Trail blast - -Tue. Apr. 27

Not much time really, but I need to prep for Sunday: I've committed to doing the local raving loony run, aka the Seven Sisters Trail Race. Twelve miles out and back, starting at the Notch and midpointing at the Summit House; single track ("track"?! hah, not always), steep up *and* down, and rocky. I've always missed my chance before, and this year I found out just in time (yesterday). I feel like I'll be doing it as a bonus run, so no pressure. It'll probably take me nearly as long as the marathon, and it'll be well dangerous, but I can't resist it. 3700 feet total elevation, apparently. Hmm.

とにかく、I went out this grey and chill morning for a mixed run, starting down GeoHannum to the Wallace Pond trail entry, then doing my stretches (they're really helping, as are the pushups). Then off up the trail, all the way through to the police station, then across to DnD and through the back way past BHS to the road, and back to the rail trail; follow along as far as the golf course, then start exploring minor trails off the main one--this got me hills where the rail trail's flat. After side trails on both sides, headed back and at the underpass took the road back up into the town center and then down 202 and home that way. Aiming for 7:30 average, but I'd slowed up a bit on the trails and up the hill into town, so at the last stretch to the common and down 202 I opened up a bit; final mile was 6:30, and I felt it (in a good way, mainly). Totals:

Time: 1:24:17
Distance: 11.22
Pace: 7:31s

Comment: one more run before Sunday, I think, if all goes well. Maybe hills rather than trails. . .

Rafters 5 miler (PB) -- Sun. Apr. 25

Hadn't signed up early for this one, deciding to play it by ear. Ken reminded us we had a Swiftie team cup to defend, so I figured I'd go along and run it with him; Bill, who I bumped into on Sat., agreed to similar. Sunday started rainy, but headed off to town (dropping the Tall one at work en route) and arrived at 10. Paid my $23 and saw Ken, who told me there was no team division this year. Too bad; went off to warm up, and did a mile and stretched a bit, then it was time to go. Nice crowd, with four from BHS (girls, no boys this year), and Weijia, plus a few other familiar faces.

Started off with Savannah as my pace target, but then she went out really fast, doing a 6:30 first mile! Half-way through that, Bill came alongside and said, "I'll regret this, but I think I can catch the guy in the green shirt (i.e. the leader)." And off he went. I felt good enough to start working on catching the guy in front, and then the next one. I could see Bill ahead, and Joe F. was moving up on him, but not too many others. As we turned at Hamelin to go up the hill I had one guy still sticking to me, but by the next junction he was back a bit and I was moving to reach the guy ahead, who I figured out eventually was probably Sanjay A. from UMA. Took a long while to make an impression, but as we passed Triangle street I was close and as we started up the hill towards Brueggers I came alongside and asked if he was indeed Sanjay--I think it must have been a bit of a surprise, 見知らぬやつがこうのとうの言って、and after a brief introductory exchange I found myself pulling ahead. I pushed on hard to the crest at Amity, and then felt nauseous after the effort but determined not to lose the advantage. Pushed hard and saw sub-5:00 briefly on the digivice as I went down the hill, now chasing Bill and dodging the 5K runners who were on the same route. Joe F was out of sight, but I made some ground on Bill, and as I crossed Univ Drive I hammered to the end, feeling pretty good. Joe had been running bandit, so I came in 3rd overall!

Time: 31:27 (GPS 31:26)
Distance: 5 miles (GPS 4.97)
Pace: 6:18s (GPS 6:20s)

Comment: that's a new PB for me at 5 miles, 20+ seconds better! This is a good way to recover (?!) -- Bill mentioned that his grandfather found similar, great short races right after a marathon. We did a 2 mile cooldown after, then went back to eat a lot and claim our division prizes (Pub gift cert.). Chatted to all sorts, including Rob L who was there just to support (he's got a marathon again next week). Also brief exchange with Sanjay, who was gracious in commending my run but who also said he'd done the course 2 mins quicker a couple of years ago. まあね、結局彼は a decade younger. Still, as the Tall one commented later, I can count this as proof of levelling up -- third PB this year, fourth in six months.

First post-Boston -- Sat. Apr. 24

Lovely day, and some stress-load removed with the memorial service now completed. Headed out late morning for 5-6, in the new road shoes; felt fine, and decided to do an extended Hamilton. First couple of miles were great, but as I headed up Allen started to feel those sore muscles. Continued up Allen all the way, across 9 heading for 202, then up to the water tower. Stopped there for a good series of stretches and push-ups. Then back down, along 202 and feeling good if sore. Round the town mart and back homewards, keeping the clock on all the way, with a couple of spurts to work out those muscles too. Data:

Time: 46:28
Distance: 6.17 miles
Pace: 7:30s

Comment: Wasn't sure how soon to do this first run; several times during the week I thought I'd try it, but it was always a passing feeling. Generally overall very tired, but plenty mobile after a sore Tuesday. This run was encouraging: at 5 miles I felt I could go on a good way, but by 5.75 I was ready to wind it up. The recovery begins!

Boston Prep -- Sun. Apr. 18/BACKPOST 11

The day before the big one--no run on Saturday, as I was driving/train riding to Boston with R to pick up my race packet and rehearse the commute route. The Expo was a bewildering, insanely commercial but also really international affair -- the whole area was swamped with runners, and it was all in all quite exciting, or would have been if I wasn't so stressed. I felt out of place in a way, not ready for this sort of big time. At least next time I'll know what to expect.

