DailyMile Challenges

Just joined three DailyMile challenges.



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Sugoi!

...which means "excellent" in Japanese!  I had a nice four-miler this morning with the professor (a lady friend and fellow Turtle) in the cold and on the snowy, icy towpath.  All of my gear performed admirably, the sun was bright, and spirits were high (we even met a cross-country skier!).  I'm glad I got my butt out there in very cold weather (teens) and had a great run.  Here's a post-run picture (since I used so few last time):

...and another (since you can't yet see how red and parched my face had become)!

running boston! / posting elsewhere

I am running the Boston Marathon again! So excited to run it as a Boston Debate League fundraiser. I'm chronicling my training here: http://kqb4bdl.tumblr.com.

Donate: Razoo site

Goals for 2011.

After exclusively fun running all fall (after the Towpath 10K), I've been thinking a lot about what I might want to accomplish in 2011 w/r/t running, and have come up with some varied goals (per a Runner's World article's recommendation):

1. Skinny jeans by March.  I've lost about 12 lb. since June (aided by a recent stomach flu).  I think eating vegan has finally caught up with me, and switching medications might be helping, too.  I'm not quite into my smallest clothes, but all my recently (within the last year) purchased clothing is too big.  I want to see if I can get back into those jeans.  If I can't by this time next year, they're out of here, along with every other slightly-too-small item of clothing (except maybe my blue silk BR cocktail dress, just in case).

2. Get my half-marathon time down to under two hours.  My PR (from 2009) is 2:09, run while on antibiotics after a patchy six weeks of training.  Given a goal and the last six months of prep-work, I think I can do it.  If I run the half in Cleveland again this May, I don't have to do much distance work in advance versus a full, which is ideal for winter-training (i.e., no very long runs in the cold and snow and/or no very long runs on the (beloved) T-mill).  And if I don't make my goal time, then I can train all summer and into the fall for a faster time at a fall race.

3.  Run 100 miles each month.  I think this is a manageable training load.  I work half-time (with a reasonably predictable schedule), live conveniently close to some very runnable trails and courses, and have a gym membership (when the garage gets too cold and/or for cross-training).  I have no excuses.

4.  Run a full marathon.  This would be the icing on the cake (and I'd probably only do it if I meet my half-marathon goal in May).  There are so many lovely fall courses and places that I'm sure I can find a race that suits me.

Soooo....some of these are long shots, but I think I can do it if I screw up my courage and motivation.  Running with the club girls (though we're on hiatus and so I only see one or two regularly) has been a real boon, and I've been blessed with some seriously amazing gear this fall.  The pieces are falling into place for a great running year.

*image is from runningwarehouse.com, which is where I purchased that lovely item above.  So far, major props to the site for their immediate delivery and very inexpensive prices!

nike women's half marathon

Thinking about doing this next fall...or about doing Marine Corps again. I've had bad luck two years in a row with CRC fall races, so maybe a new one will break the streak.

Nike Women's Marathon

Thoughts?

I'm less than a week from my first half-marathon in over a year, having just gotten back to running in June after a year hiatus.  I've also been knocked flat the past three weeks with a lingering sinus/headache thing, and just when I was feeling better, a fever and sore throat.  My questions are thus:

1.  Did I take on too much too soon, setting myself up for this?  Let's say I started at 10-12 miles a week, and hovered around 20 most of the summer (though I hit thirty once).  I was also lifting and swimming, but not super-reliably, and not since the school year started.

2.  Should I still run the half on the 10th?  I'm pretty sure I'll feel better by then, but will have lost a month of training and will be recovering from various illnesses.  But, if I can knock it down to the 10K, at least I won't have to DNF, right?

So send positive vibes my way...the clinic didn't think it was strep, but we won't know until tomorrow.  In the meantime, I'm taking lots of fever reducers and cuddling with the kitten.  No running for me, thanks!


