Jingle Bell Run - 12/19/2010

The 2008 Jingle Bell Run was my first running race ever.  My goal was to finish the race without stopping to walk.  I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it wasn't 2000+ people dressed as Santa, elves, reindeer, and at least one 6' gingerbread man.  All of whom flew by me, as it happens, but that was fine.  I enjoyed the run and wanted to be part of it again.

This year I signed up and knew that friends would also be there.  I also wanted to dress for the occasion this time, with a Patriot's Santa hat borrowed from Monica.  Rather than take the T or drive, I walked from my house to Davis Square, warming up a bit in the process.  I got there around 10:30 and checked out the many costumes and exposed skin; some very brave and/or warm-blooded people. I kept looking for my friends but never saw any of them, so I settled into the 8 minute/mile pen and we started off at the gun.

It wasn't a problem the last time I ran here, but the first mile or so is spent trying to find a clear path to run.  I had to bob and weave to get past some slower runners (a phrase that still amazes me) as we worked our way to Ball Square, then up towards Tufts. I had warmed up but never really felt loose during the run. I didn't stop at the water station because it was only a 5K, turned onto the bike path, sprinted as best I could while avoiding the ice and finished in 25:47.  Without the slow first mile I'm sure I could have been faster, probably under 25 minutes, but it doesn't really matter.

After the race I got my medal, grabbed some water and hung around a bit looking for Maria and Jackie, but never saw either of them.  So, I walked back home after the race, still wearing my medal, bib, and Santa hat. A good way to spend the morning.

Cross Training

We're getting into ski season now and this past weekend I got to do my first cross training, a trip to Jay for the NET Vermont Telemark Festival.  A group of friends rented a condo up there and we all headed up Friday night under light snow.  It's a 4+ hour drive but it went by fairly quickly with 2 other people in the car for conversation.  We checked in and opened a bottle or two of red wine as the other cars arrived.

Saturday morning Brenda and I headed over to the Tram lodge to check in with the NET group; Brenda is an instructor and I'm the photographer so we needed to be there early.  The new construction at Jay is pretty amazing, now if they would only put some money into their lifts!  After starting the day running, the Green Mountain Flyer shut down leaving us with only the Metro Quad and the Jet lifts. sigh

After the morning lineup and shooting some of the clinics I headed over to the Jet where I met up with Michelle and Peter as we ducked a few ropes and headed into the woods at Timbuktu.  There we encountered the law firm of Granite, Log, and Moss but had a great time in the softer snow beyond the ski area boundary.  A few runs and back for lunch, then the afternoon classes, and a few more runs in the trees. That night we had a killer lasagna, bread, meatballs, salad, and a bit more wine, followed by pie.  We all slept well.

Sunday the forecast was for snow starting, switching to rain or mix, so we wanted to get some early runs on the Flyer (which was reported to be open) and then take off.  Alas, the Flyer was again closed so we headed to Jet and back into Timbuktu, and a few runs on Jet as well.  Steve and Peter headed up on skins to ski/ride the untracked snow of Valhalla and Power Line and we all met back at the Tram lodge by 12:30.  The other Peter had a broken binding in the morning so he took and unintended rest day, and Anne worked on some drills on Metro after our first run in Timbuktu.

The drive home was wet but uneventful. The snow turned to rain almost as soon as we dropped down from the ski area and stayed steady rain all the way home.  Monday I went for a run at noon to see if I could actually run after skiing, and it went OK. My legs are a bit sore but nothing I can't handle. There will be many weekends like this, one day of skiing followed by a long run, or the reverse.  This weekend was proof that the plan can work.

Cheap White Cotton Gloves

I was worried that I'd left my white cotton running gloves at my sister's house at Thanksgiving, but while packing my gym bag this morning I found them in a jacket pocket.  They're disposable gloves, that's their purpose in life.  Runners often bring them to the start of a race so they can keep warm at first and then just drop them along the course without worrying about a valuable piece of gear. You can buy them for $1.99 at any hardware or garden store, they're ugly and crude. So why did I care if I lost that pair?

My brother brought them to my house a few years ago the first time he ran the Boston Marathon.  When I started running seriously last fall I used them to keep warm because they were what runners wore.  I knew this because my brother wore them. They were a safety blanket for me, a reassuring touchstone that connected me to "real" runners.  No matter how slowly I ran, or how out of shape I looked I could tell myself that others would recognize the common badge we shared and identify me as a runner.  Was it true?  Probably not, but if it helped me get out there and run it was a white lie, if only to myself.

I like the connection to my brother, as well as to the other runners I see wearing cheap cotton gloves. Lately I've been feeling a part of the community of runners, even seeking out others to run with, something I never enjoyed before. But the connection to my novice running self is equally important. It's a nice reminder of how far I've come and the progress I've made.  I have several pair of polypro and windblocker gloves that I use when the conditions warrant, but I still fall back on these white cotton gloves on days like today when I need them. They make me go faster in the same way that racing stripes make a car go faster, but I had a smile on my face when I finished my run today.

