It's time for the race I love to hate - The Blessing of the Fleet 10 Mile Road Race. The event itself is super fun with so many friends, past and present, in attendance. I have real expectations this year, and hope to be ready to rock on Friday night. I need to go sub 1 hour. I want to go sub 59. Because of my training this year (very limited road tempo's or races), I'm not sure what sort of shape I'm in. However, after a strong race at the Keene 4 on the 4th, I hope that I'm capable of doing very well. Weather is always a factor. We'll see.
Monday: 10 miles - Rome Point trails and coastline alone. Very hot day (low 90's), so I was just looking to grab some miles and then swim in the cool bay waters. I was feeling pretty good however, and grabbed a bunch of miles before I stopped on the north side of the point to cool off. The tide was strongly running out of Bissel Cove, which created a 'lazy river' situation. Fun stuff. I then ran for another 15 minutes or so as the skies darkened and then briefly rained on me as I finished. Total time: 1:20:08.
Tuesday: 10 miles - Snake Den trails alone. I was trying to spice up my lackluster day with a new spot to run. Somehow I ended up scoping out Snake Den State Park. It actually wasn't that far from the office. I had printed out the state map, but also ran with my phone in my hand to watch my GPS position. The place was really fun. Most of the trails are double track and fast. But there are some interesting hills to run and the connector trail was an overgrown single track that was hard to follow and hard to stay clean on. There are also Strava segments. I do love them, especially on hills. I wasn't looking for a workout, so I didn't kill myself on any this time around. Besides, Seth has set the bar pretty high on a couple I found out. Well done Seth. I mostly stayed on my anticipated course, beginning on the south side and winding my way over to the north. I really liked the south to north climb that cuts across a powerline. It was long and challenging. There was a nice view at the top and I stopped to snap a picture. Despite it being cooler than yesterday, it was still very hot, especially with the sun out and climbing hills. I was sweating buckets! I continued on, finding a creepy area that looked like a dump and had a recent forest fire in it. I ended up missing the segment back up to the lookout named 'Seth' and instead ended up on a much flatter double track. That was the only bummer of my trip. I refound the connector and picked up my pace since it was a segment in this direction. What a disaster! I kept losing the trail, I fell once, and was hammered by deer flies. Once that was over, I detoured to check out a segment called 'Lost Trail Climb'. This trail was awesome. A hilly switchback that ended (or began) in a field overlooking a farm. I stopped to check my map and let a woman and her dog pass before I ran the segment. Fun stuff. I then had another mile of double track to get back to my car. I really enjoyed this place and hope to come back soon. Total time: 1:17:10 with 715' of elevation gain.
Wednesday: 7+ miles - bike path/Canonchet Farm Trail, and beach roads. I had to stop at Wakefield Music to pick up some supplies for the band. I then ran from the Belmont parking lot via the bike path to the Canonchet Farm Trail. I was surprised at how hot it felt, since it was supposedly much nicer weather today (it still got up to the mid to high 80's). I tried to ignore the many deer flies bouncing off my head and back on the trail. I then ran about 2 miles of roads in the beach area. What a zoo. I returned on the trail and bike path to my car. Total time: 55:43.
Thursday: 0 - Whale Rock hike by myself at lunch. This place is awesome. The half mile trail empties out onto rugged coastline. Today I went north about 3/4 of a mile. It was just me and the birds out there.
Friday: 16 miles - Blessing of the Fleet - 58:39, huge PR!! See separate write up.
Saturday: 0 - dog walk in the Glacier Park while the kids were at karate. Legs feel decent. Still very excited about the race.
Sunday: 8 miles - Burlingame trails with Garvin and Gazelle. We did a loop from my house in the morning. Despite racing the last two days, Jeff was pushing the pace, and especially out of control on the down hills. Deer fly city on this muggy late July morning, which is to be expected I guess. Fun showing the guys around. Total time: 1:05:06 with 580' of climbing.
Overall: I'm just super pleased with my Blessing race. I ran smart, but hard. Light week overall, but it paid off. I hope to ramp up the miles again the next two weeks, before slowing down during vacation time. I hope to possibly race another of the big local races, but most likely my next race will be the St. Peter's 4 Miler in Portland, ME on 8/15. My first as a master! I do plan on getting back to lots of hill work and trails, gearing up for Pisgah 23K and Nipmuck Trail Marathon in the early fall.
Weekly Total: 51 miles
Last Week: 56 miles
Year to Date: 2,029 miles
July Total: 217 miles
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query blessing of the fleet. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query blessing of the fleet. Sort by date Show all posts
Friday, July 24, 2015
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Big Friday Week: 7-21-14 to 7-27-14
Hey look, a timely blog post! Hopefully the first of many. Anyway, this will be an interesting week. Besides non-running things like a Hammett family get-together, birthdays, and a wedding, I will be doing two organized runs on Friday. First, I have organized, designed, and will be directing a trail half marathon through Arcadia in the morning for a close family friends' wedding. I feel like I have everything set up at this point, so I'm hoping this will be more of a group run rather than a race. We'll see. I'm hoping for an "easy" two hours. Then, later in the day I will be racing the Blessing of the Fleet. I know, I've said I would never do this race again, but my strong feelings have subsided over time. I'm rather nervous/excited about it. I'm not sure how the morning run will effect the evening race. I plan to be well rested going in. We'll see what happens....
Monday: 10 miles - Narrow River roads and hills alone. Strava inspiration. I was notified on Sunday that someone had stole my CR on the Walmsley Rd (dirt) climb. It was a vacationer. I can't let that stand. So, this was my goal for Monday's lunch run. It was sunny and warm. I parked at Treaty Rock Park and headed north on Middlebridge Rd. My legs felt rather flat (still feeling Saturday's long hard run?) and my watch wasn't cooperating, showing a slow pace for the first mile. I thought I could retake the CR easy enough, but I was losing a little confidence on my way there. Then I saw a runner ahead of me. Could this be the guy? I was gaining on him and eventually passed, trying to look unsuspicious and strong. A dump truck then went by, and I remembered I saw some construction vehicles on the segment portion of the road on my way into work (from Rte 1). I hope the road is passable. Finally after 2+ miles, I reached the hill and began running harder. There were two dump trucks, two town trucks, and a grader blocking the top of the hill. I just kept running. No one said anything to me, so I snuck around the vehicles and finished the climb to Rte 1. I would have been faster if the road was clear, but in the end it was a 1 second CR. I turned around and ran hard down the hill, passing the other runner who had stopped at the hill. Was it the vacationer? I ran down to the river and then back up. I then made my way south past my car. My goal now was to run the Torrey Rd hill twice. This is a steep hill - the Strava segment here has 175' of climbing in .3 miles (ave. 10% grade). I had the CR going into this run (not sure why Galoob has never run it), but I was able to improve my CR on my first attempt. I pushed the steep downhill and then went back up. I climbed well again, although hot on this shadeless stretch of asphalt. I again pushed the downhill and ran some more to get a full 10 miles in on the day. Total time: 1:10:59 with 647' of climbing.
In the evening, we brought the kids to karate on the beach. There were good waves so I spent a good amount of time bodysurfing (no GPS watch).
Tuesday: 9 miles - Boj's Big River workout alone. When I ran with Boj last week, we talked about how last summer he would run the double track around Carr Pond as a workout. The trail is wide, but full of obstacles. I checked his blog, and saw that he called it 2.2 miles. Mapping it online I was getting almost 2.1, so 2.2 seemed correct (shouldn't doubt Boj's math skills). I decided to give it a go today, as I wanted to do one workout before my Big Friday. It was hot and humid, especially for this lackluster summer. I parked at Hopkins Hill, and ran down to the start (I used the dam at the south end). My legs still weren't feeling fresh, and I was already hot. Whatever, I gave it a shot. I've never actually run the entire loop before, so there were some unknowns as I made my way around. It felt long, and my GPS measured it as just over 2 miles. I was relieved to finish. My time was 12:28 (Boj's best last summer was 13:10). GPS had my pace at 6:10, but using 2.2 miles, my pace was 5:40. It was solid either way considering the uneven terrain and the heat. I then ran very slowly for about two miles as I wanted to do another loop (Boj would do 2). I didn't feel great, but by the time I was nearing the start area, I had recovered enough to try again. Loop 2 went by faster, and I could tell from my watch that I was running about the same pace as the first. The end was difficult. I put in a really good effort. My time was 12:25. I didn't think I could negative split today. I then dragged my tired body back up the hill to my car. What a fun workout. Total time: 1:03:06.
Wednesday: 0 - resting up for Friday. I ran some errands instead of running. I did swim with the family at night at my in-law's small pool.
Thursday: 2 miles - blueberry picking in Ryan Park alone. 1 mile each way to secret lowbush blueberry grounds. 40 minutes of picking. Total time: 16:51.
Friday: 31 miles! Long day of running. After a restless night sleep worried about course prep for the wedding half marathon, I was out of the house early. I dropped off coolers at my two water stops and then stopped at D&D for my normal pre-long run breakfast. I arrived before most at Alton Jones and then immediately headed off to the south hoping to quickly find a connection to the Breakheart Trail in Arcadia. Besides running through a large field that got my shoes soaked, I was able to make the short bushwhack to the trail I was looking for. Sweet! I could now relax, except for the part about worrying if the wedding party would get lost on the course. I had already emailed maps and directions, had a bunch printed out with me, and then I also decided to run with a bunch of blue trim painting tape to mark questionable intersections. I was happy to see there was a good group of people excited to run (12 or so). They all had running gear on and looked fit. And then there was Shaun Horgan. He said he would run up front with me. I told him that I was also running the Blessing tonight and not to expect too much. The bride arrived with custom visors and we were soon off. I was surprised that most of the group was going at a very relaxed pace. After the bushwhack and making sure everyone was all set, I headed out ahead with Shaun. Immediately we heard yelling behind us as the bride and groom were being stung repeatedly by ground bees. Ugh! No one was allergic or discouraged so we moved on. After a while Shaun took off ahead of me (I later learned that he had a time constraint and didn't run the whole course). I continued on at an easy pace that I thought wouldn't tax my legs too much. Unfortunately there was a lot of climbing in the beginning (Penny Hill and Mount Tom). I began stopping at intersections to use the blue tape. I refound Shaun a couple of times who got off course (he had a map and would figure it out). I hoped the others were seeing my tape. I made my way past the first water stop, crossed Rte 165, and continued down the Mt Tom ledges. This is an awesome stretch of trail, but challenging. I continued to stop and mark as needed, possibly being stung once, before getting into a nice groove on the flatter easier middle portion of the run. The deer flies were out and I hoped this wasn't too much of a nuisance for the mostly out-of-towners. I decided not to take any water or GU that I left at the second cooler, leaving everything for the rest of the group. I was feeling fine, but the minutes on my feet were piling up. I finally was getting hungry the last two miles on Breakheart Trail. I had also run out of tape and had been marking intersections by drawing giant arrows on the trail. I finished up at the Acid Factory Brook bridge and began my wait for the others. My total time for the run (which I'm calling 14 miles) was a little over two hours (Strava had my moving time at 1:58). I took off my shoes and soaked my legs in the brook.
After about a half an hour a person from the group emerged on a bike. I met this guy before the run and he decided to try biking it rather than run. He is quite the character. He made his own way around Arcadia using the map on a bike that had a pedal fall off pretty early on. Anyway, I was thirsty and hungry, so he agreed to wait at the bridge as I made the 1 mile round trip to my car. I didn't have anything to eat, but at least I had more water bottles. Finally, people began to emerge from the run. Everyone had stayed together until the last mile or so, where some chose to run and others hiked. They all loved the trails and stayed on course until near the end. They figured out their mistake and found another way back onto the planned route. They probably ended up running about 15 miles, but were all in great spirits. I also was pleased that they all enjoyed soaking in the brook post run. That was my idea going in.
