35 years ago

35 years ago (May 1985) – I only raced once during this month after missing two weeks of training to a possible fifth metatarsal stress fracture.  I got in a lot of time on the bike and pool.  Finally, with only two weeks to go before the NCAA championships Bob Worden (U-Lowell trainer) gave me the go-ahead to run (since the year would be over after Nationals anyway).  In my training log I noted “’Bob said ‘Fuck it, go run’”. Two days before flying out to Nationals I did a workout on the Billerica track.  The goal was a 5 minute mile, a “fast” mile and a “controlled” mile.  I ran 4:56, 4:22, and 4:40 and noted in my training log that I “Felt great!”  In the race I finished a bitterly disappointing 7th (missing All-American by one place) at the NCAA championships in Los Angeles running A 30:16 for 10,000 meters. Chambo (Tom Chamberas) and I spent a week out in CA “recovering” after the meet.  We had a fun group out in CA with Dennis Simoniatis (14:40) and Chambo (14:59) in the 5,000, John Pappageorge (53.4) in the Intermediate hurdles, and Tony Gilbert (1:50.26) taking 5th place in the 800 meters

Goofing around with Chambo, me, Pappi, Peter McLennan, and Tony