Thursday Marathon

The Nutmeg Marathon this Thursday is my first Thursday marathon. My legs are tired from Boston. I came back too fast after Boston and I need to take it easy in Goodwin Park because I am running the VT City Marathon on the 25th. It is a day off from work, only the second day off since Boston. I had needles Monday with massage on Wednesday and Friday since I am "running" a 5K, the Pineapple run, for charity on Saturday.

118th Boston Marathon

I had a good time riding the Hartford Track Club bus. Sat next to Mitch and met several people who have been on the bus before but I never got a chance to talk to in the past.
The village had tight security and the staging areas had smaller sets of corrals to control people at the start.
I ran as slow as I could the first 4 miles and then I set a good pace. At the 15 mile mark the people were again grilling next to the road ;)
I took the hills in Newton at a good pace; I had carried orange juice/Nuun mixture and since it was hot (my Wave went off @ 11:00) I started drinking it @ mile 10. I drank Gatorade only once and took 5 gels.
After Heartbreak I felt good and pushed a little harder. I realized at 22 that I could break 4:00 if I kept pushing. I finished in 3:59:15. People on my bus came in 3:03 and 3:13 but many had slower times than they expected.
I saw a survivor from the bombing at mile 23 with one high tech leg she looked strong but tired. Several blind runners and other amputees and a few wheel chair racers. It was inspirational with more music than in previous years.

Holy Thursday

The last time I ran the Boston Marathon the day after Easter Sunday, I ran a PR, my first Boston. This time I hope to have an uneventful race and just have fun. It will be very emotional starting on Saturday at the Expo. I hope they do not make it difficult on the runners. I feel the history when I run Boston and I feel a small part of it. There are not a lot of things you can do in life and feel that way with all the stress and emotion of a marathon. You never know but it could be my last Boston even though I have a qualifying time already for next year. I hope to run about 3:52 but I hope to capture the awe I had in my first Boston.

Two Rivers Marathon

First, Mark, the director did a great job! I ran well and came in third in my age group, 60-69. The person finishing just in front of me was second. I was 48th overall  in 3:46:52.
This is a great course, although not closed to traffic, with the last 7 miles a gentle down hill.

Update a Long Time Coming

I worked every day since the marathon until last Saturday so I have been a little tired and busy. Two of my daughters have just gotten engaged and I have had to add more activities to my calendar.
I'm looking forward to the Two Rivers Marathon and I hae tried to increase my mileage. I have been reading the Hansons' training and I realize that I ran much better when I ran 45-55 miles/week.
I tried the Boost Glide but it is a little too soft for me.
I tried the Hoka Conquest and even though it is 4 mm it works for me and I hope to be able to increase my weekly mileage by 10-15 miles. I hope to run a full marathon in them in May.
My Sciatica flared up for about 2.5 weeks but I used heat, a firm seat in the bus, and holding some stretches for 2 minutes to hold it at bay.

Louisiana Marathon

Awesome!
I had a great time, my son and niece Gina ran the half. A little too warm but warm and sunny in January!!!
Had to use the porta potty and I stopped to tie one shoe but the heat got to me at mile 24-25 and I had to walk up one concrete overpass. Still my 3:58:50 was nice and the the Food and Bands and the VIP Marathon Maniac tent, WOW!
I ran with about 6 Maniacs throughout the race and saw some awesome wildlife. Definitely one to run. Only drawback is the concrete roads but you get them throughout the South and you just have to suck it up.
Roll Recovery, http://www.rollrecovery.com/ helped after the race and the past two days. My legs definitely feel better than usual.
New Orleans was amazing too. Red Slipper and Bull Dog just two of the great places we went to to eat and have a brew. Hopefully, I will run it again. Loved Baton Rouge and the River Road back to New Orleans.

Six Days to Go!

Looking forward to the Louisiana Marathon. My legs feel a little tired today so I took the day off. I would like to run between 3:55 and 4:05 in the race and have a lot of fun and just enjoy running in Louisiana. I feel I am prepared with needles last night and a 2 hour massage tomorrow. Looking forward to a long run, my legs usually feel better after the long run (marathon). I'll be running 5 marathons in 5 months with 2 in May 10 days apart. I should be fine, I just want to have fun in 2014 and I hope to run as many marathons as I feel good physically and that fit the family's schedule.

2013 Year in Review

I had a great running year and I am very thankful. I ran the most miles since 2010 and ran 6 marathons after running 8 last year. I qualified for Boston again, it will be my 9th in a row and I ran a faster time, by 5 seconds, in Rehoboth than VT. I earned 2 **s and then 4****s with the Marathon Maniacs. Very happy with this achievement. Orthotics again that are working and a massage every week have been a great help along with Addaday Ultra roller and a stable job situation.
My goals for 2014 is to run sub-3:50 in some marathon and qualify for my 10th Boston in a row.

Thanksgiving and Beyond

I ran a 36:13 (7:38/mi.) in the Manchester RR. My grandson Sam ran his first with my daughters, Kyle and Zach. I felt the best I have felt at the end, not out of breathe at all. Legs felt good. Few miles last week and I am only running 3 days this week before the marathon on Saturday. I'm looking forward to running, 2 hour massage on Wednesday. I bought a new pair of CW-X tights and ran 4.4 miles last night in them. Felt fast but I am wondering if over 26.2 miles it might impact my sciatica. Will run again tonight in them to help me decide. If there is any doubt in my mind I guess I will wait for Baton Rouge.

Last 2 Weeks

I'm running well, doing a lot of fast, shorter miles. Tomorrow, hopefully, about 16 miles BUT I am tapering so I will not push the pace. I should easily be under 40 minutes for the Manchester RR. Great massage from Karla this week! Almost 68 miles total in past 2 weeks.

20 on the Rail Trail

I ran 20.2 on the Rail Trail in Vernon CT this morning. Great day and a great run. Sub 8:00 for the last 6 miles. I am ready for Manchester and with God's help I will break 3:50 in Rohoboth. I'm running well and fast (for me) right now. Massage, new orthotics, needles and Addaday Ultra roller all helping to keep me at the top of my game. Saucony Ride the perfect shoe too. I feel blessed! My running is a blessing from God. I thank him every day. I Love to Run!!!

