Monday:
0mi. Saving my legs for tomorrow's big run.
Tuesday:
20mi*/6:35 - Presidential Traverse with Ferenc. This was a tough, fun, beautiful, brutal, miserable, awesome, epic, tiring, crappy, and satisfying experience.
Wednesday:
0mi. Sore from the long day in the mountains. Not crazy sore, just stiff with a bit of soreness.
Thursday:
11mi/1:15 in Burlingame. I ran my favorite trail in Burlingame out and back, Sammy C's trail. Legs pretty good.
Friday:
3mi/24min in Burlingame with Jen and Griffin. Nice and easy.
Saturday:
13mi/1:27 with Ferenc on the Westmoreland tracks. Good run, just rolling a long. Legs a little sore.
Sunday:
15mi/1:45 on the Putney Mtn trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Body tight and sore but it was a good run. We saw some goats on the summit of Putney Mtn that were put there to eat invasive plants.
Total for the week:
62mi. OK week. Presidential Traverse was fun but it left me a little bit beat up.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Week of July 14th to 20th, 2014
Monday:
12mi*/1:39 up Mt. Ascutney with Ferenc and Matt Haley. Great run. Legs feel good. Weather was a tad bit humid but not bad for July.
Tuesday:
8mi/50min in Pisgah solo. Cruising, feeling darn good.
Wednesday:
AM: 1mi with sprints and drills @YMCA indoor track. Lifted weights and played 30min of hoops.
PM: 8mi*/54min - track workout at KMS with James. I wanted to do something easy and short since it's been a loooong time since I've done a speed workout of any kind. I settled on 6 x 400 with 200rest.
Result: (74, 74, 72, 72, 70, 69)
Decent workout, I felt relaxed but hot. There's no shade on the track!
Thursday:
12mi/1:21 on the Keene tracks at night with Jen on her mtn. bike. I am extremely sore from lifting, hoops, drills and the speed workout yesterday. I bailed on a trip to the Whites with Ferenc.
Friday:
12mi*/1:32 up Mt. Monadnock with Ferenc. Gorgeous day to be on the mountain. No humidity, 75F. Legs and upper body still sore but had fun. Cruised on the way down near the bottom on the less steep sections.
Saturday:
5mi/34min in Friedsam with Griffin. Legs sluggish today.
Sunday:
13mi/1:31 in the Gilsum Woods with George, Ferenc and Lena. Good run. I went fly fishing after the run in the Ashuelot in Surry. Caught a nice 14" leaping rainbow, my first trout on a fly rod. Fun stuff.
Total for the week:
71mi. Decent week.
12mi*/1:39 up Mt. Ascutney with Ferenc and Matt Haley. Great run. Legs feel good. Weather was a tad bit humid but not bad for July.
Tuesday:
8mi/50min in Pisgah solo. Cruising, feeling darn good.
Wednesday:
AM: 1mi with sprints and drills @YMCA indoor track. Lifted weights and played 30min of hoops.
PM: 8mi*/54min - track workout at KMS with James. I wanted to do something easy and short since it's been a loooong time since I've done a speed workout of any kind. I settled on 6 x 400 with 200rest.
Result: (74, 74, 72, 72, 70, 69)
Decent workout, I felt relaxed but hot. There's no shade on the track!
Thursday:
12mi/1:21 on the Keene tracks at night with Jen on her mtn. bike. I am extremely sore from lifting, hoops, drills and the speed workout yesterday. I bailed on a trip to the Whites with Ferenc.
Friday:
12mi*/1:32 up Mt. Monadnock with Ferenc. Gorgeous day to be on the mountain. No humidity, 75F. Legs and upper body still sore but had fun. Cruised on the way down near the bottom on the less steep sections.
Saturday:
5mi/34min in Friedsam with Griffin. Legs sluggish today.
Sunday:
13mi/1:31 in the Gilsum Woods with George, Ferenc and Lena. Good run. I went fly fishing after the run in the Ashuelot in Surry. Caught a nice 14" leaping rainbow, my first trout on a fly rod. Fun stuff.
Total for the week:
71mi. Decent week.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Week of July 7th to 13th, 2014
Monday:
0mi. Drove up to Pittsburg, NH. Jen, Griffin and I hike Prospect Mtn on the way up in Whitefield, NH. It was a nice little hike with awesome views at the top and a good way to break up the long drive. Pittsburg is gorgeous. We're staying in a little cabin on the First Connecticut Lake. I went fishing and caught a tiny dace in Lake Francis. I didn't catch anything else but had a couple rainbow trout follow my lure. The fishing up here is world class, but only if you have a boat for the lakes, and it's fly fishing only in the rivers and streams.
