CVS Downtown 5k

Time: 60:00
Distance: 9.5 mi.
Map

Goal: Qualify for Ivy League Ekiden trip; shoot for 14:50 as a time that should make it.
Race: 19th overall; 3rd automatic spot for the Ekiden trip; 14:53.

Despite some serious overanalyzing this week, the race and the goal were straightforward. In order to automatically qualify for the Ivy League Ekiden team, I had to finish in the top four Ivy League alums in the race, as other members of the team were being selected subjectively based on other performances (or other criteria, apparently). Given the guys I knew were in it, I figured that I would have to be a bit under 15:00 to be sure (and Jordan nailed it on the head, saying that 14:59 would go... which would have barely secured the last auto spot). Rather than going into the race focusing on the particular guys, I figured I would just try to run 14:50-55 in a smart, controlled way.


The start of the race, near the Providence Place mall

The race went well from start to finish for Ari and me. I got out pretty well (drafting of Shalane Flanagan through the half mile) and went through the first somewhat downhill mile in 4:41 feeling pretty good. The second mile felt long, heading all the way out towards I-195 and then most of the way back on South Main and while my legs still felt fairly good, I could feel the race hitting my stomach. Ari, Mark Olivier (Columbia), Emory Mort (Cornell) and I were all fairly close nearing two miles in about 9:30 (4:49). As we turned back towards downtown on Canal Street the pack broke up with Emery and Ari pulling ahead of Mark and me. I thought I had dropped Mark, but he was back on and past me up the final hill and it took a decent kick over the top to catch him (and former OU runner Matt Daniels, apparently, at the line). My last mile was probably around 4:55. It was great to know right at the finish line that Ari and I had made it. It was warm and sunny--near perfect race conditions.


Kicking toward the finish line after the final hill

A few of the guys in contention for the trip cooled down together towards India Point, and I also caught up with Chris Gould, whose team looked very strong at the Amherst Invitational yesterday (edging out Brookline) and who was happy with his 16:44 today.

Hopefully I'll know the composition of the entire Ivy Ekiden team in the next few days. The other guys who automatically qualified today were Mort and Olivier. There are full race results at CoolRunning. We're bound for Japan on October 8th. Chobi, anyone?

Downtown Providence

Time: 34:40
Distance: 4.5 mi.

Very easy run from Barnes Street down to the CVS Downtown 5k course with Ari and Hamel. The course seems straightforward enough... patience in the first mile, focus in the second mile, don't mess it up in the third mile.

JCCRI Road Race

Time: 98:00
Distance: 15.5 mi.

Target: prepare for Downtown 5k in two weeks, finish feeling strong and not dead (4:50s and hold on?)
Race: 15:24 for 3rd; 4:58.2, 4:54.9, 5:01.2; finished feeling too comfortable

Having done almost nothing around or just under 5:00 pace, I was very hesitant from the beginning to take any initiative on the pace, and the result was going through fairly slow in 4:58. In the end this was fine for me, but four of us settled in at that pace until 3/4 mile to go where Ari and Moulton (who took 3rd in yesterday's Ollie race) dropped the pace a bit, probably running under 4:50 for the last mile. Once they dropped me heading up Elmgrove I packed it in a bit. Ari managed to put it down and take the "W", which was well-executed. Also of note: this is the first (and probably last?) road race that I've ever been to that started with both the Israeli and American national anthems. Clearly Ari had the advantage from the get-go.

After the race I was still trying to get some decent volume, so Graddy, Ari and I did a loop south to Hope St. and then Ari and I ran out towards St. Rays for a bit. I recovered very well and didn't even really feel like I had raced during that. This is the best that I have felt running anything in at least two weeks.

Place Div/Tot  Name                Ag S City            Stat Time    Pace
===== ======== =================== == = =============== ==== ======= =====
  1   1/20   ZAMIR ARI           22 M CAMBRIDGE       MA     15:11  4:54
  2   2/20   MOULTON PATRICK     26 M PROVIDENCE      RI     15:11  4:54
  3   3/20   WASHBURN OWEN       24 M AMHERST         MA     15:24  4:58
  4   4/20   LONERGAN ERIC       22 M N KINGSTOWN     RI     15:41  5:03
  5   5/20   HAMEL NEIL          23 M BOSTON          MA     16:17  5:15

More: race site, full results.

North Providence, RIC

Time: 61:35
Distance: 9 mi.