Onward to Rohoboth

I have run a couple of 10.1 mile runs my second one under 1:24 and I am training for the 77th Manchester RR, http://www.manchesterroadrace.com/ too. I'm feeling great and I hope to run a sub 3:50 and get another card in Manchester.
NY Times had a great article in the Well, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/keep-repeating-this-workout-feels-good/?ref=health about mind over matter. Take it to heart!

Hartford Marathon 2013

It was a great day if a little too warm. I started slow since I had run only 12.2 miles in the orthotics. I felt good at 13.1 (1:57:31) so I kept pushing and thinking about the hill after mile 25. I kept it together until 0.3 miles to go and finished 739/2630, 8/62 in age group in 3:53:19. Cramped up bad after the finish but with a little time I was OK. I had some sciatic pain Thursday/Friday and tight calves but all was OK in the race.

Tapering Once Again

Well my left big toe finally hurt last Thursday. Too many days on the road in a row. I'm taking it easy this week with acupuncture and a double massage.  The Addaday is awesome but not a miracle stick, I could run anywhere from 3:47 to 4:10 in Hartford, it all depends on my left leg. I hope for the faster times and will take it easy as I can for the first half with 3:40 and 3:50 mileage taped to wrist.

Legs Feel Great!

I ran 6 days in a row on the road this week in my new Saucony Ride and my new orthotics. I ran 12.2 miles today and then I resealed my driveway. Next Saturday will probably be an 8-10 miler but I am going to take it easier as I taper. I have painting, sill replacement and deck staining to do in the next 3 weeks.

Two 20's in 2 Weeks

OK it was 2 weeks and a day and I only went 19.4 miles but close enough! The 19.4 miles yesterday felt great! I still feel good tonight.
I put my name in for my ninth Boston in a row today. I was on the computer at 10:02 and I'm just waiting for my confirmation. There shouldn't be a problem but I won't get excited until the confirmation comes in the email.

Great Week in Review

I was able to run 20 on Monday last week and finished on Saturday with a 7.6 mi. run. Legs are feeling good and the temperature has come down for cooler running. Hopefully, this will be an excellent running week for all.
Boston sign-ups start today for those faster than 20 minutes or more under their qualifying times. I have to wait until next Monday to apply. I hope there is room left for me then. 

Low Mileage Week this Past Week

Another humid week and I hope to run long (20???) tomorrow so I ran just over 16 miles last week. Keith and Jalen here visiting and worked 7 days so hoping for big week. Bought Addaday rollers today. They are advertized as ultra rollers and they come closest to a massage of any roller I have tried. 2 thumbs up!

Week in Review

I worked last Sunday so I started my running on Monday. I ran in the NB 870 V3 on Monday and they are fun shoes but they really stress my Achilles. Tuesday and Wednesday lower legs were sore BUT my massage on Wednesday night, THANK YOU Selena!, was great and my legs felt so good that I ran a fast 12.1 late yesterday afternoon on the Rail Trail. I hope to run a 2 miler in about 6-10 days for my long run before Hartford.
I can say enough about how much getting a weekly massage helps me keep running injury free. That and acupuncture are definitely under utilized by the running community.

The Week that Wasn't

I ran 17.1 miles on Sunday in 2:33 and felt good after; so good I wish I had run 20.
Took Monday off and ran 4.2 Tuesday and 3.1 Wednesday. My legs were a wreck after that even with needles Tuesday and a great massage on Wednesday. I think my inserts are worn out, the ones I use every day. My shoes may be beyond use as well. I worn compression socks all day today and my legs feel better. I hope to run 10 tomorrow. Work tomorrow and Sunday.

Training for Hartford Now

I ran 12.2 miles last Sunday in 1:46:10 and felt good, mostly ran on the road with a few miles on a cinder track. I ran Monday and yesterday and had my weekly massage last night. The massage was great! I can't say enough for the students at the Massage School in Easthampton, MA.
I hope to run more than 12 miles Sunday, my second Sunday in a row that I have off from Fleet Feet.

Finally!

Finally I feel like my old self. I ran 6.2 miles yesterday and today and I feel great. The massage last night really helped. Thanks Sarah!
Today is National IPA Day, drink at least one or try a double IPA ;)
I hope to run 8-10 miles on Sunday, I have the day off from Fleet Feet.
New pictures posted from Washington, Light at the end of the Tunnel.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

My wife and I stayed in Sea Tac so we would be close to the airport when we had to leave early this morning. It turned out to be a good move.
We went out Saturday to see North Bend WA which was also a good move since my phone did not work right away on Sunday so we could not use the GPS to find our way.
Annemarie dropped me off to catch the bus for the marathon at the finish line. 1 out of every 4 runners was a Marathon Maniac which was very cool!
The race started at about 3600' and dropped to 1200' at the finish. I wasn't able to run much the week before because of my bunion and the altitude probably did me in at the end but the views were incredible.
I came in at 4:04:17 186 overall 7/14 in my age group  186/395. The pebbles did get to me by mile 21 but a great race, one I would recommend to everyone! Hopefully not too many people read this so I can sign up again next year. The limit is 500 runners.

Julie's First Marathon Training Officially Underway

My daughter Julie signed up for the Hartford Marathon in October. My son Keith and I are going to run with her. Yesterday we kicked off her training. I gave her a 15 week plan to follow and we ran an hour on the Rail Trail in Vernon. 6.0 miles in 1:02:07. I need to get her down to about a 4:20 marathon pace or my left ankle will hurt during the run. But for a first day it was a good start. Because of work Julie had not run for a week.
3 weeks to the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon. I'm excited! 12.1 miles last Saturday on Rail Trail, last miles 7:55/mi. Last 5 miles gentle down hill.

