End of 3rd Shift for Now

After 4 hours of sleep, I ran 7.1 miles in 56:35, 7:58/mi. and the fastest pace was 6:20. I felt good and I don't have to work 3rd shift this week or next. I hope to increase my miles again. I'm feeling really good just a little tired now.

The Official, Unofficial Results

The Manchester Road Race (MRR) had unofficial results posted today. I came in 543 out of a total of12,020, 38th in my age group, in a time of 32:17. It was a 6:44.6/mi. pace, my second fastest MRR ever. Since 2004, when I started receiving a card for the under 35 minute corral my results are:

Year Chip Time Overall Place Age Place

2004 34:47 982 --

2005 32:08 429 25

2006 33:06 593 46

2007 32:53 571 45

2008 34:06 819 78

2009 32:17 543 38

Hopefully, I can keep up the pace for a few more years. 3 years from now I'll be in a new age group. It'll be interesting to see how much faster the 60-64 age group is when a number of fast runners all turn 60.

Fastest Manchester Ever!

It's not official but my 32:23 for 4.787 miles is unofficially my fastest ever. That's a 6:45.7/mi. pace. I thought at one point my heart was going to pound out of my chest. I actually ran down the downhill portion at a 6:05-6:20 pace and on the flat between mile 3 and 4 I was running in the 5:50s. At the end I noticed my timing strip was detached. I hope I get an official time. It's very important to me since it was my fastest in the 19-20 years I have run. It only took about 3-4 seconds to cross the start so the 32:23 is close to my real time. I wonder if my time is not recorded if I'll get into the same corral or if I'll have to re-qualify? That would not be right.

Today when I was in the corral waiting for the start, 3 guys who did not have cards came under the rope in the under 35 minute corral. I work so hard to qualify and then these guys just cut in; it's not fair.

Preparation for Manchester

I got home at 4:30 this morning so I was able to get some sleep before the house stirred.

I just ran 4.1 miles in 33:23, an 8:08/mi. pace. First mile was 8:22 so I didn't run too bad. My faster pace was 6:10 so last night didn't bother my legs as much, although I felt tired. They gave me tonight off so I could be fresh for the race.

Three Days Off :(

I hadn't run since Thursday. I got 5 hours of sleep and then went for a run this morning. 7.1 miles in 59:38, an 8:24/mi. pace. Last week my fastest time during the run was between 5:51 - 6:22. Today it was 7:04. Third shift takes it out of my legs. I needed to average about 150 miles in November and December to get to 2000 for the year. I'm not sure I'm going to reach that goal.

Last Run of the Week *

I was able to run 10.0 miles after it stopped raining. 1:20:18 at a pace of 8:01/mi. I felt good and could have run a lot further but I need to be a bit conservative through the 28th.

There is an interesting article in the NY Times, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/phys-ed-why-exercise-makes-you-less-anxious/?em " Why exercise makes you less anxious"...

Quick Run and Thoughts on Boston Closing

I ran 4.1 miles this afternoon, 32:12, a 7:51/mi. pace. I was experimenting with trying to pick the pace up after a slow 1st mile.

I'm sure people know that Boston registration closed on November 13 for the April 19, 2010 race.

I received their notice that it was filling up and I needed to sign up now! This is the earliest it has ever closed. I have found that this is happening more and more with marathon registration. I find it sad that there will be people who qualified and won't be able to run in Boston. I hope I can keep my streak alive for at least 10 years. Luckily, I qualified in 5 of my 6 marathons this year. Next year I will sign up as soon as I am able to guarantee entry.

Great Day for a Long Run

I went to bed at the same time I would have if I had to get up for work but I had the day off with lots to do including a long run. I got up at 5:30 and worked on home work and ate breakfast. After bringing my 2 grandkids to school I left for a long run at about 8:50. It was a little windy but overall a perfect day to run long. I ended up going 17.1 miles in 2:17:25, an 8:02.2/mi. pace which is the equivalent of a 3:30:28.4 marathon pace. I was running at 6:56/mi pace for my finishing sprint. Needless to say, I felt great the entire run. I feel I need to run a couple of miles before the Manchester Road Race in order to do my best. If I don't warm up I will definitely go slower at the beginning.

