Alisa Harvey, who turned 45 in mid-September, is getting that ol’ aging up adrenaline buzz. Thanks to National Masters News (and its e-alerts), we learn that Alisa at a meet Dec. 19 in Landover, Maryland, ran the mile in 5:06.82 and the 800 in 2:21.89 — not far off the listed American indoor records of 5:04.73 and 2:20.99. (See results here.) But she’s just getting started, and may blow past those times to some serious marks in 2011. Check out my quickie Q&A with the Virginian.

Masterstrack.com: What were your mile splits at Landover?  

Alisa Harvey: I did not get my splits in either race.  I took occasional glances at the clock.  I was running off the shoulder of the lead runner.  A challenge came in the third lap from a guy behind me.  At that point the pace quickened.  I saw 2:29 for the 800.  I hung close to the first- and second-place masters guys, but by the last lap I was fading.  I became dry-mouthed.  The indoor air does that to me.  It was warm in the facility and dry and cold outside.

Did you do the 800 second as noted?  How did you rate that effort? 

I warmed up twice for the 800m.  The race came three hours after my mile.  The meet was extremely full of hundreds of youth runners — every kid ran every event!  My college girl 800 competitors and I were just hanging on and guessing at the race time.  I sprinted out strong at the start.  The Duke University runner beat me to the break.  I ran wide off her shoulder while the third-place runner ran close behind. 

When I challenged the leader at the straights she picked up the pace and held me off.  On the final straight the leader and the runner behind me took off and left me for third place.  My finishing kick was probably drained from my previous mile.  I am pleased with my effort.  It was good to have a competitive women-only race.  I just wish I were fresher.  I think I certainly could have run stronger. 

Were you shooting for records, or just hard training?

The records are definitely on my mind, but with all-comers meets I usually run in mixed-sex races so I do not expect to set records at the meets.  My main motivation was for me to get an idea where I was in my fitness in the mile then come back for a good training effect in the 800. 

When will you pull out all the stops? 

I am scheduled to run at the Delaware Invitational on the 7th of January.  This will help get me race ready for the Thomas Hartshorne Masters Memorial Mile in Ithaca, NY, on January 22nd.  I am aiming to run fast at Hartshorne. 

Can you go sub-2:10 this winter?  How fast in the mile?

A good mile usually nets me a good 800.  It is too early to tell about my 800 time potential though I did have a nice 59.7 400 time-trial four weeks ago with my 16-year-old daughter, Virginia Hill. … I wanted to teach her about racing the 400s so I lined up with her one weekend at a local high school track.  It was about 45 degrees.  She beat me by 5 tenths of a second.  My speed is good. 

I am guessing that I might be able to run in the 4:50s in the mile this indoor season.  I have had some good workouts with some young elite females lately.  Last week on an indoor flat 200 track I ran 3×1-mile in 5:28, one minute rest, 5:41, seven-minute rest, 5:31, five-minute rest, 4 x 400m with one-minute rests:  71, 71, 71, 70.

How’s your training going? 

My training is fantastic.  I had a good base season that included a half-marathon and ten-mile races and solid distance runs.  I spent much of the late summer and fall in the weight room.  I alternate days with stationary biking.  Now I am touching on my short-speed.  I find the use of compression tights and socks extremely helpful.

Any injuries or other life challenges being battled? 

I spent an entire day at a high school indoor track meet yesterday being a track mom;  I loved every minute of it!  Virginia ran the 4×800, 300 and the 4×400.  I stress a bit over my teen daughter since she suffered a broken foot last year and missed the entire year.  My hope is that she can earn a T&F college scholarship to attend a school of her choice.