Snow? We've got a Ton of it!

Anyone Coming?

Cape Ann 7K photo shot taken as I made the final turn for the home stretch all tanked out and just wanting to hold position. First in a series of races to re-invigorate the training regimen to prepare for Boston.

Sand Work

Heavy beach  sand runs for a week with great views and best to stay out of the deep water.

2012 Vermont City Marathon – Post Race Report

A start by racing with a plan, it solidifies the day before on the mile 15 hill in Burlington. Our evaluation takes the weather, marathon course, physical conditioning, health and history into consideration. Next, identify goal times: Boston Qualifier, Sub-3, Sub-2:50 and something in between? Sub 2:50 is thrown out as the weather forecast has temperatures on the warm side and conditioning less than optimum. A BQ is the fallback plan and minimally acceptable if Sub-3 isn’t happening.

Arrival on Friday for the Sunday’s race allows time to pick up the bib number, visit the expo and settle in. On Saturday a four mile shakeout run around the finishing area while the kid’s events happening helps bring in the racing frame of mind. Later, attending a must-do pasta dinner at Champlain College listening to one of our leading B.A.A. female runners as guest speaker on persistence caps the pre-race mental training.

Race day kicks off with favorable weather conditions and lining up in the second row. To make this story short each mile is ran a methodical 6:50/mile. A check was made at each and between to best stay on focus despite the rolling course. The result is +26 seconds over goal or 1 second per mile, hard to live with right?

Goal: 2:59:06
Finish: 2:59:35 or age graded 2:46:37. Boston Qualifier

Garmin Recovery

I stopped at the Police Academy to recover my Garmin; one of the cadets turned it in. On the Nut Island run I found $20 in the street and provided it as a finders fee. Run was damp to misty and the legs are feeling good while my legs are asking me to do more stretching and strengthening. 7 miles in ~53 minutes

Drips-Geese-Drivers

Two workouts in two weeks of experimental nature for marathon preparation. Week 1. 8 x 800 meters @6:30/mile, 60 second rest. Week 2: 8 x 1600m @6:30/ mile, 60 second rest. I kept the rest time to 60 seconds to minimize muscle cramping; felt some after #8 & #9 as to be expected with the 50 degree, wet and rainy weather. Seems the only company on the morning tracks are the raindrops, honking geese and people driving by in their vehicles. What's for next week? It will be 11 days out from the marathon. 2 x 5k@6:30/mile?

Double Runs

An easy three miler in the morning and a pottery pickup in the afternoon for anther 4.25 miles. Short and sweet travel with the running shoes to keep running on the mind and focused to the VCM. I discovered an interesting article that led to counting my protein intake for the day. At 160 pounds it should be about 95 grams, turns out I counted to that same number but do weigh slightly more. In addition my daily intake was probably greater than most days. This is probably something to track for a week or so to get a better understanding of protein intake and if it correlates to performance.

34 Days Until VCM

In walking the last 1.5miles it prevents having an issue; this is a 12 mile run from the the Battle Road Trail home via Lincoln, Shermans Bridge to Mossman. Felt good, mild residual quad soreness from Boston.

The misty air really brings out the vibrant colors making it a beautiful day or the Boston Marathon. Yep, boohoo I am sore from the dreadfully hot weather we had.

The Way

of the Wood for three miles in 27 mins. Good to stretch, roll, banter with the groupies and target a race. Soon. A new found level of stress and determination to shorten this span of not being qualified for Boston is on. How did it come to this?

That Was Really Hard

It was hot, 92 degrees in Waltham on the way home.

1265 Bell, Mark
Sudbury MA USA

Start Time Offset: -
Pace: 0:07:53
Finish Time:
  Projected: 3:26:26
  Official: 3:26:26
Checkpoints:
(All checkpoints are official times.)
 40k: 3:16:32
 35k: 2:49:50
 30k: 2:21:01
 25k: 1:54:45
 Half: 1:35:03
 20k: 1:29:54
 15k: 1:04:03
 10k: 0:41:54
  5k: 0:20:18

Worst Boston ever!