Tuesday:
0mi. Hiked up Sanguiary Mtn in Dixville Notch with Jen and Griffin. Great hike. Awesome views of the closed Balsams Resort below. More fishing, nada, zilch, zero fish. Oh well. I'm gonna buy a fly rod and hammer the streams next year when we come back. We love it up here and we're already talking about the next time we come up. Fun trip!
Wednesday:
0mi. One last drive of Moose Alley early in the morning. We saw 4 deer and a snowshoe hare, but no luck seeing moose. Headed home around 9:30 for the long drive back to Chesterfield.
Thursday:
13mi/1:24 on the Grafton trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Great run. Awesome weather. Lifted weights.
Friday:
8mi+/55min in Pisgah. Feeling good. Caught 3 rainbows in the afternoon.
Saturday:
15mi*/1:35 - Run with the Beavers 10mi trail race - 1:05:31 (6:33) 1st place.
Decent race. I took it out hard, too hard! I built up a comfortable lead and then was suffering a bit on the 2nd lap. The first half of the second lap is difficult because there is a decent amount of uphill, though it is very gradual, it's tough when you're tired. I started to feel hot in the second loop in addition to being a little gassed from the fast first loop. The new start/finish made the finish much tougher. Instead of finishing strong, blasting down a hill, we had to continue up a gradual climb which sucked the life out of me. I was cooked. I was pleased to get the win, going for my 3-peat at this race and sealing the victory in the Rhode Island Triple Crown of Trail Racing. Garvin, Bentley and Jonny were next to cross the line all in the 1:08's. They looked to have a good battle and team HammBoj was still in the lead. It would come down to our 3rd man. Seth ran a super 1:12 and then Boj came home with a 1:17 (the results have him at 1:15, but I think he was 1:17). We lost to WTAC. If I could have been as fit as 2012, it would have been interesting. It was a fun day with Jen running the full 10mi distance and Pard dominating the 5mi in his age group and winning an award for the oldest finisher. The guy is a beast! Every time he does a race I'm proud and in awe of his fitness and vitality at his age. 71 years young! I hope I'm can do the same when I'm that age. Jen and I stopped at Big Gary's and stocked the fridge with cold chromium replacement beverages. Thanks to Bob and Jackie for putting on an excellent event. It's a shame that Bob and Mike Galoob couldn't race in the events they put on, because they certainly would have been in the mix for the Triple Crown. Those are the sacrifices R.D.'s make to bring awesome events to us and I really appreciate their efforts. Thanks, Jeff Walker, Mike Galoob, and Bob Jackman for an awesome series on some of the best trails in my home state!
Sunday:
8mi+/59min in Pisgah with Griffin. Legs sore. Nice and easy run. I saw 2 garter snakes sunning themselves in the tops of blue berry bushes at Kilburn Pond. Pretty cool sighting. Nice swim after the run with Griffin.
Total for the Week:
44mi. OK week. I was fine with taking the zeroes while up in Pittsburg. Next week, I plan on doubling and getting some good miles in.
0mi. Drove up to Pittsburg, NH. Jen, Griffin and I hike Prospect Mtn on the way up in Whitefield, NH. It was a nice little hike with awesome views at the top and a good way to break up the long drive. Pittsburg is gorgeous. We're staying in a little cabin on the First Connecticut Lake. I went fishing and caught a tiny dace in Lake Francis. I didn't catch anything else but had a couple rainbow trout follow my lure. The fishing up here is world class, but only if you have a boat for the lakes, and it's fly fishing only in the rivers and streams.
Tuesday:
0mi. Hiked up Sanguiary Mtn in Dixville Notch with Jen and Griffin. Great hike. Awesome views of the closed Balsams Resort below. More fishing, nada, zilch, zero fish. Oh well. I'm gonna buy a fly rod and hammer the streams next year when we come back. We love it up here and we're already talking about the next time we come up. Fun trip!
Wednesday:
0mi. One last drive of Moose Alley early in the morning. We saw 4 deer and a snowshoe hare, but no luck seeing moose. Headed home around 9:30 for the long drive back to Chesterfield.
Thursday:
13mi/1:24 on the Grafton trails with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Great run. Awesome weather. Lifted weights.
