Will I last???

That's the Q I asked Jen yesterday when I agreed to stay home from racing cyclocross to join her for the Pumpkin Run 5k in Cloquet. It is a really nice event they've got going in only the third annual. Course followed a campus circle w/towering pines along the roadside before leaving to head out on residential streets. The description was accurate as the topography was flat w/a single hill to go down and up on the out-n-back route. We were both sick w/head colds but decided to go anyway as we preregistered for it and neither of us had serious goals. I felt as expected...like ass ...but...I'm really impressed w/how well I'm able to suffer this fall. My days of finishing in 17 minutes are probably gone and 19 minutes for the distance not too far off. Grabbing the last podium spot though made the effort all worth it as we were wanting to carve a jack o'lantern on Sunday! Good thing we waited to buy one as I should have figured they might be given away as awards.

Otherwise, this whole year has been a continuum of observations to change for hopefully many to come. A big one during this season will be to keep training at a higher volume until mid-October before cutting loose for Cyclocross. I realized this last December as I tried to hold onto fitness but it just wasn't possible since I pretty much start racing a few weeks after Labor Day and rely on competition to maintain form(a plan I'd recommend for about half that duration). It takes until Halloween for 'cross to truly feel rolling as the weather is changing for the ideal according to those hardcore in the discipline. Another focus will come during the spring as I will never run anything shorter than the marathon again. My allergies just haven't permitted it for years and sticking to what seems to be a natural flow improves the enjoyment level...

Week in review: four hours of commuting, [Th]31 minute-run w/half a dozen accelerations in the lower parking lot at Lester, [Sa]race in Cloquet; 18:11 for third place overall, [Su]nine miles of gravel shoulder running beginning on the duathlon bike course and turning home at Maxwell & Seven Bridges; 1 hour 14 minutes