The Musings of a Marathoner

Back to the grind

2008-01-24T16:59:00.001-05:00

Monday & Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 4.4 miles
Thursday: 4 miles

Since I've last updated this blog I have run two more marathons. Montana--where my significant other set a PR on a sweltering day--and Chicago. Both were hot and both were rewarding. But most of all they were memorable. More importantly, I managed to finish an Advanced I training cycle with no nagging injuries. I added more speedwork into the mix (tempos, hill repeats, and 800's) and absolutely loved it. My running felt as if I was on cruise control most of the time and my easy pace dropped dramatically. However, the only problem I had was my legs never quite recovered during the taper and they felt a little heavy during the Montana Marathon. I did feel much better for Chicago which was three weeks later.

Of course three marathons in a year always seems invite injury. After Chicago I took a week (or so) off and then jumped right back into training. I built my long run up to 15 miles. I was averaging 40+ miles per week. I was on target for my goal of running 1500 miles for the year. I know that's only 29 miles per week and it's really not that much, but I can never manage to get there. In November I got a cold that knocked me out for a week. And in December I ran in a nor'easter. Well okay, I ran after the nor'easter. All the snow and ice on the sidewalks managed to completely screw up my left knee and I couldn't run for three weeks. Lovely.

I am seeing a chiropractor and I did manage to run twice this week without a knee brace, so I am quite pleased. We shall see how it goes.

A new pace

2007-05-21T15:33:00.000-04:00

Thursday: run 3 x hill (two up and one downhill repeat). 5.4 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 5 mile pace run (42:30)
Sunday: 10 miles

Weekly total: 28.4 miles

My pace run this week was all about determining what is comfortably hard. There's no better place to do that than two laps of Freshie on a rainy Saturday morning. As I started the race, I realized I was quickly being sucked into everybody's pace, but my own. I slowed down and concentrated on the rhythm of my own breathing and fell into my natural pace. After the first 2.5 mile lap, I was a little winded and tired but I had a feeling it had more to do with the lack of sleep all week long and the hill workout I ran on Thursday night. Well into the second lap, I felt more comfortable with the pace and I wanted to aim for a fairly even split. Success to me was finishing the second lap within 15 seconds of the first lap. In my mind, I had calculated a 42:30 would give us an even split. As we crossed the finish line I heard the timer yell "42:30. Nice splits!" Mission accomplished.

Lessons learned

2007-05-17T16:09:00.000-04:00

Monday: rest
Tuesday: run 5 miles
Wednesday: run 3 miles

Why is it that we can only see our mistakes after it is too late? After you've fallen off the proverbial cliff? You see I kept running despite the soreness in my legs. Utter fatigue that I could never shake. Not even after taking nearly three weeks off of running. I was too far gone. For me marathon training and overtraining go hand in hand. At the point I realize that I've done too much, it's often far too late. After ten marathons, I still haven't found that fine line.

Yes, I finished my tenth marathon. It was painful and unrewarding. I injured the tendon in my right foot at mile eight and limped my way to the finish line. I couldn't walk the next day. After X-rays, physical therapy, and numerous chiropractor appointments, I finally felt better. And then I tripped on an uneven sidewalk and popped a joint out of place in my right toe.

Here I sit on a brand new training cycle and goals with three lessons learned. Or should I say lessons relearned.

Listen to your body. Do not overtrain. Skip runs when you need to for a mental or physical break. More is not necessarily better.
Amazingly, the body needs protein to aid in recovery and rebuilding of muscles broken down. You need more than grilled cheese sandwiches, canned soup, and spaghetti with tomato sauce to fuel marathon training. After telling two separate people about my training woes, they both immediately asked me about my protein intake.
Watch where you step. Especially in the Boston area.

Plugging away

2007-01-26T19:59:00.000-05:00

Three weeks ago: 36 miles (4/7/4/7/14)
Two weeks ago: 41.5 miles (8/6.5+3.8/8/15.2)
Last week: 28 miles (8/8/12)

Monday: rest
Tuesday: run 9.2 miles
Wednesday: run 6 miles
Thursday: run 8.5 miles
Friday: rest

I ran on very tired, sore legs for about three weeks. Uggh. You see, I love to run, but my body is not biomechanically fit enough for all the pounding. I have ridiculously flat feet and no matter what shoes I put them in, I always end up with an injury. It doesn't matter how slowly I ramp up the mileage or how much I lift weights to strengthen the muscles that are neglected. I stretch until I can't stand it any longer. And yet, that soreness never dissipates.

I did the only logical thing I could do. Cut back on training. No. Cram five days worth of mileage into four days. Yes. Cram five days of a stepback week into three days. Yes. But the glorious four days off were all worth it. So glorious in fact that I ran past my turn around point on Tuesday night.

