I Run

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

2008-09-30T21:52:00.000-04:00

One of my neighbors asked me the other day whether I'd ever taken glucosamine and chondroitin supplements and had they been effective? Yes, I did take them for a while when I began running because my knees hurt. Eventually my knee pain went away, but I don't know whether that's because I was taking the supplements or because I was consistently exercising, thereby improving the joints. Now comes this study that indicates that the supplements may not be any better than a placebo. On the other hand, if you're a horse with achy joints, glucosamine might be just the ticket.

Two Week Taper for Maine Marathon

2008-09-24T06:47:00.000-04:00

Since I'm in a sort of experimental mode of training, I decided to try a two week instead of a three week taper. I've found that three weeks for me can be a long time to go with decreased mileage and intensity, and either physically or psychologically I tend to feel a bit sluggish by race day. So on Saturday I raced a 5K and turned in my fastest 5K time to date (19:52). And on Sunday I ran 21 miles, which felt just fine (except for the ankle-biters that seemed to be out in force on Weatherhead Hollow Rd...please keep your dogs off of the road, people!!). At this point in my training I have found that I am recovering very quickly from races and runs, which is a positive indicator of my fitness level for a marathon. So I'll be running the Maine Marathon in Portland, ME on October 5, which is where I ran my first half marathon four years ago.

Pisgah Mountain Trail Races 2008 - Report

2008-09-15T18:05:00.006-04:00

At one point during the Pisgah Mountain Trail Race on Sunday I gingerly navigated a slippery log over a small pond that had formed in the middle of a trail, and I thought to myself, "This is a blast!" I felt like a kid exploring in the woods and I wanted to linger. So I had to remind myself constantly that I was running a race. And what a race it was. The Pisgah Mountain Trail Races consist of a 23K and a 50K trek through Pisgah State Park in Chesterfield, NH. I chose to do the 23K since this was my very first trail race, I really had no idea what the landscape was like, and I didn't think I was quite prepared to do an ultra. And it turns out that was a wise choice. The day started out with rain, and it really didn't let up until the middle of the race. After picking up my number, t-shirt, trail map, and complimentary loaf of bread from the Chesterfield Fire Station I sat in my truck to stay dry until the race started. I debated on whether to wear a cap since I don't race with a cap unless it's either really sunny or really raining. While it wasn't pouring, the rain was still steady and I figured that I'd eventually need the cap to shield the rain from my eyes. At 8:40 I got out to gather at the start, and at 8:45 we were off. The course starts out on a road with a slight downhill, then climbs as you run toward the trailhead. There was some idle chatter along the road, but as soon as I hit the trail the focus turned to where I put my feet. The rain had made a pretty good mess of the trail so I weaved around and leaped over puddles as best I could. The initial crowd of runners dispersed quickly especially after the 50K runners went off on a different trail, and I found myself within sight of at most two or three runners the whole race. At times I'd pass a woman who was running about the same pace as I was, then she'd overtake and pass me on some of the uphills that I walked. At first I didn't walk some of the hills, but I soon found that trying to run them - especially the steeper ones near the summit of Pisgah Mountain - was counter-productive. My legs would get totally spent and I'd have problems with the subsequent downhills, which might eventually lead me to do a faceplant in the mud if I didn't change my strategy. So I did some walking on the uphills. Then again, that caused me to be a bit reckless on some of the downhills to make up the time spent walking. There were plenty of slick roots and rocks embedded in the mud, and every now and then I'd feel my foot slip. The numerous wooden bridges were also very slippery. At one point there was a large puddle at the bottom of a hill and before I knew what I was doing I leaped off a large stone and realized immediately that the puddle was a little too wide for me to clear. But as I thought about the spectacular splash I'd make I spied another, much smaller stone just at the edge of the puddle on the other side and targeted that as my landing spot. It was a desperate move that could have resulted in disaster if my foot had slipped or if I turned my ankle. But amazingly, I nailed it and kept on going. At first I was determined to keep my feet as dry as possible to avoid blisters, but the more I ran the more my legs and lungs burned, and the less I cared about where to step. So sometime after summiting Pisgah Mountain I just started plowing through whatever happened to obstruct my progress. Fortunately, my shoes (Adidas Kanadias) shed the water weight pretty quickly. There were two aid stations (I think) - one at about 4 miles and the other at 9 - where there was plenty of Gatorade and water, cookies, and other refueling options (thank you, volunteers!). After the second aid station I tried picking up my pace. It was tough to tell on the trails how I was pacing with all the ups and downs, but eventually I caught up with the woman I'd been exchanging places with earlier and she voiced some encouragement as I passed. I tried to reply with (grunt) some encouragement of my own, but I think it just came out as "Nnght gawp" (translation: "Looking great, keep going!"). The final stretch of trail to the road was incredibly muddy, so when my feet hit terra firma it was like stepping on a cloud. I ran as fast as I dared without my legs cramping. As I approached the finish, I totally missed the chute and a woman standing nearby was kind enough to point out my mistake (I really just wanted to run the whole course again!). So I did a quick about-face, and into the chute I went. I finished at 2:11:12, which works out to an average 9:12 pace (2008 results). The post-race spread was great, including barbequed burgers and hot dogs, pasta with pesto, cookies, and yogurt. Thanks to Gary and Chris and all the other volunteers who made this a race to remember. It was a great initiation into trail racing. I think I'm hooked.

