Jones Ten Miler in Amherst -- Sun. February 22

Early start with lectoring, but still only just time for a coffee and getting changed before I had to head off to Amherst. SRRC folks agreed to do this instead of the usual D&D mtg, and I was able to let Eddie know at the 8 o'clock (he was the only one who'd not already heard, we hope). Parked at the school and jogged down to register, to find a pretty big set-up -- 600 entrants, I was told! This was double last year, as it's now an ATF ract. Then jogged back to car, changed, and ran a bit, totalling probably a mile and a half very slowly. Felt adequately loose, if not exactly warmed up, but plan was to take it somewhat easy at the start and to get to 6 miles without getting into numb-leg pace (which seems to be sub-6:35 or so). Met the SRRC crew (Nick and John, Amy, Bill and Andy, plus me = six, not bad) and then we were off.

Good start: chatted to Sri B a bit, and generally tried to get a rhythm that was not racing. The first two miles were easy enough, and probably a bit fast (6:30 and 6:26), but the course goes uphill a bit (6:58) and then more so (7:03). I chatted a bit with Rich C, who told me he'd helped lay out the course, and it was icy-darake in mile 5. Sure enough, it was a bit hairy, and that pushed me a bit (6:49) and signs of numbing. Held it steady and prayed for an uphill (which seems to help the numb-leg, different gait and reach?) and then pushed a bit as we started downhill (6:40 and 6:03-- fastest mile for me), then with seven miles gone decided to start trying to reel in a few folks. Finally caught up with the redshirt I overtook at the end of the Feb 14 10K, Rich P, and he was alongside Mike L; said hi to latter and chugged on, but he must have stuck with me, because although I overhauled several other folk after that, Mike L was only just behind me at the end - he's definitely a good pace marker (and I for him too).

Miles 8 and 9 I was picking up (6:41 and 6:23) and feeling okay, but the last mile had a couple of uphills, and I was finally getting a bit hungry; managed a 7:07 and then with (by my GPS) still a tiny bit to go I pushed hard, with a 5:43 pace for the last 0.17 miles. Caught Celio H right in the final loop, and saw I wasn't going to get 1:06, but 1:07 is fine too, all things considered.

Time: 1:07:42 (GPS 1:07:41)
Distance: 10 miles (GPS 10.17 miles)
Pace/Speed: 6:47s/8.86 mph (GPS 6:39s/9.01 mph)

Comment: tough course, but a satisfying one, and the post run eats were EXCLLENT. The sleet and cold rain over the last 15 mins were rough, but not enough to stop me running back to ferry in John and Nick both, and then we went for a cooldown mile all six of us -- so 13 miles on the day, I think. Big Woot! PB will have to live for another day; I'm happy with my (course assisted) negative split today).

Quickie w/ hill -- Sat. February 21

Another week too busy to get out even once (and also too cold, but wind more than absolute temperature, on the one day I *might* have gotten out), so Saturday I was keen for a run, but with a race Sunday, couldn't go too far. Also couldn't get out in the morning as I had an exam to proctor. So cautiously aiming for around five miles, headed out on an extended Hamilton, taking it very slowly (which is especially difficult after a week off); up Allen to 9, then down past the garage to the trail entry, and up the trail in sunshine on a mild day--fortunately even with the mild weather the snowmobiles had packed the snow hard enough that the running was still fairly firm. That's a tough hill (all of about 1/3 mile), but it felt good, and then down the trail back to Allen, and up over to 202 and back to VFW road and home from there. Stopped clock just past the supermarket:

Time: 47:59
Distance: 5.9 miles
Pace/Speed: 8:08s/ 7.38 mph

Comment: Such a beautiful day for a run -- felt great afterwards, until evening when some soreness appeared.