P.S.  Finally got my Garmin!  Have not yet used it except as a costume detail for Spirit Week at school...

crawling back to feeling good

Ran a shade under three miles tonight in a slight mist and the glow of Cambridge streetlights. It felt wonderful to run without having to watch over anyone, without feeling bad for being behind everyone, and without worrying about being late to my next time commitment.

quitting running, take 2

I just decided not to run one of my fall half marathons. Working two jobs and coaching my high school's running club have left so little time to train that I would probably make an ass of myself trying to even run a half right now. 10K was doable last week, but I won't be able to even get in a long run before Smuttynose because, guess what, I am helping with a CRC long run.

I'm getting increasingly depressed about my stagnation with respect to running and losing weight, and am also quitting CRC for a while. My goal of losing ten pounds and ten minutes off my half marathon time never even got started this summer. I feel like going into hermit mode and just saying NO to future stuff just so I can at least have a yoga class or solitary run to myself.

race report: lone gull 10k

Date/Time: Sept 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m.

Place: Gloucester, MA
Weather: 60ish-70ish (perfect)
Distance: 6.2 miles
Net Time: 54:28
Pace: 8:46/mile
Gun Time: 54:49
Age Group: 73/246

Gender: 113/380
Overall: 309/675

Link to Garmin Connect Summary here.

Race Website here.

Mile Splits (Garmin was a little off from the actual mile markers)

1 8:50

2 8:40

3 8:34

4 8:47

5 8:47

6 8:32

0.3 2:14

I'm going to aim for consistently getting 8:35 splits for my next 10K. My previous 53:00 goal was a bit of a jump given the hectic nature of the school year. I might just aim for 8:50 splits for my next two half marathons.

Course Observations:

I am definitely doing this one again! It's mostly flat with a few rolling hills (not any beastly ones in sight) and does a little lollipop, so you can see your friends if you're within lollipop range of them. I think it repeats some of the Cape Ann 25K. I loved the ocean views and the lack of car traffic on the course.

What I Thought of the Race:

1) Very clear directions on the website, and a few signs directing runners to the parking lot start.

2) Plentiful parking reasonably close to the start. I wish they'd labeled directions to the start but I found it based on the throngs of people heading over.

3) They use D-Tag timing.

4) Volunteers are quite pleasant.
5) The crowd support was somewhat minimal (except for my CRC pals!)
6) They have several water stops (no Gatorade, which is fine with me for a 10K).
7) A volunteer yells out time at each mile marker.
8) Post-race food is great! This year, they offered water, bagels, bananas, Stonyfield Farm yogurt smoothies, Oikos yogurt, apples, scrambled eggs, bacon, caramelized french toast, coffee and oj.

Things to Note for Next Year:
1) Leaving Brighton at 7:00 a.m. affords plenty of time to get to the race.
2) REGISTER EARLY. They only gave out shirts to the first 400 runners...and I had bib #409. I could have gotten a shirt if I'd stayed after, but had to head to the Red Sox game.

Runner dies after Virginia half marathon

Yikes. Don't know what the cause of death is yet, but 27 is young to die after a half... be careful everyone! Thoughts and prayer's to the runner's family and loved ones...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/06/AR2010090601258.html?hpid=newswell

10.5

This was my morning (starting at 7:30).  All roads, today, too (lately, most of my non-(beloved)-T-mill runs have been paths and trails).  Pretty glad to have gotten through it feeling strong, too.  Also pretty glad to have married a massage therapist.

The heat's been aggressive here but broke massively Friday night (in time for a 6 mile tempo on the towpath!).  I've been doing hills and making most of my mileage (school's settling out and I'm figuring out a schedule that works with work), but utterly FAILING to get to the gym for lifting and swimming.  Here's to hoping I can get back on track!  I have my SwiMP3, afternoons largely off (though with Grandma moving soon, I need to be at her place here and there helping her pack), and weather that's beginning to cooperate.  I need not to miss workouts with the half looming (10.10.10!).

Too exhausted and hungry to write more.  Perhaps if I make my gym workouts this week, I'll write to crow about it by Friday.