Pushing Myself

I'm learning how to push myself, something that's new for me. I ran 7 with Robyn on Saturday and then headed out for a shorter run on Sunday. At first I expected to do 4, but I quickly switched to my 6 mile loop because I felt good. As I came back across the river and turned for home I decided to stretch things a bit and head for Inman. Once there, I headed to Union Sq and eventually headed up Somerville Ave to finish just over 8 miles. Often I start a run with grand expectations for a long workout and end up cutting it short because I'm not feeling great. But lately I've been exceeding my initial plan because I'm enjoying the run, even on treadmill runs.

Is this the Zone? I don't know, but I've gotten to the point in some runs where I lose track of time, don't feel the miles, lose myself in the moment. Sometimes my mind wanders, other times I feel focused and in the moment. I can't predict what will happen when I head out the door since I still have bad sessions from time to time, and will cut a run short if I'm not feeling it. But more and more I find that I am open to pushing myself in a workout beyond my expectations, and I like that.

Reality Sets In

After my run with Robyn last weekend I've been going over the marathon training schedule, lining up my skiing commitments for the winter, and figuring out that something has to give.  I've already decided that I won't be doing pottery this winter, I usually don't get much done in winter and this year will be far worse. Rather than do something half-assed, I decided that I should make some priority calls and concentrate on what is important to me. I've already started to pick and choose which ski weekends I can participate in, and which ones I need to cut short so I can do my long run on Sunday.

I have no intention of giving up skiing.  My original motivation for getting into running was to make myself more fit for skiing. Being on the snow is a great joy for me and not something I would give up lightly.  But the goal of running Boston is also something that has become very important to me.  It represents something I can't yet put into words; perhaps a rite of passage or a symbol of a new chapter in life. Time will tell - I don't want to burden it with unnecessary significance.  There will be time enough for that later.

In the meantime I look at the calendar, make my choices, sniff back a tear at the events I will be missing, give an involuntary shudder at the amount of running I'm being asked to do, and move on.  I was at a friend's house last night tuning up my skis.  He lives a block from the marathon course so on the way home I took a slight detour and drove along most of the Newton Hills.  They seemed longer and steeper than I'd remembered, but within reach.

Heartbreak Hill for the first time

On Monday this week I got word that I'd been granted a bib to run the Boston Marathon as a fundraiser for Community Rowing, so my winter schedule is under revision.  I signed up for a half marathon at Disney in January so I could run with my brother and see family, lots of planning.  But at some point, I suppose, I have to actually run.  Training this week went well, runs of 5, 4, 6, and 3 miles leading up to a Saturday run with Robyn.  We agreed to meet at CRI at 8:00 AM and she said she'd take me up to the Newton hills.  It really didn't dawn on me exactly what that meant.

The run started normally enough, running away from the river and up a few small hills.  We pulled out onto Commonwealth Ave and I realized we were on the marathon course, headed the wrong way up Heartbreak Hill.  I've driven this road dozens of times, but it was a bit like seeing it for the first time.  We ran on the little side street that parallels the main road, but in my mind I could see myself on the other side of the divide, crowds lining the route, cheering and noise. It was great to see the sights and figure out how they related to each other, plus all the other runners out in the warm November sunshine. How many of them were training for Boston, or is this their normal training run, or both?

We went out 4 miles and turned around to head back up the hills.  Robyn has an effortless stride up hills that for me represents the difference between where I am and where I want to be. I can run, and I can run hills, but not smoothly.  I felt my pace falter, my stride turn choppy, my breathing get labored.  Even so, we passed a few people that looked like real runners. I told Robyn to run ahead and wait for me at the top so I was left to my own thoughts for a bit.  I was visualizing myself here in 5 months and I couldn't really imagine the scene.

At the top I tapped the signpost that Robyn said represents the top of the hill for training purposes I didn't feel a sense of accomplishment.  The hills really aren't that big by themselves, it's where they occur during the marathon that makes them special.  We'd run 5.5 miles so far at a 9:00 pace, not bad but nothing to inspire pride and joy.  What I did feel was a sense of belonging to a larger community; the CRI marathon group, people all training for Boston, and the general running scene. There is a sense of camaraderie that is welcoming and open, especially on a sunny warm morning on Heartbreak Hill.

Signed up for the Disney Half Marathon

Keeping with my One Race per Month theme I just signed up for the Disney Half Marathon on Jan 8th in Orlando.  My brother is running the Disney Marathon the next day so this was an opportunity to run in warm weather in the middle of January, see my brother run a marathon again, and visit with family.  Some friends are also running the two races so it'll be a regular party down there. Plus, the Magic Kingdom is kinda fun. :)

Had a fine run yesterday, 6 miles in the sun at an 8:50 pace. Everything felt good during the run, after I still coughed for a bit as I'm not yet over this cold.  Today will be a short run, followed by weights and stretching, then a long run with Robyn tomorrow to kick off the official Boston training.  Sunday Monica and I plan to hike Moosilauke.

Boston 2011 - Disappointment turns into panic

A few weeks ago I posted about not getting a bib for the 2011 Boston Marathon through our fund raising team at work.  It would have been a nice fit and relatively easy to raise the money, plus it would be a nice way to find other runners here at work to train with.  Unfortunately, with a limited number of bibs and a lot of people interested in running I was not selected.  Such is life, and there are other marathons in the spring that would be a good fit. Running is becoming a big part of my life and running a marathon now seems like the right thing to do.