Pisgah Mountain Trail Race - Announcement

2008-09-05T12:39:00.005-04:00

The Red Clover Rover Running Club will be hosting the Pisgah Mountain Trail Race in Chesterfield, NH on September 14, 2008. There are two distances: 50K and 23K. Both start at 8:45 am.

Pisgah Mountain Trail Race Application

2007 results: 50K | 23K

2006 results: 50K | 23K

A few race reports:

Trail Runner magazine

Running Buddha

Gotta Run

Run to Win

The race starts at the Chesterfield, NH Fire Station on Rt. 63.

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Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic Walk, Run, and Roll

2008-09-02T21:59:00.003-04:00

This is a fun, little race/walk that starts at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, goes out to the Winston Prouty school (across from Memorial Park), then returns to the hospital. Plenty of beverages, food, and prizes at the end.

Date: September 20, 2008

7:45 AM - Registration begins

8:30 AM - 1 Mile Youth Fun Run

8:45 AM - 5K Walk Event

9:00 AM - 5K Run Event

Walk, Run, and Roll web page

Running on the Mesa

2008-08-24T21:12:00.002-04:00

The mesa outside of Taos, NM is 7400 ft. above sea level, so when I started running I wondered for a minute why I was breathing so hard considering I'd had a rest day travelling there. Then I remembered the altitude and slowed my pace. Running out on the mesa is more a meditation than a run. The scenery is astounding with sagebrush as far as the eye can see, while mountains ring the horizon for nearly 360 degrees. But after a few miles the scenery just doesn't change (and will not for a good long while), so I found myself looking inward. I thought about my dad and his battle with cancer, my mom and her decision to live what many consider a primitive life here on the mesa, my oldest daughter going off to college. I thought about the ancient history of this land, how Native Americans gathered here on the mesa centuries ago, their ghosts whispering through the sage and pinion. The silence out on the mesa is just as vast as the open sky. All I heard during my run were the sounds of my feet hitting gravel and the thump-thump of my heart. I'd stop, drink some water, and not hear a thing. No birds, no wind, no crickets, nothing. Just sagebrush and mountains. I ran with my eyes closed until I thought I might step on a rattlesnake. I hadn't veered at all. The gravel road was still straight ahead of me, narrowing to a point where earth met sky. No hills, no cars, no gurgling streams. The air was dry, the sun was unrelenting, and I always wore a hat and carried water with me out there while running. On the day before I left to come home I ran across the mesa twice, then ran up Rt. 64 to take a look at the earthships, which are solar, energy-efficient homes built into earthen berms. They look like spaceships. I then made my way back down to the Rio Grande Gorge bridge to meet my mom. I ran for 3 hours, maybe close to 20 miles. The mileage really didn't matter. Nor did the time. I'd just been meditating, and it was time to return.