Rainy Thursday

Well in all fairness it could have been rainy Monday, Tuesday, etc. (except Wednesday). I had to take yesterday off because I did not have enough time to run unless I got up at 4:30 AM. I was laying in bed thinking about it but I had a long day ahead and it just wasn't hot enough. My Grandson Sam got 3 awards at the after school program and then I raced off to get a massage. Today's 5.3 miles felt great but I need to run long on Saturday so I did not push the mileage today. Feeling good but my right knee is not tracking over my foot, so i am working on stretching right hip/quad.
Excited about Washington and the Tunnel Marathon.

Back at it!

I had a good week last week. Ran 23.3 miles with a 7.1 mile run on Saturday in 1:00:07. I am back to working in the garden, running, with acupuncture and massage weekly. I hope to increase my miles this week and do a long trail run.

The 25th Keybank Vermont City Marathon

It was another great year for the Vermont Marathon. My kids ran the 1/2 relay once again; another boy friend and a sub but they all finished strong!
The weather was GREAT! Rainy and cold. I am getting older and I do not like to be too hot. Winter marathons seem best for me now. So that said, I felt great at the beginning. I had a pace band for 8:40 and 8:50 per mile and I knew one of the pacers for the 8:45/mile. I wanted to run below my pace for 3-5 miles and the hit it. At mile 7 I was on the 8:50 pace and held it to the end. I kept telling myself BOSTON!!! I felt like I should have qualified in Boston and I was determined to do it here, MY MOST FAVORITE MARATHON! The rain, puddles, pacers and other runners just spurred me on. A 3:51:09 should get me in to Boston, my qualifying time is 3:55. It will be my ninth in a row. I can not think of not running Boston. My house looks like a little kids room with all the posters!
6 gels and 3 salt tablets; Gator Aide 3 times too. I feel like I can run even faster since my bunion on my left foot did not hurt for the first time in 11 marathons.

Heading to Vermont For my Eighth Vermont City Marathon

I am very happy with the cool weather. I need to run faster than I have run in about 17 months. My goal is 3:50. If I didn't have to use the porta potty 3 times in Boston I would have come close to 3:53 so it isn't a huge stretch and I do have my PR here in Vermont.
I want to have fun and do the best I can. Heady Topper after the race.

Two Weeks to the KeyBank VT City Marathon

I only took 4 days off after Boston. I felt like I did not run fast enough. I know if my left ankle does not limit me I can run a sub 3:50 marathon. I have been running trail and cinder track workouts and I am running faster again. 5 or 6 days a week since I am still working 6-7 days a week, running and trying to get the garden going. I hope the weather and my digestion are in my favor in VT.

Boston

What can I say that hasn't been said the past few days?
I was in the finishing area when the bombs went off. I ran great from Heartbreak hill I didn't realize I was over it until I saw the road and knew. The Hill was nothing this year. Not always the case.
I was running strong and passing a lot of people until 25. I toughed it out until the turn in front of the Citgo sign. The last 4/10s were tough.
I was stiff after the finish. Water. Wrap. METAL! At the food I got a Cookies Powerbar and then POW! We all turned and saw the smoke. All were quiet. Then the second bomb. Smoke and flames. Lots of Volunteers and First Responders running to the smoke. We all knew they were bombs. The Volunteers and First Responders were great. Calm and many running to the smoke. They kept us moving.
Two of my daughters, Julie and Kelly, and two of my grandkids, Sam and Katie, were there to see me run. Kelly and Sam were across from the explosions.
I went to my phone but I couldn't get a call out. No dial tone. I was really worried. God worries about your soul... I texted them and finally got a text back from Kelly.
It was an hour until I hugged them all. It was like I held my breathe. I had to use the porta potties 3 times in the race and finished in 3:56:34. 3 times, set a PR for porta pottie use and gels (9).
I have to run another race to qualify.
I hope I can run 9 in a row. Stay tuned ;)

Training Went Well; Boston in 3 Days

My training was spot on and my tapper has been good too. I have run 3 times this week and I may/may not run today. Boston Expo tomorrow. I had an excellent massage from Sarah and a great massage from Abby on Wednesday. Some of my problems have melted away since. I feel truly blessed to be running Boston for the eighth time in a row and I hope this is only the next step in continuing to run it in the future.

Less than a Month to Boston

I ran 20 miles Friday at 8:42/mi., still below the 3:45 I need to run a 8:45 in Boston. I have run a 14, 16 and 20 miler in preparation and I feel good except for a stiff neck. I will need to stay mentally tough in Boston.

40.2 Miles This Week

Finally ran over 40 for the week with a 16.1 mile run yesterday and 3.4 miles today. My hip popped out of place on Thursday morning but it hasn't stopped me from running. I'm having it worked on and if I get a more experienced massage therapist this week they may be able to pop it back.

No Long Run This Past Week

I had to work over time at work this week so my short day turned long. I did run 6 days in a row again and I do feel good so , hopefully, I will get to run long the end of this week. I need at least a 15 miler. I am foam rolling 2-3 X's per day and using the trigger point tools more and I'm within 100 miles of wearing out my present shoes. It has turned cold and windy today. I hope it warms up again soon.

Sunday Off

Right now I take Sunday as my only day off. I almost ran this Sunday since I didn't have to work at Fleet Feet, but I decided I needed a day off. I have felt better running this week and need a long run on Friday.

4 Miles after Nor'easter

Yes I do have the gear to run in snow and wind thanks to Fleet Feet Hartford and Nike. I ran only 4 miles and had one older guy say "bless you" and one younger guy say " what the hell". No cars came close and I ran 32.3 miles for the week. I had hoped for 38 but the snow killed the last 2 days. Next week I'll run more!

Snow Friday

I had to run inside on the tread mill today after work since the roads seem dangerous. I could only manage to run 7.0 miles in 1:00:31. 28+ miles so far this week but I'm not sure what the storm will bring as far as my ability to run outside tomorrow. Run more!

