Random Thoughts While Not Running

I usually take time off after a marathon until my leg soreness is gone. It will probably be Sunday although I feel 100% better today than yesterday.
My age-graded equivalent time for the Boston Marathon is 3:06:51. I'm sure this is only significant to people that are older and runners 18-40 would dismiss this but I believe this this is more significant than the younger runners think. I did run 15-20 miles 3 times a week in the Summer after my senior year in college and I felt strong all Summer and ran 7:30-8:00 per mile for at least 15 weeks. I wasn't training for anything and did not run any races since there were few to run and I didn't think of myself as a runner.  
If I read the qualifying times correctly, I am 13:07 faster than the qualifying time foe 60 year olds for Boston next year (I'll be 60 in January). I think this is correct. If I'm reading this wrong PLEASE let me know.
My peeps at Fleet Feet made me feel so good yesterday when I walked in for work. They cheered my Boston results and one person even said I inspired him to run a marathon. I felt so bad at the end of the marathon and felt my time was so slow that I hoped that this was not going to be the time I was now going to aim for as a result. I am better than this. I need to run more and get back to where I was when I was runnig doublr digit miles at least 3x's a week.
This is my 2011 goal. I hope to take a step toward that goal in Vermont. 3:39+ would show me I can do this. That is the time I am aiming for now. Then in September who knows?

Boston: Reality but Disappointment

I should have known what the outcome would be but I held out hope that I could rise to the occasion and run a 3:30 something. I knew my average of 31+ miles per week this year was way below what I usually run for my best times in marathon (40-45 mile/week). But I was hopeful.
I started off too fast. 7:35 for the first mile. I tried to cut back but I was carried along by the crowd. I thought I could keep up if I stayed mentally tough. My first 5 miles were about 8:05/mi. Too fast! At mile 7 I thought I would not make 26.2. It lasted until mile 10 when I felt much better. Let me digress.
I ate pizza for my supper the night before. I hadn't had much beer and I didn't drink enough water. I woke up at 3 AM and ate some oatmeal/granola mix for breakfast. I never usually eat. I had a banana at 8 and a Powerbar and by the time the race started I felt full, just like in Miami.
I was OK from mile 10-17 but as the Newton hills piled up I felt my calves weaken. By Heartbreak both calves were cramping. My left continued to cramp every few steps until mile 25 and then it was almost every step.  When I got to the 23 mile marker I had to steel myself because I felt I had little left.
I ran down under the last overpass and up and around the corner and turned to see the finish line. I kept my eyes down just trying to put one foot in front of the other to make the finish. The final straightaway took 4 minutes.
I finished ans as I moved through the line to the metal and food my calves cramped up and I couldn't move. One of the medical folks came over and asked if I was OK. I said I couldn't move. She stayed with me and my calves loosened up so I left for the Back Bay Hotel where the Hartford Track Club had our rooms. I got inside and put one foot on the stairs and my leg locked up again. A women behind me asked if I needed help; I said I couldn't move for the moment but I'd be OK. I finally made it upstairs and after showering I was OK.
On the bus I sat next to Marc who had #191. I said wow that's a low number and I wondered how fast he ran per mile. Ha said 4:45-5/mi. I thought I had misunderstood him. He finished #88 in 2:31. He ran 5:46/mi. I think he had said 5:45/mi after I thought about it. Impressive he ran almost exactly the pace he said he would. He is 36 years old. Marc Robaczynski.
Today my legs are sore and I do have some nerve pain behind my knee. I think it will go away and I am looking forward to Vermont.

Boston

Well I didn't have any beer for about 2 weeks but I had some today because I felt tired and out of sort. I do feel better now. I only ran 3 times this week, I was tired today and wanted to run but felt it was best for the race not to run. Since last Thursday I ran 19.3 miles, I will go to the Expo tomorrow with my daughter Tiffany. My wife's mom had a stroke on Wednesday and so with a heavier heart than usual I will run and celebrate the Boston Marathon. I hope I will qualify for next year but at 59 you just don't know. My right leg gives me a shock every once in awhile; what it is trying to tell me, right now I am trying to ignore. I do understand the new qualifying standards but I have come to think of Boston as my race and it will definitely leave an empty feeling if I can not run next year. Hopefully, my leg will be OK and I will be able to run a qualifying time in Vermont.

A Good Week and a Shoe Decision

I was able to run Monday on the treadmill, 5.4 miles. After taking Tuesday off I was able to run during the day on Wednesday. I ran outside 10.6 miles, 1:28:17, 8:18/mi. in Adidas Boston. My legs feel so good in them that I really want to try to run the marathon in them. Today I ran outside in the Adidas Aegis 5.3 miles. They have more cushioning but don't really seem as right for my feet. They do have more stability which I may not need but they feel good too. After over 27 miles outside this week my legs feel tired tonight but no nerve pain.

Weekend

Well the big news is the UConn men are in the NCAA Final. A very exciting game against Kentucky which they won by 1 point.
Saturday I ran 4 miles before work. Today I just got back from an 11.3 mile run. I felt slow at the beginning and I find if I run on a treadmill that my legs take some time getting use to running outside. I felt good between mile 8-12 but my big toe on my left foot hurt by the time I finished. I'm still uncertain how I will feel in Boston. I hope I have made the right choice in orthotics and footwear.
The Adidas rep Michael was at Fleet Feet (with AJ) and he gave me an official Boston Marathon jacket. It was such a nice surprise!

Happy April Fools Day

I haven't written for awhile, I have been really busy but still focused on Boston. I ran a hard 10 last Sunday and felt great. I feel like finally I have fixed my right leg/back problems. I don't run as much per week that I have in the past but I do feel prepared for Boston. It may be my slowest but I'll give it a 100% and try to be smart in my race strategy. Hopefully, I can break 3:40. That's my goal. I do think I will run better in Vermont in May with Boston behind me. I will go out at Hopkinton with the aim to have fun all the way to Boston. It'll be fun riding the Hartford Track Club bus to and from the race.