Quest For Boston

Annual New Years day run with the Island running community.  I love this run even though it ends up being my slowest of the season.  It's a great time to see and talk with a lot of the running community that I don't get to see very often.  The run was followed by a pot luck lunch.  A nice easy run was exactly what my body needed.  Looking forwards to going out and running tommorrow.  Sadly, weather over the nextt 3 days is for snow- again. Happy New Years everybody!!!!

7 miles at 8:30 pace

Talk about crappy weather.  White out conditions.  Snow ing with 40 MPH steady wind with some gusting made for an interesting decision. Do I go out or not.  It took me 45 minutes to make my decision, but I eventually went out.  I've been so concerned about getting back on the treadmill that I decided to go out and brave the elements.  There was a lot of slipping and slideing but I'm glad I went out. I actually felt good after I reached the 6 mile mark.  I'd hate to think this is my future.  6 miles to warm up.  It's gonna make it tough to run a 5k.

4.2 miles at 8:30

Even though the weather was much nicer,  the road conditions were worse.  Everything that was snow was now mixed with ice and I worried the whole time about falling down and taking a header.  I ended up shortening my run.  Hopefully the roads clear up a bit and I can feel more comfortable tommorrow.

7 miles at 8:45

Ran with Dave today.  He had just got back from FLA and I don't think he was thrilled with the conditions. We took it nice and easy and enjoyed the run.  Ended up running off road to avoid traffic.  A lot less stress on the mind but the footing was interesting at times.   There's no way I can get the speed work my swchedule is calling for in but I don't mind.  I'm actually happy to just be out there running without any pressures.

5 miles in 43:43

The miles seem to be getting slower and slower.  The knee felt fine today so that's a plus.  I also signed up for a 16 mile race on the 24th of the month.  Hopefuly that wasn't a mistake but I need some motivation.

5 miles at 9:00 pace Realy slow run today with Kate.  Fine by me as I'm still no feeling 100%.  I think I've decided to give up on the BAA training schedule and just play things by feel.  I guess I'm just not hard core enough to train that hard.

3.5 miles at 8:00 minute pace.

I ran early today as more snow is expected to move in this afternoon.  I finally managed to run sub 8:30's for the first time in a week.  It felt good without any strain. Hopefully my legs are back under me for a while.

9.1 miles at 8:15 pace.

Cold out there today.  12 degrees at 7:30 when I left the house and it didn't warm up at all.  The plan was to do 11 but after running east chop with the exposure, I couldn't feel my fingers or face so I cut the run short to warm myself up.  My last 3 were at 7:20 pace- hopefully what I'll be running Boston at.  What ever happened to global warming?  Colder in FLA than up here in Mass.

7 miles in just over an hour  8:55 pace

I can't remember when I've run so slow but that seems to be where my body is right now.  I'm trying not to let it bother me but it's getting hard.  Footing was a major reason for it today as the dirt roads and trails we ran were ice covered causing me to step gingerly.  Other than the speed, I'm feeling pretty good. 

7 miles in 1 hour Once again slow miles but the roads are starting to clear. The ice should be clear by Friday.  Hopefully with better footing my pace will increase.  Feeling good though.

Same as yesterday. Blah blah blah.  Feeling burnt out.  I need some nice weather!!!!

7 miles in 1:02 8:45's Finaly a day above freezing.  39 degrees made for wet and sloppy conditions.  I''m off for 2 days- work training seminar.

13.1 miles in 1:51:04  8:25 pace

42 degrees out this morning.  That's the warmest it's been in a couple weeks at least.  The snow is gone as last night's rain washed the last of it away.  I went out with Patrick and Blake and it felt pretty good until the last 3 miles.  Then I struggled.  Made it through but feel like hell now.  Fever and chills along with stomach cramps.  Not sure what's wrong but I hope it clears up soon.

7 miles in 1:00:42  8:42's

Feeling a lot better today.  Stomach still feeling a little cramping but not consistant.  Run felt faster than it was but at least I didn't struggle.  Sunday's race in Derry should be interesting.

4.65 miles in 34:17 7:22 pace

Tempo run today to see if I was still able to run sub 7:30's  It's hard to believe that I ran a marathon in 7:34's 3 months ago.  Still feel like I'm struggling.

