update and tentative racing schedule '09-10

After a lackluster training season and tough past two months, I decided not to run the Steamtown Marathon and to recalibrate my goals for running. I haven't had fun running for a while (at least since late June). When other parts of life took priority over running and I stopped making progress in races, my attitude toward running shifted to a pessimistic, unhealthy one. I had a great time running for fun in San Francisco and in PR'ing at the Around the Cape 25K, but felt pretty bad at the Applefest Half Marathon (ten minutes slower than my PR of 1:55:42 at the Heartbreak Hill Half in May, which was much tougher with regard to course and weather).

I've decided to slowly build back up. Cross-country season is taking up most of my running time and energy, so I'll gradually add in track workouts and long runs again. I am not sure if I will run another marathon, especially since the fall is usually quite hectic until November. The Marine Corps Marathon might be an exception to that; I love that race.

I hope to race the Rock 'n Roll Seattle Half Marathon at the end of the school year, and am also pondering the following:

November 25, 2009: Arlington Turkey Trot
February 2010: Super Sunday 10K
March 21, 2010: New Bedford Half Marathon
May 2010: Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon
June 2010: Mt. Washington Road Race (as a volunteer only!)
June 26, 2010: Rock 'n Roll Seattle Half Marathon
September 2010: Around the Cape 25K
September 2010: Applefest Half Marathon
October 2010: BAA Half Marathon

Shorter Races for the Future?
James Joyce Ramble
Newton 10K
Falmouth Road Race
Cohasset 10K
Apple Harvest Ramble
Army Ten Miler
Cherry Blossom Ten Miler
Battle of Bunker Hill Road Race
Marathon Sports 5 Miler
Jim Kane Sugar Bowl 5 Miler
Run to Remember 5 Miler

Marathons for the Future?
Cape Cod Marathon
Philly Marathon
Baltimore Marathon

James' Final Chicago Marathon Training Run

Yeah, no tapering off...

Climate Change

This morning was almost cold, not muggy. Someone recently suggested to me that the local climate had changed (for the better, in my opinion). Summers in northern Virginia are usually deafeningly humid and HOT.

1.5 miles, 30 minutes

Proud to be indie: First jog of the summer

I drifted to sleep recently as Oliver Sacks told Jon Stewart that rhythm is one of the last thing that goes as one mentally deteriorates (5:17). This thought returned to me during my jog tonight. Near-daily jogs were my routine in spring 2008. They marked progress in life, and created a rhythm syncopated with measures of my caloric intake. I was feeling stressed and alone in an unfamiliar city; the personal challenge of running and diet gave me a sense of accomplishment, spirit and dignity.

The main reason I jogged today was to clear my head, because I've been feeling sluggish lately. I'm worried about my health - having gained weight and visited the snack and coffee bar too often. In my first run since April (?), running reminded me of rhythm, and basic survival.

1 hour, 3 miles.

race plans: summer and fall 2009

6/28 - New Charles River Run?
9/6 - Around Cape Ann 25K?
9/26 - Applefest Half Marathon
10/11 - Steamtown Marathon
11/8 - Seacoast Half Marathon?

race report: newton 10k

Distance: 6.2 miles
Time: 52:35 (note: not chip-timed)
Pace: 8:28/mile
Overall: 116/320
Gender: 32/169
Age Group: 15/64
Temperature: 70-75 degrees

Today I PR'ed by 15 seconds (would have been a few more if it had been chip-timed. I didn't think I could beat my previous PR of 52:50 (which came in February on a flat course)--training with the Heartbreak Hotties must be paying off! I am now tempted to do all my hill training in Newton as well. The hills out there are pretty vicious, and it'd make me improve a lot faster than my typical Cambridge runs.

Seven miles...

...tonight, and I feel AWESOME!

Yay for good runs!