Peaked Mountain -- Sun. October 26

Off with Ivan to my third and his first in this mountain trail race. He arrived at 9, and we went straight off in my car; gorgeous sunny day after rainy windy mild evening and night. Got there at about 9:45, registered and did a couple of warm-up runs, totalling 2 miles at 8 minute pace. Good bunch of cheery people, some familiar faces, but only a couple of high schoolers. Race started on time, and I led a pack following the top three guys for the first bit of road. Then up the mountain: caught #3 (Beaver-san, younger) about half-way, then #2 (older) at the top, pushing to get past him before the single file downhill; closed on the leader (high schooler) to tagging distance before he started to accelerate on the downhill. Then I got a bit scared at the helter skelter pace and just managed to slow down a bit; again a miracle that I and everyone else made it through that section intact! At the road section I just worked on staying in position, happy with the 6:40 ish pace; into the woods and a couple of times I thought I might be closing on him, but each time he pulled away again. Back on to the road (hurdled the gate each way, just for larks) and he was solidly ahead; I thought I might get closer at the very end, but he pulled away; still, that helped pull me well clear of the guy behind. Came in second, thus (per race results, digivice had 4.48 and 31.29):

Time: 31:28
Distance: 4.4 miles
Speed: 8.39 mph

Comment: nice to place highly, and to win a prize -- chose a coupon for a weekend of free camping at Tully Lake. Even better, this makes my PB for the course (31:50 and 32:05 previously). Ivan placed 9th, and really enjoyed the course, and I enjoyed the pastries, coffee and cake afterwards-- plus the whole crowd was very sociable. Such a nice run -- must try and bring some more Swifties next time!

Chicopee roads -- Sat. October 25

Out this morning for R's last football game of the season (they won 3-1, so undefeated) to a different pitch in Chicopee. Warmed up a bit, after not running all week, then off. A mild and almost muggy morning, cloudy with intermittent sun and a mild wind. Leaves falling heavily, but some late foliage still -- sassafras, swamp maple and some oaks even. Took off on roads, basically heading back towards 33 along Granby Rd, but then turn left onto Montgomery, all the way to Pendleton, going right and all the way (up hill) to 33, right again and along to Granby. then back to the start -- there's a 200' incline in there, at about mid point, downhill then up, which was enough to get me pretty warm:

Time: 45:14
Distance: 6.37
Speed: 8.45

Comment: took an easy pace, no pressure, but felt good so it was in the high end of stamina (7:06 pace overall). Didn't want to go too far because of the race tomorrow, and I wanted to see the soccer, but this was just about right. Basically a maintenance run.

SRRC shorty -- Sun. October 19

Only Lisa and I at the donut shop today (Ivan couldn't make it? Mark away still, and several Swifties at the Baystate marathon), so she did a trail run and I went for a mixed loop. Started by running after a woman runner who I'd seen while driving in, who obviously doesn't know about the club; caught up with her at the Rt 21 juncion and invited her to join us any Sunday. Then into the trail by Wallace Lake and round through the woods to GeoHannum, then right up to Hamilton, along as far as the railway crossing, then double back along rail trail, loop along undiscovered country and come out behind Stopnshop, to go by road to 9, round to 202 and up into town, before heading back down to the start point. Digivice was out of charge, so ran without, but timed it:

Time: 48 mins
Distance: 6.45 miles
Speed: 8.06 mph

Comment: Well, this felt hint-of-wintery, and I almost regretted not wearing my hat -- but it was okay in the end, I think, and probably the chill helped keep my pace up a bit. The big dose of trail amde it hard work, but that makes the pace all the more satisfying. Thoughts of the Monson Half in my head. . .

Exploratory Ten -- Sat. October 18

After another week without a run, but from busy-ness this time, rather than the cold (which I'm over now, prety much), I had Sat. a.m. clear to go. Just too late to take R to his (home-field) soccer game, so ran to that pitch (Jabish) to see F and watch the game start. That was two miles, warm-up. Then off on a road-trail loop, NoWashtn to the Jabish canal, and follow that downstream for a change to 21, then back up to Old Sprngfld and along all the way back to the soccer game again. That was 6 miler at tempo. Then two easier miles home again (along the trail). Cold but sunny and dry day (chill breezy), good for running; here's the combined set:

Time: 1:18:01
Distance: 10.89
Speed: 8.38

Comment: Felt pretty sore afterwards, but at least doing the run in three bits it felt quite possible. Pushed a bit on the 6 mile section, and I'm plenty happy with the overall pace. Maybe I didn't lose too much these last few weeks of no training.

