Winter Campaign

Eugene, January, 18, 2008

I plan on a short Winter Indoor Track Campaign this season. First off I will be competing in a Mile at the Husky Invitational, held at Dempsey Track, UW, Seattle, on February 16, followed by a Mile at USATF Indoor Nationals in Boston, held at Reggie Lewis Stadium, on February 24, concluded with a Mile at the IAAF Indoor World Championships held in Valencia Spain, on March 7 -9.

The training is progressing rapidly. Yesterday, I ran a quick 50 minute out and back, averaging under 5 minute miles, finishing at sub 4 pace; then, 8 minutes rest and a quick quarter in 53 seconds at Hayward field with trainers. Tomorrow, I have a Practice Race session at Hayward Field, followed by a Time Trial two days later; I will be lobbying for a 1200m as Time Trial: sub 3:00?!

I am anxious to race. My opponents appear very formidable in light of this most auspicious year, and thus I am concentrating my preparations to defeat them with especially terrible vigor.

The newest component of my training has become my almost daily aqua jogging, as a substitute for secondary runs. Coach Dick Brown has made me a convert of the benefits of water running for many reasons: less impact, resistance on both aspects of the running stroke (arms and legs), and slow motion meditation and drilling of form. However, possibly the most telling aspect in my own celebration of aqua jogging is evident in the prologue and epilogue to my pool workouts: I most diligently warm up with a sauna and hot tub before I enter the pool; and I follow each workout with a diligent cool down of hot tub and sauna. Let me again stress the importance of the hot tub and sauna as a boon to my aqua jogging! I don't have an physiological evidence in my support, only the experience of a hopeless sensualist. But in this most terrible winter am I not justified?!

"Now is the Winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York. All the clouds that lowered upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean, buried." --Shakespeare (Tell me from what play, and you will win a prize)

Gabriel