Monday, November 24, 2014

Week of November 17th to 23rd, 2014

Monday:
0mi.  Rest day.  My body is sore today from Lil Rhody.  It was also nasty weather with freezing rain and rain all day.  A perfect day to rest up.

Tuesday:
AM:  3mi/21min on the roads solo.  Feel good.
PM:  7mi/47min in Pisgah with Griffin.  Good run.  Saw a tiny porcupine walking around.  Cute little guy!

Wednesday:
0mi.  Lazy day.

Thursday:
9mi/65min in Waterville Valley up Snow's Mtn with Pat Ard.  Good run.  I got dropped hard going up Snow's.  Legs heavy and sluggish.  Good run though with cold temps and snow flurries. 1/2" of snow on the trails.

Friday:
5mi/36min on the Waterville Valley roads with Pat Ard.  Feeling tired but it's always nice running with Pat.  He's a cool dude and it's fun talking PE, running and life with him. 

Saturday:
11mi/77min on the Athens, VT trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Good run.  Chilly weather.  We saw a deer.  It ran right by us.  It was a little spike-horn buck.  He was bedded down and we flushed him out.  Hopefully, no hunters got him.  Finishing the run, we saw a dead 3-ptr in the back of some hunters truck.  Not the same deer.  I'm not against hunting, it's good organic meat, but I do feel a little bit sorry for the suckers.  I've watched Bambi too many times I guess.  I still love venison if anyone wants to give me some!

Sunday:
19mi*/2:10 in Pisgah with George, Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Nice easy run.  It started out chilly but got warm by the end of the run.  Beautiful day! 

Total for the week:
54miles.  OK week.  I have two races next week (Pie and Glove 5K in Corning, NY on Thanksgiving and the Jingle Bell 5K in Concord on Sunday).  After that, I'm going to reset and rebuild my aerobic base.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Week of November 10th to 16th, 2014 - Lil Rhody

Monday:
3mi/24min in Friedsam with the Running Club.  Uh Oh.  My cold is coming back with a vengeance.  Starting to get a fever too.  Feels like a sinus infection.

Tuesday:
0mi.  Wow.  Feeling sick.  Went to the doctor's and got meds for a sinus infection.  I have a fever and my sinuses in my face hurt.

Wednesday:
0mi.  Still sick.  Meds not working yet.

Thursday:
5mi/33min on the roads solo + drills and sprints.  Starting to feel ok.

Friday:
3.5mi/27min with kids at Running Club.  Feeling decent.

Saturday:
32min/4.5mi in Pisgah with Griffin.  Good run, cold weather.  I feel healthy now.  Ready or not, Lil Rhody is tomorrow.

Sunday:
13mi*/1:20 - Lil Rhody Runaround 8mi trail race - 46:03 (5:45) - 2nd place.
I was excited and nervous heading into this year's race.  I always want to do well here and it's a goal race every year for me.  I was curious to see how my body would feel after 2 weeks of being sick and being on meds for a sinus infection.  I have to say, during the race it felt fine.  I was at 100%.  I debated my race strategy multiple times as I was warming up and even jogging to the line.  I knew Mike Galoob was super fit and I wasn't sure if I should sit behind him and let him lead and just try to stick with him.  As the gun went off, I decided to run my usual race and take it out fast.  I immediately had a small gap of a few seconds.  I really didn't expect this, I figured Mike and possibly Ryan Carrara would be right on my heels.  I kept my lead through the campground and back into the trails.  Coming off one of the long bridges there is a sharp left-hand turn, it's always the first place I look back in the race.  I glanced back and Mike was 5 seconds back, but no one else was in sight.  I got the dreadful feeling that I wouldn't be holding off Mike for long and he would be catching me soon.  This premonition proved correct and Mike caught me right at the Vin-Gormley covered bridge.

 He used the demoralizing strategy of talking to me as he caught up.  "Wow this is fun!  I usually can't see you at this point in this race.  How you feeling?"  He clearly exclaimed without breathing heavy at all.

I gasped back, "Good."  That was my best poker face and I tried to pretend I felt fine.  I don't think he was buying it because about 5 seconds later he asked again, "Are you doing ok?".   With that he took the lead and danced easily away from me.  I tried to not let him get a gap.  I tried to stay on his back and not let the elastic snap.  It lasted for about 10 seconds and then snap he pulled away smoothly while I just tried to keep tough.  I told myself maybe he would struggle late, just keep him close.  Ahh the lies we tell ourselves, deep down I knew he was gone and I wasn't going to win. 