Enter Robyn, who would have helped me train this winter because she's training a fund raising group from Community Rowing.  If I had a bib I could join them on training runs and benefit from her coaching.  When she heard that I didn't get a bib from work she said that I should consider getting one from CRI.  I think her main motivation was making sure she could punish me all winter, but never look a gift horse in the mouth, so I sent in my application.  After speaking with Alice on the phone I had a good feeling about my chances.  And yesterday, I got the message that I'm part of the team!

I'm not sure how much of this has sunk in yet.  Running the actual marathon, that's too abstract right now.  The training all winter, that is what I'm focused on and what is consuming my thoughts. How will I handle my skiing commitments? Will I be able to do pottery or should I just drop it for a semester? Will I be out in the snow and sleet, plodding along dangerous roadways while trying to dodge cars and puddles?

For my birthday Monica got me a marathon package that included a Daruma doll.  This morning I filled in one eye and put it on my kitchen shelf.

He'll keep a watch on my progress and I'll hopefully give him a second eye come spring.

Jack London 10K Trail Race

I've been suffering from a bad cold since last weekend.  Thursday after work was the first time I felt reasonable to run, and that was a 3 miler on the treadmill which I survived, but didn't enjoy.  The Jack London 10K is a trail run up in Nashua NH's Mine Falls Park, my old stomping grounds from when I lived up there. Cathy organized a group of folks to run this, including Bob and Geri, Dani, Ryan, and Mike, so I really wanted to participate regardless of how I felt.  I figured it's only 10K, I can survive that, right?

It was fairly cold in the morning when Monica and I arrived at the parking area, maybe 42 degrees.  I was wearing tights and a long sleeve, along with hat and gloves, since I didn't want to get chilled in my current health state.  We found Bob and Geri right away, and headed over to register and meet up with the other runners.  I saw my friends Reji and Chrissy who were also running the race, and lots of fit people in lycra.  We milled about a bit, gathering our little posse until about 20 minutes before the start when we took off our outer layers and went for a warm up run.  I could tell it wasn't going to be a great day for me.

We lined up in the corral and the starting buzzer went off.  Ryan was up near the front, Bob ran away quickly, and Cathy stayed next to me for the first 1/3 of a mile before she pulled ahead.  I could run without coughing, but I could feel my legs already, not a great sign.  The first loop around the pond starts on fire road, before dropping to a single track on the return side.  People fell in line and ran at the pace of whoever was in front of them, passing occasionally at the few wide spots on the trail.  I kept up a good pace and locked in behind a girl in a tie-died t-shirt who would remain just in front of me for most of the race.  We came out to the road back by the start line, waved to Monica who was taking photos, and headed up towards the 2 mile marker down by the river.

Cathy had taken us on what was supposed to be a dry run two weeks ago but the race course was much simpler and had less single track than what we practiced on.  Along the river some more, then under the highway.  For some reason, the pavement under the highway bridge made my legs feel like lead.  There was a water station there and as I grabbed a cup the woman said "Dave?"  It as Early Bird from VFTT, yet another connection.  Then back on the single track next to the highway, where at around half way Dani came past me.  I really didn't have anything in the tank to try to keep up so I just tried to keep her in sight.  During this stretch I was passed by 3-4 people each mile, a little depressing but it was fine with me, based on how I was feeling.  Back to the water station and now I knew there was around 2 miles to go.  Too early to kick, too late to care.

Mike passed me, then Chrissy right before the last loop into the woods.  I knew what was coming so I bidded my time.  There's one hill, maybe 20-25' of loose gravel and I managed to catch up to Chrissy at the top, just before we made the turn for home.  I could see the small crowd and heard them cheering as we pushed with whatever we had left for the finish.  My time was 52:15, which was far better than I had any right to expect.  Immediately upon finishing I went into a 15 minute coughing jag that left me feeling drained more than the run.  The human body is a curious instrument.

Everyone did exceptionally well.  Ryan came in 11th overall; Bob won his age group, Reji, Chrissy, Dani, and Cathy all finished in the top 3 in their age groups.  Geri ran in her first race ever and did great!  And Monica and Liza took some fantastic photos of the event.  A great time had by all, one I want to try again when I'm healthy and can enjoy it a bit more.

Too sick to run

For the first time in my brief running career I find myself too sick to run.  I came down with a nasty cold over the weekend, unable to sleep, head stuffed up, coughing, lost my voice.  Running wasn't an option, I had trouble going up and down stairs.  Today I'm feeling a bit better but still have joint pain, a cough, and no voice.  My immediate concern is the 10K trail race I have on Saturday but I figure even if I don't improve dramatically between now and then I'll be able to finish that race, if not be too competitive.  But I expect to be somewhat better by then.  What is more intriguing is how my resistance to leftover Halloween candy is practically non-existent when I'm not exercising regularly.  The relationship between exercise and will power is a strong one, and I need the former to bolster the latter.