Larch Hill X-C -- Sun. October 12

Billed as an "English-style" run, I opted for this over SRRC as I'd missed the Saturday race, and I still didn't feel like doing a distance run. Met up with Ivan there on a sunny, 70 deg. + midday, and we did several mild legs around the area, to add up to two miles of warm-up. Then the race began at 12:30 or so: a circuit in two loops (2 miles and 1 mile) around the Larch Hill/Bramble Farm property. Several faces familiar from NoHo X-C and other local runners, but no Swifties; not a huge crowd, maybe 60+? Started up a hill on a shale trail, then off into field edge trail -- wet for some, but I managed to find a dry route, and stayed that way. 7-8 haybale jumps and one haydrum scramble, with one tall stile for good measure. The ending was a bit hazy, but my estimated time was:

Time: 20:45
Distance: 3.1 miles
Speed: 8.96 mph

Comments: just a gorgeous route!! running on grass nearly all the way, a real parkland course, with the jumps adding a quirky extra. Ivan got wet feet and then blisters, but I was lucky. Was willing to be cautious, but a comfortable pace turned out to be 6:40 and 6:34, then a bit slower in mile 3. The finish was poorly laid out, and I ran past it, then stopped, then ran back, but the guy ahead was 15 seconds ahead of me -- I'd checked twice as we covered mile 3. He came in with 20:20, but he also pulled ahead a bit in the last quarter mile, so my 20:45 is probably close enough.

The food afterwards was *excellent* -- local potatoes, baked in a fire while we warmed up and ran. Plus noodles, cupcakes, etc, all probably organic. Yum. Must add this to next year's list~!

Missed Half, & recovery run -- Sat. October 11

Monday after the last entry I got a sore throat and on Tuesday it was a real cold; managed not to take a day off work, but no running; very tired and croaky. Had to miss the Hartford Half-marathon today, alas, but I was in no shape -- and since Mark couldn't make it for his own work reasons, I had no real justification even for being there in this condition. But even yesterday I felt a bit better, and today I tried a short outing after taking R to his soccer game in Chicopee (different field this week). I'd mapped out a course, very pleasant again on a beautiful 70 degree October noon. Basically I went out from Litwin Field to Burnett, then left along to New Lombard, left along there to West, left along there to Coolidge, and back to the start, thus:

Time: 37 minutes
Distance: 5.19 miles
Speed: 8.42

Comment: of course, I managed to forget my digivice, so the timing was to the minute not second, and the distance is from MapMyRun. Calves a little sore at the end, but overall, it felt good.

SRRC double digits -- Sun. October 5

Ready for a tough but not *too* long run, I was happy to see the three serious young runners there at D&D at 10. It was only us in the end, and Bill W had a plan -- 15 miles, with 5 at his marathon pace so he could get Andy used to it (7:00 ~7:10 pace, he said), and a run over Summit Road. Jay and I were unsure about the distance, but figured we'd go and see how it went.

Started down 202 to Eskett, with an 8:00 and a 7:00, then into the timed section, a loop and a half around Rural and Stebbins, etc. Definitely NOT the pace Bill had advertised, faster, and it felt it, but we worked together to smooth it out and by mile 4 we were doing about 7:00s. After the initial burst had pushed me a bit, I felt fine, but still Jay and I figured we'd go back directly along 202, aiming for a 10 instead of 12 -14. So Andy and Bill split off at Boardman, and Jay and I motored on, but it was already nearly 9 miles. . . We realised we'd have a bit more than 10 miles by the end, and Jay was feeling very low sugar, so he advised me to go on ahead. I thought we were nearly back in town and pushed off hard, keeping around the 7:00 pace, but in fact there was a ways to go, including two (short) hills. Oops. Still, managed to keep up the pace to the end, which was over *twelve* miles in all. Details:

Time: 1:26:37
Distance: 12:17 miles
Speed: 8.43 mph

Comment: I'm surprised I had that pace in me for the distance. Good sign, I hope, and a perfect blast out before the next half marathon next weekend . . . I got donuts and coffees in for me and Jay, wondering how he was, but he came in fine about four minutes behind, while I was still queuing (D&D was very busy!). Man, I enjoyed the croissant with egg and cheese!

Urban Eight -- Sat. October 4

Took R to his soccer game in Chicopee (I think it was, the town borders are bit fuzzy there for me) and got in a good road run while he played (his team won 7-4 or so: nice!). Found a loop that was part on quieter roads, though it turned out to be an industrial estate and to go through entries to two contiguous town dumps. But hey, it was okay. The day was sunny but not hot, so I was running in long-sleeved top and shorts.

Having not run since the Mohonk I was feeling pretty zippy, and after doing some map checking in the first mile (giving a recorded 7:20) I settled into a good series of quick miles: 6:46, 6:42, 6:42, 6:33, 6:41 . . . and then I started to feel it a bit. A 7:03 and 7:02 followed, with a fast finish as I was late -- the final 0.84 was done at 6:37 pace. The route was out to 33, right and up to New Ludlow, another right and then left at Morgan, on to Pleasant, left at 202 and left at 33 again and all the way back. Covered Chicopee, Ludlow, Granby and SoHadley, I think:

Time: 1:00:24
Distance: 8.84
Speed: 8.78 mph

Comment: the pace was fun, being road and flat after the recent muddy hills. Distance was perfect too -- not enough to feel like a strain (though I slept in the afternoon for a bit!). With this I'm back into some training for the next race (which is all too soon).

