Here is a report on the USATF One Hour Race Walk Championship in Waltham Mass. last Sunday. Since I broke my collar bone and got too busy at work, there has not been much to say, except for finishing the Ironman and winning the 40k. I will bring you up to date here.
I did not do much physical activity of any kind in the last 4 weeks since the 40k. I am driving the kids to school, so no biking. At least 5 or 6 times, I picked up the kids from cross-country practice or a meet, went home from 7-10 for dinner and homework help, and then back to the office till 3 or 4 a.m. I race walked a few times, but mostly 1-2 miles with the dogs in the dark.
I flew to Boston Friday night, ostensibly to race the one hour, but also to visit an old friend Saturday who has not been feeling well, courageous soul who inspired me to race well on Sunday. I woke to race, very short on sleep and energy, but stretched well and got myself mentally prepared for battle. Beth Katcher, a walker from the area, went out of her way to give me a ride to the race at Bentley College. Thanks, Beth.
The college has great athletic facilities including a beautiful red all-weather track. Race Director Steve Vaitones, Justin Kuo, and all the volunteers put on a fantastic event, and with perfect weather — cool, sunny and a breeze.
Teresa Vaill asserted her dominance in the women’s race from the first strides, and went on to an easy win. Erin Taylor walked beautifully, with very good technique, for second place, and Lauren Forgues walked a very determined race in third after a year of major injuries and illnesses.
I warmed up in jeans over my tights because of the cold. I wanted to walk a 100m in the warm up in 30.00, in jeans and training shoes, just to see if I was ready for 2 minute laps and my goal of 12,000m in the hour (5:00 per km pace). I walked the easy 100m in 29.97. OK
The race began, with a couple masters walkers bolting into the lead ahead of Tim Seaman. What’s the point? They must have covered the first 50m in under 12 seconds. When you consider that they ended up averaging about 18 seconds per 50m pace, you can see the absurdity. But I have done the same thing many times myself. You feel so great to be alive, it just bursts forth like that.
Tim, of course, took over the lead and never trailed, and ended up walking steady 4:30 per k pace for a distance of about 13,300 in the hour. This was Tim’s 40th win in a national event. Tim hopes to win the 30k on “Lon Gisland” this week, tie the legendary Henry Laskau’s national title total at Millrose Gmes, and surpass it in at indoor nationals. Good luck Tim.
I had planned to start at 2:00 per lap and then perhaps crank out some 1:57s at the end to pull away from Theron Kissinger and Matt Forgues. But Theron didn’t show up, and I started a bit fast, feeling loose and inspired, so I walked at 1:51 to 1:53 per lap through 5 km in 23:30. Fast for me, considering I haven’t done very much training since, well, truth be told, Feb. 11, 2008. I had good technique — good posture, arms low and driving, hips moving front to back, no side to side motion in the upper body, feet and ankles strong and active. Matt was racing tough, only yielding about 10 meters per lap to me, but by half way I had half a lap on him and knew I would place second. Not much drama from there. I walked mostly 1:57 per lap in the second half, split 47:55 at 10k, and finished with 12,449 meters. That would be a bit slower than 1:36 per 20k, 4:01 per 50k pace.
Now the work begins. I am getting ready to race the national 50k Feb 7 in Phoenix. I still believe I can break my lifetime PB of 4:21:06. I turn 50 on November 25. We shall see.