NYC & Atlanta

Friday I did another 45 minutes in Atlanta. It was a good solo run.

Sunday I did about 14 in NYC. I ran from our hotel on 42 St., between 2 & 3 Avenues and did two loops around the park before running back to 42 St. and 5 Ave. I did each loop in a consistent 53 minutes/loop. The first 40 minutes was not so enjoyable but the hour from that point to about 1:40 was awesome while the last 30 was not great, and quite painful. In total I ran for 2:07. I stopped at 1:07 to answer a call of nature -- God Bless the NY Road Runners and their race day porta-potties. I stopped at 1:30, at the base of The Great Hill to stretch because everything was tightening. My first time over GH I stopped because I had forgotten how long that thing is and I was in my forty minutes of blah. All in all, though, the run felt good and I feel pretty good today, not too sore or stiff. There is nothing better for confidence than some long runs. I'm on the road again, still in the ATL, so I'll go out for about 45 minutes tomorrow (Tuesday), as well.

VTR, I'm sorry to hear you're injured and hope you can run the race, but I'm going to to do it no matter what -- I'm into it now! Maybe, even if you don't do the whole thing, and if you don't get into a relay we could a section together -- you could be my pace guy near the end, maybe in the final 10K or whatever. Let's coordinate.

Pop

So, I had a setback with the calf, which is why the posts have gone by the wayside. I'll keep you updated on any progress, or any other exercise I get in, like swimming.

Agricola, nice job man. If I could run, you'd be lighting a fire under my ass with this spurt of training. Awesome to see it.

The rest of you LDT bloggers pretty much suck. There I said it.
(Unfortunately, I'm right there with you now.)

Raising My Game

I got out again today, for 49 minutes over some hilly Georgia terrain. Today I went with both of the guys that I've run with previously. It was a good and social run and we ran pretty quickly. The hills hurt, but I feel good. Since Sunday I've run four times and I must be up around 26-27 miles this week. I'm going tomorrow too because I won't have time on Saturday. I'm also planning a long run in NYC Sunday -- maybe a couple of loops around the park -- perhaps I'll check NYRR and see if they've got a race for which I can sign up. Where is everybody -- I'm not getting many readers and I'm definitely getting fewer runners/bloggers. The weather is getting nice boys get out there -- we're running our of excuses.

A cool thing about the runs we've done is that Tuesday we headed East along a route. Yesterday I went in the opposite direction. Today we headed North-Northeast. We're "quadranting" our surroundings and getting a sense for the area. It's a fun bit of exploration despite the fact that the area is heavily urban/suburban and very manicured and planned. Atlanta has plenty of McMansions, but they are far more tasteful than those that go up in Boston. THe good architects developers must be down here, and not in the NE.

Another Trot

I got out for another trot this morning through a different part of northern Atlanta. I went with another guy from my training -- another ultra-runner. We went for 44 minutes and probably covered about 5. I'm having a good week of running, and enjoying it. I can't duff around too much this AM because I missed breakfast yesterday and that was tough -- I scrounged up some stuff, but I need to not eat 3 day old deli meat from the office fridge. Later VTR, since you're the only one reading this, maybe.

Atlanta Run

I'm at a training in Atlanta, as I think I mentioned in my Sunday 10 Post. I went out today and ran with a guy in the training who's a triathlete and ultramarathoner. It was a great 53 minute run along a main urban/suburban drag in extreme northern Atlanta, into Dekalb county. It wasn't particularly beautiful though we ran by some nice neighborhoods. It was a type of American sub/urban run that I think is probably pretty common in this country -- but not so common in the NE. Lots of stores and intersections, commuter traffic etc.. However, it was a nice rolling course, the weatherr was cool but nice -- total shorts and technical shirt, and there are some beautiful trees and flowers in bloom.

The guy I ran with is a really nice guy, a designer from SF and he was kind to me and ran with me for the first two thirds and then kicked it towards the end. I hung with him as long as I could and finished maybe 10 seconds after him. I really enjoyed running with somebody, it made the time slide by easily and it was fun to chew the fat. A good run, a nice confidence builder and I'm looking forward to going out tomorrow too. Given that I've done the 10 Sunday and this was probably 6+ I'm feeling better about this training.

I know that I've harped on how much of a routine person I am and if my routine gets messed up then I'm done but I want to amend that statement. Routine is important, but sometimes being out my comfort zone, and getting out of my routine -- like coming to Atlanta for five days this week and three next -- is great for my running. It's a way to take control of my surroundings, explore, and bring some routine to a very different experience.

Sunday 10

Well, I showed some gumption yesterday, got up at 6:20, got dressed and headed out the door for a 10 miler. I did the first half in 44:56. I was going well on the return until a small series of rollers made my legs blowup -- I walked a bit and then stretched. that fixed the problem and I finished the last couple of miles with no problem. The return leg was 45:41 so I just missed the quicker back on my out and back. I feel pretty good today, a bit sore but nothing major -- and I flew to the ATL last night for training for my new gig and didn't arrive at the room until 1:15 Monday AM.

Well, I'm going to run tomorrow morning and take advantage of some of the southland's warmer weather, except that this week in GA and last week in FL (for which I still owe a post, and will do while hanging around the hotel) is that it gets light much later in the mornings than it does in Boston. At home, the sky etc. is bright by 6:40 AM -- the sun isn't up, but daylight has broken. Down here it's still dark, sort of like 5:30 - 6:00 AM dark at 7 AM. It must be the latitude, it's very interesting.

Total Elipse of the Heart

So, I had my first PT appointment this morning for my calf, and I got some good news. It looks like I didn't tear the calf, despite the pop I heard a week and a half ago. The week of rest and stretching helped me out, and now I'm on a program. I did a few minutes on the eliptical trainer (first time on one of those), and I'll go for 30 minutes tomorrow and 45 on Thursday. I have another PT appointment on Friday at which point I hope to be cleared to run.

I have to skip my half marathon this weekend -- too worried about reinjuring the leg -- but I plan on ramping up the miles fairly quickly next week. I'd love to be able to get a long run in by next weekend, April 12. That would put me 6 weeks out from the marathon when there will be no time to dick around or get reinjured, so the motivation to run and stretch should be high. ("Should" being the operable word.)

Anyway, the coolest thing about PT was being six minutes into the eliptical jaunt and thinking, "I'm back." I really felt like I was getting part of my identity back, the running part.

Oh, and happy birthday to Agricola. Welcome to the age of injuries. Keep running and stay young.

Thursday Three Three

Took a quick run today, did my short route. It was fine. This week is all about rhythm for me -- just get back to going, and then work on the mileage. I'm looking forward to each run a bit more each time -- I'm coming around! However, I stepped on a rock about two miles out and jammed my ankle -- yes the one I hurt in November. What are the odds, of stepping on a rock in the street, twice on the same ankle that you hurt already? In my case, it's at least the second time I've jammed it . . . I walked it off a bit, and it was OK. We're off to Florida tomorrow evening so it will be nice to run in some warm weather.

Quick Post

I didn't get out Monday but did get out Tuesday for a brisk three. I wanted to do five today but didn't get it in. Things should open up for me so I'll do 5 tomorrow and 3 Friday. We're heading to Florida Friday night so I hope to get a few runs in in warm weather -- we'll see how my winter thickened blood does in 80 F temps. I'm actually bummed about missing today, but am glad -- I want to run again and that's a good thing. I'm looking forward to running and while I may not be ready for the VT 'thon, I should at least give it a good training whirl and finish at least half of it.

Pop

So, despite my better judgement, I went snowboarding on Saturday and was rewarded with an unwelcome "pop" in my calf area. No real pain, but something definitely wasn't right. I've done some reading and it seems the best course of action is about a week of rest, stretching, ibuprofen, and some strengthening exercises. That will be my program. Figures that I'm finally mentally ready to run and I can't. The thing with a calf stain is that it doesn't feel that bad. Apparently that's the curse. You feel ok, go for a run and set yourself back.

I'm out for a week. I hope to rebound over the weekend.

Headwind!

I just ran 3.3 into a stiff headwind -- I was shooting for 4 but bailed and did my short loop. The first half of the run felt like running uphill even though it's fairly flat once you finish the first 1/2 mile. It's pretty wild how a headwind will slow you down -- I'm not the most aerodynamic person in the world, to be sure, but I can't believe how a stiff headwind makes me feel like the side of a house. It was a pretty evening with golden light and blue sky but quite chilly -- I bookended the week with pretty runs. I almost stepped on a little dead nuthatch -- that would have been gross.

Lots of Thinking

So . . . I've been sitting around a lot and thinking. Not running much, not motivated to do so even though I've got 26.2 miles all at once, in my future. I get bursts of motivation but they fade. See, I'm in a weird spot: I'm between gigs; Mrs. A is busy as anything so I'm being Mr. Mom and there is no rhythm, for me anyway to the domestic day. I am definitely a creature of habit, and rhythm. I need badly to get back to work, to eat up some time and get me on a schedule again so that I use my time more wisely.