One Long Run After Another

So after taking Wednesday and Thursday off because of work and school, I ran 11.0 miles on Friday. The time was 1:30:21, an 8:12.8/mi. pace. Both my ankles were a little sore. When I got home my new Nike Air Max Moto 7's were waiting for me. Saturday I worked 3:30-1 so and I had to take my CCD class at church to the Rite of Reconciliation so I didn't run. I did feel good after eating so I planned a long run again on Sunday.

I had almost 8 hours of sleep/rest Saturday to Sunday and left at about 7:25 to run. This was my 1st early morning run of the month. I do miss running earlier because I feel I get a lot more done in a day. I hit the 1st mile mark @ 8:30 and my new shoes felt great. From mile 5 to the end I ran fartleks. I finished 10.1 miles in 1:20:23, a 7:57.5/mi. pace. I was thrilled with my time! I could turn on the speed for up to a 1/2 mile. I'm writing this after church and I still feel good, my legs are not sore. New shoes always help me. This is about my 8th/9th new pair for the year.

Light Steps Again

I had to take yesterday off. After the long run on Sunday, work took it out of my legs and I planned a longer run today. I was able to go 10.5 miles today in 1:25:15, 8:07.1/mi. There was a lightness in my step which had not been there since DC. Plus I almost finished my homework on my web site project. I have to send it to my instructor today. I hope to have a site where more people will come and I'm looking for more feedback and some guest writers.

Long Run today

I had to take yesterday off. Between work and all the things I had to do I just didn't have the time. I didn't get any additional sleep and my legs felt tired.

Today I was determined to run 14 and I did. 14 miles in 1:55:55, 8:16.8/mi.; not bad 2 weeks after my second marathon. My legs do get more tired getting up at 2:50 each morning. Tomorrow I get to go in late, 6:00. My calf's are really tired now and I did slow down the last 3-4 miles. I need a new pair of shoes.

Although Tiffany's team qualified for Maine, the coach and AD decided they weren't good enough to spend the money to send them. Very nice :-(

Colder and Windy

Yesterday was cool but once I started running it was nice. 7.1 miles in 57:29, 8:05.8/mi. My left ankle hurt throughout the run. I saw Shannon for a massage, I hadn't had one since just before Hartford, and my legs and ankle felt great by the end.

Today I felt motivated early but by the time I ran it was cold and windy. I went slow and my ankle didn't hurt; I really had no motivation. This is the first time in a long time I can say that. I ran 7.4 miles in 1:03:38, 8:35.9/mi. pace. That's the slowest I have run in a long time. I need a goal; my next scheduled marathon is Boston, a long way off.

First Wednesday in November

After work this morning I tried to sleep but my mind was too active and after I laid down for an hour I got up and ran 6.1 miles in 49:03, an 8:02.5/mi. pace. My left ankle hurt for most of the run; my usual Fall problem. Looks like I'll be using a tread mill again soon. I really don't like running on the tread mill but it does help me through the colder weather months. Oh boy running in the gym again.

I need a new pair of shoes to go with what I have and I need a massage. Tomorrow I get the massage and within the week I'm getting a new pair of shoes.

Besides Meb, Joan Benoit Samuelson set the 50+ NYC Marathon record this year. An amazing women who continues to run fabulous times. Read it here, http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-11-01-110667149_x.htm

Sunday/Monday

This is the 2nd time I wrote an entry today. Not sure what happened but it blew off and I'm too tired to write it all again. I didn't run today. Yesterday I ran 10.1 miles in 1:22:47, a 8:11.8/mi. pace. The longest run this early after a marathon.

Big news yesterday: Meb won NYC Marathon. Here is a link to top 100 men and top 25 women,

http://www.marathonguide.com/news/newsviewer.cfm?src=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-11-01-nyc-marathon-live_N.htm

America is back in a big way. Meb beat 2 Kenyans.