Falmouth Road Race Recap

I ran Falmouth on Sunday, August 15, 2010. Given my utter lack of preparation for this race I was happy with my performance, just squeaking in under the 60 minute mark at 59:22. This time, while not my fastest, was also not my worst and was only about 11 seconds slower/mile than last year. If there were races for beer drinking etc. I'd be starting with the elites, but there aren't so I was one of the pack on Sunday.

This race was special for a couple of reasons. I ran in support of the Falmouth Military Support Group -- a local charity that offers support to Falmouth-area troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families. I got a shirt from them and wore it during the race. It's the first time I've ever run in a tank-top and it was really cool to have a team logo on my chest. I think that I represented it well and it definitely helped me power through -- I wanted to make a good showing to all of the spectators and the folks who supported me and the group with their donations. You all ran with me.

I'm also happy with this race because it was a race in which I really felt like a runner -- I relied on my experience as a runner, my knowledge of my body and the course to just find a comfortable pace and run a decent race. I dropped all pretense of ego and just ran. I stayed relaxed, I smiled, I high-fived the little kids along the course and generally enjoyed the experience and the comfortable weather -- usually Falmouth RR is a brutally hot and sunny affair and this year was a bit overcast and very comfortable.

Based on last year's time is was in the flight right behind the elites which was a bit intimidating but also motivating. I think that I acquitted myself reasonably well. Race bibs are color coded and mine was purple this year. I arrived at the start thinking that I'd been bumped way back (purple was the masses, 12 minute/mile crowd last year) because I was wearing a charity number. Nope.

I didn't eat much before this race, but did drink on the course which helped. I relaxed through the rolling first half, and felt good coming onto the beach. Again, the sun was behind clouds so it wasn't brutal as it usually is there, and I said so to a couple of women. The breeze was a bit stiff, and slightly ahead of us coming from the right -- it did wear on me a bit toward the end of the beach.

Coming off the beach you make a big left hand turn. A bunch of 20-something guys were there, drinking and goofing off. One of them, as a joke, held out his Corona. I grabbed it as I went by and, looking over my shoulder, toasted them and took a swig. They were howling with laughter. I spit out the warm beer and tossed the bottle. Unfortunately it bounced back onto the road and some guy was like "woah!" but it didn't break.

Between 5 and 6 I saw Charlie Gibbs (I think) in a Chicago Cubs hat and a guy around 6 with a HC football t-shirt on. I gave him a big high-five. My legs blew up just bast 10K. I walked for about 15 paces and then hammered it up the final big hill and finished with a nice kick. Good race, good day in support of a good cause. It's inspired me to get back on the road and train better, but I'm not going to race again (after this weekend's tri -- which is all about fun and for which I feel good given my attituede and result this past weekend) until The Hingham Turkey Trot.

Vermont City Marathon Race Report

Sunday, 30 May 2010 was race day. I came in feeling moderately optimistic, but there was an undercurrent of dread in this one -- I suppose there always is, are you ever really ready, have you done all that you can...

I'd had a dream earlier in the week of running a 3:52. It didn't pan out that way.

Overall Finish: 1585
Age Grp Finish: 170/244
Age Grp: M3539
10: 1:29:43
13.1: 1:57:46
20: 3:06:25
Net: 4:23:57
Avg/Mi: 10:05
Gun: 4:25:37

If I'm honest, I'd say I wasn't ready, I missed a few too many runs of both the long and the short variety, but I was determined to come in and gut this out. The time is my best marathon yet (a whopping 13 seconds faster than 2008). I ran it slightly smarter -- I walked part of the long hill and a shorter hill around 17 -- I was really trying to save my legs. and it did work, somewhat.

I've been hitting trouble on long runs around 15-18, I hit it earlier Sunday -- around 12 I felt something not right and that's when I determined to not run the whole Battery Hill at 15. VTR and I ran with the 4 hour pace guy, and chatted with him and had a fine time -- I even got to be the pace setter for a bit while the official guy stopped to urinate.

A couple of forgotten ups and downs in 10-12 caught me off guard and sapped me a bit, and I really dropped off the pace on Battery Hill. The long boring stretch out to the neighborhoods of North Burlington did their damage too. Through 16-17 I was telling myself that I'd weathered the storm earlier, but I was feeling average at best. I lost it soon thereafter and went into survival mode. I bumped back into VTR who as he said, was in his own personal hell (but I'll let him report it). We slogged on together for the next 5 miles or so. I had a couple of crazy incidents at 21-22.