I was hungry and tired by the time I left the group at Alton Jones. I had run 16 miles at this point, and needed more fuel and a nap. Unfortunately, time was not on my side. I had to pick up the coolers I had left on Rte 165, and then get home, quickly eat lunch, and then pick up my kids at camp. My nap didn't materialize. I had iced coffee instead. Soon it was time to drive over to Narragansett for the next running adventure of the day - The Blessing of the Fleet. I got annoyed with the early traffic and decided to park at the elementary school. This meant I was a mile away from bib pick up. I made the run, and my legs felt great. Bib pick up was mobbed with people and overwhelming. I looked around for Muddy and then ran back to my car. I snacked on trail mix, and had a GU. I then felt ready and texted Muddy to see where he was at. He was back near registration and going to warm up soon. Hmm. Well, I did this race to socialize with my running friends - running a top notch race was not happening anyway at this point. So, I ran the mile back to his car where we found Galoob, and ran a two mile warm up. I did start to feel fatigue in my legs on that fifth warm up mile. Muddy and I went back to his car for one more GU and Gatorade. 21 miles already completed, now for a 10 mile road race!
Muddy and I weaved our way up front and it felt like we were the last two people to arrive. I found a spot next to Seth, Garvin, and Matty Bo. I wasn't sure what was about to happen, but I planned to try my best to still sneak under an hour. After the crazy start, I settled into the downhill mile. I felt good. I wasn't looking at my watch, but I knew I was ahead of Muddy and Garvin which was probably not smart. I wasn't going to worry about it, just see what my legs had left today. Garvin went by after a mile, and soon after Muddy, with the lead woman in tow. I hung around a few steps behind them for awhile, but then gradually faded. Each mile had a clock, and I could see that I was slowing down, but still on pace for under an hour. The downhill miles on Ocean Road were negated by a headwind, which was a bit of a bummer. Despite not feeling overly hot, I made sure to grab water at most miles. I poured most over my head and tried to sip the rest. My right calf and hammy felt a little tight and I did not want to cramp. I felt good about my effort as I ran. I really think on a normal day, this would equate to 5:50 pace. Rte 108 is endless, and I remembered how much I hated it as I ran. I picked up my intensity once the course veered off onto the side roads in miles 6,7, and 8. I was now no longer on target for sub 1 hour however. According to my Strava splits, I was also slowing down. I would occasionally get passed which was frustrating, especially by people I knew like Brian McNeice. The crowds were great though and helped me pretend to look strong. I passed the 8 mile clock and I believe I saw 48:02 (looking back I was wrong). I was pumped that I could still pull this off (or so I thought). Mile 9 has some climbing to it, and by the time I reached the next clock, I knew I had no chance. I also didn't have much left in my legs. I tried, but my last mile was lackluster. I only sprinted the last 100 meters when I saw a shadow gaining on me. I didn't want to be passed by anyone else. I finished the race in 1:00:50. Unlike at most races, I was feeling completely beat. I caught up with my WTAC friends and I tried to eat fruit to fend off my light headedness. Garvin graciously walked back with me to my car as the others ran a cooldown. It was fun running into a spectating Shaun Horgan. I didn't officially know at that point if he had ever made it out of the woods. I perked up a bit at my car and met Garvin, Gazelle, Jana, and Mike B for a fun late dinner. What a day!
Saturday: 0 - no urge to run early in the morning which was my only window. Fun night of cross training at the wedding where we camped out too.
Sunday: 6 miles - Alton Jones trails alone in the early am. After not much sleep and a headache, I laced up my shoes and ran while everyone else was still sleeping. I didn't feel good at the start, but I knew this run would make me feel better. I wandered around trails, scared a large raccoon (scared me too), and got lost. I figured my way out of there after running for about 50 minutes. Good enough. Quiet rest of the day, until it was time to head to Galilee to celebrate my wife's birthday. The annual tradition is dinner with family and friends at Champlin's, followed by swimming at Salty Brine Beach, and completed with birthday cake. The weather (as usual) cleared just in time for a fun night at the beach!
Weekly Total: 58 miles
Last Week: 72 miles
Year to Date: 1902 miles
July Total: 245 miles
The Wedding Half Marathon Course
Monday: 10 miles - Narrow River roads and hills alone. Strava inspiration. I was notified on Sunday that someone had stole my CR on the Walmsley Rd (dirt) climb. It was a vacationer. I can't let that stand. So, this was my goal for Monday's lunch run. It was sunny and warm. I parked at Treaty Rock Park and headed north on Middlebridge Rd. My legs felt rather flat (still feeling Saturday's long hard run?) and my watch wasn't cooperating, showing a slow pace for the first mile. I thought I could retake the CR easy enough, but I was losing a little confidence on my way there. Then I saw a runner ahead of me. Could this be the guy? I was gaining on him and eventually passed, trying to look unsuspicious and strong. A dump truck then went by, and I remembered I saw some construction vehicles on the segment portion of the road on my way into work (from Rte 1). I hope the road is passable. Finally after 2+ miles, I reached the hill and began running harder. There were two dump trucks, two town trucks, and a grader blocking the top of the hill. I just kept running. No one said anything to me, so I snuck around the vehicles and finished the climb to Rte 1. I would have been faster if the road was clear, but in the end it was a 1 second CR. I turned around and ran hard down the hill, passing the other runner who had stopped at the hill. Was it the vacationer? I ran down to the river and then back up. I then made my way south past my car. My goal now was to run the Torrey Rd hill twice. This is a steep hill - the Strava segment here has 175' of climbing in .3 miles (ave. 10% grade). I had the CR going into this run (not sure why Galoob has never run it), but I was able to improve my CR on my first attempt. I pushed the steep downhill and then went back up. I climbed well again, although hot on this shadeless stretch of asphalt. I again pushed the downhill and ran some more to get a full 10 miles in on the day. Total time: 1:10:59 with 647' of climbing.
In the evening, we brought the kids to karate on the beach. There were good waves so I spent a good amount of time bodysurfing (no GPS watch).
Tuesday: 9 miles - Boj's Big River workout alone. When I ran with Boj last week, we talked about how last summer he would run the double track around Carr Pond as a workout. The trail is wide, but full of obstacles. I checked his blog, and saw that he called it 2.2 miles. Mapping it online I was getting almost 2.1, so 2.2 seemed correct (shouldn't doubt Boj's math skills). I decided to give it a go today, as I wanted to do one workout before my Big Friday. It was hot and humid, especially for this lackluster summer. I parked at Hopkins Hill, and ran down to the start (I used the dam at the south end). My legs still weren't feeling fresh, and I was already hot. Whatever, I gave it a shot. I've never actually run the entire loop before, so there were some unknowns as I made my way around. It felt long, and my GPS measured it as just over 2 miles. I was relieved to finish. My time was 12:28 (Boj's best last summer was 13:10). GPS had my pace at 6:10, but using 2.2 miles, my pace was 5:40. It was solid either way considering the uneven terrain and the heat. I then ran very slowly for about two miles as I wanted to do another loop (Boj would do 2). I didn't feel great, but by the time I was nearing the start area, I had recovered enough to try again. Loop 2 went by faster, and I could tell from my watch that I was running about the same pace as the first. The end was difficult. I put in a really good effort. My time was 12:25. I didn't think I could negative split today. I then dragged my tired body back up the hill to my car. What a fun workout. Total time: 1:03:06.
Wednesday: 0 - resting up for Friday. I ran some errands instead of running. I did swim with the family at night at my in-law's small pool.
Thursday: 2 miles - blueberry picking in Ryan Park alone. 1 mile each way to secret lowbush blueberry grounds. 40 minutes of picking. Total time: 16:51.
Somewhere in Ryan Park
Friday: 31 miles! Long day of running. After a restless night sleep worried about course prep for the wedding half marathon, I was out of the house early. I dropped off coolers at my two water stops and then stopped at D&D for my normal pre-long run breakfast. I arrived before most at Alton Jones and then immediately headed off to the south hoping to quickly find a connection to the Breakheart Trail in Arcadia. Besides running through a large field that got my shoes soaked, I was able to make the short bushwhack to the trail I was looking for. Sweet! I could now relax, except for the part about worrying if the wedding party would get lost on the course. I had already emailed maps and directions, had a bunch printed out with me, and then I also decided to run with a bunch of blue trim painting tape to mark questionable intersections. I was happy to see there was a good group of people excited to run (12 or so). They all had running gear on and looked fit. And then there was Shaun Horgan. He said he would run up front with me. I told him that I was also running the Blessing tonight and not to expect too much. The bride arrived with custom visors and we were soon off. I was surprised that most of the group was going at a very relaxed pace. After the bushwhack and making sure everyone was all set, I headed out ahead with Shaun. Immediately we heard yelling behind us as the bride and groom were being stung repeatedly by ground bees. Ugh! No one was allergic or discouraged so we moved on. After a while Shaun took off ahead of me (I later learned that he had a time constraint and didn't run the whole course). I continued on at an easy pace that I thought wouldn't tax my legs too much. Unfortunately there was a lot of climbing in the beginning (Penny Hill and Mount Tom). I began stopping at intersections to use the blue tape. I refound Shaun a couple of times who got off course (he had a map and would figure it out). I hoped the others were seeing my tape. I made my way past the first water stop, crossed Rte 165, and continued down the Mt Tom ledges. This is an awesome stretch of trail, but challenging. I continued to stop and mark as needed, possibly being stung once, before getting into a nice groove on the flatter easier middle portion of the run. The deer flies were out and I hoped this wasn't too much of a nuisance for the mostly out-of-towners. I decided not to take any water or GU that I left at the second cooler, leaving everything for the rest of the group. I was feeling fine, but the minutes on my feet were piling up. I finally was getting hungry the last two miles on Breakheart Trail. I had also run out of tape and had been marking intersections by drawing giant arrows on the trail. I finished up at the Acid Factory Brook bridge and began my wait for the others. My total time for the run (which I'm calling 14 miles) was a little over two hours (Strava had my moving time at 1:58). I took off my shoes and soaked my legs in the brook.
nothing like a soak in acid (factory brook)!
getting artsy while I waited
After about a half an hour a person from the group emerged on a bike. I met this guy before the run and he decided to try biking it rather than run. He is quite the character. He made his own way around Arcadia using the map on a bike that had a pedal fall off pretty early on. Anyway, I was thirsty and hungry, so he agreed to wait at the bridge as I made the 1 mile round trip to my car. I didn't have anything to eat, but at least I had more water bottles. Finally, people began to emerge from the run. Everyone had stayed together until the last mile or so, where some chose to run and others hiked. They all loved the trails and stayed on course until near the end. They figured out their mistake and found another way back onto the planned route. They probably ended up running about 15 miles, but were all in great spirits. I also was pleased that they all enjoyed soaking in the brook post run. That was my idea going in.
