Heading Into Week Two of 10K Training

Week one of the DC Roadrunners 10K Group ("TKG") Training Program was a resounding success Saturday, February 23, 2008, as 19 athletes found their way to the top level of the West Falls Church Metro Station Parking Garage and signed up for the Program. Also on hand were six volunteer coaches, Bob, John, Kristin, Linda, Peter and Renee. Coach Alex will join us next week and unfortunately, Coach David suffered an injury a week earlier and had to drop out.

(Left: A lean mean crew of racers in last year's 10K Program posed in Stanton Park in DC a week before the target 10K race.) Sign-up for the 10K Program will again be conducted at this coming Saturday (March 1st) at 9 a.m. atop the WFC Metro Station Parking Garage. See the last post for directions and Program information or go here or here. Program cost is $35, and you can access a 10K Program application form here. You be a member of dcrrc to participate, annual cost $20, you can access a club membership form here.

On Saturday the group ran from 2 to 4 miles on this route, depending on the runner's individual condition. Everyone ran from the Station down to the W&OD Trail and over the bike bridge across Route 7. There and back was a two mile trek. Some athletes ran with Linda and Bob, our fast group coaches, all the way to Shreve road on the W&OD before turning back, to achieve a distance of 5K for the morning. Some intrepid runners ran up the six ramps of the parking garage upon the return, adding .6 miles of hill work to their morning.

On Sunday a hill workout was held nearby in Falls Church, conducted by Peter. Program members were invited to participate. Dave and Jack showed up, as twenty hill climbs were run, a total of 5 miles in sixty minutes. It was a strenuous workout. (Right: 20 times up and down this hill.)

Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in Arlington at the Washington & Lee High School, the club offers a track workout. This is a fantastic way to get into shape and improve your race times. This is a self-help workout, although a club official is there at each workout to answer questions and give direction. You can find out more about this resource on the club website here. This week (February 27th) calls for 16-18X400 (laps) at your 10K pace with a 100 meter (about 100 yards) recovery (much slower) run between laps. If you went to the track and did six individual laps as best you could, and walked a lap between each one, that would be a superior first track workout for you. (Left: Last year 10K Program coach Ashley coming in second in last year's companion 3K race to the Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 5th overall. Speed workouts gave her the edge she needed to accomplish this.)

On Friday (February 29th) there is a Special Running of the free, informal noontime club 3K race around the Tidal Basin in DC, starting on Ohio Drive by the FDR Memorial. If you can attend this during your lunch hour, this is an excellent speed workout.

Runners should run one to two more times this week before Saturday, running for twenty minutes each run. On Saturday, we will again run two to four miles in Falls Church on the W&OD Trail as we progress towards our goal race of the Capitol Hill Classic 10K in twelve weeks. The route we'll go, to the W&OD then East (away from the bridge) is here. Runners can turn around and return at any point of this out-and-back run that is suitable for them.

Next week (March 1st) at WFC Metro at 9 a.m. (top level of the parking garage).

Weeks 3 & 4 (March 8th and March 15th) at Fletcher's Boathouse in DC just west of Georgetown at 9 a,m..

URL for next week's route is: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1651898

2008 10K Program launches 2/23 at 9 a.m. at the West Falls Church Metro Parking Garage.

THE 2008 10K TRAINING PROGRAM: The DC Road Runners Club 10K Training Program is going to start on Saturday, 2/23/08 at 9 am on the top level (6th level) of the parking garage at the West Falls Church Metro Station. In case of snow or rain, the meeting place will be on the next to top level (5th level) of the parking garage at the West Falls Church Metro Station. (Left: The view is excellent from the sixth level of the WFC Metro Station Parking Garage. Those tall poles in the background form the backstop for the George Mason High School baseball field and are the second tallest structure in Falls Church. The tallest? You'll be standing on top of it when you sign up. Look for my "office" parked up there, the Toyota pickup.)

The Program costs $35 for a twelve-week training program, which meets every Saturday morning at 9 am for a long run at varied locations around the DC Metro area. A schedule will be published.

