Thursday, March 10, 2016

Week of February 22nd to 28th, 2016

Monday:
0mi.  I hiked twice in Pisgah with Griffin and Jen for 30min each.  My left hip is sore.

Tuesday:
8mi/60min on the Athen's trails with Ferenc and Lena.  Good run.  Wore the micro-spikes.  Walked 1hr with Griffin in the morning and lifted weights. 

Wednesday:
1mi + drills and lifted weights at the YMCA.  Played 50min of indoor soccer at night in our first league game.  Holy crap!  We're playing in an 18+ league and everyone on our team is over 30.  The team we were playing was all young, fast and skilled.  We tied 1-1.  I played fullback the whole game and I was very busy!  A tie felt like a win against this team.  I'm gonna be sore!

Thursday:
8mi/1:10 in Pisgah with Thomas.  The trails were insanely icy.  I didn't wear micro-spikes because the first half of the run was on mostly open trails but then it got ridiculous.  We slipped and slid but managed to stay mostly upright.  Tough run.  The streams were raging from the rain the night before.  I'm sore from last night's soccer game.

Friday:
0mi.  Drove down to RI and visited my mom in the hospital after her hip replacement surgery.  She seems to be doing well.  Went on a couple 20min walks in the woods.  Found an owl pellet with my dad.

Saturday:
11mi*/1:20 - Belleville Pond 10k trail race - 41:01 (6:36) 7th place.
Well, I knew it would happen.  Jonny and Muddy kicked my arse in this race.  I hung with Jonny with Muddy sitting on my heels for the first 2 miles and it was very uncomfortable.  Jonny pulled away on a grassy hill where Scott Mason was snapping photos.  Muddy went around me and I knew that was it.  They pulled away and left me in the dust.  I was hit by two gunmen on the grassy knoll. I got passed a mile later by a guy in orange.  I could see Jonny leading Muddy on the long carriage road section again but I knew they were way too far ahead.  I managed to hold off a late charging Chris Fox at the end of the race to take 7th place.  It was one of the most exhausting races I've run.  I'm terribly out of running shape and the results showed it.  A lot of people would probably elect not to race if they were this out of shape but I wanted to get on the line and test myself.  I also felt that Jonny had earned the right to kick my butt.  He's been putting in big miles and doing speed workouts.  He deserved to crush me.  It didn't seem fair to dodge him and sit the race out.  I wanted to try to stick with him and hopefully unleash some sort of kick, but he's just way too fit.  Muddy also.  I'm happy those guys are running so well.  I tip my hat to their hard work. 

Sunday:
0mi.  I hiked an hour in the Calhoun Forest in Gilsum, NH with Jen and Griffin.  We found two owl pellets.  One was large and mostly grey fur with 3 toe nails.  I'm guessing it was a barred owl that yarped up a squirrel.  The next one was tiny.  It had a little rodent skull and bones with matted fur.  It was so small it had to be a norther saw-whet owl.  I'm hooked on finding owl pellets now. 
My body is sore from the race.

Total for the week:
28mi.  I had "fun" at the race on Saturday.  The indoor soccer game was a blast.  I can't wait for our next game.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Week of February 15th to 21st, 2016

Monday:
0mi.  I did circuits at school.  I also went for a 15min walk with Griffin followed by 2 x 8sec hill sprints.  I was a little stiff and sore today.  It was -11F this morning.

Tuesday:
1mi + drills and lifting at the Y.  We had a snow day today.  I shoveled for an hour and then went xc skiing.  The skiing sucked because of the icy crust on top.  I couldn't get a good kick and glide going.  Only went for 20min then called it a day.  Got up to 51F in the afternoon with heavy rain. 

Wednesday:
0mi.  Lazy day.  Upper back pretty stiff today.

Thursday:
Lifted weights in the morning.  Took Griffin for a 35min hike in Pisgah in the afternoon.

Friday:
0mi.  We had the staff vs student basketball game at school.  We won 67-65.  I scored about 25 pts with a lot of lefty layups, a couple nice j's and a 3pter.  Fun game!