I was hungry and tired by the time I left the group at Alton Jones. I had run 16 miles at this point, and needed more fuel and a nap. Unfortunately, time was not on my side. I had to pick up the coolers I had left on Rte 165, and then get home, quickly eat lunch, and then pick up my kids at camp. My nap didn't materialize. I had iced coffee instead. Soon it was time to drive over to Narragansett for the next running adventure of the day - The Blessing of the Fleet. I got annoyed with the early traffic and decided to park at the elementary school. This meant I was a mile away from bib pick up. I made the run, and my legs felt great. Bib pick up was mobbed with people and overwhelming. I looked around for Muddy and then ran back to my car. I snacked on trail mix, and had a GU. I then felt ready and texted Muddy to see where he was at. He was back near registration and going to warm up soon. Hmm. Well, I did this race to socialize with my running friends - running a top notch race was not happening anyway at this point. So, I ran the mile back to his car where we found Galoob, and ran a two mile warm up. I did start to feel fatigue in my legs on that fifth warm up mile. Muddy and I went back to his car for one more GU and Gatorade. 21 miles already completed, now for a 10 mile road race!
Muddy and I weaved our way up front and it felt like we were the last two people to arrive. I found a spot next to Seth, Garvin, and Matty Bo. I wasn't sure what was about to happen, but I planned to try my best to still sneak under an hour. After the crazy start, I settled into the downhill mile. I felt good. I wasn't looking at my watch, but I knew I was ahead of Muddy and Garvin which was probably not smart. I wasn't going to worry about it, just see what my legs had left today. Garvin went by after a mile, and soon after Muddy, with the lead woman in tow. I hung around a few steps behind them for awhile, but then gradually faded. Each mile had a clock, and I could see that I was slowing down, but still on pace for under an hour. The downhill miles on Ocean Road were negated by a headwind, which was a bit of a bummer. Despite not feeling overly hot, I made sure to grab water at most miles. I poured most over my head and tried to sip the rest. My right calf and hammy felt a little tight and I did not want to cramp. I felt good about my effort as I ran. I really think on a normal day, this would equate to 5:50 pace. Rte 108 is endless, and I remembered how much I hated it as I ran. I picked up my intensity once the course veered off onto the side roads in miles 6,7, and 8. I was now no longer on target for sub 1 hour however. According to my Strava splits, I was also slowing down. I would occasionally get passed which was frustrating, especially by people I knew like Brian McNeice. The crowds were great though and helped me pretend to look strong. I passed the 8 mile clock and I believe I saw 48:02 (looking back I was wrong). I was pumped that I could still pull this off (or so I thought). Mile 9 has some climbing to it, and by the time I reached the next clock, I knew I had no chance. I also didn't have much left in my legs. I tried, but my last mile was lackluster. I only sprinted the last 100 meters when I saw a shadow gaining on me. I didn't want to be passed by anyone else. I finished the race in 1:00:50. Unlike at most races, I was feeling completely beat. I caught up with my WTAC friends and I tried to eat fruit to fend off my light headedness. Garvin graciously walked back with me to my car as the others ran a cooldown. It was fun running into a spectating Shaun Horgan. I didn't officially know at that point if he had ever made it out of the woods. I perked up a bit at my car and met Garvin, Gazelle, Jana, and Mike B for a fun late dinner. What a day!
Saturday: 0 - no urge to run early in the morning which was my only window. Fun night of cross training at the wedding where we camped out too.
camping at the Alton Jones wedding
Sunday: 6 miles - Alton Jones trails alone in the early am. After not much sleep and a headache, I laced up my shoes and ran while everyone else was still sleeping. I didn't feel good at the start, but I knew this run would make me feel better. I wandered around trails, scared a large raccoon (scared me too), and got lost. I figured my way out of there after running for about 50 minutes. Good enough. Quiet rest of the day, until it was time to head to Galilee to celebrate my wife's birthday. The annual tradition is dinner with family and friends at Champlin's, followed by swimming at Salty Brine Beach, and completed with birthday cake. The weather (as usual) cleared just in time for a fun night at the beach!
Weekly Total: 58 miles
Last Week: 72 miles
Year to Date: 1902 miles
July Total: 245 miles
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Weekly Log 7-22-13 to 7-28-13
Sort of an uneventful week of running. My legs were heavy due to the high mileage without rest. No Fun Run on Wednesday to celebrate my mom's birthday. No Blessing of the Fleet race on Friday to celebrate my wife's birthday (not that I wanted to run it anyway). No interesting runs planned for the weekend (just playing it by ear). Ho hum.
Monday: 8 miles - Ryan Park trails alone. This was just an easy recovery run on the normal trails. Originally, it was going to be cooler and drier today, but instead it was the same old same old. Total time: 1:015:22.
Tuesday: 15 miles in two runs. In the morning, I met up at the CCMS track for the weekly group workout. It ended up just being me and Nate today. The weather was overcast (with some light rain) and about 75 degrees. We did a two mile warm up and then decided to do a few longer intervals at goal 5K race pace - 3x1000. My legs were feeling a bit sleepy, but I was happy with my times and consistency: 3:26/3:25/3:25 (a tad faster than goal 5K pace). We talked about throwing in some shorter intervals at the end, but we both were satisfied with just the 1000's. Two mile cool down.
In the afternoon I headed out for a recovery run. For some reason I settled on running roads in Saunderstown, thinking it wasn't too hot out, and I was sort of sick of Ryan Park and Rome Point. I did park at Rome Point and then headed up the hill on 1A. My legs felt pretty terrible and by the time I was one mile in, I was a sweaty mess. It was really muggy and the sun was hot when I wasn't in the shade. I trudged along, climbing the Cottrell Rd hill and then finally feeling better on the long gradual descent down Snuff Mill Road. No deer flies today - thanks Seth for taking care of them for me last week. I then detoured down Gilbert Stuart Rd to Camp Nokewa and ran a couple of miles of trails. A dog playfully began chasing me near the pond, so I threw in a hill sprint to lose it. I liked this "loop", but it's not for the summer.
Wednesday: 9 miles - Quonset Bike Path and Calf Pasture Point alone. I set my alarm so that I could do a double today, but I wasn't interested when it went off. Instead I just ran on my break. I decided to do the bike path and beach since it was drier today and cloudy. I was a little shocked to find out that the temperature was 88 degrees when I ran. My legs felt pretty terrible the first two miles, and I didn't dare look at my watch. I enjoyed the scenery and quietness though.
Thursday: 9 miles - hilly road loop from my house at 5:45AM. I was able to wake up early for a run this morning and was greeted by 60 degrees and low humidity. I was actually chilly the first half mile! My course was down Burdickville Rd to Rte 91 to Rte 216 and back up Buckeye Brook Rd. It began sprinkling a couple of miles in, and then it turned into a steady rain near the end. My legs had more life in them today and the miles went by easily. I tried not to look at my watch, but I was curious how much a difference the cool temperature was having on my pace. I pushed it pretty hard up the mile plus climb near the end and the final up and down mile to my house.
Friday: 9 miles - Ryan Park trails alone. I was all over the map on ideas for running today. First off, I wasn't sure I would even be able to (busy day before/after work). Then I mapped out some options for a 10 mile time trial run in honor of my friends running the Blessing of the Fleet at night. I wasn't feeling like I had that in me, so then I thought I would do a few fast trail segments in Ryan Park. What I ended up doing was just keeping the effort mellow for nine miles. I did mix up my course enough to make it feel fresh. You probably can't tell from the map.
Saturday: 4+ miles - Carter Preserve trails with my wife. It was her birthday today and I got her a bunch of new running gear. Instead of a nice breakfast out (no kids), she opted for a trail run. We parked at the Rte 112 lot and ran a loop of the the red/blue/yellow trails. We then picked up breakfast in our smelly running clothes at the Charlestown Bakery.
Sunday: 19+ miles - Burlingame long trail run/workout solo. My legs were feeling rejuvenated after a couple of easy days in a row. I came up with my idea for this run late on Saturday night. I have been having a dilemma about which Pisgah Mountain Trail Race to do this September - 23K or 50K. I was going to give the 50K a go again after running a fast 23K last year, but then I had an epiphany after dropping out of the TARC 50K - I didn't want to run 50K's anymore. Not too long after, I began thinking that I would give the Pisgah 50K one more shot. But I've recently realized that despite all of my training, I'm not getting in the long runs that I need for this type of race. So I've been thinking about the 23K again, and if it is possible to finish in under 1:40. Last year I ran super hard and was thrilled to get 1:44 (previous best was 1:58 in 2010). Is it even possible to clip off another 4+ minutes? Anyway, so this is what I was thinking about Saturday night when I came up with my plan for today's run. I wanted to run 2.5 hours (I've been running 2 on recent long runs) and incorporate a long tempo somewhere in the middle. I ended up running in Burlingame from my house for about an hour. I briefly stopped to drink water and eat half of a granola bar, and then ditched my pack and ran the Li'l Rhody Runaround course (8 miles) hard. I was hoping to be around 55 minutes (a pace I would need to maintain at Pisgah 23K for my goal time). My pace felt fast throughout the 8 miles and I wondered if I might finish in the low 50's. I ended up running 53:45. My effort probably was at 51/52 minutes, but the muggy conditions slowed me down. I stopped to drink water and then headed home the scenic way (Schoolhouse Pond/Sammy C's trails). My pace was very slow on the way back and my body was pretty beat, but I've felt a lot worse. I was really happy with this run and it was good training for the 23K (and leaves the door open for the 50K).
Weekly Total: 73 miles
Last Week: 80 miles
Year to Date: 1807 miles
Monday: 8 miles - Ryan Park trails alone. This was just an easy recovery run on the normal trails. Originally, it was going to be cooler and drier today, but instead it was the same old same old. Total time: 1:015:22.
Tuesday: 15 miles in two runs. In the morning, I met up at the CCMS track for the weekly group workout. It ended up just being me and Nate today. The weather was overcast (with some light rain) and about 75 degrees. We did a two mile warm up and then decided to do a few longer intervals at goal 5K race pace - 3x1000. My legs were feeling a bit sleepy, but I was happy with my times and consistency: 3:26/3:25/3:25 (a tad faster than goal 5K pace). We talked about throwing in some shorter intervals at the end, but we both were satisfied with just the 1000's. Two mile cool down.
In the afternoon I headed out for a recovery run. For some reason I settled on running roads in Saunderstown, thinking it wasn't too hot out, and I was sort of sick of Ryan Park and Rome Point. I did park at Rome Point and then headed up the hill on 1A. My legs felt pretty terrible and by the time I was one mile in, I was a sweaty mess. It was really muggy and the sun was hot when I wasn't in the shade. I trudged along, climbing the Cottrell Rd hill and then finally feeling better on the long gradual descent down Snuff Mill Road. No deer flies today - thanks Seth for taking care of them for me last week. I then detoured down Gilbert Stuart Rd to Camp Nokewa and ran a couple of miles of trails. A dog playfully began chasing me near the pond, so I threw in a hill sprint to lose it. I liked this "loop", but it's not for the summer.
Wednesday: 9 miles - Quonset Bike Path and Calf Pasture Point alone. I set my alarm so that I could do a double today, but I wasn't interested when it went off. Instead I just ran on my break. I decided to do the bike path and beach since it was drier today and cloudy. I was a little shocked to find out that the temperature was 88 degrees when I ran. My legs felt pretty terrible the first two miles, and I didn't dare look at my watch. I enjoyed the scenery and quietness though.
Thursday: 9 miles - hilly road loop from my house at 5:45AM. I was able to wake up early for a run this morning and was greeted by 60 degrees and low humidity. I was actually chilly the first half mile! My course was down Burdickville Rd to Rte 91 to Rte 216 and back up Buckeye Brook Rd. It began sprinkling a couple of miles in, and then it turned into a steady rain near the end. My legs had more life in them today and the miles went by easily. I tried not to look at my watch, but I was curious how much a difference the cool temperature was having on my pace. I pushed it pretty hard up the mile plus climb near the end and the final up and down mile to my house.