Friday:
8mi+/55min in Pisgah. Feeling good. Caught 3 rainbows in the afternoon.
Saturday:
15mi*/1:35 - Run with the Beavers 10mi trail race - 1:05:31 (6:33) 1st place.
Decent race. I took it out hard, too hard! I built up a comfortable lead and then was suffering a bit on the 2nd lap. The first half of the second lap is difficult because there is a decent amount of uphill, though it is very gradual, it's tough when you're tired. I started to feel hot in the second loop in addition to being a little gassed from the fast first loop. The new start/finish made the finish much tougher. Instead of finishing strong, blasting down a hill, we had to continue up a gradual climb which sucked the life out of me. I was cooked. I was pleased to get the win, going for my 3-peat at this race and sealing the victory in the Rhode Island Triple Crown of Trail Racing. Garvin, Bentley and Jonny were next to cross the line all in the 1:08's. They looked to have a good battle and team HammBoj was still in the lead. It would come down to our 3rd man. Seth ran a super 1:12 and then Boj came home with a 1:17 (the results have him at 1:15, but I think he was 1:17). We lost to WTAC. If I could have been as fit as 2012, it would have been interesting. It was a fun day with Jen running the full 10mi distance and Pard dominating the 5mi in his age group and winning an award for the oldest finisher. The guy is a beast! Every time he does a race I'm proud and in awe of his fitness and vitality at his age. 71 years young! I hope I'm can do the same when I'm that age. Jen and I stopped at Big Gary's and stocked the fridge with cold chromium replacement beverages. Thanks to Bob and Jackie for putting on an excellent event. It's a shame that Bob and Mike Galoob couldn't race in the events they put on, because they certainly would have been in the mix for the Triple Crown. Those are the sacrifices R.D.'s make to bring awesome events to us and I really appreciate their efforts. Thanks, Jeff Walker, Mike Galoob, and Bob Jackman for an awesome series on some of the best trails in my home state!
Sunday:
8mi+/59min in Pisgah with Griffin. Legs sore. Nice and easy run. I saw 2 garter snakes sunning themselves in the tops of blue berry bushes at Kilburn Pond. Pretty cool sighting. Nice swim after the run with Griffin.
Total for the Week:
44mi. OK week. I was fine with taking the zeroes while up in Pittsburg. Next week, I plan on doubling and getting some good miles in.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Week of June 30th to July 6th, 2014
Monday:
0mi. I hiked for 2hr on Mt. Cardigan with Jen and Griffin. What an awesome mountain! Had a great time. In the afternoon, Jen and I rode our mtn. bikes for an hour around Stone Wall Farm. We spent quite a bit of time on sections of the race course. It's pretty technical but I'm getting good at rolling over and around obstacles and staying in the pedals. My butt is sore from 2 days in a row of biking!
Tuesday:
8mi+/57min in Pisgah with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Nice run. Enjoyed a good long swim in Kilburn Pond after the run. I watched the US lose to Belgium in the World Cup at Glenn's house while playing with the twins. We went fishing at night. I caught 2 smallmouth bass and 3 rainbow trout. Glenn landed 2 rainbows and a brown trout (it did have fins!).
Wednesday:
AM: 8mi/52min on Ledge Rd. trails in Grafton, VT with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Hot and humid out there today. I felt good. Refreshing dip in the Saxton's River after to cool off.
PM: 0mi. I was planning on doing a short speed workout with Andy but the weather was absolutely frightening. Hard rain and lot's of lightning kept me indoors. Turns out that Andy and Bryce still did the workout. Crazy fools!
Thursday:
8mi+/59min in Pisgah with Ferenc and the girls. Nice run. Went for a swim in Kilburn after the run.
Friday:
11mi*/70min - Keene 4 on the 4th Road Race - 21:25 (5:22) 5th.
I warmed up with Jonny, George and Andrea Walkonen in a downpour. This is the first year in the 13 year history of the race that it's been raining and cool. It's usually pretty toasty. At the start, I went out conservatively in a chase group with George and a couple other guys. Planky was leading up the bike path with Thomas, Andy and a couple other guys. I hit the mile in a slow 5:26. After the mile the course turns right off the bike path and then takes a left at a fork in the road onto Marlborough St. The lead pack went right after being sent that way by the police officer. I realized this was different, but thought for a second that maybe the race did go that way. I paused and then decided it had to go left, so I shouted to the leaders to go left. I was now in the lead, (but I had to wait for a car that police officer let cross in front of me, since he assumed I was turning right.) It didn't take too long before Thomas and a couple other guys passed me to retake the lead.