Maybe I'll feel well enough tomorrow for a short run at lunch.  I want to get at least one or two runs in before the race, even if they are short and slow, just to shake out the cobwebs.

And I miss it. Not running is hard.

Making your own race

It was a warm morning, nearly 60 degrees which is just wrong for Oct 28. My first mile, the slow one, didn't feel bad at all so I pushed the pace a little.  At Sanders Theater I watched the pedestrian crossing light count down and I tried to race it, but pulled up just a little short, reaching the crosswalk just after it hit 0 and the traffic started across. Oh well, there are always more lights.  On to the river, along the dirt paths (I put new batteries in my headlamp, still need a brighter one) and enjoyed the early morning warmth.  At the Elliot bridge I noticed a shell in the water, gliding silently along in the darkness with nothing but a bow and stern light to bring notice.  They pulled up along side me as I came closer to the water and for a while we paced each other down the Charles in the darkness. A rabbit jumped out of the bushes in front of me and decided she was going the same direction I was and hopped away directly ahead.  I picked up speed to catch her but no such luck; that was not a race I was going to win.

Waiting for the light at the JFK bridge I noticed the crew boat was now well ahead of me so I decided to race it to the River St bridge.  Fortunately, they had no idea I was racing them and it was easy to catch up and pass.  I suspect they were fishing.  Just before the last bridge a collection of about 20 young folks in matching running gear and snazzy reflective belts all ran by the opposite way, almost in unison, in stark contrast to my solitary morning.  Back to Cambridge and I spied another runner that I attempted to reel in.  There was a second runner as well, but he was clearly too fast to catch so no race was initiated on my part.  I caught my prey at Western Ave just in time to meet up again with the group of 20 identical outfits, passing by me in clumps of 3 and 4 now. Back towards home and a pretty fast time for me.  It was my fastest run since the half marathon, except for the first mile I was right around 8:30.

I loved the little races I could make for myself.  Traffic lights are great, but the consequences for losing can be dire. Rabbits and other game are classic targets, but you have to prepare yourself for lifetime of disappointment.  Crew boats are great fun, but it works best IMO when they don't realize that they're racing you, and it's best to avoid the 8's if you're slow like me.  Other runners can be fun, but it's hard to sneak up on them when it's pitch black and you're running with a headlamp.  And, as it turns out, they are all variations of running against yourself.

Suburban Wildlife

It was such a nice warm day near the end of October that I wanted to get out in daylight and not have to worry about running under a headlamp.  I finished my last meeting of the day around 4:00 and started my run before 4:30 in a t-shirt and shorts.  It was nearly 60 degrees and it felt great to be out there, MP3 player churning out new tunes I recently added.  Never underestimate new tunes.  As usual, the first mile was slow but not awkward, always a good sign, but by the end of mile 2 I had a stitch in my side so I slowed down again.  I had decided to take the 5 mile loop and turned left at the cul-de-sac.

The leaves on the ground made it a little difficult to see my footing but I was on a sidewalk, what could happen?  At the halfway point the stitch was gone and I picked up the pace a little.  A pleasant day out, my pace became deliberate and faster.  At 3 miles I knew I could make this a good overall pace so I switched my watch to see my pacer and started reeling him in. On Princess Pine Dr, less than a mile from the office, I spotted a deer standing on the edge of the road, just staring at me as I approached.  She ran across the road in front of me, then paused as I went by.  I forgot about the time, my pace, work, and just locked eyes with her as we ready each others body language.

And then I was past, chugging up the last hill and across Rt 3 towards home, or at least the office.  I went 5 miles, just under 9:00/miles, and ended up one suburban wildlife encounter richer.

A good run

At the end of last week my legs were pretty beat.  I started with the Bay State Half Marathon and ran 4 more days during the week, including a nice albeit slow trail run in the Fells on Saturday. On Monday my legs were still sore and I wasn't holding out a lot of hope for a good run.  I elected to run from home rather than from work, since the Charles River always seems to energize me.  Friends had run the Bimbler's Bluff 50K race over the weekend and had some great finishes, even in the face of physical adversity, so I was determined that I would get out there one way or the other. Watching the Head of the Charles also helped my inspiration.

As I changed into my running gear my body felt energized; I'm not sure where that energy came from. As I stretched out front of my house I thought about going for 6 instead of 4 miles.  It was warm and being out in shorts made my legs eager for a run.  The first mile was slow, as it always is, but it wasn't awkward or painful, a good sign.  I saw Mimi just before hitting the river, she was finishing her run as I was headed out.  By then I'd made the decision to go up to the Elliot Bridge and extend the run.  My headlamp illumination proved inadequate for running on the narrow dirt path next to the bike path, so I stayed on the pavement most of the way.  It's amazing how few runners or bikers carry any sort of illumination. Silly people.

At the bridge I checked my pace and saw that I had stepped it up quite a bit, this might even be a fast run. Thinking about the rowers who had been on the river the past two days kept my brain occupied, and the next mile flew by.  There were still a bunch of the big white tents near the footbridge and I thought I heard some people still out on the water but didn't see any bow lights.  Ghost rowers, perhaps?  The turn at River St and now I was headed back home. It's tough seeing the ground when the headlights of the oncoming cars are in your eyes, so I went back on the paved path, before cutting across Memorial Drive.  The run was going to be a little short so I added a loop around my block to make sure I had 6+ miles.  It ended up pretty fast, nearly my half marathon pace.  If I took out the first mile it would have been faster.