Friday: 9 miles - Ryan Park trails alone. I was all over the map on ideas for running today. First off, I wasn't sure I would even be able to (busy day before/after work). Then I mapped out some options for a 10 mile time trial run in honor of my friends running the Blessing of the Fleet at night. I wasn't feeling like I had that in me, so then I thought I would do a few fast trail segments in Ryan Park. What I ended up doing was just keeping the effort mellow for nine miles. I did mix up my course enough to make it feel fresh. You probably can't tell from the map.
Saturday: 4+ miles - Carter Preserve trails with my wife. It was her birthday today and I got her a bunch of new running gear. Instead of a nice breakfast out (no kids), she opted for a trail run. We parked at the Rte 112 lot and ran a loop of the the red/blue/yellow trails. We then picked up breakfast in our smelly running clothes at the Charlestown Bakery.
Sunday: 19+ miles - Burlingame long trail run/workout solo. My legs were feeling rejuvenated after a couple of easy days in a row. I came up with my idea for this run late on Saturday night. I have been having a dilemma about which Pisgah Mountain Trail Race to do this September - 23K or 50K. I was going to give the 50K a go again after running a fast 23K last year, but then I had an epiphany after dropping out of the TARC 50K - I didn't want to run 50K's anymore. Not too long after, I began thinking that I would give the Pisgah 50K one more shot. But I've recently realized that despite all of my training, I'm not getting in the long runs that I need for this type of race. So I've been thinking about the 23K again, and if it is possible to finish in under 1:40. Last year I ran super hard and was thrilled to get 1:44 (previous best was 1:58 in 2010). Is it even possible to clip off another 4+ minutes? Anyway, so this is what I was thinking about Saturday night when I came up with my plan for today's run. I wanted to run 2.5 hours (I've been running 2 on recent long runs) and incorporate a long tempo somewhere in the middle. I ended up running in Burlingame from my house for about an hour. I briefly stopped to drink water and eat half of a granola bar, and then ditched my pack and ran the Li'l Rhody Runaround course (8 miles) hard. I was hoping to be around 55 minutes (a pace I would need to maintain at Pisgah 23K for my goal time). My pace felt fast throughout the 8 miles and I wondered if I might finish in the low 50's. I ended up running 53:45. My effort probably was at 51/52 minutes, but the muggy conditions slowed me down. I stopped to drink water and then headed home the scenic way (Schoolhouse Pond/Sammy C's trails). My pace was very slow on the way back and my body was pretty beat, but I've felt a lot worse. I was really happy with this run and it was good training for the 23K (and leaves the door open for the 50K).
Weekly Total: 73 miles
Last Week: 80 miles
Year to Date: 1807 miles
Friday, August 7, 2015
Blessing of the Fleet 2015
I know it's been too long since the latest edition of the RI's biggest race - The Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler back on July 24th. Here's a briefer than usual recap:
I came into the race well rested.
I wasn't nervous at all the day of.
I was determined to run T-pace and just hold on.
I didn't want to go out too fast (adrenaline and down hill).
The weather was decent (overcast and 70's at the start, down pour for 3+ miles near end).
I fueled well pre-race (pbj and granola bar 3:30pm, GU 10 minutes before 6pm start, well hydrated).
I spent pre-race hanging with and warming up with Garvin and Woolley. But did a bigger warm up of WTAC teammates including Gazelle Sr & Jr, Mike B, Jonny E. Lots of familiar faces up front on the line. I got off nice and controlled. Tons of people already ahead of me. I tried to just stick with Dave Principe, as he told me at the start that his plan was to run 5:50 pace and he is a disciplined runner, so I figured he would stick to it and not go out too fast.
Sticking with Dave early on
I have to admit to a lot of watch watching during this race. I had it on manual laps and I just let it run, focusing on my overall race pace. 1st mile was a touch fast in 5:44. I moved ahead of Dave, Bob Jackman, and 1st female Marie Davenport (who I did a tempo run with a few weeks prior and she said then she was hoping to race in the mid 5:40's). Feeling good.
Near the 1st mile marker. Slightly ahead of Bob and Marie
Mile 2 is a slight incline on Ocean Rd. Dave and Bob passed me briefly, but I passed them when they got stuck behind some slower running traffic on a hill. The clock read 11:36 (5:52 mile 2). Mile 3 has a little bump and then a longer downhill as the course continues down Ocean Rd. I maintained my position ahead of Dave, Bob, and Marie. I forget what the clock read at 3 miles, GPS had it at 5:42. My watch was showing my overall pace as 5:47/5:48. I secretly wanted to maintain this, even though it was faster than my T-pace (5:52).
Mile 4 is flat and exposed along Scarborough State Beach and then rises after turning onto Knowles Way. I caught a few people here and really made sure to stay tough. GPS had me at 5:50. I wasn't noticing Bob and Dave anymore. I knew Marie was still lurking by the support she was getting from the spectators. Mile 5 is miserable. It runs along a 4 lane highway (Rte 108). It looks flat, but is a slow riser. Experience has taught me this can be the slowest mile in the race. I really tried to maintain my speed and worked hard to get a 5:51 GPS mile. At this point I hit the lap button on my watch (which was still showing 5:48 average pace). 29:08 split.
Mile 6 is another downer on Rte 108. According to Strava, it rises 53', but looks pancake flat. Experience again led me to try harder than I might normally. The skies were getting darker and lightning could be seen in the distance (where the course was headed). Walkers became an issue. My split was 6:02, but the grade adjusted pace was 5:47, so the effort was there. Mile 7 is on a wooded back road. The skies opened up and it began to pour. Lightning was in the vicinity, and many walkers began running for cover. Thanks to the closed road, I was able to have the oncoming traffic lane all to myself. I was feeling pretty good and knew that I could finish in decent shape from here (unless I got struck by lightning or the race got cancelled). Mile 7 was 5:51 on my GPS.
Mile 8 continues on a back road and then dumps back out onto the main road the race begins on. A lot of the parties along the route here had gone inside as the rain continued to pour down and there was still lightning. I was hoping to pick it up after this, but my legs didn't have another gear. I was running a perfect pace for the whole race. Mile 8 was a tad slow, probably due to the poor road conditions (puddles everywhere, shoes soaked). 5:58 according to GPS.
Mile 9 is tricky: downhill, uphill, then downhill. The uphill is noticeable and the biggest "hill" on the course. I stopped hearing people cheer for Marie. I was surprised that I was probably going to beat her today. I did my best on the hill and then tried to take advantage of the down hill. GPS mile 9 was 5:54.
Mile 8 or 9 misery.
Ditto
One more mile to go. Another gradual downhill and then flat finish. Walkers are tough along 1A, as the road is open to traffic and there isn't much room for those of us racing. Also, it was just one big puddle. I really tried to let my legs loose, but again no response. The final straightaway is so freaking long. I got passed here which was annoying. I glanced back and saw that no one else was going to run me down. I couldn't really sprint the finish. Final GPS mile 5:36. Official finishing time 58:39!! 29:31 2nd half split (5:52 average).
Closing in on the finish.
Done!
Post race was interesting. I did a cool down with Garvin and Woolley and ended up at a former 3X Super Bowl champ's house where we were treated like stars. Totally unreal experience. Then I had to run back to my car. Not easy. Fun WTAC dinner followed in Wakefield.
I'm really happy with this race. Funny how I usually hate road races, especially this one being on a steamy summer night. I would have been the top master if it was held two weeks later. I'm now believing fresh legs is the only way to go for key races. T-pace is legit. Thank you Daniels!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Weekly Log 7-25-11 to 7-31-11
Monday: 9 miles - Burlingame trails with Greg. It was much cooler today, but I would guess by the soupiness that the dew point was high. We ran in the morning and did a pretty fun loop. We ran with hats and shirts to keep the deer fly damage down. Total time: 66 minutes.
Tuesday: 17 miles. 7 miles AM - Burlingame trails with Greg, Pard, and Joe. We met up at 7AM at the brook, and then ran around the old campground nice and easy. It was fun chatting with our cousin from Georgia. Greg and I picked it up for the last two miles back to my house. Total time: 54 minutes. 10 miles PM - Rome Point trails and beach alone. This run gave me the confidence that I will be at full strength on Friday for the Blessing of the Fleet. I was a little over 7 minute pace the first 5 or 6 miles, and then picked it up to finish under 7 minute pace overall - 68:38. The weather was decent - not too hot, windy, but muggy. I felt like I wasn't overdoing it. We'll see what Friday brings.
Wednesday: 7 miles - Ryan Park trails alone. I went old school and parked at the top of the fields. I debated doing 9 miles, but my legs seemed to think 7 was adequate. No sense of having tired legs for the race. Lot's of colors in the fields. Great day. Total time: 55 minutes.
Thursday: 7 miles - Rome Point trails solo. Another nice summer day for running. I wish it would be this dry for tomorrow's race. At least it looks like it will be cloudy. Total time: 52:30.
Friday: Blessing of the Fleet 10M Race - 65:59 - 5 minute PR - write up to follow (total miles 11)
Saturday: 6 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads and trails alone. Despite racing the previous night, I was really itching to run again today. I ran in the middle of the afternoon heat (88 degrees) and loved it, although my legs were tired. 48 minutes. Nice hike afterwards with my family in the Carter Preserve. My son loves to hike, and didn't complain once during the 2+ mile loop. I had the honor of giving my daughter a shoulder ride for all but .1 miles of it.
Sunday: 8 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads and Vin Gormley trail alone. Another nice day, I got this run in fairly early. The deer flies were still thick in the woods, so I'm glad I wore a shirt. I started slow, but finished at a quick pace. 64 minutes. Awesome swim later in the day with my family in Watch Hill.
Overall: New weekly mileage PR. I just have the urge to run everyday when the weather is nice. I was happy with my race, but not thrilled with my time. I'm planning for a long training run next Saturday in Burlingame if anyone is interested in joining me for all or part of it.
Weekly Total: 65 miles
Last Week: 19 miles
Year to Date: 1357 miles
Tuesday: 17 miles. 7 miles AM - Burlingame trails with Greg, Pard, and Joe. We met up at 7AM at the brook, and then ran around the old campground nice and easy. It was fun chatting with our cousin from Georgia. Greg and I picked it up for the last two miles back to my house. Total time: 54 minutes. 10 miles PM - Rome Point trails and beach alone. This run gave me the confidence that I will be at full strength on Friday for the Blessing of the Fleet. I was a little over 7 minute pace the first 5 or 6 miles, and then picked it up to finish under 7 minute pace overall - 68:38. The weather was decent - not too hot, windy, but muggy. I felt like I wasn't overdoing it. We'll see what Friday brings.
Wednesday: 7 miles - Ryan Park trails alone. I went old school and parked at the top of the fields. I debated doing 9 miles, but my legs seemed to think 7 was adequate. No sense of having tired legs for the race. Lot's of colors in the fields. Great day. Total time: 55 minutes.
Thursday: 7 miles - Rome Point trails solo. Another nice summer day for running. I wish it would be this dry for tomorrow's race. At least it looks like it will be cloudy. Total time: 52:30.
Friday: Blessing of the Fleet 10M Race - 65:59 - 5 minute PR - write up to follow (total miles 11)
Saturday: 6 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads and trails alone. Despite racing the previous night, I was really itching to run again today. I ran in the middle of the afternoon heat (88 degrees) and loved it, although my legs were tired. 48 minutes. Nice hike afterwards with my family in the Carter Preserve. My son loves to hike, and didn't complain once during the 2+ mile loop. I had the honor of giving my daughter a shoulder ride for all but .1 miles of it.
