Li'l Rhody Runaround 8mi trail race - 47:32 (5:56) 3rd place - 2nd place officially
It's been a long time since I've updated the old blog so here goes. I haven't been running much lately and I certainly wouldn't call what I'm doing training. I averaged 20.5 mpw for the month of September and 37.5 mpw for the month of October. Even though I'm not in great shape, I'm always excited to race here on the Burlingame trails.
Jonny took the race out hard and had a gap of 5 seconds or so down the dirt road in the first mile. I lead the chase group and I made contact with him as we entered the trail in the Kimball Bird Sanctuary. I ran just behind him on the sandy trails. We exited the trails and dumped out onto the field by the campground and Eric Blake shot to the lead. I let him go for a second and then decided that I could match his pace and sped up to get behind him. Eric lead but seemed confused by the roads and the median section with the flags on it, so I took the lead. I was in first as we entered back into the woods on the long straight trail section. He passed me again near the long bridge and got a 2 second gap. I glanced back on the "s" turn and could see a bunch of followers closing in on us. I caught back up to Eric on a very slight downhill before the stonewall and crazy bridge section before Vin Gormley Bridge. Eric was running slow on these bridges so I jumped down off the bridge onto some rocks and then jumped in front of him into the lead. I lead once again through Vin Gormley and down the long bridge and by Klondike Rd. I kept the lead running up the hill and could feel 2 runners a second behind me. I figured it was Blake and maybe Bob Jackman, I didn't dare look back. I was working hard to keep my lead but still felt fairly controlled. I grabbed a cup of water at the water stop and managed to drink an ounce or two and then dumped out onto Buckeye Brook Rd. My time was in the mid 25's I think, which is way off my usual 24 flat at this point.
Two runners pulled up on my outside shoulder on the road and I glanced back expecting to see Eric, but it was Bronson and another guy I didn't recognize. I held my lead going back into the woods and up the Rhody ledges. I was feeling pretty gassed on the biggest climb on the course but I was still leading with Bronson and the other guy hot on my tail. I saw the Ornstein crew cheering like crazy on the rocky section. On the straight away with the exposed cement culvert the guy (from URI) blasted to the lead. I hung onto him as we passed Scott Mason snapping pictures near the School House Pond trail. Bronson went by me right after that. I tried to keep those guys in contact but I was starting to suffer and they were moving well. I would reel them in a little bit on technical spots and little downhills, but I knew they were too strong. Finally, I reached Kings Factory Rd and they were really flying putting a lot of distance on me. I glanced back and didn't see anyone close by. My calves and left hip were killing me on the road and I felt like I was just slapping and pounding and it was quite painful. I glanced back again as I started to head downhill past Gagnon's old house and saw Matthew Walker a good distance back. I gritted my teeth and dug down to finish the race in what I thought was 3rd place. I hit the line in 47:30 but SNERRO gave me the 2 sec bonus they are so famous for in the final results. Officially I got 2nd because the URI kid didn't register.
I am fairly pleased with the result. I came into the race with lot's of doubts in my fitness. I was able to race to the best of my ability today and that's pretty satisfying. I won my age group, Jonny was top master and Pard was top 70+ runner. That's a Hammett sweep even if I didn't get the win. I would really like to win this race again some day. It might have to wait until I turn 40. I'm planning to try and pull a Galoob then and train hard when I become a master. We'll see, 2 years is a long way off. By then Matthew Walker will be a senior in high school and will be an absolute beast and there'll be countless other young bucks ready to race fast. It will be a tough challenge.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Week of August 17th to 23rd, 2015
Monday:
1:45 on Mt Monadnock. Ran up the Pumpelli Trail w/Ferenc. Hot day. I was tired and sluggish from the heat and humidity. Ferenc was feeling it too. Up in 54, down in 50+. Slow run but still fun. I went fishing at night with MC. I broke my line on a hog. Landed a nice 3.5lber. I'm upgrading from 12lb mono to 14lb mono. I can't fish braided, that stuff sucks!