The first came down when we were finally coming off the surface streets and heading to the bike path that would take us back to the finish line. At that turn there is a waste water treatment plant. I'm not really one to gag etc, but something about that plant at that point in the race made my eyes water and made me retch and gag -- If I'd had stomach contents I'd have hurled. After recovering, I trudged on. About 5 minutes later a woman in front of me crashed when the woman in front of her stopped short to pick up a dropped-GU. I somehow managed to leap over both of them and not fall and not step on them. I got this weird muscle pull in my arm and my right calf balled up under my knee. I carried on.

I think I got an adrenaline burst from that and felt really good from 22-24 saying this will be my best marathon yet, then I crashed again at 24. Walked to 25 (walked the full mile), started to run at 25, my legs nearly gave way, I resumed walking, almost started crying (??) but powered on. About 25.25 I started running again and finished on a run with a great kick. I cursed out the apathethic finish line crowds asking them if they were at a "f*&%ing wake" and passed a couple of folks at the end (though the folks at the top of the chute ROCKED!).

VTR was inspiring and gritty. This was one tough race. It got progressively more humid and warmer as the day went one and it really knocked me around. I could have used one more GU near the end (and about an additional 100 training miles). I hydrated well, I think, though some guy asked if I wanted salt tab... I think this is my last marathon for a while -- my life is not set up for marathoning these days. My kids want me to keep going, and that might be what brings me back, even more than the fact than the fact that I think I know more about the distance than I did before and feel the need to tackle it again... but I need some time to recover and parse my lessons from this one. More miles, more calories on runs, smarter pacing.

Speaking of my kids, they and Mrs. A were out cheering the whole way, and it was great to see VTR's kids (& father-in-law) way out where we needed help most. All of our kids ran races the day before and we had a blast. C2 held my hand for the last half of his 1/2 mile race and that was an awesome moment. C1 smoked it and did really well and I'm psyched for her, the girl who told me "I run, you jog..." So awesome, and as VTR said to me at mile 9 when Mrs. A told us that C2 said "finish strong, dad" -- something I'd been telling him the day before when he did kick at the finish and pass some kids -- "that's what it's all about."

Race Report: Cherry Blossom Ten Miler

Yesterday was the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler.
It was a hoot, and a beautiful day to run. The ten miles started, essentially, at the base of the Washington Monument. It headed out towards the Lincoln Memorial, over Memorial Bridge towards Arlington Cemetery, back across the bridge, left at the Lincoln to the Kennedy Center where it turned around and headed back down the Potomac. We crossed over the Tidal Basin with the Jefferson off to our right, and then bent around and headed out to Hains Point and around the point and back up over a small bridge and back to the Washington Monument.

The course was largely flat, with one small hill right near the end. The sites were beautiful, and the race was really well run. I passed one mile at 11:19 elapsed time. I then covered the next 4 miles in 31 passing 5 miles at 42 on the button. I passed 6 at 50 minutes and I remember passing 8 at 1:06:06. I crossed the line at 1:22+ and my final time was 1:19:02 for ten miles. I was stoked with that time and stoked with the effort. I ran a good race, and a smart race and I'm happy with that. I feel like I flagged a bit at 6-8, there was a stiff headwind along the Potomac, but I'm not sure. I crossed 9 around 1:14+ and kicked into overdrive in 9-10. I went sub-8 for that mile which makes me happy.

Mrs. A did great at her first ten miles ever (never mind a race) and did 1:55:59 after battling a nasty cough that debilitated her for the past two weeks. All the HC people did well and it was awesome to see the transformations that occurred in that group.

The performance of the day belonged to David C. He scorched a 1:15 net time and actually crossed the finish line two minutes ahead of me despite starting about 2 minutes after I did! He was a man on a mission, and it was impressive.

It was a great day, the weather was gorgeous, and something I'll never forget is the site of Arlington National Cemetery upon the hill in front of me as I crossed memorial bridge. Awesome.

Overall Age Group 5 miles Elapsed Time Net Time Pace
1822 250/1052 39:54 1:22:06 1:19:02 7:55

I got in a couple of desultory runs last week prior to the race but it wasn't anything to write home about.

