Misty Enfield Road -- Sat. December 29

Too tired to go out this morning for the Snowstorms, and besides, it was raining. Very uninviting. So, a slow start and off to run at about 11, heading for a long unsampled Enfield. In road shoes, and shorts, but it was really pretty mild so I had my coat unzipped and eventually hat and gloves off. No longer raining, but mainly misty; some brief sun, and then in the shade icy patches; a springtime run, really. Road all the way: down to Hamilton, then down to Allen, up to 9, up and over to cross 202 and on to Enfield, then down to the water, looping round at the bottom and back out the gate (vaulting it, but not quite nerve enought to hurdle it clean); down to 9, round the tractor dealer and up to the town common, then down the hill to stop the clock at the Quabbin shops.

Time: 1:06:01
Distance: 9.15 miles
Speed: 8.3 mph

Comments: satisfying to be on the roads again and in shorts -- so different from trails. Took a while to warm up, but felt mainly good. Definitely beginning to feel back into the training mode, aiming to work up to a couple of long ones in January. And some more Snowstorms!!

wet morning miles -- Thu. December 27

Continuing the attempt to get up towards proper training mileage, I took this morning slowly and at about 11 -- weather determined to be unhelpful no matter how long I waited -- headed out into a chilly drizzly rain. It wasn't freezing, and I figured I'd reduce the wet clothes by going in shorts. Hmm. Legs consequently well frozen, though after half an hour or so I was warm enough not to care - the almost complete lack of wind helped. Head straight into trails, in trail shoes, and the going is heavy, even though not deep, exactly. Run along the top trail instead of the railside one to get to Hamilton, then along out onto Bay, and head left all the way along to Metacomet, then along that to link to Federal, go left again and take Grela terrace around the lakes and back up onto the rail trail after the town beach; follow that through Dave A.s and then keep avoiding road all the way out to the baseball field.

Time: 55:06
Distance: 7.14 miles
Speed: 7.8 mph

Comments: that was a heavy run in all sorts of ways, and a good workout. Still felt not up to par, but it all helps. Fastest mile was 7:00, and the slowest was just under 10 (!). Just gotta keep plugging away.

Xmas day stretch -- Tue. December 25th

What better way to work up an appetite for brunch and then a big roast dinner than to get out there onto the snowy trails? And to thank God for putting us here, on the day of gifts and infinite thanks? My way of celebrating, once we'd done the family opening of presents -- an exploratory run in my new trail shoes. The roads are all clear now, though the trails were still pretty deep in snow; quite hard work, in fact, on stretches that hadn't been snowmobiled. Temp. was just above freezing, except in shady hollows, and the milder weather had set a crust on top of the undisturbed snow. I did pretty much the same run I did a few weeks ago, both on foot and by bike: trails from GeoHannum, through Dave A.'s place across Federal, past the town beach and then along to the M&M crossing 9, but instead of Holland Glen follow 9 to the Gulf crossing (past the site of a nasty smash I saw on Xmas eve), down onto Federal and then rail trail back to Cheryl, with Federal and 9 to finish. Good mix of terrain and slopes and solid distance:

Time: 1:11:03
Distance: 8.61 miles
Speed: 7.3 mph

Comments: I knew it would be slow, so target was to better 7 mph. Right leg not numb, but stiff and then sore in calf and knee -- a strained small muscle, I think. And so tired -- the lack of sleep on Xmas night really making itself felt. Still, I'm glad to have gotten out, and it was a real adventure run: the new shoes definitely as grippy and comfortable as I'd hoped, once I got the lacing right.

2nd Snowstorm 10K -- Sat. December 22

A solstice run, and though I was not sure till I left at 8:40 or so that I'd really do it, I'm glad I did. The fast crew were there this time, over a hundred runners in all, and the ground was really awful for running on -- which of course made it plenty of quite sociable fun! Took it slowishly at the start, aiming as last time to mark Steve O'Neil. Silly stuff in the second mile as Joe Fois had fun sliding on the ice and we all had to keep going from full stride to "little steps, little steps!!" to avoid going down. Got used to it, and tried to keep up in the third mile, but my targets were really full of beans. That was a 5:43, which took it out of me, and I lost a few more places as we went through the second half -- though I had fun regaining a place briefly by vaulting a gate instead of going under it. At about mile 4 numb leg syndrome: not fun, and on one corner I nearly fell as the numb leg wobbled. But it faded a bit as I slowed down and tried to run through it. Couldn't catch Steve O or the guy right ahead of me despite a push near the end -- in fact nearly got caught by one more guy, right at the end, and only a final push plus a (generous?) fade from him gave me 15th instead of 16th. Here's the official data, plus *what my digivice said about the distance:

Time: 42:45
Distance: 6.2 miles *6.65 miles
Speed: 9.3 mph

Comment: the extra distance can be explained in part by the wiggling route as I tried to aoid the icy patches mainly, and that we ran on the road not the sidewalk on the back stretch outside the park. But all in all a good run, considering my iffy condition. Ran in shorts, but the rest winterised (hat, gloves, longsleeved fleece).

snowlit solo 10K -- Thu. December 20

After the penultimate day of finals week, the semester nearly done except for the marking, I figured I could risk an evening run even if it meant a lie-in to follow. So into the snowlight, again wrapped up against the chill and taking the trails as much as possible: this time they were snowmobiled, which made it a good bit easier, though I wasn't out for speed. Followed the same route as before, pretty much, just for safety's sake -- road only on the last bit down from town center, and that's pretty well lit. Slightly longer run, probably because I stopped the clock closer to home, thus:

Time: 47:27
Distance: 6.16 miles
Speed: 7.8 mph

Comment: I guess this is stil jsut a maintenance run, and I'm yet to enter proper winter training. But it sets me up fine for Saturday's 10K. . .

first bigsnow run -- Thu. December 13

Aiming just to get some miles in, and a run before the Sat. snowstorm 5K, so off into the trails. It was an official snow day, and snow was still coming, which was nice -- but no snowmobiles had gone through, so it was extremely heavy going. Ended up tripping twice, falling flat once -- decided to stick with mainly ploughed bits, so took a meandering route through the schools. It was pretty cold too, and I was in a full set of gear, with ice in beard by the time I got back. Run included the hill up into town as I went through SRS, CHCS, BHS, and then JBMS -- all the while being careful not to get run over by a snowplough or slip on the downhill icy sections.

Time: 47:52
Distance: 5.72 miles
Speed: 7.2 mph

Comment: this was a tough run, on snow about 8-12 inches in places. Wet feet too, of course. Overall I think it really took it out of me, and I ended up missing the Sat. 15th Snowstorm (though exhaustion from the last week of classes contributed there too). Winter running is just really different.

X-training - Sun. December 9

Decided to stretch on the bike again, but going the other way on the rail trail. Very chilly: legs were numb below the knee, pretty much, when I got home. But not snowing, and no real wind (esp. on the trails). Headed down GeoHannum and into the trail; along as far as the Checkers section, then realise that digivice is not working. Stop and fix that (so need to add about 1.5 miles to total for the day) and stretch a bit. Then on again, all the way to 181, then across and more, over bits where the sleepers are still down (bumpy!!) and out on to Shea, back to 181 and down to the riverside trail just short of Palmer (where Mark and I have run). Along that trail to Cold Spring, then back up, past the Orchards, dive down to 181 again and up to the Jabish Canal entrance and use that trail to get back to NoWash and then up to town center and home.

BIKE total time of 1:16:50:55, for 15.81 (recorded) miles @ 12.3 mph.

Comment: worked hard at times to keep the average at 12 mph -- it seemed pretty hard to be above running pace on some bits (though there were a few 20 mph dashes in there too).

n.b. this course, if run, would make great marathon training!!!

First Snowstorm 10k -- Sat. December 8

Again after a busy week and no training, but what the heck -- have to start somewhere. So up at a good hour and drive in on a cold, freshly snow-dusted morning to reach Forest Park at about 9:30. Do a modicum of warmup running: slippery under the snow, and not too cold, so with hat and gloves but also shorts, head to the start. Nice turn-out, though none I know personally. Aiming to go gently for first 1-2 miles, and so we go. Make steady start, hold off for about 1.5 miles, then decide to pass chap in front and stay marked on the guy who's run 200 of these (aged 56, but no way I'm actually catching him, it turns out. Make a push near the end, but he does the same, and then we're joined by a much faster guy who'd gotten lost and rejoined the route (not the only one, it becomes clear at the end). No real sprint, but feeling pretty good after the finish:

Time: 41:51
Distance: 10k (6.34 miles on digivice)
Speed: 9.1 mph

Comment: very happy about the speed and 5th of 68 entrants is a high place, albeit in a somewhat depleted Snowstorm field. Nice way to get the season started, though, and I've got a target for the next 10k now.

X-training -- Sun. December 2

Maybe even a bit colder than yesterday, and still feeling a bit washed out, so decide to ride the same route (more or less). Have to replace the rear inner tube, which ruptures at the valve stem as I try to pump it up, but then head out in light sleety snow for the trails. Heavy going, but great gentle-on-the-knees exercise!

BIKE total time of 54:55, for 8.83 miles @ 9.6 mph.

First freezing run -- Sat. December 1

After a work week of long days I couldn't drag myself out into the howling wind for the first Snowstorm run, alas; I'll aim for next week's instead. But after a bit of a lie-in I wrapped up warmly and headed out for a trail run, using the bare trees and trail banks for shelter. It was probably at or just below freezing in the middle of the day, and the sun was nice, but the wind was constant and knifing. I took to the trails right of GeoHannum, followed the rail line route all the way to the M&M intersection, then took that out to exit onto 9, but instead of Holland Glen I followed 9 along to Gulf, then back on Federal and the last bit of rail trail, exiting on Cheryl and then roads all the way home from there.

Time: 1:03:10
Distance: 8.11 miles
Speed: 7.7 mph

Comment: somewhat heavy going in places, after a week off, but a good workout.

TTmTT (my season finale) -- Sun. November 25

Almost December: this Tough Ten Mile Turkey Trot is the last run of the year before three months of plain training (and working on 5 and 10ks). Got up and away towards Boston in good time (6:45 ish), but then a phone call as I drove along the Pike -- Ivan not feeling good, so I'd be a solo entrant. Too bad; I really enjoy a run much more with company. He has the darndest luck, it seems. Hopefully the snowstorms will bring a change there, and we'll do a few together. Anyhoo, drove on and found the place with only one missed turn (thank you, Google maps; having been there last year helped too).

I was early, but once I'd turned in my 10 cans (it's a food drive run) and written my registration slip/finishing sticker, I had just nice time to do a mile or so warming up and then strip down to shorts and a two-layered top (with hat and gloves -- the breeze was chilly, though the sun was pleasant) and head to the start, via the nice warm loo block. . . Oops, did I leave my keys in there? Check - no. Of course, they're in the car. Argh. Not good. No phone to call AAA, and no number or card either--everything's in the car. But no time to think on that: there's a race to run!