Tuesday:
1mi + drills and sprints at the YMCA. Lifted weights. Feeling good!
Wednesday:
0mi. SUPing with Jen 1:30. Good workout coming back into the wind. 30min hike with Jen and Griffin. Played some wiffle with Boj and lost 2-1. He hit a two run walk off homer to win. I still hate him.
Thursday:
AM: 2mi with Jen and Griffin. SUPing 1:30 with Jen.
PM: 10mi/74min on Marlborough trails with Boj. Good run. Went fishing with Griffin. I managed to land 2 bass even though Griffin swam after my lure and scared all the fish. She was too cute to get mad at and it was nice to see the old girl acting so spry.
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Total for the week:
1:45 on Mt Monadnock. Ran up the Pumpelli Trail w/Ferenc. Hot day. I was tired and sluggish from the heat and humidity. Ferenc was feeling it too. Up in 54, down in 50+. Slow run but still fun. I went fishing at night with MC. I broke my line on a hog. Landed a nice 3.5lber. I'm upgrading from 12lb mono to 14lb mono. I can't fish braided, that stuff sucks!
Tuesday:
1mi + drills and sprints at the YMCA. Lifted weights. Feeling good!
Wednesday:
0mi. SUPing with Jen 1:30. Good workout coming back into the wind. 30min hike with Jen and Griffin. Played some wiffle with Boj and lost 2-1. He hit a two run walk off homer to win. I still hate him.
Thursday:
AM: 2mi with Jen and Griffin. SUPing 1:30 with Jen.
PM: 10mi/74min on Marlborough trails with Boj. Good run. Went fishing with Griffin. I managed to land 2 bass even though Griffin swam after my lure and scared all the fish. She was too cute to get mad at and it was nice to see the old girl acting so spry.
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Total for the week:
Week of August 10th to 16th, 2015
Monday:
8mi*/47:05 - m.p. run in Pisgah solo. New pr for the loop for me. Hike 45min with Jen and Griffin. Did some stand up paddle boarding (SUPing) on Spofford Lake with Jen for 1:30. Went fishing at night with MC. He caught a 6lb beast. I landed a fish close to 5lbs. Great day!
Tuesday:
DDP Yoga. I haven't done this in a long time. Damn it's tough! Rainy day.
Wednesday:
12mi/1:25 on the Putney Mtn trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Great run. Nice weather. Hit up the magical waters of the Putney covert culvert after the run. Went SUPing for 2hrs with Jen.
Thursday:
3mi in Pisgah with Jen and Griffin. SUPing 1hr with Jen. Helped Andy move in the evening, that will do for strength training.
Friday:
12mi/1:26 in Pisgah with Ferenc and Lena. Body tired and legs sluggish. Hot and thirsty.
Saturday:
0mi. Lifted weights. Making gains! Hike 45min with Jen and Griffin.
Sunday:
0mi. Hike 45min. Went SUPing with Jen and Griffin on Fullam Pond in Pisgah. Griffin stayed on my paddle board for a while then she got sick of it and swam with us the rest of the time. Fun adventure.
Total for the week:
35mi. Great m.p. run on Monday. Mileage is low but paddle boarding is a blast and a good workout. Feeling strong. I need to do more DDP Yoga. My flexibility is junk.
8mi*/47:05 - m.p. run in Pisgah solo. New pr for the loop for me. Hike 45min with Jen and Griffin. Did some stand up paddle boarding (SUPing) on Spofford Lake with Jen for 1:30. Went fishing at night with MC. He caught a 6lb beast. I landed a fish close to 5lbs. Great day!
Tuesday:
DDP Yoga. I haven't done this in a long time. Damn it's tough! Rainy day.
Wednesday:
12mi/1:25 on the Putney Mtn trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Great run. Nice weather. Hit up the magical waters of the Putney covert culvert after the run. Went SUPing for 2hrs with Jen.
