Run 57

Took a typical turn around the resevoir tonight. I was a complete stress-ball after work, and needed the run. Nothing remarkable about it, except the cold. That, too, faded in importance, around mile 2.

Peace, fellas.

Run 55

Checked the box tonight. Run 55 was my usual 5k loop around the resevoir, which I haven't run in a few weeks. Ran it in 30.30, not great for me, not bad for me, either. If I stick to my plan the race of 12/13 will be run 60, a round number. I like that.

Run 47

I ran my Res 5k in 30 mins, 34 seconds. Still adjusting to the fall of the year, I got out at 6:00pm, but it felt mush later. At that hour, it was good to see other runners along my route. I "reeled in" a few, as you guys often say here. I must have been working harder than ususal...average HR was 165, which I think is on the high side for me, and I hit 172 a few times on the flats. Thanks to Bennu for steering me back towards these metrics.

Run 43, Payday

I ran a PR on my 5k Resevoir loop, 29.23. It is my first sub-30 minute 5k distance, I am fairly sure, and I am pleased. It felt good the whole way, almost. It was cold and windy, but I was sporting new running shorts and windbreaker, purchased for the blustery downs of the Cape. Must have felt handsome.

The well assembled woman from run 42 made a point...I can turn it up and dial it back during the run, so long as I am in charge. That may be overly apparent to more experienced legs, but to now I've only set my route and then run to get through it, slow and steady. I've hit a milestone here and am thinking through the CCM to the next event.

I feel ready and excited to see everyone on Saturday night. I aim to get in a run Friday evening, nothing too strenuous. Then I'll be making meatballs for the pasta feed.

Later, boys.

Run 25

I got out last Thursday (run 24) and again tonight for run 25. I ran 5k in 30 minutes and 26 seconds. I ran the first 1.5 miles feeling strong, dragged a bit for the middle mile, and pushed on the last half mile. Two laps around the resevoir is 5k, almost on the nut. I did the first lap in 14.26, the last lap in an even 16 minutes. I feel pretty good about the time.

The Komen 5k is Sunday. Please render your opinion on the plan: Wednesday I aim to run 4+ miles. I'm not going to focus on time, but want to know how it feels to run past the race distance. If I can leave the office early enough, I'll run the course on Friday. If I can't, I'll get in 5k closer to home. No running on Saturday. The race is 9:ooam Sunday. Planning to spend some time next week on the bike for a change of pace, then focus on the CCM.

Since the CCM requires that I get up to 10k in about five weeks, I'll look to the blog for advice, and inspiration.

Run 19 and Rest

Run 19 was last Friday afternoon, and it was what now is a fairly typical 3 miler for me, from the aprtment, around the central park resevoir and back again, taking around 35 minutes. I dislike Friday afternoon runs. With an after-work run on Friday I can squeeze in my miles all during the work week and skip the weekends, which is convenient when the FreeArtists are upstate and the agenda is focused on other things. But by Fri afternoon I'm pooped out, and would rather lie on the couch and watch the news than run. The impulse to lie on the couch is what I'm fighting, of course, and so I run on Fridays.

I came down with a nasty head cold over the weekend and had to fly on Mon, Tues, and so haven't run since then. I feel good for the rest.

Mrs. FA and I are running the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5K in September. As I'm running the distance now in ~35 minutes, I'm aiming to run it sub-30.

Burton 5K

So, this week is our annual fundraising drive for Chill, Burton's non-profit program that puts kids who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity onto snowboards at resorts nationwide. We do all sorts of events, like a ping-pong tourney, the boot mile (a mile race in snowboard boots), bake sale, and the above mentioned 5K. Unfortunately for me, the 5K was on Tuesday, two days after the Cape Cod Marathon.

A buddy of mine runs the event, so I participated again this year despite some "tightness" (aka pain) in my calf region. The plan was to run a leisurely pace to work out the leftover kinks from the marathon. Unfortunately, the guy who beat me by a nose last year went out at a killer pace just behind the lead pack, and I had to follow. I actually felt pretty good, and my mantra, "I can do anything" (...after running 26.2), served me well.

I didn't reel the guy in, but I posted a solid time of 21:10 that was good for fourth place overall. It was a fun event that was for a good cause. It was also a nice change of pace from the distance running of the past few months. Plus, my legs felt much better the next day. Bonus.

Later boys.

Trail Racing...Family-Style

Every Tuesday night during the summer months, the Catamount Outdoor Family Center (http://www.catamountoutdoor.com/) hosts a 5K trail running series, which is a riot. Competitors range from local high school cross-country teams (these guys fly!) to a husband and wife in their mid-80's to recreational runners like us. They have two courses which run on single track trails through old farming meadows and woods. Both courses are beautiful, although one is a killer with lots of hills and switchbacks.

The races are truly a family affair. The owner of the Center and his grown son manage the race and are out there every week. Spouses often alternate running and watching the kids on a weekly basis, and there are two shorter races for "cubs" (age 0 - 6) and "cadets" (age 7 - 12).

The entire VT Runner family typically runs a bunch of these races each year, but this was our first one of 2007. VT Runner the elder (4.5 yo) has "raced" for the last 3 years, but has always alternated between running, walking, being carried, picking flowers, rolling in the long grass, and/or bursting into tears at the starting line. We really never know what to expect. Last night, he surprised us all by charging the race (probably about 100 yards long) and having a ball. He had so much fun, that he ran the route no less than 5 times and was a ball of sweat by the time my run was done. He did not want to stop running, and even raced to the car. VT Runner the younger (2 yo) also "ran" the entire route a couple of times and was very proud of herself. I was proud of them both.

My race (Mrs. VT Runner had kid duty last night) was also fun. I ran a 22:26 for the 5K route, alternately shadowing and leading a couple of guys at a steady but hard pace. At about the mid-point, I needed to focus to keep pushing, so I started repeating a mantra to myself, "No fatigue in the legs, no fatigue in the lungs," but quickly changed it to "Strong legs, strong lungs" because I didn't like saying the word fatigue. Can you tell how strongly I believe in the power of positive thinking/imagery in running?

I really needed the help for the last 1K because I ran my 3rd kilometer as if it was my last. I still don't know how I turned a "3" into a "4" on the 3K mile marker sign, but the mistake was painful. In the end, I guess it turned out OK because I posted my fastest time ever for this 5K. I think I was inspired by the kids' performances. How cool is it to be at the stage where we can truly share our passions and activities with the whole family? I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here.