Boston -51 -- Sun. Feb. 28

The day of the Jones ten miler dawned chilly, dusted with fresh snow, but warming. Out early for lectoring, then home to change, pack and head in to Amherst. Parked at the high school, then registered (somehow I'd forgotten to do this!) with my new USATF number--last night, realised that to count as a runner for GSH, which I'm now a member of, I needed a USATF membership too; $30 for a year--for my first race as a "professional amateur" as it were. Not that I'd be able to place for GSH, as there are probably 10+ runners in my age group who'll place ahead, but what the heck.

Off to warm up, a mile to UMass, where I stretched, and then a mile back and a bit more running up and down (should have done strides too, and a bit more distance, I think; next time!), then it was start time. Chatted with Wheels a bit, and Rob L, but didn't see any other SRRC runners, alas. About the same number as last year, nearly 700; off more or less on time at 11, and the first mile was hillier than I remembered but I was swept into a pretty fast pace--chatted with Billy R, then moved up a bit to try and track on Mike L. Mile 1 = 6:09, despite hills; in the long run that was what hit my back, I think. Mile 2 (easier) = 6:14, then mile 3 = 6:57, including the one serious hill (short but sharp). After that, still feeling good and moving up, but figure I can slow down a bit, so mile 4 = 6:55. Then numbleg starts to appear, and by mile 5 = 6:51, I'm losing sensation in right leg, just as I've caught up to within 20 yards of Mike L. Somehow (inshallah) I stagger on as we finish the easy flat by the reservoir, losing Mike and with everyone speeding up as we hit the downhills: mile 6 = 6:32, and mile 7 = 6:39. Those two were torture as I tried to stay upright and had to let people stream by, but by the end of mile 7 I had pretty much regained function, so mile 8 = 6:36 was more fighty. I was holding off a couple of challenges in mile 9 = 6:31, and the final mile (uphill and tough) I had Mike L back in my sights, sort of, but too far to reach. Ended on 6:44 for this total:

Time: 1:06:16 (GPS same)
Distance: 10 miles (GPS 10.02)
Pace: 6:38s

Comment: Congratulated Mike L afterwards; he's also training for Boston. I came in 180th, 45/131 in M Masters, and 13th for GSH overall (Landry and Wheels were 7th and 8th), so I'm happy with that. Also, beating last year's time by over a minute -- okay, the conditions were better, almost ideal, but the numbleg was lousy! Turns out, in fact, this is a new PB for the distance for me, beating my 2006 Marlboro 10 miler: w00t!

Eats afterwards were excellent, w/ pizza and soup and fruit and yogurt and snack bars and bread and brownies and coffee. Chatted with Wheels and Billy R too, and watched the results being posted, but then headed out before hearing the team standings. We had gone for a cool-down run together (me and Wheels and Landry), and after going down to UMass I foolishly I took us up the hill to the Clark Monument -- that's a crazy hill. Still, it got us the remaining distance to make today a 15 mile day for me. Then I went home and slept for over two hours...

Boston -52 -- Sat. Feb. 27

Heavy spring snow all night after rain and snow on Friday: fortunately, a mild and sunny day, so when I got out after 11 a.m. it was all clear on the roads. I didn't want more than enough to get my week to 50 miles, and an easy pace. Decided to do a Bagg Hill run, so out at a 7:45 pace, stopping after a mile to stretch achilles. Then on to Boardman, across 202 and Chicopee to the turnaround; pass 4 miles at a pace just slower than 7:30, so decided to slow down a bit. At one hour point 7.85 miles, so on target for 7:40s, which felt right. Kept it steady, and finished the 9.5 miles a bit short of home, so continued a bit more across the viaduct, thus:

Time: 1:14:47
Distance: 9.78 miles
Pace: 7:40s

Comment: had to run in back-up old shoes, as I need the reds dry for tomorrow's race, and my better old shoes were still soggy from Thu. So, slightly rubbed toe on right foot. Hopefully will be okay tomorrow. All I want is to match last year's time. Running as a Harrier this year, which will be a first...