After the race I borrowed a phone and after one failed attempt got a triple A service truck to come. It was *cold* waiting, and it took them 30-40 minutes, but he broke into the car without doing any damage and I was good to go. *grateful*
I was aiming for a slowed start, taking it easy for three miles, hopefully. I figured I'd then have enough juice for 7 miles of real running. Wrong on both counts: I didn't sprint off or chase anyone (the second placed female runner was going a comfortable pace but just above my mandated "less than 9 mph" so I didn't try to stay with her), but even so my first three miles were all sub-sevens. It still felt comfortable and quite slow. Then when I figured I'd take the brakes off, I found I was tiring, and it was an enormous effort to maintain any decent speed. After a while I was able to pick up a bit, though having noone nearby was the usual problem -- at least I had a couple of runners in sight most of the time, 30-40 seconds ahead. When it came to the long uphill I felt tired but figured I'd plod on, and by the top the two runners in front of me had switched positions, the guy overtaking the woman (who was the same one mentioned above). I used the rest of the run, a mile or so, to try and close on her, but she was pushing hard too, and we stayed about the same relatively. I came in 11th, fifteen seconds behind her. Here's the basic stats:

Time: 1:07:41
Distance: 10 miles (GPS give 9.85; this is not a USATF certified course)
Speed: 8.86 (or 8.74)

Comments: a pace of a bit slower than 6:45, however you look at it. First for my age group, which is always nice, if very relative (only 71 runners in all, so not a wide field). Overall, I felt initially a bit gloomy with the result, given how I should have improved over the year, but running the day before was not a great idea, and my training level is barely even subsistence at this point. Plus, when I went into the GPS and pulled up lap times from last year, the comparison was in fact very encouraging: for the last three laps, including the mile-long hill, I was even or ahead of last year, thus:

2006 = 7:33, 7:32, 5:49 and 2007 = 7:00, 7:32, 5:48.

So, plug away, I guess. Keep tryin'

Holland Glen 4+ -- Sat. November 24

Out with Mark on a chilly Saturday morning. We headed straight up the streamside trail, which seemed more technical than ever; then continued up over slippery oak leaves to the first crest, exiting along SoGulf and then heading down the hill to 9, and back along to our cars. Nice, gentle run, with good uphill and downhill (and it was very pleasant to run in company and catch up w/ Mark). We were not bothered about the pace, but for the record:

Time:
Distance:
Speed:

Comment: a leg stretcher to build up the total mileage. Unfortunately within 24hrs of the TTTT race, but しかたない、結局。

Turkey fueled trail run -- Fri. November 23

Couldn't quite make it out Wednesday evening (worked late, it was cold, and I needed sleep somehow), but today decided to run off yesterday's feast and the long (7 hrs) time in the car yesterday. Chilly wind, but clear and not to cold. Right off GeoHannum took to trails (passing two bowhunters early on!) and followed to exit onto Hamilton, then to Bay and Allen, up to 9 and down to the trail entry past Tilton's; up that hilly trail (no puff at all, it seems -- but it was good to at least attempt a hill), then with the trail back to Allen, turn left and over to 202, to go right and VFW home. Stop clock at the store:

Time: 43:15
Distance: 5.59 miles
Speed: 7.8 mph

Comments: feeling slow, even for a trail run. The turkey trot this year will be a tough ten miles, for sure. But that's the last run of the season, then into training mode with the snowstorms. Hopefully I'll be able to regain a bit of condition -- and I need some new shoes, probably. Especially if I'm really going to try a marathon next year (maybe). . .

Five cold miles -- Sun. November 18

Again a middle of day run, but again blooming cold! Went out mainly to combat the soreness from Saturday, and because the week was unlikely to allow much if any in the way of runs, as we have a Thanksgiving away this year. To keep warm and to balance previous run, took a slightly hilly route, down to Hamilton, along to Bay and up Allen all the way over to 202, then head back (not feeling up to a long run) via VFW, and with an extra loop around DD and VFW again. Run clock almost all the way home as wind is so chilly.

Time: 37:12
Distance: 5.03 miles
Speed: 8.1 mph

Comments: Not pushing it but not slacking. A placeholder run.

trail-road mixed 7 -- Sat. November 17

Again a working week goes by with no time for a run. Amazingly frustrating, but just have to hang on. Saturday I can generally get a priority session in, and so with this one. Chilly, even at midday, so headed first on the undiscovered country trail then back across GeoHannum to the rail trail and follow it, thus avoiding any substantial hills. Sore legs even after a few miles, but plug on to NoWash and then take standard roads home, thus:

Time: 51:23
Distance: 7.04 miles
Speed: 8.2 mph

Comments: in winter mode now, running in longs and hat, etc. Started slowly, deliberately, but then moved towards pushing it and especially pushed near the end. The overall time is pretty good, but the soreness afterwards belied that: I'm just plain out of training, and need to get back to multiple runs per week. Ouf.

Monson Memorial Classic - Sun. November 11

So this is my sixth half-marathon, and the conditions could not have been better -- only my preparation was lacking. Cold wind but warm strong sun, dry ground and a nice mob of people (215 in the half, as well as a good bunch for the 5K). I got there in very good time and claimed my registration pack, then wandered round a bit. Ivan also there (I met the fabulous Meter for the first time too --lovely eyes, not what I expected in a greyhound), and he too was underprepared. So we agreed we'd take it easy, but paces differed -- he was going for eight and a halfs, while I figured to do eights or a bit faster (7.5 mph or better, I told myself). We did a gentle mile to warm up, and then it was about time to go.

[There was no time to "go" though -- two portapotties and one indoor loo for 400-odd people, just inadequate. This caused a bti of discomfort by the end of the race for me, but nothing too bad; still, I wish they'd do the math a bit better. . .]

The start was abrupt--I didn't hear the call, but suddenly everyone was running. Went off slowly, very deliberately ignoring the flow and just watching my digivice. Held it steady for the first mile, telling myself I was just warming up. By mile three there was room to move, and though I kept pace to sevens for the first 6 miles, I wasn't losing any spots - -I guess most people were being very consistent in their paces. From the mid point I was in sixes (though the uphill course was a challenge, even at a slow pace) and I managed to keep moving up, taking place after place, right to the last mile. It was too cold to take my fleece off throughout, though at 1/4 mile to go I removed it to show the number tag (#23 for me this year -- I must have registered way early!). Dropped a glove, and stopped to pick it up; also, unawares, lost my hat in the process, but a cyclonaut from the group of three that had shadowed runners throughout picked it up and handed it to me. Very kind. Mile 13 was well slow, for some reason, though the finish was faster. Didn't lose a single place in the whole race - that's got to be a first for me. Here's the official result:

Time: 1:32:50
Distance: 13.1 miles
Speed: 8.46 mph

Comment: coming off two weeks of no running, except for a slow 4 miler the day before, this run convinces me that experience makes a real difference. I still don't know enough to predict accurately -- I erred on the side of caution and wondered if I'd even finish. But since there was no numb-leg problem, it was just body memory and feedback. Starting slowly I figured by mile three I could keep a bit faster pace, as long as I wasn't racing. That makes me feel it's time to sign up for a marathon. . . Meanwhile given Ivan's 9-10 mile crash, I'm wondering about causes and cures for that, and if I'll face that when I try for the longer distance. We'll see (and hopefully he'll figure out a way round it in time for next year's Monson, if not before).

Wakeup 4 miler - Sat. November 10

Wow. Thanks to the Princeton conference, a week of frantic prep and a week of catchup after, I've not run for 14 days. It feels like that's the longest break this year, though I'm not sure. And this with the Monson Half a day away. Ouf! But it was nice even then to get out. Tried to deliberately run at a slow pace, since that's how I'm going to have to do the Monson -- aim for 8 minute mile pace for at least the first 8 miles, as in the first one I did with Mark that time (two years ago?). So, took to the trails off GeoHannum and followed round to the exit on Hamilton, then up to Bay, to Allen, and then along 9 to turn off to VFW (to get a bit more than three miles) and down 202 to home.

Time: 29:54
Distance: 3.93 miles
Speed: 7.9 mph

Comment: okay, that didn't feel bad. I need to aim to be between 7.5 and 8 mph (max.) for the first 8-10 miles. That'll be 1:45 total time -- fair enough for a training run (getting ready for the Snowstorms, I guess!).

One day running -- Sat. October 27

Schedule's full and I've had no time to run. Argh! Finally managed this Saturday run in a come-what-may mood, but やっぱり I was out of condition and had a bad numb leg problem after four miles. Started down the rail trail, but then figured I wasn't comfortable with the 10-11 mile round trip, so turned back and off the trail through the golf course. At this point the daylight had almost all gone, and though mild it was a bit drizzly, so I wasn't afraid of being golf-balled; went left on 181 as far as the cemetery, then right along quieter Jensen and up round the baseball field, up to the common and home.

Time: 1:05:49
Distance: 9.02 miles
Speed: 8.2 mph

Comment: not sure what the value is of such occasional and random running, but at this point I just have to grab any opportunity I can, if I'm to keep the idea that I'm actually in training.

Peaked Mountain run - Sun. October 21

Made it to this one for a solo effort. Gorgeous day and plenty of time to warm up, fortunately. Again a very small crowd, including a few highschoolers and some old regulars. Got off to a good start, tracking the second place runner, but the uphill was just brutal -- makes BofF seem sensible! Then the downhill had me amazed we weren't all breaking ankles -- somehow made it on to the road and then just tried to keep it going. Couldn't catch the guy in blue ahead, and the last mile of the 4 plus route I was really fading. Came in third, slower than my time last year -- but felt good and I was first in age group (a 30 something won, and a 200 something came next). Details:

Time: 32:05
Distance: 8.3 mph
Speed: 4.4 miles

Comment: this makes me want to get some really solid mountain trail training in so I can try and improve my time next year. I don't enter many runs like this, but they are a great challenge and give a real sense of accomplishment. . .

misting evening stretch --Fri. October 19

After a v. long week and a long day (with fortunately a ten minute nap included) out at 10 p.m. to stretch legs -- running for mileage not speed. Very warm, and misting with rain the whole (fortunately dodged the proper rain); running in shorts and two very thin Ts (plus reflective vest, which embarrassingly I forgot on Tue.). Headed out on GeoHannum all the way to Stebbins, then left to 202; left on 202 to Boardman, thence home. Lovely feeling, even in my older shoes (keeping the newer ones dry and ready for Sunday). Stopped short of home after hitting target distance, then jogged some more, uphill but slowly.

Time: 52:48
Distance: 7.59 miles
Speed: 8.6 mph

Comments: Much as I'd like to have done more hill work, at this point just getting out is the main thing. At least that makes three runs in a week.

short and stitched --Tue. October

Feeling congested from a cold, but I figured I'd try and squeeze in a run. It was late, and I didn't warm up enough (psychologically or physically), but I figured just running would get me feeling better. Started vigorously, down GeoHannum to Jackson, then right to go across to 202 and up to the common; left, once round three sides ofthe common and left again on down Jabish; the downhill seemed to go on for ages, and then left on 9 and head towards home. Then a stitch comes on sharply, and so slow down, but in the end stop well short after hoblling on to reach 4 miles:

Time: 28:10
Distance: 4.05 miles
Speed: 8.6 mph

Comment: I seem to be in the middle of a mild cold that's messing with digestion and breathing. Ouf. Just have to wait and see if it's getting better or worse.

Enfield 350 -- Sun. October 14

by which I mean a lesser version but still a good run. After dark, naturally these days, on a somewhat cold but part-clouded fall evening, wearing longs and my orange fleece and a woolly hat , I headed off down to Hamilton, thinking I needed to get some miles but also not to use my energy reserves (with Monday ahead). Down Bay to Allen, then up and over doing the full hill series (thinking of Sunday coming and Peaked Mountain), and then on Enfield head back to the Quabbin gate, before turning 180 and going all the way down to 9; from there straight home, stopping at the old Sports Shed with a neat seven miles logged. Not too hard a push at any stage, except perhaps when keeping the pace on doing the hills.

Time: 49:51
Distance: 7.01
Speed: 8.4 mph

Comment: the range was a nice 6:49~7:34; I'm especially happy with the second figure, but I'll need to get more hills in before Sunday somehow, I think.