Official

2007-01-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

Three weeks ago: 28 miles (4/5/4/5/10)
Two weeks ago: 32 miles (6/4/6/4/12)
Last week: 23 miles (4/6/5/8)

Tuesday: run 4 miles
Wednesday: run 7 miles
Thursday: run 4 miles

I registered for my marathon and I am now an official entrant for the 2007 Hyannis marathon. If I finish it will be my tenth.

The running has been going well. During my stepback week I ran a 5 mile "race". I never went with the intent of running all out, but rather putting in a solid effort. During that race I have never felt more like I am built for distance and not speed. I watched the men and women whip out in front of me with limbs flying. Some more elegantly than others. And there I was with my lungs burning with cold winter air, desperately trying not to cough. After the first lap (2.5 miles) I felt as if I had just started running. My second lap felt easier with each step and I avoided looking at my watch for most of the second half because I didn't want to ruin the moment with time considerations. With less than half a mile I finally looked down and was surprised to see that with some effort I might be able to break 45 minutes. I did that easily and finished in 44:19 with a :51 negative split.

Now if I could just get rid of the persistent soreness in my legs...

Ultra considerations

2006-12-13T16:39:00.000-05:00

Last week: 26 miles (4/4/4/5/9)

Tuesday: run 4 miles

The nine mile run went smoothly on Sunday and I am feeling ready to train for the marathon distance. The schedule is written out on a piece of scrap paper and the only thing that remains is to sign up for the marathon. And yet I hesitate. Not because of the distance or shortened training, but rather because I want to test the waters out and see how my training goes. I would hate to sign up only to have an injury surface. But I am also hindered by the fact that I do not know when the race will fill up (and it does).

I have also found another race which has peaked my interest. For some time now I have been toying with the idea of running an ultra. Not a 50 miler or a 100 miler, but rather a 50K. It seems like a nice distance. Often during mile 20-24 of a marathon I think about what it would be like to have to keep running after the 26.2 mile mark. What lies beyond that threshold? Does that mean I'm ready for it? I don't know. But I do know that as a runner I have always wanted to run a marathon. One day I signed up for a local marathon, trained, and ran the distance. No thought process other than just get out there and do it. Is that how I should approach the 50K? Don't think. Just run.

Decisions

2006-12-05T20:52:00.000-05:00

Last week: run 16.75 miles (3/3/3/3.75)

Monday: run 4 miles
Tuesday: run 4 miles

In my usual haphazard fashion I am suddenly considering running a marathon. In February. This all started at the beginning of this year where I decided to run Boston on no training. I think I left myself around 2 1/2 months to train. This time I have three months before the Cape Cod Marathon and I think I can do it. I wrote out a mini-training schedule and that's usually the last step before signing up for the marathon. I think I'd like to do a little experimenting with the schedule though by making my long run 18 miles instead of the standard 20. I seem to run better with less mileage, so I'm going to test that theory. My longest run before Boston was 16 miles and although my feet were burning throughout the race, my legs never really felt tired. Perhaps 18 will be the magic number. Hmmmm, I'm going to take a day or two to think on it.

Steady

2006-11-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

Three weeks ago: 10 miles
Two weeks ago: 2o miles
Last week: 19 miles

Each week I see a little more progress with my running. Two weeks ago I ran 3/4/3/4/6 because I was afraid to make all of my shorter runs four miles. Last week I only managed to get out four times, but I did run 4/4/4/7 without any problems. And despite the Thanksgiving holiday, I found myself wanting to run and telling my family, "no I can't to that because I've got to go running." It's wonderful to have my running become a habit again and not a chore. With that said I think I'll take this week as a stepback week just because...

Beating the rain

2006-11-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

Tuesday: run 4 miles

I checked the weather before heading out for my run and discovered I didn't need to wear my long sleeve T-shirt or gloves. 50-55 degrees. In November.

I had a lovely four mile run and kept waiting for the rain showers to start, but they never did. The air never felt heavy and thick so I should have known that I wouldn't be actually running in the rain. I started out a little quick, but backed off since I want to keep the pace comfortable. I think I pushed it too much last week and I don't need any injuries at this point. With about a 1/2 mile left I felt a little tired, but I quickly forgot about it since I was concentrating on getting up the hill. At this point, I am happy with my progress and a twenty mile week has to just around the corner. Time to look up exactly when that half-marathon is.

Progress

2006-11-06T17:05:00.000-05:00

Wednesday: nada
Thursday: run 3 miles
Friday: run 3 miles
Saturday: run 3 miles
Sunday: run 5 miles

Weekly total: 17 miles

I'm beginning to feel comfortable with my running again. Of course now that I've written those words, it probably means it's all going to come crashing down around me. All of the three milers were a little tough, but I've been pushing the pace (just a little) and I finish feeling good. I'm not fast, but I feel strong.