Boston -54 -- Thu. Feb. 25

Missed my morning run, partly from work chores I couldn't put off, and partly as the weather was pouring rain on slush--not enticing enough to get me to squeeze a run in. Took gear to work, figuring I might run home, but by 7 it was storming pouring again. Ouf. So, geared up after working till just after 9, then out: rain slicker with hat under it, gloves, and shorts, as I figured longs would just get soaked. Aiming for 4-5 laps of campus, 10+ miles, at a mild pace. Went out and immediately buffeted by the wind and driving rain; pretty chilly, though fortunately not sleet. First lap cold, and the whole area being dug up at the Hamlin crossroads meant I had to run in the road, then through a deep snowbank--so on the backstraight already soaked, but wind behind me meant I felt warm under my hat (almost pleasant). Pace was average 7:30s, so I figured I'd hold that, partly to stay warm, but also as the course is a pretty fast one really. Aiming to stay relaxed anyhow, not push, and just see how long I could keep it going without drowning (!). Lap 2 I tried to find another way round Hamlin, cutting inside Lederle, but that shortened the lap, so lap 3 I tried going outside, on the other side of the road. That was better, running right in front of Hamlin before crossing back. Lap 4 I was feeling a bit tired, but completing 9.8 miles I felt pretty good, on pace for 7:30s, maybe a bit better, so I did the extra lap. Then back into office (stopped clock meanwhile) to get car keys, and then down to car as a final bit, bringing the totals thus:

Time: 1:28:22
Distance: 11.98 miles
Pace: 7:23s

Comment: The day after, today, I've been so sore I can't believe it! Not sure what the source was: is running in the rain so different? Meh, I go the miles, with two sub-7:00s and one 7:00 flat (on the first half of the lap, which is always faster). Onward and upward!

Boston -56 -- Tue. Feb. 23

EIGHT WEEKS to BOSTON! Ouf -- my achilles tendons are *both* sore right now, and I'm just feeling battered, but I'm hoping for a reenergising at the Jones 10 miler on Sunday.

Spring snow came in today, not settling, but fortunately not rain either. Set out just after 10 am for a shorter run, aiming at 90 minutes, 12 miles. A new figure of 8 course: VFW and 202 to Allen, back across 9 to Hamilton, then GeoHannum, Boardman, Rural, and GeoHannum to Stebbins; back to Bay, along and up to Hamilton, then homewards. Added a bit at the end, going along Jackson to State School and looping round the powerplant before coming back down Jackson; slacked off once 12 miles was clocked, but ran on to the edge of the development before actually stopping:

Time: 1:32:01
Distance: 12.27 miles
Pace: 7:30s

Comment: went out aiming for an easy pace 7:45ish pace, and the first hour was close to that (first 6 miles were 7:37s, so a bit fast, but I was feeling relaxed). Then after reaching 8 miles, a bit after an hour in, I picked up pace--this led to Bay Rd hill, so hard work, but kept pace on and second 6 miles were at 7:21 pace on average. No sub-7s though, so I felt springy enough at the end. Soreness was in the form of shooting pains in ankles at various points, but nothing serious (inshallah).

Boston -58 -- Sun. Feb. 21

Somewhat sore, of course, from yesterday, but vitamin I and off to DnD in good time, to find only Savanna there. Andy and Amy then appeared, and finally Ken, so I proposed a reverse Enfield, starting through the high school. All agreed: Ken starts a bit briskly, but after a mile his heavy breakfast catches up with him; then at Rt 9 Savanna heads back towards 202, and we go up Enfield, w/ Ken trailing a good bit. Andy stays a bit w/ slower pace, but as we come down Allen to 202, he and I start to pull ahead, picking up from 8:20s towards 7:30s. Nice day for running, sunny and chilly wind but not too bad. Last stretch back to DnD we're getting closer to 7:00, and it feels fine.

