Recovery time

Marathons take a lot out of me.  I've run once in the past two weeks, and have been resting my legs as much as possible.  I've run races that took a full month to get back on track, feeling like my legs were strong again.  So, I'm going to take it easy today, and have a fun night in Boston tomorrow.

This weekend, the training begins again.  I'm looking for another race in another state.  Any suggestions for February/March?

2009 Tulsa Marathon

 

Tulsa Marathon
Tulsa, OK
November 22, 2009
3:49
This was a fun time. I went into this race knowing I hadn't trained
enough, and fully expecting to cramp up in the late miles. I was there
to enjoy the race, and I did.
Who knew there would be hills in Tulsa? I was expecting a flat
course, but the first eight miles or so had continuous small hills,
probably two per mile. We ran through a residential neighborhood, then
a few more miles downtown, before heading out and back along the
Arkansas River for the last 12 miles. I did appreciate the long flat
second half.

The night before the race, I met the entertainment director for the
race. Each mile along the route showcased a local band, or, a belly
dancer, flame swallower, or dj. The crowds were sparse but loud and
friendly. Post race was ralaxing in a park, helping the beer truck
staff finish their load, so they wouldn't have to return full kegs.
Always trying to be helpful.
Overall, this was a fun, friendly, well-run race. I'm looking forward
to a little rest before I get back into exercising my legs to build
them up for the next big adventure.

More time off

This is a tough week for me.  Three weeks away from a marathon, and I've started to develop some pretty sharp pains in my knee, up to my hip.  I've had this looked at before, and have been working on some exercises to strengthen my leg.  It's a problem from my IT band, knee and hamstring.  Not what I was hoping for this close to a race.  The last time it occurred, I didn't run for two months.
I'm going to push through it.  More Advil, exercises and less miles.  Hoping I'll make it just a few more weeks.

NYC marathon is this weekend.  Good luck to all the runners...all 45,000 of you.

Good weather running

It's unseasonably, or some might say seasonably, warm today in New England, so I'm planning my run home.  Trouble is, it's also getting dark earlier.  Does anyone have any suggestions on good lights for running in the dark?  I've seen headlights and belt lights.  Looking for opinions on what works.  I have a 10 mile run, mostly off-road on an unlit path.  The good news is, the surface is pretty even and stable.  The bad news is, I can't see where I'm going, and tend to take more timid steps.  Really affects my stride, pace and overall run.

On the other hand, I'm looking forward to my ForeRunner redeeming itself today.

Forerunner is dead

Maybe it was the public humiliation, but once I connected my Garmin Forerunner 205 to my PC to download data, it decided it had enough.  No power, won't charge, won't connect.  Nothing.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to reset it?

Monday Quickie

I ran what might pass as a long run this weekend, after not too many miles last week.  Monday night, I ran a fast loop around town.  It's starting to get dark early, and it isn't the brightest neighborhood.

One of the things that drives me nuts while running is when my watch conks out.  It's a Garmin Forerunner 205.  Seems to lose satellite connections at the most inconvenient time.  It will start beeping when it loses a connection, and occasionally picks a signal back up again, but not always.  The time keeps running, but it is a hassle to clear the signal message.  Additionally, I don't get a record of my distance, and the software the data downloads to won't let me edit a route or distance.  Looks like I ran 2 miles at 20 minute pace.

Weekend Run

...if it can be called that. I know the idea is to either run fast one week, or run long. Last week I went for long. Didn't work out too well, culminating with a miserable attempt at 18 miles on Sunday. I think the half marathon the week before took a little more out of me than I gave it credit. I'll make this week a little lighter and see what happens. 5 weeks until the next race.

2009 Applefest Half Marathon, Hollis, NH

13.1 mile, Half Marathon

1:36:09 7:21 Pace

September 26, 2009

Hollis, NH

Nothing like Autumn in New England for a long race through a small town. This half took a route through the rolling hills of Hollis. I say rolling, only because a ball would roll down the hill. The last two hills at mile 9 and mile 12 were a bit more than rolling.