Updates (now that I have company!).

Did my old favorite five-miler in my mom's neighborhood yesterday on my way home from work.  I felt every single footfall...just so much effort to get through it and took 65 minutes when it used to take 45-50.  The legs felt fine, the weather was lovely, but my heart (quite possibly literally) wasn't in it.  I think I bonked due to nutrition issues.  I think WHAT I eat, and how much, seems right.  I'm working on the WHEN.

I am registered for the Towpath Half on 10.10.10, and am "training" to that end (my plan is to do it under 2:30, and upon completion, will reward myself with a Brooks Nightlife Jacket!). I've logged a few longer runs (7-9 miles) with the Turtles, and am sticking to an adapted training schedule from Runner's World and including lifting (ideally 3x weekly) and swimming (2-3x weekly).  A swimmer dude at my gym let me try his SwiMP3 player and I just ordered one for myself!  I love being in the pool as a means of increasing fitness without adding miles.  But I think I need to get serious about form and effort to reap those benefits.

Reading Brendan Brazier's Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life, and revisiting Matt Fitzgerald's Brain Training for Runners.  Also trying to get through Terry Laughlin's Total Immersion video and books (about the swimming form and all that).

My weight finally dipped a few pounds, so I'm down about 4-5 lb. total.  Most of my clothes fit better by now (scale be damned!), and I'm still hoping to legitimately fit into my skinniest jeans by Christmas.  Then maybe the Cleveland full in 2011?  Any joiners?

back in the saddle

I'm aiming to start running 4-5 times per week in addition to track workouts and long runs to meet the following goals.

• 9/19 Lone Gull 10K - 53:00
• 10/3 Smuttynose Half Marathon - 2:00:00
• 10/10 BAA Half Marathon - 2:00:00

I've been bummed out for a few months because of how out of shape I've gotten. I put running on the back burner while doing lots of extra grad school and professional development work, so I'm about 10-15 pounds heavier and 10 minutes slower than I'd like to be (half marathon wise). I made a goal earlier this summer to drop the 10 pounds and 10 minutes by 10/10/10, but apart from two long runs and one track workout, I haven't done very much to pursue this goal. August may be half over, but there's still a lot of time before school starts to get back into good habits and out of the running doldrums.

new purchase: Garmin Forerunner 110

I splurged on a Garmin Forerunner 110 with heart rate monitor last week, and am very happy with it so far. It's very easy to use. All I had to do was hit the page/menu button to locate satellites, then use the start/stop button to start the run or pause at street corners. I set the autolap at 1 mile intervals so that the watch would beep and display the time it took to run each mile. It also showed the average pace for my current mile. I didn't look at my heart rate during the run, but I think it would have been easy to do so by using the page/menu button.

After the run, I connected the watch to my computer with the USB cable and uploaded the data to connect.garmin.com. I found that this process worked better with Safari than Firefox. I'm happy to not have to map my run from memory on MapMyRun and to not have to find all my mile splits by cycling through the stored ones on my watch.

My very first run with a heart rate monitor.

Running: The best cure for a hangover?

I woke up recently with a familiar pounding in the head and dry mouth, relics of a night of some drinking. Now, as veteran of drinking, I like to think that I consume at a moderate pace, but occasionally I will slip and pay for it the next morning.

A cure that I've had for a very long time has been a simple one: go for a run. Yes, Gatorade, bananas, greasy food and the hair of the dog that bit me have been tried in my experienced life. (But, alas, more alcohol and greasy foods have been proven to simply not work. And a patent, I kid you not, a patent has been applied for using asparagus.) But, they've worked to varying degrees, while running has simply always done the job consistently for me.

What is a hangover? Veisalgia (which has an interesting etymology of its own) is the formal medical term to describe the phenomenon that many drinkers experience the next morning, though there is a disagreement of which symptoms should be included in the definition. (Weise, J., Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol 132, Issue 11, p. 897, June 2000). I think most people would agree though that nausea, sensitivity to sound and light, dehydration and just general not-feeling-so-good are good descriptors for the phenomenon.

