ALTERNATIVE = MEDIOCRITY

I made it 8 miles today. It was similar to yesterday with my leg warming up after 5 minutes and then feeling fine the rest of the way. When I ran down hill or stepped off of curbs, I didn’t feel any pain, so things are looking better. My right knee was a little sore the last 2 days – probably from doing something dumb like hopping on a bike for 3 hours on Sunday – but it felt better today too.

There was a time a few months ago where this route mapping website was mentioned on nearly every blog around. Eric sent me an email recently with a link to a new and improved version. I found the improvements to be much easier to use – no more double clicking to map your next point. Plus you can search their database of over 20,000 routes.

Back to Running with the Buffaloes. It should be mentioned that Wetmore is a big believer in the Lydiard approach to training.

There is an alternative to the density of training – mediocrity. “Some guys out there, who don’t get it, they think they can be a Division 1 distance runner on 55 miles a week. Sure Goucher can be a Division 1 runner on 55 miles a week. But he’d be running 15:48, not 13:48.” – Wetmore

“I’m just worried we’re being stupid.” Reese had recently returned to running following his surgery and Wetmore questions whether Reese should be doing any workouts yet. But this is Reese’s last collegiate cross country season, and he is adamant about pushing the envelope to give himself a chance to do well at NCAA’s. They are both prepared to live with the consequences. – Wetmore

Chris Valenti leads the chase pack. “Valenti’s looking heroic today,” Wetmore observes. By way of explanation, JD says, “He’s been running 65 to 70 mpw for the last month.” “Oh,” Wetmore replies, “that’s why he looks so fresh out there.”

It is hard to make any judgments about this workout because everyone is coming into it with varying levels of fatigue.

“It’s like St. Crispin’s Day. Everyone here wants to be the real deal. Everyone in this town wants to be you, and everyone who wants to be you is in bed. I’m going to do my run so I can say I fought on St. Crispin’s Day.” - Wetmore

Quote of the day:

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile
This day shall gentle his condition.
And gentlemen in England, now abed,
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here;
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

- Henry V, Act IV, Scene iii
by William Shakespeare