Training run & Hatfield delicious 5K -- Sat. October 13

Ivan found this run, and since I went another whole week without getting out, it's a good thing. I made sure to get in a warm-up run, using teh internets to plot a course measuring about 3 miles. So, about 8:30 I left and headed to the edge of Hatfield, parking the car by a cemetery. It was a bit chilly (though I was in longs and my orange fleece) and sunny with misty patches still all around. The dirt road (Littel Neponset) was perfect, and I took it easy; eventually it came out on to the main street, and I arrived at the starting point (Elementary School) in good time. Here's the training run

Time: 21:59
Distance: 2.95 miles
Speed: 8 mph

Then at 10:00, having met up with Ivan, we were off for the 5K. A good crowd (106) and a few fast starters; the only people I recognised were a couple of older men (50 y.o. or 60 y.o. categories) and Kelli Lusk (30-39), but I was trailing a good bunch and aiming to stay at least in sight of Kelli. It was a flat course, very nicely scenic with some trail and some road.

The first mile was fast (5:50 for me) but it felt amazingly good. I was resisting the temptation to get ahead of both Kelli and the younger woman who eventually placed top female, and at 1.5 miles I was still at a high pace -- but then I started to feel it a bit. The top woman and I tussled a bit behind Kelli; in the end I think I did her some good, keeping her at a high pace and in striking distance, though she had a tendency to crowd in and obscure my lane. まあ、若いから許してあげるに決まってるけど。

One older guy passed us three and then she took off after him; in mile three Kelli and I were both steady as she pulled ahead. I was running out of steam a bit, but kept place until the final section and was closing on Kelli when a guy came through faster and passed us both. I ended up coming in 9th, with a new PB!

Time: 19:19
Distance: 3.1 miles
Speed: 9.7 mph

Comment: now I have a new target for the 5K -- 18:38, or a 6:00 pace. I really think that with time and some training I can do it. I just need to build up so I can run double my current distance at top pace. This Hatfield race is a perfect course for it. I should add that the after-run eats were the best I've ever enjoyed (home-baked pumpkin bread!). Plus, Ivan and I both took home pumpkin pies as prizes for 3rd in our age groups. And a pumpkin gift to all who entered. Just cool, really.

minor Boston update

Now that the official photos are up (http://www.marathonfoto.com/), I took a look at the dozen or so pics with me. Three or four of them show that finishing tussle I mentioned, and indeed we're right together. It even looks as though he dips earlier than me, but read his number, check the results, and it turns out that the finish clock put me first, and by chip time I'm 7 seconds ahead. Woot! (and he's a young 35, hehehe).

以上

the Boston (new PB!)-- Sun. October 7

This was a crazy run to try and do. I guess I could try spinning my prior three weeks of barely running at all as "tapering" before the event, but that doesn't explain the 3-hour trip to get to the 8 a.m. start. For various reasons I couldn't take Mark up on his offer of lodging, but had to stay home the night before. So my alarm went off at 3:30 a.m., and by 4 a.m. I was on the road, showered to wake me up and having broken my usual pre-race rule by eating a banana, as the run was still hours away. Got to Alewife and parked the car by 6 a.m., then took the T in to Fenway, noticing other runners get aboard too, starting at Harvard Sq. Didn't know the way to Clemente Park, but another runner walked it with me and by 7 a.m. I had my registration pack. Then I got changed and stowed my bag (hoping it wouldn't rain too much, as there was no cover) and headed out to warm up a bit. There was a dire shortage of Portapotties, but I'd arrived early enough for that not to worry me too much. I drank a fair bit of water (to save on early water stops), and felt more or less ready when the wheelchair racers went off at 7:50.

Took my place midway between the 7:00-pace and 8:00-pace markers (figuring to go for 7:15-7:20, realistically), my GPS already set and tracking nicely. It was mild and overcast, pretty good running conditions, all told. At the off I was telling myself to go slowly, though it took till mile three for me to feel in the right place and steady up a bit. Then I started to track people and I found a guy I figured I could run with (or behind) and just went steady after that.

Somewhere after half way his friend (on a bike) called out "Sub-7s, baby!" which while I couldn't quite believe it turned out to be true. At least twice I had to shake myself out of a cluster that was slowing down, and push on ahead a bit. Apart from a weird left thigh cramp in the latter part, it went well until the last two miles, when I was definitely tired. I'd taken two fluid breaks, choosing gatorade instead of water and both times actually stopping; it helped, I think. The last mile I was being passed, and only at the very end did I really fight back. I was about to be passed again just as we entered the last 100 yard straight, so I kicked and he kicked back and we both went hell for leather, crossing in a deadheat. Quite satisfying.

Time: 1:28:47 (official)
Distance: 13.1 miles
Speed: 9.1 mph

Comments: I placed well inside the top 5% of finishers, which is well better than I'd expected. 3599 finished, though closer to 5,000 registered, apparently. I was 28th in my age group, out of several hundred; very encouraging. There were no other hometown runners, though a couple from Amherst. Top 41 runners (approx 1%) paced under 6:00. Chap who I paced myself on, one John Chapin, tall 40 year old club runner who got away in the last mile, did 1:28:28 -- good pace marker, indeed. Can't identify the chap I deadheated with at the line, as there are several with equally close times around me in the official list -- who knows which one he was? Too bad, and one of the disadvantages of chip timing.

All in all a totally satisfying run, because again it leaves me with a goal. I felt in the last mile I didn't have the strength to keep up -- I think 6-8 people passed me, not counting the guy in the final sprint who I fought to the end. But looking at my mile times, what I didn't have was strength to speed up, as they all did, over the last mile--I was travelling at a new overall pace for me at that distance. So next time (but not Monson, I don't think), try to be strong enough to do a similar run but then to pick it up at in the closing mile or two.

full Enfield -- Thu. October 4

Of a mild evening, late but just a good time for me somehow. Dithering between wanting to do at least a 10, if not a 12, to remind myself how it feels, I then got nervous as it's only three days till Boston -- opted for 7-8 with a long Enfield. So, Hamilton, Bay and Allen, then left on Enfield to the Quabbin gate (too dark to go down to the water) and back down to 9, then loop around the dealer there and up on Jabish to the common, then towards home, making sure I clocked a good 8 miles. Here it is:

Time: 58:30
Distance: 8.19 miles
Speed: 8.4 mph

Comment: I was pushing for high average pace, but not racing. It was warm and muggy, which made the whole run quite comfortable despite the late hour on an October evening. Pace varied from 6:30~7:55. Good ironing out run, though left me nervous re the last bit of the 13.1 miles to come. . .

Late evening stretch -- Tue. October 2

Can't believe we're into October. This was a starry night run at 10 p.m., cool but pleasant night and the traces of my cold only slightly getting in the way. Road and _mainly_) flat-ish: GeoHannum all along to Stebbins, then right to Bay, along to Metacomet and along to Federal, then up to 9 and home (no extras on the end, too tired, and classes to teach in the morning). Here's deets:

Time: 53:40
Distance: 7.55 miles
Speed: 8.4 mph

Comments: a recurrence of the numb right leg syndrome, came on at about mile 5 and somehow I was able to run through it and sort of work it out. Hopefully not a trend; I was tired at the end and just sort of faded out once I saw I'd done 7.5. Still, it gets me into the zone a bit for Sunday, I hope . . .

Twilight road run -- Sat. September 29

Just about feeling ready to get back into it, and worrying anyway about the upcoming Boston Half, went out on Sat. evening with just enough light left to do some uphill trail in the early part. GeoHannum to Hamilton, last bit on railtrail, then up Bay to Allen, up to 9 and down to trail entry--slog up there and down the old town road to rejoin Allen, continue up, across 202 and up along to Enfield, then to 9 and home. Good mixed pace and distance:

Time: 59:18
Distance: 8.1 miles
Speed: 8.2 mph

Comment: it's a start, again. Felt quite comfortable, considering how long it's been, and the pace varied from 6:06 to 9:06.

week off with cold

Right, after the Mohunk I came down with a cold--too many all-nighters and not enough training. In fact, I had the cold already then, probably--at the end of the race my throat was burning in a no-running related way. . . But, upshot = another week without running. Grrr.

The Mohunk -- Sun. September 23

Somehow I didn't get out to a single training run in the week; not the best way to prepare for a 10 miler that calls itself a Challenge (and rightly so!). Anyhoo, Saturday afternoon it was off with Mark for the three hour drive to Pfalz Point (actually, to his friends' place in a nearby village -- Stone Ridge?) NY. Lovely hosts, and we were both feeling in good shape on a fantastic sunny and cool day in the hills there. 300+ people, including a batch from West Point--some organization at the start, and I was aiming to avoid the logjam Mark told me about from last year. So I went off at a brisk pace, and kept it up for the first two miles, feeling okay, but then the course went to uphill trails and steep -- I was burned out and needing to recover. It was a TOUGH course, not just distance but terrain and slopes, up and down, both demanding! Lots of good runners to try and stay with too. I was feeling very rough until easy mile 6, then picked up and was recovered by 8, but it went up hill STEEPly again, and I was just wiped. Here's how it ended up:

Time: 1:13:48
Distance: 10 miles
Speed: 8.3 mph

Comments: all in all, at 38th out of 305, I was happy enough with how it ended. It felt a lot tougher, and yet I also felt that--for parts of it at least--I had gone quite fast. I'll find it easier next year, knowing where and when the steep bits are coming. And I need to do some more single trail training: it's just MUCH tougher than road or dirt lanes. For the record, here are the laps, first half and second half:

6:43, 6:58, 9:01 (ouch!), 8:19, 8:18;
5:52 (smooth and downhill), 6:40, 8:20, 6:25, 6:05.

Mt Holyoke Summit 5K -- Sun. September 16

I knew it would be tricky getting to this (though I was preregistered) as I had lectoring duty that went till 9 or so, and the race was set for 9:30 on Rt 47 near the marina. As it turned out the drive was excruciatingly slow and it was just a bit too far. I had changed in the bathroom and raced off just in time, I thought, but no: the crowd was off gathering at the start as I drove into the parking field.

So I did up my laces, stripped off to running gear and took off towards the registration field (it's lucky that from last year I knew the layout of things, and wasn't planning to return to the car). As I got to the second field, the runners were streaming away down the road. I went up to the table, gave my name, got my tag, pinned it on, was asked for an estimated time -- I wanted to say "Late," and she at the desk said "It's probably the last thing on your mind right now" -- but I said 25:00 and headed out. On the road I hit the start on my stopwatch -- the GPS never had a chance to kick in, I wasn't still for long enough -- and went off after the now distant runners.

The first mile is flat, pretty much, and I was trying to hurry through the tailend without burning up everything before the hill (nearly all the 800ft climb is concentrated into the last mile). Clocked a 6:05, and it felt a bit tough as I'd had no warmup and needed to pee, but it got me into a good set of runners.

The second mile was heading up the hill, gently at first but getting steeper; mile 2 came at 13:45 or so, and near the end of it I caught up with Mark and said hellos. Then it was just grim and earnest up the rest, bloody steep and goes on forever, plus I was in with people who were much harder work to overtake. Just before the turn of mile 3 I was ready to quit, definitely feeling the bikeride I did last night, but somehow kept it going and didn't lose any places. Another 100 yards and I'd have had the guy in front too, but It was a fair enough run in the end.