Sunday: 8 miles - Shumunkanuc Hill roads and Vin Gormley trail alone. Another nice day, I got this run in fairly early. The deer flies were still thick in the woods, so I'm glad I wore a shirt. I started slow, but finished at a quick pace. 64 minutes. Awesome swim later in the day with my family in Watch Hill.
Overall: New weekly mileage PR. I just have the urge to run everyday when the weather is nice. I was happy with my race, but not thrilled with my time. I'm planning for a long training run next Saturday in Burlingame if anyone is interested in joining me for all or part of it.
Weekly Total: 65 miles
Last Week: 19 miles
Year to Date: 1357 miles
Monday, July 30, 2012
2012 Run with the Beavers 10 Mile Trail Race
While most local runners were doing the 10 mile Blessing of the Fleet race this past weekend, I traveled about as far as one can travel in Rhode Island (46 miles!), to try out the inaugural Run with the Beavers 10 Mile trail race. Originally, I was hoping that my club, WTAC, could challenge the NRA and TNT for the team title. After it became apparent I wouldn't have any teammates joining me, I had the idea of forming a 3 man team with my brothers. Greg had already expressed interest in doing the race and Glenn had been running this summer, so why not? They both agreed, and Team Hammett Brothers was formed. I couldn't wait for race day.
Saturday morning arrived, and it was time for the long journey north. My brothers, sister-in-law Jen, and I arrived about an hour before the race, some buzzing on coffee, others slightly car sick. Greg was going to run the course loop (2 five mile loops), so Glenn and I embarked on a shorter warm up, after chatting with NRA members Mike, Aaron, and Ben (who ran 62 minutes at the Blessing the night before). The trail was wide and soft - through mostly pines. It was rolling as well. We parted after a mile and I continued on the trail along a brook and then the pond. It was more technical, but the footing still was pretty good. I climbed a short steep hill that lead to a dirt/gravel road where I met up with Jen. We jogged back to the starting line. The hill on the way back was a pretty good one. We realized that we had only run the end of the course, but I figured that it would be a fast race. There was still 20 minutes to go, so we checked out the post-race swimming option. Finally it was time to start.
There was no big talk from the race director about the perils of running on trails, and the race began quickly. After bumping elbows at the start, the field settled into single file, and I was in 5th place. Greg, Mike, and Rob Hult steadily pulled away, but I was a couple of steps behind 4th place. I wasn't sure if I was going too fast, as I didn't expect to be this far up (a lot of familiar faces at registration from other trail races). I knew that Ben and Aaron were lurking somewhere behind me for sure. The trail spilled out onto a wide gravel road with a decent hill. Up ahead I watched Greg dart first into the woods. This trail was a narrow twisty single track with plenty of roots and rocks to deal with. This was nothing like what I had expected based on my warm up. Again I wondered if I was working too hard, knowing that this type of terrain will quickly fatigue legs. I now had 6th place on my heels - was it Ben? Despite my worrying, I was gaining on 4th place, who then yelled to me to let him know if I wanted to pass. Shortly after I did, and I couldn't tell if the guy behind me passed as well. The trail got even more technical. I came upon a steep descent with a sign stating "SLOW". I obeyed, but feared that I was going too slow through this section. Around a sharp corner was a wet area with a stick "bridge". I tried to sprint through hoping to gain some distance, and after another hairpin turn, I could see that I had opened up a gap. The technical trail continued until it ended on a gravel road. It was downhill on the road until you crossed a small covered bridge, and then it slowly climbed for quite some time. I felt pretty fast, and pushed up the hill. The course briefly veered into the woods, before joining the gravel road again, and I was able to get a long look behind me. Surprisingly, I couldn't see anybody. What was going on? I was excited and nervous at the same time. I then reached the part of the course I had seen on my warm up. The trail descended quickly to the shore of the pond. Despite roots and rocks, the footing was soft. Smile for the camera. I then charged up the long hill. It took the next downhill section to the start/finish area to recover.
I finished lap 1, and I was told my time was 35:40. I listened hard as began my second lap, hoping to hear the crowd cheer for whoever was behind me. As the trail winds around a clearing, I did catch a glimpse of someone. It didn't look like Ben or Aaron. I was especially worried about Aaron, as he is known for his negative splits. I ran on, up the gravel hill, and back on the long technical trail. My speed probably was decreasing slightly, but I kept up my intensity. I ran by the halfway water stop (now manned), and opened up on the descent to the bridge. I glanced back as I climbed the hill, and could still see no one. 4th place seemed in the bag. I was pumped. I ran along the beaver pond and caught up to a couple of 1st lap runners on the long bridge. I sprinted as it was the best place to pass, but paid for it. My legs felt tense, and my pace dropped as I negotiated the trail along the brook. My thoughts turned negative as I faced the large hill. What if my legs cramped up? But I kept moving along, and after reaching the summit, I relaxed mentally, and let it fly down to the finish line. Final time: 1:12:07. Results here
Greg and Mike were waiting at the finish line, and I was excited to find out who had won the race - which was Greg by a good margin. As we chatted, it occurred to me that no one else had finished after me yet. Three and half minutes went by before the 5th place finisher came in. This made me feel really good about my run. I felt that all my training - especially on twisty technical trails, and hills - had paid off. The wait was then on for Glenn to finish. Not knowing who was on a team or not (except the TNT guys all had jerseys), it seemed possible that Team Hammett Brothers could still win (found out later we were 2nd). He crossed the line in 1:36. We then walked down to the pond for refreshments and a swim. After a while, we needed to get back on the road, so we tracked down the director, Bob Jackman, to say thank you. It was a really great race. The course was challenging, but runnable. The venue was perfect - parking, bathrooms, swimming. I hope to run this again next year with my brothers and take on NRA and TNT again.
Saturday morning arrived, and it was time for the long journey north. My brothers, sister-in-law Jen, and I arrived about an hour before the race, some buzzing on coffee, others slightly car sick. Greg was going to run the course loop (2 five mile loops), so Glenn and I embarked on a shorter warm up, after chatting with NRA members Mike, Aaron, and Ben (who ran 62 minutes at the Blessing the night before). The trail was wide and soft - through mostly pines. It was rolling as well. We parted after a mile and I continued on the trail along a brook and then the pond. It was more technical, but the footing still was pretty good. I climbed a short steep hill that lead to a dirt/gravel road where I met up with Jen. We jogged back to the starting line. The hill on the way back was a pretty good one. We realized that we had only run the end of the course, but I figured that it would be a fast race. There was still 20 minutes to go, so we checked out the post-race swimming option. Finally it was time to start.
There was no big talk from the race director about the perils of running on trails, and the race began quickly. After bumping elbows at the start, the field settled into single file, and I was in 5th place. Greg, Mike, and Rob Hult steadily pulled away, but I was a couple of steps behind 4th place. I wasn't sure if I was going too fast, as I didn't expect to be this far up (a lot of familiar faces at registration from other trail races). I knew that Ben and Aaron were lurking somewhere behind me for sure. The trail spilled out onto a wide gravel road with a decent hill. Up ahead I watched Greg dart first into the woods. This trail was a narrow twisty single track with plenty of roots and rocks to deal with. This was nothing like what I had expected based on my warm up. Again I wondered if I was working too hard, knowing that this type of terrain will quickly fatigue legs. I now had 6th place on my heels - was it Ben? Despite my worrying, I was gaining on 4th place, who then yelled to me to let him know if I wanted to pass. Shortly after I did, and I couldn't tell if the guy behind me passed as well. The trail got even more technical. I came upon a steep descent with a sign stating "SLOW". I obeyed, but feared that I was going too slow through this section. Around a sharp corner was a wet area with a stick "bridge". I tried to sprint through hoping to gain some distance, and after another hairpin turn, I could see that I had opened up a gap. The technical trail continued until it ended on a gravel road. It was downhill on the road until you crossed a small covered bridge, and then it slowly climbed for quite some time. I felt pretty fast, and pushed up the hill. The course briefly veered into the woods, before joining the gravel road again, and I was able to get a long look behind me. Surprisingly, I couldn't see anybody. What was going on? I was excited and nervous at the same time. I then reached the part of the course I had seen on my warm up. The trail descended quickly to the shore of the pond. Despite roots and rocks, the footing was soft. Smile for the camera. I then charged up the long hill. It took the next downhill section to the start/finish area to recover.
I finished lap 1, and I was told my time was 35:40. I listened hard as began my second lap, hoping to hear the crowd cheer for whoever was behind me. As the trail winds around a clearing, I did catch a glimpse of someone. It didn't look like Ben or Aaron. I was especially worried about Aaron, as he is known for his negative splits. I ran on, up the gravel hill, and back on the long technical trail. My speed probably was decreasing slightly, but I kept up my intensity. I ran by the halfway water stop (now manned), and opened up on the descent to the bridge. I glanced back as I climbed the hill, and could still see no one. 4th place seemed in the bag. I was pumped. I ran along the beaver pond and caught up to a couple of 1st lap runners on the long bridge. I sprinted as it was the best place to pass, but paid for it. My legs felt tense, and my pace dropped as I negotiated the trail along the brook. My thoughts turned negative as I faced the large hill. What if my legs cramped up? But I kept moving along, and after reaching the summit, I relaxed mentally, and let it fly down to the finish line. Final time: 1:12:07. Results here
Greg and Mike were waiting at the finish line, and I was excited to find out who had won the race - which was Greg by a good margin. As we chatted, it occurred to me that no one else had finished after me yet. Three and half minutes went by before the 5th place finisher came in. This made me feel really good about my run. I felt that all my training - especially on twisty technical trails, and hills - had paid off. The wait was then on for Glenn to finish. Not knowing who was on a team or not (except the TNT guys all had jerseys), it seemed possible that Team Hammett Brothers could still win (found out later we were 2nd). He crossed the line in 1:36. We then walked down to the pond for refreshments and a swim. After a while, we needed to get back on the road, so we tracked down the director, Bob Jackman, to say thank you. It was a really great race. The course was challenging, but runnable. The venue was perfect - parking, bathrooms, swimming. I hope to run this again next year with my brothers and take on NRA and TNT again.