I stopped in Providence heading back up to Boston and met up with Tarpy at his place near Providence College for a run. Max Smith and Mark Carroll came with us on the run, which went through North Providence and on a short bike path near Rhode Island College.

Riverwalk, City Loop, Boulevard

Time: 61:30
Distance: 9 mi.

Morning run with Neely in Providence. We looped around Riverwalk and through the center of the city and then back past the Brown Track to the Boulevard. I was pretty stiff at the beginning and tired by the end. Luckily, we had time to refuel at Louie's afterwards.

Dragon From Pawtucket

Time: 68:55
Distance: 10 mi.
Map


The Henderson Bridge between Providence and Pawtucket

After skipping a morning run in Boston, I went down to Rhode Island to run with Neely. We did the Dragon run, but we did it from his summer place in Pawtucket. It went fairly well, probably helped by a great nap that I took beforehand.

Boulevard, Hard Mile, Freeman

Time: 35:00
Distance: 5 mi.

It started as an easy run from the OMAC. Then, for some genius reason, we decided to add in some challenges. After running down the Boulevard and starting back up towards the track, Coste decided he wanted to see if he could run a fast mile. Jordan and I got in for the pacing job and next thing we were running around the track in blazing sub-75 pace. We ended up running 4:47.

Then, as we headed back, Craig decided he wanted to see what he could run a Freeman in, shooting for 68. We charged up it and sneaked in just under... 67.7 or so.

Good times. Maybe we should institute a REAL mile at Brown commencement every year.

Track and Back

Time: 45:00?
Distance: 6 mi.

Ran down to the track to see Sarro and Ozzie's workout, around the infield for a bit, and then back. They are running regionals in 10 days. Tired, but not as tired as I'm going to be.

5th Annual BBBMC

Time: 15:00
Distance: 2 mi.

Finished 3rd in 8:26, a few seconds off my PR.

Providence Loops

Time: 70:00
Distance: 9.5 mi.

Morning run in Providence after last night's Brown Cross Country alumni dinner. Wasn't feeling too sharp and I wanted to run with/encourage some of the guys to run, so I went on a 3? mile loop with Craig and Hamel which was about 8 min. pace. When we got back, I picked up Coste for 6+ miles down and back the Boulevard toward St. Ray's.

Riverwalk, Brown

Time: 31:00
Distance: 4.5 mi.
Map


Brown's Main Green

Easy solo run in the evening in Providence. Most of the guys were finishing up work or at practice (Lord knows I wasn't going to make it there). It was nice to cruise through the dark streets, get down to Riverwalk where I have done a great many morning runs and then get a chance to head through the campus, which was really nice in the evening. The weather is definitely getting better than it was early this week, which is great. Legs a little stiff but nothing too bad.

Short St. Ray's, 200s

Time: 77:30
Distance: 11 mi.

Nice morning run in Providence with Ari, Graddy and Jacob down the Boulevard for 8 mile St. Ray's. I was looking to do some sort of workout this week, despite the weather, so I figured this morning might be a good time to do it (on Brown's mediocre indoor track). The guys were doing 8 x 200m in 33 with 200m jog so I decided to get in on some of it. I ran 5 x 200m in 33 in flats and then 5 x 200m in 30 in spikes. They felt fast and my legs felt a bit heavy, but I haven't gotten much rest in the last few nights.

Benefit St., Riverwalk, Brown

Time: 67:06
Distance: 10 mi.


Benefit Street, one of my favorite roads in Providence

Another nice run in Providence with Tarpy and Ozzie (for the first 7 mi.). Kept the pace nice and chill, and it was decently humid out. Feeling tired from travel/lack of sleep, but very excited about running in general. No major physical complaints.

Brown Stadium Loop

Time: 34:00
Distance: 5 mi.

Easy morning run from the Barnes St. house on a classic morning run loop down Hope to the end of the Boulevard, back past the Brown Stadium and around the OMAC.

St. Ray's, Brown

Time: 67:38
Distance: 10 mi.


The Blackstone Boulevard, a staple of many Providence runs

Pretty beat this morning, but after a midday nap saddled up for a 10 miler with a bunch of the current Brown boys and Tarpy. Ran the 8 mile St. Ray's as some of the boys were only going that far and then added on a couple miles around campus with Tarpy to round out for 10. Tired, but legs felt quite refreshed from the last few days off, which is good. This run probably brings my St. Ray's/St. Jay's/McCoy total to 1,242.