The elusive 5:30 mile

At the beginning of this school year, D and I decided to set some goals together. We each chose an intellectual goal, a spiritual goal, a physical goal, and then we set some joint goals, all to be accomplished by the end of the school year in May. D's physical goal was to run a 5:30 mile, something he had never done before. D is a great runner, but he spent all of last year sitting at a desk and was not in racing shape. He started running again this school year, doing speedwork and distance and also strength training. I was surprised when he announced that he was ready to attempt the 5:30 mile in mid-November (I won't be ready to attempt my physical goal of an olympic distance triathlon for several more months).

First Attempt: mid-November

There he is, dressed in his lucky color red, ready to conquer the mile

Squeak and I dressed up too, to cheer him on.
He missed it by a hair; D's time was 5:32.

Second Attempt: mid-December

Due to illness and sleep-deprivation, this one didn't go so well. He still did a sub-6:00 mile though. Again, lucky color red!

There we are, D's fan club, all dressed up for the occasion!

Third Attempt: Christmas Eve

My runner brother Jonny came to visit and offered to pace D on the high school track. Squeak and I weren't able to be there because she was still asleep. I asked how it went when they got back, and D said he'd just missed it and handed me his watch to look at the splits. I started going through them and each lap was under what he needed to get. Then I saw the total. What a tricky husband!

There he is, after his 5:21 victory! Way to go, baby!

D, your girls are so proud of you!!