Harris Mt long one -- Sat. Jan 29

Need 14 to hit target for week, so borrow a route idea from Bill, who did a Harris Mt last week at 14+. Modify it slightly: start down GeoHannum to Stebbins, Batchelor, up over Harris Mt, back along Bay to Hulst, then up Orchard all the way, along Federal to Metacomet, then go *right* on Bay to head back to Stebbins, to GeoHannum and home from there. Stop clock at AustinG, having achieved 15 miles, then jog an extra 0.69 miles in 6:17 to get home. Main run thus:

Time: 1:52:59
Distance: 15.02 miles
Pace: 7:31s

Comment: started slow, w/ two miles at 7:50 or so, but then felt good, so chugged on quicker than 7:30s, with 7.99 miles in first hour. Harris Mt was easy and nice, and felt good even back up Orchard, all the way to Stebbins, then started to feel a bit of the effort. Last mile+ included all the GeoHannum uphills, so pace averaged at 7:31, but most of the miles were more like 7:20. Consider this a reminder of marathon pace, as well as my long one for the week.

Road run -- Fri. Jan. 28

Aiming for 8+ today, not wanting to go far from home, and ready for a no-trails run for a change. Pretty chilly at that hour, despite the minor thaw yesterday, but go in short anyhow. Decide on a Rural loop, with a second lap: out before 9 onto GeoHannum and to the water plant to stretch, then along to Boardman, to Rural and back up GeoHannum: tempo pace once I started the loop, and attacked both steep bits of the hill (one telegraph pole span each, go all out). Second loop similar, getting a total of 4 miles at 7:00 or lower, and then ease off coming back homewards. Feel ready for a bit more than 8, so along Jackson past Small Farms to the rail trail, and back along the trail to GeoHannum. Buzzed from behind by fat a-hole on a snowmobile in the last bit before GeoHannum, and get into small altercation when I refuse to give way to him until a passing spot. Idiot. Finish to home at easy pace thus:

Time: 1:09:11
Distance: 9.51 miles
Pace: 7:16s

Comment: so good to get out and do a bit at pace on a firm surface; had forgotten how it felt. I won't make the Snowstorm run tomorrow, so this will have to substitute.

Soft trails -- Wed. Jan. 26

Took a rest on Monday, which was good as the temp. started way below 0 degrees F. Tuesday was pretty cold too, but Wed. was bearable. Out after 8 am, in longs, etc. -- prob. about 8-10 deg. F at this point, but strong sun. Headed to GeoHannum and then into the trail towards Checkers: do the same route from there as Ken and I did on Sunday, only the trail was a bit softer today. Hard slog all the way to the canal trail, down there, and then exit through the woods on to NoWash: 5.4 miles trail thus far. Then down to Bardwell, enjoying the firm surface!, and back up NoLib, times dropped from around 9:00s to 7:30s or less, before reentering the trail at the underpass. Going back it seems even harder, but slog on to 202, then bail out on to Howard, and after that take the short route home, past the Poulin house, up past Bill's and stop the clock just after home, thus:

Time: 1:42:09
Distance: 12.2 miles
Pace: 8:30s

Comment: this was an effort, but I certainly was ready for the step up. Managed to function fine the rest of the day, and even made it in for the 11:15 class *on time* no less. Weekly mileage on track, though I'm kind of itching for a tempo run now. . .

久しぶり SRRC -- Sun. Jan. 23

*Wicked* cold morning: -7F when I get up at 6, and not much warmer by the time I head out for DnD for 10 am. Ken arrives right after me, looking a bit tan from Hawai'i, and ready for the massive change in weather. Fortunately the sun's out, and there's minimal wind, so 10-20F doesn't feel *too* bad. Choose a trail-heavy route to keep us warmer: start straight down rail trail to Jabish canal, then along canal towards Bardwell, but just before the end (following snowmobile tracks) take the cut through the woods that leads over little bridge to NoLib; then on down to Bardwell, and follow it across to NoWash, then left back up towards town as far as the trail--cross over underpass and reenter trail to finish up all the way to Checkers, ending up thus:

Time: 1:29:26
Distance: 9.51 miles
Pace: 9:24s

Comment: Gentle pace to keep Ken company, as he just flew in yesterday. Trails are still like running in sand, and I'm feeling it this third day in a row (right ankle has sore spot, but hopefully transient). Plan to take a rest tomorrow, though next week, I'll aim for a Monday run too.