Saturday:
1mi + drills and lifting weights at the YMCA.  I felt super strong today and was lifting heavy (for me).  Hiked with Griffin in the afternoon for 35min in Pisgah.  We enjoyed the sunshine and 50F temps.  Went to Stoddard to hang out with my parents after the hike.  Great day.

Sunday:
13mi/1:39 on the Keene Rds to Surry Dam and back with Thomas.  Good run.  My left hip got a little sore on the run.  Beautiful weather again, 44F.  We saw an adult bald eagle flying over the dam. 

Total for the week:
15mi.  Not a great week of running but I'm happy with lifting 3 times this week.  I felt super strong on Saturday.  Making gains!  Staff vs student basketball game was a blast.  The lifting and lack of running is making me more athletic.  I can cut and sprint and jump again.  It feels great.  I joined a legit indoor soccer league in the Greenfield, MA bubble.  We play our first game next Wednesday.  I have vacation next week.  I'd like to run at least 4 days.  I'm planning on racing the Bellville Pond trail race next Saturday.  That should be a real eye opener as to how out of running shape I've become.  I fully expect to get my butt kicked but it will be fun.  My strategy is to sit behind Jonny for as long as I can and then hopefully outkick him.  We'll see!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Week of February 8th to 14th, 2016

Monday:
0mi.  Xc skied 30min around the farm fields in my neighborhood at night.  Nice snowfall coming down.

Tuesday:
Xc skied 40min on farm fields in the morning.  6" of fresh light powder.  Fun stuff!
Xc skied 40min in Pisgah with Griffin in the afternoon.  Great conditions.

Wednesday:
Xc ski 1:20 in Pisgah with Griffin.

Thursday:
0mi.  Lazy day. 

Friday:
0mi.  Lifted weights at the Y after school.  -2F this morning.  Chilly.  Did some jump roping at the Y.

Saturday:
1:47/ 15mi in Pisgah with Ferenc and Lena.  Cold 15F.  Wore micro-spikes.  Ferenc rolled his ankle hard an hour into the run.  My quads had micro cramps at the end of the run, probably from lifting heavy yesterday, but maybe from being out of running shape.  Beautiful day in the woods.  Did yoga after the run which I need to do every day.

Sunday:
1mi + drills at the Y plus lifting weights.  Felt tired and my left hip was bugging me a little bit.  Cold day.  -16F in the morning but it warmed up to a balmy 5F.

Total for the week:
16mi.  I've officially become a weekend warrior.  I'm enjoying the xc skiing during the week though.  I wish we had a bit more snow.


Week of February 1st to 7th, 2016


Monday:
0mi.  Walked 15min with Griffin.  Have a cold.

Tuesday:
0mi.  Hiked 1hr in Pisgah with Griffin.  42F with icy trails.  Wore my micro-spikes.

Wednesday:
0mi.  I was going to do a track workout but I got stuck at work.  Bummer.  Walked 20min with Griffin.

Thursday:
0mi.  Lifted weights.  Walked twice with Griffin. 

Friday:
1mi/8min + drills at the YMCA with lifting.  Had a snow day today.  Xc skied 30min but the snow was too sticky.  Not great for skiing.  Got huge at the Y.

Saturday:
11mi/76min on the Putney Mtn trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Good run.  Wore my micro-spikes.  Xc skied 1:20 in the afternoon in Pisgah.

Sunday:
7mi/46min in Pisgah solo.  Moving really well for the trail conditions.  I worked hard. 
1mi/8min + drills at the Y.  Lifted weights and got diesel.  Xc skied 35min in Pisgah.  Nice day with lot's of activity.

Total for the week:
20mi.  Not a good week.  I had a cold and was lazy at the start of the week. 



Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Week of January 25th to 31st, 2016

Monday:
0mi.  Xc skied 50min in Pisgah with Griffin.  Had fun out there. 

Tuesday:
10mi/70min on the Athen's trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Good run.  Warm 40 degrees.  My back is pretty stiff but still a fun run.

Wednesday:
10mi*/69min - Monadnock track workout with Andy and Thomas.
2mi @ T pace - 400 rest + 4 x 400m @ I pace with 200rest.
(11:28, 73, 73, 72, 71)
Decent workout.  400s were tough.  It was nice to run on a snow free track.  I did a track workout every week in the month of January.  Yee hah!  Now I just need to run more miles.