Time: 22:47**
Distance: 3.1 miles
Speed: 8:18 mph

**I clocked 22:47, remembering to stop my clock as I crossed the line; their time for me was 24:40. So I had started almost two minutes behind the gun. I came in at #17, I think, and I suspect that my adjusted time would have me in the top 10, maybe top 5? But the winner was two minutes quicker still, with just over 20:00 as the top time (and 32 not far behind).

Still, I'm pretty happy with the result, as I was about a minute quicker than last year. And of course the food afterwards was generous and excellent (bagels, yogurts, OJ, fruit, cookies, etc.), and Mark (who'd clocked 29, I think, and while note wildy chuffed was looking very comfortable, and he was only a minute or so behind the winner of his age group) and I got to chat all the way down -- in part planning next weekend's excursion to the mountain run. All in all, satisfying -- feel like a looong run tomorrow, and I'll be happy if it's mainly flat!

Backpost -- two night runs, September 10 and 12

Busy first complete week of the semester, so only got out twice. Monday night I started in daylight, with hints of light drizzle, but it got dark quite quickly, and the rain got _really_ serious. Took a weird route as I was checking in on a soccer practice (trying too --place was empty when I got there), then bailed out of the route I'd ended up on as the rain was getting too heavy (as were my clothes). Roads to Checkers, then trail (tree cover as the rain intensified) and road to the town common, down Jabish and give up on Enfield, taking 9 home, thus:

Time: 43:18
Distance: 6.33 miles
Speed: 8.8 mph

[Good speed for sodden shoes, I guess! A few short hills, but nothing major]

Then Wednesday it was much later, after 10, the new moon already set, and cool but not cold -- early autumnal. Took GeoHannum and Stebbins, but right instead of left, to Bay, then Metacomet and Federal to 9 and home, thus:

Time: 52:31
Distance: 7.55 miles
Speed: 8.6 mph

[very pleasant run, could easily be stretched with an Allen or Hamilton addition at the end -- worth a repeat]

hazy eleven -- Sat. September 8

Last chance for a run this week, and determined to get out despite the record awful (hot hazy humid) weather. Yesterday it reached 90 or 91, way hotter than usual for this time of year (equalled the record). The ground is so hard and dry I can hardly believe it'll ever recover. But no excuse not to run; just have to take lots of water. Didn't get out until just after 10, so 36 hours from the last run -- nice recovery time, though I was still pretty wiped from teaching a double stint in an uncooled room with full afternoon sun exposure yesterday, on top of a pretty stressful week. So I wasn't looking for much other than a few miles of peace, plus any shade I could find.

Went up 202 (via VFW), planning to do Munsell and Packardville back, but then figured a more direct route would be better given the heat and my tiredness. Pace was gentle - -it's a l o n g way up the hill to the turn off into the lake area; I took this, and headed down, not all the way to the water, but just to Jucket, then another long and tough uphill there. I'd forgotten how tough trail running is: the slopes are steeper, it seems, and the ground breaks pace constantly. But it was lovely to look at, and there was a breeze and shade in the trees. Back out onto tarmac finally, and from Allen to Enfield, then back along 9. Stopped the clock a bit early, but I wanted to stop for a drink and save energy for later in the day. So, here it is:

Time: 1:24:54
Distance: 11.08 miles
Speed: 7.8 mph

Comment: well, the change of pace is good for me, even if it doesn't look very impressive. Hopefully a more regular week to come. . .

Long Hamilton, late -- Thu. September 6

First week of classes, and short on sleep; not good for running. After a slightly kinder day, albeit with a long evening, managed to get out at 10 p.m., dark but runnable. Did the Hamilton 5K but included the Allen hills, coming back down the long 202 stretch and then going through S&S car park to make sure I got at least 4 miles (still it's going to be a paltry week). Here's hwo it ended up:

Time: 29:04
Distance: 4.23 miles
Speed: 8.7 mph

Comment: I went out in the hope of losing a headache, and it mainly worked (releases shoulder tension, I guess). Running steadily, not fast, but watching the clock too. Given the uphills, I'm happy with the time for a maintenance run. A longer one Sat a.m., I hope.

starlit seven -- Sun. September 2

Couldn't get out until quite late, and the waning moon was not even thinking of rising. Clear enough night, but crikey it was dark at first - -really couldn't see the road in front of me when I was in treeshade. Had a dazzle incident with an oncoming Volvo that was resolved by me waggling my torch at it -- only then did the driver get the message and dip, prompting a loud part-sarcastic, part-genuine "Thank you!" from me as he went by (hopefully he didn't just hear the "...k you" part!). The stars were just amazing, as was the autumnal chill - I wore a fleece the whole run through, and though I wasn't cold I wasn't hot either. Geo-hannum to Stebbins and then 202 and back up to Boardman, then home - -the same seven I ran when I bumped into Bob P that time in August. Here's how it went:

Time: 53:38
Distance: 7.54 miles
Speed: 8.4 mph

Comments: calves still sore from Saturday's work (running and canoeing both), but I didn't push hard, and I dawdled in a couple of places (at the start and in the darker spots). Two or three times I felt _really_ loose and flowing, not tired (which is different from sore). Promising, I think; très content.

quick four -- Sat. September 1

Surprise, it was a busy week -- so by Saturday (which was already pretty booked) I'd not been out again. Necessitated a morning run, though I still find those really hard to screw myself up for (except race days, strangely - then I don't mind). Little time, as we were going canoeing on the Big River, so I did a slightly extended Hamilton 5K; added the VFW bit and ran until I'd got a good four miles covered.

Time: 28:20
Distance: 4.11 miles
Speed: 8.7 mph

Comment: seems like speed is generally picking up at this point. Didn't push too hard, and there were a couple of (short) hills in this. If I could only get my distance up as well, I think I'd make some big progress -- but it was a beautiful morning, sunny, cool breeze, and fall grasses in full bloom. Mmmmm.

Runhome -- Tue. August 28

The eleven miler that is really never the same twice. Hottish day, pretty humid, and i set off as the evening cool was coming in. Almost full moon, but of course on the trail it's pretty dark because of leaf cover. Ran from the office directly along the rail trail, then to Orchard and up to Federal and then 9, stopping at S&S which was almost exactly 11, thus:

Time: 1:21:43
Distance: 11.02 miles
Speed: 8.1 mph

Comment: the dark impeded speed on the trail, but the overall average seems to be fine -- slowest was the uphill section near the end, but it only just broke 8 minutes. After a 13 this was a bit tough, but as it was mainly flat it didn't leave me feeling wiped. Just hungry!

double 10K -- Sun. August 26

After a couple of days with no chance to run, needing a long stretch and wanting some hill work, headed up to the observation tower over the lake. It''s been murderously humid and pretty hot, and both Fri. and Sat. I got some exercise time (or at least avoiding sitting at a desk) doing tag sale setup and cleaning house. This was a somewhat less hot, but still v. humid morning. Headed out at about 10:30 on an unfortunately mainly road route -- turns out to be almost exactly 10K to the top of the hill with the tower on it, starting from home. Then stopped the clock and went up and down the tower, restarted the clock and headed home, stopping it after I'd done a clear total of 13.1 (just as a goal). The outbound run was fairly fast until the hill, and the run back felt rough but went well, thus:

Part 1
Time: 49:35
Distance: 6.63 miles
Speed: 8.0 mph

Part 2
Time: 45:34
Distance: 6.49 miles
Speed: 8.5 mph

Comment: good start to the week (hard to follow!) and it felt pretty tough but do-able. Half marathon time would be 1:35 ish, not half bad for a solo run with a big hill (but Monson has hills a-plenty, so maybe that's normal).

Evening nine -- Thu. August 23

Wanting to add distance, as there's no time for a Saturday long run this week, so an Enfield, partly also for the hill work. Started gently after a good first mile (doing the Hamilton - Allen start), but thrown off a bit by a large dog (called Einstein!) coming at me on the uphill off 9. Flashlight shone at him (and a loud "Sod off!") distracted him till his careless owner came running out to reclaim him. Annoying, and it messed up a good rhythm, but no harm done. Then the usual route, slow but steady, to the water's edge -- quite a lot of beach there now, as we've hd a lot of dry weather -- and then back down Enfield, round the dealership on 9 and up to the far end of the common. Extended the ending past TownMart to VFW to get an extra bit of distance, stopping the clock at S&S.

Time: 1:09:28
Distance: 9.47 miles
Speed: 8.2 mph

Comment: Though I wanted not to hurry, I did put effort into maintaining speed on the hills. So apart from a couple of 6:50s (first and downhill near end), the range was 7:00s to 7:40s, with no big slowdowns. Now I'm pretty sore in the calf muscles, but it was worth the effort to see the consistency.

NoHo 5K X-country (new PB!) - Tue. August 21

Yes, it was a perfect chance -- cooler evening after a low 70s but slightly muggy day. I warmed up by parking down at the river/marina and running two miles along unpaved roads up to the starting point. There was a bit of a wait there, and I definitely chilled off a bit, which perhaps contributed to the front thigh pull I got on lap one, but the pace was also part of the reason for that. There were two very fast women runners (Kelli and Amber) and none of the usual gaggle of fast young men. So I figured follow the women and stay up near the front. And aim for high 9s for the first two miles, based on my Sunday experience.

Well, the first two miles were certainly fast, though I was not exactly racing -- always thinking of that killer hill and stretch in the last mile. But two sub-5:50s is the best I've ever put together, and so I was feeling good at the start of mile three. Of course it went on too far -- my digivice measured the final distance as 3.25, in fact -- and though I went up the hill well, making ground on the guy ahead, he then pulled it right back after the hill and finished 10 seconds ahead. But, even with a (left) pulled thigh I pushed toward the end, solo as ever, and clocked my best ever 5K time (placing tenth overall in the race). Woot!

Time: 19:36
Distance: 3.1 miles (official)
Speed: 9.51

[note: total distance for the day was this run, plus two miles up and two miles back to my car, for 7.27 miles at a fairly good overall pace]

Comment: while I know this makes no difference for competitive runners, going fast on a hilly course makes me very happy. This is a tough 5K for one that is neither a dedicated climb nor a trail run. So to get my PB on it is very gratifying, and gives me hope for getting lower still in the snowstorms later this year. Colin B. set his own best on this course too -- it made the several runs in awful heat and humidity seem worth while!

Peach Festival 5 miler -- Sun. August 19

Invited F and R along for the post-run breakfast, and Ivan was there too with C. Nice turnout and a _perfect_ day -- cool, but going on very sunny, dry but no wind. The Peach Festival Queen started us off and it was helter-skelter at first, the Wilbraham HS x-country team all out there very keen. Aiming to go steady for the first two miles, I kept right on target, between 6 and 6:30 (6:12, in fact), then mile three (which felt tough) was a 6:23. The course doesn't vary much, and it's pretty fast: road, some inclines, but no hills, lots of corners. Half way into mile 4 it was me going solo, as I overtook the last guy I could still see ahead (the last of the leaders were just out of sight), and I managed to just pick up the pace for a 6:21, then I got some more encouragement from the traffic cop (on a bicycle, go Wilbraham!) and pulled a 5:56 (!) but still not the end--0.11 miles more before the finish, and I slowed up a bit back to 8:6 mph range. Still, the race is a 5 miler, so my time goes down as follows:

Time: 31:53
Distance: 5 miles
Speed: 9.41

Comment: Not that I run it often, but a new PB in the distance. I was aiming for 32:30 (6:30s) and *hoping* to break 32. Just managed to get my wish, and the 5:56 mile is a bonus. After doing the 13 miles on Friday, it feels even better.

