Winter run -- Thu. Dec. 30

Home from work (still grading stuff, arg!) to get some miles in -- it was a beautiful mild day, but by the time I reached home, already dark and chilling fast. Probably about 28-30 when I headed out just after six into a moonless but starry night. Was planning to do rail trail, but it's too dark, so down GeoHannum then Boardman and Eskett; then right along 202, all the way down to School St, then left along to Chicopee and the turn-back point. Cross 202 and go as far as Rural, then round to GeoHannum: at 8 mile point, step up a bit, but legs are still a bit chilly and stiff--manage two miles at 7:03 each, then slow down for the last mile, coming up through the development to get the 11, thus:

Time: 1:22:02
Distance: 11.01 miles
Pace: 7:27s

Comment: The two tempo miles were on the uphill section, and I felt like I was opening up a good bit, just hampered by the cold and dark a bit. Good enough for now. PLUS: I made my year goal of 2010 miles -- now at 2017 for the year!!

Mixed Twelve -- Tue. Dec. 28

By arrangement (which is what made me actually get up in time) a run with Bill, planning on 10-12. He suggested going onto the lake (Metacomet) so we headed down to Hamilton, then Bay and along Metacomet -- but it was a bit on the mild side, and there were patches of soft darkness on the ice, so I suggested going round via trail: past the town beach, then on the isthmus trail (snow still untrodden there) and then the trail link via Cheryl Circle to the rail trail, for more clean snow, and eventually out on to Federal to take Goodell through to Warren Wright. Very pleasant, not cold, and nice views: come back up Orchard, then to Grela and round the lakes again, then to Federal and directly from there: up to 9, and straight back to the development. Ran a bit past Bill's place to get the dozen, thus:

Time: 1:37:11
Distance: 12 miles
Pace: 8:06s

Comments: nice easy, refreshing mix of trail and snow and interesting roads -- a slightly faster last mile, as we both felt good. Only four miles shy of my 2010 for the year now!

Powertrail foray -- Fri. Dec. 24

Heading out to D'mar in the pm, but determined to get a run in, and aiming for double digits using the powerline trail I started on the other day. So, around 10 out via geoHannum to a stretch at the waterplant--a bit chilly, and slow to warm up, but feeling mainly okay (in shorts, but all layers on top). On to Boardman, then Rural and out to Stebbins; cross and enter the powerline trail. Sure enough the big water section is frozen enough to walk over, and continue up along; progress fine on rough and some v. steep terrain, then trail goes into woods so I have to go through bushes a bit under powerline (choose brambles over wet feet). Then more boggy bits and eventually I choose to follow parallel trail a bit to skirt the water, making sure to avoid turns away. However, just after startling a small flock of turkeys up in to the trees, discover a house ahead and the power lines not in sight. Ouf. As I jog up, the owner looks at me quizzically, and I announce I'm lost. Turns out I was at what used to be Wingate farm; chap said I should go down his drive (which I'd approached from the house end, not the road) across "the brook" and go left before his barn, then follow trail back to power lines. I did, and after that it was fine as far as Bay road, with some spectacular height and views just before the road. Then back along Bay, to Old Bay, then Bay again up the hill and go right on to Hamilton to return that way, staying steady, ending up thus:

Time: 1:26:13
Distance: 10.66 miles
Pace: 8:05s

Comment: this was, as ever with powerline trails, quite a workout, though I didn't pay any attention to speed, and had to stop a few times for directions and picking a way through things. Even on the road, just running easy; slight head cold has really taken the edge of things for me right now, but hopefully in a week or two I'll be over that.