Thursday:
3mi in Pisgah with Jen and Griffin. SUPing 1hr with Jen. Helped Andy move in the evening, that will do for strength training.
Friday:
12mi/1:26 in Pisgah with Ferenc and Lena. Body tired and legs sluggish. Hot and thirsty.
Saturday:
0mi. Lifted weights. Making gains! Hike 45min with Jen and Griffin.
Sunday:
0mi. Hike 45min. Went SUPing with Jen and Griffin on Fullam Pond in Pisgah. Griffin stayed on my paddle board for a while then she got sick of it and swam with us the rest of the time. Fun adventure.
Total for the week:
35mi. Great m.p. run on Monday. Mileage is low but paddle boarding is a blast and a good workout. Feeling strong. I need to do more DDP Yoga. My flexibility is junk.
Week of August 3rd to 9th, 2015
Monday:
9mi/65min on the Athens trails with Ferenc and Lena. Felt hot and thirsty. I got a migraine in the afternoon. I managed not to puke, but still it wiped me out for 6 hours or so. First one in a long time. I forgot to have a green smoothie with ginger in the morning. I swear the ginger works.
Tuesday:
0mi. Drove to Corning, NY. Long drive.
Wednesday:
5mi/34min in Corning, NY on the roads solo. Hiked in Letchworth State Park. Impressive gorge! Back stiff.
Thursday:
1mi + hike 1hr with Jen and Griffin in Urbana State Park with Jen and Griffin. Saw a 8" leopard slug. Cool creature! Caught some rock bass and yellow perch from the dock in Keuka Lake.
Friday:
3mi + hike 1hr in Urbana State Park with Jen and Griffin. Kayak 30min on Keuka Lake. Long drive home in the afternoon.
Saturday:
0mi. Lifted weights and got huge. Bought stand up paddle boards. Had my birthday party at night. Fun times!
Sunday:
0mi. Lazy day. 38 years old today. Getting old.
Total for the week:
18mi. Not a good week. Oh well.
9mi/65min on the Athens trails with Ferenc and Lena. Felt hot and thirsty. I got a migraine in the afternoon. I managed not to puke, but still it wiped me out for 6 hours or so. First one in a long time. I forgot to have a green smoothie with ginger in the morning. I swear the ginger works.
Tuesday:
0mi. Drove to Corning, NY. Long drive.
Wednesday:
5mi/34min in Corning, NY on the roads solo. Hiked in Letchworth State Park. Impressive gorge! Back stiff.
Thursday:
1mi + hike 1hr with Jen and Griffin in Urbana State Park with Jen and Griffin. Saw a 8" leopard slug. Cool creature! Caught some rock bass and yellow perch from the dock in Keuka Lake.
Friday:
3mi + hike 1hr in Urbana State Park with Jen and Griffin. Kayak 30min on Keuka Lake. Long drive home in the afternoon.
Saturday:
0mi. Lifted weights and got huge. Bought stand up paddle boards. Had my birthday party at night. Fun times!
Sunday:
0mi. Lazy day. 38 years old today. Getting old.
Total for the week:
18mi. Not a good week. Oh well.
Week of July 27th to August 2nd, 2015
Monday:
3mi/20min in Stone Harbor, NJ. Last mile 6:00. Walked an hour in Cape May. Saw some cool birds: purple martins, black skimmers, least terns, piping plovers, fish crows, laughing gulls and American oyster catchers. Body surfing for an hour +. Waves decent.
Tuesday:
0mi. Walked for an hour on Stone Harbor Point. Saw a peregrine falcon swoop down and catch a baby least tern. Easy pickings! Swam in the ocean, small waves today. Long drive home in the afternoon. Fun trip.
Wednesday:
3mi/20min in Pisgah solo. Lifted weights and went fishing at night. Lost a 5lber at the canoe.
Thursday:
0mi. Swam at Kilburn pond with Jen and Griffin. Lazy the rest of the day.