What do I do? After rousing myself out of bed, I will get into my running gear, adding the sunglasses or cap if the brightness factor forces me to, and simply go. I try to take a little bit of water or gatorade before the run, but too much and I have found that my stomach will not like it and the contents will be on the ground before me. Depending on the severity of it all, I start at a jog of about a minute or two above my marathon pace. I concentrate on my breathing and get a tempo going before I increase my pace to somewhere I finally feel comfortable.

Some days I actually impress myself. I actually will sometimes get a good 5-K time given the circumstances and come at above the median for myself. (I usually end up running 2 to 3 miles for this "recovery run.") And admittedly some other days I quit after the first mile, having achieved my goal of feeling at least human again.

Why does this work? In my google-perusals, I have found scant articles about exercise and hangovers. This one British article talks about it briefly, though it seemed to not work so well for the writer. In my non-scientific analysis, I suspect it has to do with an increased heart-rate, which results in more blood flow, and therefore more oxygen flow to the head. Also, metabolism is increased, which allows the processing in the liver of all those toxins that you ashamedly polluted your body with the night before. And finally, endorphins are released when we exercise and run (the runner's high).

While I concur that the best way to prevent a hangover is to abstain, I think that approach is a bit too much like the moral-right's approach to teen pregnancies; we all who do drink will drink again, and possibly to excess. Let's just remember the run as a good cure.

Success.

Tonight's 400 calories in 38:00 on the (beloved) T-mill was a success.  I barely noticed that I was even running.  It was still about 80 degrees, but the heat barely registered.  I've been blaming everything on hydration (and stepped up water consumption; I at least a liter of seltzer a day before I run (or bed if I'm taking a day off)) and the heat.  What I changed today was eating a snack about a half hour to 45 minutes before my run, which is terribly unusual for me (I like to run on an empty stomach or at least wait two hours after eating).  Could this be the lynch pin in my summer training?

I'm still calorie conscious as I've dropped exactly ZERO lb. these few weeks (while running 12-ish miles and netting about 1400- 1800 calories daily).  The birth control won't be out of my system (or even begun to be flushed) for another month, so maybe it's still affecting my metabolism.  I've taken to checking my body fat percentage a few times a week to see if my muscle mass is increasing.  So far, just establishing a baseline (about 30%).

Will put in paperwork to the gym tomorrow!  I hope it goes smoothly (as the membership is for us, but the funds are from a parental unit whose last name no longer matches mine), smoothly enough for an afternoon swim before dinner with the Spanish teacher!

Outdoor!

Sorry about the kitten.  She's just so cute, and I think image-heavier posts tend to hold everyone's interest.  Moving on.

So I have done TWO outdoor runs since I last posted!  They both kind of stunk (literally, as they are in the valley, which smells of sewage).  I went out with the Towpath Turtles on Sunday to Sand Run, and it was hot.  I ran with two others and we did okay (we strayed from the path, but we think about 3 mi. total).  I find I feel kind of sloshy in the heat; today I felt it in my lungs.  I DO, however, think I'm doing a much better job of hydrating throughout the day.


Tonight I stuck to the path and did about 3.5 miles, some walking (usually about half a minute to a minute).  I felt sluggish in the heat, but mostly okay.  I wish I felt better about it, but not every run has to be a victory.  I think the Sand Run jogging trail is 6 miles total, so it may become my near daily run (since the path is just a couple miles from home).  My plan is to run with some SARC people twice a week (poky run on Sundays, track workout Tuesdays?), run on the (beloved) T-mill twice a week (easy mileage or speedwork, depending), and then do 4-7 miles outdoors at either my mother's or the Sand Run path (the former when school starts again). 

We are also joining a GYM!  My mother is gifting us a membership!  It has two pools, and access to lap lanes is open most of the time, so I can get back to swimming!  Also, one of the SARC ladies is a member and will meet up with me to lift weights.  Better break out the weight-training books.