Social Ten -- Tue. Dec. 21

Planned a morning ten w/ Bill and when I went out there was Andy too -- good company, great run! We started down GeoHannum and Boardman, heading for Summit at an easy pace. Once we turned up the hill we stayed steady, but inevitably it picked up a bit, until by the last couple of corners Andy and Bill were ahead and we were moving pretty quickly (I was aiming not to be breathing too hard, so I didn't chase; it only encourages!). Bill had a bit of a cough, which kept things from getting too out of hand; the descent was easy, and then to 21 and right along to OldSpfld, all the way through--Andy pulling away on the hill up past JBMS, but we regrouped at the junction, then into town and straight along 202 down to Rt 9, then round and back to the development. We were a bit short of mileage, so round the development a bit before we got double digits. I peeled off while they ran back to Bill's place, data thus:

Time: 1:17:21
Distance: 10.06 miles
Pace: 7:41s

Comment: useful to get some hill work in -- felt good while I was running, but sundry sorenesses in my right leg after. And tired the next day. Good thing there's no race this week.

SRRC Special -- Sun. Dec. 19

Emailed list on Sat p.m. (as I'd mentioned to Landry at Forest Park) that I was doing a Quabbin run at 10:30 -- went to DnD just in case, and found Nick D and one other (new) lad there, both up for the Q run. Noone else showed, so we headed for the Quabbin HQ; waited until 10:30, then headed off. New lad, John, is a BHS freshman, and hasn't done much running before but plays soccer (football?). Pace is a gentle one, and slower as we go up the hill, which leaves me a bit chilly in shorts (they're both wearing Santa hats), but now worries. Keep steady as far as Enfield lookout, then I make a portapotty stop, and then get to run fast a bit to catch up. Keep steady as far as the Dike, and John picks up into a sprint to the end marker --he wins! but then flakes out flat on the ground. They rest a bit while I jog, then we head back. Nick seems okay, but I'm a bit worried about John; we go past one hour at 6.6 miles or so, his first time to be running for that long. Once we get to seven miles, decide to go on ahead and get my car and meet them back up at the tower. Pick up pace dramatically, all the way up to the roundabout; skip going up to the tower, and chug on down the hill and across the dam to the car, ending up thus:

Time: 1:35:42
Distance: 11.35 miles
Pace: 8:26s

Comment: Strongly negative split there, with sub-7:00s for the last two plus miles. Straight into car and drive the long way round and up the hill, catching the lads as they head down having been up to the tower. Drop them back at their car before hurrying off to chauffeur R, then sleep a bit after eating. Useful if weird run. Nice course, and definitely should be a Swiftie race course!

Snowstorm 10K -- Sat. Dec. 18

Head off in slightly better time, arriving just after 9 am amid lots of runners wearing numbers: it's the GSH Fatass 50K today, as well as a Snowstorm day. Sign up and do a tiny bit of warm up, then line up, chatting w/ Ivan meanwhile. Very gentle start, with the lead group of four (Carlos, Landry, and two others) just ahead -- noone racing, clearly. After a mile I thought I could even move up to join the pack, but then they picked up a bit, and I stayed at 6:30 ish. Kept them in sight the whole way, though the lead two soon disappeared and the other two got steadily further ahead. At the four mile point we joined some of the 50K runners (including a cheerful Sri) and I passed a couple, but one of them was keeping my pace -- while doing more than a marathon... I tried to close on him but no go, so I just aimed to stay steady, and came in thus:

Time: 40:27 (40:25 GPS)
Distance: 6.2 miles (6.35 (GPS)
Pace: 6:31s (6:22s)

Comment: this was enough for fourth place (Carlos was running bandit), which was fine and all but noone else was racing. I guess I wasn't by the end -- first time I've done a Snowstorm where there was no competition -- I'd have had to make more than a minute to catch the guy ahead, and Joe F was nearly 3/4 of a minute behind me. Ah well, next time -- the turn out was solid enough at 100+. Then, after eats, I went for another lap with Landry -- I wanted just four more to get double digits, though he did the whole 6+ miles. We started easy enough, but coming up on three miles I foolishly mentioned the pace (slower than 7:30s) so he suggested upping it. Final mile was sub-6:30! Overall, thus: 4.26 miles @ 31:27 = 7:23s.
Quite a day.

