Sunday, October 25, 2009

Last two weeks

Week ending 10/18/09

M - 30 min easy (4.0) miles

T - 30 min easy (4.0) miles

W - 5 miles in 37:30

Th - 8.4 miles in 1:06

F - off

Sat - off

Sun - 17.34 in 1:58:34 DNF Baystate Marathon

Week ending 10/25/09

M - 8.5 miles in 1:03 felt great...go figure

T - 7.5 in 1:09:09 SLOW

W - 6 miles in AM (45 min) 3.5 miles PM

Th - 8 miles in 1:00:00

Fr - 8 miles in 1:01:00 HILLS

Sat - off

Sun - 11.5 in 1:26:13

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Bay State Marathon (USATF-NE Championships) DNF

I debated overnight whether or not to post about this race. The fact of the matter is that I gave it everything I had. It was not enough. No one wants to enter a race and not finish. I don't have many in my career. I can think of one in college (an outdoor 5k) when I had a foot injury and once I knew I was off pace for NCAA qualifying I stepped off the track. That would be my last race as a collegiate runner. Not a good way to end a racing career.
My goal for the marathon was to run with DD and see if I could break 3 hours. Both of us entered the race with about the same amount of miles on our legs since our time off due to injuries. I would say that I even had a few more longer runs than he since I had a 2 hour run w/ JJ and one day of 18 (12 in AM/ 6 in PM). His longest run was 60 minutes. Not a good formula for marathon racing. At any rate, I was entered so therefore I will compete.
I could tell from the start that I was low in the tank and it was going to be a long day if things didn't improve as we went along. But we (along with Jeremy Huckins - CMS aka "Huck") started clicking off mile after mile on pace and at times I was feeling pretty good. At about 8 miles (just as we crossed the Tyngsborough Bridge) I had to stop to take a leak. This never occurs in any other race. It has now happened twice at Baystate (2008). It isn't unusual for any runner to have to go it just seems strange that during a race it comes out of nowhere. Well, after stopping I started running with Mike Toomey (UMass Lowell AllAmerica) and tried to run relaxed and concentrate on getting back to DD. My legs were not feeling good as early cramping was taking place. At every water stop I would take both water and Gatorade which seemed to help. Some point between 9-10 "Huck" popped out of the woods after a pee break and we were again together. He asked if I was planning on gapping DD now or later. I told him to go if he wanted to and that I wanted to get back little by little (if possible).
At about 12 miles Toomey got ahead and joined the DD pack. I could see the pack and actually was feeling better as we went over the Rourke bridge and approached halfway. Coming off the bridge, Dave Kazanzian (Whirlaway founder) offered me water and a gel which was helpful and I hit half in 1:29:40. I was back on pace and looking straight ahead to the DD pack. It took me to mile 15 to get back but I think I should of held back more and conserve some energy because the effort took its toll on my legs. They were cramping and every stride on my right leg cause severe pain up through the hip and around to the back. It was very uncomfortable and I was beginning to think it might be wise to cash in for the day. At mile 16 water stop I took water and Gatorade again but was beginning to lose contact with the group. I hung in until mile 17 and things were getting pretty ugly so I stopped for good about 17.34 miles in (1:58:30).

Thankfully, Frank Corsaro (husband of Nancy - Whirlaway) was out supporting his wife and he gave me a ride in to the finish. I would of been in trouble if not for his help. I was getting cold and shivering pretty badly.

In closing, I would like to congratulate all of the CMS runners on their outstanding performances. Justin Fyffe, Andy McCarron, Scott Leslie, JJ, Kevin T, Dan V, DD just to a name a few. Way to go on earning the New England Championship.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Week ending 10/11/09

After racing on Sunday (8k XC) I felt surprisingly geared up to increase my mileage for some last minute cramming for Baystate. I have to admit I am unprepared but, given the circumstances, I feel my fitness is pretty good. I was able to get in another race on Sunday (Bobby Bell 5m) and reach my highest weekly (64.5m) and daily(18m) total in quite some time. These are my weekly totals for the past 12 weeks: 49/33/45/48.5/56.4/50.2/53.6/46.5/52.5/64.5

Here is the week in review:

M 5th 10 miles on roads in 1:12:24

T 6th 10.5 miles on roads in 1:17:40

W 7th 4.75 in 41:21 3.75 in 28:34

TH 8th No run

Fr 9th 12 miles with JJ in 1:30:26 Windham rail trail
6 miles in 45:00 w/ DD, JJ, TiVO, and DV Winni Kinni

Sat 10th 60:00 easy run on river trails w/ TiVO

Sun 11th 22:00 (2.5) warmup w/MQ
5 mile race in 28:16
2.o easy warmdown w/ MQ and TiVO

