Another Waterford Run

I went to the beach again with my daughter Julie and her 2 kids after I cut some of the grass. Ran 8 miles in 1:07:31 at 8:25/mi. Today I was invited to be the 3:35 pacer at the ING Hartford Marathon and I accepted! This will make the race even more fun helping people achieve their goal time. I can't wait!

It's Still 85 degrees!

I know that this is not that hot to some people. My son texted a picture showing the temperature in Raleigh was 108 today. But I ran from 1:30-2:30 and the 7.1 miles was all I wanted to run. 1:00:13, 8:29/mi., 7.1 mph and my avg HR was at 80% most of the run. I drank every 2 miles w/o any sleep and getting up at 2:30 and working 9 hours I had all the heat I could take. I came home and sat in a tub of cold water for about 15 minutes and read Runner's World.

Monthly Long Run

I ran 20.1 miles today since it's the only day I'm off this week and I had a low mileage week. I didn't run with the HR monitor so I only know my speed. 2:49:58, 8:27/mi. and 7.1 mph. This was a good time since I had to stop 3x's to take the gel otherwise I choke since it is so warm it goes up my nose. I heard claws on the road at one point and turned to see a dog running me down. I yelled for him to go home but he seemed confused and he ran with me slowly for about .25 miles. I had to call home for water too. I got it about 1.25 miles from home and stopped to drink. I was really thirsty! So all-in-all it was a hot run ;)

After 2 Days Off

Well, I took 2 days off. Yesterday I got a call at work at 7:20 AM from my oldest daughter that my youngest daughter, Tiffany, had had a car accident. My wife was on the way to the hospital to see her. It turned out that she had totaled her car. I drove to the West Hartford police station, then to the wrecker yard and finally to the site of the accident. Tiffany hurt her left leg but was OK otherwise. She was wearing her seat belt and was just tired from working at Friendly's and on her way to SJC for Freshmen orientation; she is a councilor. She was falling asleep and ran off the road. She is doing OK and hopefully will recover quickly so she can start running again. She said to me she wished she was going running with me when I left this afternoon in 89 degree weather. With 2 days off I felt really good and did not feel the heat until mile 7. I ran 8.3 miles in 1:09:21, 8:21/mi., 7.2 mph and felt good even in the heat. I did take gel at mile 6 and it was so hot that it went right up my nose. that has never happened before. It made me stop to catch my breathe and clear my throat. So far, it is a low mileage week but I am feeling OK.

Went to the Beach for Father's Day

I went to the beach with tiffany and her boyfriend Kyle for Father's Day. I ran along the beach roads for 8.1 miles, 1:08:54, 8:30/mi. I was able to swim 3x's and walked along the beach. It was a nice restful day. When I got home my wife and daughter Kelly had made hamburgers for us. Since we don't eat a lot of red meat, this was a treat too.

Hot Almost Summer Day

I felt tired after laying down for 2 hours. I felt slow at first. My left ankle is a little sore now. 6.1 miles in 51:38 at an 8:28/mi. pace. Total for the week: 41.6 miles.

13.1 Miles Today

Funny but my right leg felt fatigued this morning. I went out to mail bills and get more propane for the grill and I stopped at Dick's. They didn't have the Moto 7's in my size (10) but last winter I ran in 10.5 and it was OK so I got them ($80) and a pair of Gel Nimbus 11's ($99) in size 10. I ran in the new Nimbus today. My legs felt good although my left ankle is a little sore now. 13.1, 1:50:30, 8:26/mi., 7.1 mph, avg HR 135 and max HR 145. I'll break 40 miles for the week and with a tougher work schedule next week I'll probably have lower mileage.

Rare Sunny Day

I watched the early World Cup game with an exciting ending; New Zealand scored with 30 seconds to go in the game to tie it 1-1. I watched some of the next game but Portugal didn't play very well and Ivory Coast (Cote d'lvoire) seemed inspired so it ended 0-0. I ran in the 2nd 1/2; 7.2 miles, 8:12/mi., 7.3 mph, avg HR 134, max HR 143. I felt good and I think that when I run a little slower and shorter like yesterday it helps run faster the next day. I slept well too. Lots of yard/garden work this afternoon.

2nd Run with Tiffany

Today was the 2nd run with Tiffany. We ran after 1/2 time of the Italy game. Only my son and I are really into the World Cup so I ran. Tiffany would have run on her own but I think it is important that we run together because in the end she will be better when XC season comes around. So 4 miles in 34:49, 8:42/mi., 6.9 mph and my HR was higher, a much better run than the other day. I enjoyed it more and we ran through the neighborhood the whole time, something I usually only do in the winter.

First Cup Sunday

Watched the World Cup early, went to Mass, saw the second 1/2 of the 2nd game and went for a run. Grass and garden all wet; it's been a rainy/cloudy weekend. I ran 11.2 miles in 1:34:46, 8:27/mi., 7.1 mph, avg HR 132 bpm, max HR 151 bpm. When I'm in a good groove like today I'm in zone 6 or 7 for speed and zone 2 and 3 for HR telling me my HR is almost at the max even though my speed could improve a lot. So overall, I could probably run a little faster but not in a long run only in shorter races. I not sure I could keep it up for a 1/2 marathon even.

Rainy Saturday

I couldn't wait to get out of work today; I was going to watch the World Cup and go for a run. Well it rained the whole run which was OK I just have a harder time seeing the traffic. I like running in the rain this time of year because I can run longer on less to drink. I ran 10.6 miles in 1:31:22, 8:37/mi., 7.0 mph, avg HR 128 bpm, max HR 139 bpm. I just got a jury duty notice so I am cutting this short.

