

Wyatt --- 15:43 (7:51s)

Hailey – 18:21 (9:10s)

Samantha – 19:13 (9:36s)

Tyler – 13:10 (6:35s)

Maca – 18:30 (9:15s)

TODAY’S 4.0 MILES

(same info as above)

Alex – 30:14 (7:33s)

Noe – 30:17 (7:34s)

Philip – 28:51 (7:12s)

Mak – 28:51 (7:12s)

Bill – 38:15 (9:34s)

Kelly – 34:07 (8:32s)

Omar – 30:14 (7:33s)

Kyle – 28:15 (7:12s)

Suaote – ran longer, untimed

Colleen – 32:00 (8:00)

LESSON 1: WHY RACE?

Running in races is not a requirement for calling yourself a runner. Running is easier and safer without this added effort. Racing is hard, and moderately risky – but also exciting, challenging and motivating as it pushes you farther and faster than you could go alone. The race itself puts you on the line – not just the starting line but at the red-line of your abilities, where you can push no harder without breaking. Racing puts your training and resolve to their final test. You don’t take this test alone but in the company of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of runners like yourself. You aren’t competing with them; you’re cooperating. The competition isn’t with others but with the distance, the course, the conditions and the voice inside that pleads with you to ease off. Everyone else in the race is tested the same ways. You push, pull and pace each other.