Coupla Weeks

Well, I've been quietly sort of running over the past couple of weeks. The week after Falmouth was a bust despite my motivation -- lots of work to do from the cape and not much rhythm. I got in one swim but it wasn't much to write home about. I may have done a short run, but I honestly don't remember. I returned from the Cape and went to tri training session the following week. I mis-read the schedule and brought my sneakers when I should have brought my bike... I swam and went for a short run, somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30 minutes. It was super humid and the black flies were assaulting my head.

I got in one more run that week but don't remember which route I did, it may have been a shorty. Can you see that I'm really into it right now?

Last week I did the tri training, swim/run and one more run, a short one. I just got back from tri training and did a swim and bike ride. I'm awful on the mountain bike when I ride it like 4 times each year. I need to get in another ride or so to get comfortable on the clipless pedals. The swim was fine, i wasn't super motivated, but did it. The ride was fun despite not being 100% comfortable. I went slow and gabbed with a fire fighter from Cambridge. There is a full run through a week from Wednesday.

I'm rediscovering that I really love the running etc., more than drinking and that it makes me feel better than drinking... right now I'm a drinker with a running problem more than a runner with a drinking problem. I think I'm going tomorrow for a run. I like how it makes me feel, and though one wouldn't think so, I need to keep reminding myself about how much I like the exertion.

One bit of business that's going undone: I have an entry form for the CCM Relay. Who's in? I want to fill it out tomorrow even though it's going to cost more because it will be in after 9/1. Also, psyched to hear VTR is considering VCM '10. I've been thinking about it and I'm in. I need to run it.

CCM Eve

We had great pasta feed at the Quarter Acre this evening with VTR, FA and PR as well as the respective Mrs.. We're all fired up about the CCM tomorrow. It was awesome to get the gang together and interact in real space.

I got in a pre-race 3.3 this morning. Nothing big, but it felt good.

Mixed Drinkers

Below is a portion of the note I received from the CCM race directors. We're in the CCM relay on 10/26. Our team names is the same title as this post.

Agricola,

We received your entry for the 2008 New Balance Marathon Relay on 06/30/08, and your team is registered to run! The race will be held on Sunday, October 26, and we will be sending out more relay information and your team's number assignment in early October. As Team Captain, all materials and communication concerning your team will be sent or e-mailed to you and it is your responsibility to keep the rest of your team up to date.

Monday In June

I got out yesterday for 27 minutes -- I did my short loop, 3.3 miles. Everything felt good one week after Vermont City. I'll go again tomorrow for a short one, maybe with C2. I had to catch an early train so it was a little dicey to get out today (and also on Thursday).

I'm psyched that people want to run the CCM Relay! That will be cool. I've got the form on my desk, 85% filled out. I've got another form for a run next week in Quincy, MA, a 5 miler benefiting ALS research -- The Squirrel Run. I'm also running the Chase Corporate Challenge at the end of the month, in Boston. It should be a good month!

CCM Relay

So the relay has been run. PR and I (mainly PR) cobbled together a team and it was a hoot. We certainly broke no land speed records but had fun despite PR's blown tire. I did the fourth (of five) leg. It covered 6 very hilly miles. I have total respect for the marathoners who tackled that giant climb at mile 20 alongside the Woods Hole Golf Course. That stretch was one of the most challenging stretches I've ever run -- lots of rollers, a couple big climbs and then the aforementioned monster at 20. That hill was savage and gave me a run for my money five miles into my leg so I can only imagine how it felt to hit it at 20 miles!

I have to say that this is one my proudest runs -- I covered the 6 hilly miles in under 48 minutes (48 minutes was my goal) and I squeaked in at 47:43. I don't know what it was but I was rolling and never really felt in trouble. I could feel myself powering over the hills and every roller got a little easier than the last. I worked on the up and relaxed on the down. I loved this run -- it was beautiful scenery and a gorgeous day. When I was done I was totally amped up and feeling the runner's high. It was awesome.

I saw VTR during his run and after his marathon finish -- I'll let him describe it -- but he looked good on the course and afterwards. Congratulations VTR, nicely done.

Animals

Time: 33:22
Avg HR: 160
Peak HR: 179
Calories: 587
Distance: 4.02
Start Time: 6:47 AM
Training Effect: 4.2
Temp: Warm & Humid
Date: 10/23/07

Today was a decent run. Not my fastest at this distance for sure, but fairly comfortable and uneventful. I really feel fall settling in on me -- I'm moving a bit slower and want to eat a lot more. No matter how much we try and avoid it, we're still animals and still somewhat in tune with Nature and her rhythms.

On a more prosaic note: what's up with our CCM team? Am I going to have to run like half of this marathon this weekend? That's going to be ugly.

120

I'm officially on countdown to the CCM, and my head is finally getting in to the game. I went out for my last "long" run of 10 miles on Sunday, and felt good and strong. After Friday's minor calf tweak, I was worried about potentially injuring myself more so close to the race. But I was also worried about the mental impact of not getting in another long run before the marathon. In the end my mental state took priority, and the calf responded well.

At the start of the run, my legs were tight in different spots. The left calf, the right hammy, what's that twinge in the hip flexors, does my knee feel right? Because I was paranoid about the calf, I tuned into every little ache. At 10 minutes into the run, I took a planned stretch break and worked out some kinks. By twenty minutes in, I was warmed up and the legs were feeling good. Phew.

My mantra on this run was 1:20, which was my goal time for this 10 mile loop. It works out to an 8 minute mile pace, which is my way-aggressive strectch goal for the marathon (3:30). I figured that if I could hold that pace on this super hilly route, I could do it for the marathon. Whether that's true or not doesn't matter. I hit my goal (within 1 minute), which satisfied me mentally. I'm now ready for Sunday. The rest of the week is all about prep through eating right, a couple of short feel good runs and good thoughts.

Let's make a plan for meeting up on race morning. Mrs. VTR and I will be checking out the course on Saturday afternoon as well.

It's Dark Out There . . .

. . . and cold.

Today was my first run in a week and a half. It was not so great, but I'll be OK.
First, I'm battling my seasonal allergy thing and actually puffed my inhaler at the one mile mark. Second, it was chilly today and I think I might need to break out the tights -- by the end of the run, my legs felt totally constricted from the cold. They weren't tired from the mileage (I did short arun to get back into it)they were sort of frozen feeling and not firing very nicely. Third, I think my week of labor tweaked my back because it tightened up dramatically near the end. I'll stretch it out tonight and hopefully be ready to roll Friday. My week of labor and no running did nothing for my running fitness, but I can shovel for hours on end now. On a positive note, I rolled out in pre-dawn darkness with the clouds over the eastern horizon just pinking -- it was beautiful. It's dark out there right now and I'm waiting for the clocks to roll back to get me some more morning light.

In reference to your post PR, it's a male team, but as I mentioned in my comment, I'm not sure people will pay that much attention to women or men. Whoever can run is welcome, and we still need three.

Cape Cod Marathon Relay Team

I've signed up for a Cape Cod Marathon relay team. We're in and I've included a bunch of you on the team. VTR is running the whole thing. The folks from this site who are listed on the team are:

Runner's Hye
Bennu
Phat
Agricola

I included someone else just to fill in the fifth spot but he won't run because he doesn't run but I had his work address and so signed him up. I used everybody's work addresses. There's an open spot for anybody else who wants to join. The date of the run is Sunday, 10/28. We will run 5 legs varying in length between 3 and 6 miles (approximately). Details are here.