Monday, August 1, 2011
2011 Blessing of the Fleet 10 Mile Road Race
For the second consecutive year I ran the Blessing of the Fleet race in Narragansett, RI. After learning a few things from last year, I was pretty excited to run it Friday. Based on a hard training run in early May, I had a lofty goal of finishing under 64 minutes. I ran 10 flat miles in 65:40. I was confident I could run faster than that in a race situation. I wasn't confident that I could do it in the summer heat however. Regardless, I was feeling good by the time it was race time. I found a parking spot right between Greg's truck and Bojo's friend Dave's car. Greg, Jen, and I made our way to the starting area, but never met up with Justin or the other Rhody crew. At the gun, I controlled my urge to go too fast, and was pleased with my 6:15 first mile. I was afraid I would come in under 6 minutes, and suffer for it later. I noticed that most runners were shying away from the crowds on the shoulder, but I stuck to the shortest distance and tried to look like I knew what I was doing. I took water wherever it was available, usually just tossing it over my head and down my back. Sometimes I would try to swallow a drop or two. Mile two was a little slow, but it was uphill and into the wind. Mile three was really windy, and I welcomed the change of direction heading towards mile 4. I pointed at the kid with the hose to spray me, which felt wonderful. Soon after turning the corner onto 108, I saw a local runner who had dropped out. This inspired me to dig in, and I picked up my pace, and was passing more and more runners. I couldn't hug the shoulder anymore as the course was littered with walkers, sometimes three or four side by side. The wooded, dark side road during miles 6 and 7 was so much nicer than the exposed highway. My mile splits were getting faster, even after I had to stop to tie my left shoe at mile 7, and then my right shoe at mile 8. And yes, I double-knotted them (actually triple-knotted). I think the high humidity and/or the water I was pouring over me somehow loosened them. Each time I sprinted to catch the runners I had just recently passed. After 8 miles, I noticed a local runner who traditionally finishes ahead of me. Then I saw the biggest hill (not that big) in front of us. I knew I would catch him. We exchanged pleasantries as I chugged by. I passed a lot of runners on this hill and felt confident about finishing strong. The last mile is filled with spectators, cars, walkers, and I just tried to run as fast as my legs wanted to go. My shoes felt really wet and annoying. As I neared the finish line, I squinted to see that I was close to finishing under 66 minutes. I stopped my watch at 65:58. A five minute PR. Not as fast as I had hoped, but I was happy that I ran as hard as my legs allowed. Aerobically, I was fine. I need more speedwork or 5K's to bring my legs up to speed with my lungs. After finishing, I met up with Greg (8th place, 6 second PR), and Justin (huge 5 minute PR). We watched our friends finish and then met up at Casey's after for a well deserved greasy meal and chromium replacement. I was a little annoyed that my official time is listed at 66:00, but I'm not going to argue with the chip time and good science.
6:15/6:44/6:28/6:45/6:35/6:53/6:41/6:39/6:33/6:21
6:15/6:44/6:28/6:45/6:35/6:53/6:41/6:39/6:33/6:21
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Blessing of the Fleet 2010
Friday, I ran my first Blessing of the Fleet. As discussed earlier, by the time race day came, I was very excited to run. I decided to drive down to registration on my lunch break at 2pm, and pick up my bib early. I was surprised at how many people were already there four hours before the start. I picked up a hot coffee - it was raining and only 67 degrees! - and pumped some old NOFX in my car as I returned to my office. Based on my conversations with Justin, I had prepared some extra food to eat a couple of hours before the start. But in a rookie move, I opted not to eat, since I wasn't remotely hungry at this time (and probably just buzzing off coffee and my Pandora radio station). Finally(!!), it was time to head down to the race, and in another rookie move, I had "figured out" a back way in and a "good" place to park. Well, it took me forever to get there, and while stuck in traffic Justin called and said he parked right at the start (and right next to my brother and his girlfriend). Upon parking, I finished a small Gatorade, grabbed a water, and "warmed up" to the start (.75 miles). I found Justin, Greg, Jen, Heather, and Marc hanging out and was really happy that I could enjoy some pre-race laughs and company. Justin wanted to warm up and I joined him, and we quickly met up with Chad and all ran together. At the start line, my stomach started to rumble and I realized that I usually ate dinner at that time - 6pm! I was regretting not eating a little earlier at my office. Now I know.
The race itself was fun too. I tried to not go too fast the first mile, as I often do, and clocked in at 6:31. I then settled in to my pace and ran fairly consistent miles the rest of the way. I was surprised, and a little disheartened, at how many people were passing me during miles 2 and 3. After that, the passing evened out - I reeled a few people in, and I would also be occasionally embarrassed by some teenage kid flying by me (why were they so far back??). I found myself taking water - one sip and then pouring the rest over my back. The guy with the hose was a nice touch too. At mile five, besides seeing BoJo, it began to rain. It felt good! At mile six, it began to pour!! To me it was quite a novelty sloshing through this monsoon. The roads quickly became streams, and my Nike Run Free's didn't feel so free anymore. My body felt fresh, but I figured my pace would suffer. At mile eight, the rain had stopped, and the streets were filling up with cheering spectators, helping me along. I picked up the pace for the last mile and finished up on my watch in 70:58, a time I was happy with, and as Justin noted, a PR!
My splits (9 & 10 combined): 6:31/7:17/7:00/7:07/7:11/7:17/7:10/7:11/14:11(for 2)
Post race, I met up with Greg and Justin, watched our friends finish, and headed over to the beer tent with Greg and Jen for our free cold one Justin kept talking about. We were very disappointed to find out they were charging runners $4 for beer this year, and so we slogged off to the bus back to the parking lot. There we found Justin again, and the four of us went to Casey's for a post race dinner and celebration.
The race itself was fun too. I tried to not go too fast the first mile, as I often do, and clocked in at 6:31. I then settled in to my pace and ran fairly consistent miles the rest of the way. I was surprised, and a little disheartened, at how many people were passing me during miles 2 and 3. After that, the passing evened out - I reeled a few people in, and I would also be occasionally embarrassed by some teenage kid flying by me (why were they so far back??). I found myself taking water - one sip and then pouring the rest over my back. The guy with the hose was a nice touch too. At mile five, besides seeing BoJo, it began to rain. It felt good! At mile six, it began to pour!! To me it was quite a novelty sloshing through this monsoon. The roads quickly became streams, and my Nike Run Free's didn't feel so free anymore. My body felt fresh, but I figured my pace would suffer. At mile eight, the rain had stopped, and the streets were filling up with cheering spectators, helping me along. I picked up the pace for the last mile and finished up on my watch in 70:58, a time I was happy with, and as Justin noted, a PR!
My splits (9 & 10 combined): 6:31/7:17/7:00/7:07/7:11/7:17/7:10/7:11/14:11(for 2)
Post race, I met up with Greg and Justin, watched our friends finish, and headed over to the beer tent with Greg and Jen for our free cold one Justin kept talking about. We were very disappointed to find out they were charging runners $4 for beer this year, and so we slogged off to the bus back to the parking lot. There we found Justin again, and the four of us went to Casey's for a post race dinner and celebration.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Twilight Trail Run 2013
I got back on the Friday night summer race horse this past weekend. Vowing never to run the Blessing of the Fleet 10 mile road race again, I ended up jumping in a 7.4 mile trail race in Bluff Point (Groton, CT) - the Twilight Trail Run. The competition looked legit, and from what I gathered from people who have run in Bluff Point, the course was flat and fast.
Race day was hot. Low 90's during the day. I was hoping it would be low 70's along the water and breezy, but when I arrived at 5PM it was high 80's with little wind to speak of. Yuck! I wondered how I would run in these conditions. I collected my bib, and not seeing any familiar faces, just kind of hung out in the shade until I was too antsy to stand still anymore. I then headed out on a warm up (what if you're already warm?). I ran the wide dirt/gravel path along the western shore. My body felt tense and nervous - not about racing but the heat. I needed to relax, so I pushed on a little further. I reached an opportune bathroom, and then headed back. I began to notice a breeze. There were more runners out warming up, so I tried to look calm and focused.
I returned to my car for water and to ditch my singlet and hat. I decided to carry my handheld in case there was no water on the course (I asked a few people who weren't sure). I returned to the start area and ran into Eric Wyzga. We chatted about the conditions (he talked me out of carrying the handheld), the course, and recent races. Besides being fun, it definitely distracted me from my nerves. The breeze seemed to pick up, and it felt a lot cooler now in the shade at least.
The start was delayed due to the monster turn out (360 racers I believe). I ditched my handheld at my car and lined up front at Way Hedding's (SNERRO & WTAC) direction next to Spy Barros and some other friendly fast guys. I saw a guy decked out in Sportiva gear and I assumed it was Eric Blake. Next thing I knew I heard the gun and we were off. I tried my hardest not to sprint off the line and I settled into a group of runners for the first half mile. Then Eric Blake dropped the hammer and two guys (including Spy) tried to chase. I was in fourth and kept my pace, knowing that I was already going fast enough (probably too fast). After a few turns, the three of them were out of sight, and I had company behind me. We made our way around the point. I didn't dare look at my watch, afraid of what my pace was. The course was marked with hanging pink ribbon at intersections, but my unfamiliarity led me to question each turn, as there were many. As the course veered back to the north, there were frequent short climbs. The guy on my shoulder was sticking to me and I got the feeling he was going to make a move soon. It was still early in the race, and I wasn't ready to commit to going any faster than I already was.
Near the 3 mile mark there was a water stop. The runner next to me got ahead, but grabbed a water. I followed his lead and took water to dump over my head. The course then descended on a trail that was more technical than I thought I'd encounter on the course. The runner was pulling ahead, clearly descending faster than me. I kept him in my sights, but he gapped me. I had to pay more attention to my footing. The trail eventually leveled off, but was still slightly technical. I couldn't hear anyone behind me, and I was only concerned with keeping up my pace and seeing if I could catch the guy ahead of me. At mile 4, the course headed east along a train track. The loose small stones were interesting to negotiate. The course was a bit confusing the next two miles as it crossed the tracks and was doubling back on itself. There were marshals stationed at key spots, so it was well marked, but like Big River, there are so many trails everywhere it's confusing. After spending time along the tracks and in the woods, the trail opened up into some large fields (Haley Farm). I could see the guy ahead of me again, and noticed him looking back. I hoped this was a good sign. I did not slow down.
I took water at the cone turnaround and knew that I had about two miles left. I poured the water over my head and was able to also drink a drop or two. My shorts were drenched, and when I glanced down, I realized they were sticking to me a little too well. I was slightly embarrassed, but what could I do? I was back in the woods, all alone, telling myself to keep it up. Then I reached the double back portion along the tracks, and was running directly into a stream of runners. I tried to not worry about my clingy shorts and focused on hammering. I kept glancing at my watch, only looking at the total distance, trying to garner how much was left. When I knew I was getting close, I picked up my pace some more, and also got a few more glimpses of the guy ahead of me. I could hear the loudspeaker at the finish before I could see it, but waited for my final sprint upon eye contact.
My official time was 46:18 - 6:15 pace and 5th place overall. The next finisher was a minute and a half behind me. I was immediately pleased with my effort and happy I didn't overheat (it never was close to being an issue). I grabbed a water and then was greeted by the 4th place runner - Todd Bennett. We began chatting and then did a cool down loop through some single track together. It turns out that we have finished right next to each other in a couple of other races - Li'l Rhody Runaround and Pisgah 23K. I'm sure we'll cross paths again sometime soon. Unfortunately I had to leave to pick up my son, so I didn't get to chat longer or see the awards.
Overall, it was a great experience. The course was much more interesting than I thought. I'd love to go back and explore. I'm still not sure if I had more left in the tank as I recovered pretty quickly after finishing. I don't think it would have made a difference in my finishing place however. I can't wait to come back next year!!
Results here
Race day was hot. Low 90's during the day. I was hoping it would be low 70's along the water and breezy, but when I arrived at 5PM it was high 80's with little wind to speak of. Yuck! I wondered how I would run in these conditions. I collected my bib, and not seeing any familiar faces, just kind of hung out in the shade until I was too antsy to stand still anymore. I then headed out on a warm up (what if you're already warm?). I ran the wide dirt/gravel path along the western shore. My body felt tense and nervous - not about racing but the heat. I needed to relax, so I pushed on a little further. I reached an opportune bathroom, and then headed back. I began to notice a breeze. There were more runners out warming up, so I tried to look calm and focused.
I returned to my car for water and to ditch my singlet and hat. I decided to carry my handheld in case there was no water on the course (I asked a few people who weren't sure). I returned to the start area and ran into Eric Wyzga. We chatted about the conditions (he talked me out of carrying the handheld), the course, and recent races. Besides being fun, it definitely distracted me from my nerves. The breeze seemed to pick up, and it felt a lot cooler now in the shade at least.
