Update June 2014

The Vermont Marathon went well but I ran out of gas between mile 21 and 22. I finished in 4:05 when I was on a 3:55 pace most of the race.
It has been tough coming back but running in the Hokas I have gotten back to over 25 miles and I have increased every week since VT. Hopefully, I will break 35 this week. I have only had 2 days off in past 24 so I am a little tired.

Nutmeg State Marathon

Running around a park 12 times? Surprisingly a very enjoyable marathon which I will run again. I ran with a friend, Nick Platsis, for the first 14 miles which went by fast. Even after Nick too off the park itself was very pleasant despite the increasing humidity. 4:16:45 was a little slower than I wanted to run but VT City is 10 days away so I'll take it! There was a hill which of course repeated 12 times which did slow a lot of people down. Also this was the 4th day of 5 marathons in a row for several of the runners. God bless them! I believe they are crazy, but this was my 4th marathon this year which probably would have several people saying the same thing about me. Shirt and metal were nice and the volunteers! WOW!

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!