Snowstorm 10K -- Sat. January 31

Not sure I was going to get up, but managed it and headed out, scraping a fresh inch of snow of the car -- a sunny, breezy and cold day, so I went well wrapped. Arrived with time to do only a short warm up, just over 3/4 of a mile, then jogged out to the start. 80+ people, quite a low turnout by recent standards; the ground was so ice-sheeted that there was not much point in really racing, too. Still, after a brief plod at the start, I jumped ahead through the off-path snow, chatting to Steve O in passing (yes, he's recovering from injuries) and chugged up the hill and out; I was in shorts, and it was too cold to go very slow. First mile was about 7:15, and I felt very good, so strode out a bit, doing a 6:15 second mile, feeling very comfortable and not pushing it. But into mile three I could sense the numb-leg in prospect, and as we headed into mile 4 it came on clearly. As I vaulted the gate coming back into the park I nearly went down, and when we reached the zoo I knew I'd have to stop--I'd slowed right down. Stopped and two people passed; stretched a bit and started again, but back out on the main road had to stop again, and another passed. Gah. I had breath a plenty, and managed to make to the end from there, picking up the pace with the other three ahead, but only gaining on one of them -- overtook him as we hit the rough snow at the last bit of sidewalk by the end. So a mixed feeling:

Time: 44:34 (GPS 44:33)
Distance: 6.2 miles (hah! GPS 6.58 miles)
Pace/Speed: 7:11s/8.35 (GPS 6:46s/8.86 mph)

Comments: Maybe the snow shovelling this week didn't help my back, that and the fact that I only managed one midweek run. Must get the frequency going this coming week, and hope that I can as before work through the back/numb-leg trouble. I certainly felt strong running today, after the tough ten midweek.

Snowy trails -- Wed. January 28

UMA called a snow day, amazingly, so I had the chance to get out for long one; this is good as I missed my medium run yesterday. Maybe 3-4 inches had fallen, small flakes and heavy snow; it was snowing when I went out, and snowed/sleeted throughout the run. Given that the roads were not clear, I figured I'd do a rail trail, but in the end it was too tough to do complete, so I went out on that trail and came back on 181. Hit the untouched trail from within the development, but at the GeoHannum crossing met a snowmobile coming the other way--very handy!! Followed his trail all the way from there: though it made the trail easier, it was still soft and sinky, just a little less deep than the non-snowmobiled trail. At least it kept my ankles dry. I was not aiming to go fast, but steady eights were nearly nines, and after mile two they just got slower. I nearly bailed out of the trail at NoWash, but kept going to 181, feeling like I was covering twice the distance. Felt better on the road, which while not clear of snow was a bit firmer than the trail, and not too heavily trafficked; recovered a bit, but right knee was pretty sore. This picked up a bit as I went on. Reaching town I had a bit left to stride out for a 7:40 or so mile heading back to 9 and GeoHannum, where I stopped the clock:

Time: 1:29:38
Distance: 10.24 miles
Pace/Speed: 8:45/ 6.85 mph

Comment: a tough one, definitely felt like an endurance run, distance notwithstanding.

SRRC group run -- Sun. January 25

Small crowd this week: Andy (feeling not too well), Amy, Bill, Ken, and Steve L. Only Bill wanted to do double digits, so we all started together -- Howard, Jackson -- then at GeoHannum the rest turned right and two of us turned left. Headed to Summit via Boardman/Eskett, and chugged up that hill feeling fine; down the other side and across 21, right to Old Spfld and back up to the center of town, then down Jabish halfway and back up Walnut, across to Jackson and then back via Howard and 202, thus:

Time: 1:17:54
Distance: 10.2 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:38s/ 7.86 mph

Comments: talked a fair bit w/ Bill re marathon prep, interesting. Felt very tired at mile 8 or so, coming up Walnut hill, but then second winded on the downhill and felt strong at end. We were aiming for 7:45s, so pretty much on target; I just find the uphills much harder still. Good start to the week, I think. Bill did five before this run, and then ran home; I stayed to chat w/ Ken a bit.