6 miles in 47:02  7:50 pace

New shoes finaly arrived.  As usual, the feet need to stretch and adjust to the new kicks. Both feet trying to go numb.  Stopped once to loosen things up and get less pressure and better blood flow.  Hip bothering me a bit post run.  I probably won't be wearing them for Sundays 16 miler.

16 miles in 1:55:25  7:15 pace

Beautiful course with a lot of ups and downs.  They claim it's not as tough as everyone says but I think they're wrong. 

The course is a zero net gain as it starts and finishes in the same spot.  The thing that makes it tough is that it never evens out.  You're either going up; or down. 

   Race morning started at 5:00 a.m. Woke up and rushed around getting ready for the 6 o'clock boat. We reached the mainland a little late and grabbed the bus to  the parking lot where our vehicle awaited.  We left Falmouth a little after 7 and sped the 210 miles up to Derry, New Hampshire.  Luckily there was very little traffic as we raced through Boston and ended up in Derry in record time.  Park the truck and grab our second bus of the day to get to the race headquarters by 9:15 giving us plenty of time to warm up for the 10 o'clock start. Weather was probably about as good as you can expect this time of year. Temps were in the high 30's with little to no wind. The race was pushed back by 10 minutes to allow for late arrivals and yet we still managed to be late to the start.

     As Pat and I walked up to the rear of the 800+ runners; we observed the leaders pulling away from the starting line.  I guess we'd be weaving our way to start. The time reflected that with a chip time of 8:32 first mile.  Sadly, the race didn't have a mat for the start so the posted times were all gun times.  It cost me 1:10 just reaching the starting line but that will teach me to get to the start late.  The first 4 miles were spent finding some space to move and hoping that I'd feel a little better.  As I went down the hillls the space between the runners would increase and I would use gravity as an ally and pass a bunch of other runners.  But once the terraine shifted back to uphills the gaps between bodies would shrink making it near impossible to pass.

At about 4 miles I decided to throw in a surge and see exactly how I was feeling.  Between the crowding and late start I was averaging about 8:00's.  My 5th mile was 6:54 folllowed by a couple 7:12's and then 2 7:03's.  At the 1/2 way point my chip time was 58:35 for an average pace of 7:20.  Most of the first half had been down hill so I knew that I was in for some seious payback in the second half.  It came at just over 9 miles.  You come up over a slight rise and take a sharp left hand turn and are faced with a "steep" hill of about 200 yards.  It seemed like half the people around me started walking here.  I kept running but wasn't going any faster than the walkers at first.  That's when I put my head down, leaned way forwards and shortened up my stride.  The next thing I knew I was starting to pass people again.  For the next 3.5 miles the course continued to roll and climb with very little relief.  I had my doubts about running a negative split but just focused on the here and now. A woman notifiedthe runners upon finally reaching the highest point on the course.  I checked out the Garmin and realized that I had  a great shot at breaking 2 hours. I just told myself- Only a 5 k to go.  Looking up I picked out a shirt and decided I was going to catch that guy.  It was the perfect jersey to chase.  I spent the next 3 miles sowly reeling him in.  Even though I never caught him, he dragged me along and we both managed to pass at least a dozen other runners.

     As I came over the top of the final hill and took the  turn for home I looked at the clock and realized that I had kicked some serious butt in the final 5k, averaging 6:46.  I had indeed negative split the course.  My final 8 miles were covered in 56:40 for a pace of 7:05 with all those uphills.  I'm very satisfied with my performance, especialy feeling as uncertain as I have the last month or so.

Slow, slow miles today.  My legs  feel like I'm getting ready to run a 4th leg at Reach the Beach.  At least I could run today with them.  Small improvements.  I think I'll try to use an ice bath after my next long race. Recovery is quicker.

3.55 miles at 8:15's

Legs are still a little soar but I could actualy go down stairs without using the handrails or taking them one at a time.  Yesterdays run definetly helped.  M.V. 20 miler in just over 2 weeks.  I have to decide if I'll be running hard or not.  Being a home race it'll be hard not to try and compete.  Bragging rights for the year are at stakes.

Easy run off-road today.  Legs feeling almost normal accept for being heavy.  Off day tommorrow.

15 miles at a snails pace.  I would have liked to go a bit quicker but stayed with Neil as he struggled a bit.  I just reminded myself that long runs are all about time on the road, especially while still recovering from last Sundays race.  Probably the best thing that could have happened.