Friday:
12mi*/1:12:40 - m.p. run solo in Pisgah. Great run! Gorgeous weather again. Fishing at night with MC and George. George landed 2 big bass. I caught 20 fish, biggest was 3lbs.
Saturday:
0mi. Drove to RI for my mother and older brother's birthday party. 70 and 40. Fun time!
Sunday:
5mi/37min in Burlingame trails solo. My back is stiff.
Total for the week:
23mi. July totals 173mi = 39.1 MPW. Not great but I'm cool with it. I'm addicted to catching bass.
3mi/20min in Stone Harbor, NJ. Last mile 6:00. Walked an hour in Cape May. Saw some cool birds: purple martins, black skimmers, least terns, piping plovers, fish crows, laughing gulls and American oyster catchers. Body surfing for an hour +. Waves decent.
Tuesday:
0mi. Walked for an hour on Stone Harbor Point. Saw a peregrine falcon swoop down and catch a baby least tern. Easy pickings! Swam in the ocean, small waves today. Long drive home in the afternoon. Fun trip.
Wednesday:
3mi/20min in Pisgah solo. Lifted weights and went fishing at night. Lost a 5lber at the canoe.
Thursday:
0mi. Swam at Kilburn pond with Jen and Griffin. Lazy the rest of the day.
Friday:
12mi*/1:12:40 - m.p. run solo in Pisgah. Great run! Gorgeous weather again. Fishing at night with MC and George. George landed 2 big bass. I caught 20 fish, biggest was 3lbs.
Saturday:
0mi. Drove to RI for my mother and older brother's birthday party. 70 and 40. Fun time!
Sunday:
5mi/37min in Burlingame trails solo. My back is stiff.
Total for the week:
23mi. July totals 173mi = 39.1 MPW. Not great but I'm cool with it. I'm addicted to catching bass.
Week of July 20th to 26th, 2015
Monday:
0mi. My body is stiff and sore. Went fishing with MC. He caught 2 big pigs.
Tuesday:
4mi/26min + 5 x 8sec sprints solo in Pisgah. Lifted weights. Went fishing at night.
Wednesday:
0mi. Lifted weights.
Thursday:
8mi*/49:17 m.p. run in Pisgah solo. Beautiful weather. Great fishing trip at night with MC.
Friday:
12mi/1:25 in Pisgah w/Thomas. Gorgeous weather, feeling good.
Saturday:
1mi + lifted weights and got huge. Fishing again at night.
Sunday:
0mi. Drove 6.5hrs to Stone Harbor, NJ. Good waves! Body surfed for an hour or so.
Total for the week:
25mi. Not a great week, but the fishing has been good and I lifted consistently. NJ is nice!
0mi. My body is stiff and sore. Went fishing with MC. He caught 2 big pigs.
Tuesday:
4mi/26min + 5 x 8sec sprints solo in Pisgah. Lifted weights. Went fishing at night.
Wednesday:
0mi. Lifted weights.
Thursday:
8mi*/49:17 m.p. run in Pisgah solo. Beautiful weather. Great fishing trip at night with MC.
Friday:
12mi/1:25 in Pisgah w/Thomas. Gorgeous weather, feeling good.
Saturday:
1mi + lifted weights and got huge. Fishing again at night.
Sunday:
0mi. Drove 6.5hrs to Stone Harbor, NJ. Good waves! Body surfed for an hour or so.
Total for the week:
25mi. Not a great week, but the fishing has been good and I lifted consistently. NJ is nice!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Week of July 13th - 19th, 2015
Monday:
2:46 in the White Mountains with Ferenc and Matt Haley. Great run/hike up Franconia Ridge.
Tuesday:
5mi/34min in Friedsam solo. Legs feel pretty good considering what I did for a run yesterday.
Hiked up Pitcher Mtn with Jen and Griffin.
Wednesday:
1mi. I went fishing at the reservoir with MC. He landed a nice 4lber and then I landed a 5lber. Biggest largemouth of my life. Awesome trip. I'd put pictures on my blog but I'm too lazy. I showed a lot of people the pictures already.