Snowstorm Hawai'ian Shirt 5K -- Sat. January 24

Wearing the totally unwintry, un-New England shirt F got for my b'day, I headed off to Forest Park and made to my usual parking spot just after 9:30, then to the boathouse (my usual changing place was locked, unhappily, and then I realised the chap at the gate hadn't given me my two dollars change--not such a good pair omens, but. . .), pay my $3 and go to warm up. Manage just over a mile before start time; see Amy from SRRC, and the Grants, and many of the regulars as we huddle before the off. Decked out in shorts and the dark bright shirt, with a long-sleeved fleece underneath, feel quite good. Slow start, but then pick up a bit so the first mile is about 6:40; Bill R passed me at a half mile, slow from a hamstring pain, but still faster than me. Second mile was much better, and the third saw pressure from a Cyclonaut (Doug G?), and he pushed me well up to the end, then Joe F was closing. Of course those guys weren't really racing, but still it felt good to come in 6th:

Time: 20:00
Distance: 3.1 miles (official)
Pace/Speed: 6:27/ 9.3 mph

Comment: did 1.09 miles before the run, and then cooled down with Amy and another triathlete for another 2.02, so a round total of 6.21 miles for the day.

Poole Rd medium -- Thu. January 23

This had to pass as my "medium/long run for the week. Again an evening outing, after picking up A from Springfield on his return from DC, but fortunately not too cold -- maybe 25F-30F or so? Taking a CD to Dave, so a Hamilton, then left down Bay hill to Poole, and to his place; brief stop, then back up Bay and then up Allen and over to 202 -- that's some good hill work, though I took it fairly easy. Then as distance was still low, did a loop on VFW/9/202/VFW and thus across 9 to home.

Time: 46:43
Distance: 6.42 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:17s/ 8.25 mph

Comment: Despite the higher overall pace here (and I wasn't going for it at all) I still can't avoid slowing down considerably going up hills. That's a difference between the younger crew and me, and recalls Mark's feelings about hills. Maybe it's an age thing, and I'm catching it now? Or maybe I'm just a bit rusty, and on a bio-rhythm low? I seem to recall I got much better at hills last summer. . . Slight numbing of leg right at the end on this one; worth noting, but too late in the run to be a problem.

Quickie -- Wed. January 21

Couldn't make the morning run, so an evening outing, basically a reverse Hamilton. *Very* cold, so my hands were going numb inside the gloves; probably 15F or so with a bit of a breeze. Fortunately doing a reverse meant that wind was behind me at the most open spot, and I did almost warm up by the end.

Time: 27:54
Distance: 3.72 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:30s/8 mph

Comment: reminding myself that frequency is now up there with distance and pace as one of my goals. Three legged stool for the aerobic base?

Quickie -- Mon. January 19

Starting today, *base* building, so a run right after the Sunday outing. I've got a couple of months to build miles and distance before I start the (probably modified) Hal Higdon 18 week training lead in to the MARATHON!! (still can't quite believe it, but I'm committed).

Went out late morning, cold and snowy roads, for a Hamilton-Bay-Allen-202 and home, aiming for at least 4 miles. Legs felt tired, but otherwise okay.

Time: 30:56
Distance: 4.15 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:28s / 8.05 mph

Comment: also did some core/upper body exercises, very basic; aiming to add this to every run from now.

SRRC run -- Sun. January 18

Somehow forgot my digivice today, so the details are missing, but: on a snowing morning, got to D'n'D just after 10, to find Andy, Bill, and Amy, plus Nick and another high schooler (John). Decide to start together and do an Enfield (the longer three, while Amy takes the other two on a shorter loop). Slippery snow, but a mild pace and some useful pushing on the hills. All did Allen together, but Jabish hill was more of a struggle--Andy was hungry and distracted, unusually, but Bill was solid and I was in between, working very hard. Ouf. Need more hill time. Approximate data:

Time: 1:10
Distance: 8.9 miles (from MapMyRun)
Pace/Speed: 7:51/7.62 mph

Comments: running in lots of gear and got pretty sore (chafing) by the end, but a nice workout with a mellow start and a good push near the end.

Figure of 8 -- Wed. January 14

First run back in the US, in fact the day after a nearly 24 hour trip without sleep. Somehow it seemed like a good idea. Ran in middle of day to maximise "warmth" or rather lack of serious chill. Sunshine and not much wind, which helped. Down GeoHannum and then Boardman all the way to 202, left and up to Eskett, then back to Boardman and then on to Rural, back to GeoHannum and home again:

Time: 54:48
Distance: 7.5
Pace/ Speed: 7.18s/ 8.21 mph

Comment: started trying to keep it gentle, but legs felt so good, and it was downhill a lot, so I was going a decent pace, and slowing down only really happened near the end. Not a negative anterior split, then, but fairly steady: all miles between 7:03 and 7:28. Then go for a short warm down run to the sledding hill and back (for photos, mainly). HInts of numb-leg as I was working harder in the last two miles.