I tried to stay tough and when we dumped out onto Buckeye Brook Rd, I checked his lead as he headed back onto the trails.  It was 22 seconds.  I told myself to get tough make it hurt it's only 22 seconds, work hard, close that damn gap!  The last time I saw him was after the ledges climb and then the hard right-hand turn switchback.  I was too tired to check his lead but it looked bigger that 22 seconds.  I never saw him again and I knew he was running fast and I also knew that I was starting to really suffer and slow down.  After the climb where the Ornstein's were sitting, I stopped thinking about catching Mike and I started looking back.  Was Ryan Carrara lurking back there about to pass me?  Ben Nephew?  Muddy?  Jonny?  Thankfully,  I couldn't see anyone and I figured I had 2nd place in the bag. 

Coming out onto Kings Factory Rd,  I was tired.  Some years, I feel strong and really smoke the road section to the finish.  This year, I was in survival mode just desperate to see the finish line.  Mercifully,  I hit the turn into the parking lot, I heard my family cheering for me, and I crossed the finish line (ending my suffering).  I was disappointed to not break 46min as I consider running in the 45's my standard for a decent race.  I saw Galoob and congratulated him on an awesome run and was happy to hear he broke the course record.  The old record was 44:36 by Stephen Herrera.  Mike broke the record by 3 seconds! 

It didn't take long for a whole train of guys to come into the finishing chute.  Jonny ran a monster pr and it seemed that everyone was pr' ing left and right.  I was glad to see everyone run so well.  I saw some chatter on Facebook regarding the perfect conditions being the reason for all the fast times up front and I'm going to chime in with I disagree.  The conditions have been like this many times.  The difference this year was the fitness and depth of everyone in the top 15 or so.  Everyone pushed each other to fast times and people are in great shape this year.  The conditions were good, but they've been good a lot at this race.  Great job to everyone!

On the cool down I was bonking and Jen wanted to leave and I gladly got a ride home with her.  Fun times at Jonny's house after the race.  I hope I can get myself back in shape next year to run in the 44's and challenge Mike's record, but I don't know, damn that's fast.  We'll see. 

Total for the week:
29mi.  Not a great week.  I feel recovered from my sinus infection.  Lil Rhody was fun.  Time to reset and figure out my goals for the winter.

Week of November 3rd to 9th, 2014

Monday:
AM:  2mi with kids at school.
PM:  3mi/24min in Friedsam with Running Club.

Tuesday:
0mi.

Wednesday:
4mi/28min in Pisgah with Griffin.  My cold is brutal.  This is a rough one.

Thursday:
5mi/34min on the roads with drills and sprints.  Feeling sick.

Friday:
0mi.  Ugghh.  Feeling pretty sick.  No energy to run. 

Saturday:
10mi/69min in Pisgah with Griffin.  Fantastic run!  Feeling a lot better today. 
PM:  2mi/19min up Moon Ledges with Jonny.  Fun run.  Lot's of slipping in the leaves because I was wearing road shoes. 

Sunday:
17mi/1:53 in Pisgah with Ferenc, George, Thomas, Brett, Summit and Lena.  Great run.  We saw a baby moose on Hubbard Hill.  Feeling good. 

Total for the week:
43mi.  Not a good week.  My cold finally seems to be gone. 

Week of October 27th to November 2nd, 2014

Monday:
AM:  2mi with kids at school.
PM:  8mi/51min in Pisgah with Griffin.  I'm starting to get a cold.

Tuesday:
AM:  5mi with kids at school.
PM:  10mi/64min in Pisgah with Ferenc and the girls.  Great run.  60 degrees, nice weather!

Wednesday:
AM:  4mi with kids at school.
PM:  9mi/63min on the Athens trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Tough run.  Legs tired and I have a nasty cold.  Losing my voice.

Thursday:
0mi.  Lifted weights in the morning.  Not feeling great.

Friday:
4mi with kids at school.

Saturday:
10mi/67min in Pisgah with Brett, Thomas, Summit and Griffin.  Good run.  Left knee plica bugging me a little bit.  I'll have to watch that.

Sunday:
18mi/2:07 on Athen's trails with Ferenc, Pat, MacKnight, Lena and Ellie.  Good run.  I have a pretty nasty cold and feeling run down after.  Lot's of coughing.