Race Report: Eastern States 20

I went out up to Kittery to run the Eastern States 20 this weekend. I went and stayed with David & Cheryl C. and their kids at their place, had dinner with them but had to run back to Winchester because N brought the kids there after her dad broke his hip Saturday afternoon. So, she headed to Cape Cod to see him Sunday prior to surgery, our kids hung out with my folks, and I headed back to Maine to run. Nothing like a bit of extra excitement before a big run. Luckily, N's dad is doing well, but it was a tense afternoon and Sunday morning.

The run was great in that painful way that long runs are. Temps were mid forties, but there was a relentless, biblically spiteful headwind for probably 12 of the 20 miles.
We ran hard along the Atlantic for much of the race and I was glad to have a companion in David. When the wind got really stiff I lowered my head a bit and repeated to myself "You are small and slight and the wind doesn't know you're here." We set out at a comfortable 9 minute/mile pace and I have to say, that through much of the run I was thinking that I could run forever at 9 minutes/mile.

Then, for some reason, between 10 & 13 I picked up my pace and went harder. I might have unconsciously been trying to expiate last week's bonk, I don't know, but I ratcheted it back a bit and ran with David. Around 14 it started to hurt a bit (paying for my quickened pace) and by about 15.5 I knew it was time to dig down deep. I kept repeating the following things: "Be open to the experience, take what the road gives you, listen to your body." I also kept repeating: "Smooth. Easy. Rhythm." I was misquoting a line from "Born to Run" which goes "Smooth, easy, light, fast." It worked pretty well until I came to the last water stop and as I'd done on others got my Gatorade and walked while I drank. I lost my rhythm and got in a bit of trouble.

My stride was breaking down, my legs weren't moving so well, and the headwind along the beach in Hampton Beach was vicious. The sea was lovely, and the fresh salt air was amazing, and I tried to focus on that and dissociate from the pain in my gams. I was working hard those last 2 miles, but David was hugely helpful to me -- and he helped me tough it out. I misjudged the finish line. I saw knot of people and didn't see runners proceeding up the sidewalk, in the distance so I thought that was the end, and started my final grind about a mile too early. When I had to make an unexpected right-hand turn and didn't see finish line, I stumbled a bit around 19+. However, when I saw the actual finish I picked it up and hit it. A kid in his 20s came in right behind me and he said "I was trying to catch you but you were too fast in that last stretch." I smiled and said "thanks, I didn't feel fast." There was a little post race thing and I got a cup of greasy beef barley, and it was delicious.

It was great to run with David, it was fun to have someone to talk to, especially near the end. When I was in a world of hurt at 18 he quoted Dean Karnaze to me and that helped a lot. So did his carbonara from the night before. What was also hugely helpful was that Cheryl and the kids were all over the race course cheering for us and it was awesome and fun to see them and gave a reason to put on a good show -- though I have to say, I wasn't acting. I was running with smile the whole way, pretty much, and it was genuine.

The race was well run, water stops were well spaced, and we went off on time. The scenery was great and the course was mainly flat -- a few rollers early, a small up around 12 and then a few rollers in 14-16 but nothing major. The Hoyts were there, again (love running with them and really admire them -- it was hellacious running into the headwind, just me, I can't imagine pushing the cart that Rick rides in). I had one more Gu left on me and should have eaten it, I think it would have helped, but I was well hydrated, and today feel less sore than I did last week (though I am sore, this is my longest run this year and I went from 13.1 to 20...). It was a fun run. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and learned that if you run with a smile, it's true.

Race Report: Super Sunday 10K

I headed out on a beautiful bluebird of a day to run the Marathon Sports Super Sunday 5k/10K race. Held along the Boston waterfront this race is only it's third year and it is well attended, and, like Marathon Sports other races very well run. This years course was very similar to last years except that we started at 390 Congress St which was much more roomy and comfortable for the large field. Last year we started from in front of the Harpoon Brewery and it was a little crowded -- so that was a good move. This year's race also went off on time which was appreciated because it was only about 20F with a stiff breeze.

The course wound its way through the rapidly changing Boston waterfront, down Congress St and back, around the new courthouse, by ICA etc. The course was pancake flat as is to be expected on harbor roads and quite fast. The filed was quick -- lots of Boston trainers I think -- and trending young. One of my favorite sites on the course is the tiny Our Lady of Safe Passage Chapel -- located between two huge parking lots and across from some very new, sleek glass office buildings (the thought of the value of that property is astounding -- it's diagonally across the street from 56).


