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. . .