Accidental solo half -- Fri. August 17

Wanting to get some mileage in before a rest day I figured I'd try for 10-11 going down the rail trail. But, early evening became later, and so it was too dark to do that safely after the first bit, the ground being dry and hard; left the trail at NWashington and followed that down to the intersection w/ Bardwell. Here, a bit confused re the layout, I went left instead of right, and afetr a while realised there was no connecting N/S road until 181; plodded on anyway, and made it to Michael Sears and then back up (now in real nighttime) to 181, then started the long haul back. Not aiming for speed, but I'd not planned on 12 miles, and this was turning into 13. In the end I stopped to recharge my torch and take a leisurely drink at 11.31, on the uphill just short of town. Then started off again for a very gentle plod of almost two miles to home. Here's how it was:

Time: 1:40:37 (1:25:06 and 15:31)
Distance: 13.25 (11.31 and 1.94)
Speed: 8.0 mph and 7.5 mph

Comment: Happy to have gotten the miles in, but definitely weary. Need to get in some proper weekend long runs again, somehow. A bit worried about feeling v. stiff on Sunday a.m. at Wilbraham, too.

Longer Enfield -- Wed. August 15th

Having missed the NoHo 5K because of lack of time, went out on Wed. evening determined to get a longer run. Did the extended Enfield, starting with Hamilton and doing all of Allen, but at the Quabbin had to do a 180 as it was too dark to do the trail loop (though that is actually a very short addition, so not much effect on distance); then coming back up to the common the longer way round and down to 9, then going on up to the VFW to get a bit more distance, stopping the clock just before reaching S&S. Here's the bare stats:

Time: 1:07:11
Speed: 8.5 mph
Distance: 9.53 miles

Comment: the weird thing is the lap speeds. I was feeling good and aiming to increase training speed, so 7:00 or below was target. Of course the long uphills make that uneven, but here's what the Garmin readout was:

6:29, 6:59 -- starting downhill and flat, mainly; 7:43, 7:40 -- going up and over Allen's two big humps; 5:08 -- that's what it said! going down hill and flat along to the Quabbin; 8:01 -- coming back out of the Quabbin, with a bit of a pause at the turn; 6:45 -- going down Enfield; 7:42 - up to the common; 6:49 -- down to 9; and then another half mile, at 8.6 mph.

So, maybe the Garmin tripped up? Still, it's a fun thought, and I can aim for 6:45 as a solo lap speed from now on. Interesting. . .

Monday evening shorty -- Mon. August 13

The Sunday after the BOF we went to the ocean for what will probably be our only dip this year. It was a gloriously sunny and hot day, and I had plenty of fresh air and exercise - -a little bit of swimming (at the end; took a while to get used to the water's cold), and a lot of digging (a sand hole, aided by Raphael - chest deep by the end, I was). Managed to get well sunburnt too, unfortunately.

So, Monday I was ready for a run of some sort, but nothing too big, so I went for a shortened reverse Enfield: out to 9, along to Enfield, up all the way to Allen, up and over there, cross 202 then up and over to 9 and home. Nice handy run:

Time: 38:38
Speed: 8.5 mph
Distance: 5.46 miles

Comment: was keeping this short so I'd have legs for the NoHo 5K, but in the end I didn't make that. So, longer run Wed. . . .

BOF Classic 10K - Sat. August 11

Second attempt at this one, and with the benefits both of last year's run (43:14) and a good review of the course when Ivan and I went up a couple of weeks ago, it went pretty well. Conditions simply couldn't have been better -- Friday was cold and rainy, but the weather cleared up in the night, and the day became sunny. So, cool, dry, no wind, bright morning sun, just perfect. Hadn't run since Wednesday, as a planned trip on Thu. p.m. didn't come off. But I ended up getting a good warmup. . .

Ivan had picked up my reg. packet early, but I forgot that my phone won't work in Shelburne, and we didn't manage to find each other before the race. I was later than planned in arriving, which didn't help. Parked beside the river near McCusker's, then jogged in to look for the VFW, our rendez-vous, but took a while finding it, jogging a useful distance in the process. No-one was there except runners in the two mile race., so I went out the the reg. spot, a couple of blocks away and confirmed that Ivan had indeed picked up my reg. (#200); he had. After some discussion, they advised me to get a new number, so I became #819, by which time it was nearly 9:00 and I had to hustle to make it to the start line. There on the bridge I found Christi with the #200, and Ivan ready to run. So all was well, enfin.

A minute later and we were off. Nice steady first two miles, trying to keep in the low 9mph range, then the hill: it felt slow, but steady and possible, as I knew exactly how long it would go on. Took a while to recover at the top, so I guess I had tried a bit beyond my training (pushed by a young teenaged boy who was phenomenal, and who then overtook at the top). After recovering I just kept pushing for a good pace; on mile 5 I could feel that my speed training has been deficient (sore thighs and no push left), but then in mile 6 it got a bit better as the downhills varied the rhythm a bit. Made my last dash a bit too late, overtaken by 3-4 people before I went for it, though I closed to within a second of the last one. Here are the laps by my digivice's count:

6:14, 6:15, 8:39, 6:24, 6:26, 6:16 and a faster finishing bit (6:00 or better)

and here's the official stats:

Time: 41:59
Speed: 8.88
Distance: 6.2 miles

Comment: I would have been happy to match last year, or break 43:00, but to break 42:00 (albeit by ONE second) was a real boost. I was pretty knackered by the end, in fact, though ready to jog again in a few minutes. Two days later I'm still pretty sore, so I think I tried pretty hard. Maybe could shorten it a bit with more speed training -- but we'll see. Definitely happy with the hill work (even though 8:39 sounds awful, I'm happy -- you'd need to do the hill yourself to see what I mean).

Campus in company -- Wed. August 8th

Ivan joined me on campus and we headed off thinking about a 10K, but ended up stopping at 5 miles, using the figure of eight setup we ran with Mark the other time.

Time: 39:27
Distance: 5.04 miles
Speed: 7.7 mph

Comment: Ivan not feeling too well after his NoHo race the day before, but this was enough to set us up for the BOF. That's next. . .

Run home -- Tue. August 7

On an exceptionally muggy day, oh my goodness, it was humid!! Not so hot, but dripping wet. Ran home from the office, carrying only keys, water, flashlight and phone (plus a spare T-shirt in case it got cool, hah!). Rail trail from campus to the end, then along Warren Wright to Orchard, and directly home from there. Stopped the clock at S&S, as 11 miles were up.

Time: 1:26:29
Distance: 7.7 mph
Speed: 11.04 miles

Comment: not aiming at all for speed, in fact quite the opposite. Trying for steady and easy, though the heat/humidity kind of messed up the latter. But useful miles, and lovely to run in the near dark.

Enfield hills -- Sun. August 5

I mean the Old Enfield run, with multiple hills. Did the full Hamilton road, all of Allen, and then to the Quabbin loop and back down to 9 and up on to the town common. Feeling really pretty good after two days off, and the uphills didn't slow me down so much somehow:

Time: 1:06:08
Distance: 8.2 mph
Speed: 9.01 miles

Comment: good hilly mileage to start the week - need it less than seven days till the scary BOF run. . .

Two runs in PA -- Wed. & Thu., 1-2 August

Based at Shawnee State Park in lovely Bedford county, managed to run both days we eveninged there. First day I was bushed from the drive and set-up, etc., but I followed the 3. 4 mile lakeshore trail, laid shale around the (artificial) lake, nice course; stretched it by running from the tent, and all the way back, thus:

Time: 37:52
Distance: 4.95 miles
Speed: 7.8 mph

It was pretty hot (middle of a heatwave, in fact, probably still over 80 even in the early evening) and I was flagging. The next day it was similarly hot, but I had had an easier day (only in the car for 50 miles, instead of 200 or more!) and was willing to take on a hilly trail off the lakeshore. I ran with the camp map, and had to check as I went, but the highlight was part of the historic Forbes Trail, an army marching route from pioneer times (steady uphill in woods), then doubling back on to some other trails with wicked steep patches, up and down. Overall:

Time: 1:04:23
Distance: 7.53 miles
Speed: 7 mph

Comment: I seemed to have less time and less energy than I'd expected throughout the trip, but these two runs were definitely worth the effort.

Some bike mileage - end July/early Aug.

Just going to note these as the running was a bit thin, for various reasons. These were also intended to help with my knees, and I think they did:

July 29 = 12.62 miles in 48:59, on road (taking 9 and the lane to the Trombly Farm) and trail (back up the length of the railtrail).
August 1 = 3 miles on campsite trails, w. steep hills!
August 2 = 5 miles on lakeshore trail, similar (w/ F. and R.)

That's all.

BOF rehearsal - Sat. July 28

With Ivan, off on a muggy morning to Shelburne Falls and a run over the course there. It's just an insanely tough hill, no two ways; also the two plus miles before the hill are tough and yet fast enough to tire you out. We did the whole course (at a leisurely 49 minute pace), then took a break and did the hill again. Here's the total:

Time: 1:05:32
Speed: 7.16
Distance: 7.82

Comment: good refamiliarization, and something of a strategy presents itself. After the steepest part of the hill, it's really all quite fast, so you need energy there. To have that, you need either to go v. slow on the hill, or at least bit restrained on the pre-hill. I'll aim for the latter, I think.

Seven by road -- Fri. July 27

Out for mileage but with limited time--morning run, so a road run near home. Out before 8 a.m. but it was still pretty hot. Geo Hannum all the way to Stebbins, then back to 202, up to Boardman, and then home. Steady and not v. hilly, but useful:

Time: 52:07
Speed: 7.25 miles
Distance: 8.3 mph

Comment: Not my usual hour, but turns out it's a fellow runner/parishioner's hour and route we passed each other twice, presumably doing sort of opposite loops. Must ask him for a joint run some time (though a few years older, he's a bit faster than me; 5K pace is sub 20 mins).

NoHo x-country 5K, take 3 -- Tue. July 24

Plenty muggy, and a slightly lower turnout than last week--Ivan and Colin both there, but the chap who beat me the last two times wasn't there, so I chased the older, short, quick-stepped guy; he took off much earlier than I thought he would, and following him I lost one place at about mile 2, then two more (high-school kid team) at about 2.5, and though I chased at the end, that hilly bit just wiped me out. It's a tough course, for sure!

Time: 20:12
Speed: 9.2 mph ?
Distance: 3.1 miles

Comment: no NoHo run next week cos of camping, so back to distance running exclusively for a bit.

UPDATE -- the results have finally appeared online, and they have me down as 6 secs quicker than I thought. The two lads who pipped me by 2 secs (actually they were comfortable and I was pushing it) are 14 and 16. Ah youth!

Ten mile wakeup -- Mon. July 23

Wakng up after a weekend eating snack food and sweets, sitting around at all hours and reading all of HP VII en famille. Today I wanted to run more than 24hrs prior to the 5K tomorrow, so a muggy mid-afternoon run (in older shoes cos of threatening rain, which only showered a bit at the end). Did the non-Holland Glen course I did last week (_with_ bug spray this time), but at the end added a Hamiton Road reprise to stretch the course a bit:

Time: 1:15:01
Distance: 10.01 miles
Speed: 8.0 mph

Comment: felt very tough in the mid stages, thought the first two miles were great. A good mix of hills and trail, so useful training at least.

Pre-Potter leg stretcher -- Fri. July 20

Facing a weekend in reading the Deathly Hallows I took the chance for a run in the evening, and figured I'd do the run Ivan and I did tha Saturday, an Enfield road with some hills and half the town common. Went just over 8 miles, stopping at the S&S instead of the DD where we had stopped, thus:

Time: 59:27
Speed: 8.4 mph
Distance: 8.32 miles

Comment: pleasant and felt quite fast for a solo run, though I was creaky at first. These faster middle distance runs are okay, but I need to add in at least two doubel digit runs a week if I'm going to get teh miles up. . .