As far as motivation, I'm not sure what my issue is. I think it's tied into the out- of-work-thing. It's draining to be unemployed and even if I'm not spending all day job searching it's always in my head and it's exhausting. I've got a couple of really good leads and I'm hopeful that I can nail something down, soon. Also on the motivation front something hit me last evening after returning from a meeting: I'm tired of my current state of running mediocrity. As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I've been licking the lollipop of mediocrity a bit too much and I'm on the verge of sucking. I can't have that. I'm going out today when Mrs. A gets back from her meeting -- three or four, just to get out. It's cold and the wind is honking (to use an old sailing term), but I'll get something in.

I also just read a post on a blog that I discovered today (through another blog I follow) called the Art of Manliness. The article is the Warrior's Guide to True Manliness, and it's terrific -- read the article, but here are the paragraph heading from the four meat-of-the-article paragraphs:

• Master Your Body


• Use Death as your Guide


• Choose the Path with Heart


• Fight Every Battle as if it was Your Last

I'm looking for anything that I can right now, and this seems like a pretty good start. Thanks for hearing me out, I'm just trying to get my head on straight and get into this again.

Rain, rain

Rain, rain go away
I want to run outside today
With the snow and sleet and rain
Will I ever run outside again?

-- Getting out of shape in VT.

Late Afternoon

I did 3.3 at about 5 PM today. It was cold. It was windy. The sky was cloudless and beautiful blue. The shadows were long. The light was golden. It was a nice run. I'll try and go again tomorrow morning, and do three more. The legs felt OK, today. The lungs were not where I'd like them, but I'll get my wind back.

Moooo

My calf is calling.

Went for a 3 miler today at lunch. Lungs and legs felt great, except for my right calf, which is super tight now post-run. I originally strained this calf about a year and a half ago during the Burton 5K race. Ever since then, I feel it when I'm even the slightest bit dehydrated. My calf is like the canary in the mine early warning system for dehydration. Unfortunately, this time I kept running and now it's tightened up pretty good. The plan is to drink up (including beers tonight -- it is St. Patty's day!) and possibly rest it tomorrow.

The good news is that everything else felt good during this run. After China, just being outside with a blue sky is a bonus. And after a very soft month running-wise, my head is finally ready to take on training...at least for today. Let's hope my body comes around.

So Much

So much for dropping the hammer on training . . . I got out for the first time in a week and did 5 misery racked miles. I'm about three days from bailing on this training thing. My goal, as limited as it is right now, is to do 5 tomorrow and something a bit longer on Sunday. We'll see, if I can do that then I'll take next week as it comes and work hard to get back on this horse. Miserable.

Crisp Spring Day

I got out for 4.7 today. It was a beautiful day -- clear and crisp, mid-40s. It's good running weather. I ran in shorts. My left quad was tight and funky the whole way, and I actually stopped around the three mile mark to stretch it out -- it felt lousy. I'm not sure why and am hoping that it's not related to the ankle injury . . . I wonder if I'm favoring that leg or running in some way that's altering the stride on that side and putting more stress on the quad . . . I don't know. Anyway, I got out.

China test run

I'm having trouble viewing the blog from China. I wonder if I can post?

(not that I've run here or anything)

Windy Four

I went out for a four miler today. It was windy but not too cold, low to mid-40s. I got a nice boost from a tailwind in a portion of the last mile, but turned the final corner and got a good blast of headwind in the final 200 yards. Nothing much to report. My legs were pretty sore after Sunday, and my ankle feels less than perfect -- Sunday night I walked up the stairs and something was grinding in the ankle -- like a tendon over bone, I don't know, I'm not an orthopedist -- it didn't really hurt, but it felt uncomfortable and sort of gross. It felt alright today, and OK right now. We'll see.

On The Road Again

I got out and did 6 miles yesterday. VTR called and left a message, and Mrs. A told me to get out there so I did. I was not inspired but I went out and ran pretty well. My legs are tired today, and I didn't feel great in the gut when it was over, but it was good to be out there because it was a beautiful day.

I was sick two weeks ago and totally in a running funk last week. The admission that I promised last week is this: I don't like training for marathons. Mrs. A says I'm over-thinking which I probably am -- it happens when between gigs. So, I'm back to it, more or less, we'll see how it goes and maybe I'll use VTRs two weeks overseas to really try and drop the hammer so that I can make some strides and get in better shape than he.

I stopped twice, briefly, on my run. My left quad was tightening up in one specific area, which is the sorest part of either leg today, so I stopped and stretched it out about 3/4-mile from home. The other stop occurred towards the middle of my run. Some folks have tapped the Sugar Maples on their property and I wanted to check out the setup. They are using these big blue bags that hang off of metal bars that hang off of a little spigot driven into the tree. The bags were quite full, slushy on top and liquid beneath and there was a good amount of sap dripping from the little spigots. There is a huge maple at the center of the property -- probably 10 feet in circumference -- and it had a bunch of very full bags on it. I know VTR has plenty of sugar stands around him, but they are a bit more rare in west-suburban-Boston. That was pretty cool.

10.5

I ran 10.5 miles today. It was a beautiful morning to be up and out in VT. The air was brisk to say the least, but by the end of the run we were glad that we stuck with it and got the outside time in.

I don't have a lot to report on this one. I ran with a friend of Mrs. VTR, and it was good to have a partner out there.

That's it. Check off a long run and a short post. Done and done.

Rebound

I went out for a 42 minute run today. I'll call it 8 miles. We got about 8" of snow in Burlington, so the challenge was in finding clear terrain. I ended up doing loops of various little neighborhoods between work and Lake Champlain.

Usually I hate repetitive loops, twists and turns, but today was different because I felt great out there. The legs were good and rested, and my head was in the game. It helped that it was a clear, bluebird day, and the fresh layer of snow was still pristine, but I think the fact that I was three days removed from air travel helped me even more. I'm convinced that air travel shortens lifespans, but that's another story.

Anyway, I'm psyched with the run today. I have to get one longish run in this weekend, and then I'm off to China for 2 weeks. China means no real running, so I'm starting to get a little nervous about my marathon prep. Based on my schedule alone, I won't start training in earnest until mid-March. Who knows, maybe that will be a good thing.

Running = Running.

So, I finally got out on the road today after a 10 day haitus. Sure, during that time off I did a couple of extreme (read: scary, but cool) hikes in the Alta, UT backcountry, a skate-skiing jaunt, and lots of skiing at altitude, but none of those things are running. And today, I felt what that means.

(I should also mention that I spent 4 days in Vegas. I had one final redeeming Alta day after Vegas and before returning home, and I did my best to "knock the Vegas out of me," but I think Vegas damage stays with you.)

What I learned is that although cross-training activities will keep you fit during off-days/weeks/months, they really are no substitute for running. I eaked out 33 minutes today, and none of it was fun. I checked my watch way too often. I didn't add on an extra loop. It wasn't that I was in pain or fatigued, I was just out of it. It was an interesting observation to me -- Despite keeping (mostly) keeping up with on the exercise front, I lost an edge on the mental side of running.

Who knew you had to exercise your mind to run well?

Seaside Eleven

Sunday, we visited PR and his family and I stepped out for a run of 11.25 miles. I covered the distance in 1:40. I stopped at the turn-around for about 5 minutes to stretch and eat a Cliff Bar. My legs were sore from the previous day's, hilly trek. Yesterday's run was fairly tame, mostly flat, but the scenery was beautiful -- through sea side woods with some spectacular views of the ocean as well as some amazing real estate. It was a new run for me in a new place

I'm approaching this training a little differently. My body and my mind are different than they were nearly four years ago when I last trained for a 'thon. I'll walk a bit if I feel like it -- though not much, 30-40 second intervals to swig some Gatorade -- I'll stop for a bit at the turn around to charge up, stretch, whatever. I'm eating more when I run too -- I went out light yesterday, but I carried a pair of Cliff's, 24 ozs of Gatorade, and my cell phone.

I read Ultra Marathon Man by Dean Karnazes last fall, and while he's running ultras, that book really hammered home that you need to put in calories as you take them out. My ankle was killing me afterwards, and I jammed it up a bit while stepping off the road to let a car pass -- it sank in some soft pine needles. The injury is another thing I'm watching, and something that makes this training different. My ankle hurts, and my calf above the ankle hurts -- almost like there's a compensation injury brewing . . . I really focus on my stride and try to keep it the same on both legs, but a bio-mechanics expert I'm not. I'm going to do some stretching today of my legs and my ankle and hope to work it out.

A thing that was hammered home on yesterday's run was how important the in-between runs are. I noticed that in previous weeks I'm not as sore post-long-run when I do the weekday runs as I am today having missed the two short ones this past week. I missed them largely because of weather, so it's not like I was lazing, but it's important to run them. It's all about the process, embrace the process.

Finally, towards that end, I'm also going to try and write more about the process, and the details. We get a lot of visitors to this site, not just us, and I think that it will be interesting to see if they stick longer and comment more if we include more nitty-gritty and info-share. It might be cool to see the conversation expanded in the comments and help to make this thing even more useful than just a motivator -- it is web 2.0 after all.

South Shore Six, Sort Of

We went out and visited family this afternoon and I ducked out just after arrival for a quick trot through the scenic South Shore. The goal was to do 6, I got in about 5.5 in about 45. It was actually pretty hilly with some good climbs -- one in particular was quite long. My turnaround was a bridge over the North River -- it was beautiful. The sun was setting and the river was glass calm with just the tiniest eddies as the slack tide turned and the water was starting to flow back into the river.

