Training

Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture a little of the glory

July 29, 2010
By Reid Coolsaet

Well that was a nice re-introduction to the track… now I want to race the 5000m at Nationals.  I probably actually would double back but I’m happy to get on with the marathon training ahead. 

I finished third in the 10 000m race last night but I got the National silver medal seeing as that Kip Kangogo is Kenyan.  I’m happy enough with the result (29:14) but I think a sub 29 and second place would of been possible had I really gone for it.  When Simon Bairu made his move with 11 laps to go I felt that I didn’t want to risk blowing up.  Covering the move, (or even half covering it) comes down to confidence and fitness and I think I’m lacking a bit in both.  The track fitness simply isn’t there right now and that doesn’t bother me at all training for the marathon.  I’ve only been on the track twice since March 19th (once to pace a 5000m and one track workout last week), I simply haven’t had enough running in that ‘zone’ to be comfortable going ‘there’.  When you train in that ‘zone’ the confidence will come.  The race last night was, in itself, a confidence booster for me because I ran in control the whole way and felt good which bodes well for the marathon.

This is the first year since 2003 in which I haven’t won a national track title (not including ’08 injury when I didn’t compete) but I also never had to compete against a 27:23 guy for that title, haha.  Ah, the glory days…

Guelph Mercury article from last night’s races.

  1 Bairu, Simon                 Queen City Striders   28:49.25%  10        
  2 Coolsaet, Reid               Speed River T&F       29:14.63%   8        
  3 Gillis, Eric                 Speed River T&F       29:35.82    6        
  4 Kitz, Robert                 U Toronto TC          31:39.78    5        
  5 Parrott, John                Speed River T&F       32:39.33    4        
  6 Monette, Sebastien           Vaudreuil-Dorion      32:56.76    3        
– Kangogo, Kip                 Running Room         X29:02.12             
– Ball (T44), Richard          Orillia Legion       X37:53.51           

Simon now has the track record (I did have it) and Richard Ball set a PB and National record in the T44 category (he has a prosthetic leg).  It’s always inspirational to watch Richard out there racing.  Speed River has the early lead in the team title championship.

Here is a stupid new rule (or at least a bad application):  No watches are to be worn on the track.  I wasn’t planning on wearing my watch but I know some people like to keep and eye on the splits without looking for the clock.  The official said not to worry because we would be given splits.  There wasn’t a clock or splits given at the 200m mark, which coincides with the 3km and 5km splits.  Those are the two most meaningful splits to me in a 10 000m.  Is this an IAAF rule (highly doubtful), an Athletics Canada rule (wouldn’t surprise me) or a U of T rule (most likely)?  Either way I don’t see the harm in wearing a watch on the track.  Or at least accommodating the rule with two clocks (which most track would have anyways).