We crossed the grass section before the 2 mile mark and added on a little extra loop to make up for the shorter start section. This confused most of us and then a volunteer sent us right. We always went left in year's past and lolipopped back to the part of the course we already ran. I stopped and shouted this way again to the same guys who already took a wrong turn. At that point, Chris Reilly, George and Andrea went to the lead and I quickly passed George and Andrea and started chasing to catch Chris. At about 2 and 3/4 Thomas and the guy who wound up 2nd passed us back. Then Andy passed Chris and I at the 3mi mark. Chris and I yo-yoed a few times in the last mile and Andy's friend John went flying by us. He was hammering. I could see Thomas take off ahead of us and it looked like he had his 3rd win in the bag. Andrea got on my shoulder with about 600m to go with Chris Reilly a couple steps up on me. In the final straight away, I dug down and passed Chris to hit the line in 5th place. Chris was 2 seconds back with Andrea another 2 seconds behind him. I was pleased with my result for the shape I'm in, but I really need to get fit. There's no reason other than work ethic that I'm not battling for the win on this course. I was happy that Thomas got his three-peat. It would have been a shame if he lost it with 2 wrong turns. He probably added 20sec+ as did the guy who finished 2nd.
After the race I did a cool down with Andrea. Her coach wanted her to do a step up fartlek. We started with 10 steps fast, 10 easy and built up to 90 steps fast, building by 10 steps each acceleration. It was a fun way to do a fartlek after a race and the counting took my mind off of running fast on tired legs. We cooled down with 2mi easy after that. I definitely got a good quality day of running in and was bonking and looking for the food table after the cool down.
Here are my miles:
1mi - 5:26
2mi - 5:29
3mi - 5:12
4mi - 5:18
Total - 21:25
Saturday:
5mi/36min in Pisgah with Griffin. Gorgeous weather.
PM: Mtn biking 1:45 in Pisgah. My neighbor is missing, possibly in the park. I was out searching and riding. It was a nice ride but I didn't find him. There was a massive search under way, with 8 dog teams and lot's of volunteers. He has dementia and went missing yesterday at noon. Sad stuff.
Sunday:
0mi. Body sore and beat up from the race and the long mtn bike ride.
Total for the week:
40mi. I need to lift, double and do yoga next week.
0mi. I hiked for 2hr on Mt. Cardigan with Jen and Griffin. What an awesome mountain! Had a great time. In the afternoon, Jen and I rode our mtn. bikes for an hour around Stone Wall Farm. We spent quite a bit of time on sections of the race course. It's pretty technical but I'm getting good at rolling over and around obstacles and staying in the pedals. My butt is sore from 2 days in a row of biking!
Tuesday:
8mi+/57min in Pisgah with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Nice run. Enjoyed a good long swim in Kilburn Pond after the run. I watched the US lose to Belgium in the World Cup at Glenn's house while playing with the twins. We went fishing at night. I caught 2 smallmouth bass and 3 rainbow trout. Glenn landed 2 rainbows and a brown trout (it did have fins!).
Wednesday:
AM: 8mi/52min on Ledge Rd. trails in Grafton, VT with Ferenc, Lena and Ellie. Hot and humid out there today. I felt good. Refreshing dip in the Saxton's River after to cool off.
PM: 0mi. I was planning on doing a short speed workout with Andy but the weather was absolutely frightening. Hard rain and lot's of lightning kept me indoors. Turns out that Andy and Bryce still did the workout. Crazy fools!
Thursday:
8mi+/59min in Pisgah with Ferenc and the girls. Nice run. Went for a swim in Kilburn after the run.
Friday:
11mi*/70min - Keene 4 on the 4th Road Race - 21:25 (5:22) 5th.
I warmed up with Jonny, George and Andrea Walkonen in a downpour. This is the first year in the 13 year history of the race that it's been raining and cool. It's usually pretty toasty. At the start, I went out conservatively in a chase group with George and a couple other guys. Planky was leading up the bike path with Thomas, Andy and a couple other guys. I hit the mile in a slow 5:26. After the mile the course turns right off the bike path and then takes a left at a fork in the road onto Marlborough St. The lead pack went right after being sent that way by the police officer. I realized this was different, but thought for a second that maybe the race did go that way. I paused and then decided it had to go left, so I shouted to the leaders to go left. I was now in the lead, (but I had to wait for a car that police officer let cross in front of me, since he assumed I was turning right.) It didn't take too long before Thomas and a couple other guys passed me to retake the lead.