Gatorade up, chat with Jay (who's there back from vacation, biking now but still not running) and wait while Amy and Ken return (Savanna's already done and gone, having put in her usual hour). Then take off outer jacket and head out for another stint. Down rail trail, cross rails and along road (just like last week w/ Nick); lose some time trying to give a driver directions, maybe 10 seconds, then back into the trails and across to rail trail, running back up to the road crossing (after doubling back to return a dropped glitten to a family out walking) and then take NoWash back up to town. Feeling sore now on achilles, so gentle down after some faster miles; turn down OldSpfield to return to DnD via the high school for a bit more distance, thus:

Time: 2:05:06
Distance: 16.26
Pace: 7:42s
*first leg = 8.85 miles in 1:09:30 (7:51s); second leg = 7.41 miles in 55:36 (7:30s)

Comment: I was hoping to get closer to 18, but happy enough with this. Definitely lots of sore from yesterday. Ran in older shoes just for the change, but must get my new road pair *soon*. This pair of runs done with no fuel except gatorade; at the relatively easy pace, this was ok, but any faster and I'd have been distracted hungry.

Boston -59 -- Sat. Feb. 20

Out a bit before noon to do some tempo laps; really needed the lie-in this a.m., and have a ton of chores to do this p.m., so reluctantly not at the last Snowstorm 10K. Planned a short loop (2.62 miles), and used run there to warm up (2.56 miles). Probably needed to warm up a bit more--not feeling v. bright, somehow, though I do a set of stretches once there (at corner of Rural and Boardman). GPS digivice conked out, somehow -- wouldn't turn on, so it looks like I'll have to get a new one (ouf!); so, had phone with me as stopwatch.

Then off on first lap: Rural, GeoHannum, and Boardman, quite tough once I get into it as my achilles is sore, and the repeated hills don't help. Run FOUR laps non-stop, checking time as I cross the start line each time. Then, stop clock after lap 4, and recover a bit, before doing a cooldown run home. Sore, so stop clock a bit early, at bottom of development, for a total 2.31 miles. Here's the complete series:

Warm-up: 2.56 miles, 19:36, 7:39s
Lap 1: 2.62 miles, 17:09, 6:33s
Lap 2: 2.62 miles, 17:09, 6:33s
Lap 3: 2.62 miles, 17:39, 6:44s
Lap 4: 2.62 miles, 17:56, 6:51s
Cool-down: 2.31 miles, 18:57, 8:12s

Total mileage today = 15.35.
Laps = 10.48 miles, 1:09:53, 6:40s

Comment: This was hard both because of soreness, but also not having my digivice to give me mile times. I had a rough idea I was doing maybe sub-7:00s, but that was it. I felt myself tightening up and tiring on the third lap, after definitely pushing on lap two. Still, encouraged that I held a decent pace for just over 10 miles -- that's what I need to do next week. Conditions were pretty good, maybe even a bit too warm, with occasional strong wind gusts. Maybe a bit of a cold, too, right now; certainly very tired afterwards!

Boston -61 -- Thu. Feb. 18

Thought I'd try 13-14 again, but somehow didn't want hills, and the trails were soggy (snow on Tuesday, but mild and even sunny warm now). Found an extension of the Chicopee road route that worked nicely: down GeoHannum to Boardman as usual, then cross 202 to Chic. road and on to the end, but go left instead of right, and then take Kendall that leads back to 202 past Dufresne; then left a bit on busy 202, before taking Lyman then North then Easton to eventually arrive at Batchelor, just where it forks; go right, all the way along, past Harris Mt Rd and then left to the end of GeoHannum; follow that home, but divert briefly to NESFA to make sure I get the 14 miles. Have to run all the way up GeoHannum still, to the development entrance, thus:

Time: 1:44:14
Distance: 14.01 miles
Pace: 7:26s

Comment: started out wanting an average run, maybe 7:45s, but the weather was so nice (mainly -- into the wind it was still hat and coat time, so I was taking off and puting on hat all through) that I picked up a bit, and once settled, aimed for 7:30s. A tad slow at the hour mark (7:31s) but good enough, and I was into a steady pace of sub-7:20s then, so by the end I'd picked up the average. Fastest mile was 7:12, though the last 3/4 mile was at faster pace, 6:45.

So, good solid work -- but achilles and other bits pretty sore from earlier in the week. Also it being an all road run didn't help. Would be good to get that fifth weekly run in, and do some 8-10 milers, but at the moment I can't see it. Not sure what I'll do Sat. -- 10K? Or tempo at home?