SRRC club run -- Sun. February 15

Amazing to note we were TEN people today: me, arriving almost late as 9th, and Ken to make 10, after Andy, Jay, Bill, Amy, Steve, Savanna, Nick and John (two women, three highschoolers, one semi-pro, two out of towners, and me the oldest there). Decided to start together, and we ran as a big mob to along Jackson to GeoHannum and then onto Hamilton, where Andy (with Yarrow) and Steve started to pull away. I figured it was time to follow, or I'd lose them, so I chased and then we reached Allen; Steve waited for the others and Bill overtook me, so I was chasing them both. Yarrow, with 10 miles earlier in the day, was tired, and slowed down so Bill got ahead, and as we reached 202 I called to Andy and said I'd take Yarrow. He handed the lead to me and went off after Bill, and Yarrow perked up, certainly to my pace as we went up the rest of Allen's hill. Andy just caught Bill at the "townline" of Brandywine, but Bill was aiming for the summit a bit further ahead. I handed Yarrow back and we jogged round waiting for the others--Ken was next, then Jay and the HS boys, who responded to a call for a sprint to the townline (John got it). Then recovery pace all down Enfield as we plotted the push up Jabish. Jay took Yarrow and we three (me and Andy and Bill) ran together across 9 and as far as the river, then it was go! I was mid-story about something, but Bill said, "We'll continue a the top!" I hadn't noticed we were at the start. I followed the two of them, then thought I'd better go for it if I wanted to lead at any point: sprinted past and led them round the first corner, as far as a mailbox, then faded back. Andy had it by about 10 yards pretty much all the way, and while I was gasping a bit it felt pretty good; kept a good pace. Then Ken and Jay and the lads appeared, and we continued down Old Spfld to the high school, then back to D&D to let Yarrow have a break, and grab a drink--Ken et al. stayed, but Bill, Andy and I headed out for one more quick go--Howard and Jackson, another hill. I started it hard, but then faded. Bill took a left and headed home at the top, and Andy and I went back through town and down 202 back to D&D, picking up speed for a fast finish. Felt great!

Time: 1:29:00
Distance: 11.53 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:43s/7.77 mph

Snowstorm 10K -- Sat. February 14

Slightly late start, after proper breakfast, but head off to Forest Park to arrive a little after 9:30: mild day and clear roads, so promising, but worried about numb-leg. Warm up with a mile--not enough really, but plan was to go out slowly for 4 miles, so I'd be warming up then. Nice turn out, not too many (90 ish); say hi to Steve O before start (he's lookign better), and then try lining up on black hat guy who overtook me both times I stopped with numb leg. He has a running mate already, so we make three. Quiet first mile, 7:00 pace, then stay with them and we end up a bit faster, with a 6:35, then slow back a bit to 6:58, and up again for for the fourth mile (6:30ish). That's my cue -- no numbness yet, so go for it a bit, and pull away from the two others, chasing a guy in a red shirt. Catch him as we turn to go downhill into the park again, and drift past him on the downhill, logging 5:59 for mile 6, then pushing out for the finish. Black hat guy is chasing too, and he nearly gets redshirt, but not quite. Finish quite strong, in 12th place.

Time: 41:57 (GPS 41:56)
Distance: 6.2 miles (GPS 6.37 miles)
Pace/Speed: 6:46s/8.87 mph (GPS 6:35s/9.11 mph)

Comment: definitely encouraging, if not a very good time on paper. After a mile and a half of going for it, definitely felt the numbness hovering, but backed off a bit and it faded. For now, it looks like that's going to have to be my m.o.

Extra miles: 1.4 @7:14s before and 2.67 @ 8:05s after

Solo long run -- Thu. February 12

Decided the only way to get a good run in would be to run home. Mild day, though the wind had picked up by the time I left -- at 9 p.m. after a pretty long day (12 hrs at the office). But instantly it felt great to be moving again. I was wearing too much gear, enfin: longs, hat, gloves, three layers on top, but I wasn't planning to go fast. Took rail trail extension, then on to the trail: at which point, snow! The trail was compacted, but not cleared, and in the milder weather it was soft going. My ankles and knees got a workout, but hopefully no damage. Decided to bail on it, so at SE street took a right and went all the way up to SoAmh, and then Station Rd back to the trail again. Followed it for the extension to WarrenWright, then happily back on hard road again--to Orchard, Federal, and out on to 9. At that point, feeling a bit queasy (hungry, and more than that, thirsty -- didn't bring water), so stopped the clock at 10.5 miles, then took it slower back as far as the supermarket, another mile -- where I found F waiting, so we walked the rest of the way back.

Time: 1:26:16
Distance: 10.52 miles (and 1.01 cooldown)
Pace/Speed: 8:12s/ 7.32 mph

Comment: should have taken water -- it was chilly in the wind, but not on the trail, and I was overdressed. Ouf. Felt pretty achey at the end; probably need to get new shoes soon too. Re food, I'd had some extra stuff over the day, but not dinner, obviously. For double digits after a work day, I need to carry food, I think.