We crossed the grass section before the 2 mile mark and added on a little extra loop to make up for the shorter start section. This confused most of us and then a volunteer sent us right. We always went left in year's past and lolipopped back to the part of the course we already ran. I stopped and shouted this way again to the same guys who already took a wrong turn. At that point, Chris Reilly, George and Andrea went to the lead and I quickly passed George and Andrea and started chasing to catch Chris. At about 2 and 3/4 Thomas and the guy who wound up 2nd passed us back. Then Andy passed Chris and I at the 3mi mark. Chris and I yo-yoed a few times in the last mile and Andy's friend John went flying by us. He was hammering. I could see Thomas take off ahead of us and it looked like he had his 3rd win in the bag. Andrea got on my shoulder with about 600m to go with Chris Reilly a couple steps up on me. In the final straight away, I dug down and passed Chris to hit the line in 5th place. Chris was 2 seconds back with Andrea another 2 seconds behind him. I was pleased with my result for the shape I'm in, but I really need to get fit. There's no reason other than work ethic that I'm not battling for the win on this course. I was happy that Thomas got his three-peat. It would have been a shame if he lost it with 2 wrong turns. He probably added 20sec+ as did the guy who finished 2nd.
After the race I did a cool down with Andrea. Her coach wanted her to do a step up fartlek. We started with 10 steps fast, 10 easy and built up to 90 steps fast, building by 10 steps each acceleration. It was a fun way to do a fartlek after a race and the counting took my mind off of running fast on tired legs. We cooled down with 2mi easy after that. I definitely got a good quality day of running in and was bonking and looking for the food table after the cool down.
Here are my miles:
1mi - 5:26
2mi - 5:29
3mi - 5:12
4mi - 5:18
Total - 21:25
Saturday:
5mi/36min in Pisgah with Griffin. Gorgeous weather.
PM: Mtn biking 1:45 in Pisgah. My neighbor is missing, possibly in the park. I was out searching and riding. It was a nice ride but I didn't find him. There was a massive search under way, with 8 dog teams and lot's of volunteers. He has dementia and went missing yesterday at noon. Sad stuff.
Sunday:
0mi. Body sore and beat up from the race and the long mtn bike ride.
Total for the week:
40mi. I need to lift, double and do yoga next week.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Week of June 23rd to 29th, 2014
Monday:
0mi. Feeling unmotivated to run. Lethargy breeds lethargy. I went fishing with Glenn and Jonny Dubs. Caught 5 rainbow trout. It was so fun to be out at the river casting lines and catching fish. I hope to do a lot of fishing this summer.
Tuesday:
0mi. Lifted weights. I had graduation and then the post graduation party with the 8th graders. Played some laser tag and got to blast my students. Fun times! I'm going to miss those kids!
Wednesday:
0mi. Last day with the students. Time to figure out my summer goals. Do I want to run big miles, cross train, lift weights? All of the above? I got some soul searching to do I guess.
Thursday:
0mi. Hung out after school at Glenn's and played with Brady and Emma. We tried to go fishing at night, but the river was way too high to fish.
Friday:
AM: 2mi/14min in Friedsam with Griffin. Nice and easy run before my last day of school.
PM: 8mi/52min in Pisgah solo. Perfect weather today, 75F with no humidity. I felt great. I guess I still know how to run after 5 days off. Lifted weights. Summer vacation begins!
Saturday:
12mi*/1:54 ran up and down Mt. Monadnock with George. Nice run, beautiful day on the mountain.
Sunday:
8mi/54min in Pisgah solo. Let out a loon call at Kilburn Pond and it was answered by a stranger in the woods. Turns out it was MC. He joined me for a nice refreshing swim in the pond. I bought a new mtn. bike in the afternoon and went for a 45min ride with Jen around Stone Wall Farm. So much fun! For you bike geeks out there, I got a 2013 Specialized Crave 29 expert hardtail. It feels fast on the flats, I'm getting used to the step in (clipless) pedals. I can't wait til my skills get a bit better and I can ride with the big boys.
Total for the week:
30mi. A pretty crappy week. I'd call this the end of the school year let down. Time to set some summer goals and get after it. I plan on mtn biking a lot and maybe doubling less than in past years which will mean lower miles, but hopefully fresher legs with similar aerobic development, time will tell if it pays off fitness-wise, but it will definitely pay off in the fun department!
