The Juana 8k race this morning went well.  I had a lot of things working for me.  I ran 33:16 and placed first 60 plus.  This helped my average pace for the year.  I am now at 6:56/mile.   Dan Brown, who I met at the first race of the season, from the San Jose Mercury News ran with me for the first mile.  That helped me run 6:25. (Dan and I pictured below)

During the race I kept thinking about what Dr. JoAnn told me yesterday in our interview.  She told me to imagine that the runner in front of me has a magnet.  Let it pull me to them.  Also, at the finish line.  I was almost toasted by 54-year-old Meredith at the finish but I held her off.  It is always nice to have the encouragement of Rich Stiller.

Rich filming as I am catching up with Matt who we interviews a few weeks back after donig a nice 5-mile training run with him and his twin brother Mark.  Matt finished third today.

I had just interviewed Verity Breen for the Ujena Fit Club.  Here we are before the start.  She placed first women overall.

Matt finished third overall.  He ran what he was hoping to do.

Catherine and I ate late last night (like 9:15pm) and I had half a banana this morning.  I finished as strong as ever.  I also like my splits too: 6:25, 6:45, 6:45, 6:45 and 6:30 the last .97 which equals a 6:43 mile.   So does this mean I should start eating later?

Talking with Bill Clark (below)  after the race.  We have known each other for a long time.  He set the American Record for two hours on the track at Foothill College many years ago.  Runner's World sponsored the race.

Ellen Clark has done so much for running.  In the backgrown Mike is filming Bill and I.

Wih Matt Tompkins and family.  Their son race in the kids races.

With Bill Clark, Karen and Amol.  We will be interviewing Bill and Amol for the movie.

Always great to be working on this project with my son Michael, Catherine and Waitman.  Next race is the whale Run in Fort Bragg. CA next Saturday.   Thanks everyone for making this race so enjoyable.  Photos by Catherine Cross

We are interviewing a lot of interested people for our film.  This morning we spoke with Dr JoAnn Dahlkoetter.  She is a Stanford University Medical Center trained licensed psychologist.  She won the San Francisco Marathon in the early 80's and placed 2nd in the World Championship Hawaii Ironman Triathlon a couple of years later.

JoAnn is the author of "Your Performing Edge."  She has been coaching Olympic athletes for the last four Olympics.  She put together a special Visualization Exercises CD for me.  I have not listened to it yet but I am tonight.  Her insights are going to be very helpful.  In her book I read that, "Research has shown that those who make their goals public in some way perform significantly better..."  I am a firm believer of this.  Dr. JoAnn is going to be so helpful...

JoAnn does think that my challenge of racing 350 miles at under 7 minutes per mile with no more than 50 races during 2012 is a tough goal.  We talked about a lot of things and she wants to help me reach my goal.

Michael captured the interview with four different camera angles.  "Bob got an email from a well known coach and previous 4:06 miler that certainly was not encouraging," stated director Michael.  "These are some of the points in the email....'I think you are still at major risk for hurting yourself...nobody cares how you'll perform in the next ten months except yourself...back off on effort and do the races as a lark, rather than a grind."  We asked JoAnn to comment on this email...

That is an interesting e-mail you received... I wonder if he is just jealous because you thought of the idea before him?
Shari Mernett 3/11/12 1:56 pm

Shari, I know the guy who sent the email. He is not jealous. Not in his nature. Just genuinely concerned.
Richard Stiller 3/11/12 9:04 pm

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