Doubles

In order to run 40 or more miles a week I felt I needed to run twice a day. I run at lunch, 10-11 and then after work. However, between my 2 hour massage last night and all the miles I have run the past 3 weeks I am only running 6+ miles per day. Now we are suppose to get 20-30 inches of snow in the next 2 days. I'm not sure how much I am going to be able to run this week.

Massage is Essential

I received a massage last night from someone I know, not always the case at the school, and felt great today on my 10.4 mile run. So far 26.5 miles for the week. 118.4 miles for the month. I feel great. I am running 6/7 days and hope to run 7/7 this week.
I hope to get 3 massages each month from one of the students when they get licensed and still go to the school 3 weeks out of 4. I always feel good and never get an injury when I get regular massages. Of course the cost will matter but I hope to have the money.

I Ran Every day This Week

30.5 miles total for the week, with speed work 2 days. Today I ran 5.3 miles with the last mile and hald at about 7:35/mi. Ankle bothered me some but overall I felt great!

Strength Training

I ran 5 days in a row; my plan is to run at least 6/7 days a week. I am doing more strength training and more balance exercises in the hope that I will recover faster and run better for Boston. 7.1 miles yesterday in 1:01.

Running More

Although I loved running a marathon a month, it did not allow me to run as much as I wanted to run.
Since Sunday I have only taken 1 day off and I hope to run tomorrow and run long at least once a week to prepare for Boston. I would love to run a 3:49 in Boston and that is my goal.
I had a great massage last night at the Massage School in Easthampton Ma but I may have pulled a muscle today. Hope not but I don't feel right. I may not do a lot tomorrow.

Mississippi Blues and Beyond

It was a cool day for the race, 34-50 degrees F. I wore a light Ice Breaker shirt (150) and compression shorts and socks. I ran as slow as I could for 5 miles and held back for 12 miles. Everything was fine! I picked it up at mile 16 and pushed at mile 18. But I ran out of sugar (even though I took 7 Gu's) by mile 24.
I finished 4:12:13 and felt good with my calves burning. Blues CDs, Red beans and rice, great metal and shirt. Rolling hills did make it a tough marathon.
Went to Vicksburg the next day and Bravo! for supper. Great day after the marathon. Mississippi gets 2 thumbs up!!!
New Orleans with my niece Gina, Keith, Annemarie and I was great too.
Big plans for southern marathons next year.
8.1 miles yesterday and feeling OK today.

Mississippi Blues Saturday

Well it was in the teens while running again today. 3.3 miles yesterday and 3.1 today. I'll take tomorrow off for the marathon which starts at 7 AM Saturday. We are staying less than a half a mile from the start so it should be a good warm-up and we won't be in a rush.
Legs are tired tonight; I hope they feel good tomorrow. No knee pain since Rehoboth.

Nine Days to Mississippi

I took a few days off since I was on my feet all day. Sunday I ran 12 miles on the rail trail and 6.2 miles on Christmas on the road. I felt great with no knee pain. PT, acupuncture and massage are all helping but it feels like some nerve pain in my left leg.
Still, all in all, I feel good and I'm ready to run a better marathon. I will take it slow at first without running too slow which seems to aggravate my pain.

Since Rehoboth

I have received 2 massages, acupuncture twice, seen an orthopedic ( my knees are as good as a 20 year old, no arthritis) and I'm now in PT to try and fix my left leg.
I ran 10.8 miles last Saturday, one week after the marathon in Saucony Hurricanes with Sole inserts. No knee pain. I have since run 3.6 and 4.1 miles since with no knee pain. Left IT band still too tight but I am feeling better about my chances of running better in Mississippi.

Rehoboth Beach Aftermath

It started well. A cool, cloudy day. I felt good at first but my knee hurt by mile 6. It went downhill after that. I felt like I couldn't run by mile 12. At 16 I started walking as much as running and then mostly walked from 19 on. I did run over the finish ;)
I really need to find some combination which will not effect my left knee. When I am not running it doesn't hurt at all.
After I received advice from one of the massage therapists and he said what I knew that it was where my IT band connected to the knee.
I see an orthopedic tomorrow and hopefully he my have a suggestion. If not I am going back to my podiatrist.

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.

Tomorrow the Hartford Marathon

Well this is my sixth marathon this year and second in three weeks. My sciatica has flared up and so I have rested a lot this week after 24.8 miles last week. Legs are a little tired and I would like to increase my mileage between marathons so I need a different strategy for the rest of the year. I hope for healthful results tomorrow, under 4:00 would be nice.

Rochester Marathon

Nick and I had a blast in Rochester. Nice small city and a lot to do. Went to church at St. Mary's Catholic Church, wonderful music.
The start of the marathon was low key and one small hill with a lot of down at first. Then rolling hills. My bunion started to hurt and then we reached the trail next to the Erie Canal. This was great my speed picked up and I felt much better. It lasted until mile 15 and then I was able to run on the grass next to the bike trail for a lot of the race until about mile 23+. My feet held up and I pushed the last 3 miles. I came in 204/564, 3/7 in age group at 9.00/mi. pace. 3:55:54 my fastest marathon this year. My feet were fine after the race and they feel good today. I will definitely come back to Rochester, it is now in my top 5 marathons.

8 Days Until Rochester Marathon

I've had to take a few days off since my legs were too tight. The Saucony Ride 5 do compress too much and I'm trying to decide on the Glycerin vs. Vomero. Overall I feel good. I just signed up for the Rehoboth Marathon December 8 this morning so I am set to run a marathon a moth through January.

Santa Rosa

The Santa Rosa area was great! My wife and I had fun the whole weekend.  We saw the Redwoods at Armstrong Redwood State Reserve, seals, sea lions, Fort Ross, the Golden Gate Bridge (we traveled across it twice) Burbanks' gardens and Charles Schultzs' figures in Santa Rosa. The Courtyard by Marriott was very nice.  My race results were: 4:05:55, 10/60 in my age group 357 overall 62.3% age grade. I really wish
I could have kept my pace at 8:34/mi. but I just couldn't sustain it. By mile 20 I was struggling.
I am trying to run 6 marathon in 6 months to get another star in the Marathon Maniacs. 1 down and 5 to go.

