Monday- Hilly 11 miles 65 minutes. I didn't feel like this run was too hard, but my legs started getting sore that night after the run.
Tuesday- Woke up this morning and could hardly get down the stairs. I just had those super sore, can't walk quads. All day at work I kept having my quad lock up on me and I'd start to fall backwards and have to catch myself. Ridiculous. I did manage to get in an easy 5 miles that day still which felt better than walking actually.
Wednesday- Legs were still completely beat, I began to worry about them not recovering by the wedding. I kept Imagining walking out and doing one of those drop steps when my leg locks up on me. The 5 miles the day before weren't easy so I decided to do laps of the main loop at Ahern Park with Tucker. It's about a 1.5 mile loop and I took it a lap at a time, and before I knew it I was at 9.5 miles.
Thursday- Abbey and I did an easy 8 miles. Legs still felt like trash, I was still worried, wondering if the 9.5 yesterday was a bad idea.
Friday- Finally the legs are better! I can walk again! In celebration I spent the whole day cleaning for all the company we were having over the weekend. 0 miles.
Saturday- easy 8 miles with Goupil and Najem. Ran out in Sanbornton near the reception site.
Sunday- Super hectic morning, but I still managed to squeeze in 9.5 with Goup and Pete before the wedding.
Week Total- 50 miles. Pretty happy with that for my wedding week.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Running Week Ending 9/30
Monday- 0. I should have run this day, but I was really busy.
Tuesday- 10 miles. I ran 7 with Abbey and Tucker out on the Lib Hill trails. We were thinking about going up Mt. Whiteface, but I spaced it and ran right past the trail. It was a good thing we missed it though, because it was pitch black as we were coming out of the woods. Another half hour out in the woods, would have kinda sucked. When we got home I decided to go out for another few miles. I felt great today though, I noticed going up the hills on the trails that I was snappy, and driving and feeling strong. When I got home I decided to go out for a few more miles, and wound up with another 3 at about MP.
Wednesday-10.5 miles. Made it up Mt. Whiteface this time, and came back down the way I came, instead of finishing out the loop. Felt good.
Thursday- 3 miles am, 9 miles pm. 2 mile warm up and then ran 3x2 miles on the roads. 11:32 11:43 11:24. Ran this on the 10k course I ran this weekend, which has marked miles. Just jogged off 4 minutes between sets. That second set had a pretty good hill.
Friday-0 Have I mentioned that I'm getting married in a week?! I spent the day getting a bunch of projects done around the house before we have company arrive this week.
Saturday- Easy 5 with Abbey and Tucker on some nice trails out in Center Harbor. Good run.
Sunday- Tanger Outlet 5k- 1st 18:00. Easy win today, still wanted to run a bit faster, but I was taking it easy, and the second mile was all up hill. 2 mile warm up, mile cool down. 6 mi total.
Week Total: 43.5- Ugh! I really wanted to get more miles in this week but I have plenty of time to run miles and only one more week now til the wedding so we'll just see how this next week goes.
Tuesday- 10 miles. I ran 7 with Abbey and Tucker out on the Lib Hill trails. We were thinking about going up Mt. Whiteface, but I spaced it and ran right past the trail. It was a good thing we missed it though, because it was pitch black as we were coming out of the woods. Another half hour out in the woods, would have kinda sucked. When we got home I decided to go out for another few miles. I felt great today though, I noticed going up the hills on the trails that I was snappy, and driving and feeling strong. When I got home I decided to go out for a few more miles, and wound up with another 3 at about MP.
Wednesday-10.5 miles. Made it up Mt. Whiteface this time, and came back down the way I came, instead of finishing out the loop. Felt good.
Thursday- 3 miles am, 9 miles pm. 2 mile warm up and then ran 3x2 miles on the roads. 11:32 11:43 11:24. Ran this on the 10k course I ran this weekend, which has marked miles. Just jogged off 4 minutes between sets. That second set had a pretty good hill.
Friday-0 Have I mentioned that I'm getting married in a week?! I spent the day getting a bunch of projects done around the house before we have company arrive this week.
Saturday- Easy 5 with Abbey and Tucker on some nice trails out in Center Harbor. Good run.
