Vacation Week #1: 8-5-13 to 8-11-13

This week was mostly spent up in Maine with my wife's family and friends.  As the days are filled with hiking/swimming/exploring/eating/relaxing there isn't alot of time for running.  I snuck in some early morning runs when I could and even ran a race! 

Monday: 14 miles on two runs.  I woke up early and was out the door at 5:30AM to get in a decent run before my wife had to work (her last day before vacation). 



Later in the afternoon I took the kids to the bike path and met my wife there.  I ran with son who was on a bike and she got to scooter with my daughter. 

Tuesday: 8 miles - CHS track workout with Chris and Nate.  I was super pumped to fit this workout in before traveling up to Maine later in the morning.  We did 3800 meters of speedwork for my 38th birthday: 2x800/2x600/2x400/1x200.  The pace was to be 800's at goal 5K pace and go down from there.  It was crazy cold at the start - 47 degrees in Wood River Junction.  It shouldn't be this cold until October.  My body was not adjusted to it and I felt terrible on the first 800 - cold head and lower arms.  I did eventually warm up.  Results: 2:41/2:42/1:53/1:53/71/72/31.  The family then made the drive up to Portland to hang with friends for the night (with an extended lunch stop in Newburyport).

Wednesday: 5 miles - Rocky Pond dirt road loop with Tyson.  We drove to the Dair's camp on Rocky Pond and spent the entire afternoon swimming and hiking.  I then snuck out with Tyson for a fastish run on a loop he and Laura had been running.  Fun stuff and rather hilly. 

 

Thursday: 4 miles - Hancock dirt roads with my wife.  This was just an easy morning run on the pleasant dirt roads around the house we are staying at.  Later in the morning we met up with everyone at the Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park for a hike.  The rain deterred most, but my family ended up hiking Penobscot Mountain (almost 1000' elevation gain) with Tyson and Laura.  The weather was a little scary at the top, and the hike was rather long for the kids (almost 4 hours), but in the end we were all glad to do it. 



Friday: 0.  Terrible weather.  Very rainy all day.  Didn't feel the need to get in another short filler run.  We spent the day exploring Blue Hill and Deer Isle. 

Saturday: 8 miles - Schoodic Point 5K - 2nd overall (lost by one second) - 17:06 (15 second PR).  The day's schedule lined up nicely for me to drive up to Winter Harbor for their Lobster Festival race in the morning.  I almost ran this race last year.  The course is an out an back, mostly on the scenic ocean highway in the National Park.  Previous years results showed decent random competition (depends on who is vacationing when apparently).  I arrived early and was happy that the clouds and fog had lifted and the sun was shining.  It was rather humid still as I found out on my warm up.  I ran the course and noted that it was a gradual uphill until the halfway point (a cone turnaround - yuck!) and then downhill until the last 1/4 mile (gradual uphill).  My legs felt fantastic thanks to the light workload, but I wasn't sure how much the humidity would play into things.  I noticed some fast looking dudes near the start area and then a super fit and fast guy sprinting to the starting line right before the gun.  I guessed I could finish top 5, but not top 3.  When the race began, I was surprised that no one took it out fast, and even more surprised that I was leading.  Finally the super fast looking guy jogged by me after a 1/4 mile.  I could hear footsteps behind me, but no one was breathing down my neck during the first mile.  The leader kept looking back and seemed pretty nonchalant.  5:20 first mile - fast but I'll take it.  I didn't feel like I overdid it.  The next half mile was uphill to the cone.  A guy in a red singlet moved along side of me near the turnaround.  I tried to make a wide turn to keep my momentum, but it didn't work.  I decided to grab a water and pour it over my head since I was working hard and very sweaty.  I moved back up to red singlet's side.  The leader was now running on the grass on the side of the road and eventually we went by him.  Mile 2 was 5:39 - not too slow.  The guy in red made a few surges the last mile, but would then seem to slow down and I would catch back up and pass.  I was leading with a 1/3 mile left.  I was feeling hot and tired, and wasn't sure when to sprint (if I could).  I was passed at about the 3 mile mark one final time (5:31 3rd mile).  I didn't have the fight or speed to catch him this time.  I couldn't muster up the sprint I wanted - in hindsight I wish I just willed myself to do this, I think I didn't push myself hard enough.  I finished a step behind in 17:06.  I was pumped to PR, especially on a summer day.  I think I'm just a cool day away from sub 17.  Post race I chatted with the winner Matt - a local "kid" (25) from Ellsworth Maine.  It was his PR as well.  We ran a cool down together until I met up with my ride (father-in-law) back to the vacation house.  The rest of the day was spent at Rocky Pond for more swimming/kayaking/hiking. 




Sunday: 10 miles - Hancock/Lamoine roads (some dirt) alone in the early morning.  A very pleasant morning on scenic roads and the legs still feeling rather fresh despite the race. 



Later in the morning we went back to Schoodic Point for rockhopping/tidepooling before doing our traditional hike of the Anvil Trail to Schoodic Head. 



Weekly Total: 49 miles
Last Week: 67 miles
Year to Date: 1923 miles