I was planning to run this as a pacing run, to lock in my marathon pace. I was definitely on for the first 8 or so, and 10 and 11 felt good. I was running comfortable 7:10 to 7:15, rolling hills up and down included. The last two hills, though, I thought I was moving, but they just took a lot more out of me than I expected. The area I usually train...as in for miles in every direction...has no hills. Completely flat, railbed paths and coastlines. I really need to get me some hill training.

Nevertheless, I felt good and was able to pick up the effort at the end. I need to plan a time of the year when I'm not pushing for a marathon, just to see what I can do when I truly race 13 miles.

Overall, this was a good race for me. I felt strong the whole time, and am looking forward to Tulsa in a few more weeks.

The post-race food was interesting. Probably the best apple cobbler I've had, with slices of sharp cheddar. I've heard of this before, but never actually tried it. Turns out, it's great. I'm already planning my Thanksgiving dessert.

Last Boston Run

Last night may have been my last run around the Charles River. For the past 15 years, I have run every inch of the paths on the Boston and Cambridge sides of the water, from the Museum of Science to Watertown Center. I've mixed distances by running bridges, raced and trained, seen unbelievable sunrises and sunsets, watched the seasons come and go, and enjoyed the view every time.

As I'm finally moving out of town to another job, I'm saying goodbye to the place that has been my home for so many years. While I moved apartments seven times, the river has always been the same familiar place.

Goodbye Chuck.

2009 Lynn Woods Relay

4 x 2.5 mile trail relay

16:49 leg

August 6, 2009

Lynn, MA

This was a fun race. It's a bit crowded, unorganized at the start, nowhere to park but plenty of police ticketing cars, unscientific transition, but otherwise a great time.

The course winds along a few small hills into the Lynn Woods Reservation, then up a trail hill, back down and out of the woods. I ran the anchor leg, and it was starting to get a little dark. Not worried about the pack of wolves and wild dogs in the distance, I took off as my #3 runner crossed the line.

I've run this route a few times before, and knew what to expect. The first mile overlaps the return leg, and there is no clear distinction between which side of the path runners should follow. Thus, people are sprinting in to the finish crossing runners sprinting out of the gate. In the woods, most people stay to the right, except for the guy sprinting down a hill into my line. Chaos makes for a good time.

The uphill isn't too steep, but there are some log and stone steps built into the path that break your stride. And the run back is always longer than you think. I was passed by another guy going down the hill, but hung on. I caught him with half a mile left, and outraced him to the finish. There was no way I was going to lose a spot for my team.

After the race was the fun part, and part of the reason I run. Pizza and pitchers at Prince's restaurant. All in all, a fun race, team event and evening.

Colors

Who selects the colors for the interior of commuter trains? Are they trying to make us go to sleep? I sometimes think running shoes are getting too bright, but I wouldn't strap this combination of dull pink and beige to my feet.

Time off

I missed the "long run" this weekend.

One thing I've learned about training, is the inertia of the process. Over the past few weeks, I've been trying to run more, shorter runs, and not concentrating so much on the weekend long run. I've been hurt and sore for so long, I think it's time to build up a better base. As I get closer to a November marathon, I can worry about getting in the long mileage stuff.

Running four times in a week was a big deal for me. I had a lot of free time last week, and I managed to fit in some quick 5 to 7 milers. Once I get into that rhythm, I just go with it. I can get ready, run, get home and clean up in less than an hour, so there's really no excuse not to do it. But once this body starts to rest, it gets tough to get it going again.

I've heard the hardest part of a run are the first three steps out of bed. I'd have to say I agree with that.

No races planned for the near future. I'm running a 100 mile relay in VT in a few weeks. That usually beats me up, as I'm not used to the hills, and I tend to run it as three 5 to 10 k races in one day. The way I've been feeling lately, I'm definitely going to take a few seconds off my pace and work on having good form and finishing healthy. Oh, and not getting Lyme desease this year.

Today's Monday again, and I should be heading to the track, but I might just get in a good run and try to keep my legs on the road to recovery.