Yesterday's "long" run felt wonderful. It was sunny and brisk outside with a slight wind and absolutely perfect for running. I went out with the intention of running slow and without effort and I did just that. There's something inherently pleasing about heading outside with the only goal being to cover a distance. Some days I want to hit a certain pace and other days I want to push the pace at a specific mile. But when you set outside with the only goal to be run 5 miles (and you're not entirely convinced you can make the distance) and you do it with no problem, then it's a glorious day.

Darkness

2006-10-31T22:03:00.000-05:00

Friday (two weeks ago): 3 miles
Sunday (two weeks ag0): 4 miles

Sunday (last week): 4 miles

Tuesday: 3 miles

Life came before running last week, so I only managed a paltry 4 mile run so I wouldn't have to write a zero for the entire week. I'm considering running a 1/2 marathon in January, so that should be plenty of motivation.

Today's run was in the dark. I don't like the time change because I'm perpetually running in the blackness of night, but there's not much that can be done. But setting the clock back an hour also means that I'm getting closer to great running weather. I haven't been forced to get my running pants out of storage yet, but I am inching closer to that day. I can't wait to feel the sting of winter on my cheeks and the tingling in my fingers.

Where is fall?

2006-10-20T19:26:00.000-04:00

Monday: run 3 miles
Tuesday: nada
Wednesday: run 3 miles
Thursday: run 3 miles

By nature I am a late fall runner. I love wearing my running clothes with a long sleeve cotton T-shirt that my brother gave me several years ago. It's from the 1999 New England Cross-Country Championships. I did not attend the Championships and neither did my brother seeing as he was the manager of the men's varsity basketball team. But he saw a cardboard box marked "free" full of T-shirts and he thought I'd like one. The T-shirts were still there the next day, so he picked up another one for me. These free T-shirts have become a staple of my running wardrobe and I associate them with the late fall cold air and the early winter freeze. They have carried me through several marathons, a few shorter races, and countless runs. After the New York City marathon, I was too tired to walk and bumped into an electrical box jutting out of a wall. The sharp edge of the box cut into my shirt and ripped a small hole in the shoulder. It also has small bleach stains on the front and a safety pin attached to the bottom. The only time I didn't wear that T-shirt was when I ran Maui and Mount Desert Island. Too warm and too much rain.

It's almost Halloween and I haven't had much opportunity to wear my beloved T-shirts because of the warm weather in Boston. Too warm for my tastes considering it's almost the end of October. But you know what? Tonight it's drizzling and windy and fifty something degrees. Excuse me, I've got to go running.

Slow start

2006-10-16T15:53:00.000-04:00

Monday: run 3 miles
Tuesday: nada
Wednesday: run 3 miles
Thursday: run 3 miles
Friday & Saturday: nada
Sunday: run 3 miles

Weekly total: 12 miles

My laziness has turned into a very bad habit. But I miss my running, especially since fall has arrived and it's such a shame to miss the crisp autumn air. Monday's run was terrible and cruel. I was lightheaded and then dizzy. I didn't think I would make it the full three miles, but at the very end of the run I felt a little better. On Tuesday, I had a little snack before my run and still felt lightheaded, but I was able to finish the three miles. Thursday's run was uneventful and Sunday's run was pure bliss. It was the perfect temperature, although I would have preferred to have my gloves. I'm going to try to run five days this week (it's been ages since I've done that) and maybe run a 4 miler.

The long road back

2006-09-07T11:02:00.000-04:00

Tuesday (three weeks ago): 3 miles
Tuesday(two weeks ago): 3 miles
Wednesday (yesterday): 3 miles

I am finding the road back to running a difficult one. The problem with injuries is that you're forced to take a break from running and you quickly lose not only your fitness, but also the desire to run. Coming home from work and playing on the computer or reading a book becomes the normal routine. Then I get hungry, so I might as well eat dinner and then running is out of the question. And the cycle repeats itself and I find myself running once a week and even that is an effort.

But sometimes the effort is worth dragging yourself out the door. Yesterday I had a pretty rough, confusing, and long day at work. As soon as I got in my car, I thought about how much I wanted to go running to clear my head. Not to forget my day, but just so I could be outside. I could picture myself pumping my arms and hear my labored breathing. And so when I got home, I played on the computer for ten minutes and then I put on my running clothes and went for a three mile run. It was a great run. I ran fast and slow, I pumped my arms in different rhythms, and I felt sweat trickle down my face. It was everything I imagined it could be.