The Mohonk! -- Sun. September 28

This is such a great race, and made such an excellent outing by our hosts John and Jim -- it lived up to all our expectations, and yet it was still frustrating on this second attempt, as it was last year on my first attempt. I don't know how well I could do this one if I felt really prepped, but I know I can do it better. . . Anyhoo, to the biz: Mark and I drove down the night before, after a rainy and windy day. Long drive, but then a fabulous dinner and long chat (with wine, not so well advised maybe) and bed for about 6 hours before we got up to a misty and mild morning.

At the course by 8:15 or so, and then get our numbers and stretch a bit. Very misty, and ground pretty damp: warnings of slippery course. Lined up and off just after 9, with me aiming to go slow in first two miles, knowing that 3, 4, 5, and 8 are serious hills. I managed to be cool for the first mile, but the weather was killing my GPS reception, so I couldn't really track pace. Felt okay after slogging up to the halfway point, though by then I realised I'd not get to last year's time. Still, I'd figured 1:15 would be good, marking a 7:30 pace, and two minutes slower than last year. I was holding position okay until we came up on mile 7; I'd been running just out of sight of the guy ahead, having steadily lost ground on a couple of other runners ahead of him. Then an older guy I recalled from last year overtook, about a mile before where he caught me last year. Ouf. Then it was the hard downhill and the *killer* uphill of mile 8. The older guy was walking bits, but I still couldn't catch up. So I tried walking a bit, but after 20 yards of that I just wanted to stop altogether, so I forced myself to jog onward and upward, somehow. From the top of that mile it was two miles more of holding on, feeling okay finally, but with not enough spare energy to go faster -- also some pain from right thigh front. . . A couple more people got past me, but I was just concerned about my time and about not being passed by the Connie who passed me in the last mile last year.

I ended up placing 22nd, just inches behind the guy ahead, and feeling ready to do a few more miles (go figure -- Mark felt good at the end too). Time from the official site, given my GPS troubles:

Time: 1:15:18
Distance: 10 miles
Speed: 7.97 mph

Comment: Good place (278 finishers, and the guy ahead of me had the *same* time), and I wasn't the only one slower than last year, either. The rain seems to have slowed most everyone down about 3 mins on last year. The after-race eats were excellent, too (for all the rain that really started to come down seriously at that point) . . . Ah well, better luck next year?

I just need to do a heck of a lot more hill trainiing -- it really kills me, but that's where it's at. I want to get Gabriella into it too, if she's up for it: it's such a cool event, and almost in her neck of the woods.

[Backpost] Thu. September 25

Met Mark at 7 again for a couple of campus laps, our last outing before the Mohonk. Absolutely nothing unusual, just twice round the normal way, with much nattering as we go -- so a gentle pace, but that's probably a good thing.

Time: 35:31
Distance: 4.36 miles
Speed: 7.37 mph

Comment: hoping this would get us set for the Pfalz Point challenge -- and in a way it did, as we both survived that okay. But it's not what you'd call hard training. Just too busy this year.

[Backpost] Sun. September 21

Mark came over at 1 pm and we headed out for a part trail run (choir obligations meant I couldn't make it to SRRC in the morning, though Jay and a couple of others were there). We started out on Hamilton, then up to 9 and down to Federal, to join the rail trail there. The path between the lakes? Still muddy, enfin: not actually under water, but both he and I nearly lost our shoes in the deep goop. . .Then on to more trail to and up to Holland Glen, to run up there and round and down again; pause as Mark loses trail briefly -- it's the time of year when other trails reveal themselves, even though most of them don't lead you anywhere except into difficulties. . .Crossed 9 again and backtracked to the railtrail and followed it west again as far as Federal, then came back up Federal and pretty much directly home, up 9 at the end:

Time: 1:29:58
Distance: 10.01 miles
Speed: 6.7 mph

Comment: a good solid mudplug with some hillclimbing. Slow, but a useful distance (and the time was a bit off as we stopped and milled around occasionally, figuring out where to head).

[Backpost] Sat. September 20

It's been awfully busy these last few weeks, so I've not been running much, but even less have I been posting about it. So now I've got several runs to cover, and some I can't even recall full details of. Ouf.

Saturday two weeks ago I went out for a midday-ish run on the rail trail. R had a soccer game at the Jabish school, so from there I went to the trail and headed down all the way to 181, then back up to the canal and rejoined the rail trail briefly before taking the road way back (up NoWash) to the school. Weather was sunny and pleasant:

Time: 1:05:33
Distance: 9.4 miles
Speed: 8.6 mph

Comment: nice stretch under some time pressure to get back before R's game ended.