Final Week Before Taper

I ran three times this week 7.1, 6.1 and 6.0 miles and I will run again tomorrow. I have felt good; my weekly massage was great and it has helped me stay focused on next weekend. Hopefully, Rohoboth will be my fastest marathon of the year.

Manchester Road Race 2012

I warmed up for 10 minutes, went to the bathroom at DD and walked to the start. I was in the Under 40 this year for the first time. I was determined to go faster than last year, 39:02. There were a lot of young kids in my corral but they 12-16 year olds have been beating me for years in this race.
The gun went off and I kept up with the crowd. As we turned the corner I had to slow some but the pace was good for me. Hit mile one at sub 8 and I felt great. After rolling up the hill I came down fast and kept it up on the flat. I was never out of breath. My clock time was about 36:10 but my chip time was 35:47 beating last year by over 3 minutes. Right calf hurt some so I didn't push too hard at the end.
A very satisfying  run.
I'm ready for Rohoboth!

Thai Massage

Today I'm getting my first Thai massage. This is suppose to lengthen my muscles. It was recommended to me by Abby a massage student at the Easthampton Massage School. I'm excited, I hope that some of my tightness disappears. My official time for OBX was a little lower, 4:07:59.6 still 3rd in age group.

OBX Marathon

Keith picked me up at my Hotel at 5:10 AM and we drove to Mentao HS to catch our buses, mine to the full and Keith to the half. Plenty of potties at start but a little cool for the garbage bag. I wore a singlet with Saucony sleeves and CEP compression socks. I started and my left leg hurt after about 0.5 miles. I ran on the grass as much as possible. There was plenty of grass. Then we hit a trail for about 2.5 miles. Very nice. I met 3 people running the Richmond/OBX double. I also met a couple who ran a marathon/month. They told me of a trail marathon in Seattle area which I am checking out.
After 15 there was little grass to run on so I slowed some. But by mile 20 I was OK as long as I kept my shoulders way back and had my right leg land more toward my center. I was trying to get my right leg to do more work and I was reasonably successful. I had a strong finish with a long up hill over one of the many bridges in OBX. Overall I was happy with a 3/26 finish in age group and a 4:08:21 time, 356/1189 overall.
4 in 4 months; I didn't think I would make to this point but I only have 2 to go to get my second star in the Maniacs.
This was my 15th state.

Outer Banks

I have taken a lot of days off from running since Hartford. But the massage and acupuncture have helped get me back on track. If only the bunion would give me a break. I tapered well this week and I'm ready to run! Hopefully, I'll have a picture to post next week. Here comes number seven. I have never run this many in one year but I feel good and will take it easy.

Since Hartford

I have spent a lot of time resting, getting acupuncture and massage and lately have gone about 30 miles on the elliptical. Since Hartford I have run only 27 miles. My bunion and left IT band have hurt and kept me from running more. I received the Sole orthotic at work on this past Friday and it feels great but does not stop over pronation. I ran 4.6 miles yesterday with the Sole and felt great. Today I ran 4 miles in my old custom orthotics and I still feel fine tonight. I am getting 2 hours of massage tomorrow and needles (acupuncture) Friday and I will decide on the flight to Raleigh whether to switch to the half in the Outer Banks. Today I feel great but I want to run well in the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving, it'll be my 22 or 23 Manchester race and right now I get a card to be near the front. I'm not sure if my body can take a 7th marathon so soon after Hartford.