Boston -64 -- Mon. Feb. 15

Schedule off because of the holiday -- have to run today, since Tuesday will be a Monday sched. Decided to remind myself of the Jones 10 miler course, as it's only two weeks away. Parked at the Clark Memorial, set off on a mildish morning with chilly gusty wind, in shorts and ear muffs as I'm out of hats. To Strong, across to Nor'east, then up to the big (five mile) loop round to Atkins Res. Stop and stretch first, with 2.25 miles on the clock; definitely helps. Pretty tough first hill on the loop, but otherwise steady; do the whole thing twice, then back on Nor'east and Strong to the school parking lot that'll be the finish. Stop clock, thus:

Time: 1:45:38
Distance: 14.43 miles
Pace: 7:19s

Comment: finish off with a very slow 0.4 miles cooldown before driving home. The course is not too bad, though there are short steep slopes that will hurt when racing. Last time I was so distracted by the race and sleet I didn't notice how nice the course is for the most part--though the roads seem to attract *fast* drivers and be quite heavily trafficked, considering they're not really routes to anywhere (lots of locals doing shortcuts and students being students, I suspect). On the first loop I was aiming for mild but kept a pretty brisk pace, so the second was a bit slower, but I must have pushed over the last two miles--pace tracking on route was 7:30 ish, so a negative split for sure. Now, two days rest!

Boston -65 -- Sun. Feb. 14

Already two at the DnD when I arrive--Nick and Savanna--but noone shows up after that. Chat a bit; Nick has calf tightness, 6-7 miles tops, and Savanna doesn't want to go too far, plus she's only doing road, so we compromise: high school to rail trail, where S continues up road, and Nick and I go on down trail. Out to underpass, then down road to the cut back into the trail, and follow it back up. Pace very gentle, 8:20s ish, and we get back with exactly 6.6 miles done. Loo break (running too slowly!), get some gatorade, then I head off for a few more miles -- basically an extended version of the Cannonball 5K, starting through the trail to the high school entrance, then up to Common and down Jabish, then back on 9 to 202 and up into town again, before heading back down to DnD. Comes in thus:

Time: 1:29:15
Distance: 11.42 miles
Pace: 7:49s

Comment: Somehow still pretty sore from yesterday, so not feeling like going much further; also, time pressure to get back to drive A to work and take F & R iceskating. This is going to be an odd week, so aim for a lighter mileage (50).

Boston -66 -- Sat. Feb. 13

Head out a bit later than planned, 11-ish, aiming for a 15+ miler on the Bondsville route: cold, but sunny and not too bad. Short entry to rail trail and then Howard and rail trail again, running alongside a freight train for a while. After a gentle first mile, then decide to aim for marathon pace, which feels fine at first--in fact have to slow down a bit occasionally. Out of rail trail almost exactly on pace, then down to MSears and on down to Bardwell, and on down to pass the old Grogge shoppe and into the other riverside trail: at the 8 mile mark, just 4 seconds over an hour, so pretty much on target. Decide to push a bit on the trail to make up those four (!) and find it a bit harder work than I expected. Maintain pace, and at the trail end keep pushing as I go up the Cold Spring road hill (get a 7:35 there). At the top, steady off and as I pass the orchards see I've slowed to 8:00, so bomb down Cordner and on to 181, knocking out a 6:40-something there. All road after that, and stay steady until the final hill up to top of town: slow to an 8:12, so mile 16 (down 202 on to 9) pick it up again with another 6:40 something, then run a bit more until I'm past the supermarket, ending thus:

Time: 2:01:30
Distance: 16.26 miles
Pace: 7:28s

Comment: this left me aching--it's been a high mileage week (a shade under 60), and I forgot my vit. I (!), but mainly it was the terrain: lots of trail and some solid hills. Pretty much all the uphill is in the second half too, so getting a slight negative split was hard work. I did *not* feel keen on doing another 10 miles, but, somehow I'll get better ready for that. Easier run tomorrow.