I wonder where that energy came from?  It wasn't there when I started getting ready for the run. Never look a gift run in the mouth.

End of a long week

I've already run 25+ miles this week, including the half marathon on Sunday and the night trail run on Thursday night. Today I wanted to do some more trail running, but in the daylight this time. The Fells are close to home, have lots of interesting trails to choose from, and the standard loop is 7 miles which is just what I was looking for. After pottery in the morning I headed to Sheepfold but as usual, the parking area was full, so I parked over on South Border Road by Bellvue Pond. A quick look at the map reminded me of where the trails went and off I went.

Right away I could tell that my legs weren't feeling great. They were tired and so was I. Do runners think of their legs as separate entities? I picked my way though the usual trails, climbing over some downed trees and skirting some mud and running water. Ah, this was rugged. At Sheepfold I paused a bit to have a Gu and pet some dogs before headed back on the mountain bike loop towards the hill. I ended up in a warren of tiny trails before coming out on a yellow blazed trail that led me to the water tower where I got the first comments on my Dirty Girl gaiters. After a brief stop for the view and running into a friend who was out for a hike I started down to the mountain bike trails in the back corner of the Fells.

I finally got into something of a rhythm here, not a fast pace but a comfortable gait. The discomfort and soreness drifted into an inconsequential haze and my mind drifted to thoughts of friends running or rowing this weekend which made it easy to continue. Around the corner of the reservoir and some fun switchbacks then onto some fire roads again where I could pick up speed. At one point I noticed an orange and white station that looked like an orienteering marker and sure enough some fast young people in spandex carrying maps went running by. They were running in all directions through the woods and on the myriad of trails, which made my casual run a bit surreal.

After passing though the start/finish line and seeing dozens of orienteering participants I headed through some random woods until I caught my trail to Bellvue Pond. The finish felts strong but I didn't have any desire to go further, 7+ was fine. I had to rush back, get food, pick up my rebuilt bicycle wheel and head to the river to catch some of the Head of the Charles Regatta. It was a busy run, one that never completely clicked, but a good day to be out. It was good to push through a bad start and persevere. I'm sure the ability to do that will serve me well some day.

Semi-Rugged - trail running in the dark

This run was something different, for sure. Mines Falls park in Nashua has a great collection of trails and will be host to the Jack London 10K trail run in early November. A bunch of friends all entered the race and Cathy organized a run of the course so we'd be familiar with it even though we've all run at Mines Falls in the past. I pulled into the parking area at 5:50 to see Cathy and Bob already there. They'd never met but had seen pictures of each other online so had already introduced themselves. Dani was going to try to make it, but told us not to wait if she wasn't there yet. We dressed for the run (hats, gloves, headlamps) and started out on the first loop.

It was still light and Cathy thought we should take advantage of being able to see so she took off at a blistering pace. Bob and I wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. The first part of the course is good footing so we were able to keep up, just barely, we even saw a muskrat in the canal. Over the bridge and back towards the gate house we heard a yell "Cathy" from the other side and concluded it was Dani. We decided to wait at the gatehouse at the end of the first loop and on we went on the rougher trails. I was pressing hard to keep up with Cathy who knows every root and rock so was running with purpose. Dani was waiting for us at the gatehouse when we arrived and we pressed off into the woods as the light dwindled.

Soon after that I turned on my headlamp and was centered in the cone of light. My concentration was on the reflective patch on the back of Cathy's pack, her feet, and the trail. If I allowed anything else to catch my attention I stumbled so I was forced to focus. There were a series of downed logs that we had to jump over, so naturally I tripped on the flat ground in between them, no blood - no foul. Cathy and I were running a bit faster than Dani and Bob (who ran faster than me in the half marathon on Sunday) and unfortunately we lost them on the other side of the highway. Since Bob knew the trails I assumed they elected to stay on the better trails while I plunged on following the reflective triangles that darted and skipped past obstacles.

Night time trail running is challenging. I stepped on a few roots and rocks that threatened to twist an ankle but never did. I tripped once and caught myself on my hands with no damage (except to my pride) and slowed down a bit after that. We kept up a conversation the entire run in our two little cones of light. Back to the major trail and we headed back towards home. But the Jack London has a trick or two up its sleeve as we headed back to the river, down and up a nice hill that had me slowing down due to not being able to see far enough ahead. Cathy, knowing the route, could run with more confidence and she sped ahead. Back to the last turn and a sprint for the finish, where we met Bob and Dani who had run their own route.

I've liked the trail running I've done in the past, but night time training is its own special world. As winter is coming up and sunset is now before 6:00 this may be a regular option until the trails are full of snow and ice. It's definitely a way to break up some boring training runs, and have fun on what would otherwise be familiar trails. Next time, rain and mud! Rugged!