10 Days Until Santa Rosa

I feel OK and ran 10 miles with my son and oldest daughter on Sunday. Running short now trying to rest and recover. I had my Wednesday massage and felt great. I'm excited and hoping for no aches or pains in California. My modest goal is just a little faster than 4:00.

Run More!

I'm taking the advice of the Marathon Junkie and running more.
Last Saturday I ran a 20 miler on the Rail Trail starting in Vernon (CT). Yesterday I ran the John and Jessie Kelley road race. It was the 50th running of the 11.6 mile race. I came in at 1:33:33, 8:04/mi. and 4th in my Age Group, 60-69. The 3rd place finisher beat me by 35 seconds. I was 140/545 finishers. Julie was 33rd in her age group 408/545 in 2:01:35.
I have been running well lately and today I ran with Nick from Fleet Feet and Brian Nelson, who uses an Elliptigo for cross training. Another hot, humid day. I saw Deb and Shannon who I worked at FF.

Back to Normal Temperatures

The heat finally got to me last week and this was my down week, every 4 weeks I am going to cut back, so I took Friday and Saturday off. Today I ran with my daughter Julie on the Rail Trail, 10.3 miles.
I got the Garmin 210 last week, so far it the watch is good but the interface to download my runs has not worked. My 305 was easier to use and came with more instructions. Although I like the watch itself better I wish my battery hadn't died.
Someone I know through Fleet Feet came in Saturday and I asked if he had run the Rail Trail since I saw him running last week. He said it wasn't steep enough since he was training for the Vermont 50. He Gareth runs 30 on Saturday and 20 on Sunday and has for the past 4 weeks to get ready for the race. Wow!
I just signed up for the Rochester Marathon in September so I will be running 4 marathons in 4 months. Never done it before and another Maniac I work with at Fleet Feet wants me to run 6 in 6 months so...

A Double on a Hot Day

Ran 4 miles at lunch and 4 miles after work. I love the heat but need to drink a lot more water. The Saucony Ride 5 may be the best shoe I have ever owned. My legs actually feel better after running in them.

July 2012

The past two Julys have not been kind. I am doing four things different this year:
Massage every week,
Acupuncture every other week,
Cushy shoes, Brooks Glycerin and Saucony Ride (8 mm), and
Trail running every week.
Last week almost half of my runs were on trails. I had to take two days off this week because of work, 12 hours on Sunday.
The humidity is down right now and I can even run after work, 5.2 miles today at 5 o'clock.

The End of June

I had a very productive week last week. The Fairfield Half went well, third in my age group in 1:49:03. I ran another 13 on the Rail Trail Friday for a total of 42.7 miles for the week. I feel strong right now.

It's Still 95 Degrees!!!

I ran 4 miles at lunch, 4.1 miles in 34:04, 3:19/mi. It was 88 F. I felt good but needed more to drink.
On the weekend I ran 12 miles on the Vernon Rail Trail (Saturday) and 8.7 miles on Father's Day.
I'm feeling good; getting a massage once a week and Acupuncture once every two weeks.

My Go to Shoe

I didn't have to work this morning so I got to run. I really miss Saturday morning runs. The BIG NEWS though is that I ran in the new Saucony Progrid Ride 5. What a great shoe! Very responsive midsole. Bunion, Sciatica and Achilles all OK. Fits orthotics. I run up this long upgrade on one of my favorite routes and I ran about 7:50/mi. up it today. First time that fast in over 2 years. My legs feel great still. I will run in them in my next half at the end of the month and my next full. I feel like 3:40 is possible again.

KBVCM 2012

I had hoped to run a 3:49:59 but it was just too hot and humid. I took 2 salt capsules (mi 7 and 13) and 7 gels the last 2 with caffeine. I just don't run as well in the heat. I settled for breaking 4 hours which I thought was doable after 15 miles. I had to push myself the last 4+ miles to do it so I'm am pleased with my run.
I got to run with/see Keith Jr., Julie, and Tiffany and Kyle while running.
My final numbers3:59:38, 14/57 age group and 948/2421 overall. 6.6 mph; considering my top speed in training is usually 7.1 short distances and 6.8 long, this is about right for me. I nearly had negative splits: 1:57:11 first half and 2:02:28 second half.  It was fun and I do love it there in Burlington. Keith Jr. is talking about doing the full next year with both of us under 4 hours.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mothers who find time to run too, God bless you!

My daughter Julie gets her Masters today in Special Ed and continues to run; she hopes to become a Half Fanatic in June.

I took off Tuesday as well last week and then ran 6.2 and 4.2 on Wednesday and Thursday with Friday off. Trail running on Saturday for a total of 32.7 miles last week.

10 miles today in 1:27:53; felt good but can I sustain this for 26.2? It will have to be cooler than the past few years to do it. I'm looking at sub 4 hours as a goal and I will try to go as fast as I can the last 6 miles.

Another Long Run

I took Friday and Saturday off to run long yesterday.
I ran 19 miles in 2:48:07; my right knee did not bother me. In fact, nothing bothered me on the run. I went to get a massage 2 hours after the run and I feel good today. I have now received a massage for the past six weeks and it is really helping. I have also lost a couple of pounds which helps too. Green Superfeet work OK in the Glycerin; my bunion was OK.

Saucony Cortana

I ordered the Cortana but I had originally thought they were a 8 mm drop not a 4. Even though my right knee seemed tight I ran 10.5 miles after work on Wednesday.That didn't help the knee but I felt good, otherwise, after the run. Yesterday I received the Saucony Cortana and I put them on right away. Very cushy toe box. I wore them around Fleet Feet most of the day and then took them off to rest the legs and shoes.
Ran 4.4 mile in them after work and my knee felt better; these shoes stress my legs different than the Brooks Glycerin, they are lighter and more firm than what I am use to wearing. I really like them.

