I am so psyched!!
Run the 1st 22 miles of the course today. Drove to BC for 7:00 and got on the bus to Hopkinton. Started running around 8:15. It was cold at the start - glad to have my gloves and long pants. Found a few people to run with along the way and managed to stay out of the 'hunter' (track people down and pass them) mentality.
Overall good run - 7:50 pace, no cramps or other issues. Considering I am getting a cold, I am very pleased with this result. Should translate to a good marathon pace/run.
Training looks like it's going to max out at 5 runs in the 16-19 range and 4 runs in the 19-22 range - that should about do it!
Psyched to be in taper mode - did I say that already ;-)
As always, thanks for your support!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March Madness - Marathon style :-)
We got back from Florida Saturday evening!
It was great to be warm!! I managed to put together my highest mileage week to date - 50 miles without running more than 10 miles ( 5 runs - 10 miles each)! I finished the week up with a deep tissue massage at the 'spa' - this deserves an entry of it's own - a little awkward ;-)
Ran my long run today with a little help from Brian and Lisa - thanks!! Had no real plan in mind - figure I needed to run around 2:30, but not wanting to go too far as the organized 21 miler is next Saturday. It was a nice day to get off road, so after I dropped Lisa off, I headed to the 'Camp' - problem is there is no short version of the camp run. Ended up running 2:43 - somewhere between 20 and 21 miles (I figure).
Next week is the organized 21 miler on the course. We leave BC at 8:00 and get on the bus for Hopkinton. It really is like a mini-marathon - run the 1st 21 miles from the start. Seems like a lot of charities pick the same day for their organized run - there will be LOTS of people on the course. Makes for good company/distraction.
Trying not to get ahead of myself, but the 21 miler next week is the last 'long' run. After that it's taper and drive yourself crazy wondering if you did 'enough' ;-)
One more to go (OK 2 counting the actual race day) !
Oh yeah - my March Madness title :
- Highest mileage week of training followed by back to back 20+ milers.
Sure seems like madness to me!
It was great to be warm!! I managed to put together my highest mileage week to date - 50 miles without running more than 10 miles ( 5 runs - 10 miles each)! I finished the week up with a deep tissue massage at the 'spa' - this deserves an entry of it's own - a little awkward ;-)
Ran my long run today with a little help from Brian and Lisa - thanks!! Had no real plan in mind - figure I needed to run around 2:30, but not wanting to go too far as the organized 21 miler is next Saturday. It was a nice day to get off road, so after I dropped Lisa off, I headed to the 'Camp' - problem is there is no short version of the camp run. Ended up running 2:43 - somewhere between 20 and 21 miles (I figure).
Next week is the organized 21 miler on the course. We leave BC at 8:00 and get on the bus for Hopkinton. It really is like a mini-marathon - run the 1st 21 miles from the start. Seems like a lot of charities pick the same day for their organized run - there will be LOTS of people on the course. Makes for good company/distraction.
Trying not to get ahead of myself, but the 21 miler next week is the last 'long' run. After that it's taper and drive yourself crazy wondering if you did 'enough' ;-)
One more to go (OK 2 counting the actual race day) !
Oh yeah - my March Madness title :
- Highest mileage week of training followed by back to back 20+ milers.
Sure seems like madness to me!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Finally a picture
I think it's about time for a picture - here is one from Stu's. Yes - the runner behind me is the Children's runner I tried to catch early in the race. After the long downhill (mile 17) I saw him walking up the hill at mile 18. Tried to keep my competitive feelings in check, but what the heck....
Anyway - glad to have that over with. A few short runs this week then off to FLA!!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Tired - but 'good' tired.
First big test today - Stu's 30K in Clinton - fairly hilly course around the Wachusett reservoir.
Original plan was to run 3 laps on the track before/after the race to bring the total to 20 miles. Hooked up with a few GLRR members in the parking lot and went out for a 2.5 mile warm up. Not sure this was the best day idea, but at least I wouldn't have to do a cool down, right ;-).
I had a couple goals for the race:
- start at 7:40'ish pace and negative split
- don't cramp!
Well I succeeded on both counts - kind of. Went thru mile 1 in 7 minutes - not good. Then I saw another Children's jersey up ahead (I was wearing mine), so I decided to pull him in and chat for a while - not good again. Eventually settled into a 7:30 pace and went through 15K in 69:57. It was difficult to get into a groove with all the ups and downs, but all the mile markers seemed to be pretty much pegged at 7:30 pace. Mile 17 is mostly down hill, then you turn and start climbing for about a mile to a mostly flat finish. Went thru mile 18 in almost exactly 2:15 and wanted to pick it up to get under 2:20 for my negative split. My calf complained a little, but never actually cramped! Got in in 2:19:44 (69:46 second half) without cramping - YEAH.
All in all a pretty good day - 7:30 pace on a difficult 30K course and no cramping. Not sure I would recommend the 2.5 mile warm up ;-)
We are leaving for FLA on Friday, so I will be out for 2 Saturdays. I'll probably back off the mileage a little - probably do a couple 10-12 milers in place of a long run. I will run long on Sunday, 3/21 when we get back (probably in the 18-20 range) and the 3/27 is the organized run on the course - 1st 21 miles from Hopkinton.
Then it's taper time!
Original plan was to run 3 laps on the track before/after the race to bring the total to 20 miles. Hooked up with a few GLRR members in the parking lot and went out for a 2.5 mile warm up. Not sure this was the best day idea, but at least I wouldn't have to do a cool down, right ;-).
I had a couple goals for the race:
- start at 7:40'ish pace and negative split
- don't cramp!
Well I succeeded on both counts - kind of. Went thru mile 1 in 7 minutes - not good. Then I saw another Children's jersey up ahead (I was wearing mine), so I decided to pull him in and chat for a while - not good again. Eventually settled into a 7:30 pace and went through 15K in 69:57. It was difficult to get into a groove with all the ups and downs, but all the mile markers seemed to be pretty much pegged at 7:30 pace. Mile 17 is mostly down hill, then you turn and start climbing for about a mile to a mostly flat finish. Went thru mile 18 in almost exactly 2:15 and wanted to pick it up to get under 2:20 for my negative split. My calf complained a little, but never actually cramped! Got in in 2:19:44 (69:46 second half) without cramping - YEAH.
All in all a pretty good day - 7:30 pace on a difficult 30K course and no cramping. Not sure I would recommend the 2.5 mile warm up ;-)
We are leaving for FLA on Friday, so I will be out for 2 Saturdays. I'll probably back off the mileage a little - probably do a couple 10-12 milers in place of a long run. I will run long on Sunday, 3/21 when we get back (probably in the 18-20 range) and the 3/27 is the organized run on the course - 1st 21 miles from Hopkinton.
Then it's taper time!
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