0mi. Feeling unmotivated to run. Lethargy breeds lethargy. I went fishing with Glenn and Jonny Dubs. Caught 5 rainbow trout. It was so fun to be out at the river casting lines and catching fish. I hope to do a lot of fishing this summer.
Tuesday:
0mi. Lifted weights. I had graduation and then the post graduation party with the 8th graders. Played some laser tag and got to blast my students. Fun times! I'm going to miss those kids!
Wednesday:
0mi. Last day with the students. Time to figure out my summer goals. Do I want to run big miles, cross train, lift weights? All of the above? I got some soul searching to do I guess.
Thursday:
0mi. Hung out after school at Glenn's and played with Brady and Emma. We tried to go fishing at night, but the river was way too high to fish.
Friday:
AM: 2mi/14min in Friedsam with Griffin. Nice and easy run before my last day of school.
PM: 8mi/52min in Pisgah solo. Perfect weather today, 75F with no humidity. I felt great. I guess I still know how to run after 5 days off. Lifted weights. Summer vacation begins!
Saturday:
12mi*/1:54 ran up and down Mt. Monadnock with George. Nice run, beautiful day on the mountain.
Sunday:
8mi/54min in Pisgah solo. Let out a loon call at Kilburn Pond and it was answered by a stranger in the woods. Turns out it was MC. He joined me for a nice refreshing swim in the pond. I bought a new mtn. bike in the afternoon and went for a 45min ride with Jen around Stone Wall Farm. So much fun! For you bike geeks out there, I got a 2013 Specialized Crave 29 expert hardtail. It feels fast on the flats, I'm getting used to the step in (clipless) pedals. I can't wait til my skills get a bit better and I can ride with the big boys.
Total for the week:
30mi. A pretty crappy week. I'd call this the end of the school year let down. Time to set some summer goals and get after it. I plan on mtn biking a lot and maybe doubling less than in past years which will mean lower miles, but hopefully fresher legs with similar aerobic development, time will tell if it pays off fitness-wise, but it will definitely pay off in the fun department!
Week of June 16th to 22nd, 2014
Monday:
0mi. Lazy
Tuesday:
5mi/33min in Friedsam solo. Hot out there today.
Wednesday:
0mi. Lifted weights. Went to a party for a coworker. Beautiful weather, I should have run.
Thursday:
10mi/63min around Spofford Lake from my house. I should call this a lake bang I guess. This is a pretty darn hilly road run. Felt great.
Friday:
5mi/37min in Friedsam with Griffin. Nice easy run. Saw 2 deer. Fantastic weather. Lifted weights.
Saturday:
8mi/58min in Pisgah with Jen and Griffin. I ran ahead of Jen and Griffin and waited for them to catch up in a couple spots. Fun run. Awesome weather again. No humidity and cool.
Sunday:
0mi. Felt tired and lazy all day. Went and checked out some mountain bikes. I'm going to buy one soon for some summer fun.
Total for the week:
28miles. This week was pretty pathetic, I'm just not super motivated to train. I still love running when I do get out for a run, but not feeling like running every day. Maybe it's just a case of the End of School Year Blues. I've been stuck in a rut. Next week is my last week of school. There's a lot going on with meetings and graduation. I finally hit 1,000 miles for the year.
0mi. Lazy
Tuesday:
5mi/33min in Friedsam solo. Hot out there today.
Wednesday:
0mi. Lifted weights. Went to a party for a coworker. Beautiful weather, I should have run.
Thursday:
10mi/63min around Spofford Lake from my house. I should call this a lake bang I guess. This is a pretty darn hilly road run. Felt great.
Friday:
5mi/37min in Friedsam with Griffin. Nice easy run. Saw 2 deer. Fantastic weather. Lifted weights.
Saturday:
8mi/58min in Pisgah with Jen and Griffin. I ran ahead of Jen and Griffin and waited for them to catch up in a couple spots. Fun run. Awesome weather again. No humidity and cool.
Sunday:
0mi. Felt tired and lazy all day. Went and checked out some mountain bikes. I'm going to buy one soon for some summer fun.
Total for the week:
28miles. This week was pretty pathetic, I'm just not super motivated to train. I still love running when I do get out for a run, but not feeling like running every day. Maybe it's just a case of the End of School Year Blues. I've been stuck in a rut. Next week is my last week of school. There's a lot going on with meetings and graduation. I finally hit 1,000 miles for the year.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Week of June 9th - 15th, 2014
Monday:
0mi. Body sore and tired from 3 good days of running in a row.