Middling -- Thu. Dec. 16

First weekday run in a while--cold morning, probably about 20 degrees, so three layers on top (but still shorts, as it's not too windy), and head off slowly down GeoHannum. Stretch at usual spot, then head up trail, going right along to come out on Underwood and up to 202, then right and go all the way down past Eskett to Boardman; up to Rural, then round to GeoHannum and go left to Stebbins, crossing over to follow the power line trail for a bit, then turn round and go back more or less directly as far as Jackson, then up past the small farms to enter rail trail, and double back to GeoHannum that way. End up at the development thus:

Time: 1:06:30
Distance: 9.02 miles
Pace: 7:22s

Comment: this ended up much pacier than I'd expected when I set off, though it was pretty even -- only one mile ended up sub-7:00, and that was downhill. A good returning run, enfin.

Rainy club run -- Sun. Dec. 12

Up early to lector, and feeling a bit dodgy after several beers at Ken's place last night. Bill away, but Eddie G called, so get to DnD to find him and also Nick; Ken arrives right after. Lightly freezing rain in the early hours, but we're ready for it (I wear slicker but using hat instead of hood). Out for about 8, planning to go to end of rail trail and back, w/ Eddie turning earlier for his regular 5. Start off with him, running a couple of miles just under 10 min. pace, then head on with Ken and Nick to the end of the trail at 8:30 pace or so. They turn round, but I decide to go back the road way for a bit more distance. Start along 181, and realise off the trail that it's raining a bit more than I expected. Ouf. 181 feels long! but finally reach turn off right for Cold Spring, and decide to take it to be sure of reaching double digits. Full into the wind there, but better as I turn left up the last climb to the Experimental Station, then along to Cordner, and down to 181; back into that flow as far as Jabish canal, clocking a 6:44 mile, but then start to feel a bit off-shine, so no second tempo mile. The slight uphill on the canal trail and rail trail really bites; keep going steadily but realise I've got more than 10 miles. End up back at DnD thus:

Time: 1:28:04
Distance: 11 miles
Pace: 8:00s

Comment: Ken had kindly waited -- I was a good bit longer than planned, and we chatted a bit, then I changed into dry gear and ate a DnD repast (hot & fried = good!) All in all very mixed pace run, quite satisfying, giving a good base for the week. Now that classes are over I can aim for 2 mid-week runs as well, aiming for 30+ miles, finishing with the Snowstorm 10K. On track to complete the 2010 miles for the year, if all goes well. Then I'd better start planning for the Gansett Marathon in a bit more detail...

Snowstorm 5K -- Sat. Dec. 11

Starting the Snowstorm season a bit uncertainly -- another long long week and not a chance to get out after last Sunday. Still, a light dusting of snow on Friday night made the whole thing more appealing, and I headed out around 8:30 (having slept through an alarm, so about 30 mins behind schedule). Arrived and paid up, but then already time to start, so no warm up: decide to start slowly and see how it feels. Ivan's there at the start too, but line up a bit behind him, in a crowd of more than 100 runners. Off up the hill and take the first lap of the playing fields steady, with 6:42 first mile. Inspired by young Beaver lad (9 yr old phenom!) to go with small strides, rapid turnover, to avoid over stretching in my unwarmed up state. Second mile start to move up a bit, turning in a 6:05, and finding Scott R ahead. Keep plugging for mile three: surprised by a 5:41 pace, and the last 0.17 is much slower as I fail to catch the young lad ahead and just cruise in. Come in 5th, with a solid time:

Time: 19:37 (19:35 gps)
Distance: 3.1 miles (3.17 gps)
Pace: 6:20

Comment: jog a bit till Ivan appears, then walk with him and chat briefly, before heading out for cooldown/extra miles. Goal for day was 12.5, so do a couple of loops of the first part of the 10K course, stopping after lap one to grab bag and gear from Skate House lest it be locked in there. Add exactly 10 miles, which because I'm already loose are a bit faster than a slow run, giving

13.17 miles @ 1:34:54, averaging 7:12s.