Maybe, MAYBE will run the towpath half marathon on 10.10.10.  I think if I build mileage these next couple of weeks, then finagle a training plan that includes a couple of ten-milers and lots of cross-training (SWIM!), I might be able to fit to run it by October.  Probably won't PR, but it might feel pretty good to feel closer to my former fitness (a la me and Liz at the 2008 Hermes 10-Miler!):

Crap.

Too hot, I guess.  I like to run pretty empty-stomached and had finished eating by about 2:00 today.  Around 8:00, I had a fruit leather.  So by 10:00, I was sure I wasn't too full of food to run.  I set the (beloved) T-mill at 400 calories over 38 minutes, and felt pretty strong until just after the first big interval.  Queasy!  I hopped of with ten minutes to go.  Boo. 

Tomorrow, my window to run is something like 3:30-4:30 (garage sale clean-up/husband time, AM; James Taylor and Carole King with my mom, PM), which is likely to be HOTTER. 

Today's problems and tomorrow's solutions:

1. Heat- Okay, I can't fix the weather.  But maybe I can convince the Writer to haul out a box fan and position it for me.  May also try wetting my hair before I run.

2. Hydration- I had a couple of drinks last night (as I do every night lately, because I don't have to work!) and may not have properly re-hydrated throughout the day, especially for this kind of heat.

3. Sloshy belly- Eat more throughout the day.  I had a small breakfast and was STARVING by lunch, of which I then ate a ton.  I'd also been feeling some digestive upset in the morning; perhaps eating something gentler (or taking some Pepto) would have helped.

Still not feeling very confident about running on the roads, or about joining the running club.  Their next meeting is Tuesday, so I may just show up and ask some questions (and join the pre-meeting run?).  I could use some solidarity, I guess...they also have a slower division/sub-club.  They might turn out to be my people!

Now to shower off my shame...

10 and 10 by 10/10/10

I am aiming to lose 1o pounds and knock 10 minutes off my half marathon time by 10/10/10. Today I went to my first track workout since April. I'm going to be sore tomorrow (in fact, am super sore right now) but am excited to finally have some time to devote to running, yoga, and going to the gym.

2.5 miles warmup

A2 workout: 600-1000-1000-600-1000-600, 4x150 hills

2.5 miles cooldown

In celebration of a new RoadID.

Here's the code so you can get $1 off your own RoadID order:  ThanksWendy779567

This is essentially free shipping!

New shorts!

Chatted with the guy ringing me up and distracted him to the point that he gave me 20% off the whole thing (two pairs of shorts), instead of the single item listed on the coupon!  Woo!

I got a size up from a pair I own (boo!  But it will make me feel more confident running on the streets- or with a local running club I may join- if I have nice-fitting, no muffin-top-y shorts).  They are Nike and have a pseudo-compression boy short (not just bun cover lining) inside.  I also picked up the Nike Pro compression shorts in black with a long, 7" inseam (and a larger size).  I have the bun shorts in red for under my tights and hiking pants- I use them exclusively as running UNDERpants (am no Kara Goucher) and love the fit and feel.*  Gear-related, too: purchased updated RoadID, with husband's info (new) and on a shoe pouch!

Anyway, 400 calories in 43 minutes felt easy today.  I may have to drop down to 40 minutes and see how I do tomorrow!

As a side note, some of this audience may be aware that after nine years of vegetarianism, I have become entirely vegan in my dietary choices as of this year (while working on the rest).  So far, I feel great!  I can get comparable protein and calcium to cow's milk from soy, almond, or rice milk; seitan has a whopping 22 grams of protein per serving (and I love it!), etc.  I'm eating almost all my own cooking and preparing everything from scratch, whole food style.  We keep Boca burgers and fake nuggets on hand in case there's no time to cook, but at least 80% of what I eat is my own cooking (or fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.).  Here was my post-run snack/meal:

 
A half cup of oatmeal (dry), made with water in the microwave.  Before I nuked it, I tossed in a handful of frozen strawberries and a tablespoon-ish of chia seeds, which are supposed to be awesome for you.  I munched on some raw almonds while it cooked.  Should be around 430 calories (ha!) and about 10 g. protein, plus some much-needed fat (crucial for injury prevention, I read).  Pretty good, no?  It took my gross calorie intake today to just under 1800, netting me about 1400, which is in the healthy zone!

