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.