First Run with Tiffany

I started running with my daughter Tiffany today. I'm going to help her improve her speed and stamina over the Summer so she can run faster in XC this Fall. So for our 1st run 5.2 miles, 48:24, 6.4 mph, and 9:18/mi. She will try to approach 7 minute miles for 3.1 total miles. We start speed work next week. This should be fun for both of us and the speed work can help me too!

A Virus not Strep

Well, I went to the doctor yesterday to see if he could tell me what was ailing me. Basically, time will heal me. So I ran today and felt OK just a little sluggish. 6.2 miles, 53:03, 8:33/mi., 7.0 mph, avg HR 121 (low!) and 133 bpm max. As you can see I didn't really have much today. The weather is cool right now perfect for running. So I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

Still Congested; Ran Long to Try and Knock it Out

I took yesterday off since I was still tired in the afternoon. But my legs felt great.
Today I decided that to get rid of this congestion I would run longer than I usually do the week after a marathon. Thinking back, I ate more dairy products in the 5 days around the marathon than I usually consume in 2-3 weeks. So I went out with no mile goal in mind. I ran 9.8 miles in 1:22:20, 8:24/mi., 7.1 mph, HR avg 132 and max 149 bpm. I was faster than I thought I would be considering my congestion but I have not felt weak or any more tired than I usually am from working early.
I read Lindsay's blog last week about how she is running slower. I have a few suggestions. I hope you are still reading this Lindsay.
A female friend and one of my daughters had a similar problem and it was due to getting bitten by a TICK!
Another female friend tried to lose weight and when she lost it too quickly she also went slower than normal on her runs.
You ran 2 marathons in 2 weeks; if your body wasn't use to it, I would think it may take a month to completely recover and get back to normal speeds.
I'm going to go through some of my pictures today from VT and try to post them in the next few days.

Back Running After KeyBank Marathon

My legs seemed too tight all week and since I worked more than usual I really didn't recover until this morning. I felt good on the run, it had poured just before I went out, and the light rain kept me cool. I ran 4.1 miles in 34:31, 8:25/mi., 7.1 mph. I never warm up, as I have said before, so I just take it slow at first. I'll see how I feel later today and either run tomorrow afternoon or wait until Tuesday.
I have some congestion right now probably from ice cream I ate during the week and my system being run down from the race.

Happy National Running Day *

Ironically, I can not run today. I worked 2 mornings in a row after running the marathon and my legs have not recovered. I did work in the yard today and I did run cutting the grass in the backyard ;)
I probably won't run until Sunday since I have to work the next 2 days and my legs are still recovering. I did check the Marathon Guide listing for my 2010 marathons today to check the Age Graded Equivalent Time (AG Time) to see where 3:30:13 placed me, http://www.marathonguide.com/results/search.cfm and it was 2:54:48. I know a lot of younger people scoff at this, but I do believe that the way I feel when I run well throughout the marathon would have me running much faster 28 years earlier. Who knows if I could have run a 2:55 when I was 30; but if I ran a 3:18 at 54 I know I could have run faster at 30. Really it a mental thing.

I Really Love the Keybank Vermont City Marathon

My whole family has had such a great time going to Vermont for the marathon for the past 6 years. At first some came to see me run. But now my kids are older; my youngest is 19. They come now to compete. They bring all my grandchildren too. But if we don't get a relay place next year it may end. This year we did not get a lottery pick and we had to buy one late to get in. No one would be sorrier than me if that happened. I do have kids who can run the 1/2, which they may introduce next year, but it would be a stretch for some and they are getting older and may not want to come anymore just to watch. I don't blame them. I know no one from VT will see this but I write this for me and to remind me in the future why things may come about.
Our relay team came in 254/707, 8:54/mi., in 3:53:53 which is the results for all divisions. I thought it was a really good time for our first relay. We all see ways to make it better. Everyone wants to do better next year. Possibly by tomorrow we will see the results for Division 7, which was our division. They only list the overall relay results for all divisions right now.
For the marathon, I did really well too! It was my 2nd fastest time in Vermont and my 4th fastest in 26 marathons. I was 377/2700, the top 14%, and 10/107 in my age group. A 1:45:10 1/2 and 3:30:13 for the 26.2. I was hoping for a 1:45-1:47 1/2 to be on pace for a fast time.It was my 4th fastest marathon ever!!! I will now be in the 1st wave for Boston next year. Yea!

Last Run Before VT

I didn't run yesterday, my legs felt tired and I had a lot of work in the garden. I planted tomatoes, squash, daikon radishes and more bush beans. I rota-tilled for an hour to cut down on the weeds and expand the garden.
I ran 6.1 miles today in 50:17, 8:14/mi., 7.3 mph, 133 avg HR and 148 max HR. My legs felt good after warming up and if I get a good nights sleep Friday I should do OK. I'm going with the attitude to just have fun.

Hottest Day of the Year

I didn't run yesterday; I woke up after working and I felt so groggy that I decided to take the day off.
Today I ran early and bringing the grandkids to school; 8.1 miles in 1:08:21, 8:26/mi., 7.1 mph, avg HR 132 and max HR 146 bpm. I felt a little tired but picked it up by the end. It's 88 degrees right now and I have been on the computer reworking the web site I did for my latest class.

1 Week to Go

The VT marathon is next Sunday and I feel I have done all I can to be successful. I just got back from an 8 mile run in 1:06:05, 8:15/mi., 947 calories, Avg HR 131 bpm, Max HR 143 bpm and a total of 137.4 miles for the month. I worked in the garden, cut some grass and watched the 2nd half of my granddaughter's soccer game before running. Now it's back out to cut more grass and a little more work in the garden.