A blogging vacation

2006-08-23T17:01:00.000-04:00

It has been a long time since I've last written. Not only did I become an official entrant of the Boston Marathon, but I actually finished the thing on no training. Seriously. On one of my runs shortly after the last time I blogged, I took a hard fall and my knee was scraped up badly. I couldn't bend my leg for quite some time and thus, I ran the marathon with one pitiful long run of 16 or 17 miles. I finished Boston in 4:15 (or somewhere around there) and ran amazingly even splits.

After Boston, I wound up with a hip injury that left me useless. I would run two-three times a week and then take five-ten days off. I repeated this several times until I started limping full time. I finally went to a doctor and discovered I had a problem with my sciatic nerve so I went on full rest for three weeks. Now I'm a lazy mess and a couple of weeks ago when I went out for a three mile run, I came home sore and out of breath. Back to the beginning. No goal races. No plans. Just back to the basics. One foot in front of the other.

It's official

2006-03-16T19:05:00.000-05:00

Tuesday: run 4 miles.
Wednesday: nothing. Too cold and windy (and snowing/hailing)!
Thursday: run 4 miles.

I'm an official entrant of the Boston Marathon. This means I really do have to keep training. I took Wednesday off because the weather was so nasty outside and my throat hurts and I'm coughing and sniffling. I paid my dues! I was sick for two weeks. I've been swallowing Zicam and praying it turns into nothing.

Today's run was good--windy and brisk just like fall. When I started out my legs felt wicked tight, but I told myself to concentrate on just taking it slow and easy. After a mile, the feeling went away. Must stretch my shins. My body is starting to feel the jump from 0 to 16 miles in four weeks. I might only run 3 days this week.

A change of plans

2006-03-13T14:55:00.000-05:00

Feb 15-19th: run 21.47 miles. Long run of 10 miles.
Feb 20-26th: run 24.05 miles. Long run of 11 miles.
Feb27-March 5th: run 26.25 miles. Long run of 13.25 miles.
March 6-12th: run 29.05 miles. Long run of 16 miles.

Since the last time I've posted there's been a big change in my running schedule. During the 15th or so of February, I received word that I may be able to secure a number for the Boston Marathon. Did I want to run? That was an excellent question. Two weeks of lost fitness and no long runs.

I decided that I would venture out on two long runs of 10 and 11 miles respectively and if I survived I was game. I had one fabulous, but freezing run, through Central Park over President's Day weekend. My eleven miler was not notable for anything other than my cheeks, legs, and tummy turned bright red from the cold. The thirteen miler was in shorts on a sunny, breezy day and felt okay. This weekend I ran Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon as part of a 16 miler long run. My splits were somewhere around 9:20 to 9:50's and the last mile was an 8:26. I felt tired after mile 7, but then I quickly realized that I had forgotten to take a gel. I felt tired again later in the race and noticed I forgot to take a gel again. I'm an idiot. I usually run around 10:00-10:30 pace for my long runs and my quicker pace on Sunday didn't bother me too much. And I have no soreness today. Who knows, I just may be able to pull this off....

Winter sniffles and coughs

2006-02-14T17:05:00.000-05:00

Jan. 30: run 4.05 miles
Jan 31: run 5.0 miles and weights (3 sets)
Feb 1: run 4.05 miles
Nada
Feb 7: run 4.05 miles
Nada
Feb 14: run 3.37 miles

I never get sick, but this year I've been sick twice. Blah. Sniffles, sinus drainage, pounding headaches, sore throat and coughing. I took a break from running and then the one day back killed my immune system. Since I couldn't breathe and I was on codeine I decided running was not a good idea.

Fast forward to today, where the sun is brilliant on the snow from this past Sunday's snowstorm. I don't care. I'm calling it a blizzard. It was brutal out there. The sidewalks are remarkably clean and well sanded. Woohoo City of Cambridge! It was slow going, but I managed to make my way around Fresh Pond. A guy passed me who was running slightly faster than my usual pace and it drove me crazy. Hey yellow coat! See I really can keep up with you if I had been able to run for the past two weeks. Ah well, time to reclaim some fitness.

Shorts and melting snow

2006-01-29T14:25:00.000-05:00

Wednesday: run 5.0 miles. Big, long hill halfway through my run.
Thursday: rest.
Friday: run 4.05 miles. Lovely running day. I'm in the zone.
Saturday: run 6.0 miles with Mike.
Sunday: rest. I'm watching the Suns/Cavs play on TV. Go Suns!

Yesterday I had a great run with Mike. It was surreal running in shorts and a long sleeve T-shirt in late January. We ran with the sun shining on us and the sound of melting snow and ice. I was worried about running for a fifth day this week (I haven't done that since last September), but I couldn't let the perfect running weather slip by without getting out there. So for the first time in a long time, I've run over 20 miles in a week. And it was painless.