Come early to either the first or the second week to sign up for the program. Bring payment for the Program to your first meeting. Checks (made out to DCRRC) are preferred. The first two weeks will meet atop the Parking Structure at the West Falls Church Metro Station. After that, the 9 am Saturday meeting locations will move around the DC area every two weeks, to offer different running venues, in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

DCRRC MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED: You must be a member of the DC Road Runners Club (dcrrc) to participate in the program. A club membership costs $20 annually or $25 for an annual family membership (not included in the program cost). You can download a club membership registration form on the dcrrc website (www.dcroadrunners.org), fill it out and mail it in along with payment for club membership, if you aren’t already a club member.

SATURDAY LONG RUNS: Saturday mornings will be devoted to running with a pace-appropriate group, starting at a distance of two to three miles in the beginning, and building up to five to seven miles by the end of the program. This progression will allow you to build up a mileage base suitable for running a 10K (6.2 miles) race.

These group long runs should be combined with two or three shorter runs per week, which will be the responsibility of each runner to do on his or her own. Volunteer coaches will attend to each group and be available to offer advice. Already, at least seven coaches have committed to this Program so all paces can be accommodated and group sizes should be small. (Right: Four coaches from last year's Program meet to discuss race strategy, Ashley, Rhea, Jeanne and Peter.)

THE GOAL 10K RACE: The goal race will the Capitol Hill Classic 10K on Sunday, 5/18/08. The entry fee for the race is NOT included in the fee, and you are responsible for signing up for the race separately. There is no requirement that you run the race. Some runners have used the training program to prepare for another race, such as the Mother’s Day Arlington YMCA 10K race, which is run a week earlier.

DIRECTIONS: As stated, weeks one and two we will meet at 9 am on Saturday morning at the top level of the West Falls Church Metro Station parking garage. There is plenty of free parking at the West Falls Church Metro Station on Saturdays. The West Falls Church Metro Station is on the Orange Line. From DC, use the Vienna Train to get there. For driving directions, a map of the area around the West Falls Church Metro Station and hours of operation, go here or here.

Basically, the West Falls Church Station is near the interchange of I-66 and Leesburg Pike (Route 7) at 7040 Haycock Road. Haycock Road runs north off Route 7 in Falls Church (Shreve Road runs south off Route 7). Don't become confused by the different street signs at that intersection because the north/south street changes names where it crosses over Route 7 at that location. George Mason High School is on the NW corner of the intersection, there is a Giant Supermarket on the NE corner, McDonalds is on the SW corner, and Long John Silvers is on the SE corner.

Heading WB on I-66 from DC, get off at Exit 66A (Leesburg Pike east to Falls Church) onto EB Route 7 (Leesburg Pike, locally called Broad Street). Turn left (NB) at the first signal light onto NB Haycock and turn left at the first signal light you come to on Haycock into the West Falls Church Metro Station. The UVA/VT Extension University will be on your left.

PAST PROGRAMS: This 10K Training Program has been offered for several years by the dcrrc. For a review of how it went last year, read back over the 10K and 10-Mile Training Program in previous posts from last year on this blog, or check out the Forum Page on the club website.

In 2007, 39 athletes signed up for the Program. There were eight coaches, all volunteers. 19 Program participants finished the goal 10K race, and another participant finished another 10K instead. Three more Program participants ran the sister 3K race at the Capitol Hill Classic 10K. Several Program participants subsequently signed up for the 10-Mile Training Program in July and ran the Army 10-Miler in the fall. (Left: Think the Program won't do you any good? 2007 Program Coach Rhea ran in the CHC companion 3K race and finished fourth, first in her age group.)

DRESS WARMLY: Wear appropriate running clothes for cold-weather by dressing in layers and avoid wearing cotton garments (100% polyester garments work fine). Wear good running shoes that are not worn out. Go to any of the fine running stores in the region to get fitted for proper shoes. Stayed hydrated before the run. Consult with your doctor before undertaking any new physical program. We hope to see you!