Another beautiful day!

10.01 in 1:05:58. 6:35/mi.

From Gordon down Grapevine to Rubbly, then right onto 22 toward Essex. Left on Bridge Street, right on Sagamore, left on Moulton. Left on 1A, back to Bridge to Miles River to Essex St, to Rubbly to Grapevine and home.

Felt a little tired after yesterday's long run.

Thoughts of a fall marathon.

longer run

Same fifteen mile loop as the Thursday before last (5/2). Started out around 6:40 and quickly started thinking about sub-6:30's. Just over 13:00 at 2 miles, 25:56 at 4 miles. Ended up finishing in 1:34:22 for 15.02 mi. (6:17-6:18 pace). Last mile along Grapevine Rd. was around 5:40.

Feeling pretty strong for the 10k on the track this Saturday night in Lowell.

Grading scheme: 31:28.57 (A-); 31:15 (A); 30:59 (A+)

Hoping for low winds.

6 miles with Al

From Bennett Center at Gordon, seminary loop in 43:15. Lost satellite reception, but this is almost exactly 6.

Another busy day meeting with students to gear up for next fall.

Mother's Day

Spent the morning making Heather feel special with some help from Ben and Grace. Breakfast in bed, flowers, plus some praiseworthy work of Ben's from Kindergarten all contributed to making mom's day (hopefully). After church we met my parents at Panera, and then we each got out for our Mother's Day run.

7.01 miles in 46:39. (Cutler loop)

Saturday 10 mile loop

Warm and humid. Popped the low-light lenses in my Native eyewear and headed out. Normally when I switch to the low-light it means it will rain and I'll end up running with them pushed up on my head. Today I kept them down the whole time and only had a little moisture the last two miles. Started out at 6:43 and ran between 6:30 and 6:40 most of the way. Picked it up a little the last three: 6:29, 6:26, and then a 6:06 at the end. 10.2 in 1:06:18.

Trying to make up my mind about the NBB 10,000m next Saturday night. Would love to get under 31:28 and feel like it would be possible with the right conditions. When I ran 31:28 two years ago at Lowell, it was pretty breezy by the time we went off.

Backshore 5-mile

warmed up with Nate from his house in Gloucester, about a mile and three quarters. Saw a bunch of familiar faces, including my dad on the way to the starting line. Perfect night to run with temps in the 60s and cool breeze along the ocean. Didn't feel amazing before the start and stayed behind a row of people as the gun went off. Talked to Jordan Kinley, who I know has a 2:25 marathon to his credit and he mentioned that he was running Burlington Vermont City in a few weeks. Said he is hoping for 2:28, 2:27 and is able to hold 5:25-5:35 for a long time, but can't go much faster than 5:20's.

After a little bit conservative start (for about 150m), moved out and around and up to the front by the half-mile mark. Went through mile one in 5:01 feeling good. Mile 2 was 5:09 and I could still hear someone behind me, probably Jordan. Mile 3 was my slowest with a couple little climbs and some turns - 5:16. Mile 4 tried to press a little, but wasn't feeling the best - 5:03. Last mile 5:05 for 25:34 gun time. Jordan 2nd in 26:00.

Larissa Park of Somerville Road Runners 4th overall in 27:34!

Nate broke 30:00 (first time since college XC?) with a 29:58. My dad ran 38:30 which he was pleased with. Andrew K. a nice 28:17!

Back to Nate's the long way (1.9 miles) for cooldown. Then enjoyed sausages, chicken and veggies on the grill with friends. Heather came over for the after-race!

mathematical mind games (predicting tomorrow's race performance)

headed out for an easy 4-mile hull street loop, just keeping in mind that I want to race well tomorrow night.

After two-miles, I started playing around with my pace today and my pace tomorrow and imagined that the closer I was to 7:00/mi. pace today I was, the closer I would be to 5:00 pace tomorrow. At 2 mile, I was 13:45, so that translated to 10:15 for 2 miles tomorrow.

Mile 3 was 19:36 for 15:24.

Mile 4 was 27:27 for 20:33. Makes sense?

If I'm at 20:33 with a mile to go tomorrow (hoping to be a little quicker than that), I will see how close to 5:00 I can finish in. 25:33 would be an "A-" tomorrow night. Wondering if I can get close to 25:17 (that would be the "A" grade) or even 24:59 (A+).

This is what goes on in my head when I am not running fast enough or far enough.