*I can link to these, I think, if anyone wants me to.  Or photograph myself in them?

Am genius!

Why, yes, that IS a PBR tallboy can koozie (nicked from Whackadoo's) keeping the water in my Nathan bottle fresh and cold!  Why, yes, it ALSO kept said bottle from rattling in the beloved T-mill's bottle holders!

I did 400 calories in 43 minutes tonight (and Saturday: I skipped yesterday afraid of the storm and power outages.  I had wonderful and horrifying visions of flying backward off a suddenly dead, but beloved, T-mill into a suddenly dark garage full of ghoulies).  It looks weird to put it that way, but the weight loss program is better designed than the other programs on the machine, and it usually evens out to about 2.8 - 3.1 mi., which is my lower limit for a run, anyway.

Anyway, it was lovely both times.  I spent slightly less than half the time actually running (jogging?  trotting?), rather than walking quickly.  It feels better to run than walk, and better to run faster (though I can't go as fast for as long) since it seems to be a more fluid motion.  Am proud of myself (though mostly about the koozie).

And again!

Same routine.  How is it possible to feel like tonight was simultaneously easier (breathing controlled, better posture, more run than walk, less pain) and harder (low energy)?  Am taking tomorrow off to ponder.  Will return on Saturday with a time of 43:00!  Upping the tempo!

Have made tentative friends with the ghoulies in the garage.  There's a white spider that hasn't moved in several days and it comforts me to know it's probably dead.  Tonight, a moth and a lightning bug kept me company while hanging out on the door frame.

I have a route in the neighborhood planned, but this week was a fitness trial of sorts (rather crap out on the treadmill or re-sprain the ankle in the garage than miles from home).  Look for a new mapmyrun after I achieve said new route.  Or I'll just run my old routes at my mother's.

I did it again!

400 calories burned (according to the beloved T-mill, and it never lies), roughly 3 miles covered in 45 minutes.  Probably about 5-7 minutes of actual running, 10 on warm up and cool down, so 30 minutes of power walking achieved. 

Part of me is proud for slogging it out on the treadmill in oppressive heat and humidity amongst the spiders for two nights in a row.  The rest of me is kind of disgusted at how far the mighty Wendy has fallen (and peeved that the 15 lb. has not magically and instantly disappeared). 

This is me on the Sunday of the Cleveland Marathon this year.  I will drink my coffee from this mug daily until I fit in those shorts again (assuming they don't sell at the yard sale, which is fourth of July weekend!  Come and buy all our stuff!).  Click for the super mug detail.

I did it!

I have "run" tonight!  I did the calorie-counter/weight loss function on the T-mill (roughly 3 miles over 45 minutes, so a lot of power-walking with some jogging mixed in), and I feel good (ankle appears to have healed- details below)!  I have been lax about running and swimming since about this time last year and am now lethargic, pudgy, and stressed.  Some of these things have other roots, but running will help ALL of them.

Here are the sources of the 15 lb. weight gain:
-got fired
-got engaged
-started new medication (is it too ew to mention that it's birth control known for causing minor weight gain?)
-started new (!) job, teaching high school (joyfully and maddeningly stressful)
-got married
-rescued a kitten (not really a factor, but she's super-cute!)
-moved to another county
-planned a wedding
-nursed desperately ill (with pneumonia) husband back to health
-got desperately ill with pneumonia
-sprained ankle and broke toe in April


Am taking June off and am back on track for my goals of shedding the dreaded weight (and lethargy, and complaints about said weight- it bugs the Writer).  I'm going to think about running the Columbus half (mid-October) and have the weight off by then.  I'll be going off this particular birth control at the end of the summer, and will try to have my mileage up to 20-25 mi./week by school starting (mid-August).