Tightness in Right Knee

I think it is just tired and over worked. It felt OK today but I was tired this afternoon (up since 3AM).
Ran 4.1 with green Superfeet and felt OK but knee is tight now. Iced it last night and will do the same tonight.
I hope the Superfeet work because they are a lot lighter than my custom orthotics. I wore them in Rehoboth.

Go Long

After running a quick (8:23/mi) 4.1 on Friday I took yesterday off to run long today. I planned to run 10-14 miles depending on how I felt on the run. I started out a little tired, being on my feet and not eating lunch at FF on Saturday's takes it out of me. I can't wait for the day when I can run long early Saturday morning again, but it is probably years away. The wind was tough at times today coming from the west and the north. 13.1 in 1:56:18, 8:52/mi. pace. A disappointing pace but I did run faster last week and I will use this run to get faster for Vermont.

Thursday April 26, 2012

Five minutes before I was to clock out today a women came into FF with shoes we had sold her. They weren't working out. I found out in an hour and twenty minutes I waited on her that two different people had sold her orthotics and suggested she get a pair of shoes that her orthotic fit rather than cutting down the orthotic. Each orthotic cost $450 and one of these people were doing her an injustice. Unfortunately, I see this often. We took the shoes back and sold (traded) her the shoes the last doctor told her to buy. Orthotics are not an exact science but it seems difficult for people to match up the person with the correct orthotic.

I ran 5.2 slow miles today. I need to push my mileage up without injury if I am to run Boston for the eight time in a row.

Faster and Shorter

4.1 miles today in 34:27, 8:24/mi. My legs are tired and I will probably take tomorrow off. But 3 days in a row I ran faster and today I did it in Brooks Glycerin. I'm still not sure if I could run this fast for a full marathon, I think the weight of the shoes would do me in. But they are great training shoes and my legs actually feel better tonight after running.

Faster with Great Form

I ran 6.1 miles today faster than yesterday in the Nike Pegasus. 6.1 in 51:48, 8:29/mi.
I ordered the Sacony Cortana today. I love the 8mm offset and I hope this will be the perfect shoe for me.
I hope to step up my training this week and hit some 40+ miles before the KeyBank Vermont Marathon.

First Day Back Running after Boston

I had tested running in the Brooks Revenna before Boston because I love the feel of the shoe and I thought that a Guidance shoe just might work for me. I had too many pains in my legs and I thought I would need to used a lower arch than my custom orthotic provided.
To day I ran 8.1 miles in 1:09:06 in the Revenna with the green Superfeet. I've been back for 20 minutes and so far everything seems OK. I hope I can run Vermont in the Revenna since it is lighter and gives my bunion even more cushioning than the Brooks Glycerin.
I posted pictures of my daughters finishing the Danbury (CT) half April 1.

Official Boston Numbers

I just don't run enough miles per week but I will try to stay in marathon shape for Vermont.
Here are the numbers from the Boston Marathon:


Congratulations on Finishing the
116th Boston Marathon!

Keith E Almeida
Net Time	4:18:10
Overall	12089/21554
In Gender	7927/12588
In Division	191/685

My Seventh Boston Marathon in a Row

Yes this was my 7th Boston Marathon. It was WICKED HOT!
I kept to my plan and did not run faster than 8:30/mi. I took 5 GUs, 3 salt capsules (mi. 5, 11, 19) and 1/2 a bag of Sports Beans. Also I took bananas and oranges from spectators. But the best thing was the spray tunnels at the Fire Stations and the ICE that wonderful spectators gave me. They were lifesavers!!!
I ran a 4:18:10 and if I hadn't had such a miserable Hyannis Marathon I would say it was all the heat but...
I got to see a lot in the third wave. People were walking before Wellesley and that was not good. The people walking were 3 and 4 abreast which was not good for running but I'm sure they were too tired to think.
I saw a Dana Farber pair, each person running is running for someone who has cancer and they wait for their runner at mile 25. It was a wonderful moment to watch and it gave me chills, which was great for such a hot day.
After I finished a women came up to me and said she had been behind me for a long time and that I had run a great race. That meant a lot.
I ride to the marathon on the Hartford Track bus; most of the runners are younger and faster and don't know what it takes to keep running in their 60s. I was talking to the bus driver before the race and after we got back to Manchester to drive home he said to me as I got off the bus if I finished. I said yes in 4:18:10 and he said that was good. I said yes it was.
I'm not sure if the future will be kind and I will be able to run Boston again but I'm going to try to keep my streak alive.

Danbury Half and Beyond

The Danbury 1/2 was fun; hilly and scenic and I did push myself at times with a sprint at the end. Felt good in 1:47:12. Kyle and Kelly had PRs and everyone had a good time.
Today I ran a 6.1 and felt good.
Tonight I had a massage at the Easthampton Massage School which was great; I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, Becky is to be commended.
Clearly, I need to get a massage at least twice a month. I feel better already; my legs have been too tight for too long.

Trail Running Last 2 Days

Short trail runs past 2 days. Ankles a little tight so worked with Trigger Point rollers and ball and block to release tension. Ready for the Stratton Faxon Greater Danbury Road Race tomorrow. Should be fun running with my 3 daughters, Julie, Kelly and Tiffany.

I Just Don't Run Enough

I just don't seem to have the time to run as much as I want/need to run. I know you're thinking that you make the time and I can too. Maybe I don't always have the energy or something hurts but I feel I need 30+ miles every week and I'm not there right now.
I ran 6.1 miles yesterday in the Nike Pegasus and 6.1 miles today in Brooks Glycerin. Results: 51:11, 8:23/mi. yesterday and 51:33, 8:26/mi. today. 2 good days but busy days too.
Tomorrow I hope to run in the morning but I work at Fleet Feet 9:45 - 6 so not a lot of time plus 21.2 so far this week with Danbury 1/2 on Sunday.
I think I can run 1500 miles+ for the year which will be an increase over last year. Running in the Brooks Glycerin helps my Achilles and the sciatica but tough on runs longer than 10 miles.