Evening 10k -- Tue. February 10

Missed running Monday, but happy with that after the weekend. Felt full of energy most of Tuesday, though it was a bit late by the time I went out, close to 9. Moon rising in clouds, mild evening, though I went out in full cold weather gear. GeoHannum to Boardman to Eskett, then 202 to Boardman and straight back. Very easy on the first three miles, or intended to--in fact two 7:30s then an 8:15, then fairly steadily back. Uphills more on the way back, so making an even split was good.

Time: 49:50
Distance: 6.45 miles (plus 0.75 warmdown)
Pace/Speed: 7:43s/ 7.76 mph

Comment: Distance was exactly what I usually measure for a Snowstorm 10K. Slight hunger attack in mile three, both legs feeling wobbly, but then the sandwich I had just before running must have kicked in. Felt v. good in miles 5 and 6, opened up with a bit of a stretch and pushed the hills a bit too. After the fast finish, went round the development the long way to warmdown.

SRRC plus -- Sun. February 8

Car being a bit dodgy, I decided to run across to D&D on a mild and sunny morning (though the wind was chilly out in the open). Took the trail, and got there just after 10. Andy (with Yarrow0, Jay, Dawn, and Ken, and two highschoolers, John and a new guy (Alex?). As I had over two miles running to and from, I figured 8 was fine, and we all set out together for a reverse of the basic George Hannum. Started through high school, then up old Spfld to town, then Jabish and Walnut and down to 9, then GeoHannum; Ken and Jay did the Bay/Hamilton extension, but they were a bit behind us so we didn't notice. Took the trail from GeoH past the development to stay out of the wind (I was running sans chapeau, as the sun was warm). Running gently near the end with Andy and Yarrow, completed about six and a half miles, then a quick coffee and home again. Here's the combined run:

Time: 1:13:23
Distance: 9.27
Pace/Speed: 7.55s/7.57 mph

Comment: after the long run on Saturday, this felt pretty good -- not much of a problem with the chafing from that run, thank goodness. Running this easily is not maybe such hard training, but more of a tickoveer? I don't know yet.

Solo long run -- Sat. February 7

Too too busy week (and wicked chilly on the one day I might have gone out) so no running midweek. Also right knee still sore, so in the end a rest week might not have been all bad. But today I wanted to go out for slow and long mileage. Had a normal breakfast and then waited a bit; off in bright sunshine and mid-high 30s, quite pleasant, with a little wind. Hat and gloves and longs, with light windcheater too. Head onto GeoHannum and then back into the trail and follow it all the way (except for Howard) down to 181, and then across and all the way down to Shea (last 1/2 mile or so was not snowmobiled, so hard work), then right along Shea to 181 and back up to town; stop short with a right onto Jensen, up past the ball field to Jabish, then head right and across the river to get to 9, then left and back towards the start. Stop the watch a bit of the way into GeoHannum:

Time: 1:56:41
Distance: 14.77 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:54s/7.59 mph

Comments: took a slow pace, using 5 miles to warm up, and taking 7 as the halfway point, and only then watching the pace -- goal being sub-8s at that point. One big problem was chafing - ARGG. This may affect my run tomorrow, but oh well. Minor numb-leg moments, but the slow pace made that not a real issue. No food problems, and I had water with me. All in all, a satisfying distance run.

SRRC group run -- Sun. February 1

Late again, bringing A along to meet Chris; find a whole mob there: Andy, Jay, Bill, Steve L, the two high-schoolers (Nick and John?), Eddie G, and Ken, plus me made nine. Amazing. As usual, we started out together, and had a dog encounter on Howard at half a mile in. Started again, and all stayed clumped along Jackson, then split into three or four groups -- Andy, Bill and me aiming for about 10-11. Did the same run as last week, but going up the big hill (Barton and Carriage) instead of Summit. Stayed on good pace and ran with the others up the prelims of the hill, but then they pulled away and I was gasping a bit. They waited for me at the top, and then we ran on, down to Summit, right to Turkey Hill and then 21 and right to Old Spfld, then back through the high school. Andy had done 10 miles already, so we figured that we do--I was feeling pretty full of beans at the end and took my turn at pushing the pace for the last mile, and all in all it was a bit faster than the 7:45s I'd planned:

Time: 1:18:10
Distance: 10.56 miles
Pace/speed: 7:24s/8.11 mph

Comment: a sign of numbing leg at about mile 5, but it didn't get bad, so a useful run. Would have been happier with a couple of extra miles, but I'll get them in the week somehow. 25 to go for this week. Beautiful day for running, just around freezing and with lovely sunshine.