Today was the first day that it felt really like winter even though it's not winter yet. I ran a little before 2 pm, which usually is around the warmest part of the day, which wasn't very warm today. I think it was about 25 degrees, but it was pretty gray, and the wind was blowing steady.
I had my warmest winter running pants on and two layers on top. I wore my winter Sugoi mitts and a knit hat that I soon discovered wasn't a tight knit. The wind was blowing right through it, and my crown of hair was insufficient to prevent brain freeze. I only had in mind to do 40 minutes of running, this was the first Wednesday I've run in a few weeks and had it as a scheduled day off the past two. I did an out and back on the same roads I ran yesterday and stayed mostly on the shoulder since the sidewalks are still a mix of cleared and crunchy.
The odd miles (1,3,5) were all 7-ish and the even miles were a bit faster. Not on purpose, but more because of the terrain changes, which aren't drastic.
This run made me think about doing some early morning easy runs again, because I figured it was just as cold as if it were dark, minus a couple times when the sun broke through.
5.55 miles in 38:39.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
12.12.17
I got some potentially really really REALLY exciting news this afternoon, and got fired up about racing in 2018. I went out and ran my fastest 8 miles since reach the beach, on my old morning loop, that I used to run most mornings in 2011 during my marathon build up. Today ended up being the fastest i've ever run it, and I set out without any goal of doing that. I've heard that Bill Rodgers said "hodge podge is not a training plan" and I believe that, but I also find that the best days of running are not something I can usually anticipate. I also spent some time considering appropriate tattoos to best commemorate the day. I think I might be able to entice my kids to work on some designs for small money.
After reading Dave's Mill Cities writeup and history, I did a little digging, and came across this vintage (and blurry) thumbnail of me handing off (to who?) as a one-time member of the mvs open male mill cities team in 2002, the one year I ran it. I think I was already balding at age 26. It's fine.
After reading Dave's Mill Cities writeup and history, I did a little digging, and came across this vintage (and blurry) thumbnail of me handing off (to who?) as a one-time member of the mvs open male mill cities team in 2002, the one year I ran it. I think I was already balding at age 26. It's fine.
Monday, December 11, 2017
12.11.17
I guess I just assumed that because we didn't get a whole lot of snow (maybe 3"?) from the storm Saturday night, it would all be gone in no time. But I forgot how short the days are and how little melting happens when that's the case.
The roads around here are ok, except the ones with little shoulder have none now and most of the sidewalks aren't clear.
Nate H. and I did a loop through the college campus and then the hull street loop for 4.69 in 33:07 today.
The roads around here are ok, except the ones with little shoulder have none now and most of the sidewalks aren't clear.
Nate H. and I did a loop through the college campus and then the hull street loop for 4.69 in 33:07 today.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
12.10.17
I ran a longer than anticipated trails and roads run from Gordon College yesterday with Nate Hausman and Nathan Landis. We cut through the Gordon Woods on the dirt road out to Chebacco Road and ran east to Manchester-Essex Woods. Ran the Ancient Line to Old Essex Road and then came out on Andrews Street in Essex, we turned and went back in and then headed toward Bishop's Grave. We ended up on some beautiful single track that I didn't remember ever running, but I haven't been in there as much since I left Gordon in 2015. We came out on the road again on the corner of Apple St and School Street in Essex and realized if we wanted to be anywhere close to our goal of 1:30-1:40 we better get on the road and hustle back. Ended up ducking back into the woods once more off Essex St. in Hamilton and ran 13 in 1:50. Definitely Nate's longest run in some time.
Today, after the few inches of snow that fell last night, I did a little under 5 miles at a little over 7:00/mi.
Second week in a row over 40 miles, which is a trend in the right direction heading into a new year.
Today, after the few inches of snow that fell last night, I did a little under 5 miles at a little over 7:00/mi.
Second week in a row over 40 miles, which is a trend in the right direction heading into a new year.