Update for Danbury and Boston

I had to take 2 days off last week, busy doing other things and visiting with old friends. 11 miles on Thursday and 3 on Friday, road and trail. Took Saturday off to run the Rails and Trails in Vernon CT on Sunday, a day off from work. The Rails http://www.vernonct.com/trails.htm trails from Church St. in Vernon were up hill for at least 4.5 miles (I had to turnaround, Achilles and hamstring on right leg hurt) which was beautiful and beat my body. I ran 9 miles total which was a good introduction to the rail trail for me. It was a beautiful run and will be shaded in Summer. I saw 2 people I knew and since the weather was iffy, few people were running/hiking/cycling.
I feel good for Danbury but I still don't feel fast enough for Boston.

Day After The Half

Everyone reported they are sore. But the good thing is that they will not have to run too long for the next half on April 1.
I ran 5.2 miles today; my legs were tight before I started but running in the Brooks Glycerin seems to be good for my legs on the road. On the treadmill the Glycerin provide too much support and my left ankle hurt. They work well for my right Achilles and I do love running on the road. Tomorrow to keep mixing it up I;ll try the trails again  before supper with my best friend from HS; I haven't seen him in 8 months.
Not sure if this will be a 40 week; I'll try to go as far as I can.
Julie did a track workout with her son and daughter; maybe we will all run the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving ;)

A Quick Trail Run

Had to run a quick one through the park this morning before work, 3.2 miles in my Cascadia's.
But my kids were running the 1/2 at the Yuengling Shamrock today.
Keith 1:58:29, Kelly 2:10:44, and Tiffany 2:18:49. Tiffany ran with her boyfriend, Kyle, 2:18:48 (very sweet Tiff!) and Kelly ran with a friend so only Keith ran his pace. But I'm sure all ran with one another part of the course.
Congratulations to all!!! Kelly and Kyle's first half's but they hope to be Half Fanatics by June.

Happy St. Paddy's Day: First Run in Nike Pegasus 28

I use to love to run in Nike's and I try the Pegasus 28 a few weeks ago and thought they might work best with my orthotics and my bunion. I ran 12.2 miles this morning in 1:42:44 for a total of 46.6 miles for the week. I haven't run that far in a week since 2010 and I feel great!
I have stopped drinking coffee for the past week and have gone to bead earlier and slept longer.
I feel blessed that I can finally run again like I did 2 years ago.

Trail Running

I woke up this morning with the morning off from work. I decided to run through the park next door in my new Brooks Cascadia trail shoes. 6.2 miles in 57:31. I felt good and have run 30.3 miles already this week. My feet are feeling great! It's about time. It has been almost 2 years since I have felt so good. I hope it continues and that I have time to get faster for Boston.

No Heel Pain!

I ran 8:26/mi. for 4.1 miles with no heel pain in an old pair of Brooks Ghost. The Glycerin helped me get over the Achilles problems but I do need a lighter shoe and I believe this confirms it.
I have 4 weeks to find my shoe.

Happy Thirteenth Birthday to my Grandson Sam

We celebrated yesterday as a family. He had a great day today at school.
Yesterday I ran 20 miles in 2:59:56. My left ankle hurt for almost 16 miles. The Brooks Glycerin are too heavy to run long distance, at least for me. I am looking for a new shoe, I will try the Nike Pegasus on Saturday. I will run the Danbury 1/2 in whatever shoe I think is better. If it works I will run Boston in that shoe. Otherwise, I'm still looking.
Is this weather great or what!!!

20 Miles?

3 miles today, tapering for Sunday when I hope I will feel fresh and be able to run 20 miles.
I have changed a few things since Hyannis and my legs are feeling much better for it.
I'll write Sunday, hopefully, I'll feel great after my run. I ordered Nike Pegasus to try out to run Boston. They are 2 oz. less than the Brooks Glycerin and I like the feel. They are probably not a high mileage shoe but will work for at least 200 miles for me.

Preparing for Boston

I ran 3 miles last Friday and took the weekend off because of work and my thinking was I should not push it since I ran the marathon a week ago.
This week I have run 3 strong runs in 4 days; 6.7, 6.0 and 6.5. I plan to run tomorrow before work and I will run a 20 miler on Sunday. I got new things to try for energy for the long run, all of them w/o caffeine since I felt the caffeine may have lead to my poor performance in the marathon.
I have cut back to only one cup of coffee per day this week and I have felt better.
April 1 is the Danbury 1/2 with my 3 daughters.
We are now making arrangements for our third 1/2 relay for Vermont. Hopefully, all will be secure by this time next week.

Back to Running

It's quick but I ran the marathon slow enough to make it a training run so I ran 4 miles today in 36:34. I feel fine and my digestion continues to improve. I hope to lose a little weight for Boston and run a 3:44+. Goals are good and it is doable!

Hyannis Marathon

First let me say after I read what people said at Marathonguide.com, I didn't have a great feeling about the race.
BUT everything they criticized was great. Maybe the organizers read the comments too and decided to fix everything. The shirt, timing, metal, drinks ( plenty for all runners), and food after the race were wonderful. I especially liked the soup, tomato basil and chicken noodle. Well done Hyannis!!!
Now for my race. Let me preface that I had a problem with the bunion on my left foot before the race, weeks before. So 2 days before we left for the race I got a tight wrap for my left foot. I wore it the day before when I had soup and salad for lunch and ww pasta for supper. I drank at least 80 oz of water and woke with a full stomach and not feeling like myself.
The start was fine and my 1st 1/2 was 1:47 and I felt good until mile 15. By mile 18 I felt like I was going to puke. At 20 I had to walk, I felt light headed and I could take the last 2 gels. I walked/ran until the about 25.2 mark and then ran to the finish with both legs cramping. 4:18:44, 6/13 60-69M, 246/402. Pros/Cons not feeling stiff today and I made the race into a long training run for Boston; wish I could have run without feeling sick had a time in the 4:40s.
Today I had acupuncture and I talked to Dr. Mark about my race. I showed him where the band had been and how I was still wearing it and my digestion was all messed up. He said it was over the major meridian for the stomach and all the digestive organs and the liver. After acupuncture I feel 100% better. Live and learn even at 60 ;) 
My friend Nick Platsis came in 82th, 3:38:32. Way to go Nick!

