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.