I leave you with a kitten:

race report: covered bridges half marathon

Date/Time: June 6, 2010, 10:15 a.m.
Weather: 60ish and raining hard
Distance: 13.1 miles
Net Time: 2:05:55
Pace: 9:37/mile
Gun Time: 2:07:45 <- Got stuck behind hordes of people and a *car* at the start
Age Group: 118/186
Overall: 1121/1771

Just realized that my watch didn't save my mile splits. All I remember are:

Mile 1: 10:23
Mile 8: 10:15 (because of the big hill)
Mile 13.1: 9:20

My fastest mile split was 9:01. There were a few close to 9:30 and a few close to 9:45 as well.

What a gorgeous race course! In spite of the pouring rain, I enjoyed scooting around the Vermont countryside, through covered bridges and past little children in galoshes. I highly recommend making a weekend of it, and would love to see more of Vermont next time I run the race. I also ended up a walking cartoon, as I was freezing after the finish, shirt procurement, food procurement, beer procurement, and walk to the car (all in the rain). I put on the footie pajamas that were in the back of my car along with my rainboots. The Cabot Creamery store customers must have thought they were hallucinating.

Krista, who graciously came up to cheer for me, explored Woodstock, Quechee, and Hanover with me yesterday. We unintentionally drove most of the race course, which made me laugh when I ran it today. We also bought lots of local goods (wooden spoons, lavender mint shea butter, cheese, jam, and ice cream), then finished the day with pasta at Salubre Trattoria and a walk around Dartmouth's campus.

What I Thought of the Race:
1) Needs more organization and support with respect to parking / leaving. Not enough volunteers understood what was going on, and it took forever to leave because no one was directing traffic in the parking lot.
2) The crowd support was decent (great where it was, but definitely dispersed).
3) The electrolytes at the water stops tasted funny.
4) Having a clock at every single mile marker was great.
5) The musical accompaniment would be better if they were more "pump you up" songs (think "Eye of the Tiger" or "Panama" instead of "You Are My Sunshine).
6) Post-race Harpoon IPA is delicious.
7) Post-race traffic is the opposite of delicious.

Things to Note for Next Year:
1) Getting a hotel in White River Junction is ok--it's an easy drive to Quechee Gorge Village.
2) Get dropped off at the start, especially if it's raining. Taking the bus at 8:30 a.m. only to wait from 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. sucked.
3) Realize that the parking lot is a half mile uphill from the finish instead of getting lost and wailing in a hypothermic way.
4) Always pack an extra hat, plastic grocery bags (for shoes) trash bag in your running bag.
5) Make sure your running bag is waterproof.
6) The drive up from Boston takes 2.5 hours (in the sun on a Saturday). The drive back takes about 4 hours (in the rain on a Sunday).

MapMyRun - Run in Chicago May 2010 in Evanston, IL

MapMyRun - Run in Chicago May 2010 in Evanston, IL

Sam, David and I plus friends Ritesh and Laura are running in our next destination marathon this July 4, 2010: Portland, OR. In preparation, I tried to do some running with Sam this afternoon, but my training has been directed towards other endeavors (I'll share what that is in a few months pending some developments). But, this is a somewhat nice lake-view run for those of you in the Northwestern vicinity.

race report: BAA 5K

Date/Time: April 18, 2010, 8:00 a.m.
Distance: 3.1 miles
Net Time: 25:03
Pace: 8:04/mile
Gun Time: 25:46
Age Group: 68/424
Gender: 343/2483
Overall: 1048/4239

Mile 1: 9:11 (8:28)
Mile 2: 17:18 (8:07)
Mile 3: 24:51 (7:33)
Last 0.1: 0:55

5K PR...yay! My previous PR was 25:16 at a UVA charity 5K in 2002 or 2003, at the end of which I wanted to vomit or jump in a pool. This race was a lot different, and I felt much better at the end.

