Pete Magill is father of the best masters running blog in the Known Universe. Tony Young is proud poppa of two budding prep stars. And oh, by the way, they also run fast themselves. Again demonstrating that the richly talented are different from you and me, Pete and Tony — both 47 —  posted amazing track 5000s over the weekend — Pete a 14:47.66 Saturday at the Occidental Invitational in Los Angeles, and Tony a 15:11.82 at the Ken Shannon Invitational in Seattle.  And how did they characterize their 3.1-mile jaunts against collegiate studs?  Pete says it was a “workmanlike” run. Tony says he “slept in the middle” mile of his race. I suggested to Pete I could rabbit his next race — for maybe 300 meters.

A very workmanlike effort. Since I’d just run the previous weekend at the Steve Scott Invitational (where I posted a 14:53), I was still suffering some aches and pains unique to being over 40 and running 12-1/2 laps on the track. My knees hurt. My hips hurt. My feet hurt worst of all.

 

Normally I like taking at least two weeks between races. But there were only two good 5000s left in the area for this season (after being sick twice in 2009, I’m starting a little late) — the one on Saturday and one 4 weeks from now. So I figured beggars couldn’t be choosers. And toed the line.

 

The weather was perfect. Cool with just a gentle breeze. And the field was good. I was seeded 22nd out of 40+ runners. Of course, the start is the difficult part of a race that crowded. Everyone’s shoving everyone else. Lots of spiking going round. So I just faded to about two-thirds of the way back, knowing most everyone would go out too fast anyway. College kids always do.

 

And they didn’t disappoint. I came through 400 in about 30th place and at about 70 seconds – – a time that would translate to 14:35 if we kept it up. I think maybe 5 runners did. After that, I have no idea what my splits were. I wasn’t paying attention. I find keeping track of time to be counterproductive in a 5000. It’s a long race, and you need to just relax and settle in.

 

As far as I’m concerned, the racing doesn’t even start until a mile. So I found a young runner from Chico State who was tall enough to serve as a bit of a wind break, and I just ran on his back for a few laps. Then I started working my way through the field.

 

At 1600 meters, I felt pretty good. But I could tell that my fitness was lacking just a bit. It’s important to recognize that early in a 5K, before you push past the point of no return. So I took the second mile as easy as the first. I came through 3K in 8:53 (that’s the one split I always look for), and at that point realized I could run sub-14:50 if I just kept my head.

 

So I found my favorite Chico State runner, who’d moved past me again, and settled in for another 4 laps. With a lap to go, I was at 13:41. I was feeling a touch woozy, so I maintained pace for 200 meters, then pushed the last 200 in with a 31 to record a 14:47.66.

 

All in all, like I said, a very workmanlike outing. Next up is a 3000 at the Striders Meet of Champions — the weekend after this coming one. Christian Cushing-murray is going to pace me as I shoot to dip under my American M45 record. Then another 5000 two weeks after that, where I hope to close in on 14:40.

 

And then Clingan’s Masters Mile in Portland, where I shall once again offer myself up as masters track’s version of the Washington Generals to Tony Young’s Harlem Globetrotters.

 

Then, barring illness yet again, the Masters Outdoor Nationals in July.

 

The American M45 record for 5000 before I broke it in 2006 was 15:12 by Mike Manley. I can’t remember how long it had stood — 23 years or so (Ken Stone note: It was set in 1989). . .  . Anyway, since then: I’ve run 14:34.27 (Spring 2008). Danny Martinez has run 15:04 (Spring 2008). And Dennis Simonaitis has run 15:12 (Spring 2008) – Dennis ran faster on the roads, but that’s his fastest track 5000. So that makes Tony the #3 American performer for M45 at 5000. Okay, just wanted to clear that up.

Also, not to be overlooked in the Oxy results: Aeron Arlin Genet tackled the 1500 for the umpteenth time this season and came away with a great 4:26.74 — a season best at age 41 and another potential W40 American record (despite Joan Nesbit’s listed AR of 4:32.73 being beaten by a half-dozen women a couple dozen times).

Women 1500 Meter Run
=========================================================================
Meet Record: * 4:07.60  1996        Ruth Wysocki, Nike                       
    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals
=========================================================================
Section  1 
  1 Kipwambok, Jacky             Azusa Pacific        4:26.99    4:22.61 
  2 Domenichelli, Danielle       Unattached           4:27.98    4:26.67 
  3 Arlin Genet, Aeron           running divas        4:21.60    4:26.74 
  4 Mann, Ali                    Nike Team Run LA     4:24.45    4:28.44 
  5 Hobson, Holly                Cal Coast            4:30.19    4:32.75 
  6 Keehn, Aybuke                Concordia (Cal.)     4:32.81    4:33.94 
  7 Lubieniecki, Kara            Chico State          4:32.45    4:34.21 
  8 Montgomery, Ashleigh         UC San Diego         4:40.42    4:37.33 
  9 Alburez, Karla               Cal St. Los Ange     4:37.61    4:39.10 
10 Fairley, Megan               Loyola Marymount     4:35.00    4:40.67 
11 Haavikko, Hanna              Unattached           4:37.00    4:42.70 

On her Twitter blog, Aeron wrote that Steve Scott, the former American-mile-record-holder-for-life, told her, “Good race.” Aeron wrote: “That’s got to be worth something!! Ran smart — need to make my move sooner.”