Sunday- Tanger Outlet 5k- 1st 18:00. Easy win today, still wanted to run a bit faster, but I was taking it easy, and the second mile was all up hill. 2 mile warm up, mile cool down. 6 mi total.
Week Total: 43.5- Ugh! I really wanted to get more miles in this week but I have plenty of time to run miles and only one more week now til the wedding so we'll just see how this next week goes.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Week Ending 9/24 and The Take Opeechee 10k
Monday- Easy 10 miles down in Durham. Ran the Sweet trail out to Long Marsh. I felt good.
Tuesday- Easy 8 miles with Abbey. It was warm with a light rain, we started out fairly easy and were moving pretty well by the end of the run.
Wednesday- Hilly 11 miles. Went up Whiteface for the first time in a while, I'd forgotten how nice it was up there.
Thursday- 5x1600 with 400 rest. 5:40, 5:43, 5:36, 5:30, 5:18
This work out went well, I got a good warm up in, took my time doing some stretching and drills, then striders before getting started. I felt pretty relaxed through most of the work out, and focused on keeping a good stride rate and moving fast with out pushing too hard. I got a little carried away on that last repeat, but I felt good so I decided to just keep pushing. When you work out by yourself it's rare to feel good, so ya gotta capitalize when you can. 10 miles total with warm up and cool down.
Friday- Easy 4 miles with Tucker up at the Prescott Farm fields.
Saturday- Take Opeechee 10k. Easy win in 35:58. I don't remember my splits exactly, but i went through 2 miles around 11:40, 3 miles in 17:30, 4 miles in 23 something. 5 miles in 29:10 and 6 miles at 34:50, with a 68 for the last .2. Felt pretty good, just trying to run a respectable time, which turned out to be a bit harder than I expected. 9 miles total.
Sunday- Easy 17 miles. Ran 10 by myself and another 7 with Abbey. Felt ok, some spots really good and some not so great.
Week Total: 69 miles. This is my highest week in almost 4 years. Feelin pretty good.
Tuesday- Easy 8 miles with Abbey. It was warm with a light rain, we started out fairly easy and were moving pretty well by the end of the run.
Wednesday- Hilly 11 miles. Went up Whiteface for the first time in a while, I'd forgotten how nice it was up there.
Thursday- 5x1600 with 400 rest. 5:40, 5:43, 5:36, 5:30, 5:18
This work out went well, I got a good warm up in, took my time doing some stretching and drills, then striders before getting started. I felt pretty relaxed through most of the work out, and focused on keeping a good stride rate and moving fast with out pushing too hard. I got a little carried away on that last repeat, but I felt good so I decided to just keep pushing. When you work out by yourself it's rare to feel good, so ya gotta capitalize when you can. 10 miles total with warm up and cool down.
Friday- Easy 4 miles with Tucker up at the Prescott Farm fields.
Saturday- Take Opeechee 10k. Easy win in 35:58. I don't remember my splits exactly, but i went through 2 miles around 11:40, 3 miles in 17:30, 4 miles in 23 something. 5 miles in 29:10 and 6 miles at 34:50, with a 68 for the last .2. Felt pretty good, just trying to run a respectable time, which turned out to be a bit harder than I expected. 9 miles total.
Sunday- Easy 17 miles. Ran 10 by myself and another 7 with Abbey. Felt ok, some spots really good and some not so great.
Week Total: 69 miles. This is my highest week in almost 4 years. Feelin pretty good.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Week Ending 9/16
Monday- After Sunday's calf troubles I decided to take Monday off and just got in a lot of walking. My Achilles was snapping loudly every step I took all day though, and my calf was really tight. I did a little massage later in the evening to loosen it up.
Tuesday- 7 miles easy. I was a little nervous about how far I wanted to go today, but decided to do the funspot 7 miler which has a couple bail options.
Wednesday- 10x400 meters half rest. I did a 2.5 mile warm up and got into the work out. I was trying to run 75-70 depending on how I was feeling. I started out at 75 73 74 75 74 75 74 73 73 69 I was getting worried when I started slowing down by the 4th repeat. I tried to relax and remind myself that if I can cruise 75's comfortably then that's perfect. Being able to hammer 70's doesn't really do much for me when i won't be running anywhere near that pace until indoor season anyway. Once I relaxed about it the work out felt pretty good. After cool down I had about 8 miles.