Tuesday:
4mi/29min in Pisgah with Griffin. A couple deer flies were out. Lifted weights.
Wednesday:
8mi/56min around Swanzey Lake Rds with Brent. Good run. My calves were a little sore. Nice cool and cloudy weather.
Thursday:
5mi/36min in Friedsam with Griffin. Feel good. Drizzle, cool weather. Lifted weights.
Friday:
8mi/60min in the Grafton Trails with Ferenc and the girls. Nice and easy run. Legs a little flat.
Saturday:
4mi/30min in Pisgah with Griffin. Nice cool morning for a run.
Sunday:
16mi*/1:56 - Mt. Greylock Trail Half Marathon - 1:47:01 - 3rd place.
It was a gorgeous day for a race up the tallest mountain in Massachusetts. I arrived very early and bumped into Crutchley and his friend James. We talked a bit about the course and the weather. It was cool, perfect for racing. Every year I've done this race it's been hot, one year it was 97F and humid. (I stopped racing that year and dunked several times in streams and just jogged it in.) This year there would be none of that nonsense. Jonny and my dad arrived a little bit later. Jonny and I did a short warm up and then got ready to race. At the start, I dropped in behind Jonny. We were in about 9th and 10th position. The start went out pretty relaxed. My plan was to stay with Jonny on the climb or drop him if he was going too slow. I had no delusions of winning with Derek Jakoboski in the field and some other fast dudes. I'm just not fit. Jonny made a move very early as the climbing started and passed some runners. I couldn't go with him. He was too strong! I watched as he got a good 10 second gap on me. My heart rate and breathing were maxed and my legs were already complaining very early into the climb and I was sitting in about 8th place. I kept trying to catch Jonny on the flatter sections and I would make up a little ground, but he was stronger on the steep stuff and would extend his gap on me. Near the top of the climb he really started hammering and he got at least 30 seconds up on me. I hit the aid station at the summit in 37-mid. I pounded a Gatorade and got passed by a guy I summited with. I think I've made it to this aid station in 34 flat before, but I'm not sure.
Time for the technical descent of the top part of the mountain. My favorite part of the race. I started hammering and quickly passed the guy in the blue shirt who passed me at the aid station. It didn't take more than a minute or two to catch up to Jonny and another guy in a white singlet. I went flying by them and gave Jonny some encouragement and told him to be careful on the wet rocks, that it was dangerous. In hindsight, that seems kind of funny as I was flying by them at breakneck speed on the wet rocks. I just really enjoy this part of the race. After that top section, the course levels out and even climbs up in spots on much less technical trail. I could tell I was moving slowly here compared to my fast years on this course. I got to a big T intersection that wasn't marked, but I went right. It helped knowing the course, but I was worried that Jonny and other racers would take a wrong turn here. Sounds like Crutch did do just that. The trail gets steep and technical again in spots and it reminds me of parts of the Escarpment course. It's a fun section that gets even more fun when it dumps out onto an open meadow. That is just an amazing part of the course. You're flying downhill on single track on an open field, it's just awesome. I hit the aid station in the parking lot and let the volunteers know that the big turn was not marked and there were no markers until that aid station.
Next up is the longest, baseball-sized rock infested jeep road in the world. It goes mostly downhill at different grades ranging from really steep to not very steep at all. There is one section that goes uphill for a long while which is by far the toughest part of the course. (Not counting the climb up to the summit). After that climb it's down, down, down the jeep road. Usually, I'm just absolutely pounding myself, running as fast as possible. This year my legs were too tired to really kill this section. I ran fast, but not crazy fast. The rocks start to get annoying on your tired feet. Finally, the trail gets dark and shaded which means you're almost finished. I passed a young guy here who was moving very slowly. This put me into 3rd place. He looked like he was wearing very lightweight xc racers. I bet his legs and feet were just destroyed. I tried to encourage him, but I could tell he was not a happy camper. Shortly after that, I crossed the bridge and climbed up the last hill and pushed hard to the finish in the field by the pond. My time was 1:47:01, which wasn't great but I had a lot of fun out there and it was a great day on the mountain. I enjoyed a Coke and some grub and chatted with Jonny and Pard about their races. I'll be back, it's a great mountain race.