Slushy sidewalks and sunshine

2006-01-24T17:58:00.000-05:00

Friday: run 4.05 miles
Saturday-Sunday: rest. I did think about yoga on Saturday morning though.
Monday: run 5.0 miles on treadmill. Weights (3 sets).

6 minutes @ 6.0 mph
6 minutes @ 6.1 mph
6 minutes @6.2 mph
6 minutes @ 6.3 mph
2 minutes @ 2.0% incline
2 minutes rest @ 1.0% incline
2 minutes @ 3.0% incline
repeat until I reached 6.0% incline
Cool down @ 6.2 mph

Tuesday: run 4.05 miles

After yesterday's hill workout, my legs are a little tired. As I start my run, I concentrate on running slow because I need an easy day. It wasn't too difficult because of all the melting, mushy snow on the ground and sidewalks. Although the sidewalks weren't great, they were more manageable than I thought. And the sun was shining and making the snow a brilliant, almost blinding, white.

Political comment of the day: Every heard of signing statements? When the Presidents signs a bill into law he (or she) can add a signing statement which is basically his attitude towards the law. In essence, he signs provisions that he believes should be in there. I thought Congress made law, the President signed the bill into law, and that the Supreme Court interpreted the law. Silly me. I suppose we don't really need those checks and balances. (Credit to Time Magazine January 23, 2006).

Ode to the Brevards

2006-01-19T15:37:00.000-05:00

Wednesday: rest
Thursday: run 4.05 miles

How does one find the perfect shoe? Is it luck or the wisdom of a trained salesperson in a running store? I had my perfect shoe once--the Adidas Brevard. It was the shoe that cradled my foot just the right way. Snug in the midfoot, a wider toebox and just the right amount of arch support and cushioning. It was the shoe that I trained in for my third marathon and it carried me through the heat of Maui and a month later it was on my feet for my accidental Boston Qualifying time. I kept training in that shoe and it was with me for a horrible 26.2 mile journey from Hopkinton to Boston. But when I went to train for the NYC Marathon it was mysteriously gone. Vanished. I frantically searched the shoe stores for my beloved Brevards, but they never surfaced. I had to give up and try to love another shoe. I've been in Mizuno Alchemy, Brooks Adrenaline GTS, Asics 1090 (or something like that), a $140 pair of shoes that hurt my feet more than any shoe I've ever worn, Nike Air Structure Triax, and I'm sure there are more I can't remember. And none of them fit me just right. This arch is too high, the shoe is too supportive, not enough support, not enough cushioning... And then my Brevards came back, but reincarnated into a completely different shoe. One that didn't fit my feet. The redesign was a cruel joke. And then it was made over again--more like the original--but not quite. It's not the same exact fit and they did some funky thing with the cushioning. Every pair I buy feels flat. I've been wearing dead shoes for over a year. And so with great hope I walk into Marathon Sports hoping I'll get the pair of shoes built just for me. And after two runs I remember exactly why I didn't like the Mizunos. But you know what? It's been redesigned.

New shoes

2006-01-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

Friday: run 4.05 miles
Sat.-Sunday: rest
Monday: run 4.05 miles
Tuesday: run 4.05 miles; elliptical machine 2.0 miles; weights (3 sets)

The pleasant warm weather last week has been replaced by bitterly cold, biting wind on Monday. Tuesday is much better, but still cold. I can't complain though because it's January in Massachusetts. My run was good and faster than usual (36 minutes). The hip is doing okay. Stretching seems to irritate it, so I've stopped doing that and I've seen improvement.

But the big running news is that I didn't buy another pair of Adidas Brevards. I switched to Mizuno Alchemy. I ran in these shoes during my training for the NYC marathon , but decided to abandon them. They were recommended to me by Marathon Sports (again), so I thought I would give them another try. The Brevards are okay, but not great. If only they had more cushioning... Well in my one run, I determined the Mizunos are perfect for my left foot, but too stiff for my right foot. Ah well, perhaps I'll try lacing them up differently.

53 degrees!

2006-01-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

Jan. 1-2: run 4 miles x 2. Break from running due to sore/weak hip.
Tuesday: run 4 miles and weights
Wednesday: run 4.05 miles
Thursday: run 4.05 miles

Today the sun is shining and it's a balmy fifty three degrees in January. We started a massive study at my work and I can't run at lunch, but we have some glitches so I was able to get outside twice this week. What did I do to be this lucky?

Yesterday's run was good through two miles, but then I just didn't feel like running anymore. Unfortunately, I was two miles away from work and I had no choice but to keep going. But today everything was beautiful. I started out kind of quick and then slowed down some because I didn't want a repeat of yesterday's events. I felt fabulous the whole time (minus that tightness in my left calf in the beginning of the run). And after my run I ate homemade beef stew. It's a very good day!