Bridge of Flowers 2008

2008-08-12T21:04:00.004-04:00

It was great weather again this year. Sunny, but cool. This was the 30th anniversary of the Bridge of Flowers Classic and it was also the 10K chosen for the New England Grand Prix series of races. So quite a few fast runners showed up. I started the race with the first mile at 7:15, which was a little slower than I expected based on how I felt. I missed the second mile marker and then Crittenden Hill was there, looming. Yep, it was a tough climb like it always is. I knew I was off last year's pace but I couldn't tell by how much. The final three miles were not as difficult as I remember from last year, so maybe I just wasn't pushing as hard. I came in at 45:41, which is 34 seconds slower than last year. The real story, though, was the close finish by the two fastest runners. Tucked way back in the middle of the pack, I just don't get to see all the drama.

Live Longer

2008-08-12T21:02:00.004-04:00

Another reason why I run (apart from being just plain crazy).

A Dangerous Book

2008-07-31T15:26:00.007-04:00

I just finished reading Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes. It's been out for about three years now, but I happened to come across it recently and bought it. The book recounts the trials and tribulations that the author endures on his ultramarathon treks, sometimes running non-stop for 100 or more miles. He tells of running the Western States Endurance Run, the first marathon to the South Pole, and the Badwater Ultramarathon, which starts in Death Valley at the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere and ends 135 miles later at the Mt. Whitney Portals at 8100 ft. elevation. I found that at one level I could just shake my head and laugh: better him than me. But...at another level I could imagine going a little beyond the marathon distance, maybe 50K (30 miles). And after that, maybe 50 miles. And after that...? Vermont does host some ultra endurance events so it's not like I'd have to travel far (except by foot!) . And I have some experience with the terrain. And I do like to run long distances. And you see how easy it is for me to talk myself into doing something that insane. Dean's book is certainly inspirational, but it's also dangerous. My family would kill me if I took up ultramarathons.

60 Miles

2008-07-20T17:12:00.002-04:00

I was shooting for 69 miles this week by jumping right into Pfitzinger's 18-week/70 mile schedule at week 11. I managed to eke out 60. Maybe not a good strategy, but I feel the need to experiment. I'm toying with the idea of alternating higher mileage slow paced weeks with faster paced lower mileage weeks. My 20-21 miler today was pretty brutal. The humid, hot weather didn't help, but my pace should have been better. I did race the NFI 4.4 miler yesterday, but I felt that I recovered from that pretty quickly (though it was yucky out there yesterday too). It could be the accumulated mileage over the past week. I figure I'll give it a couple of weeks to see if my pace improves over the longer runs.

When the Urge Strikes...

2008-07-10T16:54:00.004-04:00

It's time to start training. I may run a marathon this fall. So far I've been ambivalent about another marathon. After Boston, what's left? Of course, there's more to marathons than Boston, and I figured it would just take some time for me to get back into the marathon swing. It helps to have other motives. That is, I could go back to Portland, Maine to run that marathon and tie it together with a mini-vacation (Portland is a great town). And I have a friend who may run the half marathon, which means I'd have some company. So with that notion in mind, I've been putting in some miles and trying to figure where in Pfitzinger I'm supposed to be (18 week? 12 week? 55 miles/week? 70 miles/week?). It's all a little seat-of-the-pants at the moment, and I'm trusting I'll know what my body needs to get marathon fit. The past two days were pure crap, hot and humid plus heavy rain. I got totally soaked yesterday on the Sweet Pond trail and had to take off my glasses in the woods because I could see better without them. The weather today, however, was great. Dry, in the 70s to low 80s. I ran 14 miles, part of it on the trails around Sweet Pond, then down to Leyden, MA via the steep Simon Keets Rd. and Zimmerman Hill. My legs are shot. Even got a beautiful blister on the inside arch of my left foot.