I've got to do a half tomorrow . . . so, I'm going to map that route and kick it to bed. Sleep is one thing I've not been getting enough of in this training regimen, I'm eating well, not drinking very much booze, the running is working itself out but I'm not sleeping enough. I need to change that.

Not Exactly Alta

I did 6.12 miles today in a time that I'm not real sure about -- I need to get my stopwatch working again. Yesterday was one of the worst weather days that I remember in a long time so I nixed running in he torrential down pours.

Here's my course. Note the elevation changes that I endured, today -- not exactly Alta, but you get the picture. Yes, I started at 193 ft above sea level and I actually climbed all the way to 215 ft above sea level after dipping down to 144 ft. This is not for the faint of heart.



While the elevation is not that huge, I have to admit that there are times when I wonder why I feel that I'm working -- the elevation chart shows me some of the reason, there seem to be many false flats. That said, I'm not sure how accurate the elevation tracker is -- I actually finish beyond and above my house but the end elevation seems to be lower than my start. Finally, Mrs. A gave me a nice reflective harness for Valentine's Day that signifies to me that she wants me to be around a bit longer. I wore it out tonight at dusk/early evening, and it was comfortable, and very visible (I think).

High Altitude

I'm taking a break from running, but still getting some solid exercise in. The family and I are in Alta for a week, staying with Mrs. VTR's folks at their slopeside cabin. I was lucky to be able to combine a vacation with some work stuff that I'm doing in Vegas next week. It's nice when business and pleasure intersect in such a fun way.

Anyway, the place we're staying at is at 9,800 feet, so I'm doing high altitude training. We're hiking and skiing all day, and I'll be honest it's kicking my butt. My hope is that I'll be able to run like a crazy man when I get back closer to sea level next week. I'll see if I can post some pictures over the next few days. It's spectacular out here.

Quick post

The week is already getting away from me, so I'm checking in to document my training over the weekend. I had lots of pseudo-deep thoughts to accompany the post, but those will have to wait for another time.

I ran my local 10.5 mile loop (which I just found out was more like 10.8 -- nice!) on Saturday morning. There were two cool things about this run. First, I was running into a snow squal. When I started out it was a clear, calm day. By the time I was 30 minutes in, I could see white-out conditions on the mountain range above me, which happened to be right where I was heading. It was very cool knowing that I was out there doing the loop as a storm was closing in, that I would be running into the storm, and that it didn't matter at all. What mattered was getting the run in. I felt all hard core, albeit in a "I'm approaching 37 years old and not at all hard core" kind of way. Still, it felt good.

The second notable thing about the run was that I saw two moose (yes, moose) during the run. I was running along a not so well traveled section of road when a momma moose and her calf ambled out over the snowbank and into the road about 25 yards in front of me. They didn't even break stride to get over the four foot high banks. At first, I thought they were horses -- they were that big. They got into the road, loaped down the street for about 20 yards and then darted back into the woods and up a hill. I've never seen a moose in VT. It was awesome. My second thought after seeing the moose was, "I sure hope this Burton thing works out because I can never move away from this place." (My first thought was, "Holy sh*t!") I mean how can you beat being out for a run on a dirt road in the woods two miles from your house and seeing moose? It was awesome.

So, back to the run. I did the 10.8 in about 1:35, including three one minute walk breaks to get me through. On Sunday, I did a half hour snowshoe up a slope near my house and snowboarded down the trail. Now that was totally cool. I have to get more into the back country thing. Tonight, I played some really crappy, sloppy hockey, but it still counts as a workout. Tomorrow, I hope to get back on the running kick for probably a three miler before we head out to Alta on Wednesday.

Looking back on this post, I feel like I'm in a good spot. The variety of activities feels really good right now. The crazy snow we're getting up here doesn't hurt either.

(So much for my "quick post.")

Is That All?

So, I went out for my scheduled eight miler yesterday. I wasn't too amped about it, it was drizzling and cold, and I didn't go to bed early enough on Saturday night, but I went anyway.

As I ran along, it got rainier, and darker, and colder. I was soaked by three miles and considering turning around and just doing a 10K. I carried on. As I got to the point on the run that's about far from home as possible the weather went crazy. The rain poured down, the wind whipped, the sky got even darker and I was thinking to myself "OK, it's all good, I'm chalking up Karma Points for later."

Then, the next thing I knew, the sun broke through, the rain stopped and the wind calmed down. I started thinking to myself that the running karma points are pretty parsimoniously distributed if all I'm going to get out of them is that the back half of my run is dryer and less windy . . . is that all? Apparently that was all I was going to get. The rest of the run was pretty uneventful and I did it much more quickly than I did the first time I ran that distance (72 minutes, versus 88). Of my three long runs so far, I've run in a big snowfall and some funky, weird weather (yesterday was one of the weirdest weather days, ever -- rain, snow, thunder, wind. I'm looking forward to some nice spring days, that's for sure.

Slipping Away

I got out for 4 today. I had intended to go for 10K, but the day sort of slipped away from me. I cooked like a madman through the first part of the day and then a birthday party popped up that we knew about but had forgotten, so I hung out with Child Two and before I knew it it was 5 PM. It was snowy and sort of slippery but not too bad. There were many runners out at the same time and that was sort of cool. I passed a guy going in the opposite direction from him and followed his foot prints for about a mile or so. There were lots of other footprints and it was fun to compare the different stride lengths. I reeled in a guy today about 1.5 into my run and that felt pretty good. I don't know if he was one mile into a three, or 18 into a 20, but I moved by him pretty easily -- it's the little victories in life. Eight tomorrow . . .

Friday Trot

I got out this evening after a phone chat with VTR -- thanks for the call it was good to catch up. I was in my gear, ready to walk out the door and we joked about how VTR could be my excuse to bail, but it was my first day back after Sunday, it felt good and I was jonesing to get out. I went hard and did 3.2 in about 26. The footing was a bit tricky, but not bad. I ran past an accident -- there were police blocking the street and a couple of ambulances . . . I don't really know what happened but it was a big deal, obviously, since half the town's PD was on the scene.

A hard slog

I had no intention of running today, but I needed a jolt to keep my day rolling. Seeing some sun in the sky inspired me to suck it up and get out. I ran for 43:29 and figure it was somewhere around five miles, if that.

Half of the run was on an unplowed bike path, which made it tough going. I figure that tough is good at this stage. Imagine how much easier running this spring will be compared to plowing through such bad footing now. (At least that's what I tell myself.)

My main takeaway from today, though, wasn't about the benefits of training in slush. What stuck with me was the fact that I was out there, that I needed to be out there today. I think that after a long layoff, I've finally turned a corner. I'm into running again. A renewed running addiction is right around the corner. I hope.

Dreadmill

My lunchtime run plans were thwarted by the weather yesterday. We got about 12" of snow over the past 36 hours. I still wanted to do a couple of miles, so I hit the gym after work, and I can unequivically say that I hate the treadmill. My gym is kind of on the swanky side with solo TV's on every machine, top of the line equipment, heartrate monitors, the works. It didn't matter. Running and going nowhere is simply not my idea of fun.

I started with a plan to do 6 miles, but quickly realized I wouldn't make it that far and scaled back to a 5K. The only way I finished that distance was by turning off the tube, zoning out, and imagining past races. I put in an aggressive pace to get through the grind as quickly as possible, so I guess I'd chalk this up as a speed workout.

I definitely respect those who have to use the treadmill for training because it's not easy, but at the same time I think treadmillers are completely missing out on the best parts of the sport -- physically and mentally going somewhere. I'll take my snow and ice over climate control any day.

Later boys.

Viral training

Nope, this isn't a post about picking up one of the many illnesses that run through pre-school on a weekly basis. You've been there, so there's no need to waste space on that here.

This post is about the way that enthusiasm for running (or any exercise) can spread virally once you take the leap and call yourself a runner. Just tonight, I was talking to a friend of Mrs. VTR who knows I'm running the Vermont City Marathon in May. She will also be running the race (her first marathon), so we tend to trade training stories whenever we cross paths. Tonight, she called because she just signed up for the Run Vermont 13.1 Half Marathon Unplugged race in April. The funny thing is that I saw this race last week, but totally whimped out and didn't sign up. I had forgotten about it until she called. I just got off the site, and I'm now in and officially registered. The race is on April 5. Here's the link if anyone's interested:
http://www.runvermont.org/events/halfmarathon.html

As much time as we spend alone on the roads, we are part of a community of runners. The more I run, the more I learn about running, the more apt I am to identify myself as part of the club and feel connected to it. So, keep on running LDT-ers. Join the club.

Wet 5K

I ran 3.2 at lunch today. The weather looked bad, but it was actually mild. Roads/sidewalks were puddle-filled and slick, but I was glad to get the miles in. Felt good.

Endurance Event

Below is a sampling of the 2008 Krispy Kreme Challenge in Raleigh, NC. Run two miles. Get a dozen donuts. Eat them all. Run back to the start/finish line. Do it in one hour or less. How exactly does one train for this?



I found this on a site that I've been following off an on for a while -- Big Arm Woman.

I need to get out today, but the weather is nasty . . .

Nullified

I did 5 on Saturday in about 42. I did 10.12 on Sunday in 90.