The weather was pretty chilly and rainy that morning, so I ran from my apartment to the start in Copley Square to warm up. Finding the other CRC people, checking my bag (small backpack that I held in my hand on the run over) and jacket, and standing in the port-a-potty line took a while, so I didn't run again or stretch enough before the race actually started. I haven't tried to race a 5K in a while (Turkey Trots in 2008 and 2009 were more "family fun time"), so it felt odd to do so. The first mile felt awkward, but the second and third mile felt better. I'd like to work on my pacing so it's more evenly distributed (e.g., 7:45/7:45/7:45) and break 24:00 by Thanksgiving!

race goals: updated

Super Sunday 10K 52:00--done! (50:38)
Run to the Border Half Marathon 1:54:00--missed (2:11:26). I reacted badly to a caffeinated Gu, so I was miserable the whole race. Plus, I hadn't run more than 7 miles in the two months prior...hoping to regroup for Cohasset on April 11.
Cohasset 10K (revised to 52:00)--missed (53:15)

Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon?
Covered Bridges Half Marathon - (revised to 1:55:00)
Cape Ann 25K 2:17:00
Applefest Half Marathon 1:45:30 <-- not sure if I will do this one BAA Half Marathon 1:45:00

race report: Cohasset 10K

Distance: 6.2 miles

Time: 53:15

Pace: 8:35/mile

Overall: 449/1447

Age Group: 51/242

Temperature: ~60-70 degrees

Mile Splits

1 7:48 (short)

2 8:50 (long)

3 9:04 (demoralized)

4 9:17 (demoralized and in pain)

5 8:28 (starting to pick back up)

6 8:17 (craving food and scooting toward it)

6.2 1:33 (hauling ass)

I fell short of my 52:00 goal, but ended up having a good time in this race anyway. I had stomach cramps again, perhaps because I ate too early and didn't take enough water in the race. Next year, I want to run below 50:00!

first attempt at hill repeats

Weather: Sunny and ~70 degrees
Time: 10:10 a.m.
Location: Newton, MA

Today I ran five hill repeats on Heartbreak Hill (from the bottom to Nobscot Road) in 1:42, 1:41, 1:37, 1:35, and 1:32 plus a 1.5 mile out-and-back run. In the coming weeks, I'll be adding more repeats, increasing the length of the repeats, and aiming to complete them faster.

race goals: updated

Super Sunday 10K 52:00--done! (50:38)
Run to the Border Half Marathon 1:54:00--missed (2:11:26). I reacted badly to a caffeinated Gu, so I was miserable the whole race. Plus, I hadn't run more than 7 miles in the two months prior...hoping to regroup for Cohasset on April 11.
Cohasset 10K (revised to 52:00)
Covered Bridges Half Marathon (revised to 1:55:00)
[removed Newton 10K--same weekend as Covered Bridges]
Cape Ann 25K 2:17:00
Applefest Half Marathon 1:45:30 <-- not sure if I will do this one
BAA Half Marathon 1:45:00

updated 2010 goals--revised

Super Sunday 10K 52:00--done! (50:38)
Run to the Border Half Marathon 1:54:00
Cohasset 10K 50:00
Covered Bridges Half Marathon 1:50:00
Newton 10K 49:45
Cape Ann 25K 2:17:00
Applefest Half Marathon 1:45:30 <-- not sure if I will do this one
BAA Half Marathon 1:45:00

race report: super sunday 10K

Date: February 7, 2010
Temperature: ~20 degrees
Distance: 10K
Time: 50:38
Pace: 8:09/mile
Overall: 324/791
F19-29: 81/230

I PR'ed by almost two minutes (previous record was 52:35 at the 2009 Newton 10K, which was super hilly and had incredibly warm weather). My previous time in this race was 52:50.