Campus lap day - Thu. July 19

In company, though with Ivan only as Mark had a concert and was running earlier. Tried a variant 5 miler, looping campus as usual from the Visitor center but then going straight up th hill to Tilson Farms, and going left along to something-Ridge Road and down that to a link path through to Hobart, then back on NoPleasant St. into the campus loop. Thought about doing one more, but then we chose a shorter extra loop, with the progressive EPleasant hill; ended up walking back though campus after stopping clocks at Thompson. Good leg stretcher:

Time: 1:04:30
Speed: 7.4 mph
Distance: 8.0 miles

Comment: something of a sore achilles tendon (right leg). apparently connected to the jammed-tight calf on the day of the first NoHo X-country. Not sure how to proceed, but I'll have to watch it. Otherwise feeling fairly good (but *boy* was it muggy and wet for this run!)

NoHo 5K X-country -- Tue. July 17

Better weather this week, though still hot and a bit muggy. Went ahead with my "loosen up by biking over" plan, and set out in good time for the 10+ mile ride along the bike trail (mainly -- it peters out in residential NoHo and I had to find my way from there to the town center, and thence on to the Gardens for the race). Ivan there, and also Colin B., still doing doctoral work at the uni -- I'd not seen him at any gathering before, but it turns out he took up running abruptly and in 9 months had done his first marathon. Now he's done two, and will be doing (he hopes) the Tokyo 2008 -- how cool is that?! He said if he could do it anyone can -- whcih is what people say, but I _still_ just can't see it. Ouf. This Sunday I'll take another crack at the 20-miler I failed on last week, perhaps.

[note to self -- must run Friday as no run on Saturday, thanks to HP activity!]

Anyhoo, back to the race: a bigger field, 103 people, and I had the same tussle with the same guy -- overtook him and others at one mile, started losing a few places at just past 1.5 miles, then he re-passed me at just past 2 miles, and I just tried to keep up after that. Came in 18th enfin, 10 seconds behind:

Time: 20:28
Speed: 9.2 mph
Distance: 3.1 miles

Comment: the splits are very revealing: mile 1 = 6:18, mile 2 = 6:05, mile 3 = 7:16, and then a fast finish (11 mph instead of the average 9.2). I'm happy with mile 2, of course, but the big fade is too big - -I need to even it out a bit, keep more push for the 3rd mile. Problem is, the toughest bits of hill are in mile 3, so it accentuates fade. Still, to get all three miles in the 6s would be a good target. Maybe next week.

Solo 9 -- Mon. July 16

Early evening and I wanted to add some miles, but not get too tired fo the 5K race today. So I figured 8 miles or so on a mixed course, but when I had gone about a mile or so I realised I had no bug-spray on! Not worth risking a Holland glen, so I did a variant of that loop, with some rail trail at speed and amost holding my breath. Geo Hannum and Ahmilton, then Allen and 9 to Federal, to pick up the old rail trail -- go along to M & M trial and come out on 9, but instead of Holland Glen follow 9 northwest to Gulf, left onto it and then take Federal back to the old rail trail, follow that to Cherry Circle and then road all the way home, stopping the clock at 9 miles just past S&S.

Time: 1:07:34
Speed: 8.0 mph
Distance: 9.02 miles

Comment: after the usual goodish start, slowed down a bit as I did trails, but on the way back, at around 6 miles, felt good -- using focus on high strike rate, and not worrying about stride lenght. Running at more like 85% instead of usual training 75%. I guess, and then near the hour made a push UPHILL into town to make sure I completed 8 miles on the hour. Maintained pace to end, but pretty weary after.

Morning 8 mile stretch -- Sat. July 14

After what ended up feeling like a tough week, a morning leg-stretcher with Ivan for company made a perfect start to the weekend. We did a basic Quabbin loop for the hills and a look at the water (as Ivan noted, a great opportunity for elegant confusion, given extra possibilities when a small flotilla of ducks scattered across the water-sky from the little cove in the bomb-burst pattern used by Red Arrows et al.). So to 9, then allong to Allen, up and over, cross 202 and more Allen, then left all the way to the water, loop around and back down Enfield, over 9 and across the river up to the town common, where we opted for the near end only (there were historic cars on display, a nice bonus -- including a Austin Healey and a TR7, among others) and down the hill to stop at the Quabbin shops. It was hot in the sun, but not too muggy:

Time: 1:05:07
Speed: 7.4 mph
Distance: 8.01 miles

Comment: not a hard run, but a longer distance than Ivan is used to of late, so we headed out to the Roadhouse for a restorative breakfast (joined by F). Just perfect!

Catchup Post: runs this past week (July 7~July 13)

Now I'm back and trying (unsuccessfully) to get up to my 40 miles p/w average, there's a lot to write. I've just spent a while doing the UK backposts, so this will be a list to bring me almost back to the present -- then I can go back to one run per post.

July 7 - -long Quabbin run, intended as an 18-20 miler, but called the rescue angel after 14 thanks to deerfly trouble and general weariness. I'll get the whole run done next week, I hope, especially now that I know the first bit of the route better. No GPS, but tracked on Google Earth.
Time: 1:58:54
Speed: 7.28 mph
Distance: 14.43 miles

July 8 - -short run with a weary Mark (brush cutting and swimming already on this muggy day) along Amethyst Brook's flatter trails. Distance estimated again.
Time: 27:34
Speed: 6.5 mph
Distance: 3 miles

July 10 - -NoHo 5K X-country race, my first attempt. This is a tricky course, and I'm looking forward to doing it again. Ivan was there, as were several other familiar faces (including LFM and her younger son, practicing for the NHS track team -- excellent!). Digivice back in action again, finally, though I didn't se it to time me, stopping it only when Ivan crossed the line. Still, the times etc. are posted on CoolRunning (came in 12 out of about 50):
Time: 21:18
Speed: 8.75 mph
Distance: 3.1 miles

July 12 - -campus laps, a new 5-mile variant with Mark and Ivan for company. Met at the V center at 7:00 and went clockwise round as usual, but then on pasing the Newman kept straight in towards town, doubling back at East Pleasant to take the gentle hill up to the intersection with Eastman Lane, then down that to rejoin the campus loop and back to our start point. Took a break, and the others headed home then I went out for a second lap of the same, slightly quicker. Good stretch, and I was well later that night. Times combined here:
Time: 1:16:41
Speed: 7:87 mph
Distance: 10.06 miles

July 13 - -short run to stretch sore legs, late on Friday evening. Did my Hamilton 5K route, but added a VFW at the end to bring it over 4 miles. Just me and the fireflies on a cloud-lit gorgeous summer night:
Time: 29:32
Speed: 8.3 mph
Distance: 4.1 miles

That was the week.

Backpost: UK run #5 (Tue. June 26)

This was the last UK run I was able to do on the whole trip, though I did manage a few other walks, including cliffs and a Great Three Hill walk (Pilsdon, Lewesdon and Waddon, 6.5 miles and more than three and a half miles, with Ben, R., and Emma, all to tire us travellers out before the flight back to the US).

Canal-side again, this time from Coven, where again we'd stopped for the night (right next to a pub, called ridiculously enough the Fox and Anchor). I went off along the canal on the way we'd be going the next day -- past a sewage works, and on into the city (Wolverhampton) where there were at least two major canal junctions (the first one I passed, Autherley, was the one that we would be taking the next day). Boggy canal path, and it was separated at times from the canal. Livened up a bit by some yobbish lads on bicycles, but they seemed afraid of getting muddy so were no real trouble. At my turn point (five miles or so) I passed two runners going the other way and after turning chased them, but they veered off into the town before I could catch them. Got totally wet shoes as I ran through a flooded section of path that turned out to be deeper than I'd expected. But a good run and we had a solid dinner at the pub after I'd showered.

Time: 1:14:58
Speed: 8.1 mph
Distance: 10.17 miles

Comment: would have been a bit quicker if I'd had any idea where I was going; I dithered a fair bit before settling on a canal side run. . .

Backpost: UK run #4 (Sun. June 24)

My first run from the canal boat (necessitating a shower in the very めんどくさい shower on board, ouf!), and done under time pressure. We were in Rugely, and had just discovered that there was an evening Mass we could get to, so I had to run and get back into presentable shape in an hour. I figured 15 minutes out along the towpath, and then 15 back. It gave me a chance to see the sort of boating we'd have to face in the morning (handy, as that Monday was the day of TORRENTIAL rain, so knowing a little about the canal was a plus -- would have been even better if I'd had more time). Met several dog walkers and a family out cycling -- it's really cool how well used the towpaths are.

Time: 30:26
Speed: 8.7 mph
Distance: 4.4 miles

Backpost: UK run #3 (Fri. June 22)

Nice short and simple run in Shropshire. We'd driven up the 205 miles (made longer by an hour-plus spent in a traffic jam at Taunton) to stop over at my sister's before taking to the boat, and I needed to stretch my legs--smart sister asked if there was anything I wanted before dinner and before I could answer said, "Wait, don't tell me, a run?" She prepped me with a course, but in the event I lost my way a bit and did a shorter run -- it was raining, and I was fine with a shorter one. Can're really recount the route, but I enjoyed the scenery, including a big mill pond and some fine muddy lanes.

Time: 28:00
Speed: 8.6 mph
Distance: 4.01 miles

Backpost: UK run #2 (Wed. June 20)

This was the ambitious one, the great Two Hills and Two Valleys run, done from Sunnyhayes. Headed out through Allington and up the hill out of town, then at Dottery (Dott'ry, as Mrs Gerrard said it) turn off left into the vale of Marshwood; followed along to Shave Cross, then right off that road along the lanes towards Pilsdon. Start the climb up Pilsdon Lane, then cross the main road at the Cokpit and finish the climb to the top, until recently thought to be the highest point in West Dorset (now measured as 2 meters shorter than neighboring Lewesdon, my next target): 909 feet, or 277 meters, all climbed from the vale in less than half a mile. Just short of the top, as I jogged round the perimeter, I somehow missed my footing and turned my ankle, so stopped the clock for a bit to fume and rest. 7.86 miles so far.

Then I went on to the top - very windy, but of course spectacular views, even without perfect weather -- what a great ship to ride into a storm on! (click to the "aerial" view once you get to the multimap page and you'll see what I mean -- the hill was a pre-Roman era fort).

Then back down the prow of the hill and left on the main road as far as the trail up the back of Lewesdon, about another two miles to that peak, with a much more gradual climb to its hidden but flat village fort space at the top; then down the steep south side to Crabb Hill, and down again to cross the fields to Four Ash crossroads. No Stoke Abbott this time, but back down the main road to Bowood for a left onto the footpath across to Little Strode, and around the lanes to the Silkhay turnoff, but go straight on to Patley Wood and the lane -- aiming to follow this down to Pineapple lane, then across onto the footpath to Elwell, coming out just above the fruit farm. Take another break at about this point, with another 6.22 miles travelled.

Then, very tired, jog rather than run on sore legs all the way home through Wooth and Pymore, for another 2.79 miles. Next time I visit, I'll do it in one go and with energy! But it was a great sightseeing trip, even tired as I was. Here's the combined figures:

Time: 2:33:35
Speed: 6.59 mph
Distance: 16.87 miles (longest I've ever done in one session)

More backposts to come (it was a busy trip, even if I didn't run as often as I wanted to).

