All-Comers: Grand Prix Mile

Previous PR: 6:14
Goal: sub-7
Result: 6:45

It's track meet season! ATC's Grand Prix event tonight was the mile. I'd have liked to trained for this and see what I could really do on a track in a meet setting, but injuries have plagued me for the past eight months. 

Normally, I'd run my 10KT with the crew in the morning and just add extra miles at the track. Today, I decided to be smart, consider my foot issues, and not run a full 10K before sunrise. I taped up my left foot (PF) and used my foam insert from the podiatrist for my right one (bruise) as preventative measures, and hoped for the best. 

The meet was supposed to be a sort of "date night" for my husband and me. We've been kicking butt at the "divide and conquer" approach to parenting, while neglecting our own relationship a bit. So, when the grandparents asked to keep the kiddo for a few days, we took advantage by planning a date night at the track. It was really nice to be able to commute down and back together in a single car, spend the hour+ of sitting in traffic talking, hang out with friends together, and then be able to completely focus on our runs (which were past the kiddo's bedtime) instead of playing rock-paper-scissors to see who got to do the Grand Prix mile and who would be taking the little one back for bedtime. 

Look! We occasionally do things together! :)
Also, who wants to go sit and pay $$$$ for food as a date when you can run track for free?

I got a nice warm-up in with Jerry and Kathy (my masters T&F teammate) through the "rolling hills" of Emory University's campus. Neither foot hurt during the run, but I was definitely feeling the stress of the day during the warm-up....  it felt more like an actual run to me than a "get warm/get loose" jog. Probably because I was a sub-9 thanks to my teammates. :P 

I was in the first female heat of the night for the mile, which contained seed times of 5:30 to 7:30. I'd put in around 6:30 for mine, considering that's my body's "default" mile time as of the past couple years, but wasn't expecting anything better with all the foot stuff I've had lately. It was nice to chat a bit with some friends in my heat before the gun, and make some new acquaintances too. 

When we took off, my only goal was "don't do anything stupid". I knew I could easily go under 7, and just wanted to have a solid run, not embarrass myself, and not aggravate either foot injury. I felt good during the first lap (97s- on pace for a 6:28), and then started having foot issues.

...but not the type you're thinking of. Instead of a pain in either foot, I felt my sock (which I'd worn to help keep the KT tape ON) sliding off the back of my left heel, making me question if it was my sock falling off or my actual shoe. Ugh.

During Laps 2 (105s) and 3 (107s), I definitely started feeling something in my bruised foot (the right one), but couldn't decide if it was actually a pain or if it was just a weird sensation because I had the foam pad on my arch and was "stepping on" that with each stride. I slowed myself a little to be sure.

On Lap 4, I was ready to be done. I felt winded and tired, but not like a hard effort. Just a "yeah, you're stressed, not focused, and kind of out of mile shape" (I think this is only the third "speedwork" I've really done since Maryland) kind of feeling. Blergh. 

Tried to focus on using my arms, responding to the cheers from friends around the track, and do what Coach Bianca was yelling at me to do "eyes up, arms strong!", which helped me kick and pass another two women in the last 100m. Lap split: 97s.

final stretch

Did a short cool-down with Jerry around the track after his race, stretched, and preemptively iced up both feet when we got home.

Overall, it wasn't the race I wanted, but I'm content with how it went down for not having been healthy enough to train since September 2017.