Total for the week:
45miles. Fun race. I need to run and lift more and stop being lazy.
0mi. Body sore and tired from 3 good days of running in a row.
Tuesday:
4mi/29min in Pisgah with Griffin. A couple deer flies were out. Lifted weights.
Wednesday:
8mi/56min around Swanzey Lake Rds with Brent. Good run. My calves were a little sore. Nice cool and cloudy weather.
Thursday:
5mi/36min in Friedsam with Griffin. Feel good. Drizzle, cool weather. Lifted weights.
Friday:
8mi/60min in the Grafton Trails with Ferenc and the girls. Nice and easy run. Legs a little flat.
Saturday:
4mi/30min in Pisgah with Griffin. Nice cool morning for a run.
Sunday:
16mi*/1:56 - Mt. Greylock Trail Half Marathon - 1:47:01 - 3rd place.
It was a gorgeous day for a race up the tallest mountain in Massachusetts. I arrived very early and bumped into Crutchley and his friend James. We talked a bit about the course and the weather. It was cool, perfect for racing. Every year I've done this race it's been hot, one year it was 97F and humid. (I stopped racing that year and dunked several times in streams and just jogged it in.) This year there would be none of that nonsense. Jonny and my dad arrived a little bit later. Jonny and I did a short warm up and then got ready to race. At the start, I dropped in behind Jonny. We were in about 9th and 10th position. The start went out pretty relaxed. My plan was to stay with Jonny on the climb or drop him if he was going too slow. I had no delusions of winning with Derek Jakoboski in the field and some other fast dudes. I'm just not fit. Jonny made a move very early as the climbing started and passed some runners. I couldn't go with him. He was too strong! I watched as he got a good 10 second gap on me. My heart rate and breathing were maxed and my legs were already complaining very early into the climb and I was sitting in about 8th place. I kept trying to catch Jonny on the flatter sections and I would make up a little ground, but he was stronger on the steep stuff and would extend his gap on me. Near the top of the climb he really started hammering and he got at least 30 seconds up on me. I hit the aid station at the summit in 37-mid. I pounded a Gatorade and got passed by a guy I summited with. I think I've made it to this aid station in 34 flat before, but I'm not sure.
Time for the technical descent of the top part of the mountain. My favorite part of the race. I started hammering and quickly passed the guy in the blue shirt who passed me at the aid station. It didn't take more than a minute or two to catch up to Jonny and another guy in a white singlet. I went flying by them and gave Jonny some encouragement and told him to be careful on the wet rocks, that it was dangerous. In hindsight, that seems kind of funny as I was flying by them at breakneck speed on the wet rocks. I just really enjoy this part of the race. After that top section, the course levels out and even climbs up in spots on much less technical trail. I could tell I was moving slowly here compared to my fast years on this course. I got to a big T intersection that wasn't marked, but I went right. It helped knowing the course, but I was worried that Jonny and other racers would take a wrong turn here. Sounds like Crutch did do just that. The trail gets steep and technical again in spots and it reminds me of parts of the Escarpment course. It's a fun section that gets even more fun when it dumps out onto an open meadow. That is just an amazing part of the course. You're flying downhill on single track on an open field, it's just awesome. I hit the aid station in the parking lot and let the volunteers know that the big turn was not marked and there were no markers until that aid station.
Next up is the longest, baseball-sized rock infested jeep road in the world. It goes mostly downhill at different grades ranging from really steep to not very steep at all. There is one section that goes uphill for a long while which is by far the toughest part of the course. (Not counting the climb up to the summit). After that climb it's down, down, down the jeep road. Usually, I'm just absolutely pounding myself, running as fast as possible. This year my legs were too tired to really kill this section. I ran fast, but not crazy fast. The rocks start to get annoying on your tired feet. Finally, the trail gets dark and shaded which means you're almost finished. I passed a young guy here who was moving very slowly. This put me into 3rd place. He looked like he was wearing very lightweight xc racers. I bet his legs and feet were just destroyed. I tried to encourage him, but I could tell he was not a happy camper. Shortly after that, I crossed the bridge and climbed up the last hill and pushed hard to the finish in the field by the pond. My time was 1:47:01, which wasn't great but I had a lot of fun out there and it was a great day on the mountain. I enjoyed a Coke and some grub and chatted with Jonny and Pard about their races. I'll be back, it's a great mountain race.
Total for the week:
45miles. Fun race. I need to run and lift more and stop being lazy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)