NFI 2nd Annual Run (and Walk) For Kids

2008-07-06T13:56:00.002-04:00

Northeastern Family Institute will host the 2nd Annual Run (and Walk) For Kids on Saturday, July 19th, 2008. This 4.4 mile loop will begin at The Brattleboro Reformer and will continue up Black Mountain Road. There will be prizes, and fresh fruit and drinks for runners at the finish line. Holly Levesque will be on hand to give free massages before and after the race. Pre-registration is $10.00 and registration the day of the race is $15.00. All proceeds will go towards camp and camp related expenses for NFI children in foster care in Windham County. The race begins at 9:00 a.m. Questions can be directed to Lydia Mahan at NFI 254-2558.

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Bill Powers Memorial Firecracker 4-Miler 2008

2008-07-04T15:56:00.006-04:00

It wasn't as hot this year. There was still some humidity, but overall the conditions were a lot nicer. I went out a tad too fast and paid for it a bit in the end. Somehow I still managed to win my age group (27:08) even though there were plenty of much faster (and even older) runners in front of me. New this year was the emphasis on renewability: cups at the water station were completely biodegradable and reusable water bottles (courtesy of Eastern Mountain Sports) were handed out at the end already filled with water. Organization was top-notch. And there was still plenty of time to catch the parade after all the awards were announced.

Results are here.

Firecracker 4 Miler Announcement

2008-07-01T07:27:00.006-04:00

Donna Smyth, race director, sent this announcement to the Red Clover Runners mailing list about this upcoming race on July 4, 2008 in Brattleboro:

The Bill Powers Memorial Firecracker 4 Miler begins at Living Memorial Park (directions) at 9:30 a.m. The race ends at the Brattleboro Town Common.

Registration begins at 8:30.

Cost = $10

Environmentally friendly amenities: Water stop ar 2 mi.(bagasse cups made from rice by-products are compostable), organic cookies and bananas at the finish, Eastern Mountain Sports water bottles (complete with water inside them) at the finish line, overall and age-group prizes furnished by Burrows Specialized Sports, West Hill Shop, & Duttons.

VOLUNTEERS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: finish line / results, refreshments, and water stop. Please contact Donna Smyth at wildcx@comcast.net or call (802)257-2015 to volunteer.

Rest, rest, rest

2008-06-28T15:45:00.002-04:00

It really does help. For the past few weeks my legs have been feeling somewhat heavy and fatigued. But last weekend I was forced to take a couple of days off to prepare for a graduation party. And I didn't run on Thursday or Friday either because I was in Burlington for my daughter's college orientation. So when I went out for a run today, I was pleasantly surprised to note that my legs felt good. Right away I knew I could do a long run so I took advantage of the weather (it's humid, but not raining) and did the Sweet Pond to Weatherhead Hollow circuit. I even threw in the extra Carpenter Hill/Barney Hill loop for a total of about 13.5 miles. Sure, the last three miles were a bit tough especially with the sun and humidity on the pavement, but I'm not beat. I guess I really need to take rest more seriously when I'm feeling tired.

Sports Medicine 5K

2008-06-17T22:30:00.003-04:00

I raced the 1st Annual Sports Medicine 5K in Keene this past weekend. The course was actually a bike path that I've run many times between Court St. and Wheelock Park. Some very fast runners showed up (not me!), and there were a decent number of both runners and walkers. The humidity was a bit high for me, but it is summer after all. After the race there was a great presentation by a physical therapist who demonstrated ways to strengthen the core.

