Photo of Joshua Gordon

Joshua "Flash" Gordon's Blog

  • RACE REPORTS HAVE MOVED!

    I have moved my race reports moving forward to flashrunning.com

    These are live again as of March 2012. From 2010 until now, all race reports have been on runningahead.com, running2win.com and facebook. They will continue to be at all of those places but also at flashrunning.com

    Best,

    Flash

    myspace just isn't what it once was for a blogging tool.


    10:05 PM

  • Race Report: Twist and Shout on the Charles River 4.2 miler (2010 Edition)

    Photobucket


    Date:    8/19/2010 7:15 PM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Marsh Post 4.2
    Distance:    4.2 miles
    Duration:    21:32
    Pace:    5:08 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    172.0 lb
    Misc:    Quality: 3/10, Effort: 7/10
    Field Placement:    2
    Weather:    85° F, Sunny, Humid
    Notes:    Cambridge, MA - Fun to be back at a course where I competed in the Let's Run Summer Series for many, many, many years. Last year's champion, Chad Carr, has been destroying the series this year. I wish I could have given him a better battle throughout the race tonight.

    While not huge on excuses, I will put this one into context with the following:

    Last week's mileage = 109
    A head injury one week ago that took a full day to stop bleeding.
    Continued head pain.
    A tough double race on Saturday.
    36K long run on Sunday.
    7 hours of train rides Monday.
    A tender hamstring following the above.
    18 miles on Tuesday with mile repeats on the track in the evening.
    16.75 mile run yesterday.

    Again, context, not purely excuses. But I gave it a good go and ran about what I usually do on this course - mid 21:xx.

    I took an early lead and then a kid from Harvard took over. He held pace until the dirt section and then I went past him. Shortly after, at the water stop, Chad caught me and then made a smart, aggressive move that I didn't match at all. He opened up a lead that mostly held true throughout.

    After that, it was chase mode with very few good bullets in the holster. Chad looked smooth and easy. I felt very much like I should with the above stated context.

    On the final turn, I could hear Greg Picklesimer start to reel me in. I was vulnerable and he was hungry for me. I had to muscle my way through my stride as smooth was not in my vernicular at any point tonight.

    With about a half mile to go I started to find a better stride and opened back up on Pickles. I started to close on Chad but I had neither enough time nor gas in the tank to do anything real about it. I closed out the second place finish.

    In context, a good race. But when I toe the line I don't think about the context, only a desire to feel like I think I should when it's time to go fast.

    Train good...run good. Time to continue the increased training.
    Statistics:    Calories: 546
    VO2 Max: 66.3

    Gotta run...
    6:57 AM

  • Race Reports: Bridge of Flowers and the Brew Run (2010)

    Bridge of Flowers 2010


    Date:    8/14/2010 9:00 AM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Bridge Of Flowers
    Distance:    10 kilometers
    Duration:    34:29
    Pace:    5:33 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    169.0 lb
    Misc:    Quality: 5/10, Effort: 9/10
    Field Placement:    28 / 738 (3.8%)
    Age group:    19 – 39
    Group Placement:    28 / 180 (15.6%)
    Weather:    85° F, Sunny, Humid
    Event URL:    coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/Aug14_Bridge_set1.shtml
    Notes:    Shelburne Falls, MA - USATFNE 10K Grand Prix Championship. Not 100% today with a head injury from yesterday and just not that sharp after a day of travel and running at 6 a.m. Pacific Time.

    Still, this is a great race (very tough course) with some serious depth in competition.

    I missed my course PR by 6 seconds on a warm, humid day.

    Placewise, seemed like the people ahead of me are all those I'd expect and I beat a number who often beat me. I struggled with the hill but felt OK otherwise. I never felt sharp.

    It was GREAT to see some familiar running friends and great to be back.

    Splits: 5:11, 5:27, 6:53, 5:12, 5:28, 5:16


    http://coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/Aug14_Bridge_set1.shtml
    Statistics:    Calories: 794
    VO2 Max: 61.8





    Date:    8/14/2010 4:00 PM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Brew Run
    Distance:    5.2 miles
    Duration:    27:54
    Pace:    5:22 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    169.0 lb
    Misc:    Quality: 7/10, Effort: 7/10
    Field Placement:    5 / 1615 (0.3%)
    Age group:    30 – 39
    Group Placement:    1
    Weather:    85° F, Sunny, Humid
    Event URL:    coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/Aug14_BrewRu_set1.shtml
    Notes:    Brewster, MA - Race number two of the day after a grueling Bridge of Flowers 10k this morning. Smoother ride out to the cape and plenty of time to settle and warm-up.