Thursday- Just an easy couple miles with my little sister today. Trying to take it easy before RTB this weekend.
Friday- Didn't run until around 7 pm. Leg 9. 6:10's for 6.5 miles.
Saturday- 8.5 miles at 4 AM around 7:00 pace. Next Leg was around 1pm. 4.1 miles at 6:00 pace.
Sunday- Hiked Belknap and Piper with Abbey in the afternoon. Nice day.
Week Total- 36 miles this week. Wanted to take it easy after the calf scare last weekend. Things seem to be good though, so it's back to the milage this week.
Tuesday- 7 miles easy. I was a little nervous about how far I wanted to go today, but decided to do the funspot 7 miler which has a couple bail options.
Wednesday- 10x400 meters half rest. I did a 2.5 mile warm up and got into the work out. I was trying to run 75-70 depending on how I was feeling. I started out at 75 73 74 75 74 75 74 73 73 69 I was getting worried when I started slowing down by the 4th repeat. I tried to relax and remind myself that if I can cruise 75's comfortably then that's perfect. Being able to hammer 70's doesn't really do much for me when i won't be running anywhere near that pace until indoor season anyway. Once I relaxed about it the work out felt pretty good. After cool down I had about 8 miles.
Thursday- Just an easy couple miles with my little sister today. Trying to take it easy before RTB this weekend.
Friday- Didn't run until around 7 pm. Leg 9. 6:10's for 6.5 miles.
Saturday- 8.5 miles at 4 AM around 7:00 pace. Next Leg was around 1pm. 4.1 miles at 6:00 pace.
Sunday- Hiked Belknap and Piper with Abbey in the afternoon. Nice day.
Week Total- 36 miles this week. Wanted to take it easy after the calf scare last weekend. Things seem to be good though, so it's back to the milage this week.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Week Ending 9/9
Monday- Great 14.5 miles with Scott McGrath. Pretty fast first 10 miles about 65 minutes and then after a water break we meant to run another 35 but I was dying so we cut it back a few minutes earlier for 1:37 total. Good day.
Tuesday- Easy 6 miles with Abbey and the Olafsens out on the Liberty Hill trails. A little weird doing a Tuesday run with out the T-man there. He'll be back in action soon though.
Wednesday- easy 7 before work
Thursday- Work out 5x1 mile at half marathon pace w/400 rest. after a 2 mile warm up It took me a lap or two to warm up and get going in this work out so my first mile was a little slow. but overall the whole thing went ok.
1-5:53
2-5:47
3-5:43
4-5:39
5-5:36
I had kinda wanted to keep these closer to 5:40 pace through out, but I felt stronger the further into the work out I got. I probably should have done one more to cancel out that 5:53, but oh well. I'm not really sure what I'm at for half pace right now, but this workout felt pretty good and is reinforced by my 1:13 half, where I had pretty similar splits for the first first five miles. I did about a mile and a half cool down and headed home.
Friday- easy 5 miles pre race.
Saturday- Jail Break 5k in Laconia-1st 17:21
A nice easy win for a $200 pay day this weekend. Awesome! I was so pumped. I was by myself from the start and was able to just cruise along comfortably for the whole race. Felt great. I was also happy with the race because back in April I had race my ass off to run a 17:20, and today it felt really easy. Abbey also won her race comfortably and so it was a great day!
Sunday- 17 mile long run was planned, I mapped out a great hilly loop, that went out to Ellacoya State Park and then climbed up Cumberland rd through the acres and back to Laconia on Cherry Valley road. I managed most of the loop. Around 6 or 7 miles I started to feel some real tightness in my calf. I kept running on it through mile 8 and it still wasn't feeling good. I thought about turning back here and avoiding the hills, but after stopping for some water at Ellacoya I decided to finish the loop I'd set out to do. The 9th mile climbs up through the acres and by the time I got up to the top of the hill at mile 10 my calf was really feeling shitty. I just took it easy, but the downhills to get back down to Cherry Valley weren't helping either. By the time I got to mile 12 whatever was going on with my calf was breaking my stride and I wound up walking the last half mile to Patrick's Pub where I'd stashed a water bottle. I got some water and started running but it wasn't happening. I walked over to a marina down the road and gave a call to my little sister who came and gave me a ride home. It would have been a long walk home if she wasn't around. Abbey was out with her mom for the day so I would have been on my own. I'm not really sure what happened on this run, it feels like a strain sort of, it's not the whole calf that hurts, but just one muscle that's been killing me. It feels a bit better today (tuesday) but yesterday it hurt just walking all day long. We'll just see what's happening.