10/21/2010 - Mines Falls trail run by metsky at Garmin Connect - Details

Another early morning

Went to Tavern at the End of the World to welcome Rebecca back to the States, if only for a brief visit, and to have a few beers with friends. Even brought a few of them back to the house for the night. :) So I ended up going to bed late and getting up early, but had a similar run as yesterday, a little slower but just fine. I made the decision early on not to worry about speed and just try to keep a steady pace.

I'm getting familiar with the other runners out there in the morning. And all the tents are set up for the HOCR by the boathouses. I'm hoping to spend some time along the river this weekend taking photos and cheering on the rowers.

Morning run after race

I ran the Bay State Half on Sunday, took Monday off, and wanted to get back into my routine by Tuesday. I felt much better than I expected so I planned for a morning run today. Got up at 5:30, put on my new shirt from the Bay State :) and reflective vest, hat and gloves, and headed out with my headlamp in flashing mode. It was cool but felt about the same as the temp at start time on Monday.

I really like the stillness of the morning when the streets are mostly empty and a few runners and bikers are the only ones moving. I checked my pace a few times but was mostly interested in stretching the legs. Some of the other early morning runners are becoming familiar faces; a community of people with a common interest but who never speak to one another. I run on the little dirt paths next to the paved bike path but I'm concerned about tripping in the dark so if it gets rough I cut back over.

The turn at River Street behind me, I headed for home feeling pretty good. There was no soreness, no twinges of pain when I stepped over curves. It was still dark as I pulled in front of the house, just under 9:00 pace. Time to start my day.

The Second Half - Bay State half marathon: Oct 17, 2010

My first half marathon was a hot, humid day and a very hilly course.  I enjoyed the experience, but the run was quite painful.  For my second half I chose the Bay State up in Lowell, MA in October.  The weather was going to be much cooler, the course much flatter, and I hoped that I would be in better shape by then.  Training during the summer went well and I could tell that my pace had been improving. The last week before the race I had problems with some taper runs and had some anxiety about how I would fare on race day.  In addition, I had several friends running the race with me and people there to spectate, so the whole day was setting up to be a different experience.

My downstairs neighbors decided to have a party on Saturday night and so I did wake up a bit during the night, but nothing like the 3:00 loud cell phone call that happened before my last race.  I felt pretty well rested when we headed out at 5:35 for Lowell.  It was fairly easy getting to the parking area and Monica and I walked over to the Tsongas Arena just about 90 minutes before the start time. I was a little surreal seeing runners sitting in the arena seats, watching the Zamboni on the ice from the previous night's event (Riverdance on Ice) and sipping coffee or sports drinks.  We walked around a bit, found a spot to stretch and warm up and waited for Bob and Geri to arrive.  I guess because of the ratio of male to female runners the lines for the men's room were much longer than the lines for the women's room.

Just after 7:30 we headed outside and got online at the porta-potties.  It was cool, around 42 degrees but the sun felt pretty good.  I was still wearing my hat but I handed that to Monica before Bob and I jogged off to the start line to warm up.  We saw Wenzel in the marathon corral looking excited and anxious for the race.  Bob was doing a great job handling the stress from his first race, and the longest run of his career.  We found a spot in the half marathon corral, sang the national anthem, and just a few minutes after 8:00 the crowd surged forward and the two groups merged on the course. Within 30 seconds Bob was out of site and I was trying to settle into a pace.


In my other half I settled into a 10:00 pace early on, and managed to maintain it most of the race.  Here I ran mile one at 8:35 and mile 2 at 8:25 which I figured was too fast.  I was afraid of going out too fast and burning out before the end so I consciously dialed it back a bit.  The next three miles I averaged around 8:55, closer the pace I wanted to start at.  I had been nursing a stitch in my side from about mile 2 and cutting back the pace helped work that out of my system. We had looped to the other side of the river and there was a strip of dirt and grass that runners could use and I took advantage of it.  By mile 5 I was feeling better so I tried upping the pace again but kept jumping from about 8:45 to 8:55 up till mile 10.  The course was a loop that we ran twice so things were familiar the second time through, which helped.

Monica and Geri were cheering from either side of a bridge on the course, so they saw us 4 times along the way.  They were both wearing bright puffy jackets in the cold sunlight so they were easy to spot.  I tried to look good when on camera.  Knowing they were there cheering was good for the soul, and made it easier to increase my pace when needed.  The second loop went by fairly quickly, crossing the far bridge as the marathoners at a 3:00 pace crossed back in the other lane.  A woman in purple passed me around mile 8 and was still in sight at mile 10; it became my goal to eventually pass her before the finish.  At mile 10 I figured the stitch wasn't coming back and with only three miles remaining I should pick things up.

Fortunately, there was still some gas in the tank.  I dropped from 8:45 to 8:33 to 8:19 to 8:04, which may mean I should have gone out faster.  I do feel like I could have run the race more consistently, but I'll leave the detailed analysis for another day.  We turned into the baseball stadium and I saw Monica taking pictures as I entered the outfield.  A sprint along the outfield wall and over the two bullpen pitcher's mounds and the finish line was right there.  I knew I had beaten the 2:00 mark and was happy to see I had made it just under 1:54, a 16 minute improvement from June on a much friendlier course. The medal was nice but I really was excited about the Mylar blanket; to me that was the sign of a real runner.  We met up with Bob (1:50) and Geri and Chris (1:44) along the third base line and put on some warm clothes. Dani (1:50) finished right after Bob but we never saw her all day. The food (especially the soup) tasted great after all that energy expended on a cold day. We ran into Mike and Monica (2:05) and hung out a bit more before going back on the course to cheer for Chris who was running the marathon.

