The Truffle Shuffle

For the last 5 years, I have been calling it running, but after Tuesday night's workout I have resolved to leave my river of denial.  It's a shuffle.  I admit I don't pick-up my feet as a runner should.  I can tell I lack the strength and muscle memory especially in my hip flexors as my feet barely clear a few inches of the ground below me.

"What's that a knee drive you say?  What the hell is that?"

Apparently, GA could see how awful it was and before he even explained the workout to everybody, he informed me that I would not be doing what everybody else would. 

At first I was a little hurt.  I knew I was the slowest (which I am used to), but I am steady and strong minded.  I knew, even if I wasn't finishing first I would never-the-less do the workout to the best of my effort.  He prescribed 5x1600 for the both groups (although it probably would have been ugly, I could have done it).  Instead I felt like I got off easy and was given 12x200 with 200 recovery with instructions to "pick-up my feet, get up on your toes and drive the knees up."  I didn't even have to run them hard.  I just had to run them with good form.  If I failed to use "good form" I would be dropped to 100s, running the straights and jogging the curves.  Now, I am not certain if he really had a chance to watch my form a whole lot because he was so busy with  8 other runners, but I managed to complete them all between 44-47 seconds with about 1:05-1:15 recovery jogs. 

I did not go all out, but I did go very hard trying to use my arms to drive me forward.  I felt like I could possibly topple over and snap an ankle at any second since I was prohibited from using my big flat footed hobbit feet to fully absorb the shock except for the balls and toes. 

After I finished, I was instructed to run a single 800 under 3:30.  I tried to slow myself the first 200, but by the 400 meter mark I could tell I had blown myself up a bit, "oh well to late now" I thought as I started the second lap.  I tried to focus on running the same form at a slower speed and cruising down the backside like Kara Goucher, but I am sure I looked more like an angry troll trotting along (I certainly had the spit and snot coming out of my nose and mouth).  I forgot to split my watch from my last recovery 200 recovery, so when I crossed the line and it said 4:28, I only had to laugh when GA asked "what did you get?"  I told him of the mishap and guessed I was probably somewhere in the 3:25-3:28 range. 

Stupid track workouts!!  Wait until I get the meatballs (NC and e-speed) and all the other fasties on the basketball court.  I will look like a darned Globetrotter!!!! 

Anyway, that's pretty much it for workouts before Boston.  Now, I just need to rest-up.  I definitely feel the 40+ hours of work on my feet and the 40-50 mpw.  Maybe A will suck it up and give me a few leg massages and with the ART I can pull off a miracle in about two weeks.  Either way, this chunk will certainly be enjoying some rocky road after the race!!!