A little speedwork

2005-12-30T08:47:00.000-05:00

Monday: rest.
Tuesday: run 4 miles on treadmill.

5 minutes @ 6.0 mph
2 minutes @ 6.1 mph
3 minutes @ 6.2 mph
4 minutes @ 6.3 mph
4 minutes @ 6.4 mph
4 minutes @ 6.5 mph
and so on...

Lift weights.

Wednesday: run 4.05 miles around Freshpond. Legs were tired.

Thursday: run 4 miles on treadmill.

10 minutes @ 6.0 mph
10 minutes @ 6.6 mph
5 minutes @ 6.7 mph
5 minutes @ 6.8 mph
remaining time @ 6.0 mph

Lift weights.

In order to get some "speed" back, I'm trying to run faster. Not all out fast, but a comfortable hard effort. My marathon PR pace is 8:12ish and I'd like to get back there if I could. But I haven't run fast in ages so I'm starting out with sustaining 9 minute miles. It's not that difficult, so I feel good about the run when I'm finished. My goal race is a half marathon in the summer, so I have loads of time to prepare. Maybe when the weather warms up I'll even hit the track.

Hitting the gym

2005-12-27T15:23:00.000-05:00

Wednesday: run 3.37 miles.
Thursday: run 3.37 miles. 1.25 miles on elliptical machine. Lift weights.
Friday: rest.
Saturday: run 3.0 miles on treadmill. Play with incline and speed. Lift weights.
Sunday: rest.

I'm trying to make the gym a habit again. It's been a long time since I've lifted weights, but a weak hip is driving me back the gym. Seems kind of ironic that my legs need more strengthening.

Nothing of note on my running, except I did have fun on the treadmill on Saturday. I chose the treadmill in front of the weight lifting equipment and enjoyed watching everyone. Plus, I also had good tunes on my iPod and cranked up the speed every two to four minutes. I started off running at 6.0 mph and finished somewhere around 7.2 mph. I threw some inclines in there too and the 28 minutes I spent on the treadmill flew.

Slow times

2005-12-20T16:42:00.000-05:00

December 5-11: run 3.37 miles x 3
December 12-18: run 3.37 miles x 4
Today: run 3.37 miles

A trip to London, tight shins, and holiday laziness seemed like good reasons to take a brief break from running. The first run was more difficult than I thought. I despise these setbacks, especially when I felt like things were clicking. If it weren't for that tightness in my legs... But the rest was needed. Yeah, that's it.

Some observations and thoughts from my past few runs:

Do not eat homemade spicy beef jerky just before running.
After taking a 15 day break, shorter 3 mile runs will make you feel like you've had a workout.
When you're running and find a break from the wind and run with your face towards the sun, it can be surprisingly and gloriously warm.
Some days it's extremely difficult to make yourself get outside and run in the cold. You know the saying that you'll feel better once you get out there? Well, that's not always the case.
On a particularly cold day, I saw an 80+ year old man wearing a hat, scarf, mittens, and layers of clothes running on the icy sidewalk. I want to be him.
Even on a cloudy day the sun can come out from hiding. It's stunning when it shines on a partially frozen pond.
Hard packed snow is a blessing.
Warm temperatures and rain cannot melt all the snow in one day. The remaining slushy mess is much more slippery than pure ice with dirt thrown on top.
Sometimes all I can hear on a run is the sound of my footsteps on snow and branches breaking. But othertimes I can hear dogs playing with their owners and other runners' labored breathing. For both, I am grateful.
On an otherwise boring run, the sighting of a small bright red bird in bare tree branches in a white winter wonderland makes it all worthwhile.

Everything's good

2005-11-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

(Monday: run 4.05 miles)
Wednesday: run 4.05 miles
Thursday: run 5 miles
Saturday: run 4 miles
Sunday: run 12 miles

Total: 29.1 miles

Last week was the first week in a long time that I've run five days a week. The last time I did that was my peak week of marathon training. I'm trying to increase back to my five days a week, but it'll have to wait until I get back from England.

For now, all I can think about is packing, flying for 7 hours (yuck), and seeing all I can in the limited time I'm there. It's Mike's first time staying at a Four Seasons hotel and my second, so I'm pretty excited about that too.

Unexpected warmth

2005-11-14T18:31:00.000-05:00

Thursday: run 4.05 miles
Friday and Saturday: rest. Suns win at home.
Sunday: run 11 miles. Pats win in Miami.
Monday: run 4.05 miles. Big Papi does not get MVP.

Yesterday was a fabulous day for running. Warm, sunny, and breezy. Mike joined me for an easy eleven along Broadway and Mass. Avenue. I never checked when the Pats were going to play on TV, so we missed most of the game. But I saw some of the last quarter and in this game that's what counted.