Backpost: UK run #1 (Mon. June 18)

This was my first day in Bridport, and the weather was firly typical for the weird June that it was: blustery, chilly even, and wet. Started up V Grove past St Caatz to the footpath and lane over past Colfox, then cross the Beaminster road and down into Fishweir Fields; out from Bradpole via Lee Lane, checking the monument in passing, and down the main road as far as the cemetery--cut through there to head out there to Crock lane, and then find a way up onto Hyde Hill--straight up and then run along the top all the way, looking over Bo'hampton and then striking out toward the caves. . . only to veer round towards the dump end of Long Lane and through muddy trails to come out at the far end of the old Quarry, up near Rom Rem (at this point get hung up by my shorts on a gatepost -- arg!). Down onto main road and into West bay, touch the sea and then home via the Brit Valley trail.

Time: 1:31:03
Speed: 6.7 mph
Distance: 10.22 miles

CommentL long, muddy, wet. familiar, marvellous! Not fast terrain, and lots of hemming an hawing about where to go -- but a great workout.

7.5 mile rail trailer -- Thu. July 5

Still a bunch of update posts to do from the UK trip, but here's my first run back in the US: inCREDIBLY muggy (considering how cold and rainy it was in England) and somewhat late in the day, and no Garmin device to track it, but a satisfying enough hour's plodding. Went the long way in to the rail trail and followed it to the main the canal branch, along that to the main road and back home via the town common and past the donut store. Timed it using the stopwatch on my cell phone, thus:

Time: 57:46
Speed: 7.83 mph
Distance: 7.54 miles (measured on G. Earth)

Comment: felt strange not to have speed feedback while running, and I felt pretty sore still from the recent hiking, traveling and biking -- but at least I'm back into season and ready for the higer weekly load. I think.

end of week top-up miles -- Fri. 15th June

I was not planning on sleeping much before the flight to blighty, and I missed my Thursday run, so Friday evening before starting final packing I took advantage of a very pleasant evening -- muggy, but cool, lots of fireflies and rose scents in the air -- for a quick run (short and swift). Hamilton, down to Allen, up to 9 and along to VFW turnoff, then finish the triangle past Dunkin Donuts. The results:

Time: 25:54
Speed: 8.5 mph
Distance: 3.65 miles

Comment: posting this from Logan, where I now feel distinctly bleary having driven down between 3 and 4:30 a.m. But in a few tens of minutes, board the plane and snooze for 3,000 miles or so. Then next run in t' UK!

9k in the dark -- Wed. June 13

It was pretty late by the time I got home, and a cloudy moonless night; cool to cold all day, and a chill breeze to run in. All the while there was a bit of the lurkng mugginess one expects at this time of year, so it wasn't like March or anything--but I went from running in a sleeveless T and shorts (Tue) to a collared long-sleeved fleece w/ long training pants (Wed). Only in New England (or Hokkaidô?)!

Revisited a run from last November (Nov. 19, '06, to be precise): again running in the dark and again doing it for the hills, but I cut out the run up to the town common, opting for a right onto 9 and home instead. So, I started out onto 9, along to Bay, down there to the bottom of Allen, then Allen all the way, uphill to 9, across and uphill to the top, then down to cross 202 and up hill again. Enfield downhill to 9, and home. Stopped the clock at the country crossroads store. It felt pretty good at times, though with al teh gear on and being a day after a long run, it was まま:

Time: 43:22
Speed: 7.9 mph
Distance: 5.73 miles

Comment: just what the doctor ordered. One more to go before the flight, though doing so much mileage in three days will leave me pretty sore, I suspect. I definitely prefer rest-days between. . .

double digit run -- Tue. June 12

Out in early evening after a very tense tea-time meeting; plenty of stress to run off, though not feeling particularly energetic. (the muggy weather didn't help there). Heade off for a rail trail, but on reaching 181, with a fly bite on my neck despite bug spray, decided to take roads home. Some good patches of soft verge to break up the tarmac running, and the hills leading up to the common at least allowed a downhill finish after that. Ray F. (I think) saw me and honked near the CVS, where at 10 miles up I was feeling quite good:

Time: 1:20:20
Speed: 7.9 mph
Distance: 10.6 miles

Comment: so, not very fast, but _much_ better than that is how comfortable the whole thing felt. A brief section of nerve-numbness near the end of the trail portion, but fortunately that passed. All in all, this seems like a sign of building up distance readiness again, thank goodness. Now two more runs this week, starting with a shorter one tonight. . .

another bike commute -- Mon. June 11

Still sans voiture, so biked in late morning, gently so as not to get too hot. A useful almost dozen miles of leg stretching.

Had hoped for a run in the evening, but no time, so it'll be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday this week (and a walk on Friday morning). Aiming for about 30, not 35, so that's three nine milers to go. Do I know any nine-milers?

Hill trails & a bike ride -- Sun. June 10

Car-less, grabbed a ride w/ Mark to Hadley (via Sunderland! lolz) and parked at the triangle for a run up to the trail in the woods. Steep and a bit boggy, very buggy (puled off six ticks en route) and tangling with briars too -- but a lovely place, and we took our time. Short, but really nice loop run in the end:

Time: 37:42
Speed: 5.6 mph
Distance: 3.52 miles

Then Mark dropped me off and I grabbed a few things before biking home via the rail trail -- used the Garmin, and this is what it said:

Cycling time--50:21; speed--14 mph; distance--11.72 miles

Comment: a nice change of pace, and the biking didn't feel too strange. Tires a bit soft still, and I can really see getting soime suspension or a better saddle. . .

Topping off -- short run, Sat. June 9

After the Tall one's graduation and before going out for a double celebratory dinner (for Ninja girl too, from her confirmation last week), took my aching legs out for a short run on a cool afternoon. Mix of trail and road, with a good bit of hillwork. Hamilton (via trail), Allen-9-Allen then 202 along past Subway's and home through the apartments. Stopped the clock at 4 as that was all I wanted.

Time: 30:29
Speed: 7.9 mph
Distance: 4.01 miles

Comment: that makes a shade over 30 miles for the week. Hard to follow, given the travelling coming up, but worth a shot. A couple more like this and I should feel more like 15+ milers, I hope -- though I need to add x-training on bike and some ad + upper body strength training (ugh).

running for home, 11 miles -- Fri. June 8

What it says: from the office, after the usual day, change and head home along the rail trail. I forgot bugspray, and it had been pretty hot so it was muggy and buggy--at Warren Wright I tried a bit of the unpaved trail, but when it came out on Goodell that was enough. It was getting tough at that point anyway, just feeling knackered. Plodded on for a much slower feeling second half, road all the way, and stopped the clock at the superpmarket as usual, thus:

Time: 1:28:54
Speed: 7.5 mph
Distance: 11.09 miles

Comment: No real hills until the end, but maybe the humidity was the problem? Just didn't feel very good. Still, got the miles in, and it's an easy run to repeat later for comparison.

starlit almost eight -- Wed. June 6

Evening run after heading from work to Nina's jazz ensemble performance, then ordering pizza for all in advance and finally out at about 9:30 on a beautifully cool night -- cold even, if not running. Wore training pants and long sleeve fleece top (in June!), and headed off down GeoHannum aiming for 8 miles. Nice loop run, road only as it was so dark -- GeoHannum all the way to Sabin, then left out to 202, up to Boardman and back to complete the loop. Watching the miles it was clear it wouldn't quite make 8, so I headed right past the small farm inst. up to the rail trail entry, then stopped the clock -- too dark to do the little bit of trail which would have made 8 miles. Final score:

Time: 59:03
Speed: 8.0 mph
Distance: 7.92 miles

Comments: good starting miles, then slower especially last couple, but felt very good at times. Tired at end, but I think it's getting better.

rainy evening seven -- Mon. June 4

Sometimes it pays to ignore the weather, or just get out there and enjoy it. Looking for about 7 miles, and I recalled that the lakeside run is about that, so off the shortest way: store, VFW, 202 to Allen, then left and Enfield road to the water. It's just three miles to the gateway, then another half-mile plus looping down to the water and back up to the gate, then home via Enfield and 9 (looped around the old Jeep dealer to add a bit of distance) and stopped the clock at Geo Hannum. Not too wet, and felt pretty good.

Time: 53:26
Speed: 8.0 mph
Distance: 7.09 miles

Comment: first and last three miles were at a nice pace, and even felt quite expansive. The mile going down to the water and looping round was slow (8:29), but all in all a satisfying run.

muggy struggling for 8 miles --Sat. June 2

My Saturday morning run, which would have been a Friday p.m. run if I'd not done an all-nighter on Thursday/Friday night, became a Saturday evening run - -slow day from a late start. It was very muggy (if not too hot) and I wasn't feeling very sharp, more just _determined_ to get out, and worried that my weekly target of 25 miles in three runs was beyond reach.

So I took off for a simple rail trail, but it was as buggy as all get out, even with tons of spray. I pushed a bit for the first three miles, but then numbness came on and just short of 4 miles I had to stop. Walked and jogged a bit, then it seemed to recover and I ran again, but I was feeling really drained. Did another 4 plus miles, taking a right off the trail trail and joining the slightly less buggy road all the way home, up to the town common and home the regular way. Here's the combined run, with th etwo parts in parentheses:

Time: 1:06:51 (29:20 + 37:31)
Speed: 7.62 mph (8.1 + 7.3)
Distance: 8.49 (3.94 + 4.55)

Comment: not sure why I felt so drained. This week I need to get more frequency (duh!) and still somehow gt towards 30+ miles. Starting tomorrow. And I have to hope that the bike riding will help too.

Oops, LONG run - Tuesday May 29

An evening run up Gulf Hill was not the eight miles or so I'd planned. I thought it might be a bit more like nine, but it turned out to be 12! I'm definitely not in that sort of shape, and my right knee was being particularly awkward after about eight miles, but it IS a great route, and I'll do it again in a few weeks when I need a 12 mile run. It's mainly road, unfortunately, but it has the best hill and some very nice views. Start on Rt 9 along to Federal, down to join the old rail trail along between the lakes, then back out on to Federal and up to cross 9 on to Gulf; then up hill all the way (slow going in parts). Right at Packardville all the way along to the big pond, then down beside it and Munsell to 202, then chug down that long gentle hill to the VFW and home. I stopped the clock at 10 miles first:

Time: 1:21:01
Speed: 7.4 mph
Distance: 10.03 miles

Then because I couldn't face walking all the way home I started running again, ending up stopping it for good once I reached 9 again.

Time: 14:47
Speed: 1.75
Distance: 7.1 mph

Comment: very sore in parts while running, especially after 9 miles. It's going to be a long summer getting ready . . .

Quick solo 5K+ -- May 25

At home, Friday evening after a long week. No time for an extensive run, so a short one, road only. I pushed a bit, not too hard, as far as 5K, which came up in 22 minutes, then jogged around a little loop to cool off before stopping the clock at the supermarket. Hot evening, and muggy -- time for summer mode again!

Time: 27:48
Speed: 8.3 mph
Distance: 3.86 miles

Comment: not sure on the use of a run like this, except to remind me of bits I've not been using in my very dodgy ankles. Must get back into bike x-training.

summer running

Still no time really to get to regular running, though a gentle trip through Amethyst brook on Sunday evening w/ Mark was most pleasant.