We settled in around mile 24.5 on the marathon course and cheered on the runners.  They seemed appreciative of the encouragement.  Chris came along, a bit behind her target pace but still pretty darn fast.  It felt good to cheer on others after I'd finished, kind of closing the circle.  We headed back to the stadium, stopping to tie a dropped child's froggy hat to the railing so it wouldn't get stepped on, and cheered her on at the finish.  After Chris went by we headed to our cars, joining the stream of hobbling runners and helpful supporters on our journeys.  We went over to Chez Chris and Chris for a fine BBQ, birthday celebration, and Patriot's game before calling it a day around 4 and heading home.

Some thoughts from the day:

• I could have run in a short sleeve shirt except for the 10 minutes at the starting line. I don't think it would have changed anything but it's good to know that once the race started the temperature was never a factor.
• It was cool to run wearing the gloves that my brother used in his first Boston Marathon. I know they're disposable cotton gloves, but I like using them.
• I noticed a great blue heron flying over the course near the river before the first bridge crossing. I think I was the only runner looking up at that time.
• Karma works -- the frog hat we picked up off the ground was Chris' nephew's hat and his grandparents saw it tied to the fence and retrieved it for him.
• I didn't have nearly as much pre-race anxiety as the first time. It felt much different at the start, with a plan in my head.
• Having people cheering on the race course is very important.
• Running on dirt = good.

Garmin Connect track of the Race

Disappointed

A month ago an email came across my screen letting me know that my company has 20 bibs available for the 2011 Boston Marathon for fund raising runners.  They do a lottery to determine which employees get the privilege of running the race, with the results announced today.  In a fit of whimsy I put my name in, knowing that the chances of getting a bib were pretty remote -- it's a big company. But what the heck, why not?  I've been careful not to get my hopes up but I know I had some fantasies about running Boston for my first marathon.

Well, the email came today and I wasn't selected.  I'm on the waiting list, but I'm pretty sure that means I won't be getting a call any time soon. So I'm shifting to plan B, there are two marathons in May that will work fine with my schedule so I'm adjusting my sights as I type.  I'm a little surprised at how much not getting a bib for Boston has hit me; I guess I've been somewhat unsuccessful at not getting my hopes up. On the plus side, this means I can teach at AMC Leader Training in the spring and the long runs won't cut into my winter skiing program as much.

But Boston would have been very special. Looks like it will have to wait until a later year.  Maybe by then I'll be able to qualify. :)

Meanwhile, more rest for me.  Tomorrow is the race Expo and then the Bay State Half Marathon on Sunday morning.  The forecast is for temps in the 40's and sunny at the 8:00 AM start time.  I'm going to have fun running with Bob, Chris, Chris, and Dani. Plus a few 1000 others.

Unexpected run

"Woke up, got out of bed
Dragged a hat across my head
On the way downstairs I grabbed a Gu
Looking up, I noticed it was dark ..."

My apologies to Sir Paul.

I woke up this morning and looked at the clock.  It was 5:30.  I didn't feel like I was going to fall back to sleep so I quickly decided that I might as well go for my last run before the half marathon this weekend right then.  It was going to rain later in the day and I would have to run at lunchtime so this would work instead.  I threw on my new tights, new top, and new jacket, plus the new reflective vest (nothing like trying out a whole bunch of new things right before a race), put on the headlamp and the cotton gloves my brother used when he ran Boston, and headed downstairs.

In the quiet of the morning, able to see my breath in the headlamp glow, I started off at a slow pace.  This was what my body was telling me to do and after that last few poor runs I decided to listen to it.  I didn't really care about pace, I was just out for the mileage and to remind myself that I liked running.  The temps were fine, I was probably over-dressed but not by much.  As I came through Harvard Sq and my watch beeped at 1 mile I felt loose and comfortable.  Along the Charles in the dark was very calming.  As I came into the pool of light before crossing the foot bridge I saw first one, then a second bunny rabbit just sitting there.  They didn't move away until I was right next to them, and even then they were pretty casual about it.  I started coming up with a tortoise and the hare metaphor, but nothing came to mind.  On the other side of the bridge I saw another morning runner waiting for the light.  I thought about trying to catch up but she looked fast (and proved to be) and I wasn't interested in pushing my pace.  Instead, I just kept my own pace as I headed back into Harvard Sq.

It was a good run for me, steadily faster as I went along, but never fast. It calmed my nerves after a bad run and put me in a good mood for the day and for the weekend.

Rest Day

Enjoyed the rest day, but for some reason my right Achilles tendon is sore after being on my feet all evening.  I know I'm obsessing so I'm just going to relax, stretch some tonight, and not worry about it.  It'll be fine in the morning, nothing to worry about, right?