Dorset: Bo'hampton-West Bay, Sun. Jan. 11

Sunday morning, back from church and quickly out to get a few miles in before the scheduled rain.  Time limit of an hour or so, thus not too long a run: headed into town, left off SoStreet at Church and into SoMill, then across river to meadow and up to Sea Lane, across into Pasture Way and then Crock Lane; head up to Dr Thompson's and along Bowhayes to join footpath, along connection to path up The Hill; then run along the windy top enjoying the view and finally down to Long Lane just before the dump, then back down to the end, down the cut past the Men's Club, dive into Quarry Lane and into the quarry (now Nature Reserve) and find my way out on to the old rail trail connector and thence all the way down to West Bay. Run over the old platform and into the harbor, going round to the West Pier, out to the end and then on to West beach, getting requisite slight dunk of feet. Then follow footpath back up to Bridport, enjoying moments of a football match at St Mary's field as I went by, coming out at Foundry Lane (more houses/flats being built there), and then Priory and St Michael's to West St. and then home. Here's the data:

Time: 57:32
Distance: 7.26 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:55s /7.57 mph

Comments: generally mild paced, running quite well wrapped against the chill damp and the wind on hills, but also did a bit of stopping on the way to enjoy views etc.  Ran it comfortably, and only toward the end did I feel some of the soreness from the previous run.  Went for a mile-plus warm down afterwards too to prevent further soreness.

Dorset: Two Hills run -- Fri. January 9

In England for my flying visit, so out straightaway for the run, and decide to tackle the double header.  Hard frost last night, so slippery roads in places and very hard ground -- good thing it's mainly a road run.  Aim for the shorter route: up via Salway Ash and back via Marshwood.  Brisk start, wearing lots on top but only shorts (just in case of mud), and warm up fairly quickly.  Second mile slower as I have to duck around a bit after the factory in Pymore, but come out on to the right road and head across to Dottery.  Then straight up to Salway Ash, on to Bowood, and then directly to the footpath up Lewesdon.  Feel a bit knackered at that point, probably because of the flight, which was a bit rough sleep and food/drink wise.  

I'd carried along two Yakults and I drank one of them at the beeches looking back over the Broadwindsor road.  Then on up the hill, without much vigor, but got to the top and looked back again for the view, then jogged on.  Mild ankle wrench as I tripped on some rock hard formerly boggy bits, then I was going down the back of the hill, past the Pearson tree and down the heathy slope -- at least one of the gorse bushes was in bloom, amazingly.  At this point, things went a bit wrong.

I'd veered a bit west, choosing one trail over another as I thought they both ended up at the same place.  No such luck: I couldn't find the trail down once I reached the trees, and as I tried various options, I found myself on thin ice over leafy bog: one foot sank in over the ankle, and with my next step I was in mud over my *knee* on my right leg.  Stopped, carefully dragged and slid foot out without losing shoe or wasting time, and managed to get back to firm ground.  Two wet feet and very muddy.  And I still didn't know the way down.  

The long and short is that I wandered about a bit--saw a deer close-up too, as I was trying to get bearings.  Then back around north-eastwards and over deep stream-carved clefts in the hill side until I finally got back onto the real trail.  Whereupon I said three hallelujahs and took off downwards again.

After that it was straightforward along to Pilsdon, tough but short climb up there -- enjoy the *spectacular* view all around as sun shone on misty hilltops and valleys all around, and off in one direction the golden brightness of sun reflected off sea -- then drink the second Yakult, a short loop of the top and I was going back down again, across the road and down into the Marshwood vale.  By then I was getting properly tired in the legs, and the wet shoes were not helping; nearly ten miles gone already.  It was a matter of keeping going in stages: first Shave Cross, then Broadoak then Dottery and then downhill into Bridport.  Managed to keep nearly at 8:00s, but a little slower by the end.  Here's the list of totals:

Time: 2:28: 15

Distance: 16.86

Pace/Speed: 8:48/ 6.82 mph

Comment: running in Dorset, sunshine, two personal bests (distance and time) and some mud to boot -- couldn't ask for more, really!