Boston -68 -- Thu. Feb. 11

Another early meeting, but too tired from Wed., and a minor cold, to make the 7 am bus; opt for a shorter run after driving home from meeting (shorter also as there's a*nother* meeting at 1!). Aiming for a mild tempo run, after a couple of miles to warm up --wind v. cold, though sun is nice and warming at times. To Hamilton (stretches at 2 mile point), Allen to 9 and down to Federal, then Metacomet, right on Bay to Stebbins, then GeoHannum, Rural, Boardman and GeoHannum. Meet Bill coming the other way on a 6:30s kick, but I'm happy with my milder quickstep; keep on pace up GeoHannum to Jackson, then along there to Howard, before turning round and heading back (to make sure I got the 10 mile total). Stop clock just before rail underpass:

Time: 1:11:33
Distance: 10.23 miles
Pace: 6:59s

Comment: I was aiming for a 7:00~7:15 pace on the eight post-warm up miles, and focussed not on speed/push, but on maintaining high timbre. Fastest mile was 9, where I *did* push a little as I thought pace was slowing = 6:36. The result was more of an aerobic workout than a normal run, but relatively low impact. Still want to do a longer tempo run on Saturday.

Boston -70 -- Tue. Feb. 9

Despite a tender spot on achilles tendon, decide to get a hill run in. Measure out the Jucket, Knight's Pond, Gulf, and Federal route, which is about 14 with more than an 800' climb and similar descent. Cold, slight wind, but sunny enough to soften snow; wear shorts but all other gear; carrying a PB sandwich for security, and phone. Head out just before 10, taking a couple of miles to warm up as it's pretty icy: to 9, past VFW, up 202 to Allen, and then up to the 2-mile mark. Stop and stretch. Then continue on Allen to Jucket, and start up the steep climb to the top. After clear roads, the trail is still under snow, though not too deep. Steady climb, just aiming to chug along, and at the top start to feel pretty loose and good: on the downhill stride out a bit, though with the snow, pace is still not fast. Left onto the trail back to 202, cross over and along to Knight's Pond. At 5 miles, pace was 8:10 or so; at one hour, 7.4 miles, so getting closer to 8:00s; then at Gulf, the downhill kicks in, with a 6:28 for mile 9 and 6:45 for mile 10. Keep steady for the pull along Federal and up, then up 9 and from the Roadhouse drop into final mile mode, clocking 6:45 for mile 14. Totals:

Time: 1:47:59
Distance: 14.05 miles
Pace: 7:41s

Comment: so this wasn't intended as a marathon pace run, and the overall pace is a bit slow, but after getting my hill workout and some trail time in, it was good to really go for it to bring the average down. *BIG* negative split, and I felt pretty solid afterwards.

Boston -72 -- Sun. Feb. 7

Usual scramble to get out before 10 despite an early start (cleaning house for visitor later), and arrive at DnD to see Bill only. Then a new guy, John (51), who was told about us by Norm F, arrived, and we chatted till Ken arrived. Bill game for a second lap, so we head out for an 8.9 mile first round (reverse Enfield). John fades going uphill after HighSchool; his target was 8:45~9:00, and we were doing 8:15 or so. Too bad; we talk about options, but he decides he's better going back, so at Town Hall he goes left, we go right down Jabish. Pass Kara D and another f runner out for their Sunday run (she's doing Boston too), and head up Enfield. Pace pretty gentle, and we keep it steady the whole way. Piercing wind, but not too bad when the wind's behind; cold but *bright* sun. Back to DnD, quick pitstop (gatorade) and off w/ Bill for round two. Start through HS, right onto Old Spfld and out to 21, left to Turkey Hill, then via a couple of streets to Maple (the back side of Barton/Mt View) and up to Oak Ridge (quite a pull in places), then down there to Summit, left and down to 202. There Bill headed back up to DnD, but I wanted more than the 7.8 he was going to get, so took a left to Eskett, then Boardman and GeoHannum, to Jackson: ended up with just over 10. Here's the set:

Times: 1:14:00 & 1:18.06
Distances: 8.89 & 10.13 miles
Paces: 8:19s & 7:43s

Comment: got my 18 (actually 19.01), so well set up to start the week; Bill has other sessions planned so didn't need the miles. After yesterday's race I had sore spots, and right achilles was definitely tired sore, even with ibuprofen pre-run. But felt good at the end, and the negative split came mainly in the 3.5 miles I ran solo, so all at the end. Encouraging, if sleep inducing.