View Larger Map

I ran a nice first half, 23:43 or something and felt pretty good coming into the second half (the race was a couple of loops of the same course). Out to mile four was a nice tail wind, but mile 4-5 was right back into a stilff headwind, and I sort of flagged on this leg and recorded what was probably my slowest mile ~7:55 (39:35). The buildings broke the wind around this point and I dug down and worked a bit harder. I crossed 6 miles at just about 46 even and finished around 46:43, I think, it was definitely below 47 which was cool but the official results will be posted and I'll know for sure tonight. I had a nice kick through the last .2 and was working hard down the home stretch and trying to catch a guy who was in front of me. He picked it up too and held me off by a step. After we crossed the finish line he turned to me with a huge grin and said "thanks for pushing me!" and shook my hand -- that was cool. I had a huge rush at the end of this and totally felt that ever elusive runner's high, It was fun. I remembered why I love to run. Bennu did a nice 5 K as well,it was good to see him.

All Is Quiet

"All is Quiet on New Year's Day..." except for the 170 or so crazies running in my town's New Year's Day 5K. I was not anticipating any land speed records, and don't know how I did though I think I was in the top third or so of finishers, which is respectable. I was strong throughout the run and maintained a good pace. I was familiar with the course since I've run most of it a hundred times -- with the exception of one funny little part of the course which I've never done though I've run by those streets a hundred times. The course was sort of slick with snow and ice, but nothing unmanageable.

I Saw a woman I knew from my last corporate employer and I caught her around 1.5 and ran a bit with her. She told her husband she was tired and I dropped the hammer, as much as I could, and broke away from them. I finished with a good kick and beat her by about 45 seconds.... no reason for the animus except that she's worked 10-plus years for the worst company I ever worked for, goes on the road for long stretches and has no children, so, somewhere, deep down inside, we have fundamentally different value systems. She beat me a couple of years ago during the town's 4th of July race, so now it's onto this year's 7/4 RR and the rubber match. Nothing really to report, beyond this except that I'm happy with this run and it's a good confidence builder.

Happy New Year. Here's a to a year of running and fun.

Hingham Turkey Trot 2009

BR and I ran in Hngham yesterday. It was moderately warm, but damp and gray. We started in abot the middle of the pack and headed out together on the run. The first mile was a slow 8:58 -- tack on the lag at the start. I ran the middle mile in 7:33 crossing mile 2 at 16:30. I finished the last 1.1 miles in a declining time of about 8:28 it seems. Now the official time on the site says 25:19.22 but I looked up as I crossed the line and the clock said something like 24:53 - 58, not entirely sure.

BR's watch said something like 24:30 elapsed time. There were no chips and no mats for this race so it's all gun time or self timed. They even use the old capture the tag from the bottom of your number and sort it that way. I'm not sure of the accuracy of that method, though it can be accurate, my run felt faster than 25:19.22 though that may just mean that I'm in worse shape than I thought. I think it was somewhere low 24s high 23s, to be honest. Anyway, whatever. It was fun. BR is doing great and much improved this year since we raced together in February. Way to go. Sorry you guys missed the race, VTR. Next year.

Hope you guys all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is a good driver to get better and more consistent. See you around.

Hale Reservation Triathlon

I did my second triathlon yesterday, Sunday 13 September, 2009. It was a blast. The swim felt longer, my run was significantly slower than last year (something in the neighborhood of 42 seconds/mile!) but I still managed to finish in the top third, even if I did drop off of the first page of results -- though this year I am tops on the second page of results at 51 out of 157. Here's the breakdown of the race.

SWIM
I got stuck behind a couple of wide-body clydesdales right off the start. I couldn't go around them because there were a couple of other dudes to my left and right. I ended up stopping an treading every few strokes just looking for space. I eventually did get around them but the damage was done. The adrenaline was my enemy, I got mildly nervous and panicky and ended up breast stroking pretty much the whole thing. thought I did pass guys even swimming breast stroke I lost at least a minute or more in the opening 150 yards trying to get around those guys (9:59 -- ugh! yet everyone felt like it was longer this year). I did OK on the transitions, sub-2 minutes, but need to work on those (1:54)