Week Total: Besides the failed long run on sunday this was a good week. I would have had 65 if I'd finished up, but instead I got 61.
Tuesday- Easy 6 miles with Abbey and the Olafsens out on the Liberty Hill trails. A little weird doing a Tuesday run with out the T-man there. He'll be back in action soon though.
Wednesday- easy 7 before work
Thursday- Work out 5x1 mile at half marathon pace w/400 rest. after a 2 mile warm up It took me a lap or two to warm up and get going in this work out so my first mile was a little slow. but overall the whole thing went ok.
1-5:53
2-5:47
3-5:43
4-5:39
5-5:36
I had kinda wanted to keep these closer to 5:40 pace through out, but I felt stronger the further into the work out I got. I probably should have done one more to cancel out that 5:53, but oh well. I'm not really sure what I'm at for half pace right now, but this workout felt pretty good and is reinforced by my 1:13 half, where I had pretty similar splits for the first first five miles. I did about a mile and a half cool down and headed home.
Friday- easy 5 miles pre race.
Saturday- Jail Break 5k in Laconia-1st 17:21
A nice easy win for a $200 pay day this weekend. Awesome! I was so pumped. I was by myself from the start and was able to just cruise along comfortably for the whole race. Felt great. I was also happy with the race because back in April I had race my ass off to run a 17:20, and today it felt really easy. Abbey also won her race comfortably and so it was a great day!
Sunday- 17 mile long run was planned, I mapped out a great hilly loop, that went out to Ellacoya State Park and then climbed up Cumberland rd through the acres and back to Laconia on Cherry Valley road. I managed most of the loop. Around 6 or 7 miles I started to feel some real tightness in my calf. I kept running on it through mile 8 and it still wasn't feeling good. I thought about turning back here and avoiding the hills, but after stopping for some water at Ellacoya I decided to finish the loop I'd set out to do. The 9th mile climbs up through the acres and by the time I got up to the top of the hill at mile 10 my calf was really feeling shitty. I just took it easy, but the downhills to get back down to Cherry Valley weren't helping either. By the time I got to mile 12 whatever was going on with my calf was breaking my stride and I wound up walking the last half mile to Patrick's Pub where I'd stashed a water bottle. I got some water and started running but it wasn't happening. I walked over to a marina down the road and gave a call to my little sister who came and gave me a ride home. It would have been a long walk home if she wasn't around. Abbey was out with her mom for the day so I would have been on my own. I'm not really sure what happened on this run, it feels like a strain sort of, it's not the whole calf that hurts, but just one muscle that's been killing me. It feels a bit better today (tuesday) but yesterday it hurt just walking all day long. We'll just see what's happening.
Week Total: Besides the failed long run on sunday this was a good week. I would have had 65 if I'd finished up, but instead I got 61.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Week Ending 9/2
Monday- Easy 10 by myself.
Tuesday- Easy 8 with Abbey, The Olafsen's and the Goslings in Meredith. Tucker was exploring a culvert pipe and wound up catching his butt on a sharp spot and giving himself a two inch gash. We were halfway through the run so we had to finish up with it wide open. didn't bleed too too much, but we had to get him stitched up the next morning.
Wednesday- 6 mile easy in the AM with Abbey. I meant to get another 6 in before work, but I was caught up with Tucker and his stitches and couldn't get it in.
Thursday- Work out- 2mile(800 rest) 2x800 (400rest) 4x400 (200 rest) 11:16, 2:38, 2:38, 74, 74, 74, 74 9 miles total.
Friday- easy 5 miles.