Thursday:
0mi.  I did a fast walk in the morning with Griffin for 15min and then did 20min of yoga.
I watched the middle school basketball teams play in the afternoon.

Friday:
0mi.  I played indoor soccer for an hour and 20min.  I did some agility ladder drills beforehand to get loose.  Fun times.

Saturday:
AM:  lifted weights + 1mi with drills at the YMCA
PM:  4mi/28min in Pisgah.  Good run.  Did some yoga after the run.  Wore micro-spikes.

Sunday:
16mi*/1:53 on Athen's, VT trails with Ferenc, Drew Best and Lena.  Good run.  My legs were tired from soccer and lifting.  Drew was struggling for traction with his yaktrax.  Ferenc and I had no problems in our micro-spikes.  I went a little shorter, they added on 45min. 

Total for the week:
41mi.  Pretty good week.  My shoulder feels pretty good.  Glad to run in the 40's this week.  It's a start.

Week of January 18th to 24th, 2016

Monday:
0mi.  I put on the xc skis and went in Pisgah for an hour.  We had just enough new snow out there to make the conditions pretty good. 
I went to Central Rock Gym in Hadley, MA with Brett and his co-worker Alan.  We climbed for 5+hrs.  It was exhausting but fun.  I climbed well in the beginning doing one 5.10 and mostly 5.9's.  After an hour I was toast and couldn't hold onto much but kept on plugging away.  Nice way to spend a day off from work.

Tuesday:
0mi.  I skied in the morning 20min and again in the afternoon for 30min.  My body is sore and stiff.

Wednesday:
I skied 30min in the morning before school on my beaver pond.
PM:  10mi*/72min - Baker St track workout with Thomas and Andy.
1mi + 2 x 800m + 4 x 400m with 400rest after the mile and 800s, 200rest after the 400s.
(5:23, 2:40, 2:43, 78, 77, 75, 73)

Thursday:
0mi.  xc skied 30min in Pisgah with Griffin.  The snow is thin in spots.
Rock climbed at night in George's barn with George and Andy.

Friday:
0mi.  xc skied 15min before school on my beaver pond.
I tried some skate skiing in the afternoon at Chesterfield School fields with my co-workers for 30min.  Skate skiing is a lot of fun but I tweaked my left shoulder.  It hurt when I poled hard while skiing.  I probably just over did it with the climbing and skiing this week.

Saturday:
0mi.  Went for a good hike in Pisgah with Jen and Griffin.  My shoulder was sore when I tried to run so I just decided to rest it and hike.

Sunday:
AM:  lifted weights at the Y and did 1mi + drills after.  Shoulder felt ok.
PM:  7mi*/43:37 progression run in Pisgah solo with the micro-spikes on.  Felt great!  Beautiful sunny day, 27 degrees.

Total for the week:
18mi.  I got two days of fast running and a lot of skiing and rock climbing.  Shoulder is feeling better, I just overworked it.  I'll be fine.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Week of January 11th to 17th, 2016

Monday:
3mi/25min with Running Club on Horseshoe Rd.  Cold and windy day.  Slow and easy with the kids.  At night, Jen and I drove to Peterborough to watch the movie "Run Free" a documentary about Caballo Blanco.  It was a great movie, he lived a pretty amazing life.

Tuesday:
1mi/8min + drills at YMCA after lifting weights.  My body felt great today and I was able to lift heavy (for me) and I felt super snappy and had good range of motion on my drills.  I did a fast walk when I got home from the gym with Griffin which kept her moving at a good trot.  She's turning 13 in a couple months and she can't run with me anymore but this was great for her.

I played some intense floor hockey at school.  Fun stuff! 

Wednesday:
11mi*/1:17 - Baker St. track workout with Andy and Thomas.
400m-200m-200m x 4 with same distance recovery jogs
(74, 34, 35, 73, 34, 34, 72, 34, 34, 69, 33, 31)
Good workout!  Cold and windy.  My lower back and hip were a bit stiff but loosened up for the last set.  We did a nice long 4mi cool down.  Played more floor hockey at school.