BIKE
Bike is what I think is my weakest -- especially mountain biking with clip-in pedals. When I was younger I used to just go out and ride and didn't worry too much about anything. Now I'm a bit more cautious though adrenaline on my bike was my friend. The ride was fairly punishing, and fairly tricky but very fun. There was a monster climb in the first mile or so that I rode the first time I rode it, but walked it during the training and the race. People were dropping off left and right and it made it hard to navigate (those clip-in pedals make me uncomfortable at low speeds). So I hopped off half way up and ran it up the hill hopped back on, rode one more crest then hammered it down the backside back into the woods (it was asphalt actually in this part). The eventual women's winner powered by -- 50, fit, and driven -- up the steep. I was jealous. The rest of the ride was largely uneventful -- I got stuck in a line of guys, one in particular and along the single track portions I just followed. I rode things yesterday that I'd walked or fallen off in training and stayed on the bike generally better. There were other climbs where guys were coming off the bike so I came off the bike too -- it's a chain reaction on rocky treacherous pieces. I ran the bike up each of those sections though and got back on as quick as I could. There was one sick rock garden that I had walked both training runs, but sort of half rode half walked yesterday -- I made up some time there. Generally I attacked and had fun and see the bike as a place where I can get significantly better. Running CV totally helps biking and I find it easier to recover on the bike. I ride a 20 year old hard tail, hard fork Trek and I did OK: 5.3 miles 34:50, 9.5 MPH. I did a 1:24 transition out of bike shoes into running shoes. Actually moderately happy with that. Oh, and it was muddy and mucky in many parts of the track and that made it super fun.

RUN
The run was solid for me. I pushed it hard on the bike and took a bit longer to come back on the run. The eventually second lace woman passed me in the transition. I stuck with her for the first little bit,up a nasty climb and then she started to pull away. I kept in her sight the entire run but could not catch her. I walked one little stretch, about 5 paces to collect myself, then started to reel back her in, though I never lost sight of her. I started sort of slow and that transition, from bike to run, not just the legs, but the breathing even is very tricky. I think though that I was negative splitting, because I was reeling her in and closing the gap over the last half of the course. I was also passing some other guys as well so that was good. About 150 yards from the finish, on basically one of the smoothest, easiest stretches of the run I stepped on something, I don't even know what, and tweaked my left ankle. It hurt but I powered on, and finished with a nice kick. It was ironic because I was running over rocks and rots and up and down rock and rot strewn climbs and hopping off of some rocks and I tweak myself on the most mellow part of the course. the ankle is a bit tender today, but nothing catastrophic. So, the race details said 2.3 for the run but people in the field said that it was 2.5, I don't know who to believe on this but if it was 2.3 then the race clocking at 20:39 and 8:59/mile is my time. If it was 2.5 then I ran a bit better than that at about 8:15-16/mile. Not sure which, I have no real way to judge it. Eight fifteens though are better than 8:59s.... I don't totally remember last year's course but there was a section I walked briefly last year that we didn't run this year, and in that section it cut a chunk of the race off that we had to cover this year (with one more nasty climb), so I do actually think that we ran further which would make sense to me.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I'm not as fit this year as last but I got better on the bike and about the same on the run if it indeed was 2.5 miles. I was happy with the negative splits on the run though (or what seemed like negative splits). Swim was tricky. I didn't freestlye-swim as much this year, and I'm not sure why. I need to work more on my swim (though I feel like I did this year and it didn't help me). Anyway, it was a blast, and totally amped me up for the whole day. Fun, fun, fun!

Two Races

I ran the NYRR Healthy Kidney 10k on Saturday. It was great. I went alone, and ran alone, ignored the crowds and the fanfare, talked to myself the whole way, controlled my pace through the hills, and ran a surprisingly consistent race. I hit the mile markers at precise 10 minute intervals. When I reached the five mile mark in exactly 50 minutes I thought, I've done it, the race is over. So I put the pedal down and ran my fastest split in the last mile. I did not run that much the four weeks leading to this race and didn't think I was in great shape for it, and I am now utterly convinced that the right mental approach to a race has a material impact on performance. My time was 1.01.29; the first half time was 31.14.

Last night was the American Heart Assoc Wall Street 5k run, and I ran with a colleague. Due to construction on a portion of the course the distance was actually 3 miles, even. The race started at the World Trade Center site and did a clockwise loop around lower Manhattan, finishing at the World Financial Center. The last mile was beautiful, 65 degrees, along the Hudson, The Statue of Liberty on my right. I ran it in 28.33. I felt that I could have run it faster, and blame the narrow streets downtown and SUPER crowded field. The first mile was wicked slow.