Friday, December 8, 2017
12.8.17
Spent last evening getting my 2016 and 2017 running logs updated, mostly just from Strava data from my Garmin. Unfortunately, I don't have everything, but I really didn't run much last year (~1 mi./day) or this year (~2 mi./day). It does feel good to close the books on two-plus years of not much productive running.
I had a pretty good stretch (my best in that time) of training just before and after Reach the Beach, then a little hiccup and some pretty consistent running again the last month or more. My hope is to continue to race, increase training volume and be able to compete at a higher level in 2018 than I have in recent memory.
I've got some snowshoeing in mind, and Heather and I have registered for the Hampton Half in early March, so that should keep me honest through the cold months. I'd love to get into the mountains (Washington and Loon, in particular) when the weather gets warmer.
I joined that 2018 in 2018 group on Strava, which given the past couple years seems ambitious, but compared to the years prior (2011-2014 in particular) it seems manageable.
Joined Jordan Kinley for 11.3 at 6:42/mi. pace on the roads of Beverly at lunchtime today. About 20s/mi. faster than we ran the same run last week with Greg.
I had a pretty good stretch (my best in that time) of training just before and after Reach the Beach, then a little hiccup and some pretty consistent running again the last month or more. My hope is to continue to race, increase training volume and be able to compete at a higher level in 2018 than I have in recent memory.
I've got some snowshoeing in mind, and Heather and I have registered for the Hampton Half in early March, so that should keep me honest through the cold months. I'd love to get into the mountains (Washington and Loon, in particular) when the weather gets warmer.
I joined that 2018 in 2018 group on Strava, which given the past couple years seems ambitious, but compared to the years prior (2011-2014 in particular) it seems manageable.
Joined Jordan Kinley for 11.3 at 6:42/mi. pace on the roads of Beverly at lunchtime today. About 20s/mi. faster than we ran the same run last week with Greg.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
12.7.17
2017 is shaping up in the right direction, with some encouraging signs heading into year's end:
I had a 35:49 first place finish at the Chatham in the Fall 10k on November 19. (full results here) Heather was the first female and picked up a free pair of shoes for her effort. I won a Cape Cod brewery tour. We had a great weekend away as a belated 13th-anniversary celebration. We had our longest run together in over 3 years - almost eleven miles on the rail trail the night we got down there.
This past Saturday, I joined my dad at the Reindeer Run 5k in nearby Beverly. In 2008 and 2009 I finished first in 15:38 (which I believe is the course record) and 15:47. For this year's event, I was hoping I might be able to crack 17-minutes and was pleasantly surprised with a 16:41 (.6) (full results here) It's a pretty fast course, but I haven't been doing much fast running, so after the first mile went by in 5:14, I was pretty much in uncharted territory. Hung on with a 5:19, a 5:29, and then blazed the last .1 at 4:52 pace, at least according to the Garmin. Won an apple pie.
Hopefully, if I continue to get some racing in, I'll be able to pull together some decent race reports. It's been a struggle to find the time and the words to keep the blog even semi-interesting. I wanted to get a Reach the Beach report up in September, because I had such a great time with Team Cutters, but I never finished the story...
Monday, September 11, 2017
September 4-10, 2017
This week I had several God-given opportunities to run faster than in previous weeks. No racing, but a couple of workouts and one longer run that also became a workout on the fly.
Monday, I had in mind to do a 5k time trial to see where my fitness is after several consistent weeks of training. In the past, I would have done this on the track, to make sure I got the fastest time possible for my effort. However, since I generally race on the roads, I (finally) figured that it might make more sense to run the time trial on the roads.
I figured I would be able to run sub-6:00 pace for the whole thing, but I didn't know how much faster. I had a hunch I would be under 18:00, but held out hope that I might be closer to 17:00, or even under.