I was happy with both performances until about 10 PM last night when that crushing Pats loss just nullified my feelings of accomplishment. I seriously could not sleep post XLII . . . but I got in some great mileage.

Super 8

At least one thing about yesterday was super -- my 8 mile run in the afternoon. My training plan called for a 12 miler, but the day got away from me a bit, so I only had time for an hour. I did an out and back route from my house, and loved it. There's been a lot going on at work lately, so I used my time on the road to work things out. I got inspired, came up with a plan, and lost track of time. Very cool.

On the running/training side, it felt great to get in a longer run. I came in faster than I went out, and I felt pretty strong. Not as fast as I'd like to be, but I'm easing into the schedule and enjoying the process.

Here are the stats:
8 miles
1:09 hours (34:28 out, 33:35 back)
8:37 pace

Calling you out

So, it's the end of January when even the thought of slogging along in the cold sucks. This is the time that we need to be posting even the smallest victories over lethargy. LDT is about motivation through shared experiences. So, how about some posts?

Let's go LDT-ers. It's 2008, and we're 15 years removed from HC. It's time to put it into gear. I'm not going to be the guy who gets mistaken for Class of '83 this May...will you?

End of The Day

I just got in a nice 3 at the end of my work day. I hadn't planned on going after yesterday's drudgery but tossed my gear into my car anyway. I listened to my body and it said go for it. It was nice and the scenery was great -- I went out pretty hard, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My contract in Newburyport ends tomorrow, so it will be a while before I run up here again.

Lunch Run

I got in a nice five miler today at lunch. It felt good to get out on a nice day after freezing rain yesterday and mixed precipitation on tap for tomorrow.

Nothing more to add. Just posting to keep up the momentum that Agricola is driving.

Let's get this blog crankin'!

(Yes, I am a dork, but you all know that.)

Lessons Learned

1. Don't eat Indian food the day before a run.
2. Hydrate better when working from home
3. Don't bookend 4 runs (21 miles) with 5 milers pushing Child Two in the Stroller.

I'm working from home today so grabbed a 5 miler at lunch. It was pure misery. I had no rhythm, no stride and never got comfortable I got in the miles but I'm going to reconsider tomorrow's three I need to pace myself more perhaps because today's performance was sub-par.

Chilly Three

I got out this AM for the required three. It was actually a bit more than three and a bit less than my typical 3.3 -- I stopped at the bottom of my street and then walked off the run to my front door. I did the 3.2 in ~28. It was a good little trot, if chilly, and I felt good after my 8 miler on Sunday. I'm not sure why I stopped where I did, it felt strange, but I figure that I'm going to stick to the plan as much possible and see what happens. I've posted my training log on the web, and I'll update each day that I run so that you can see my progress.

(I loaded the spreadsheet onto Google Docs and then published it to the web -- it's pretty cool functionality and just one more example of the "social" web. There's nothing personal in the spreadsheet so it's not too weird, I don't think. Plus, it's sort of like research for my day job. It will update automatically and you can even get an RSS feed for the thing. The open platform will someday replace the desktop application, I think.)

Speaking of technology, I don't have any data because I lost my HR chest belt right around the time I got hurt -- I found the strap, but I can't find the business end of the thing so I'm taking a very casual approach to the timing and data stuff. I might suck it up though and invest in a new one -- I really like having the data and the log of my runs. I lost the first HR belt I ever owned and did invest in a new one. It seems that I lose the first version of each belt that I buy, and then replace it. That's a good habit . . . 5 miles tomorrow!

Big Weekend

I did 5.2 on Saturday with Child Two in the jogging stroller. I had him bundled up and had the rain shield down to keep the wind off of him so I couldn't completely hear all of his patter but he kept up an almost continuous stream of commentary for the whole run. We went later in the day and he kept saying how it was getting dark, and it was nighttime. It was fun. There were a couple of stops to adjust his Froggy Friend and his blanket and I covered the distance in 49 minutes. Not blazing, but not bad either, and thee was a point along the route where I really felt the joy of running. We were on long, straight, flat, quiet road -- running basically down the middle -- and I wasn't thinking about much except the great sense of motion and movement I was feeling at that time.

Sunday was a different matter. I went out in a pretty stiff snowfall and did 8.1 in a glacial 88 minutes. Traction was lousy, visibility was lousy in parts as I ran into the wind and the route I picked was hilly. I walked every 1.5 miles or so and swigged my water and I brought a light snack of pretzels and yogurt-raisins and this helped my energy, though I have to admit that right now this distance is a bit longer than I feel ready for. I don't know how much to factor conditions into this pace, but they definitely impacted me. Never the less, I got out and did it to it. I had hoped to be covering 20 miles/week for a month prior to training but now I'm finding myself ramping up training mileage and training for a marathon at the same time. Not optimal, and not my usual method, but I figure the best way to get fit is to push and go long.

Weekend 5

Just a quick post to jot down my 5 miler this weekend. I went at about 3:30 yesterday, and it was a beautiful time of the day.

Missed my first long run of my schedule today, but I'm cutting myself some slack. After all, I only just realized I was on the schedule. Next weekend I'll be sure to get back on the long run kick. Until then, it'll be about the weekday quick jaunts.

It's On

Agricola's post inspired me to get out at lunch today. I did about 5 miles, and it's a good thing. I also broke out my marathon training schedule and realized that my 18 week program started on Monday! Yikes. Here we go boys!

Feeling It

I took a run at work yesterday -- I went out at 4:10 PM and ran for about 32 minutes and covered 4 miles so I hit what I think is a pretty decent 8 minute mile which surprised me. What I was happiest about was that my pace picked up on the second half which is always my goal on an out and back. It wasn't totally comfortable but it was a good discomfort -- I was breathing hard but it was a good hard and it was familiar. Yesterday's run was a good, confidence builder and I"m looking forward to the next run. Today is ankle stretching and rotation.

On a related note I woke up early on Wednesday and Thursday -- 6 AM -- and I'm feeling good about getting back on the morning running train. It's all about habituation, and it's time to re-habituate to earlier waking and running.

Running with Friends

We had friends up from Hingham this weekend, one of whom is a newly converted (and strong) runner. She was determined to run two of the three days, and I was happy to oblige -- more to catch up on the friendship than for any particular running ambition, although I am gearing up to officially start training. The two runs were on scenic back roads and at a solid pace. As is usually the case when running with a friend, the miles melted away while we reminisced and talked shop about running, training and life in general. They were great runs that left me wanting more. If the sentiment sticks, you'll read about it here later this week.

The numbers from what I just realized was an extremely active three days off:
3 days
2 runs
10 miles
8 minute pace
5 snowboard runs
1 hockey goal
4 beers
1 martini (2 olives)
1 Pats victory

A solid weekend, for sure.

Long Road

I went out today. It was painful, not painful for the ankle per se, though there was some pain in the joint, but from a conditioning standpoint. I've lost a lot of fitness. I ran about 4.2 and did it in about 36 minutes. It was a pretty good pace but my CV isn't up to it right now. It seems to me that my legs remember how they want to run, but my heart and lungs don't. It's kind of disheartening, but I've just go to embrace the process -- seems like I've been saying that frequently since November . . . oh well. One thing that's helped my ankle has been some self-administered PT -- I'm flexing it and extending it, rotating it from left to right and right to left. This has resulted in more flexibility and less pain. Embrace the process. Embrace the process. Embrace the process. And the cold -- it was chilly today, but nice.

GO PATS!

Run

Ok, I did it. Yesterday, I went out for a 5K run. It wasn't in any plan, but it was such a beautiful day, and I had my gear in the car, so I finally got a first run of the year in. The run was uneventful. Mainly, I just observed my body, felt the rust, and realized it will take a little doing to get the wheels rolling again.

I will say this. LDT helped get me on the road, provided an incentive. Writing and reading along here does motivate. The thing's working. Kudo's to Agricola for starting the dialogue.

Cool Site

I found a cool site today: Map My Run.com.

I know that we have Google pedometer linked here, and it's very cool, but this one is nice too. Map my Run is quite a bit more slickly built atop the Google Maps API. You can leave notes on the route that appear when you print, mark things like water, toilets etc. you can also share the route, search other folk's routes and one of the coolest things of all is the elevation feature. Enjoy.

I was supposed to have run today but was lazy. I have a lunch meeting today so I can't go at lunch -- too bad. I've go to go tomorrow, regardless, so it will be up before the light and on the roads, hopefully. I'm really struggling with the winter morning runs. I was hoping they'd be easier, but the ankle injury set me back and it's tough to get out there right now . . . I need to build some momentum.

Bike and erg

Hi all,

Long time no post and I actually got out to the gym the other day. Bike and erg for a 1/2 hour. Felt good, but my ankle is still swollen. Can you believe it? 3 months! Need to ice and then get back and continue working. Good post Agricola. Just keep on moving. It doesn't matter - keep on trucking. Happy New Year to all!

Rarities

So this post contains a bevy of rarities.

I actually went out and ran two days after a prior run -- I went on Sunday as well.
I went running on my lunch break.
I went running in Newburyport, towards Plum Island -- I've never done that.
I saw huge hawk in a tree right near the Plum Island Airport.