TIme: 45:33
Speed: 5.3 mph
Distance: 4.1 miles

Driving in today I'm figuring out an idealised schedule for upping mileage and aiming towards a 26 miler before the end of the year. Weekly totals going from start point of 25 (which I can do even now, and will do next week) up through a few 35s over the weeks after (to accommodate my UK trip), and then up to a cycle of alternating weeks of 42 and 44, as shown below:

Sun - 6 - Mon - 0 - Tue - 10 - Wed - 0 - Thu - 12 - Fri - 0 - Sat -14 = 42

Sun - 0 - Mon - 8 - Tue - 0 - Wed - 16 - Thu - 0 - Fri - 20 - Sat - 0 = 44

Not sure if it'll work, but I want to set a target.

part time runner

is how it feels right now. This spring has to have been one of the worst (barring times I've been injured) in terms of running frequency. On average I suspect it'll barely come out to more than once a week : - (

But, just for the record, I got out once since last weekend, on a cool evening starting as it got dark, around 8:15. Took GeoHannum to the trail entry, followed the rail trail (mainly flat and straight) all the way down to NoWash. St. and then back up into town, across the common and run as far as S & S -- a very tidy 10K as it turns out. I was wearing long training pants and full warm top, aiming to run gently and warm up as I ran.

So all in all a slow time, but I felt surprisingly fresh at the end. _Dead_ tired the following morning, however. Here's the details:

Time: 48:53
Speed: 7.7 mph
Distance: 6.28 miles

Comment: fair enough, I'm just ticking over. The numb leg thing seems to have gone for a bit, leaving in its stead some nerve soreness, and the knee is no better, but: nearly at the point when I can get time to run more regularly, and maybe biking to to help the knee.

Timeslip

More than two months since I last posted, and in those nine weeks I've gone out running maybe four times. Gack! It's the busiest semester I've ever had, and that combined with a sprained ankle has gotten me here, out of shape and almost forgetting how it is to BE a runner, rather than THINK about being a runner.

Well, time to change that. I shall have to start today, I think, as I have an 8:30 meeting tomorrow morning, my sometimes open slot. Not too far, and definitely not fast, but something. Thanks to the editor-in-training at biggerbueltrails.blogspot.com for the prompt!

Long hill run - Sun. Jan. 21

It was too cold (windy, sub 20 deg. F) and I was too busy to try the Snowstorm 5K on Saturday, and so I was not sure yesterday whether I'd made my 25 miles for the previous week. In fact I had, at just over 26 miles total, but I wanted to make the best of my Sunday opportunity just in case, and I figured (especially given some knee soreness) I wanted to stay off roads. Also, given that it was still seriously cold (no snow, and mainly no wind, but in the low twenties F.) I wanted to get warm quickly. So I cadged a lift to the bottom of Holland Glen and headed up there, aiming in a roundabout way for the Quabbin.

As I set off I was passed by two runners coming down -- I'm pretty sure it was Mr and Mrs Nedeau, serious racers, doing some local training: good company, I thought. The brook was spectacularly iced up in places, and the trail was plenty tricky (ice turns highly technical into specialists or nutters only territory), but I managed to get a bit warm as I made my way up to the second belvedere (fantastic viewscape at this time of year, 0.88 miles from the startpoint). Paused a bit, then plodded on up the M & M trail. It was much browner than the last run with Mark, done in our faux spring of late December or early Jan., but fortunately most all the oak leaves were blown off the trail, which was thus less slippery. At the confusing junction I chose uphill and though I was heading for Gulf as I'd wanted, but no, it came out on the old tumbledown shack and new MacMansion cluster at the end of Munsell. Ah well, same difference - I headed to Gold, then up to Knight's Pond (*cold* wind there) and took a right towards 202. Helped a couple find their way to 30 Knights (as Packardville is called at that point, it turns out) and then across 202 (where the big old house if for sale; lovely place, tough location) past the candle shop and down the res. access road. Nicely soft, and it was a good mile away from the main road before I reached the turn-off for Juckett Hill. Took this and was again really feeling the hill (this run would be a good one to keep in mind for future training, especially when I'm feeling a bit tougher!), but made it all the way up and felt the chill of the wind up there on the top.

After that, coming out on to Juckett and right onto Allen, along to 202 and then home past VFW. Stopped the clock as I reached 9, since I had a good distance covered and I wanted to avoid hurrying across 9 busy w/ Sunday traffic when already tired. Too cold for a warmdown, I went directly home and enjoyed hot tea, a late lunch and a good nap.

Time: 1:32:25
Speed: 7.2 mph
Distance: 11.05 miles

Comment: that was enough hill training for the week, as well as a good long run. I'd forgotten how tough it is to run in cold -- seems much worse when there's no snow, somehow. But now just 8 miles to go during the week, as long as I make it to the 10K next Saturday. Yosh!

Road run with tea break - Thu. Jan. 18

Recovered from the flight, I thought of a daytime run but was too busy, so it was just freezing evening when I set out. Sleet had fallen and the ground was treacherous, so I had to hobble along in places, and narrowly missed slipping over several times on downhill stretches. Because the winter has been such a lame one there's not even a good grit wash alongside the roads (though the gritting truck did pass me by several times during this run). Headed out past VFW to 202 and along to Allen, up and over to 9, then down Federal to the lake, and left onto Metacomet and thus directly to the House of Dave. I was carrying licorice from Iceland and some Gevalia beans for those guys; not very good at running with stuff in hand, but considering the conditions I made fairly good time. Stopped chez gray-heyes and enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat, then back home via Bay and Hamilton. Had set out planning about 5-6, but ended up a bit longer:

Time: 53:46
Speed: 7.9 mph
Distance: 7.04 miles

Comment: I'm feeling very slow, and maybe this is the corollorary of having a distance target. Still, perhaps after a month of doing 25+ mile weeks I'll get some speed back.

London, Hyde Park laps - Tue. Jan. 16 [UK]

[Backpost]
From Tim's flat nearby, headed out to the park after a long day for my last run of the UK trip. Found my way there okay, and negotiated very confusing underpasses under Marble Arch to surface at Speaker's Corner, then set off around the perimeter inside the park, on a nice sandy road used by horses and some parts of the bike trail or regular roads: Broad Walk, Lovers's Walk, round the Achilles statue and back into to Serpentine road, next to a dark and duck-floating Serpentine that looked quite expansive and *chilly.*

A bit alarming that the low light-pollution lamps were barely bright enough to let me see prospective muggers, but I ran with hairs prickling and eyes sweeping the path's edges. The presence of a few other runners and cyclists reassured me that I wasn't totally nuts. I turned away from the water at the North Ride and followed that all the way back to the start point, then did the same again. Then back into the underpasses and out into the streets towards Edgeware. Realized I needed to think about how to get back, so stopped the clock, for the first set of readings, then ran on a bit more before giving up and phoning home to get directions! Made it back after lots of toing and froing; while waiting for one traffic light a chap asked if I was training and I said yes, sort of, and he said, "Well, see you in 2012 then!" Riiiight.

Time: 46:30 and another 7-8 minutes
Speed: 7.7 mph and slow
Distance: 6.01 miles and another 0.8 miles

Comments: hit a puddle or two so got clean gear muddy again (in London, even!) but it was a comfortable run and soothing given stress factors about the trip and the heap of work awaiting me. Tim's certainly got room to train there, though, for sure.

The Pilsdon Lewesdon Run - Sun. Jan. 14 [UK]

[Backpost--with non-running related memorabilia]

This is the one I'd been waiting for, and the day turned out to be lovely: some sun, not too cold, and lots of the mud was firm enough to get across without bogging down. Dropped off at the Pilsdon Pen lookout layby (the Cockpit, I think it's called) I was chatting to a viewgazer before I set off: he asked how far I was heading, and said his brother was/had been a marathon runner for charity, earning an OBE for it. Much more modest goals here -- I still don't think I could do a marathon without some sort of paradigm shift, but maa, ne. I attacked the steep climb and was well knackered once I hit the top: starting at about 720 feet up to the summit of 909 feet in about 200 yards. Did a lap of the hillfort parapet, partly to get my breath back, and partly for the AMAZING views, up country for miles and miles, and south across the vale out to sea - just breathtaking!

Then down the steep path again and off along the Broadwinsor road to the back way up Lewesdon (Dorset Ridgeway path, technically). This was a muddy slog in places, but pleasant (motorbikes had been up there earlier, but were fortunately gone), and I was at the top of that hill fort (892 feet) glimpsing the sea, and then down the far side trying not to crash into trees; levelled out and reached the lower slopes, where one dog walker explained her dog's dogging me with a, "He doesn't like orange, see" (I was wearing my lovely Xmas top). Across the fields then (footpath, officially) to exit at Four Ashes and then cross the B3162 and on down into Stoke Abbott. Long road section followed, but laced with memories of the hike we all did that Saturday that prompted F's story. Tried to call F from the payphone, but it needed a coin to activate even for 0800 calls, alas.

Cooled my head at the old fountain and then plodded on Beaminster-wards, intrigued in passing by the pub sign -- text on both sides, under the picture; too small to read, but next time, I hope. Very little traffic, fortunately, along the lane; a couple of women out for a hack smiled (perhaps simply from enjoying the comfort of their position compared to mine -- two very different ways to take pleasure in the scenery of a Sunday afternoon). Made it to Beaminster still feeling pretty good, taking the footpath right immediately after crossing the river: the start of my run down the Brit Valley trail, this meant I didn't go through the square at all, but ran down the old road next to the church (with the pulpit/ambo? too tall for me to see out of w/out a step when I was a first former) and on by the river out the back of town to the field path off behind Parnham. I remember a science class trip there one time, and also the many passages to and fro visiting Sarah when she lived in the town (can I even recall where the house was though?).

Familiar fields and some startled Sunday walkers as I chugged on towards Netherbury -- one family just before I came out by the church had a wee lad in tow, and the mum turned and called him, "Come on Legolas, see? Everyone's running!" as I went by. Legolas?! Maybe just a nickname (the little chap, maybe 3-4 years old, was very fair). Down past the Reading Room (which seemed to have a load of music stands in it: a singing group, perhaps? -- but at least it's still used), and then down the maind street, past the cider farm (I wonder if Mr Warren still does his barely licit biz?) and across the white bridge to the lane that keeps the Brit Valley trail going. Some very muddy bits, as I splashed on to Riverside cottage (a woman gardening, but the famous cook no longer living there) past the weir, and then more wet fields as far as Oxbridge. Out into the lane and back over the river to the next section of trail, the bit where buzzards be (as I remember only too well). None there to dive at me that day though, and I followed fields and barely visible paths more or less beside the river on down the valley. One field had a couple of sheep carcasses or skeletons, as with the Pymore Wooth run the other day -- maybe that's common practice these days? I don't remember seeing so many as a kid. A field with a big flock had lots of wool on the wires, all curly and so soft: I gleaned a bit for F. Another field was strewn, I thought, with feather, but on picking them up I saw they were fine leaves, so pretty and so not like the land all around. A fruit tree, for sure, in someone's garden next to the trail.

Lost the flow a bit near Pymore --the markings got very vague, and I blundered into an electric fence, pulling it about three paces before I realised what it was. The setting was fairly low, just a bit uncomfortable as I stepped back to loosen it and then stepped over it. Memories of how alarming such encounters were when I was a kid -- and renewed amazement at how puzzling it is to run into one. You just don't automatically connect the tick tock jolts with the fence very quickly (or is that just me?). Came out through a farm yard finally at Pymore and followed the footpath back into the new old Pymore Village, then down the path all the way home.

Time: 1:34:56 and 5:40
Speed: 7.3 mph and 6.8 mph
Distance: 11.5 and 0.64 miles

Comments: the second numbers are a bit I added at the end, since I initially stopped just after Pymore. Also, I accidentally stopped the timer as I left Netherbury, so I can add half a mile to the distance. It won't have affected pace much. Overall, a long and very tiring, but swamped with memories and images, just a real treat!