After a two mile warmup, I had made up my mind about the loop I would run, and set off. I felt good early on, relaxed and wondered if I would surprise myself with a 5:18 opening mile or something in that ball park. I didn't look at my watch until it beeped for one mile and I glanced down - "5:51". Ooh, not what I had expected, but I was a mile into it, so kept going. The first mile climbed a little and so the second had some downhills. Mile 2 was a 5:36, which was better. I still felt like I was running pretty relaxed as I headed into the last mile plus. I ran ~5:40 pace the rest of the way for a 17:50 5k alone on the roads. I realized afterwards that I had run the first mile on this winding section of sidewalk, so maybe I hurt my cause in the opening mile? Anyway, I'm happy with the outcome (if not overjoyed), and am still delighted to be running as much and as fast as I am right now.
Tuesday I met up with Alex Vlahos for almost 6 from his office at lunch time.
Wednesday I ran with my former everyday running buddy Nate Hausman for just over 5 from his office at lunchtime.
Thursday evening I hooked up with Alex Vlahos and Kieran Kinnare for a progression workout. The plan was 2 x 12-minutes (progressing from 6:30 to 6:00 per mile) and 1 x 8 minutes (progresing from 6:00 to 5:45 or faster). This was a Kieran workout. I jogged down to Patton Park (1.2 miles) to meet them and then we did another 1.2 together into the first rep. On the jog, we decided that we would just make it into 2-miles, 2-miles, 1.5 miles for the repeats. The first 2-mile we ran 6:17, 6:14 out on Cutler Road then jogged a couple minutes and turned to come back. The second 2-mile was 6:12, 5:54. We jogged a couple more minutes (those guys more like to stand/walk which kills me I need to keep moving) and then started the last rep. We were still on pavement at the start although Kieran had wanted to finish on the grass, so we turned in the driveway to the park and ran the Gabe's Run course in reverse. We hit the mile in 5:53 and then 5:41 pace (according to the Garmin) for the last .5+. Cooled down home.
Friday I was a little sore and did a 6.5 mile loop @ 7:30 pace.
Saturday I did the same loop again (amidst kitchen remodel at our house) @ 6:40 pace.
Yesterday I almost didn't run after failing to get out early, but my gracious wife sent me off in the early afternoon to pursue my half-marathon goal while she tended to four kids and an unfinished kitchen. I realized when I got back this was my longest run since April 2015. But the run had to happen first.
I set out on the same loop I had run the previous two days and came through mile one a little excited in 6:46. Mile two is faster but it was 6:16 and I was starting to wonder about the distinctions between being aggressive, enthusiastic and stupid. I was working, but staying relaxed as I climbed the hill to mile 3. 6:27. Mile 4 I turned right instead of left, and climbed before descending to the rail trail on 97. I pushed the uphill and cruised the down for a 6:15. Now I was starting to wonder when the pace would start exceeding 6:30 and how much slower it would be. The rail trail is flat though and I was still feeling in control as I ran a 6:09 fifth mile. Coming off the trail into the rolling Topsfield neighborhoods, mile six was a 6:10. Mile seven was 6:24 and I was glad to be over halfway. It felt like I was going to be slowing the rest of the way, but I was surprised with a 6:15 eighth and a 6:07 ninth mile. Of course, at this point, (you can probably tell based on my description,) my perspective of the run was largely limited to the numeric data feedback from my watch, but I was loving it! The last big climb was in the tenth mile and I glanced at my watch, which I was now doing with more frequency and saw the pace had slowed. But then the inevitable downhill came and I managed a 6:23. 11th was a 6:13 mostly downhill and then I had to add a little out and back at the end to get to the 13.1 goal. All told 13.1 miles in 1:23 (6:19 per mile).
55 miles for the week
Monday, I had in mind to do a 5k time trial to see where my fitness is after several consistent weeks of training. In the past, I would have done this on the track, to make sure I got the fastest time possible for my effort. However, since I generally race on the roads, I (finally) figured that it might make more sense to run the time trial on the roads.