This day, headed out to the SRRC meet just to say hi, planning to run over, but Wheels picked me up -- he was planning some track miles. Ken joined us at DnD, and then Ken and I ran over to the BHS track, Bill drove. Ken went off for an Enfield, but I joined Bill on the track. He did 4 miles, I did just over 3, bringing my total to 4; nice loose warmup, and I did a bunch of stretching too. Then we drove back and that was it.

Time: not timed
Distance: 4 miles
Pace: very gentle

Boston Prep -- Fri. Apr. 16/BACKPOST 10

This was the day I had to get to the RMV in Easthampton, sans voiture, natch. 20 miles each way, with a mountain road (not too long) over the shoulder of Mt Tom into the bargain. Good workout, if not a run!

Boston Prep -- Tue. Apr. 13/BACKPOST 9

This was a morning road run aiming for pace practice; I think it was a figure 8 on Boardman, 202, School St., Rural, etc.

Time: 1:17:59
Distance: 10.41 miles
Pace: 7:30s

Boston Prep -- Sat. Apr. 10/BACKPOST 8

I think this was a road loop, but maybe with a Wallace pond loop at the start?

Time: 55:10
Distance: 7.12 miles
Pace: 7:45s

Boston Prep -- Thu. Apr. 8/BACKPOST 7

Figure of 8 loop on GeoHannum and Boardman, etc. (maybe out to 202-not sure on the details).

Time: 1:18:50
Distance: 10.67 miles
Pace: 7:23s

Boston Prep -- Tue. Apr. 6/BACKPOST 6

Morning run on a day that turned rainy: down to Water Rec site then back home, remembering I'd left car windows open: 2.38 miles in 19:11 @ 8:04. Then off for the main run on Rural and GeoH, another 10.86 miles, with 6 miles tempo, 4 of them sub-7:00. Overall stats for the whole shebang:

Time: 1:37:03
Distance: 13.24 miles
Pace: 7:20s

Boston prep -- Sun. Apr. 4/BACKPOST 5

Made it to the SRRC meet and found only Ken there--we went off for a reverse Enfield with a trip down to the Quabbin for a little extra. Nice gentle run.

Time: 1:29:02
Distance: 10.85 miles
Pace: 8:12s

Boston Prep -- Sat. Apr. 3/BACKPOST 4

Standard weekend run, along the rail trail and then off through the swamp. Got a bit lost, and did some hardcore bushwhacking (B'town style, anyhoo), and ended up with multiple ticks, two of which got bites in before I got them off. Oy. So the overall pace seems slow, but it was a good workout:

Time: 1:22:34
Distance: 10.24 miles
Pace: 8:04s

ALSO Bought new shoes today -- road shoes, Asics GT 2150. $99, so not cheap, but light enough, and fitted naturally right away.

Boston Prep -- Sun. Mar. 28/BACKPOST 3

The Oleksak. This one I remember *vividly* and then some. Had planned to just run it at marathon pace as part of a 20 mile day, since I'd not managed to get a twenty-miler in thus far in my Boston prep. Had trouble getting there early, however, so only managed a shortish pre-run (nice terrain, old rail trails partly). The weather was good (not v. warm) and just before the start I found Rob L and asked him about the course: turned out it's fast, mainly downhill slightly after a few miles w/ uphill at the start. So I figured, give it a go and aim to get a good stretch out. We went off with Rob at the front (he WON the race in the end, pretty awesome-5:59 pace!!) and I took it carefully up the hills, but not trying to stay down to marathon pace. After four miles, there's the bagpiper and the gentle downhills begin -- I felt pretty good and went for it, keeping sub-6:30 for several miles, then as we reached the last three I faded a bit; definitely feeling it. But managed a burst at the end, and clocked a new PB, coming in 15th overall, and 4th in my division:

Time: 1:26:09 (GPS = 1:26:47)
Distance: 13.1 (GPS = 13.21)
Pace: 6:35s (GPS = 6.34)

(Can't remember why there's such a discrepancy in the times above--chip and gun?) Before the race, 4.12 miles, after the race a (rather painful!) 2.12 miles, for a total of 19.45 miles in 2:17:46 @ 7:05s. A good day's work, and definitely a race I'll do again next year. For the record, here are the splits from my GPS:

6:30, 6:50, 7:14, 6:50, 6:26, 6:00, 6:06,
6:18, 6:16, 6:33, 6:45, 6:45, 6:34, (6:26)

Boston prep -- Sat. Mar. 27/BACKPOST 2

This was a mixed road-trail run, down the rail trail and off on the side trails, then back up and along Jensen from 181, then route 9 home.

Time: 1:31:47
Distance: 11.85
Pace: 7:45s

Boston prep -- Fri. Mar. 26 /BACKPOST 1

[Everything went pear-shaped after March 23, so I stopped posting; I have brief notes for the period leading up to Boston, covering *most* of the runs. Now things are more or less stable again, I'll again be posting them as I run (inshallah)]

Rural loop run--road and deliberately brief, early morning run.

Time: 40:52
Distance: 5.58 miles
Pace: 7:20s

UPDATE -- post-Boston

Well, it's over, and it was a genuine learning experience. I have a bunch of backposts for the runs I managed to squeeze in before the race, but for now, here's some data from the official results:

Checkpoints
5k 0:23:40
10k 0:47:29
15k 1:10:41
20k 1:34:18
Half 1:39:19
25k 1:57:34
30k 2:21:53
35k 2:46:17
40k 3:11:37
Finish 3:22:03
Pace 0:07:43
Overall place 4872
Division place 562

I'm sore, but keen to do it again. More when I get time.