Monday, October 25, 2010

Weekly Log 10-25-10 to 10-31-10

Monday: 7 miles - Rome Point trails (with Brad) & Wickford roads (solo).  A nice relaxing run on my lunch break - 53 minutes. 

Tuesday: 13 miles - Ryan Park trails (7 mile loop) plus 6 miles roads (to/from the park) alone.  I haven't done this run in awhile, and I'm glad I chose it.  My legs felt tight at the start, and I didn't have a good gauge on how this run would go.  My first three miles (roads) came in at 7:25 pace.  I picked it up a little in the woods.  The footing was a little tricky in my road shoes and with the fallen leaves.  My 7 mile trail split was just under 51 minutes.  I felt particularly strong on the last 3 road miles - I think my body is now used this distance - finishing up in 20 minutes flat (6:20 final mile).  Total time: 1:33:40. 

Wednesday: 8 miles - Wickford roads alone.  A nice late afternoon run.  My body seems to recover quicker now.  My pace was faster than I anticipated, and I was feeling good, so I picked up the last 4 miles trying to get under 7 minute pace average for the run.  I missed it - total time 56:19 - but it was fun trying. 

Thursday: 7 miles - Ryan Park trails solo.  I wasn't sure if I would run today - I felt tired (physically and mentally).  I couldn't resist the warm sunny weather so I decided to run as slowly as I care to go.  I left my watch in the car and trotted along.  I really enjoyed myself out there.  My plan is do something similar tomorrow and then rest Saturday.  Sunday, I'm registered for a 5K.  Time to get 19 minutes.... 

Friday: 8 miles - Rome Point trails (some beach) with Dan.  A good day for a run!  My body feels refreshed and ready to rock on Sunday. 

Saturday: 0

Sunday: 5K - Jamestown Jack-O-Lantern Jog - 19:33.  New PR by 39 seconds!  More on this later. 

Weekly Total: 47 miles
Last Week: 52 miles
Year to Date: 1,092 miles

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Weekly Log 10-18-10 to 10-24-10

Monday: 14 miles - Ryan Park trails (2 x 7 mile loop) solo.  I felt inspired to go for a long run today after my brother's 2:34 marathon and Dan and Tom's 1:35 half marathon on Sunday.  My legs felt sort of sluggish - probably due to lugging wood up my slope over the weekend - but I ran through it.  The spectacular weather helped.  Total time - 1:41:04 (first loop 51:12, second 49: 52).  This put my yearly mileage over 1,000! 

Tuesday: 8 miles - Quonset Bike Path and Calf Pasture Point roads solo.  My goal was to go nice and easy, but I get distracted by the mileage markers and push a little harder than I need to.  My body was tired, but I maintained 7:35 mile pace for the first 6 miles.  I picked up the last two - 7:00 and 6:39, for a total time of 59:12.  Another perfect day.  At this point, I probably will set a weekly mileage PR - I love running in this weather! 

Wednesday: 7 miles - Rome Point trails with Dan.  Yet another great day for a run.  Total time - 52:58. 

Thursday: 5 miles - Ryan Park trails with Dan and Brad.  We snuck in a quick run late in the afternoon after the first wave of thunderstorms moved through.  The 2nd wave was coming just as we started, but it just produced some incredible gusts of wind and a little rain.  Lots of leaves down. 

Friday: 12 miles - Ryan Park trails (2 x 5 mile loop + 2 mile fields) alone.  Despite a lot of miles this week, my body felt really good on this run.  I was surprised how many people were in the woods today with the chilly 50 degree temperature and gusty winds.  I even bumped into a fellow trail runner a couple of times I hadn't seen before.  I'm really happy with my results: 36 minutes 1st 5 miles, 35 minutes 2nd 5 miles, sub 14 minutes last 2 miles - for a total time of 1:24:51.  New weekly mileage PR with 2 days to go.... 

Saturday: 1 mile - Ninigret Park - slow jog alongside my son riding a bike.  My legs are extremely tired.  I spent an hour woodcutting in the AM, followed by a walk with the family in the Carter Preserve. 

Sunday: 5 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads in the early AM.  My legs are still tired, but not as bad.  A nice hilly run at a medium slow pace.  Another hike with the family in the Carter Preserve followed by front yard football. 

