Training

When people run in circles it’s a very, very mad world

January 31, 2010
By Reid Coolsaet

The McGill 3000m was the definition of a ‘rust-buster’.  In the past two years it was my first indoor race, first race track race under 10km, and first race in spikes.  I was on 8:00 pace through 2km but once I was all alone I let off the gas and had a horrible 600m where I was running at least 2 seconds too slow per lap.  I really wanted to run under eight minutes so my time of 8:07 was not really what I was looking for but at the same time it was a good move in the right direction.  I probably should have been more tired and sore after a race but I’m glad I wasn’t beat up from an 8:07.  I’m glad Alex came on strong towards the end or I would have probably just jogged it in. Because I had led since 1300m I was not going to be outkicked and so I finished off my last lap with a decent clip.  Most of all it was a fun race having 8 of the top 10 guys all from the same training group. 

Coolsaet, Reid              Speed River Tfc      8:07.38      
Genest, Alex                 Speed River Tfc      8:08.47      
Milne, Taylor                Speed River Tfc    8:13.16      
Winter, Chris                Speed River Tfc     8:13.41
Boorsma, Kyle             Guelph                      8:15.61
O’Neill, Kyle                Western                      8:18.37   
Wray, Nigel                  Guelph                        8:19.10   
Christie, Russell            Dalhousie                8:30.50     
Brett, Allan                 Guelph                         8:33.75      
Parrott, John                Guelph                      8:37.91    

The next morning Tim Konoval, Chris Winter and I had a very cold but interesting run through Montreal.  We first did a little tour through Old Montreal before heading to the mountain.  The trails on Mont-Royal were snow covered although quite good for running and there were many people out and about considering the -30C (with windchill) temperature.

Good news, I’m racing the Boston Indoor Games 5000m on Saturday (Feb 6).  I would of really liked to have a better 3000m time going into the race but knowing that McGill was my first time in that zone in a long time I’m confident that I can split a similar time through 3000m and keep it going for 5000m.  The race itself is stacked with good athletes (start list below) and I know the pace will be fast so I don’t have to worry about leading and hitting specific time splits.  I’m just going to get out there and run a competitive race.

Alistair Cragg	IRL
Shadrack Korir	KEN
Markos Geneti	ETH
Reid Coolsaet	CAN
Bernard Lagat	USA
Bobby Curtis	USA
Haron Lagat	KEN
Dejen Gebremeskel	ETH
Scott Overall	USA
Galen Rupp	USA
Bekana Daba	ETH
Ian Burrell	USA
Sam Chelanga	KEN
Josphat Boit	KEN
Adam Perkins	USA