On my drive to a meeting tonight after work I covered part of the Boston Marathon course.  I've never looked at it quite like that before.

Tapering - Second try

So, after talking to Robyn and doing some research online I found that my idea of a few relaxed runs during taper is not the approach most people recommend.  Some targeted interval speed work is good, getting the body used to running fast.  So today I decided I'd do a mile run to warm up,  then alternate some faster half miles with slower paced stretches.

It didn't really work out that well, unfortunately. The first mile was OK, if somewhat awkward and slow. The first fast half mile went by well, I felt fast until the end, when I started feeling a stitch in my side.  The next half mile was slow, then I started a faster half and it was clear that it wasn't going to work.  The stitch came back and I gave up on the pace and just jogged a bit.  After that I just opted to survive the run at a slow steady pace, somewhat disillusioned with my run.  It really was a blow to my psyche, after several really good runs to have such a bad one and so close to my next race.  This was supposed to be my taper -- a time of energy and rest.  Instead I found myself sore and slow.

But having had a little time to reflect on this I think it's because of a few things:

• I haven't a clue how to train intervals, how fast to go, how to transition, resting in between, etc.  If I want to do this right I need to find a coach or running group and not try to do this on my own all the time.
• I really need rest.  No matter what my training schedule says, I need to listen to my body and rest when it tells me to.  I've run every day but one since last Wed, including a few fast longer runs, with my only day off a 25 mile bike ride.  Tomorrow is a rest day.
• Bad days happen.  Don't let it occupy your brain too much.  Accept it, move on.

So, I'm moving on.  Tomorrow is a rest day and I'm looking forward to it.

And I signed up for the Jack London 10K trail race next month. :)

Attempting to Taper

I've got a half marathon coming up on Sunday, the second big race of my fledgling career, and according to my training plan it's time to taper.  But let's face it, I have no idea how to taper.  Before my last half marathon in June tapering simply meant not running, but this time around I am trying to do some slower, deliberate runs at an easy pace and I'm finding rather difficult.  Today I set out for a 4 miler trying to hit 9:45/mile, just a slow and relaxing run.  The first mile was right on pace but when I checked my time at the second mile I found that I had dropped to a 9:30.  This is more difficult than I'd imagined.  From someone who spent the last year trying to run faster every time I laced up the running shoes going deliberately slower takes some work. I don't know how to adjust my pace very well.

What I do know:

• I feel better after my run
• It was enjoyable
• I'm looking forward to tomorrow's shorter run

All in all, I'm doing OK I think.

A Run with Robyn

For the most part, I've been a solo runner.  It's easier for me to just head out on my own, run at my own pace, and not think about trying to keep up with anyone else. But on Saturday I arranged to go on a run with my friend Robyn, a hiking buddy from the AMC who has run a bunch of marathons but lately has become something of an insane rowing goddess. I decided not to hold that against her and we went ahead with the plan. As I pulled into Community Rowing (her home away from home) just before 10 AM on this beautiful fall day I spotted Robyn in her rowing gear, latte in hand.  She gave me a quick tour of the place (it's a gorgeous building) and went up to change into running gear while I stretched in the weight room.  Robyn had just rowed for and hour and a half which gave me some hope that I could keep up with her on the run.

We started off in shorts and t-shirts at just under a 9:00/mile pace according to my funky new watch.  We chatted about life, running, and birthdays (mine was the next day) as my watch kept track of the mileage, occasionally beeping to let me know another mile had past.  She led me on past Watertown Square to a part of the bike path I'd never run on as we meandered along the Charles pausing only briefly to let Robyn check out the crew boats on the river. I was conscious of the fact that we were keeping a pretty solid pace, but more so that we were two athletes bonding over the simplest joys; shared interest and exercise.

On we went, trying to decide how far we wanted to go but knowing that the final distance really didn't matter much. The pace and course was separate from the experience, a novel feeling for me.  I've run with others before but I'd always felt that I was on trial. I know that it was coming from me, as none of my other running companions has ever put pressure on me to go faster or further. They've all been happy running at my pace and enjoying shared time.  That's the kind of friends I have, I wouldn't have run with them if it was otherwise.  But for this run I felt like I had earned my seat at the table.  I knew Robyn was getting a good workout, I was as well, and we could also enjoy the social aspect of the event.  It's not that I was pushing the pace, but that she wouldn't have done that workout without someone out there to push her.  I think for the first time I felt like I was involved in a run where everyone benefited from the group experience, and that's a new and satisfying feeling for me.

As we got back to the boathouse we were only at 7 miles and I wanted to go for 8 so we ran another half mile up the bike path and turned around for home.  "Cool down?" Robyn asked.  "No, let's finish strong" I brashly replied and she mock groaned, shifted down a gear, and took off. I had been waiting for this and it still amazed me.  I don't have that extra gear that allows me to lengthen my stride, pick up the cadence, and rip off a 6:00/mile pace. My cadence increased but with a ragged, spasmodic gate that didn't compare favorably to Robyn's smooth strides. It's also noticeably slower.  But that will come with time, practice, and some great running partners.

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