My colleague is a former big-time collegiate track and field athlete. She ran the three mile course in 21.08, and was disapointed.

So, lots of running this last few days. Planning to head out tomorrow and maybe this weekend, but hoping to get some cycling in soon, as a change of pace.

Peace, fellas.

Call Me Ishmael

Once upon a time in America New Bedford was one of the wealthiest cities in the country owing its riches to the whale ships that set out and then the fishing industry. Whaling is no more in this country and the fishing industry in the North East is more than moribund (New Bedford once had that largest commercial fishing fleet in the US, into the 70s). This leaves New Bedford, or Noo Beffid, or Noo Bedfid depending on local accent in a rather precarious state. It's gritty and run down nowadays and was even in the days of Melville -- the opening chapter of Moby Dick contains a pretty memorable description of the NB waterfront that still fits today, though the major import into NB these days is heroin etc.

Anyway, in an effort to boost civic pride and bring visitors to NB they hold a big half marathon each year that draws a good field, one month prior to Boston. There were lots of fit runners and the field was quick. It was a fun race and I really enjoyed the distance (my first half) and seeing VTR and Mrs. VTR was great. It was nice to know there was a friend in the field. I felt good coming into this. VTR noticed I was in thee zone based on my expression, though I didn't even realize I had the game face on -- a good sign.

Prior to the start I was calm and collected and I felt a good energy inside of me. I really intended this to be a training run, knock off a bunch of 9s and see what I had in the last couple. Well, I covered the 10K in about 50, not blazing but not bad. Seven rolled around in 58 and change and 8 came up in 66-7. I crossed 10 in 83, the fastest 10 of my life and I knew the New Bedford Half was going to be a special run. I burned the final 5K in 24 minutes and change -- a nice 5K for me on any day. My time as I crossed the finish line was 1:47 and change. My goal had been 1:57, so I was pumped.

The bummer was there were no start line time mats so my time was gun time. I've not been timing my runs since December so I my splits are what I remember as I ran by the mile markers. I ran with Dick and Rick Hoyt from about miles 3-5. Dick and Rick are legends and as I passed them up the first big hill at mile 3 I told him "it's an honor to be on the course with you, sir." He smoked me on 4-5 and I passed him again around 6 -- Dick was laboring a bit. Miles 7-9 were sort of brutal behind the breakwater, but also exposed to a stiff onshore breeze from 8-9. I was trying to follow VTR's advice and run with a pack but I couldn't stay with a group. Cool thing from this part: giant storm surge doors behind the breakwater. Mile 12 was almost all uphill and it was a grind. I'd been running with this woman in her mid-late-twenties for most of the race. She made a move at the halfway, I caught her again passed her at 10 and then she smoked me up the 12 mile hill. I congratulated her on her kick and she seemed pleased.

I had a great time. I was strong and in the zone and I enjoyed that (the wheels never fell off the wagon, though I was wondering if they would). They need mats at the start. New Bedford is far from scenic, but I'll go back next year and do it again. I've also completed my race for March and I'm now a quarter of the way though my race/month goal in 2009.

Super Bowl Sunday 10K Race

Bennu and I ran together yesterday in a race along Boston's waterfront. I did the 10K and it was pretty fun. The course was flat and moderately fast though speed is a relative term right now for me. I'm not feeling too fast these days and between snow, ice and illness it's not that surprising. I'm trying to take a Zen approach and just run. Time, speed, fitness levels etc., will all come with repetition.

That said, I did look up the results for yesterday's run and here they are:

Overall: 172/723 Div: 46/125
Age: M30-39
Split: 25:05 Split Pace: 8:05
Finish: 00:48:48 Finish Split 7:52

That's pretty good for this time of year and given that I was sick for the better part of last week. I negative split the second half by a bunch and that's cool. I kicked nicely for the final .2 K and as I was approaching the finish line I heard a dude pounding the pavement behind me. Never wanting to be passed in the last mile, never mind in the final few steps I picked up my tempo and beat him by a step or so. I turned and looked at him and he was mad that I'd picked it up so much. I smiled and kept going. I know, not very Zen, but I haven't totally killed my competitive streak.

First Run, 2009

With 60 other crazies I got out for a 5K road race in my town. It was about 9 degrees Fahrenheit with stiff breeze which made it feel even colder. I was joking with some of the other runners that I just paid $20 to run a course that I run all of the time for free, and not very often at 9 F!