Missed a race

Yesterday, there was a 5 miler running close to me. I knew a few people running in it, and had contemplated running, but just never made it there. I guess I thought about the effort it would take to get to the start, parking, registering, racing in a crowd, hanging around after, and then getting out of there and home at the end of the night. I just felt like it was more effort than the enjoyment I would get out of it, so I drove straight home, put on my sneakers and went for a run on my own.

Sometimes I think I run to compete, but yesterday, I just wanted to run to be alone. It's relaxing, hearing nothing by my own breathing, rhythmic, and in tune with the beat of my feet striking the ground.

I'll save my race for another day.

2009 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, Boston

3.5 Miles

22:40 Unofficial

June 25, 2009

Boston, MA

This race was packed! The course starts between the Boston Common and Public Garden, makes three quick turns, then heads out Commonwealth Ave for a few miles and back. I managed to find my way to the front for the start and was glad I did. The top finishers get an official time, but the thousands of other runners and walkers just get to enjoy the party.

By the way, it was hot. And running in my team's freshly printed cotton shirt didn't help too much, but the post-race at the Barking Crab made up for it all.

2009 Barrington Firefighters Memorial 5k

5k road race

20:07, 13th place

May 24, 2009

Barrington, RI

"Wait here, I'll be back in 20 minutes" I said to my kids before I walked to the starting line. Turns out, they know how to read, and pointed out to me that I was late. By the by, yes, someone was watching them while I was running.

This was a fun run through the small town. While it attracted some good runners, I wonder how I would have done with better timing. I decided to leave my watch at home and just run what felt right. I came through the first mile, being told it was 5:40, and the second mile in 12 minutes. There was no way either of these were right, as I felt like I was running 6:30 to 6:40 pace - my usual 5k pace. Turns out I was right and the clock at the end had me right on schedule.

Next time I'm bringing a watch.

Return to the track

Monday, I returned to track workouts for my first speedwork in half a year.  I don't know how I got by without them for so long; they are my favorite run of the week, and the workouts make me so much stronger - and faster.

It was good to see old friends there.  Some of them, people that you can miss for months and immediately relate to you when you return.  "How's the running been", "When's the next race", "Are you getting a burrito after the workout".  Seemingly shallow questions, but this is what we do, and it is important to us.  So there is meaning and interest there.

2009 New Bedford Half Marathon

13.1 miles, half marathon

1:34.10

March 15, 2009

New Bedford, MA

This goes down in history as a bad idea. Just a few weeks before, I had run the New Orleans Marathon, and was definitely not recovered. I had tight hamstrings and a sore knee, and around mile 11, they had had enough. All things considered, I should have been happy with my time, but I know I'll have a better race next year.

2009 Mardi Gras Marathon, New Orleans, LA

Full Marathon

February 1, 2009

3:49:29 Official Time

3:49:04 Net time

 New Orleans, LA

Ouch...all I can say. This was a race I signed up for with good intentions. However, the reality of training in New England over the winter, particularly for a race this early in the year, got the best of me. My mileage has been way down, and I really got what I deserved.

I met another runner down there the night before, and was looking forward to a steady race. Started out running nice, easy 8's. The route heads out of town, via Bourbon Street. Thankfully, they washed the streets the night before, but from what I read, due to budget cuts, that was the last time. We headed out of town toward Tulane, out through a beautiful park and golf course. My right hammy started acting up around 8 miles. I knew this was going to be a long race. Well, that's obvious. Around 18 miles is the only hill on the course. A small highway overpass bridge. On the way down, my right inside quad started to hurt. That's strange, never felt that before. Just kept getting more and more sore as the race went on. The last few miles were around another park outside town, then we headed back to the Superdome. All mental getting me back there; my legs had nothing left.

Finished, threw out my shirt, and headed for the beer truck. Just why is it that race sponsors think runners only drink light, awful beer? Michelob Ultra? Come on, I just burned a few thousand calories, give me a Guinness!

Spent the remainder of the day strolling around the city. What a great place to be in February. It was sunny and warm, although we did spend a good part of the afternoon inside. Slept well that night and headed home.