A good day's work

Hot Chocolate 5K -- Sun. Dec. 5

Late night after several post-long run naps, but up and sorted in time to leave at 8:40 (a tad late...). Icy morning, hard frozen windscreen, but head for Btown DnD for a coffee and bagel to go. Drive is fast, so parked on King St and jogging back to the registration by ten past nine. Cold! Quite a melée at the start, but able to grab bib/chip combo easily enough, and then check out the portaloos: hopeless! Line several hundred people long, so give up and jog back to car, figuring I'll try DnD there. Buy another coffee as they have no Gatorade (feeling quite dry, and didn't get up early enough for breakfast), use facilities (thank goodness no opposition there) and back to car to change.
Only 20 mins to go, so kit up in hat, gloves, shorts and t-shirt, then leg it towards the start. Follow to rail trail and jog out there for a bit, bypassing the actual race start, then stop a while to stretch. Total just over 2 miles of warm up, and with some press-ups I'm *sort of* warm by 9:55, so go to line up.
No familiar faces to line up against, so keep an eye on Tim M as he'll be sure to wind through the opening rush fast. Chip timed, so it doesn't matter too much. . . Off and up the first little hill, already in a fast group though surely 100+ people ahead of me. Try to settle but feeling very stiff. Wind is an obstacle too, on and off. Make it to the first mile surprisingly quickly, 6:00, it just flew by; mile two seems harder, but I'm managing not to lose any places, even gaining one or two.
Mile three starts even harder with a couple of savage little uphills; fortunately I have strength enough for them, so lose another follower, but then people start making moves for the finish. Didn't have enough margin to pick up pace much, but get into a to and fro with one tall guy who I thought was Barry B from UMass at first. Finally we head down the hill and I'm ready to open up but nervous about how much further there is. Once I spot the turn down off the main street pick up a bit and then as the shute comes into view go all out and barrel past the tall guy, watching 19:06 show on the clock as I hit the line.
A mite disappointed, but it seems about right, given my stiffness from yesterday's 12+.

However, later in the day results are posted and *chiptime* shows I was faster -- by ONE SECOND -- than last year's chiptime. Technically, 1.06 seconds:

Time: 18:59 and 94/100 (official) <--new PB!
Distance: 3.1 (official; 3.14 GPS)
Pace: 6:08s

Comment: w00ts! It's a tiny difference, but I'll take it any day: into the 18:00s!! Came in 61/2000+ which is pretty fine too. Saw Landry to talk to (briefly) and Maddie G from BHS, but then finished my cocoa and headed back to car: too cold to hang around. Put more gear on and did a cooldown to end up with 7.43 miles total for the day. Good enough.

Solo long run - Sat. Dec. 4

With the Hot Chocolate 5K up tomorrow this is not such a bright move, but I wanted to get out after a week with no chance to -- so, just before noon on a sunnyish day with occasional icy wind, I headed off via VFW, 202 and Allen to Juckett hill. Slow, aiming for 8:15s or so, with no stop to stretch (just aiming to get *warm* at first). Seems to go fine for the first few miles, though each time I get warm I run into wind again and chill off. Wearing shorts with long sleeve technical shirt, fleece, and windbreaker, plus gloves and hat. Down the other side of Juckett and up to Packardville, crossing 202 along to Gold: the same as with Bill two weeks ago, a favorite run; the Quabbin section was lovely as ever. By 8 miles, pace was about 8:18, but then the downhill started. Relaxed a lot, no trying, just striding, but pace went up to 7:30s or less. Crossed 9 and returned to GeoHannum via the Lord Jeff apts, coming to stop clock at the culvert, thus:

Time: 1:40:23
Distance: 12.56 miles
Pace: 8:00s

Comment: total climb was 670 feet or so, which makes this a varied hill run too. Pretty happy with it, though I wish I could get back to *frequency* running again. . .