Training Aug 9 - 15

Photo from RUN WASHINGTON

That's me there owning No. 10 to claim second at the Leesburg 20K Aug. 7. What a clown. Oh, wait ...

As it happens, I could easily make a photo album titled "Dickson Getting Lifted In the Final Stretch."

You can see here that I have plenty of energy. In this instance, though, the problem was that my closing speed was simply less than Evan Jurkovich's of D.C.

What am I getting at? Those would be lingering questions.

Do I simply lack the wrong muscle fibers? Do I lack the kick gene? To be honest, I consider myself pretty tough in the sense that I can deal with a lot of discomfort, put myself through a lot of training. But could I be tougher (or do I lack the tough gene?)? I mean, look at Evan's eyes. Those suckers are On. The. Prize.

Lastly, the question. Can a kick be improved?

That's what I want to look into. I'll get back to you on this one. Comment with comments.

(Note: the "gene" references above go back to an article I read some months ago on "sports genes" by Sports Illustrated's David Epstein, who was formerly an 800-meter runner for Columbia University. This is the best article I've ever read on the subject, and really just one of the best articles I've ever read. Epstein has it all here: great style, facts and more facts, balance. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1169440/index.htm)

Monday - PM 13

Tuesday - 16 (11.5, 5.5)

Wednesday - 17 (5,12) PM ... track ... Yasso 800s. 10 reps. 2:28 avg. That might not sound very good, but my legs were dead, dead, dead. The heat was killing me, I was having stomach issues, really dehydrated.

Thursday - AM 10 with Dave Fontaine in the thunderstorm.

Friday - AM 14 with Murphy

Saturday - AM 12

Sunday - AM 23 ... My Dad visited me this weekend. Rather than meet the team, then, at 8 at The Line in RCP, I started early from apartment so I could have a little more time to hang out with him before he caught his 1 p.m. train. The goal for today was a steady run -- nothing too fast, just build up to a decent pace, like 6:30-7 minutes per mile, and put in some decent time on my feet -- and I think I got it done. I actually planned to go 24 and thought maybe I did, until afterward when I thought it over and looked at 11 miles worth of splits I took in the middle of the workout on CCT (didn't look at them in the moment). They ranged from 6:20-6:55, a lot of 6:30s. Blah, blah, who cares? I think it was 23 in 2:37. Weather was pretty good. I basically went out and back, down Independence to Jefferson to Rock Creek trail to CCT. Turned around at mile marker 4.

Total - 105 ... Not bad. 9 runs. I missed a couple doubles. More later ...