15k

The 15k was today, the run I registered for when I didn't make the NYC 1/2 lottery. I intended to train for it alongside Mrs. FA, while she trained for the half. I didn't come close to that, but still had a good run.

Even with a minute, 20 seconds lost to an urgent potty break at mile one, I surprised myself with a consistant 9.30 pace for the first three miles, and was surprised again to hit mile six under one hour, at 59.23. My off-again, on-again right knee pain started around mile 4 but was managable until just past mile 6, when it started to make the hills VERY tough, and I walked up a few.

Around mile 7.5 an older guy I had been chatting with around 6.5 pulled up next to me. He caught me walking and said, very warmly, "Come on buddy, pick it up."

I responded, "It's not the lungs, it's the legs."

He said, "Use your arms! Your arms will carry up up that mountain!"

And, son of a b*tch, pumping my arms I took the rest of the hill and the next two, the knee less of a factor, and I practically flew (for me) the last two miles to the finish. It was a big, strong finish for me, probably my strongest to date. I was aiming for sub-90. My watch said 1.34.10 at the finish. But with the potty break and etc., I am pretty happy with the time and very pleased with my 3 and 6 mile splits. Mrs. FA and the little FAs came out to cheer at miles 2.5 and 6, which was a great boost, too.

It was a good event, typically well organized and not too many runners, so the start wasn't overly crowded. Temps were lower than I expected. I went out in shorts, a polypro long sleeve, the race T-shirt, polypro gloves and a baseball cap, and was so cold at the start that I thought it was going to be a big problem. After the first mile I was dressed perfectly.

Peace, fellas.

Too Early?

I was up and on the road at 5:45a yesterday, and had a terrible run. It felt as if I was running in a swimming pool, sluggish and slow. May have been too early, not enough sleep, something I ate, whatever, I'm was happy to check it off and move along.

Big movie date with the oldest little FA tonight. She's got mythology on the brain, so I grabbed Clash of the Titans (the original, from 1981) from Netflix. Aiming to squeeze in a few miles this afternoon between work and hitting the couch with a bowl of popcorn. Will post again after Sunday's race.

Peace, fellas.

Saturday Six

I ran the full Central Park loop yesterday, which is ~6 miles. I took a recovery walk about midway, for three or four minutes, and all in the loop took me 1 hour, 4 minutes. I'm a little sore today, but not much. Back in December I signed up for a 9 mile race which is next Sunday and was going to bail, as I can't say I've been 'training' for it at all, that is, running steadily for any length of time. Still, with yesterday's decent sixer I'm inclined to run the race and as Ag says, just run my race. I'll plod along at my 10 min/mile pace and aim for sub 90 mins, and if I don't make it, so be it. It'll be a long weekend run, just with lots of other people.

Run in Shorts

I got out tonight for 42 minutes in the Park, some on the ring road, some on the reservoir path. The first 15 minuutes felt good, then not some much. I had some tightness and mild pain in my right knee, so did some waling and stretching mid-run. Very much a Spring run tonight. It's warm. I ran in shorts, a technical long-sleeve underlayer, a cotton T, and was very comfortable. Aiming to get out again on Thursday.

Mrs. FA has been running like a possessed woman. Her schedule is steady and she is getting in some solid longer runs, 8 miles, 10 miles, two 12-milers so far. She's going to rip the NYC 1/2 up.

Peace, fellas.

Run with Spouse

January was a tough month. Work and the weather were obstacles for me. I even dragged my gear around Germany for week, hoping to run in Hamburg and Berlin, but the same forces of work and weather kept me mostly at my desk. (Weather was the bigger problem in Germany, actually. There's been a lot of snow and ice there...apparently this is unusual, and the Germans don't clear sidewalks. Both cities were COVERED in ice. In fact, I slipped and smacked my head pretty good on my way to a dinner. Bad business.) So altogether I had only four runs in January, a far cry fro the 40 miles I'd announced as my goal for the month, on this blog.

So that's my update, as I've been an infrequent visitor. With a 15k galloping toward me (March 28) I am feeling some positive pressure to get back on the stick. (Funny how the Olympics are inspring. I love the Olympics, but watched my first few hours of coverage last night...snowboard cross and some luge, men's skating.)

So Mrs. FA and I got out together this morning for about 3.5 miles in the Park. It's a beautiful morning in NYC. The sky is a slate blue, and the Park is covered in crusty snow from last night's storm. The footing was tough but kind of fun, shifting from some slick blacktop to the snow-covered Res loop to crushed ice and salt.

More later, fellas. Peace.

Quickie

Got out for a quickie three miler tonight. Work has been brutal. I've run very little. Just signed up for a NYRR 15k on March 28, hopefully will bring a little focus and motivation.

Peace, fellas.