The start was delayed due to the monster turn out (360 racers I believe). I ditched my handheld at my car and lined up front at Way Hedding's (SNERRO & WTAC) direction next to Spy Barros and some other friendly fast guys. I saw a guy decked out in Sportiva gear and I assumed it was Eric Blake. Next thing I knew I heard the gun and we were off. I tried my hardest not to sprint off the line and I settled into a group of runners for the first half mile. Then Eric Blake dropped the hammer and two guys (including Spy) tried to chase. I was in fourth and kept my pace, knowing that I was already going fast enough (probably too fast). After a few turns, the three of them were out of sight, and I had company behind me. We made our way around the point. I didn't dare look at my watch, afraid of what my pace was. The course was marked with hanging pink ribbon at intersections, but my unfamiliarity led me to question each turn, as there were many. As the course veered back to the north, there were frequent short climbs. The guy on my shoulder was sticking to me and I got the feeling he was going to make a move soon. It was still early in the race, and I wasn't ready to commit to going any faster than I already was.
Near the 3 mile mark there was a water stop. The runner next to me got ahead, but grabbed a water. I followed his lead and took water to dump over my head. The course then descended on a trail that was more technical than I thought I'd encounter on the course. The runner was pulling ahead, clearly descending faster than me. I kept him in my sights, but he gapped me. I had to pay more attention to my footing. The trail eventually leveled off, but was still slightly technical. I couldn't hear anyone behind me, and I was only concerned with keeping up my pace and seeing if I could catch the guy ahead of me. At mile 4, the course headed east along a train track. The loose small stones were interesting to negotiate. The course was a bit confusing the next two miles as it crossed the tracks and was doubling back on itself. There were marshals stationed at key spots, so it was well marked, but like Big River, there are so many trails everywhere it's confusing. After spending time along the tracks and in the woods, the trail opened up into some large fields (Haley Farm). I could see the guy ahead of me again, and noticed him looking back. I hoped this was a good sign. I did not slow down.
I took water at the cone turnaround and knew that I had about two miles left. I poured the water over my head and was able to also drink a drop or two. My shorts were drenched, and when I glanced down, I realized they were sticking to me a little too well. I was slightly embarrassed, but what could I do? I was back in the woods, all alone, telling myself to keep it up. Then I reached the double back portion along the tracks, and was running directly into a stream of runners. I tried to not worry about my clingy shorts and focused on hammering. I kept glancing at my watch, only looking at the total distance, trying to garner how much was left. When I knew I was getting close, I picked up my pace some more, and also got a few more glimpses of the guy ahead of me. I could hear the loudspeaker at the finish before I could see it, but waited for my final sprint upon eye contact.
My official time was 46:18 - 6:15 pace and 5th place overall. The next finisher was a minute and a half behind me. I was immediately pleased with my effort and happy I didn't overheat (it never was close to being an issue). I grabbed a water and then was greeted by the 4th place runner - Todd Bennett. We began chatting and then did a cool down loop through some single track together. It turns out that we have finished right next to each other in a couple of other races - Li'l Rhody Runaround and Pisgah 23K. I'm sure we'll cross paths again sometime soon. Unfortunately I had to leave to pick up my son, so I didn't get to chat longer or see the awards.
Overall, it was a great experience. The course was much more interesting than I thought. I'd love to go back and explore. I'm still not sure if I had more left in the tank as I recovered pretty quickly after finishing. I don't think it would have made a difference in my finishing place however. I can't wait to come back next year!!
Results here
Friday, July 16, 2010
Soup Running
I'm feeling motivated to run this week. I have accepted the fact that the weather will be horrible for another five or six weeks, but if I keep my runs a little shorter and easier, I will still enjoy myself. Monday and Tuesday, I ran in Ryan Park with Dan. We were able to keep up a good pace despite the mid 80's temperature and excessive humidity. After a little online investigating, I decided that it was okay to soak in the stream near the end of the run, which really helped me to recover right away.
Wednesday, I pulled off a double: Rome Point trail run on my lunch break and then beach volleyball at night. I thought that with a cloudy/slightly rainy day, this run would be easier than the previous two, but the air was unbelievably thick. On the positive side, I could cool off by brushing against the wet weeds, shrubs, and trees along the trail. I also got extremely close to a deer on the trail. It didn't want to move, it just flicked its ears and watched me as I tried to coax it off the trail. Luckily for this deer, it is living in a nature preserve. I recommend it stays there or develop a fear of humans. I couldn't believe how soaked in sweat I was when I returned to my car. At night, I subbed for a friend on a local 4 on 4 volleyball team and had a ton of fun.
Thursday, Dan and I planned to run 10 miles on roads to guage our Blessing-ability. Our plan was to run later in the day, after drinking coffee from the aptly named Jitters Cafe. We also decided to run with Gatorade rather than our usual water. For some reason, I had pictured drinking a purple flavor. On the run, as my bottle sloshed around in my hand, a little of the purple drink would seep out onto my hands and stained them this weird blue color. We ran hard. I wanted to see what I could do the Blessing of the Fleet 10 mile road race in if I decided to run it next week. I guessed that I would suffer through a 72 minute run. I proved yesterday that I was correct. Dan set a blistering pace (1 mile 6:58) and I trailed him for the first 4 miles. I took over after that, and hit the half way point at 36:06. I wasn't sure in the middle miles if I would be able to keep up my pace for the entire distance. The second half has a lot of subtle uphills, and I felt like I was probably going slower. I refused to look at my watch and battled through the rest of the miles. I finished up in 72:13 for a second half time of 36:07. At least I'm consistent. I think that with fresher legs and some added adrenaline I could get to 70 minutes in the race. But would I enjoy it?
Wednesday, I pulled off a double: Rome Point trail run on my lunch break and then beach volleyball at night. I thought that with a cloudy/slightly rainy day, this run would be easier than the previous two, but the air was unbelievably thick. On the positive side, I could cool off by brushing against the wet weeds, shrubs, and trees along the trail. I also got extremely close to a deer on the trail. It didn't want to move, it just flicked its ears and watched me as I tried to coax it off the trail. Luckily for this deer, it is living in a nature preserve. I recommend it stays there or develop a fear of humans. I couldn't believe how soaked in sweat I was when I returned to my car. At night, I subbed for a friend on a local 4 on 4 volleyball team and had a ton of fun.
Thursday, Dan and I planned to run 10 miles on roads to guage our Blessing-ability. Our plan was to run later in the day, after drinking coffee from the aptly named Jitters Cafe. We also decided to run with Gatorade rather than our usual water. For some reason, I had pictured drinking a purple flavor. On the run, as my bottle sloshed around in my hand, a little of the purple drink would seep out onto my hands and stained them this weird blue color. We ran hard. I wanted to see what I could do the Blessing of the Fleet 10 mile road race in if I decided to run it next week. I guessed that I would suffer through a 72 minute run. I proved yesterday that I was correct. Dan set a blistering pace (1 mile 6:58) and I trailed him for the first 4 miles. I took over after that, and hit the half way point at 36:06. I wasn't sure in the middle miles if I would be able to keep up my pace for the entire distance. The second half has a lot of subtle uphills, and I felt like I was probably going slower. I refused to look at my watch and battled through the rest of the miles. I finished up in 72:13 for a second half time of 36:07. At least I'm consistent. I think that with fresher legs and some added adrenaline I could get to 70 minutes in the race. But would I enjoy it?
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Weekly Log: 7-6-15 to 7-12-15
Trying to get in a good strong week before upcoming July races (Run with the Beavers 10M Trail Race on 7/18 and Blessing of the Fleet 10M Road Race 7/25).
Monday: 10 miles - Big River loop alone. This was a good run in the woods on a hot day. I was annoyed a couple of miles in when I realized my GPS had stopped tracking me. My goal was to run some middle trails (Allen's Ave, Dumbo, I See Dead People) and then finish up on the new single track that begins at Tarbox Pond. As the run progressed, I was thinking a swim in the pond was in order. Unfortunately, the pond was not looking appetizing where I was, but I did get to see a bald eagle being chased by a crow. I did splash myself in the connecting stream before summiting to the parking lot. Total time about 1 hr 20 min with about 1,000' of climbing (guessing).
Tuesday: 15 miles on two runs. First, I met up with Galoob at the CCMS track at 7AM. The plan was for me to run 400's at my R pace (74s) while he ran mile repeats at the same pace. My legs weren't feeling very spry after my busy weekend of running, but I managed to hit my target on most. Results: 74/75/72/74/74/74/75/73/74/74 with 2-2:30 minute recoveries. 3 mile warm up with strides and 1 mile cool down. In the early afternoon I shuffled around Rome Point trails for a few more miles. This time I did find a good spot for a swim which felt delicious.
Wednesday: 10.5 miles - road/dirt/trail loop from the Cuttyhunk Preserve parking lot. HHH day (87 degrees at the start and sunny, 85 and cloudy at the finish). This was a new loop to me that included my first time running on some paved roads in Exeter. I did include Pardon Joslin Rd and Stony Lane for my unimproved dirt road fix. Finished on trails in Cuttyhunk and a thorough soaking the brook. Beat the thunderstorms that followed. Total time: 1:20:54 with 578' elevation gain.
Thursday: 10 miles - road out-and-back in EG/NK. I began from the park and ride on Rte 2 near Rte 4 and headed up the long South Rd hill. I turned left on Narrow Lane and then descended down Stony Lane (paved here). I crossed Rte 2 and continued south on Stony Lane until I hit 5 miles. I then turned around and retraced my steps. Two good climbs on an easy day. Total time 1 hr 15 min with 550' of climbing.
Friday: 11 miles - 10K trail tempo in Ryan Park alone. I haven't been in Ryan forever. I guess because there aren't good hills, but the trails are very fun. I planned to do the Belleville Pond Trail 10K course as a hard tempo. With the Beavers race coming up, I wanted to get in a sustained trail effort like this. I've done this workout in the past and my best tempo time was 40 minutes flat. That was my goal today, although it was HHH again. My warm up went a little long (close to 3.5 miles) because I ran too far before doing my planned field strides.I then regrouped at my car, drank water, stretched a little, all while listening to RATM's "Know Your Enemy". I needed to pump myself up! I then jogged over to the basketball court and got to work. My run was nearly derailed 1 minute in when a truck blocking my path (after passing the first ball field) distracted me and I had a spiky vine rake across my mouth. I was worried I was bleeding and going to look pretty sketchy for a few days (turned out to be okay). I kept going, trying to be consistent. I had one more distraction when I came upon a woman with 3 dogs on the rail bed (2 were leashed, all were energetic). I had to go off the trail to avoid being jumped on and was knocked out of my rhythm. I continued on to the fields and the slow hill climb/side trail on the power line. I regrouped and ran a steady pace on the Rte 4 trail, but I wasn't thrilled that I was only half way done. Luckily the 2nd half went by more smoothly. I was in a good groove on the single track and the rail bed. I made a final push at the end and finished a few ticks above 40 flat. I was pleased. And disgustingly sweaty. I jogged a not quite 2 mile cool down and then drove to my in-laws (to meet up with my family) and swim.