Saturday- 3 mile warm up then Keene Alumni 5k 18:44, mile cool down. I'm not sure what to take from this work out I guess I just gave up after going out too fast. It was a bit embarassing but oh well we'll see how the next one goes.
Sunday- 10 miles easy.
week total: 55 miles. I was supposed to run about 10 more miles this week, screwed up by wussing out on my cool down and not getting in my second run wednesday.
Tuesday- Easy 8 with Abbey, The Olafsen's and the Goslings in Meredith. Tucker was exploring a culvert pipe and wound up catching his butt on a sharp spot and giving himself a two inch gash. We were halfway through the run so we had to finish up with it wide open. didn't bleed too too much, but we had to get him stitched up the next morning.
Wednesday- 6 mile easy in the AM with Abbey. I meant to get another 6 in before work, but I was caught up with Tucker and his stitches and couldn't get it in.
Thursday- Work out- 2mile(800 rest) 2x800 (400rest) 4x400 (200 rest) 11:16, 2:38, 2:38, 74, 74, 74, 74 9 miles total.
Friday- easy 5 miles.
Saturday- 3 mile warm up then Keene Alumni 5k 18:44, mile cool down. I'm not sure what to take from this work out I guess I just gave up after going out too fast. It was a bit embarassing but oh well we'll see how the next one goes.
Sunday- 10 miles easy.
week total: 55 miles. I was supposed to run about 10 more miles this week, screwed up by wussing out on my cool down and not getting in my second run wednesday.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Training Week Ending 8/26
Monday- 7 miles easy on sweet trail.
Tuesday- 5 miles at 4:00 pm + 7 miles at 6:00 pm. I know it's not much space between runs, I was just trying to squeeze in some miles after work before we headed out to meet some friends for the second run.
Wednesday- hard 9 miles 56:09. I did 6 sets of 3 minutes hard 2 minutes off and 6 sets of one minute on and one minute off. Really tough run, the 3 minute blocks were too long to focus through and really get a good effort in for the whole time. It went ok though.
Thursday- 11 miles on the Liberty Hill trails. Really hot today. I wore a shirt to hold off the bugs, but they just focused on the back of my neck instead of my back! I guess that's what mullets are for.
Friday- 6 miles easy running around the weirs loop with Abbey. Felt good.
Saturday- Gilford Old Home Day 5k- 1st 17:15 8 miles total
This race is in the town over for me and it's taken me 10 years and 6 tries at it to finally get the win. in 2002 I was 3rd in 17:46. In 2003 I ran 17:35 for 4th. 2004 I was 16:50 for 2nd. 2006 I was 17:35 for 7th. 2009 I was 16:26 for 2nd and this year finally I was 17:15 for the win.
I had been feeling crappy all week and was just kinda hoping I'd be able to run a decent race. I got warmed up and felt a little sluggish but figured I'd be alright anyway. I got out and felt out the pace for about 400 meters before I started getting going. I tried to take it as comfortable as possible but I had Ryan Lafrance on my tail through the first mile. The second mile I just tried to maintain my pace and pull away from Ryan. I built up a comfortable gap and then just put it into cruise control. I was able to do this through the last half mile when I tried to tell myself to focus on the time a bit. I'm glad I did because the second place guy apparently was coming on strong and ended up finishing just 7 seconds back.
Sunday- 6 miles easy doing the weirs loop. Felt pretty crappy. Jumped in the lake halfway through.
Week Total: 59 miles. This was week 1 of a 10 week build up towards a possible Cape Cod marathon. We will see how the next 4 or 5 weeks go and I'll make a call on it. We'll see how it goes, I felt good getting an easy win in even after my poor work out on Wednesday.
Tuesday- 5 miles at 4:00 pm + 7 miles at 6:00 pm. I know it's not much space between runs, I was just trying to squeeze in some miles after work before we headed out to meet some friends for the second run.
Wednesday- hard 9 miles 56:09. I did 6 sets of 3 minutes hard 2 minutes off and 6 sets of one minute on and one minute off. Really tough run, the 3 minute blocks were too long to focus through and really get a good effort in for the whole time. It went ok though.
Thursday- 11 miles on the Liberty Hill trails. Really hot today. I wore a shirt to hold off the bugs, but they just focused on the back of my neck instead of my back! I guess that's what mullets are for.