I went out on Sunday for a 32 minute run. I told myself I'm not going to publish a post unless I go again on Tuesday -- the once/week running post is silly. I set my alarm for 6 AM and turned it off at 5:52 AM -- Child Two called out and woke me.
I tried to get up at 6:20 but it was dark . . . I wimped out. However, the weather is outrageously balmy today, pushing 60 F, so I threw my gear in my bag and went for it.

Sunday's run (3.7 in 32:16) was better than today's (3.5-4.0 in 30:25, I'm not sure where I turned around) which was hard. Maybe it was the warmth. Maybe I was bonking a bit because I was hungry. Maybe I'm just not in great shape right now. One thing running has taught me is humility -- there is no replacement for miles not run and you've got to work your way back. The ankle hurt pretty good at the beginning but feels OK right now. It's really something I need to monitor.

The view on this run was lovely -- I ran along the Joppa Flats at the mouth of the Merrimack River and the water was glass flat and a beautiful winter blue. The flats teemed with sea birds and geese and it was really great.

Happy New Year!

I went for my second run since hurting my ankle in November. I didn't wrap the thing and just went out and hit it. I nearly bailed because I was feeling pretty lazy but sucked it up and went. I did my 3.3 mile route in 29:52. Certainly not my quickest for that distance but not bad. The inside of my shin above the ankle was sore but the ankle joint itself was not too bad. Swelling was minimal -- meaning the ankle was no more swollen post-run than it was prior to departure. I feel pretty good today but my legs are a bit sore -- oh, well, it's time to work back to fitness. I'm going to go again tomorrow and looking forward to it.

So, there are 7 hours and 22 minutes left in this year. All in all, it's been a good year and this blog has been lots of fun. I think that the blog did what I intended it to do when it started in February. It's been great sharing our experiences up here and keeping in touch. This silly thing is as much about life and friendships as it is about running, I think. So, to all of my fellow LDT-ers and anybody stumbling across our little blog, I wish you and your families a Happy, Healthy, and Wonderful New Year in 2008. Keep blogging. Keep running. Be well.

Skate Skiing

We spent yesterday (Christmas) afternoon at the VTRunner-in-laws, where I had the chance to get in a little exercise. As we've all seen on the blog lately, exercise events have been sparse, so I was glad to finally get out.

Mr. VTR-in-law keeps an amazing skate-skiing track around the field at his place, and I had yet to get in a skate this year. After a big breakfast, light lunch, and mid-day nap, I figured the time was right to hit it. I strapped on the skis and immediately struggled to find a skating rhythm. I felt like a baby moose on a frozen pond -- legs and arms everywhere, long poles flying, totally uncoordinated. Once I got my legs under me I took off (relatively speaking). One lap turned to four, which turned to eight, 12, 15 and finally 20. At each potential stopping point, I stood at the top of the field and couldn't think of a good reason to quit. The sun was setting, and the scene was perfectly quiet and calming. Even better, my lungs and legs felt great. Skate skiing can be a tough sport, both cardiovascularly and technically, but I felt like I could go forever. As demanding as it can be, it's also very rhythmic, like swimming, and can lull you into a meditative zone. At one point, I found myself thinking about the upcoming Burlington marathon. I was chanting something like, "3:15, where do you want to be?" with each stride. 3:15 is my stretch goal time for the Burlington marathon, and it was awesome to feel inspired enough to start visualizing the race. I felt strong, clear-headed and invigorated. At lap 20, I stopped because I knew cocktails and hors-d'oevres were waiting inside, not because I was couldn't go on.

I mention this as a reminder that the work we've put in over the year doesn't just disappear because we're taking a collective break to catch our breath and recharge. Sure, we might have to brush off a bit of rust, but the base of fitness is still there. I was completely surprised and encouraged by my skiing session. I'm looking forward to jumping back into the LDT life.

Hope you all had a merry Christmas. Happy new year!

Done

Fill out form. Deep breath. Exhale. Click submit. Deep breath. Exhale. Done.

Just registered for the VT City Marathon. It was strangely difficult.

You and me, Agricola. Any other takers out there?

Test Run

I went out Saturday for about 21 minutes. I covered somewhere between 2 and 2.25 miles. I had fully intended on doing something short and slow like this and it was probably a good decision. The ankle was pretty sore through the first half, but started feeling better on the return. It was tender afterwards as well, but nothing major to report. It was in decent shape on Sunday which was good because I was outside shoveling for about two hours. I was thinking about going today, but yesterday's workout and the fact that the world was an ice sheet today canceled those thoughts.

When running on level ground the ankle feels OK. As soon as the surface gets uneven or bumpy, or goes up or down a hill it's sore. Running in conditions such as we're experiencing now is always dicey, and even more so on a balky ankle. I lost more than a little conditioning and leg strength during my hiatus, which is a bummer, but both will come back. It was good to get out and felt good, mentally. I enjoyed the motion and was also happy to have overcome inertia.

I'm In

I just signed up for the Vermont City Marathon. I'm in.

Resolutions

So it's been a quiet blog lately. While I haven't been riding/posting myself (with only one spin on the bike since Labor Day) I still drop in occasionally. Injuries, cold weather and the holidays do take their toll.

Fart on that. I'm feeling fat and angry about the slothfullness that overcame the second half of my year. I am setting physical goals for 2008 and will be looking for support and input through this blog to help make them happen.

First, I am riding the Montauk Century this year -- rain or shine, alone or not. And I am aiming to train properly this time, which means more frequent weekday rides on the trainer and longer weekend rides in the park/VT/wider world.

Also, I am thinking seriously about trying a multi-sport event. Lake Placid Cyclery hosts weekly duathlons -- run one mile, bike 10, run 2 miles -- and I may have a go.

And I want to be involved in what you are doing, too, so let me know what you are shooting for in the New Year. I am excited and anxious to get back on track.

5K and Snow

I've been quiet on the blog mainly because I've been quiet on the running front. I ran my first Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, and it went well. I don't remember my time, but I finished in the top 10% or so and felt good.

The most remarkable thing about the race is that it's been around for about 10 years in my hometown, and I had never heard of it. I now have a new tradition, and I'm psyched.

There was a funny moment towards the end of the race. The run finishes with a 3/4 lap around the high school track. As I approached the school, I came up behind two boys who were probably 7 and 9 years old and were running a 7 minute mile pace (amazing). We entered the track, and people were going crazy for these kids as their pace (and mine) quickened. Suddenly, I was faced with a moral decision. Do I really step it up and pass the kids to record my best time (no pr, just the best time I could run on that day), or do I run a solid pace to the end, but let the kids finish ahead of me. If these were normal loping kids, I'll be honest and say I would've passed them just before entering the track. But these kids were legitimately hauling, and I would have had to find an extra gear to edge them out. Can you imagine that picture? An OG (old guy) leaning at the line to capture some glory while subsequently burying these two young aspiring athletes. Luckily, I'm not an idiot (at least not on that day), so I eased up a bit and followed the kids across the line.

Still the image of me just nosing the two "suckas" cracks me up.

On another front. We have a solid foot of snow up front, and I had a "meeting" at the Stowe quad lift at 8:00 this morning. It was my first legit day of the year and it rocked. It's still snowing (noon on Monday), and we're looking at another 10" or so by tomorrow morning. Spread the word and get up here to ski/ride. There is snow in VT!!

Injury Report

The ankle is healing. I'm on it and using it a frequently and strenuously. I worked outside a bunch last weekend -- I bundled it up in the air cast and tied it inside of a boot and it treated me pretty well while I raked etc. It was tender in the evenings.
I've dropped the air cast and am now only wrapping it in an Ace Bandage. I think the air cast was hurting more than helping, and bruising the bone a bit; it also gave me a rash . . . itchy and sort of gross.

My hope was to go running this weekend but I'm not sure it will happen -- I crossed a street yesterday by running/moving briskly in the crosswalk and it hurt . . . so, we'll see. It's good that I can walk, work and move around with only minor pain, running may be too much of a pounding, but I'll make the call on Sunday which is the day I'd planned to take it for a spin -- probably only a couple of miles, but I really want to get back out there.

On the Shelf and Thanks

Hey guys, thanks for your kind words. We're all doing well, my uncle's funeral is over and life continues. I'm going to commit myself to be there in some way for his son -- I can't imagine being 17, getting ready to graduate from HS, and losing your father.

I'm currently on the shelf with my bum ankle . . . it's healing, and I'm actually finding that being on it, though leaving it tender and sore at the end of the day, is helping it to get better because it feels more flexible and the swelling is not as great as it had beeen when I was ensconced on the couch. One thing helping recovery is that I've been icing it a ton at night. I've perfected my ice method -- one side for 30 minutes, then the other, and repeat for 2 hours. I think I'll be on the shelf for a couple of weeks which is a bummer because I was having some amazing runs, and the run when I hurt myself was no exception. I've been having some intense, emotional runs and the workouts have been very mentally and emotionally cathartic. I can't wait to get back to it. As far as your comment about "life interweaving our posts" VTR, we've woven running etc. into each of our lives -- we carry our life with us every time we run and running provides a time to reflect.

Thanks again, gentlemen, your support means a lot. Happy Thanksgiving, we've got much for which to be thankful.