I figured I would be able to run sub-6:00 pace for the whole thing, but I didn't know how much faster. I had a hunch I would be under 18:00, but held out hope that I might be closer to 17:00, or even under.
After a two mile warmup, I had made up my mind about the loop I would run, and set off. I felt good early on, relaxed and wondered if I would surprise myself with a 5:18 opening mile or something in that ball park. I didn't look at my watch until it beeped for one mile and I glanced down - "5:51". Ooh, not what I had expected, but I was a mile into it, so kept going. The first mile climbed a little and so the second had some downhills. Mile 2 was a 5:36, which was better. I still felt like I was running pretty relaxed as I headed into the last mile plus. I ran ~5:40 pace the rest of the way for a 17:50 5k alone on the roads. I realized afterwards that I had run the first mile on this winding section of sidewalk, so maybe I hurt my cause in the opening mile? Anyway, I'm happy with the outcome (if not overjoyed), and am still delighted to be running as much and as fast as I am right now.
Tuesday I met up with Alex Vlahos for almost 6 from his office at lunch time.
Wednesday I ran with my former everyday running buddy Nate Hausman for just over 5 from his office at lunchtime.
Thursday evening I hooked up with Alex Vlahos and Kieran Kinnare for a progression workout. The plan was 2 x 12-minutes (progressing from 6:30 to 6:00 per mile) and 1 x 8 minutes (progresing from 6:00 to 5:45 or faster). This was a Kieran workout. I jogged down to Patton Park (1.2 miles) to meet them and then we did another 1.2 together into the first rep. On the jog, we decided that we would just make it into 2-miles, 2-miles, 1.5 miles for the repeats. The first 2-mile we ran 6:17, 6:14 out on Cutler Road then jogged a couple minutes and turned to come back. The second 2-mile was 6:12, 5:54. We jogged a couple more minutes (those guys more like to stand/walk which kills me I need to keep moving) and then started the last rep. We were still on pavement at the start although Kieran had wanted to finish on the grass, so we turned in the driveway to the park and ran the Gabe's Run course in reverse. We hit the mile in 5:53 and then 5:41 pace (according to the Garmin) for the last .5+. Cooled down home.
Friday I was a little sore and did a 6.5 mile loop @ 7:30 pace.
Saturday I did the same loop again (amidst kitchen remodel at our house) @ 6:40 pace.
Yesterday I almost didn't run after failing to get out early, but my gracious wife sent me off in the early afternoon to pursue my half-marathon goal while she tended to four kids and an unfinished kitchen. I realized when I got back this was my longest run since April 2015. But the run had to happen first.
I set out on the same loop I had run the previous two days and came through mile one a little excited in 6:46. Mile two is faster but it was 6:16 and I was starting to wonder about the distinctions between being aggressive, enthusiastic and stupid. I was working, but staying relaxed as I climbed the hill to mile 3. 6:27. Mile 4 I turned right instead of left, and climbed before descending to the rail trail on 97. I pushed the uphill and cruised the down for a 6:15. Now I was starting to wonder when the pace would start exceeding 6:30 and how much slower it would be. The rail trail is flat though and I was still feeling in control as I ran a 6:09 fifth mile. Coming off the trail into the rolling Topsfield neighborhoods, mile six was a 6:10. Mile seven was 6:24 and I was glad to be over halfway. It felt like I was going to be slowing the rest of the way, but I was surprised with a 6:15 eighth and a 6:07 ninth mile. Of course, at this point, (you can probably tell based on my description,) my perspective of the run was largely limited to the numeric data feedback from my watch, but I was loving it! The last big climb was in the tenth mile and I glanced at my watch, which I was now doing with more frequency and saw the pace had slowed. But then the inevitable downhill came and I managed a 6:23. 11th was a 6:13 mostly downhill and then I had to add a little out and back at the end to get to the 13.1 goal. All told 13.1 miles in 1:23 (6:19 per mile).
55 miles for the week
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