Thursday:
0mi.  I reffed 2 basketball games at night and played more hockey at school.

Friday:
0mi.  I did a 25min hike in Pisgah with Griffin.  I did agility ladder drills and then played 1:15 of indoor soccer.  Glenn played which added to the fun.  I felt pretty quick and agile out there.  More hockey during the day.

Saturday:
0mi.  Lifted weights and went for a 20min hike with Griffin in Pisgah.  I tried xc skiing around my yard but the new snow was too slushy and sticky.

Sunday:
15mi/1:45 in Pisgah with Ferenc, Lena, and Ellie.  Good crunchy snow conditions.  Beautiful day out there in the woods.  Feeling good.

Total for the week:
30mi.  Good week I was active every day.

Week of January 4th to 10th, 2016

Monday:
0mi.  I did DDP yoga in the morning.  Lazy afternoon.

Tuesday:
9mi*/63min - Track workout at Baker St. with Andy and Thomas.
Mile, 4 x 400m, 4 x 200m with 400 rest after mile and 400's, 200 rest after 200's.
(5:28, 75, 74, 74, 74, 35, 36, xx, xx)
Decent first workout of the year.  It's been a loooong time since I've done any form of speed work.
The mile was slow but it's a start.  My left hip/hamstring was bugging me so I skipped the last 2 200's.

Wednesday:
1mi/8min + drills at YMCA after lifting weights.  Got swole.  At night I rock climbed with George at his gym in his barn.

Thursday:
0mi - Lazy day.  I had a late meeting at work.

Friday:
0mi - Did agility ladders and dynamics before playing indoor soccer for 1:30.  It's a blast playing soccer again, especially indoor which is faster paced.

Saturday:
0mi - lifted weights and took Griffin for a 40min hike in Pisgah with Jen.

Sunday:
9mi/60min - Athens trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie.  Good run but the weather was awful.  It was 35 degrees and pouring rain.  We were going to go longer but we were both soaked and cold.

Total for the week:
19mi.  I should probably run at least 4 days a week, but pleased with the speed workout. 

Sunday, January 3, 2016

2015 Year in Review

2015 is over.  It was not a great running year for me.  After 21 years of running and racing I decided to take it down a couple of notches.  My goals were to have fun and stay active and not go crazy with the running.  Here are the numbers.

I ran a total of 1,876 miles for a 35.4 mpw average.
I raced 14 times
I won two races the Pisgah 23K and the Chesterfield 10K
I set one course record at the Chesterfield 10K in 37:43
I ran 3 snowshoe races and got 2nd in all 3 of them
I got 2nd at Lil Rhody, Big River 1/2, Run for the Beavers and the Fast Friends 4.5mi road race
I did 9 track workouts
I set two training run pr's on my Friedsam loop in 28:37 and Kilburn loop in 47:05

I was pretty pleased with a couple of results despite my lack of training.  I was happy to get 2nd to Ferenc at Prospect Mtn snowshoe race.  I also was pumped with my 2nd place at Big River 1/2.  I really thought I could have won without getting confused with the lack of course markings.  Run with the Beavers and Lil Rhody were pretty solid runs for me as well.  I also had a great time running the Ragnar trail relay with a fun group of runners.

In some of my non-running activities, I started xc skiing which was a blast.  I also did some stand-up paddle boarding in the summer.  I got into lifting again which was fun.  I also got back into largemouth bass fishing and caught a nice 5lber and countless other nice fish.  I've been playing indoor soccer and rock climbing a few times as well this year.  I touched rim again this year which I'd like to still be able to do at age 40. 

Looking forward to 2016 I have some goals:

Stay healthy
win at least one race
Do some epic runs
snowshoe race
xc ski
break 5min in the mile (I've done this every year since I started running in 1994)
paddle board
mtn bike
play soccer and basketball
rock climb
keep my winning streak alive against Jonny ;)
start to build up my running once I turn 39 so I can crush it at age 40
do yoga more
keep blogging even if it's not impressive

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2016 to everyone!