SRRC Anniversary Run -- Sun. January 4

Up early to take the tall one into work for 8, then chore-busy until almost 10.  Shower and Ben-Gay to try and loosen up my back before going out, after yesterday's experience.  Arrived to find a good crowd: Dawn, Jay, Andy, Amy, Wheels, Nick, Eddie -- and then Ken turned up just before we headed out.  Total of NINE people!!  We chatted a bit as usual, then off into the cold -- I had longs on and the thin blue jacket over long-sleeved fleece and T-shirt, and I was still chilly at times: really *thin* wind, gusty.  We set out together, to Howard and Jackson, then to Hamilton and back up the hill to 9.  At that point we'd separated a bit: Jay was sticking with Eddie, Nick, Dawn and Amy had drifted back a bit, and the other four of us chugged on steadily to the 202 intersection -- then Ken headed back up that way, and that left three thinking longer distance . . . But then Andy figured he'd head back to see if Jay wanted more miles, so that left Bill and me heading for Sabin and Cold Spring.  We'd moved up from 8 plus to 7:45s, and held that pretty steadily.  We got in several good hills going up to the high point: view from the Aggie Extension was clear for miles; then along all the way to Cold Spring, and to 181, then we followed that the whole way.  I was getting hungry, and at the final uphill I was lagging; then when we hit town center, by the library or so, I felt fine again, and opened up a bit on the downhill.  Ended up with a good double digit run:

Time: 1:33:30

Distance: 11.7 miles

Pace/Speed: 8:00/ 7.5 mph

Comments: at about 7.5 miles I started to get some numb-leg, and it persisted on and off until about mile 10.  Clearly not pace related, as we were going quite easily.  Grumble grumble.  Bill had a useful suggestion though: not mileage, so much, but frequency of runs needs to be increased.  See if it mends a bit once I get into a solid four outings a week (and the miles will be increasing anyway).  Fingers still crossed.

Snowstorm 10K -- Sat. January 3

First race of 2009, and suitably chilly, with a bit of new powder on the old snow.  Left a little late, but arrived in time to register and get out for one mile to warm up.  Ivan called to say he couldn't make it, as he'd hit traffic snags on the highway and would miss the start time.  A fair to good crowd, and we set off at a gentle pace (the times overall were quite mild).  I moved up as we hit the hill, though I did *not* want to go out too fast and lose a ton of places at the end.  First mile was about 6:50. and I felt fine, so moved on up a bit, and was doing quite well until the end of mile three -- then the unmistakeable signs of numb-leg started, and at about 3.5 miles I had to stop.  That was the first of about 4 stops, each time trying to shake and move some sensation back into the leg.  Each time several people passed me, though I took back a place here and there.  I was *so frustrated* by the end I felt angry and glum, and galled that I'd put down a projected time I couldn't get close to.  Gah.  Here's what the record and the digivice said:

Time: 43:15 digivice (43:17 official)

Distance: 6.37 miles (6.2)

Pace/Speed:  6:47 (6:58)/ 8.83 mph

Comment: so I still have a lot of work to do on this.  To take the edge off my frustration I went straight out into the chill wind and did the same warmdown route I found last week, 2.69 miles at 8:00 pace.  I seem to be unlucky with the Snowstorm 10ks anyway, but that aside I need to get through this leg thing somehow.  April's mum was talking about the disc operation Mr. had had, which seems to have helped him.  I really want to avoid that.  Fingers crossed.

New Year freezer -- Thur. January 1

We got a white New Year, with about 4" of snow on Dec. 31, and the temp. dropped hard with wind to make it feel even colder.  So, this afternoon, *well* wrapped up, after a short walk with F by the river in Bondsville, I headed home from there.  It was very cold: toes got numb and stayed that way for the first five miles, and the snow underfoot was slippery as well as crunchy-squeaky, so it was hard work too.  Followed the river to Cold Spring, and then up the hill and all the way up past the Aggie Extension, then down Cordner and along 181 to Jabish Canal, then through to the rail trail and home via that and Boardman/Jackson and into the development.  I was chilling off again in the last three miles, but mainly it felt like a productive workout:

Time: 1:23:19

Distance: 9.95 miles

Pace/Speed: 8:22/ 7.15 mph

Comment: this is the first run in my 6 month building of an aerobic base for the marathon.  I need to get a detailed plan sorted, soon.  This year is the year.