Loop > Out-and-back

Yesterday: barely worth writing about. I may have broken 2.5mi, but I kind of doubt it. Was detained at the doctor's office with Lola and didn't have much daylight. And just didn't feel like running long. I did run "fast" after the turnaround at least.

Today: Was determined to do a real workout. My plan was to run down Rt 10 to Orford, and then back up Rt 10 to Haverhill. But around the Round Barn (3mi) I decided this was boring. So when I got to Piermont (5mi), I turned right and went across to VT, through Bradford, up to Newbury, back across the bridge to NH, then south to Haverhill Corner. Looping is much better than doing an out-and-back, and this was a particular nice loop. I got to see the Connecticut River twice, saw some Alpenglow on the White Mountains at sunset, and got to see spectacular oranges and pinks from the NH side as it sank behind the Green Mountains. It was a little shorter than what I planned (17 vs. 20) but a good run all the same.

Back on it

Saturday: woke up at 6.30 to run, but was so tired I took about 50 steps to the end of the block, turned around, and came back. Then was stuck with 2hrs+ until my train left, so laid my head down on the pillow and ... woke up 3hrs later. Had to scramble SEPTA, Southwest, rental car, and finally arrived in Haverhill around 7pm. DNR.

Sunday: frittered away the whole day doing chores around the house and family stuff. Was about to head out around 5pm for the Piermont 10 miler, when we had to rush Lola into the ER. She was showing signs of internal bleeding and we didn't want to take any chances. Got back around 9pm so DNR.

Today: made it a priority to get out first thing. Did the depicted route down to Piermont, out to River Rd, and back up to Rt 10. 11 miles. Tomorrow I shall try to for Orford.

Still beat

Pulled a near all-nighter to get some writing done last night and, as a result, felt crappy all day. It's raining, hard, so I headed to Pottruck after sending the thing off around 6pm and ran 3mi. Was going to pack it in, but then remembered that I still owed myself some fast running. Could only muster two more miles in 6:29 and 6:25.

Have packed my cold running gear and am headed to NH on the first train tomorrow.

Beat

Had an IM game with Pigs and was going to try to do my speedwork, but got through the second 800, just wasn't feeling it, and packed it in. I've been staying in Van Pelt until 2 or 3 for the past few nights in a row and I think this bouncing from deadline to deadline has worn me out. I'll do my reps tomorrow.

Combo run

Did an old winter trick: 3mi to get warm on the treadmill in 21-ish, then 4.5mi outside in a little more than 30min. It was an awesome night to be outside: drizzly, cold, and windy. Finished by biking for 15min to cool down.

Couple'a Workouts

Monday: I wasn't sure how I'd feel after my first long run since Chicago but I hopped on the treadmill and wanted to keep hitting ^. I think I may have had a mis-calibrated one because I did 3mi in 20:2x. From a cold start. At 8mph. Hmm. Then did a mile at 7:15 pace (maybe) to cool down and biked 20 minutes.

Tuesday: Blitzer and I did the W Fairmount Park -> Strawberry Mansion 9.9mi mini-loop. I was really looking forward to this run but I ate too much cheese at Distinguished Colloquium and developed major cramps about 3mi in. Stopped at a port-a-potty just after the Columbia Bridge, which fixed the cramping. Then 20 minutes cool down back at Pottruck.

Another Sunday run with Blitzer. Ran against the tide of the Philly Aids Walk to the East Falls bridge. Then he turned back to CC and I continued into the Wissahickon, just to the start of Forbidden Dr. Back by Kelly Dr. About 15.5mi total.

Saturday

Thornton Manor -> Columbia Bridge -> Belmont -> N Concourse -> Girard Bridge -> Lemon Hill -> 22nd St -> Omega. I thought this was a 7 miler, but evidently it's 8.5 miles. And hills!

Work Week

The week:

• Monday: 4mi on the treadmill + bike.
• Tuesday: Ran Thornton Manor -> Girard St Bridge -> Trader Joe's = more than 4, less than 5.
• Wednesday: Ran W Fairmount Park -> Strawberry Mansion -> Pottruck = just under 10mi.
• Thursday: 3mi warmup in 21:1x. 3x1mi in 6m30s, 6m25s, 6m22s. Biked 20 min.
• Friday: 3mi run in 21:05, short elliptical cooldown, lifted upper body.

Back to the Loop

Ran with Pavol and Blitzer this morning. We all started out from the Chestnut Bridge. They had to get back early, so turned around at Strawberry Mansion. I continued up to the Ridge Ave, then came back by W River Drive. About 1h40m all told, easy pace.

Ramping up...

Friday: did an easy 4mi up to the Art Museum and back. Just stretching legs out...

Saturday: out to Sweetbriar, across on Girard, down Lemon Hill, and back around PMA to 20th. I didn't know how far this was, so GMap'd it. The answer? A little more than 6mi.

Back on it

A trio of Pottruck workouts during recovery week.

Tuesday: 30min bike, lift upper body.

Wednesday: easy 3mi run.

Thursday: 5mi total (1.5mi warmup, 3mi fast, .5mi cooldown)

Exposed (not-actually-so-long Chicago Marathon LBRR)

So yeah, the Chicago Marathon was ... OK. As you've probably read in the papers, race day conditions could not have been worse: temperatures were in the low 90s and very humid. Several hundred runners were admitted to hospital and one died. The race was called around 11.30am and only about 24k out of 46k registered finished. I did manage to finish, and was safe (though it took me 3-4hrs, a cold Jama Juice, and a cool shower to feel normal again), but nowhere near my goal time (goal = 3h20m, actual = 3h49m).

The thing is, while I'd like to blame the weather, and it was certainly a factor, I think the real culprit was my training. I didn't do enough long runs, and they weren't long and slow enough (longest was 2h40m). Next time I will do them based on time, not distance. I went out too fast (again), weaving through the crowd with a really nice guy Mark, but paid big time at the end. We stupidly did 7m30s miles, moving up from a slow start behind the 4hr pace group to the 3h20s. Things were good until around miles 19 when the wheels came off and I totally blew up. I overheated, my knee acted up, and the miles turned in to 8 minute miles, then 9, then 10. Managed to run the last two after getting a pick-me-up from a nice girl ("yeah buddy") but did not kick at the end. Yuck yuck yuck. The next one will be better.

Shout outs to Dr. Cipriano and to the Kopinski boys for coming out and cheer, and for the good company post-race.

The bird is in the nest...

...and so on. Last training run last night: easy 3.5mi or so up to the Kraft labs on Broadway. Few days of rice w/ bagels, cereal, yogurt, and rice now!

Tapers

A couple of 3mi runs. One down to Lyndhurst last night (OK, maybe that's 4). Then tonight: 10mi warmup down to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetary, back up to the high school. Then 4x400 in 85, 83, 82, 79. Then a 6min cooldown to CTown. Last run tomorrow + loading up begins!

Weekend

Itching to run long, of course, but sticking to the taper plan.

Saturday: 3-4 easy miles on the OCA North.

Sunday: 8mi on Rt 9: down to Dobbs Ferry and back.