Halfwayish -- Sat. Jan. 22

Aiming to get to my 40 mile target for the week, so out after waking slowly and letting the sun start working, leaving around 10:30 -- chilly but bright, and the trails mainly firmer. Decide on a shortened Barrett route: out to GeoHannum then into the trails, heading via railtrail all the way to the underpass at NoWash, then down across Bardwell (on roads almost clear of snow) to Barrett, and then across to NoLib and back up into town. In shorts, and legs okay, but hands get pretty chilly even w/ gloves; prob. around 20-25F, with some wind on the open roads. Up by road all the way into town, keeping pace gentle (not feeling very lively), and then down 202 w/ a bit of last mile pace, to 9 and back in GeoHannum to the development. End thus:

Time: 1:40:41
Distance: 12.75 miles
Pace: 7:54s

Comment: This will count as my long run for the week, first in this pre-marathon session. Tired after a relatively short night (still waking early from the Japan trip), and needing to save energy for the afternoon drive to Troy, so choose not to go on to get a full half M distance. Feeling prety much like half a marathoner at this point, so a lot of training to go to get ready for 'Gansett. Finish the week with 40, while Bill's at 80. . .

Snowstorm run -- Fri. Jan. 21

Four inches of fresh snow overnight, on top of the old snow. Cold but not too bad (20F or so), so in shorts, but with slicker on top. Again aiming for trails: start on GeoHannum, then left into trails and start the hard work. It's a bit like running in sand, so just work at it: follow trail (noting new part parallel w/ Howard) all way to NoWash, then take turn onto Jabish Canal trail, and follow out to 181. Some snowbmobile tracks to follow, but none fresh, so in time legs start to chill off in all the snow, but out on the roads again it's much better. Up to Jensen, then along and up past the baseball field to Jabish hill, up to common and then down 202 leading back to home. Pick up pace on 202, with wind blowing snow into my eyes; end up going past Dana to Greenwich and up past Bill's place to get an extra half mile, thus:

Time: 1:11:53
Distance: 8.51 miles
Pace: 8:27s

Comment: 4.5 miles of hard trail work made this feel like a hill run. Feel great after the run, but definitely that in-training feeling too. Mileage-wise I'm easing into it, but next week it goes up a notch (I hope!).

Imperfect Ten -- Wed. Jan. 19

New schedule means I can run MWF before classes, as long as I get out promptly. So, 8:15 ish I'm off: still groggy, so wearing longs (although in the end it's not v. cold), aiming for trails. Across development and straight in, going right to cross GeoHannum and up, following snowmobile tracks; unfortunately they go only round to Yamaha tunnel, so I follow, then back to GeoHan (getting sore shins from banging into the icecrust on the snow). After that, road all along to Stebbins: cross over and enter powerline trail, which is pretty hard work, going as far as the shooting range, then bailing out through the crusty snow (more ouch!). Follow lane back to Stebbins/School, and then right along to 202, along slushy edges. Left along 202, going past Boardman for Eskett; have to sprint for the turnoff to beat a barreling snowplough! Then directly home, Eskett, Boardman, GeoHannum, ending up thus:

Time: 1:21:37
Distance: 10.08 miles
Pace: 8:06s

Comment: Felt like a workout! Bruise on my left foot still sore, but didn't get in the way of the run, fortunately. Back in training, for real.

Back in the USA run -- Mon. Jan. 17

Back home from Japan and *blitzed* after the trip -- slept most of Sunday, no way I could do the Swifties run. Today it was well chilly, night got down to just above 0F, but fortunately the sun was bright and there was very little wind. By 11:45 or so it was not bad, and I cleared snow off my car to warm up a bit - decided then to go in shorts anyway, it was probably up to 20F or more by then. Down GeoHannum to trail entrance at AustinG and tromp along the snowmobile tracks, along to Yamaha tunnel and back to GeoHannum, then along as usual (no clear spot in the snow to stop for stretches at water plant, so keep going). All the way to Rural, then back to Boardman, to Eskett, to 202, and round to Boardman again, then back on GeoH all the way (passing Bill heading out in the other direction) to the toboganning hill; go right onto Jackson up as far as the train tracks, then enter trail and double back to come out on GeoH again, then home from there:

Time: 1:08:41
Distance: 9.06 miles
Pace: 7:35s

Comments: this felt about right--I'm still tired from the trip, but only in the last mile (which was relatively up-pace) did I start to get twinges anywhere. Time to get into full marathon prep mode now -- just 13 weeks to go (including this week)!

Backposts re Japan trip runs to come next...