Friday, January 09, 2009

Progression Session

8:15 AM - Westboro - 9 miles, 1:01:00.
6:08 warmup, 31:53 cooldown.
4-mile progression run (22:59 - 5:58, 5:49, 5:41, 5:31)

I was a little delayed in getting out the door for my workout this morning, as an argument of the locker room variety kept me indoors for a few minutes longer than I originally planned. The exchange with Gym Guy - who liked to start every sentence with the word "boy" - went a little something like this.

Gym Guy: Boy, big game for the Celtics tonight.
Me: Yeah, the Cavs are perfect at home. Should be a good one.
Gym Guy: Boy, that LeBron is one helluva player, isn't he? They're saying he's going to out-do Jordan.
Me: Well, he's gotta win at least six NBA titles first. But he's young, he still has time.
Gym Guy: Boy, he has a great team behind him, that's for sure.
Me: Jordan's wasn't bad, either, and he kept them together for the better part of 8 years, which is most impressive to me. He had Pippen, Paxon and Ho Grant...who does LeBron got?
Gym Guy: Boy...the center there...what's his name? Ahh, I can't remember. I'm drawing a blank.
Me: You must be talking about Wallace.
Gym Guy: Yeah, Wallace. Boy, is he a force in the paint.
Me: He sure is, but he plays for Detroit.

Now, like any true philosophy major, I love a good argument. But, boy, if you're gonna argue with me, at least get your facts straight!

As for the progression run, the goal was 4 miles starting at 6-minute pace and chopping 10 seconds off per mile to finish at 5:30 for the final go-around. Give or take a few seconds here and there, I pretty much nailed it dead-on. Happy with the effort given the early start and cold conditions, but just glad to get this one in before what is shaping up to be another weekend chock full of crappy weather. I don't mind the cold, but for crissakes can we get one - just one! - weekend where there isn't any white shit falling from the sky? If anyone knows the guy I can file this request with, please let me know.

5 comments:

That Runner Chick said...

You CONVERSE in the locker room? There is no time for small talk for me when there are naked women milling about. I am in and out in the same breath.

Thankfully, because I swim so seldomly
(oops), I'm not often in that situation!

Mike Quintal said...

Are you sure Gym Guy wasn't thinking of Brad Daugherty?

Anonymous said...

FYI Ben Wallace does play for Cleveland (traded from Chicago at the deadline last year). He hasn't played for Detroit since the '05-'06 season. If either of you knew anything about the Cavs you'd know their starting center is Zydrunas Ilgauskas, currently injured. It's also possible he was thinking of Varejao, but I doubt it. Either one of them has more impact on the Cavs' fortunes than Wallace.

As they say, get your facts straight.

Mario said...

Mr. Anonymous, I know this. If you read the dialogue closely, it's quite clear I was referring to Rasheed Wallace, who mans the middle for Detroit and is the only Wallace in the league who can be considered a "force in the paint." Yes, I realize Big Ben plays for the Cavs, and I acknowledge the confusion his existence may cause given the team in question, but he's so far from a force in the paint that anyone who knows anything about the NBA should see the humor inherent here. And I am indeed fully aware that Ilgauskas is on the IR right now. He's killing my fantasy team!

Mike Quintal said...

Hey, Mr. Anonymous no shit. I was just saying that the guy was out of touch and couldn't think of any current Cavs players. i think Mario was just trying to egg him on a little. Larry Nance and Mark Price say hello.

--The Ghost of Bobby Phills