Today was another warm day and I had to go running outside and enjoy it. Tomorrow it's supposed to turn nasty and cold. My legs were a little tired from yesterday, but after five minutes they felt great. I picked up the pace and concentrated on pumping my arms. Usually I let them swing carelessly by my side, but today I made them work. I felt like I was running faster and it felt effortless. Hmmmm, something to consider in my future training.

Oh yeah, the Suns won their first home game this season. Woohoo!

Between fall and winter

2005-11-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

Monday: rest
Tuesday: run 4.05 miles
Wednesday: run 5 miles

My legs are feeling a little tired from this weekend's efforts. It's not the distance, but the speed. I'm used to running 10-10:30's for my long run, but we ran a 9:30-10:00 pace.

Today is my favorite running weather. Overcast, breezy, and in the mid-40's. I can wear my running shirt and shorts with my favorite cotton (gasp!) long sleeve T-shirt. I feel cold for the first five minutes, but then I'm comfortable for the rest of the run. The temperature is just above the point where my legs sting from the cold.

I run through Belmont and up Belmont Hill. It's been a long time (pre-marathon as a matter of fact) since I've done this run. I manage to get up the mile long hill without too much trouble. I fly on the downhill and stretch my arms out and let my legs go. It's a great day to be a runner.

The streak continues

2005-11-08T12:35:00.000-05:00

Friday: bike 7.01 miles
Saturday: run 5 miles
Sunday: run 9.7 miles

On Saturday, Mike and I head to Fresh Pond for the weekly race. Fresh Pond is a free race every Saturday no matter what the weather (although if it's a blizzard the guy might decide to not time past the first loop). You can run one or two loops for 2.5 miles or 5.0 miles. The top five men and women for each respective distance is listed in the sports section of the Sunday Boston Globe.

We arrive seconds before the race starts and there's quite a crowd. Our friends, Mitch and Betsy, are already there. I warn them I'm not in the mood to run fast, so they'll have to wait for me. If it's a good day, I figure to run about a 9:30 pace. Mike runs the first loop with me and I hear my split of 22:10. That's just under a 9 minute mile and it felt okay. Maybe I'll try to run a negative split. Second loop feels great; I'm just a tad bit tired with 0.5 miles left. Final time 38:21. My second loop is 56 seconds faster than the first. Woohoo!

I'm very pleased. First loop I averaged an 8:50 pace and the second loop I ran 8:30's. It's been a long time since I've run a sub-9 minute mile. Now if I could just sneak in a little speedwork.

And I forgot to mention, I did make it to the paper for 2nd place in the 5 miler. My streak continues.

Easy, breezy

2005-11-03T18:46:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure if I wanted to run during work or after work, so I complained to my co-worker that I didn't know what to do. She immediately replied, "it's sunny outside, so you have to go out and enjoy it."

It was sunny, a bit windy, and the perfect temperature. The sidewalk was littered with fall leaves. I was passed by two men riding hand-cranked bicycles (I don't really know what they're called), but I ended up passing them on the next hill. I ran by a couple of landscaping guys cleaning a yard. I was tempted to run through the leaves they piled in the middle of the sidewalk, but I decided against it. It wouldn't be very nice.

When I clocked back into work, I noticed it took me 41 minutes for my 4.05 mile journey. Hmmmm, that includes stretching and getting caught at a long stop light twice. My total running time must be around 38 minutes. And to think I couldn't decide if I wanted to run or not.

The first loss of the season

2005-11-02T16:32:00.000-05:00

Monday: Bike 7.41 miles.
Tuesday: Bike 8.45 miles. Run 4 miles.

What is it that makes us so passionate about a sports team? I can't pinpoint the moment that I became a Phoenix Suns fan, but I've been loyal since I've declared them my team. I loved Charles Barkley, Thunder Dan, and KJ. I grudgingly accepted the end of each season (without a championship) and the changes it brought. I remember when Jason Kidd came to the Suns and was mesmerized by his speed and agility. And then we traded him for Marbury. That was tough. But I bought into Marbury's ability and in a flash he was gone. My team had sunk to the lowest depths in quite some time. We were buried in the bottom of the league.

But then last season happened and it was glorious. My team became #1 in the NBA. They were fascinating to watch--a blur of amazing passes, baskets, and dunks. Yes, I know we didn't have defense, but man was it fun to watch.

Now we only have a few players left from my magical team, but I'll still cheer for them. I miss Amare's presence, JJ's shooting, and Q's 3 pointers. But just as every other season has brought new players--and the glaring absence of others--I'll grow to love another Suns team.

And you know what? The commentators can spew that losing the home opener game is not a good sign for the Suns. They were the #1 team in the NBA last year and this is a new season with an almost entirely new roster. Yeah, so we gave up a 17 point lead and lost in double overtime to the Mavericks. But in my book, we almost beat the Mavericks with a team that's still trying to find it's rhythm. And that's not a bad place for my new team to be.