Running and Crying

The light was out by 10 PM and the alarm was set for 5:30 -- I was ready to go out and get 5 miles this morning before Mrs. Agricola's early morning meeting (7 AM . . . ). I was having trouble sleeping, I was tossing and turning and I couldn't get comfortable. The phone rang at 11 PM. It was my brother. He told me that my Great-Uncle, Tim, had died that evening from cardiac arrest. He had been sick for about three weeks with a baffling array of ailments that left him essentially non-compis-mentis and unable to communicate with his family and his doctors. While sad and not the desired outcome his death was probably for the best. I lay in the dark pondering the death of yet another family member when the phone rang again, it was my mother. We spoke briefly. She was crying. Mrs. Agricola and I chatted for a bit before sleep finally overtook both of us around midnight.

I didn't hear my alarm until 5:40. I rolled out of the rack and got dressed, determined to get some miles in and to dedicate them to my uncle. The time I lost forced me to start cutting back on my distance. I was picking up my pace and huffing a bit as I came up a long false flat (which I ever realized was a false flat until today), looking at my watch and considering what piece of my route to cut out when I stepped on a piece of asphalt that turned my ankle and sent my flying. I rolled in the street for bit clutching my ankle. Then moved to the strip of grass between street and sidewalk, cursing a blue streak through gritted teeth. I leaned over on my side and noticed that my head was about 6 inches from a piece of dog-poop . . . even in the midst of this there was some humor to be had.

The dog poop inspired to stand up and head for home -- this run was done. I was about 2.25 miles out, I'd been running for about 19 minutes, but could get back home in about 1.6. I walked for a bit and tried to run. No dice. I walked a bit more, a bit further then ran up a hill. The pain wasn't bad but I didn't like how I was favoring my bum tire so stopped. I came to a point about 7/10s from my house, with a cutout up the road that would shorten it a bit more and I decided to run.

I made this decision at the bottom of the hill that I sometimes mention kicks my butt a bit, and I ran it with a bum tire but a pretty good stride. I started thinking about all that had transpired since 11 PM the night prior, but mainly about my uncle and his family -- despite being in his mid-late-70s, he had a 17 year old son getting ready to graduate from high school . . . and there I was, running and crying. I could barely see, my eyes were filled with tears that started running down my cheeks and I sobbed as I strode a very familiar section of road. I was thinking about what to say about my uncle, and this is what I came up with:

He was a good doctor, a good husband, he loved his son fiercely. He was a good man.

There really is nothing more to say.

Roadrunner & Coyote

Time: 27:04
Avg HR: 156
Peak HR: 176
Calories: 450
Distance: 3.3
Start Time: 6:08 AM
Training Effect: 3.7
Temp: Chilly
Date: 11/14/07

Yesterday was my day, but it was rainy and drizzly and I was a wimp and bailed -- I couldn't figure if it was going to pour or keep spritzing and I missed my run. I rolled out of bed today at 5:50 AM, sucked it up even though it was dark and cold, and was on the road by 6:08 AM. I had to get out early and keep it short because today was technically Mrs. Agricola's morning and I want to do 5 tomorrow (my scheduled day) so I had to get back in time for her to get in her workout (Mrs. A, coincidentally ran her longest distance this past weekend in a very nice Saturday effort).

Anyway, it was pretty dark, but the sky was lighting up in the East with the sunrise. A lady was walking a couple of dogs and I said "hello" to her as I started my run. I took a few strides, looked up and saw a coyote running very fast away from me, across the street that our street intersects, and down a hilly driveway into somebody's yard. I crossed the street to see if I could see him but he was gone into the dark woods. It was very cool, and I was surprised to see the coyote at that hour. The last time I'd seen him he was waking the neighborhood after getting into it with a cat that lives down the street -- I think the coyote lost that exchange, it must be a tough cat.

The sunrise was amazing -- brilliant fiery pink at the horizon fading into pale morning-blue sky into which Venus was rising ahead of the sun. The frost covered everything in a beautiful even coating. It was a a great morning, and a morning that I was glad to be a runner.

In another note, I'm starting a new gig next week that's about 55 miles from my home -- I'm re-entering the freelance world. I'm going to need to get up earlier to get in my runs, so if you see me not posting, get on me -- it's most likely because I'm being a wimp and lazy.

Is my neck red?

I recently went hunting with my father-in-law, his buddy, and his dog Lucy. Like the Mt. Mansfield hike, this was some pure Vermont outdoors exercise. We trudged through fields, brush, and thick woods hunting the elusive, wily pheasant for just over two hours -- a solid workout. I actually got some running in, too, chasing a small hen through the underbrush (she got away). It was a great bonding experience and as I've mentioned in the past when talking about hunting, very primal.

Alright, maybe the birds weren't that elusive. (see photo)

Early "Run"

Sunday was an absolute treat for this relatively new Vermonter. I went with a friend to hike Mt. Mansfield and carve some early season turns on the snowboard. The day was absolute bluebird, not a cloud in the sky, crisp air, 45 degrees. I hiked it in snowboard boots and the trip took about 2 hours from bottom to top. We hit substantial snow about two thirds of the way up, and I was ecstatic. The joy of seeing and being in the snow on the mountain combined with the endorphins (I have to figure they were kicking in) left me feeling like a giddy little kid. I was also feeling very lucky to call such a beautiful spot home.

Anyway, it was a hell of a workout, and my legs were spent by the time I got on the board.

These transitional seasons can be tough. Getting out on snow on November 11 makes it all good in my book.

Veterans' Day Weekend

I got in two nice runs Friday and Sunday evenings, sandwiched around a day of manual labor on Saturday. I was scheduled for a run on Friday AM but I got a wicked headache on the way home Thursday night and was feeling the residuals on Friday morning. I laid low, went to work and then bailed early. Mrs. Agricola had a meeting Friday afternoon and when I got home we had a baby sitter staying with the kids so I took advantage of that situation and got in a good four miler at around 4:45 PM. I felt really good and enjoyed my trot -- covering the distance in 32:57.

I raked and mowed my yard on Saturday and that was a couple of hours of good solid work -- it was my first yard work since building our patio in October.

Sunday I took the kids out for the day -- a Boston Adventure -- while Mrs. A did some freelance work. After coming home I went for a 5er yesterday (5.3 actually, in 42 minutes). It was a beautiful afternoon and I enjoyed this run as well. These have not been my fastest runs but my legs feel good and my wind is decent -- I'm looking forward to a productive winter and hoping to take advantage of the cooler (colder) temps to build up my mileage.

I'd like to make sure to give my thanks and deepest respect to our veterans who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice to defend this country and all for which it stands.

Starting Over

I finally hit the roads this AM for the first time since the CCM Relay. I did a short jaunt, 3.3 miles in 27:17. It didn't feel great, but it wasn't bad either. Ten days off definitely impacted the wind, but it will come back soon, I'm sure.

It was nice to get out early and have it be light -- I always seem to lose momentum in late October and early November when it's dark in the mornings. It will be nice for a couple of weeks to be running in light and then it will be dark in the mornings as we approach the Solstice so I'm girding myself for that. The sky was crystal clear and everything was covered in frost. Because yesterday was so wet, roofs, and fields (I run by the athletic fields of a local prep school and a community golf course)appeared to be covered in snow. It was magical.

Glad to be back at it, I'll go again on Friday. I need to work up to my goal of doing 20 miles by January which I might clarify a bit: during January I want my weekly mileage to be 20 miles/week and maintain that for the entire month before I start training in February for the VT marathon. Since that marathon is at the end of May beginning training in February would put me on a 16 week training cycle.

Walk In The Woods

My family, Mater and Pater Agricolae, and my brother's family spent the weekend in the White Mountains. It was a belated celebration of my parents' 40th wedding anniversary and it was a great time. My brother and I brought running gear but didn't run (unfortunately). My workout, the first since running the relay was a 4 mile walk in the woods to look at some waterfalls. It was not a fast walk, but I did carry Child One for about 3 of the 4 mile total -- that's got to count for something in a week when I was very lazy. Kudos to VTR for running a 5K -- it was interesting to see that it helped him loosen up. Back at it tomorrow.

My next goal is to log 20 miles/week by January so I have a great base from which to launch my Burlington Marathon Training campaign -- you can never start laying a good foundation too early.

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.

Cape Coddah

Sunday was the perfect day for running. It was 55-65 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. The route along the roads and shores of Falmouth was stunning. Really gorgeous. The Cape Cod Marathon had an 8:30 am start, and it felt right.

If you backtrack a bit through some of my posts leading up to the race, you'll see that I went through a phase in which I was worried about my performance. After posting high mileage weeks with six, five and four weeks to go until the event, I went two weeks with only 16 total miles and no long runs. Throw in a China trip, and I was starting to worry about my ability to run the race at all. The worry (mostly) left after a strong 10 miler the Sunday before the race. I ran at my goal race pace and felt strong throughout. At that point, my mindset changed. I realized that I had put in some serious work over the past few months, and I decided (and decided is the word) that I was prepared.

On the day before marathon Sunday, Mrs. VTR and I drove down to Falmouth to get our bearings and check out the route. We drove all 26.2 miles and made an effort to talk up only the positive aspects. (Killer rolling hills? No way man, they're nothing compared to "real" VT hills. It's all mental, right?) I planned to do a short run that day, so I ran miles 22 - 24, the supposedly flat section that follows about 8 miles of rollers. I was glad to get out because this section was not flat, and surprises are no good on race day. Having run it early, I was prepared to hit it again on Sunday.