Saturday: 15 miles - Arcadia loop with Woolley. Ryan was looking to see more of Arcadia and I was happy to have company on a long trail run. We began from the church and ran a fun loop that included some trails I had just figured out a couple of weeks ago SE of Breakheart Pond, and then looped around the Browning Mill Pond/I95 section, and finishing up along the side of Bald Hill. The pace was quick at the start, but either we slowed down or I acclimated to it after a while. Time was passing quickly as we chatted, trying not to pay attention to the buzzing deer flies. We ran into one person the entire run. She had 3 dogs and after we snuck by, we got attacked by yellow jackets (probably agitated by the dogs that just went through). We both got a few stings, but nothing serious. We were getting thirsty by the time we reached our cars after 2 hours. 924' of climbing.
Sunday: 1.5 miles - barefoot beach run with Brett in Watch Hill. Fun day on the beach with close friends. This was just and out-and-back to Taylor Swift's house, not nearly as long as Mike B's usual route (yes, I did see him but he was hard to recognize with a hat, glasses, and shirt). I even did some open ocean swimming (too pathetic to record) since there were no waves today. Many stripers could be seen in the shallows where we were.
Weekly Total: 73 miles
Last Week: 56 miles
Year to Date: 1,923 miles
July Total: 111 miles
Monday: 10 miles - Big River loop alone. This was a good run in the woods on a hot day. I was annoyed a couple of miles in when I realized my GPS had stopped tracking me. My goal was to run some middle trails (Allen's Ave, Dumbo, I See Dead People) and then finish up on the new single track that begins at Tarbox Pond. As the run progressed, I was thinking a swim in the pond was in order. Unfortunately, the pond was not looking appetizing where I was, but I did get to see a bald eagle being chased by a crow. I did splash myself in the connecting stream before summiting to the parking lot. Total time about 1 hr 20 min with about 1,000' of climbing (guessing).
Tuesday: 15 miles on two runs. First, I met up with Galoob at the CCMS track at 7AM. The plan was for me to run 400's at my R pace (74s) while he ran mile repeats at the same pace. My legs weren't feeling very spry after my busy weekend of running, but I managed to hit my target on most. Results: 74/75/72/74/74/74/75/73/74/74 with 2-2:30 minute recoveries. 3 mile warm up with strides and 1 mile cool down. In the early afternoon I shuffled around Rome Point trails for a few more miles. This time I did find a good spot for a swim which felt delicious.
Wednesday: 10.5 miles - road/dirt/trail loop from the Cuttyhunk Preserve parking lot. HHH day (87 degrees at the start and sunny, 85 and cloudy at the finish). This was a new loop to me that included my first time running on some paved roads in Exeter. I did include Pardon Joslin Rd and Stony Lane for my unimproved dirt road fix. Finished on trails in Cuttyhunk and a thorough soaking the brook. Beat the thunderstorms that followed. Total time: 1:20:54 with 578' elevation gain.
Thursday: 10 miles - road out-and-back in EG/NK. I began from the park and ride on Rte 2 near Rte 4 and headed up the long South Rd hill. I turned left on Narrow Lane and then descended down Stony Lane (paved here). I crossed Rte 2 and continued south on Stony Lane until I hit 5 miles. I then turned around and retraced my steps. Two good climbs on an easy day. Total time 1 hr 15 min with 550' of climbing.
Friday: 11 miles - 10K trail tempo in Ryan Park alone. I haven't been in Ryan forever. I guess because there aren't good hills, but the trails are very fun. I planned to do the Belleville Pond Trail 10K course as a hard tempo. With the Beavers race coming up, I wanted to get in a sustained trail effort like this. I've done this workout in the past and my best tempo time was 40 minutes flat. That was my goal today, although it was HHH again. My warm up went a little long (close to 3.5 miles) because I ran too far before doing my planned field strides.I then regrouped at my car, drank water, stretched a little, all while listening to RATM's "Know Your Enemy". I needed to pump myself up! I then jogged over to the basketball court and got to work. My run was nearly derailed 1 minute in when a truck blocking my path (after passing the first ball field) distracted me and I had a spiky vine rake across my mouth. I was worried I was bleeding and going to look pretty sketchy for a few days (turned out to be okay). I kept going, trying to be consistent. I had one more distraction when I came upon a woman with 3 dogs on the rail bed (2 were leashed, all were energetic). I had to go off the trail to avoid being jumped on and was knocked out of my rhythm. I continued on to the fields and the slow hill climb/side trail on the power line. I regrouped and ran a steady pace on the Rte 4 trail, but I wasn't thrilled that I was only half way done. Luckily the 2nd half went by more smoothly. I was in a good groove on the single track and the rail bed. I made a final push at the end and finished a few ticks above 40 flat. I was pleased. And disgustingly sweaty. I jogged a not quite 2 mile cool down and then drove to my in-laws (to meet up with my family) and swim.
Saturday: 15 miles - Arcadia loop with Woolley. Ryan was looking to see more of Arcadia and I was happy to have company on a long trail run. We began from the church and ran a fun loop that included some trails I had just figured out a couple of weeks ago SE of Breakheart Pond, and then looped around the Browning Mill Pond/I95 section, and finishing up along the side of Bald Hill. The pace was quick at the start, but either we slowed down or I acclimated to it after a while. Time was passing quickly as we chatted, trying not to pay attention to the buzzing deer flies. We ran into one person the entire run. She had 3 dogs and after we snuck by, we got attacked by yellow jackets (probably agitated by the dogs that just went through). We both got a few stings, but nothing serious. We were getting thirsty by the time we reached our cars after 2 hours. 924' of climbing.
Sunday: 1.5 miles - barefoot beach run with Brett in Watch Hill. Fun day on the beach with close friends. This was just and out-and-back to Taylor Swift's house, not nearly as long as Mike B's usual route (yes, I did see him but he was hard to recognize with a hat, glasses, and shirt). I even did some open ocean swimming (too pathetic to record) since there were no waves today. Many stripers could be seen in the shallows where we were.
Weekly Total: 73 miles
Last Week: 56 miles
Year to Date: 1,923 miles
July Total: 111 miles
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010 Review, 2011 Goals
I've been enjoying reading the other year end blogs, and I'm excited to get to finally write mine. 2010 was by far my best year of running. After years of running as a part time hobby, I felt like I became a real runner the past twelve months. The consistent training and increased weekly mileage helped. But it was finally putting together a great race and exceeding my expectations that really boosted my confidence.
I had a couple of disappointing races early on - two 5K's over 20 minutes, and the 10 mile Blessing of the Fleet over 70 minutes (70:58). I felt like I was a better runner than that, and I was beginning to think that was as good as I would get. In September, I ran my 2nd Pisgah Mountain 23K Trail Race. I had a plan after my experience the prior year and I was able to carry it out. In the process I improved 19 minutes, ran sub 2 hours, and finished 5th overall. This was the race I needed. In October, I ran a strong 5K on a hilly course and set a 37 second PR - 19:33 - finally under 20 minutes. Then in November, the one race I know I will be running every year, the Lil' Rhody Runaround 8 mile trail race, I set a 4:16 PR and finished in the top 20 at 54:02. I thought I had an ambitious goal of going sub 56 and was completely surprised that I could average 6:45 pace on this decently challenging course.
This past year I learned alot about what works for me training-wise. My body can comfortably handle 50 mile weeks. It's just a matter of timing. My best weeks are when I can run all five days on my lunch break at work. I have a hard time running at home. It's just not a priority for me. I really enjoy family time, and at the same time, it is very exhausting. The decision between choosing a quick afternoon run and taking a catnap or brewing some coffee usually doesn't lead to the run. I don't think this will change for me and I'm able to accept it. Vacations and holidays are especially lackluster for mileage. But my training during the week continues to get better and better. I'm able to put in long runs, fast runs, tempo work, hill work, and the occasional speed workout. I get a good mix, mostly on feel, and think that I continue to get faster overall.
I've been thinking about goals for 2011 and here's what I've come up with:
Specific
1. 2,000 miles (40 miles per week) - most weeks I should be able to run 40 to 50 miles. There will be a few under 40, and maybe a couple under 30, but I think I can get the average at 40 for the year.
2. sub 19 minute 5K - I feel that I can make the leap this year to 18.
3. sub 1:30 half marathon - I think that I could do this tomorrow, but the fact is that I've never run a race at this distance, and if I did, I know I would want to be under this time.
4. try this local trail triathlon
5. do the Elijah tribute as described by my brother Glenn here
Possible or Possibly Silly
1. run a trail marathon or 50K - I'd like to see how I would do at this distance - maybe do the Pisgah 50K
2. finish ahead of Bentley just once in a race - this could be the year!
3. start a company running team
4. win that new local triathlon - why not? - I know the trails - I have decent mtn biking experience and can run - need to work on swimming - maybe no one fast will enter it?
5. get Nick Cash to follow my blog
Vague
1. enter an interesting race somewhere and make a mini family vacation out of it - maybe in Maine - I've got a couple in mind.
2. new local epic trail runs
3. find new places around me to run
4. stay mentally healthy - keep anxiety in check
5. keep running fun
Okay, time to work on these goals....
I had a couple of disappointing races early on - two 5K's over 20 minutes, and the 10 mile Blessing of the Fleet over 70 minutes (70:58). I felt like I was a better runner than that, and I was beginning to think that was as good as I would get. In September, I ran my 2nd Pisgah Mountain 23K Trail Race. I had a plan after my experience the prior year and I was able to carry it out. In the process I improved 19 minutes, ran sub 2 hours, and finished 5th overall. This was the race I needed. In October, I ran a strong 5K on a hilly course and set a 37 second PR - 19:33 - finally under 20 minutes. Then in November, the one race I know I will be running every year, the Lil' Rhody Runaround 8 mile trail race, I set a 4:16 PR and finished in the top 20 at 54:02. I thought I had an ambitious goal of going sub 56 and was completely surprised that I could average 6:45 pace on this decently challenging course.
This past year I learned alot about what works for me training-wise. My body can comfortably handle 50 mile weeks. It's just a matter of timing. My best weeks are when I can run all five days on my lunch break at work. I have a hard time running at home. It's just not a priority for me. I really enjoy family time, and at the same time, it is very exhausting. The decision between choosing a quick afternoon run and taking a catnap or brewing some coffee usually doesn't lead to the run. I don't think this will change for me and I'm able to accept it. Vacations and holidays are especially lackluster for mileage. But my training during the week continues to get better and better. I'm able to put in long runs, fast runs, tempo work, hill work, and the occasional speed workout. I get a good mix, mostly on feel, and think that I continue to get faster overall.
I've been thinking about goals for 2011 and here's what I've come up with:
Specific
1. 2,000 miles (40 miles per week) - most weeks I should be able to run 40 to 50 miles. There will be a few under 40, and maybe a couple under 30, but I think I can get the average at 40 for the year.
2. sub 19 minute 5K - I feel that I can make the leap this year to 18.
3. sub 1:30 half marathon - I think that I could do this tomorrow, but the fact is that I've never run a race at this distance, and if I did, I know I would want to be under this time.
4. try this local trail triathlon
5. do the Elijah tribute as described by my brother Glenn here
Possible or Possibly Silly
1. run a trail marathon or 50K - I'd like to see how I would do at this distance - maybe do the Pisgah 50K
2. finish ahead of Bentley just once in a race - this could be the year!
3. start a company running team
4. win that new local triathlon - why not? - I know the trails - I have decent mtn biking experience and can run - need to work on swimming - maybe no one fast will enter it?
5. get Nick Cash to follow my blog
Vague
1. enter an interesting race somewhere and make a mini family vacation out of it - maybe in Maine - I've got a couple in mind.
2. new local epic trail runs
3. find new places around me to run
4. stay mentally healthy - keep anxiety in check
5. keep running fun
Okay, time to work on these goals....
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Smelling the Roses
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