Friday- 6 miles easy running around the weirs loop with Abbey. Felt good.
Saturday- Gilford Old Home Day 5k- 1st 17:15 8 miles total
This race is in the town over for me and it's taken me 10 years and 6 tries at it to finally get the win. in 2002 I was 3rd in 17:46. In 2003 I ran 17:35 for 4th. 2004 I was 16:50 for 2nd. 2006 I was 17:35 for 7th. 2009 I was 16:26 for 2nd and this year finally I was 17:15 for the win.
I had been feeling crappy all week and was just kinda hoping I'd be able to run a decent race. I got warmed up and felt a little sluggish but figured I'd be alright anyway. I got out and felt out the pace for about 400 meters before I started getting going. I tried to take it as comfortable as possible but I had Ryan Lafrance on my tail through the first mile. The second mile I just tried to maintain my pace and pull away from Ryan. I built up a comfortable gap and then just put it into cruise control. I was able to do this through the last half mile when I tried to tell myself to focus on the time a bit. I'm glad I did because the second place guy apparently was coming on strong and ended up finishing just 7 seconds back.
Sunday- 6 miles easy doing the weirs loop. Felt pretty crappy. Jumped in the lake halfway through.
Week Total: 59 miles. This was week 1 of a 10 week build up towards a possible Cape Cod marathon. We will see how the next 4 or 5 weeks go and I'll make a call on it. We'll see how it goes, I felt good getting an easy win in even after my poor work out on Wednesday.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Gettin back at it
Monday- 5 easy some- some strides.
Tuesday- 4 miles easy, tried exploring a new trail that ended up ending. I bushwacked through to the audubon trails and took those back to my road and home. took about an hour with the bushwack, which was making us late for getting out to run with our tuesday run group at 6 which was meeting in Bristol. We made it there right at 6pm and were good to go for another 7.5 miles on trails and dirt road. Nice run.
Wednesday- easy 5 miles going around the lake from Irwins while I got my inspection.
Thursday- Cigna 5k- 16:53 who cares what place. 9 mi total
I was excited for this race, I ran well here last year and thought it was worth another shot. After getting my bib, and going to the bathroom I went out for a warm up with Neal Graves and Scott and Colby Clark. Felt good. Went and got my flats, and got over to the line, only got one stride in beIfore they made us line up. I got out fine, a little over my head, and told myself to roll with it. went through the mile around 5:12 or so and tried to focus on keeping the gas on through the second mile. I started feeling the pace around a mile and half and then made it through 2 miles around 10:33 I thought I started having a tough time right after that. I felt myself falling off, I worked my way up to try and stick behind George Adams until I felt him starting to fall back too, I tried to go around him and keep pushing but wasn't getting very far. I held it together until the hill at the finish, but just ran like shit in those last 250 meters. A little pissed off about the bad race, but It was my second fastest 5k of the year, and I've run worse on easier courses, so the hell with it not bad. Ran the course again for a cool down and then grabbed a pizza before heading home. In the bar they made us watch Pre-Season patriots instead of Rudisha's world record race.
Friday- 0
Saturday- 15 with Scott Clark in Gilmanton. Good run, easy first half lots of climbing in the second half of the run. My legs have been killing me ever since i got home.
Sunday- Easy 9 with Abbey out in Sanbornton. Hot and humid, but a good run. Lots of stopping for cars with Tucker.
Week Total: 54 miles. This was a better week, I'm gonna keep building from here.
Tuesday- 4 miles easy, tried exploring a new trail that ended up ending. I bushwacked through to the audubon trails and took those back to my road and home. took about an hour with the bushwack, which was making us late for getting out to run with our tuesday run group at 6 which was meeting in Bristol. We made it there right at 6pm and were good to go for another 7.5 miles on trails and dirt road. Nice run.
Wednesday- easy 5 miles going around the lake from Irwins while I got my inspection.