Thursday:
8mi/54min in Pisgah solo. Nice weather. Feeling good. Played some wiffle with Boj and he made me eat my words with a walk off grand slam. I hate him.
Friday:
0mi. Lazy day. I had to take Griffin to the vet. She's got another UTI poor old girl!
Saturday:
14mi*/1:36 - Run with the Beavers 10mi trail race - 1:04:22 (6:26) 2nd place. There was a lot of excitement going into this year's race with the team competition between WTAC and Team Hambojaloob. Wooley, Garvin and Galoob all ran much faster splits than me at Ragnar so I was thinking I'd probably finish in 4th. I also realized I've gained a little fitness since then and this course paired up nicely with my strengths. (Not much climbing, lot's of small ups and downs on semi-technical single track). I took the lead with Wooley, Galoob and Garvin following closely as we entered the single track early into the race. I wanted to push and make the race honest the whole time. No tactical racing here. After the water stop, Wooley came up along side me on the dirt road. I kept brushing into him as I tried to run the tangents of the dirt road. He probably thought I was being an aggressive jerk. We entered back into the single track and I took the lead again with Wooley right behind me. We had a very small gap on Galoob and Garvin. We dumped back onto the dirt road and Wooley shot into the lead as we re-entered the single track. He blasted the steep downhill and started to pull away. I was feeling the effort and Galoob started to catch me after the bridge on the side-hill techy section. He finally passed me and chased after Wooley up the steep hill. I didn't lose much ground on the hill and kept the gap at about 3 seconds behind Galoob. As we came around the field to finish the first lap, Wooley started to extend his lead and Galoob did the same to me. Garvin was a few seconds back of me. I hit the line in 31:25 for the first loop. There was no way I was going to even split. Time to hang on and try to rally.
I felt tired but kept my cadence high climbing the dirt road hill that starts the second lap. I gained a little ground on Galoob here. We entered the single track and I started to reel in Galoob. I made the pass soon after. He said something like his head hurt and I was worried he was having a medical episode. (Turns out he said his hip hurt). I yelled at him that he could recover on the downhills after the water stop and still run fast. I could see Wooley occasionally up ahead and this became my new motivation. I looked back and could not see Galoob or Garvin so I went into hunt Wooley mode. That was a good place to be in mentally rather than being scared of getting passed by the guys behind me. I hit the water stop and the guy told me I was 20sec down to Wooley. I tried to dig down, but I never saw him again. He must have torched this last 1/4 of the course. As I came into the woods near the finish of the field, I looked across and saw Ryan finishing in 1:03:40. I dug down for the final field in crossed the line in a satisfying 1:04:22. My second lap was 32:55. This was my second fastest time on the course which I was happy with. I waited to see if Galoob would beat Garvin to keep the team race close. Garvin crossed next in 1:05 for a big pr. Brightman and Bentley and Chris Fox all came in ahead of Jonny so I knew our team was having a rough day. (Turns out he lost a shoe in the mud). I started to worry about Galoob and then I was told he dropped with a hip injury. Seth ran a pr and then Boj came through with a pr as well. Fun cool down with the guys after the race.
This has me excited about where my fitness is at, if only I can get motivated to run a little more. I'm also very much looking forward to the battle at Lil Rhody with all the same players.
Sunday:
12mi/1:25 on the Pinnacle trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Legs not really sore but very tired and sluggish today. Hot and humid weather. Dipped in the magical healing waters at the Putney culvert after the run.
Total for the week:
53mi. Decent week. Very pleased with my race and I caught a monster largemouth bass. I need to get the mileage up to the 60's and get to the gym more next week.
2:46 in the White Mountains with Ferenc and Matt Haley. Great run/hike up Franconia Ridge.
Tuesday:
5mi/34min in Friedsam solo. Legs feel pretty good considering what I did for a run yesterday.