So race day arrived, and as I said it was perfect. The drive to the Cape was uneventful and the pre-race flow was smooth. My goal was to do the run at an 8 minute mile pace for a time of 3:30. I framed this as my stretch goal, but I really wanted it. I thought it was doable on paper, but I came in at a 3:45 in my only other marathon, so I knew it would be a challenge.

It's hard to describe the actual progression of the run, so I'll stick to some of the high points.

1. Wing man -- at mile five, a guy that I had been trading positions with for a few miles casually asked me, "You doing eights?” I was, so we ran together for about 20 of the 26.2 miles. It was really helpful to have a partner to pass the time with -- the course seemed to fly by at points.
2. Hills -- I think with hills, it's all about the mental preparation. When I was choosing a marathon, I read a lot about the CCM course, especially the rolling hills from miles 12 - 22. I incorporated hills into my training runs, but more importantly, I was mentally ready for them. As a result, the hills seemed manageable, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised by all of the downhills (no one mentions these) on the backsides of the rolls.
3. Game planning -- Planning is critical for a marathon. My first game plan was to run at a manageable, steady pace, unlike the Burlington Marathon in which I went out waaayyyy too fast and crashed hard for the last 7 miles. I practiced the pacing on training runs, and I was able to experience strong finishes each time. For the marathon, the pay off was at mile 17, when I hit the mile marker, felt good, and compared that to the absolute agony I felt at mile 17 in Burlington. Pacing saved me this time around. My second strategy was about fuel, and it started the week before the race when I made sure to hydrate and eat well. On race day, I discovered a new product that pulled me through -- Cliff Shots, Margarita with Salt flavor. They have 300mg of sodium to prevent cramping, taste great and have the consistency of gummy bears. I was determined not to let salt loss get the better of me, so I ate a whole package of the shots over the course of the race. No extreme cramping and no stomach issues. Score. Check out those shots before your next race. I also had a couple of Gu's and water at every stop.

For posterity, I'm including my splits here:
Mile 1 -- 7:50
2 -- 7:49
3 -- 8:15
4/5 -- 15:23
6 -- 8:06
7 -- 8:02
8/9 -- 16:55
10/11 -- 15:40
12 -- 8:15
13 -- 7:38
14/15 -- 15:36
16/17 -- 15:50
18 - -8:01
19 -- 8:04
20 -- 8:07
21 -- 8:02
22 -- 8:20
23 -- 8:10
24 -- 8:21
25 -- 8:10
26.2 -- 10:02

In sum, it was a great race, and I feel proud to have hit my 3:30 goal. In the process, I learned more about myself and the sport of marathon running. I also felt the LDT love on the course. It was great to connect with Agricola and Phat doing the thing that brought this group together in this venue in the first place.

I'll end this long post with this thought: I'm already thinking about the next race. Damn.

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.

Another run on a beautiful fall night

A cool night. The air is crisp - just the way I like it and I started out well. The training on the treadmill definitely helped me keep a quicker pace tonight, but half way through the run, my legs were sore. I kept at it and finished with 4.3 miles in 38 minutes.
Just plugging away.

A - found two runners tonight.

Fashion Disaster

Time: 33:23
Avg HR: 161
Peak HR: 180
Calories: 556
Distance: 4.02
Start Time: 6:50 AM
Training Effect: 4.1
Temp: Chilly
Date: 10/25/07

It was cold and damp and kind of dreary today -- a 180 degree change from Tuesday. I actually wore tights today to avoid freezing my legs and having my back seize up. It worked. I also wore maroon shorts over my black tights with a pale blue short sleeve shirt over a long sleeve orange shirt -- a total fashion disaster and luckily it was dark for much of my run. Not much to report, it was pretty uneventful and a decent run though I did have a perspective altering glimpse into other peoples' lives.

About a year ago two kids were killed in a wreck not far from our house. They wrapped their ride around a tree that cut the car in half. A couple of days later men in hazmat suits were walking across the property where the accident occurred in a line and I can only guess what they were looking for. A couple of weeks ago Mrs. Agricola says:

You know what gets me?
What?
That hockey stick leaning against the house where that boy lived who died in the accident.
I hadn't noticed, did he live near here?
Yeah, a little house on X Ave, and the stick has been there since he died.

Today I ran by the house -- I've been running by for months and never realized it. The lights were on and in the dining room was a birthday banner with the boys name and age and tons of pictures posted to the wall . . . just stuck to the wall with tape, snapshots, etc. it totally blew me away. I also saw his father in the kitchen and I nearly stopped, the whole scene was so overwhelming . . . I run by the spot where the kids were killed pretty regularly but the shrine is alway at my back so I don't notice it but I couldn't miss this.

2 more treadmill workouts

Gotta love the treadmill. Two 4.15 Mile runs. Both completed in under 35 minutes. Worked up a good sweat. Nothing to do but watch Southern California go up in flames the entire time I ran. God bless everyone who is affected out there and for the brave firemen who are working 24 hour shifts just to keep the entire southern half of the state from going up.

My sweat and toil in preparation for a race seems trivial when there are 7,000 dedicated people putting their lives on the line for their neighbors.

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.

Are you ready for some...

Hockey?!

I played my first hockey game of the season with the local men's hockey league last night. Man, absolutely nothing can prepare you for that workout. It was like a full 90 minutes of wind sprints. There were no dry heaves, but I did plenty of gliding around the ice, watching the puck go by just out of reach. I managed a couple of shots on goal and one deflection that almost found the back of the net. It was a fun time, and a perfect "cross train" for the early part of my taper week. Two more short (very short) runs on tap this week before it's go time on Sunday.

The Fairest Borough

Mrs. Agricola and I were in The Fairest Borough over the weekend for a friend's wedding. We stayed in our old hood -- Brooklyn Heights -- and it was a lot of fun. We slept until nearly 9 AM and then went out for a together-run. We ran together for about 30 minutes. We headed from the Brooklyn Marriott, up some street I can't recall, crossed Atlantic to Court, down Court to Carroll -- we rented there -- to Clinton to Remsen to the Promenade where we parted ways and I headed down Cranberry -- we owned there -- across Cadman Plaza to the pedestrian stairs of the Brooklyn Bridge, across the bridge, into Manhattan, back across the bridge, down to the Promenade, back down Remsen, across the Brooklyn City Hall Plaza and back to the Marriott.

It took me 61 minutes total, I burned 1089 calories and enjoyed every minute of it. Brooklyn is really where I started running in earnest and it really felt like being home. My back, which had been aching since my Wednesday run loosened up within a few minutes of starting. I was hurting at the outset but the activity loosened it all up. It was great to run with Mrs. A and talk about old times, current times and future times and I got a nice two part workout. If you've never run a bridge like the Brooklyn Bridge I highly recommend it. The experience gives you a terrific sense of how they are built and you get to do two nice hill climbs. The Manhattan approach is steeper than the Brooklyn. I love running that bridge -- it was like hanging with an old, challenging friend.

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.

Treadmill Musings

Ran on Friday for a 1/2 hour during an early AM run with rain starting to fall on me as I finished. Okay run.

Today, between sessions at a conference I am attending near Philly, I ran on a treadmill. Running on a treadmill leads one to have several thoughts:

Why do they put mirrors in front of you? While I certainly admired my quad muscles beginning to have more definition, after awhile I got bored watching my fat jiggle around my midsection. Why not put them in front of windows to look at the great outdoors?

When TVs are just off to the side, one should not watch them. I slipped several times and almost fell as I watched some good old football on Sunday.

Why do you have to use the keys on the dash to adjust the speed? It totally throws your stride. Much better to have a remote you could hold in your hands that could adjust speed and incline.

Anyways, 1/2 hour, 3.5 miles, very sweaty as I headed to dinner.

Cheers. Keep on running!

Ouch

Went for what was to be a seven miler today at lunch, but ran into some issues. At about 35 minutes in, I felt a slight tweak in my calf. I stretched then walked for a bit and was able to run, slowly and carefully, the remaining 20 minutes back to work. Now I'm back at the desk with 600 mg of ibuprofen in me, and the calf is sore and tight. I had planned to do a 10 - 15 miler tomorrow, but that is most likely out the window. Bummer. Let's hope it heals up over the next few days.

Anyone know what foods are good to heal muscles? I figure I'll load up on protein, and I heard that milk helps revive sore muscles, too. Maybe some bananas for the potassium. Any other tips?

Finally

Got out for a 5K at lunch today and felt pretty good considering I've only run once (another 5K) in the past 2 weeks. For the first quarter mile I felt like I was being pulled by my legs. The feeling reminded me of being pulled by an over-excited dog on a leash. The legs just wanted to go. I ended up doing the route in 23:30, which was good for the mental state. With less than 2 weeks until CCM, I need positive running experiences. Taper? Already done. Now it's crunch time.

Later boys.

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.

Two longer runs

Hit it hard Monday night and this afternoon. Went 4.33 miles each run. Last night did it in 41 minutes and today went out with a running friend and I completed the same run in 38:00 minutes. Go figure. It is always amazing what a running partner can help you do. He actually went out for a little longer run and he was going to go two minutes past and then try to catch me. So the whole way I just had incredible motivation to keep the stride longer and stay on pace. I still think my best running gains came a few years ago after we had our first child and I decided to hit the treadmill. The treadmill might be boring, but it keeps you honest with your pace and you have no choice but to run (otherwise you end up hitting your face like the woman does in that Gillette commercial). I digress. I feel sore now, but a good run. I just need to keep going until I am once again blessed with some runner's lungs.