Total for the week:
70mi.  OK week.  I need to get over this cold and get healthy.

Week of October 20th to 26th, 2014

Monday:
AM:  2mi with kids at school.
PM:  7mi/53min on the Saxton's River trails with Ferenc and the girls.  Calves are sore.

Tuesday:
AM:  2mi with kids at school.
PM:  3mi/24min in Friedsam with XC team.  Last practice with the kids.

Wednesday:
4mi at school with kids.  I had a meeting in the afternoon.

Thursday:
10mi/67min in Pisgah with Ferenc and the girls.  Good run.

Friday:
AM:  2mi with kids at school.
PM:  10mi/70min  on the Putney Mtn trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Great run.

Saturday:
5mi/35min on the Saxton's River trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Helped Ferenc and Emily move after the run.  Fun day. 

Sunday:
0mi.  Lazy day.

Total for the week:
Not a great week.  I need to get my mileage up.

Week of October 13th to 19th, 2014

Monday:
3mi/23min in Friedsam with XC team.  Not too sore today.

Tuesday:
0mi.  Had a dentist appointment.

Wednesday:
2mi/16min at school with kids.  Had an XC meet afterschool.

Thursday:
10mi/70min in Pisgah with Ferenc and the girls.  Raining and warm, 70F.  Lifted weights in the morning.

Friday:
7mi/47min in Pisgah with Brett, Summit and Griffin.  Saw a huge porcupine. 

Saturday:
AM:  5mi/35min + drills and sprints.  I got this run in early before the State Meet.
PM:  2mi* at the State Meet jogging warm-ups and sprinting like crazy all around the meet to cheer for the kids.  Great day!  We did awesome.

Sunday:
14mi*/1:25 - Granite State 10miler - 55:51 (5:35) - 1st place. 
It was a windy chilly day.  I sat behind Eric Williams through the first half of the race and then opened up a small gap on a downhill after the 5mile mark. (28:44).  I was able to increase my lead and get the win running a nice negative split.  (27:07).  It is mostly downhill in the second half.  I'm happy with this race.  It's a tough course so the time is better than it appears.  Jen and I did this race to celebrate our 3rd anniversary.  It's become our anniversary tradition and it's a fun one.  Jen joked after her race, "Why didn't we pick a 5K?  10 miles is tough!" 

Total for the week:
43mi.  Ok week.  Last week of XC season!

Week of October 6th to 12th, 2014

Monday:
AM:  3mi/24min with kids at school.
PM:  8mi/54min on Saxton's River trails with Ferenc and the girls.  Pulled a deer tick out of my calf.  I'll have to watch that.

Tuesday:
8mi*/47min in Pisgah with Brett.  We ran 7mi at m.p. in 39:41.  Great run!  Lifted weights in the morning.

Wednesday:
5mi/40min with kids at school.

Thursday:
AM:  3.5mi with kids at school.
PM:  3.5mi/30min with kids at xc practice.
PM#2:  9mi/60min in Pisgah with Brett, Ferenc and the girls.  Great run.

Friday:
Am:  1mi with kids at school.
PM:  9mi/63min on Grafton Ledge Rd. trails with Ferenc, Brett, Lena and Ellie.  Legs tired.  Wore the head lamps last 15min.

Saturday:
4mi/33min in Pisgah with Jen and Griffin.  Nice and easy run in the rain and drizzle.

Sunday:
16mi*/1:45 - Monroe Dunbar Brook 10.5mi trail race - 1:17:04 - 1st place.
The weather was beautiful.  I took the lead with Steven Grainger, Brett and Brian Rusiecki right behind me.  We hit the big climb and Steven and I started to get a little separation from Brett and Brian.  Steven stuck right with me as we ran by the first aid station and turned up toward the summit.  Steven jumped in the lead and I sat behind him.  Brian started reeling us in and I decided to make a move by Steven.  As we got near the top, I could see Brian very close to me.  I took off on the descent and just had fun hammering down the mountain.  I glanced back on the dirt road and Steven was 20 sec back.  He must have been going fast on the downhills too.  I hit the first stream crossing and again Steven was not too far behind.  I was getting tired, but knew I had enough in the tank to finish and first and that's what I did.  Steven ended up only 35seconds back in 2nd place.  It was a fun day and I love that course.

Total for the week:
70miles.  Great week.  Fun race on Sunday and good miles.