Boston -73 -- Sat. Feb. 6

No donut run Friday, too *totally* tired after a long week short on sleep. Two minds about Snowstorm, but wake okay at 7 and with a cup of tea and warm-up shower, off at about 8: find that Bill's already gone. Arrive in time to get set up nicely, register, and off (still in longs) for a warm-up run. *Surprisingly* cold -- slight breeze, but icy. Do a reverse ending of the standard route, finding only one patch of snow up on Washington Ave.; loop back round the zoo, then back to lodge. 2.58 miles, 20:41; into lodge to change into shorts--see Bill, and a couple of others (big crowd, in all). Careful start behind a very fast crew at the front; aiming for 6:45-50, but Scott is off at a cracking pace, and Billy's close. Aiming not to lose them, turned in a 6:35; that's WITH the uphill. Next mile is 6:15, so try to slow up a bit, willing to lose them; fortunately they slow a bit too, for a 6:30 something. At this point, we're nearly back in the park and I'm not feeling any numbleg. So, on the back straight before the zoo, start to open up a bit, closing on Billy and another guy who are chasing Scott. This continues round the park, then I catch Billy as we head for the exit; chasing the next two takes longer, but pass them both as we turn into the narrow streets and then stay ahead all the way. Feeling good, if still a tiny bit cautious (made my move a mile earlier than last time), and on the downhill decide to aim for the guy ahead to keep from slipping back. Close on him, and at the last trail to the finish look at clock--arg! so close, but I'm not going to beat 40:00, not quite! Push hard, but indeed it's a bit too late--sprint across in 9th thus:

Time: 40:08 (GPS same) --> a new PB, I thought -- but last year's was quicker still.
Distance: 6.2 (GPS 6.32) miles
Pace: 6:28s (6:21s)

Comment: somehow managed to keep on pace, and felt good at the end. Definitely helped by the lack of snow on ground--Bill knocked a MINUTE off his PB. Chatted a bit with others, then Bill and I went for a cooldown out around the houses and back. Thought about going for an exact 3, but satisfied with 2.82, 26:16 (*very* gentle). Home, eat, and sleep like a log for an hour.

Boston -74 -- Thu. Feb. 4

Again into work for an 8:15 meeting--took bus in, so *early* after a late night. Definitely feeling a sleep deficit at this point, so hope it improves next week. Meeting ends at 9:30, so cross to TA office and change there, then in shorts (not too cold, mid 20s?) head out. Same route as last week: aim for a pace run, so goal is average 7:30. Up to rail trail to find it still snowed over, which is pleasant enough. Running a bit gently, and at 5 miles, about 20 seconds up. Then start to move to hills via Warren Wright, and deliberately slow down, but overdo it a tad, so mile 8 push a bit, ending a few seconds slow at the 8 mile mark. Keep pace up a bit until I reach Bay Rd hill, then lose the time on that climb, but at 13 miles just on track. Run as far as rail crossing and into rail trail, then stop at trail hill up into development:

Time: 1:38:27
Distance: 13.2 miles
Pace: 7:28s

Comment: this felt pretty much right, though the lack of sleep is giving me sore ankles a bit. Must work on that.

Boston -76 -- Tue. Feb. 2

Arg, already February! But onward and upward. Still a bit sore from the 18 on Sunday, especially achilles, but out (late, thanks to a tech problem that had me on phone to Verizon for nearly an hour) at 10 for a *new route* (mashup, really; still, nice figure of eight, and it would make a neat half-marathon course). Down railtrail all the way, along to Michael Sears, down to Bardwell, back up that road all the way to the farm that's for sale by the Trail Trotters 4H place, and back up NoWash all the way to town common, then down to 9 and back homewards. Cut the start a bit short, entering trail straight from development, and at the end stopped clock at the culvert just before the development. Started gently for a mile or two, then aimed to get towards 7:30s, and then added a tempo blast that played out right to the end, creaky ankles notwithstanding:

Time: 1:37:23
Distance: 13.25 miles
Pace: 7:21s

Comment: since I was only at 7.88 miles (7:37s pace) at the hour mark, this was a negative split and then some: at the 8 milemark, decided to try three tempo miles. 6:43, 6:44, then 7:10 as I started up the hill to town, so kept pushing; got a 7:20 as I finished the hill, then mile 13 included the common and coming down to 9, so 6:36. Good enough for today, anyhow. Must do hills on Thursday.