Weekly Total: 52 miles
Last Week: 34 miles
Year to Date: 1,045 miles

Monday, October 18, 2010

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Weekly Log 10-11-10 to 10-17-10

Monday:  0.  Corn maze with family and friends again.  Warm day!  Football in the yard afterwards. 

Tuesday: 6 miles - Gravelly Hill trails solo.  I did the "Jon and Ed" out and back as I was pressed for time.  I felt fast without overdoing the effort.  Total time - 40:56 (20:39 out, 20:17 back). 

Wednesday: 9 miles - Ryan Park trails "with" Dan and Selvyn.  Dan started way too fast.  I just ran my own run and enjoyed the sunny 60 degree weather and the changing leaves.  My time was pretty good, so I pushed the last mile.  Total time - 62:49. 

Thursday: 8.5 miles - Calf Pasture Point roads, trails, and beach.  I was looking for a nice and easy run to let my body recover from the previous two efforts.  I was planning to go only 5.5, but kept tacking on more as I went.  The tide was as high as I had ever seen it, making the tidal stream a raging river.  I considered taking off my shoes and wading across, but it was really deep and I wasn't feeling that hardcore.  Untimed. 

Friday: 6.5 miles - Ryan Park trails solo.  I didn't think I would run today, but the weather ended up not being too bad - a windy, gray day in the upper 50's.  Almost perfect for running!  The trails were still in good shape - not too much rain down here.  I ran nice and loose.  Total time - 44:58. 

Saturday: 4 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads in the early AM.  Windy!!  I wanted to get a quick run in before my wife went to work for the day.  I ran the hills hard.  Didn't bring a watch so not sure of the time. 

Weekly Total: 34 miles

Last Week: 32 miles

Year to Date: 993 miles

Monday, October 11, 2010

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Weekly Log 10-4-10 to 10-10-10

Monday: 9 miles - Ryan Park trails - 58:25 new PR and CR - previous best 59:45 this past June. 

Tuesday: 0 - unmotivated to run

Wednesday: 0 - rainy and unmotivated

Thursday: 11 miles - Ryan Park trails - 1:25 with Dan.  Nice, easy run in awesome weather. 

Friday: 7.5 miles - Gravelly Hill trails - 52:21.  My body was a little tired, but I love running there.  Lots of hills, tight turns, and pleasant scenery.  I was 26:10 at the turnaround point, so I was very consistent. 

Saturday: Bike ride - 20 miles with my wife for our anniversary.  We did a ride we hadn't done for years on the eastern Connecticut/western RI border.  Lots of hills!  Only one annoying dog - a German Sheppard chased me until I screamed at it at the top of my lungs.  Horses in Escoheag, but no unpleasant horse riders.  Perfect weather. 



Sunday: 4.5 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads in 40 degree weather.  I broke out my Patagonia long sleeve shirt and my Pearl Izumi hat for this one. 

Weekly Total: 32 miles

Last Week: 36 miles

Year to Date: 959 miles

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Rain Rain Go Away

My kids didn't have a problem running around this morning in the rain.  Maybe I should take their cue? 

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Breaking the Record Again

It was a perfect day for running on Monday.  I went alone to Ryan Park excited to run in the cool and overcast 60 degree weather.  My plan was to run 9 miles at a good pace.  I ammended my plan as soon as I began, and decided to go for a PR (and the CR) .  It was windy in the fields, but I was distracted by the number of plants still flowering at this time of year.  I checked my watch after two miles and wasn't too sure if I was going fast enough to break the record.  My body felt mostly recovered from running on Sunday and chopping wood on Saturday, but maybe it wasn't in tip top shape.  I was enjoying the empty woods and focusing on my footing as newly fallen leaves covered up rocks and roots.  After another check of my watch about half way in, I felt better about my chances.  I kept pushing myself.  After 6 miles, I brought my pace up to the point where my chest hurt.  My legs felt fresh, but not my lungs.  Usually, it's the other way for me.  At 7 miles I was right at my PR time for that distance (on this course).  I finished up the last two miles in the fields and clocked in at 58:25.  A new PR and CR by 1 minute and 20 seconds.  What I was excited about was how hard I pushed myself - my 5K pace, but on trails and 3 times the distance.  I have a lot more confidence on meeting my goal for Lil' Rhody!