Keep on trucking and good running to you all.

Agricola, I have several runners lined up. Need to know if team is coed or not.

Running, running....Last Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday

Thanks, Agricola for getting me out two Sundays ago. I got out for a run on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. All a little over 1/2 hour each and last night I got bloodied. Darn sidewalk came out of nowhere, caused me to pitch forward and scrape my left knee and ankle. Better my leg than my head and I had to say I was steamed. It was already not much of a run, but that just made my blood boil. I had to say I just wanted to quit, yet a little voice told me to keep going and I stayed on and finished pretty strong. Picture to be posted later, but needless to say there was a good stream of blood running down the leg.

The thing is running is not very fun when you have not hit the runner's high and developed your lungs. I know what it feels like to be there and when you are working through an inconsistent running schedule, reaching the runner's high seems very much out of reach. You just have to keep running though and work through it. That is why running with people can be so much better Thanks again Agricola for helping to get me back on track.

Agricola, how many more runners do we need for CCM?

Social!

I took a nice run with PR on Sunday. He and his family swung by the house for a visit and we squeaked in a nice little trot. I think that it will be interesting to read his post about the run and compare them -- I see that it's up, but haven't read it. I guy I worked with when I was a kid used to say: "We're all going to the same place, but won't share the same experience . . . "

I totally enjoyed running with PR and talking along the route. It was a nice quiet Sunday. With the Pats just ending and the Sox just starting my town was fairly ghostly. I didn't get in a family run this weekend, but this was a great social experience. I really enjoy running with other folks, sharing the experience and connecting. We talked about work mostly, but it wasn't rancorous -- it was a good brainstorming talking about options and things that we do, could do, would like to do. It's been a while since we've been together and it was great to share a run -- something I don't think we've ever done. Remember PR, your next run is Tuesday -- shoot for another 30 minutes. It was very cool and I thank you for going out with me.

I'm working on a patio in my yard and moved so much dirt today and have so much more to do in the coming days I'm not sure how much running I'll get in this week -- 5 hours of digging sort of knock the run out of you. I may shoot for some shorter more mellow runs but we'll see -- I need to move like 5 more cubic yards of dirt tomorrow as well as spread a ton of gravel. I actually need to spread two tons, but I'll probably get the second ton down on Wednesday and then start spreading sand . . . maybe that counts as cross training?

Aborted 20

I had my second 20 miler scheduled for this past weekend. It was supposed to be on Sunday, but since I was flying all day to China (I'm in Hong Kong now), I took Friday off and adjusted my schedule to get it in then. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

After running a half marathon the weekend before, my body revolted a little bit. I had GI issues on Monday to the point that I left work early, and my stomach felt tight and off all week. I'm almost positive that the discomfort was from dehydration because it wasn't flu-like, food related or much like anything I've had before. By the time Thursday night came around, I was feeling better, but still didn't have 100% of my appetite and wasn't eating very well. My pre-run dinner that night was a bowl of cereal at about 8:30.

When I woke up Friday morning, my head was not in the game, so I grabbed the iPod that I didn't use on my last long run and headed out the door. The first half mile of this route is downhill, which is usually a great way to start, but not that day. My body felt uncoordinated (like Agricola's did earlier in the week) and I couldn't get into the run mentally. After about 20 minutes, I opted for the iPod, figuring that some NPR talk that Mrs. VTRunner downloaded might distract me. I have literally never run with music or anything in my ears, so that I plugged in for this run tells a lot about my mindset.

I managed to go about 3 miles before calling it quits at the playground where Mrs. VTRunner was scheduled to be for a mommy running club. (This running club is a great idea btw. About 10 moms get together at the park and go out for a run in two groups. The first group runs while the other watches the kids, and vice versa. Awesome idea.) The playground is on my route and right at the start of a 2 mile hill. I stopped because I just did not want to do the run, and my body was not into it either. I was probably still slightly dehydrated, didn't have the right food in me, and therefore had no motivation to run. And if you don't want to run the 20 miles on some level, it is not going to happen. It was a strange experience to get over the hurdles of getting out the door only to stop 3 miles in, but I realized that the run was not meant to be that day. I'm bummed, but I feel like the decision was made for me by my body and the issues I had earlier in the week. I was out of gas and no matter how hard I tried to jam on the pedal, I wasn't going anywhere.

I also realized that I am absolutely NOT into any kind of music/iPod distractions while running. I'm not against it for others, but I couldn't concentrate at all. It's not what running is to me.

So, now I'm heading to China. Look for a few treadmill posts over the next couple of days. Too hot and muggy (and poluted) to run outside.

Later boys. Go Pats! Go Sox! (I can't believe I missed their clincher!)

A Visit and Run with Agricola

The men were actually able to coordinate the Agricola and Phatrunner families without the wives being involved. A good time was had by the kids and better halves and Phatty and Agricola got out for a 31 minute run. Agricola is in much better shape and was able to hold a conversation throughout while my breathing became more and more labored. Hats off to Agricola for staying committed and he finished off the run with a very nice sprint. I have some work to do.

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Agricola for a wonderful afternoon and a great dinner. Have a great Columbus Day!

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Time: 38:18
Avg HR: 158
Peak HR: 178
Calories: 637
Distance: 4.7
Start Time: 6:46 AM
Training Effect: 4.3
Temp: 50s & Humid
Date: 10/4/07

Two days ago I needed a jacket, it was cold and dry and clear. Today I didn't stop sweating for 45 minutes post-run. The air was humid and funky and the sky was leaden.
Fall got a bit more shallow today, for sure.

45 minutes

I got in a 45 minute trail run at lunch yesterday. It was another running meeting, which is a cool trend. We actually accomplished some work stuff. It also felt good to be out in this beautiful fall weather. Have we had an incredible month of sun or what?

Nothing more to report. Just checking in.

"There Is No Fight Club"

Time: 32:59
Avg HR: 152
Peak HR: 170
Calories: 526
Distance: 4.02
Start Time: 6:47 AM
Training Effect: 3.8
Temp: high-30s
Date: 10/2/07

"The first rule of fight club is that there is no fight club . . . "
"The second rule of fight club is that there is no fight club . . . "

With those lines I got sucked into a late night movie after watching the Pats beat up the Bengals. I didn't watch the whole of Fight Club, and did manage to get to bed before midnight but 6:30 came awfully quickly. Another thing that hastened the morning was some GI distress that kept rousing me from a fitful sleep. So, I was haggard this AM and not feeling so splendid as I ran my route. I got it in, and I didn't have to do anything that would get me arrested -- I, unlike VTR, do not live in a rural area. A good night's sleep is so key, for me at least, as my (not fleet) time for my 4 mile loop shows. Oh yeah, I actually wore my running jacket today -- the one with the light lining -- because it was pretty chilly out there. Fall deepens.

Leaf Peeper Half Marathon

It's really nice when a race coincides with a marathon training schedule, and the Leaf Peeper fit in perfectly for me. I had a 13 mile run on the schedule, and what better way to get it done than surrounded by cheering crowds, other runners, and water stations.

My plan was to use this race to test the whole concept of pacing myself early so I don't crash and burn at the end of my marathon. My pace was going to be 8 minute/miles, and my goal was a 1:45 time. I wanted to see what a consistent 8:00 pace felt like.

I ended up running with a couple of women from town who had a similar goal. We went out at about a 7:45 pace and held that for about 8 miles. It was faster than we wanted, but we all felt good and not stressed, so we kept it up. After mile 8, though, I was feeling antsy. I had seen a couple of friends ahead of me at the turnaround (this was an out and back course), and I wanted to push it and try to reel them in. When I checked my watch at the end of the 8th mile and saw an 8:11 pace, I knew it was time to take off, which I did with my fellow pace-setters' blessings. I ran at a consistent 7:30-ish pace for the final 5 miles and felt strong, knowing that this was the type of push I was "saving" myself for during the first half. In the end, I came in at 1:41:27, which was huge. I confirmed the strategy I want to use during the marathon, I beat my target, and I felt like I could do even better next time around.

In terms of the distance, I really enjoyed the half marathon. It's satisfying, but not as grueling (training or race-wise) as a marathon. It's fast, but not ungodly fast like a 5 or 10K. I'd highly recommend this distance for anyone looking for a new experience out on the roads.

Later boys.

Family Run 2

I met one goal this weekend which was to get out with the whole family for another family run. We did a little different route and had a nice time on a gorgeous day for a 30 minute trot. Mrs. Agricola started out blazing and paid for it at the end. She's getting stronger and as a result is having some trouble with the pacing aspect of her workouts. That's a good problem to have I think; and the pacing piece will work itself out. The kids were ensconced in the stroller with animal buddies and snacks. Child Two was very quiet, uncharacteristically so, and Child One sang "Bingo Was His Name-O" over and over again.
We had a good time and are looking forward to the next run.

I didn't get out for my trail run Sunday, but I did manage to make a huge pot of Chicken Curry and an apple pie, so the day wasn't a total wash.