Less than a Week to Go

I ran 3 days in a row and on Saturday when I was tied my shoe to go to work the top of my right foot hurt. 16.7 miles W-F and 31.7 miles for the week. Today I walked about 2 hours with my dog, Bridget and my foot feels OK but my feet hurt going into marathon season. Any advice???
I'm thinking next year I may run more 1/2s; I guess at 60 and the way I live my life 1/2s may be a better way to go. I'll still run 1-2 full marathons but I will not push myself to 4-6 unless I feel great, which I haven't since I stopped seeing Shannon for weekly massages. When I got laid off and knew I wouldn't see Shannon anymore I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up my marathons. I had hoped I could still see her but it wasn't possible she needed more money than I could afford; Shannon was a blessing which I didn't deserve. NERAC was a family and when Kevin killed it he killed a lot more than just jobs. I can still run marathons but it is a lot more difficult. A job is a job. Running is life. He took my pain-free running life from me. I hope he enjoys his millions as much as I enjoyed my marathons; then it would be OK.

KeyBank Vermont City Marathon 1/2 Relays

First let me say I finished last week with a 4 and a 4.1 mile run with an off day on Saturday. 15 on Sunday, a very cold, windy day has made me take 2 days off.
But today my family found out we only received 2 relays for Vermont. Now this might sound like a lot and maybe a bit gluttonous but we needed 3. 5 of my co-workers at Fleet Feet are running the full and one of my friends/co-workers was running with my family in the 1/2 relays. I will try to get another relay but next year we will make a decision as a family where we will go to carry on our running tradition and hopefully, soon, all run a marathon together. The KeyBank Vermont City is my favorite marathon and has helped get my 4 kids and grandkids into running and I tell everyone who comes into our store in West Hartford how much I love it. Maybe I have told too many people to the point that we will be shut out and disappoint some family members. Unfortunately, everyone is not ready to run the full. Maybe Buffalo would be a better choice for the family; they have a 1/2 marathon and a 4-person relay. I know I don't have a lot of followers but have any of you run Buffalo? 

Update on Training for Hyannis

I finished January with a total of 106.5 miles run. My Achilles, bunion and sciatica all play a part in fewer miles.
I finished last week with totals of 25.7 mi. run, 12 mi. elliptical and 6200 m rowed. I haven't felt great for about 5 days so those numbers are good. After taking Sunday off, I ran 5.6 mi. @ 8:10/mi. yesterday and 6.0 mi. @ 8:22/mi. today. I have found that my right foot must be a little smaller than my left so I have tightened the laces and my Achilles feel better and I can run faster. I was thinking of getting a pair of Brooks Glycerin 1/2 a size smaller than what I am running in now and use the size 10 on my right foot. But today the bigger shoe seemed OK.

Cross Training and Long Run

After my Achilles hurt on the 19th I decided that a couple of short runs followed by a lot of cross training was in order to help me have a successful long run today. Last week I ran only 7.5 miles but I rowed 7000 meters and went 12.8 miles on the elliptical trainer.
Today I ran 18.3 miles in 2:48; I took it easy at first, went and ran 5 miles after the first 7 on the road and finished up on the road at a faster pace. When I tried to push the pace in Rehoboth I had the cramps in my left calf so I thought that a faster pace for the last 3+ miles would help. I finished about 2 hours ago and I feel fine right now. That will probably be my last long run over 10 miles before Hyannis. I'm trying to build for Boston and so far my plan is working. I will ride the HTC bus again this year to Boston.

Long Run for Hyannis

I ran 14 miles this morning, I had the morning off from work, it was about 10F when I started. I had planned on running 18 but my Achilles had other ideas about that; it started hurting at 13 and I just decided it wasn't worth the pain to keep going 18. It feels OK now so it was a good decision to stop. I still have to run a longer run before Hyannis.

Very Cold Running Now

Last week I was able to run only 20.2 miles. But this week I have already run 13.2 and I hope to run a long run Thursday morning. Yesterday I ran late morning with my daughter Kelly. We started out at 7 F and my cheeks got a little frosted but we had a great 8 mile run. Ice Breaker and Nile Dri Fit and CEP socks kept me toasty warm. I ran 5.2 miles today but I ran on a treadmill since my feet were a little sore. January has been a good month for me to run and this January has been no different so far. I'm looking forward to Hyannis.
Watched the Marathon Trials at Fleet Feet Saturday afternoon during work. Customers and employees all enjoyed the race. A friend Brian Nelson came in 14th in the Houston Marathon on Sunday; 2:29:49. Kudos to Brian. He hopes to qualify for a future Olympic Trials.

30 Miles This Week

January seems to be a good month for me to run. I have had great totals for the past 5 years in January. I ran just over 30 miles this week with little pain and I hope to run further next week. I finished the week today running with my daughter Tiffany, 5.3 miles. She ran a little faster than she was comfortable but I think it was a good thing; she needs to be pushed some to get her speed up. I just got a few more Ice Breaker merino wool tops to run in the cold; they are the best, but since it was 60 F here in CT today I ran in shorts and a tee ( I have Ice Breaker tees too). I feel good for Hyannis right now and my aim is to run a little faster than Rehoboth.

Keybank Vermont City Marathon

Ran 10 miles today; I'll have to watch it so I don't run too far this week since I feel really good.
Yesterday we signed up for 4 2-person relay places in Vermont; my kids are really into it this year and each one is running the 1/2 marathon. They are bringing friends so we are branching out and introducing people to my favorite marathon. My daughter Kelly will be a Marathon Fanatic if all goes well since it will be her third 1/2 in 3 months. A friend of mine from Fleet Feet West Hartford will be a Marathon Maniac after running a marathon in February, March and April and will run one of the 1/2s. I have run several marathons in 13 states now and Vermont is mine and my family's favorite. Hopefully, we get all the slots we need to run. We find out in February.