    Felt good for a mile and then started to deteriorate. Good pack early and then sorted out to a couple sub-packs. I didn't fall apart but I wasn't rolling either.

    I held well enough and maintained 5th place for the majority of the race through the finish. I was 21 seconds of my course PR.

    Great day of running. Renee won the cumulative place total for the day with a 5th and a 4th place finish and I took the cumulative time category.


    Splits: 5:08, 5:14, 5:26, 5:34, 5:17

    http://coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/Aug14_BrewRu_set1.shtml
    Statistics:    Calories: 665
    VO2 Max: 63.6
    3:20 AM

  • Race Report: OTC All-Comers Meet 8/5/2010

    OTC

    Date:    8/5/2010 7:05 PM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Outdoor Track 1500 Meters
    Distance:    1500 meters
    Duration:    4:16.30
    Pace:    4:35 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    169.0 lb
    Field Placement:    2
    Age group:    30 – 39
    Group Placement:    1
    Weather:    87° F, Sunny
    Event URL:    www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=30868#ooid=J4a2dtMTocoMCYxtQA5xZDq4CGjmBsBD
    Notes:    Eugene, OR - OTC All Comers. First race of the night was the 1500. Kept it relaxed early with a 69 second quarter and then gradually picked it up. Nothing too crazy. Felt relaxed throughout.

    http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=30868#ooid=J4a2dtMTocoMCYxtQA5xZDq4CGjmBsBD

    30-39) Josh Gordon, 4:16.3
    Statistics:    Calories: 119
    VO2 Max: 65.0

    Date:    8/5/2010 7:35 PM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Outdoor Track 800 Meters
    Distance:    800 meters
    Duration:    2:06.30
    Pace:    4:15 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    169.0 lb
    Field Placement:    3
    Age group:    30 – 39
    Group Placement:    1
    Weather:    86° F, Sunny
    Event URL:    www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=30878#ooid=50cGdtMTq6_ocjB0ttL2MH3-bI4TDxFg
    Notes:    Eugene, OR - OTC All Comers Meet. Race # 2 was the 800. Kept it pretty comfortable again but with a good kick battle with two others in the final 100. I beat one and lost to one. Fastest of the three 800s I have done at the All-Comers meets.

    (30-39) Joshua Gordan, 2:06.3

    http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=30878#ooid=50cGdtMTq6_ocjB0ttL2MH3-bI4TDxFg
    Statistics:    Calories: 64
    VO2 Max: 67.3

    Date:    8/5/2010 7:50 PM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Outdoor Track 3000 Meters
    Distance:    3000 meters
    Duration:    9:52.40
    Pace:    5:18 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    169.0 lb
    Field Placement:    3
    Age group:    30 – 39
    Group Placement:    1
    Weather:    84° F, Sunny
    Event URL:    www.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=videos&year=2010&event_id=158&folder_id=2230#video
    Notes:    Eugene, OR - OTC All-Comers meet race #3. Started to sugar bonk after the 800 so I took a Cliff Shot gel. Well, it solved that problem but three laps in I got a horrible side stitch. What started as easy 74s degraded rapidly. I had no fight in me this time. Watched as two guys passed me and couldn't really rally. Good workout still!

    (30-39) Josh Gordon, 9:52.4

    http://www.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=videos&year=2010&event_id=158&folder_id=2230#video
    Statistics:    Calories: 238
    VO2 Max: 59.7

    Date:    8/5/2010 8:15 PM
    Type:    Race
    Course:    Outdoor Track 400 Meters
    Distance:    400 meters
    Duration:    0:56
    Pace:    3:46 / mile
    Equipment:    adidas adizero Mana II (Mana-Red&White)
    Weight:    169.0 lb
    Field Placement:    1
    Weather:    84° F, Sunny
    Notes:    Eugene, OR - Two high school kids needed teammates for the 4 x 400 so Renee and I cut our cool-down short and hopped in with them.

    Watch: http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=30867#ooid=tpa2dtMTqLpUEZ59JINARYUs19g1IGMw
    Statistics:    Calories: 32
    VO2 Max: 74.9
    3:17 AM

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up