Thursday- Cigna 5k- 16:53 who cares what place. 9 mi total
I was excited for this race, I ran well here last year and thought it was worth another shot. After getting my bib, and going to the bathroom I went out for a warm up with Neal Graves and Scott and Colby Clark. Felt good. Went and got my flats, and got over to the line, only got one stride in beIfore they made us line up. I got out fine, a little over my head, and told myself to roll with it. went through the mile around 5:12 or so and tried to focus on keeping the gas on through the second mile. I started feeling the pace around a mile and half and then made it through 2 miles around 10:33 I thought I started having a tough time right after that. I felt myself falling off, I worked my way up to try and stick behind George Adams until I felt him starting to fall back too, I tried to go around him and keep pushing but wasn't getting very far. I held it together until the hill at the finish, but just ran like shit in those last 250 meters. A little pissed off about the bad race, but It was my second fastest 5k of the year, and I've run worse on easier courses, so the hell with it not bad. Ran the course again for a cool down and then grabbed a pizza before heading home. In the bar they made us watch Pre-Season patriots instead of Rudisha's world record race.
Friday- 0
Saturday- 15 with Scott Clark in Gilmanton. Good run, easy first half lots of climbing in the second half of the run. My legs have been killing me ever since i got home.
Sunday- Easy 9 with Abbey out in Sanbornton. Hot and humid, but a good run. Lots of stopping for cars with Tucker.
Week Total: 54 miles. This was a better week, I'm gonna keep building from here.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Bill Luti 5 miler
Abbey and I went down to the Bill Luti 5 miler yesterday, feeling a little nervous as we've had a pretty lazy July. I tried to convince myself that I was still plenty fit, just well rested, and I think I pretty much got it right as this wound up being my best Bill Luti ever. I made the top 10 for the first time, and got myself a 7 second course PR with a 27:34. Here's the run down.
1st mile- 5:10 I got out trying to stay relaxed, but all the guys I wanted to run with were flying, and I didn't wanna risk letting them get away too early so it wound up being faster than I wanted to get out.
2nd mile-5:46 I panicked a little when I saw the 5:45 but I reminded myself of the hill we'd just gone up and just tried to stay focused.
3rd mile- 5:21 The race is always tough in this section down to St. Pauls, usually I find myself falling back here, even though it's a pretty easy mile. This year I was able to make myself focus and stay in the race. There was a decision to make, about wether I was gonna start racing the couple guys in front or if I was gonna just try and finish the race respectably. I wound up deciding to race, and managed to relax and work my way up to the guys in front of me, Neal Graves and Mucopa from Concord. I tried to focus on my breathing and found myself feeling very light on a long relaxed exhale. I caught mucopa and was battling him through out most of the race as we tried to reel in Neal.
4th mile- 5:38 Our whole pack started to slow down on the 4th mile and Neal Graves who's in the CARS series was coming back to me. Mucopa and I caught Neal around there and he just latched on we were all hurting, and it would have been much slower if it'd been strung out.
5th mile- 5:29 I hit four miles in 22:05 and knew I was on track for a Luti PR if i kept on track and did my best to stay focused on that. We all continued to battle over that last mile but probably the last 600-800 I let those two get away. I was hurting, but I think I got a little complacent knowing I was on pace for a good time (for me anyways). I was really happy with the race though, right up to the last 600 I raced really hard and was rewarded with a good time.
Went for a nice cool down with Neal after the race. We were both pretty pumped with our races, and had a fun time chatting it up. Abbey and I got our two Maragaritas gift certs for top 10 finishes! Abbey was second though, and won a little money too. After the race we went and checked out the Market Day Festival in Downtown Concord. Pretty fun time, but I was hoping to find this woman who had a bunch of great Jams the last time I was there, and I couldn't find her. Later on we went to The Dark Knight Rises and it was awesome. Great day!
1st mile- 5:10 I got out trying to stay relaxed, but all the guys I wanted to run with were flying, and I didn't wanna risk letting them get away too early so it wound up being faster than I wanted to get out.
2nd mile-5:46 I panicked a little when I saw the 5:45 but I reminded myself of the hill we'd just gone up and just tried to stay focused.
3rd mile- 5:21 The race is always tough in this section down to St. Pauls, usually I find myself falling back here, even though it's a pretty easy mile. This year I was able to make myself focus and stay in the race. There was a decision to make, about wether I was gonna start racing the couple guys in front or if I was gonna just try and finish the race respectably. I wound up deciding to race, and managed to relax and work my way up to the guys in front of me, Neal Graves and Mucopa from Concord. I tried to focus on my breathing and found myself feeling very light on a long relaxed exhale. I caught mucopa and was battling him through out most of the race as we tried to reel in Neal.