This week will be low mileage and lots of rest (hopefully).
Baystate next Sunday.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

23rd Annual Bobby Bell 5 mile Road Race (Haverhill MA)



Sunday morning I made my way over to Haverhill, MA to race the 23rd annual Bobby Bell 5 mile road race. Organized years ago by race director David "Icky" Labrode in response to the all women Bonnie Bell mini marathon (now Tufts 10k), it features good old fashioned New England bar/pub style atmosphere and a road race that offers a prize for gender based handicapping. I met up with brother Michael and we registered together then set off for a 22 minute warmup. We ran the first mile + of the course and got a feel for the stiff wind that was coming off the Merrimack River. Temperatrures in the 50's and no rain meant nice racing conditions sans the wind.

I got on my Loco Banditos and jogged to the starting line where I met up with Tim Van Orden, who is house sitting for DD. Tim mentioned he wasn't racing but was interested in running a couple of quick miles for training purposes. After a couple of light strides, I positioned myself up front and got off good but was reluctant to take it out right away so I settled in a pack of about 6-7 which was led by Whirlaway's Chris Spinney. It wasn't long aftr the first 1/4 mile when I decided to take the lead and see what happened. I felt okay, not great, as a matter of fact I felt awful, but I managed to keep tempo and was quickly joined by Kiernon Tumbleton, Michael Quintal and TiVO (who was running in full sweats).

MQ looked good as did TiVO and KT. The time at the mile was given to us as 5:15 but my Garmin had my first mile as 5:31. There must of been some sort of discrepancy because we hit mile 2 in 11:25 and even with the hills after mile 1 and the wind there is no way I ran 6:10. I think 5:31 was more like it. I started to lose contact with eventual winner KT at about the mile and hung with brother MQ until mile 3 (TiVO dropped back after mile 1 1/4). We hit mile 3 together in 17:12 and I looked up and we were about 25 seconds behinfd KT. Just as he made his way onto N. Broadway he grabbed for his right hamstring and I told MQ he should try to go get him. I think both of us were content with our position and pace and we just labored on to a flat mile 4 in 22:53. Once you hit Rt 97 there is a long downhill to Lafeyette Square and you can really make up some time as you head downtown to the finish. I remember telling myself to maintain and get in without incident. I looked ahead and focused on MQ and brought it in for a 3rd place 28:16. This marks the first time MQ has officially beat me in any race. I knew the day would eventually come and I am relieved that it happened. MQ,congratulations!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Week ending 10/4/09


With no race last weekend my body was pretty well rested so my runs at the beginning of the week were better than usual. I decided to race the 8k XC race on Sunday, but with the marathon in two weeks I tried to keep my mileage up (50/wk not exactly high mileage) and run through the race. This left me a little on the tired side and I think it effected my performance Sunday. But I am not complaining because cross country racing is exellant training.

Monday 9/28 8 miles in NYC 1:02:30 roads

Tuesday 9/29 8.5 miles 1:02:44 grass and roads

Wednesday 9/30 Cycled for 30 minutes

Thursday 10/1 8.5 miles in 1:02:19 roads
20 min on bike

Friday 10/2 9.5 miles in 1:10:02 grass and roads

Saturday 10/3 6 miles on grass in 45:35
2 miles in 15:40 barefoot on grass

Sunday 10/4 2.5 miles in 20:00
8k race in 29:13
2.5 miles in 20:00


52 miles in 6 days with 2 cycle workouts
10 total runs
1 race

Above photo courtesy of Tom Derderian 2009 GBTC XC 8k

Sunday, October 4, 2009

GBTC XC Festival 8k at Bradley Palmer State Park


Sunday morning, I drove over to Bradford, MA to hook up with DoubleD and Dan Verrington as DV drove us to Topsfield, MA for the GBTC XC Festival held annually at Bradley Palmer State Park. The women's 5k was run at 10:00 AM and the men's race was to commence at 10:30 AM. After the hard rain overnight and most of yesterday, I was anticipating a very muddy course similar to last year's race. But, after a 20 minute warmup over the first 2 miles, we discovered the course was surprisingly dry and not so muddy.
I just did not have much in the tank today and really struggled out there. After a sluggish 5:42 mile and another scorcher 6:18 I hit 2 miles in about 12:00 and that is where I lost contact with John Barbour and Double D and never really got back into any rhythm and just muscled out a 29:31 finish. Really slow for me considering I ran 28:35 last year in tougher conditions. Just a bad race but you gotta take it because there is nothing you can do about it.
Results can be found on the GBTC website.
Thanks to the two Kristen/Kristin's for their fine photos.
Next race Bay State Marathon. Don't look twice it says marathon October 18th.