I had fun and finished well. I have no idea how fast I went out and in what time I finished, but based on the fact that it was an out an back with a loop in the middle between mile 1 and 2 and I got to see the lead pack a couple of times I estimate that I was in the top quarter to third of runners. A cold weather survival tip: I put body glide on my face today and it seemed to work to keep me from getting totally chapped (Vaseline works well in this type of weather as well) though it didn't keep my face from going quite numb!

Some running resolutions for 2009:

1. At least one race/month (one down!)


2. Break 4 hours at Vermont City


3. Break one hour at Hale


4. Do another tri this year (maybe the Granite Man*)


5. Put together a team for "100 on 100" (anybody?)**


6. Run Falmouth closer to, or better than my 2007 time


7. Put together a couple of Cape Cod Marathon Relay teams

Happy new year!
*I looked up the Granite Man distances: .75 Mi. Swim / 15 Mi. Bike / 4.2 Mi. Run (also listed at 3.7 mi.). It also might be the same weekend as 100 on 100, hence maybe.

Turkey Trotting

I ran my first Turkey Trot yesterday. I ran it with VTR (well, we were on the same course at the same time, just separated by about two minutes) in his hometown. Up early I headed south and met up with VTR and his father and we headed to the race. I wasn't sure what I was shooting for, though in the back of my mind I was hoping to go sub-23.

I'd had a crazy day at work on Wednesday (stressed and awake at 2:30 AM I went to the basement at 3:15 and started working and didn't finish until 9:15 PM -- good times) and was tired on Thanksgiving Day. VTR and I were near the front of the starting pack and that was sort of crazy. All these folks started blazing out along he first quarter and then pulling up exhausted . . . 3.1 miles is further than you think. I'd never run the course before and wasn't sure where I was until I saw the timekeeper at mile one. I ran the first mile in 7:11 and knew why I didn't feel that great. I calmed down a bit and fell into a good rhythm through the the second mile and while I felt that I was slowing I had a pretty good finish. We finished on the HS track and it was cool how nice that rubber surface felt and how much it helped propulsion. I finished in 22:49, by my watch, which is a 7:21 pace, so pretty consistent really. It was a hoot.

I got in 31:55 this evening and felt really good. I'd painted for about 3 hours today and wasn't totally feeling it, but once I got out there I enjoyed myself and it was a nice evening. Has anybody noticed Jupiter and Venus in the sky? Look to the western sky around sunset and you'll see them, the two bright lights nearly on top of one another, about 30 degrees or so above the horizon. Venus is larger and brighter since it's closer, but Jupiter is pretty darn bright too.

Jimmy "The Squirrel" Kennedy Memorial Run for ALS

Saturday morning, 14 June, I headed to Quincy to do The Squirrel Run. It's a memorial run and fund raiser sponsored by the Angel Fund to support ALS research. It was a small, well organized race. The course was 5 miles long and fast. It wound through the Wollaston section of Quincy and had a long stretch along Wollaston Beach. The weather was hot and sunny. There was a small hill in the first mile and then the rest of the course was fairly flat. Mile 4-5 repeated a portion of the course between miles 1 and 2 and that small hill was climbed again. The run started and finished in a big park, with a small uphill to the finish line.

I had no idea how to pace this race, there were no starting area markers and I knew only one other person in the field and knew that I was going to be faster than he. I passed the first mile marker under 8, but I didn't mark a lap until the mile 2 marker. This is where I'm going to let my splits tell the story:

Miles 1-2: 15:19
Mile 3: 6:44 (22:03)
Mile 4: 8:15 (30:18)
Mile 5: 6:51 (37:09)

I came into the finish behind a relative of the guy for whom the race is run -- I ratcheted it back a bit so as not to pass him - he was a guy in his 50s, and a good runner and the crowd was going wild for him. A woman I'd passed in between 3 & 4 out kicked me at the end and beat me by a step . . . that was the only downer of the run for me but she had a nice kick and I congratulated her on her kick. It was a good time and it's got me thinking about how to run Falmouth (which I think I'm in) and what might be possible -- perhaps 52 . . .

I got a 4 mile run in on Cape Cod yesterday. I saw an elderly couple and the guy was funny, saying, "hey you're cheating, I can't do that!" I responded, "Full speed ahead." I couldn't think of anything else to say . . . it was lighthearted interaction on my trot.