Interesting to read all the backgrounds. Like I have said before, I ran XC and Track in college but always considered myself a middle distance guy. I was so stubborn about it that it was probably detrimental to what I could have done in my "main" events and kept me from trying longer races that maybe should've been my true main events when I was in my prime. For example, I had 49 second 400m to 5th in states cross country range in high school yet I refused to run the 3200m in HS track.
I was a 400-1500m man, gddammit and I wanted to run all those races. Which I stubbornly did and it burned me out and I did okay in all 3, but I probably could've focused on the 3200m and been state champ. Then I never ran a 3k or 5k on the track in college either. Now I always wonder what I could've run in those races. These are the things I think about on runs now...Anyway, like a bunch of others I ran merely not to get fat for years. 2-4 mile runs (a lot of times on treadmills after lifting) 2-3 times a week. I showed hints of "coming back" for a few years, a run with a buddy here and there telling me I should get back into it, showing off for my wife who never saw me really run by dazzling her
with a 58 400m at age 35, but I didn't really re-engage until the late summer of '11 at 36, almost 37. Ran my first adult 5k in 18:48 with probably some of the worst splits in 5k history. I tried to go out with the kids in the race who ultimately ran in the 16s and paid for it badly at the end. I had no clue if they were running too fast or I was just old or both. Nonetheless, I got the itch back and I ran 18:28 a few weeks later with a better approach. Then that week, I convinced myself that sub 18 was possible by the end of '11 did track work on Tuesday and some again on my own that Friday. So a race and 2 track workouts in 6 days...after years of relative inactivity. Shockingly I developed a stress fracture in my hip. So I was on the shelf for awhile but the itch was fully back. I started really training again right before XMas but took it smarter this time. I ran 6-7 5ks this year starting with a couple in the mid 18s and hitting my best of 17:22 in June. Then after a 37:44 10k, doing 200+ miles for July and August and getting inspiration from here, I decided to do my first ever Half marathon. Though the Mcmillan calculators et al wouldn't say it's my best effort compared to some of my shorter stuff, the 1:22:05 Half was definitely the most proud I have been since my comeback. I still don't know if I consider myslef a long distance guy but I am least coming around to the idea of it. I'm running my best pure distance running probably ever at age 38 and think I can better my Half and quite possibly (GULP) think about a Marathon in 2013...
What's the weather forecast looking like? How's the forest floor up in your neck of the woods? Leaves gotta be falling quicker up there than it is here in DE.
GL! Can't wait to read the RR.
I was thinking the same thing after reading that post. Sorry, Hugh.
Dude a 49 400?! That's top 1% type speed, my friend. Was that PA? They have some deep sprinters. Here in DE was a lot easier, obviously. I was a high 22sec 200, but didn't have the strength to run the 400 in under 53. 
Did you run Penn Relays? That was always the highlight of our season. Almost puking on Bill Cosby after finishing the anchor leg in the 4x400 is my only 15 seconds of fame. 
But by then I was hooked on the trails, I'm almost 40 lbs lighter than my peak, and I hope my body lets me keep doing this for a long time. Until I'm really old. I mean like tri-man old.
), and I've been working it with ice, rolling it, busted out the KT tape, and loading up on natural anti-inflammatories (Fish Oil, Curcumin, Bromelain) trying to get it to calm down. I hate to do it, but I also put the Superfeet orthotics back into my shoes for the first time in awhile, and ran 6+ Monday and 5 this morning feeling alright. I'll take the next 2 days off and plan to toe the starting line Saturday morning staring up at the 
:finger: 
)
You found the one sidewalk!