Hiked up Pitcher Mtn with Jen and Griffin.
Wednesday:
1mi. I went fishing at the reservoir with MC. He landed a nice 4lber and then I landed a 5lber. Biggest largemouth of my life. Awesome trip. I'd put pictures on my blog but I'm too lazy. I showed a lot of people the pictures already.
Thursday:
8mi/54min in Pisgah solo. Nice weather. Feeling good. Played some wiffle with Boj and he made me eat my words with a walk off grand slam. I hate him.
Friday:
0mi. Lazy day. I had to take Griffin to the vet. She's got another UTI poor old girl!
Saturday:
14mi*/1:36 - Run with the Beavers 10mi trail race - 1:04:22 (6:26) 2nd place. There was a lot of excitement going into this year's race with the team competition between WTAC and Team Hambojaloob. Wooley, Garvin and Galoob all ran much faster splits than me at Ragnar so I was thinking I'd probably finish in 4th. I also realized I've gained a little fitness since then and this course paired up nicely with my strengths. (Not much climbing, lot's of small ups and downs on semi-technical single track). I took the lead with Wooley, Galoob and Garvin following closely as we entered the single track early into the race. I wanted to push and make the race honest the whole time. No tactical racing here. After the water stop, Wooley came up along side me on the dirt road. I kept brushing into him as I tried to run the tangents of the dirt road. He probably thought I was being an aggressive jerk. We entered back into the single track and I took the lead again with Wooley right behind me. We had a very small gap on Galoob and Garvin. We dumped back onto the dirt road and Wooley shot into the lead as we re-entered the single track. He blasted the steep downhill and started to pull away. I was feeling the effort and Galoob started to catch me after the bridge on the side-hill techy section. He finally passed me and chased after Wooley up the steep hill. I didn't lose much ground on the hill and kept the gap at about 3 seconds behind Galoob. As we came around the field to finish the first lap, Wooley started to extend his lead and Galoob did the same to me. Garvin was a few seconds back of me. I hit the line in 31:25 for the first loop. There was no way I was going to even split. Time to hang on and try to rally.
I felt tired but kept my cadence high climbing the dirt road hill that starts the second lap. I gained a little ground on Galoob here. We entered the single track and I started to reel in Galoob. I made the pass soon after. He said something like his head hurt and I was worried he was having a medical episode. (Turns out he said his hip hurt). I yelled at him that he could recover on the downhills after the water stop and still run fast. I could see Wooley occasionally up ahead and this became my new motivation. I looked back and could not see Galoob or Garvin so I went into hunt Wooley mode. That was a good place to be in mentally rather than being scared of getting passed by the guys behind me. I hit the water stop and the guy told me I was 20sec down to Wooley. I tried to dig down, but I never saw him again. He must have torched this last 1/4 of the course. As I came into the woods near the finish of the field, I looked across and saw Ryan finishing in 1:03:40. I dug down for the final field in crossed the line in a satisfying 1:04:22. My second lap was 32:55. This was my second fastest time on the course which I was happy with. I waited to see if Galoob would beat Garvin to keep the team race close. Garvin crossed next in 1:05 for a big pr. Brightman and Bentley and Chris Fox all came in ahead of Jonny so I knew our team was having a rough day. (Turns out he lost a shoe in the mud). I started to worry about Galoob and then I was told he dropped with a hip injury. Seth ran a pr and then Boj came through with a pr as well. Fun cool down with the guys after the race.
This has me excited about where my fitness is at, if only I can get motivated to run a little more. I'm also very much looking forward to the battle at Lil Rhody with all the same players.
Sunday:
12mi/1:25 on the Pinnacle trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Legs not really sore but very tired and sluggish today. Hot and humid weather. Dipped in the magical healing waters at the Putney culvert after the run.
Total for the week:
53mi. Decent week. Very pleased with my race and I caught a monster largemouth bass. I need to get the mileage up to the 60's and get to the gym more next week.
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