The first long run

2005-10-31T13:03:00.000-05:00

You never know how the first long run after a marathon will be. It's either gloriously pain free and lovely or it's not.

My body seems to have recovered from the marathon quite well and I attribute that to the hilly terrain and running slow. However, on my first and second run after the marathon, my legs felt tight. Not painful, not sore. Just tight. I admit I was surprised, but you just never know exactly how long it will take to heal.

So on Sunday, I felt some trepidation about my "long" run. I decided on six miles because it seemed like a nice number. An hour of running. The distance of the first long run for a novice marathon training program. I can handle that.

I spent that hour running with Mike talking about work and politics. The sun was warm, the sky clear, the roads not too busy. My legs didn't protest one bit. It was wonderful.

First timer to Khory's

2005-10-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, I found myself running in weather quite similar to the MDI marathon--windy and cold. An easy 3.37 miles around Fresh Pond in Cambridge. It was one of those days I was thankful to be a runner. Everything was effortless.

Yesterday, I ran Khory's 4.13 miler in Somerville for the first time. I was feeling lazy in the afternoon so I didn't run and I called Mike to ask him if he'd like to run Khory's with me. Of course I wasn't asking, but rather telling him what we would do that evening.

Khory's is an informal "race"/social run with the Somerville Road Runners and other like-minded people. I checked out the website beforehand and I admit I was intimidated by all the fast runners. Fast to me is anything more than a 9:50 pace. I like to take in all the scenery with my standard 10 minute miles. Well, the slowest women finish in 37/38 minutes. I knew I would most likely be the last person, so I wanted Mike to run with me so I wouldn't get lost on the roads.

The race started at Khory's State Spa, otherwise known as a bar, and after about a half a mile headed up Winter Hill. I live on top of Winter Hill so I'm used to running it, but I run up the opposite side. My side is steeper and shorter and the other side is much longer, but less steep. I made it up and over without too much complaint and picked up the pace a bit on the downhill. After the hill ended, I managed to maintain the pace with minimal effort. We ran mostly on the roads, but we were forced onto the sidewalks when a fire engine came screaming down the street. Another couple of quick turns and we were on Broadway again. I wanted to pick up the pace a little towards the end, but I didn't quite recognize where we were. So when I started thinking about running faster, I was already at the finish line. Oh well. The best part of the night was when they read off my time (I wasn't wearing a watch). 38:06 for an average pace of 9:14.

I survived Mount Desert Island

2005-10-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

I finished my eighth marathon. 4:23:30. It was hilly, windy, and wet. I almost froze at mile 19. I didn't find Mitch until mile 22 and it was fabulous to have someone to run the last 4.2 miles with me. When I crossed the finish line, I had a glorious smile on my face. It was wonderful to finally return to marathoning after a year and a half. Now I remember why I love to run.

Oh no!

2005-10-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

How can I be getting sick now? Doesn't my body know it has to run a marathon on Sunday? The cruelty of marathon training is you never know what happens on race day. It doesn't matter that you've been training for four and a half months. The body says enough is enough. I'm going to break down now. And the worst part is I'm dying to go out for a run. I know I shouldn't, but my body wants to get outside. I'm longing to break out in a sweat. To run Winter Hill. Why does the mind tempt me with such things?

Taper madness.

A brief history

2005-10-11T20:04:00.000-04:00

My life as a runner began my freshman year in high school. I joined the cross country and track team because my best friend was a member and we could leave school early on Wednesdays. I never ran in any Saturday meets because I was also involved in 4-H and my weekends were filled with horse and lamb shows or rodeos.

And then college began and I didn't find much time for running. Every so often I would run 3 or 4 miles, but I was never dedicated. However, during my last semester in college, I came to Boston to visit my boyfriend. I was going to meet him after work in Copley Square and it just happened to be during the Boston Marathon. I stood and watched the four, five, and six hour marathoners stream by and cross a newly painted thick yellow line. I wanted to run a marathon.

After graduation I moved to Boston and watched the marathon again. Except this time I laced up my shoes and started running that day. I ran around the Charles River and Winter Hill. I ran through the streets of Boston to Brookline. I ran until the next Boston Marathon. Yet again I watched the runners until the sky was dark and my hands stung from clapping. And this time I made up my mind that I really would run a marathon.

A couple of months later, I found a small, flat marathon that promised peak fall foliage along the Merrimack River and I was sold. A year later that same marathon would give me my Boston Qualifying time.

And now seven marathons later and a year and a half break, I'm getting ready to toe the line in five days. The goals are not great--I just want to finish. But I also want to find my love for marathons again.