Windy!!!

Yes today was windy! I put on the Pearls after working 3:30-11 (+ 2hours of sleep) and ran 6 miles in 48:57, an 8:09.5/mi. pace not bad after my 1st day back yesterday, 4.1 miles in 33:43, an 8:13.4/mi. pace. I only took 4 days off form running the marathon; the least # I usually take off.

Work is good, school is good and running is good.

I can't believe that Marine Corps was my last marathon of the year. I'm really feeling great and I wish I had the time and $ to run another. I hoping things are better in January and I can find one to run.

Some random thoughts on the Marine Corps Marathon: it was a great course and if I had started up closer to the 3:30 pacer I think I would have had less problems with runners in the 1st 6 miles.

I burned 3205 calories total for the race; at least that is what the Garmin 305 recorded. Almost all the pictures they took were worth buying; I purchased 2. I would love to run it again. Right now my top 5 marathons courses, in no particular order are , Vermont City, Boston, Marine Corps, Houston and Hartford followed closely by NY city.

Marine Corps Marathon

This will be brief since I got home this morning at 1:50 AM and got up at 5:20 AM to get ready for work. I'm tired now after being on my feet all day.

I ran a great race. Keith and I started at the 4:15 corral and I had the 3:30 pacer in sight near the finish. I finished strong. Overall I was 1418/20936, 17/619 in my age group with a time of 3:32:19. This was my 6th fastest marathon of the 23 after running Hartford 2 weeks ago which was my 4th fastest. I was in the top 6.8% overall.

My son Keith ran well at first but had not gotten enough sleep since some of his workers failed to show for work and he covered on Friday and Saturday. He came in at 4:24:12 which was in the top 39.6% overall. If he was able to train more he would definitely run much faster.

5 Days to the Marathon

Only 5 days to the Marine Corps Marathon.

Today I felt inspired; I'm not sure why. I ran 5.3 miles in 41:43, a 7:52.3/mi. pace.

I was probably avoiding my homework in programming. I'm not sure how to build my most recent assignment. I woke up @ 1:25 AM and didn't get back to sleep before getting up @ 2:50.

I did lay down this morning after work for 2 hours but I have my homework on my mind.

Maybe I'm too tired but I don't know how to fix it and send it in to be graded. I have all day tomorrow, so hopefully I will be able to straighten it out.

I feel OK, but my son would like to run with me the whole race in Washington, which complicates matters. I think I can run 3:30 something but my son has never broken 4 hours. I ran with him in VT and we came in 4:25+ which hurt my legs. I don't have to work Monday until 6:00 but my legs will be better if I can just run on Sunday. I've talked to Keith and tried to get him to run his pace and if we run on our own well we have a lot of years to to run a marathon together at a pace we are both comfortable with. I think it's best we decide during the marathon at about mile 3-5.

Either way this should be fun for both of us.

Quick Note

My homework is due Wednesday in my programming class and I have a lot to do still.

I took yesterday off; I was tired and getting up this morning at 2:50 put a damper on the run along with the cold rain which fell all day.

Today I ran 7.1 miles in 58:13 a 8:12 pace similar to Saturdays' pace. I now have a heart rate monitor with the Garmin; I haven't used one in about 2 years. My avg. HR is 134 and I always hit a pace of 6:20-6:24 on the run or at least on the past 2 runs. I need to read all the info on the GPS but I won't have the time until Friday.

New Start and Cross Country

My daughter Tiffany runs XC for St. Joseph's College in West Hartford CT. She has taken time off her race time each week for 3.1 miles and today she went under 26 minutes. She ran a great race at the WNEC Invitational. The official time has not been published yet.

I just bought a Garmin 305 because it was 53% off at Amazon. I used it today for the first time. 6 miles in 49:11; back to running after last weeks marathon. My right leg is not totally recovered; I did run well today and I hope to run for an hour tomorrow.

The Garmin 305 is more accurate than the 201 that I had been using and it has a heart rate monitor too with many more functions. It can save and store your runs and has modes for biking and other sports as well. I'll write more about it when I have a little more experience with it.

The 201 I'm giving to my son; he has an older Garmin unit which doesn't always work.

Hartford Marathon

Well I had a GREAT run in Hartford.

I have been busy and tired so I haven't written until now and I won't write much because I need to get to bed.

I came in in 3:30:21, 314th place, 9/89 in my age group. I ran strong right to the end. This is my fastest time since May of 2006 when I set my PR. I had to stop to use the port-a-potty and tie my shoe but at one point I felt I was slacking because I should have run even faster. I had negative splits; 8:05 for 10 miles, 8:00 13.1 and 7:59 for 20 miles. I did slow the last .3 miles which kept me from qualifying for NY (I needed a 3:29:59) but it was a race to remember forever. I had a big grin on my face most of the race because I was enjoying it so much!

Simone came in at 4:18:52, 1218 overall (out of 2224) and 57/142 in her age group. She looked good at the end and I think it was a good time for her. Your 1st marathon will always be remembered. This was a positive start, I hope she keeps going and qualifies for Boston some day.

I don't have any pictures but I did make the TV broadcast, my wife saw me at the start, so I may be able to post it.

Day Before the Race *

Going to the Expo, http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/marathonnew.htm at the XL Center this afternoon with Simone and 2 of my grand kids. It's always fun to see other runners. My bib # is 128 which is a little surprising since I signed up fairly late.

There were a couple of articles about the marathon in the Hartford Courant. You can see them here, http://www.courant.com/sports/other/hc-hartmarathon1009.artoct09,0,2338943.story

This really is a great marathon, somewhat scenic and fairly flat. This produces a lot of Boston qualifiers.

Crazy Week

I've never had a week like this leading up to a marathon, although, I have had some tough weeks both mentally and physically the week before several marathons.

Sunday I got up at 4:50 to help get ready for the start of work on Monday. I ran 6 miles in 51:03, 7.0 mph. I felt tired but the run felt good.

Monday I got up at 3:15 AM and arrived at work for 3:50. I worked 4-10AM and then went home and went to bed for 2 hours. I got up and ran 5 miles in 41:06, 7.3 mph. When I laid down my legs felt like I should take the day off but I got up and felt fresh.

Tuesday I got up at 3:10; both days I had everything ready to go clothes, coffee, "lunch" and breakfast. I spent the first hours unloading a tractor trailer. I went home and laid down for 21/2 hours and got up and ran 8 miles in 1:07, 7.2 mph.

Today my legs were a little tired. I had the day off from work, but I had to take a mid-term online. After that I ran 4 miles in 34:21, 7.0 mph. A women stopped me in her car to ask directions; she spoke through a plastic tube in her neck. Makes me appreciate all that I have including my health.

I'll take Thursday and Friday off and I'm getting a massage tomorrow afternoon. It may rain early before the marathon but the temperatures sound perfect; 55-65 F.

October is Here

Thursday I ran 6.1 miles in 50:47, 7.2 mph. I felt a little tired and was looking forward to a day off on Friday.

Yesterday I worked on my programming homework; it took 5 hours to get through the chapter and do the work. There was a lot to digest and the work took a little more thought than previously.

I have to take a mid-term this week in my web design class. I also start getting up at 3:20 AM for work.

Today was the last run with Simone before the marathon next Saturday. She just wants next Saturday to arrive. I know the feeling. I don't feel nervous for Hartford, I guess I'm more nervous about my work hours.

Simone will run on her own and I suggested that she take it easy in the 1st half. I will ride down with her and start the race with her but will then run ahead. I'll be there at the end to cheer her on.

She is ready and she could run a sub 4 hour, it really comes down to her head. Positive thoughts throughout.