4th mile- 5:38 Our whole pack started to slow down on the 4th mile and Neal Graves who's in the CARS series was coming back to me. Mucopa and I caught Neal around there and he just latched on we were all hurting, and it would have been much slower if it'd been strung out.
5th mile- 5:29 I hit four miles in 22:05 and knew I was on track for a Luti PR if i kept on track and did my best to stay focused on that. We all continued to battle over that last mile but probably the last 600-800 I let those two get away. I was hurting, but I think I got a little complacent knowing I was on pace for a good time (for me anyways). I was really happy with the race though, right up to the last 600 I raced really hard and was rewarded with a good time.
Went for a nice cool down with Neal after the race. We were both pretty pumped with our races, and had a fun time chatting it up. Abbey and I got our two Maragaritas gift certs for top 10 finishes! Abbey was second though, and won a little money too. After the race we went and checked out the Market Day Festival in Downtown Concord. Pretty fun time, but I was hoping to find this woman who had a bunch of great Jams the last time I was there, and I couldn't find her. Later on we went to The Dark Knight Rises and it was awesome. Great day!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Loon Mt. Race
This race went ok, but I don't feel like it was my best effort of the year. I wound up 25th overall in 51:09, getting beat by a handful of elite women. Early in the season I was really looking forward to this race, but by the time this week rolled around I was having trouble getting into the mind set for it. Not really sure what it was, I think I've just hit the doldrums of the summer season, as my mind set/motivation for running in general has been a little off the past week or two.
Despite not feeling very excited about the race all week, by the time I hit the line I felt ready to go and the legs felt nice and snappy. I was feeling optimistic and got lured out way too fast by that easy opening mile. I put myself right behind Kevin Tilton and Ross Krauss and began to envision myself hanging with them and being able to help my team win the title. I was able to hang with them for the first mile and then slipped back pretty significantly over the next mile. I let a stream of runners pass me until I had Chris Ritchie from the seacoast area catch up to me. There's nothing against him, I just remember battling him at the Children's Museum 5k earlier this year, and was set against losing to him again.
Seeing Chris got me racing again and I got back into it. I began to tell myself I wasn't the only idiot to go out too fast, and started scanning the trail ahead for runners coming back to me. I still didn't turn the race around though, as I was quick to walk on the steeps, but I tried to tough it out. Around 3 miles I caught up to my old team mate Craig McMahon's little brother, and chatted with him a bit as we made our way up the access road. We ran together for a little bit and then I decided I'd better try to put some distance on him because he's a college guy and a McMahon and probably quite a bit faster than me on a normal course right now. I just kept on chugging, and tried to run fast on the flat and downhill parts just because it felt good to actually be moving for a bit!
When I turned the corner and faced the BOSS for the first time it was the most crushing thing! I just couldn't believe how long and steep it was. I had envisioned something that steep, but maybe half or quarter of the length. I tried to run as long as I could and then settled into a walk for most of it. I turned around and walked backwards for a bit, and took in the view. I walked most of the climb, but every now and then I'd try to put in about 10 or 15 seconds of running to make sure I didn't get caught while climbing. Almost at the top I just started throwing up. (what else is new?) I got passed by Craig's brother and another guy at this point, and didn't think I'd catch them again, but the last 20 or 30 meters I was able to put in a strong run to over take them just before the line.
Abbey and I didn't have a whole lot of time to hang out, because Abbey had to work in the afternoon. We took a ride down on the gondola and then we got out of there. Abbey actually wound up not having to go in though, which was awesome. We went and took a jump at Indian's Leap (showing up some punks in front of their girlfriends) and then headed home for a nice afternoon on Lake Winnipesaukee with Abbey's parents.
All in all it was a great day and a really fun race. Not running quite as well as I wanted keeps me hungry for next years race. During the climb up the boss, I was telling myself "never again" but it didn't take long before I started thinking about the places I could have run faster, and looking forward to taking another crack at this beast of a course.
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