REPORT: 24 Hour Ultra Marathon

Around the Lake 24 Hour Ultra Marathon finished under the skies of thunder and lightning early this afternoon.

My wife won the Women’s overall ultra marathon. She consistently persevered from the start to the time officials called the race on account of runner’s safety. Her finish distance was over nine miles ahead of the nearest women. Her pace reaped 27 laps of a 3.16 mile course for over 85 miles.

Given her pace and time she was on track to beat my 114 mile run on the same course. Whew, thank goodness for the weather! We had fun, I got the opportunity to accompany the new champ for over 30 of the miles. Believe me, she ran better on her own.

I am proud, inspired and awed of her determination and tenacity to rule the roads of Wakefield on this glorious summer day.

Training: Last 24 hours, 30 miles +

24 Hour Ultra Marathon

Around the Lake 24 Hour Ultra Marathon starts this Friday at 7 pm and my best friend is running.

It seems like yesterday that I trodded the lake path myself, it's been six years. To this day I say you won't get me to do it again. Although the next year I did go back and set the marathon course record. Those were the days.

Anyhow show up and lend a little support; I'll be there no doubt getting a long run in myself.

Last night was a futile attempt to break 17:00 at the Devens 5K. I came up as 1st Master and 2nd overall. It's a good thing there was another runner pulling me as submission to the heat and humidity is easy. 1st mile - 5:37, second mile 5:35 and then crawled the hill to drag down the time for the finish in 6:48 1.2 mile for an overall 18:01.

Tuesday was Rob deCastella's 8 x 400s with a 200 meter float. This was sub-20 something, possibly sub-19 for a total of 5000 meters. Might be a good weekly evaluation workout.

Monday called for an easy three miles on the treadmill.

REPORT: Breaking the Marathon Training Slump Report

This cutback week is starting to pay off as indicative of tonight’s 5 mile tempo run in 29:46. That’s eight seconds faster than my 5 mile race last week! In reflection the summers can be a real drag if left to one’s self. The need for races, cross-training, group runs and track work can all break these doldrums.

Recent inspiration is from friends in the Lake Placid Ironman triathlon, NYC Triathlon and the Vermont 100-miler this weekend. By competing from 2-20 hours in these events sure is one way to have a good time. Be sure and check for Kyle’s and Jamie’s blog and giving them a good rally of support for their efforts.

Weekly Review
Total Miles: 45.0
Number of Workouts: 7
Stretching: okay
Yoga: back to none
P\U, S\U: a few
Notes: mileage cut-back in hopes of returning to regular training
Issues to Note: lower right back, energy level, poor sleep
Next Week Goal: push past 50 miles, possible 2400m eval run on Thursday, attend 5K race on Wednesday eve, show up at the Around the Lake 24-hour ultra (nice plug for myself from the 2001 & 2002 races) to cheer on friends, explore running the BAA Half Marathon this fall

Lydiard Rock

The title is my comparison of learning the ways of Lydiard to the ways of rock moving. Both are new endeavors to me. Both are challenges and take a long time. Patience and strength are solidly instilled in each.

As you can see in the photo there are more rocks and more names to follow. Would you care to nominate a name for the next rock? This is just my sappy way of keeping focus on running through the summer doldrums.


Lydiard Rock lifted to new heights


Lydiard Rock being lowered to rock wagon, front wheels later to collapse

Training: am, hot & humid, stroller, 10M in 77 minutes

REPORT: Conditioning Week 7

Lower back and poor running continue to drag this marathon program down. A fruitless 5 Mile race effort on Thursday adds to my training woes.

Weekly Review
Total Miles: 50.05
Number of Workouts: 6
Stretching: starting
Yoga: one
P\U, S\U: a few not tracking numbers, encouraging
Notes: Marathon Sports 5M race-poor, brought mileage down, began yoga and core exercises
Issues to Note: lower right back, energy level, poor sleep
Next Week Goal: At least one total rest day, eight hours of sleep, eat more vegetables, maintain mileage around 50 mpw, possible 2400m eval run on Thursday

Training: am, 65,cldy, 6 miles in 46 minutes

Race Report: Marathon Sports 5-Miler

hot, at least the sun was very bright, temp 75-80
went out fast to get good position, downhill and pole in course
Mile 1-5:28
tried to stay in control-not too fast
worked with groups
Mile 2-5:51, 11:19, first series of hills
lots of jostling-too much
worked to get tangents
Mile 3-5:51, 17:11
stitched around mile three
recovered slightly ran with lead women
Mile 4-6:30, 23:41, stitched again
walked two telephone pole lengths by water stop
Mile 5-6:12, red-faced and needing to walk it out
demoralizing. not my race
Finish 29:54, 5:59 pace, 46th overall, 11th Master

Results on Coolrunning

Photo: Courtesy of Jim Rhoades

1x4x800, Calling Lost and Found

What’s the number to get your running speed back? This morning’s track work jeopardizes my thoughts of a fast five miler at the Marathon Sports race in Weston.
The 2x 4x800 was a DNF on lap 5. The laps were ran at a “going by feel pace” without over exerting. 90 seconds between and took a five minute jog before lap five.

Training: am,76, 74%humid,lo energy, stop on 5th, 2.48,2.52,2.50,2.53

REPORT: Marathon- Conditioning Week 5&6

The mileage is bouncing around a little and should settle soon enough. Thoughts are turning to a focused 12 week marathon program. Summer seems like it’s tougher to keep the attention on a fall marathon.
Stretching, abs and push ups just aren’t coming around. Somehow, I need to get back on the program and not wait around to the end of the day to get them in when I am too tired.
I threw out my lower right back causing a small pain and most likely from quick movements grabbing water and stuff with the stroller, also, maybe heavy lifting.

Weekly Review
Total Miles: 88.0
Number of Workouts: 9
Stretching: way off target
Yoga: none
P\U, S\U: maybe 30\75
Notes: maintenance training
Issues to Note: slight muscle pull lower right back
Next Week Goal: Race a steamy 5-miler at a good pace

Week 5 Review
Total Miles: 52.50
Number of Workouts: 6
Stretching: very little
Yoga: none
P\U, S\U: none to speak of
Notes: backed way off on distance and number of runs, raced with stroller, ½ marathon
Issues to Note: NSTR

Training: am, 60,cldy,stroller, 9.55 miles at an average of 8:01 pace on Willow Guzzle, rained the last three miles resulting in a negative second half, five miles.