Retreat Trails

2008-05-15T17:27:00.004-04:00

As I drove to the second Red Clover Fun Run of the year last night, I passed a kiosk to a trail head on Upper Dummerston Rd. I hadn't seen that before so I parked the car, signed up for the race, then ran back down to the trail head. The kiosk contained a map of the Retreat Trail recreation network. I'd read about these trails in the Brattleboro Reformer some months ago but forgot they were there. So for my warm up I ran part of the Ice Pond Trail, which starts out in a cornfield then enters woods where it meanders over rocks, brooks, and hillocks. I didn't get too far until I had to turn back to make it back in time for the race. But maybe this weekend I'll explore the trails some more. As for the race itself, I ran a 20:37. At the first one (two weeks ago) I ran a 20:25.

Two Belly Dances in One Day

2008-05-11T08:34:00.007-04:00

What are the odds (especially in Vermont)? I happened to see two belly dances yesterday, one in the morning at the Race for a Reason at SIT, and the other in the evening at a local talent show. And I wasn't even looking for them. Apparently, it's a popular way locally to keep fit and entertain. And it's probably easier on the legs than running.

The Race for a Reason was just as challenging as I remember. But the day was beautiful: sunny and in the 60s. I went out a tad too fast considering it's still under three weeks since Boston. The stretch out to Scott Farm was fine, and even the first hill was not hard. But then I hit the hill between miles 3 and 4. It felt very long and I was struggling to get to the top. Once I got over it, though, I was able to make up some time. The views out on the course are awesome with the apple blossoms just coming out. I tried to keep my mind off my fading legs by appreciating the scenery. At the last .1 mile you have to run up a small hill back to the school, and I started coughing but still managed to keep my pace as I heard footsteps close behind. In the end I won my age group (31-50), and came in 2nd overall.

The food after the race was yummy: hot dogs, cookies, oranges, a variety of drinks, etc. The band (Jazzberry Jam) sounded great, and of course the belly dance was a unique surprise.

Race for a Reason 2008

2008-04-27T09:20:00.008-04:00

The 6th annual Race for a Reason will take place on the campus of the School for International Training (SIT) in Brattleboro, VT at 10:00 AM on May 10, 2008 (rain date: May 17, 2008). Registration begins at 8:00 AM. I ran this race last year. This year's cause is to raise funds for BRAC USA's Cyclone Relief and Rehabilitation efforts in Bangladesh following the devastation of the November 15th, 2007 cyclone.

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Boston Marathon 2008

2008-04-22T13:28:00.005-04:00

As the sun splashed off a sea of foil capes in front of me, the enormity of what I had done hit me. I had just finished the Boston Marathon. A blue and yellow medal hung round my neck, given to me by the woman who had removed the timing chip off my shoe. And she gave me a hug. It was those human touches, I think, that made this marathon so very special. The volunteers, the spectators, and the thousands of runners all around me from start to finish was a total immersion in humanity. You could not be alone in any place except the portable toilet. For a country guy from Vermont, it was a bit overwhelming. One day after it feels like it was all a dream. I got up around 4:00 AM on Monday morning, not able to sleep anymore, and I turned off the alarm clock. My daughters, Emma and Megan, were sound asleep in the bed next to mine as I brewed a cup of coffee with the hotel supplied coffeemaker. I had laid out my running clothes the night before, and had even pinned the number to my shirt and affixed the chip to my shoe so I would not forget to take them with me. I took a shower, ate a banana and half a bagel with peanut butter, finished my coffee, and was on my way to the "T" at Riverside Station. It was just a short 5 minute walk from the hotel, and I breathed the cool dawn air wondering what kind of day it would be. The day before had turned out to be sunnier and warmer than I had thought, and as we watched the tail end of the women's Olympic Trails in Boston I had envisioned myself out on that pavement with the sun beating down on me, fighting to the finish. I was hoping for clouds. I hopped on the train just as it was about to leave and got to the Boston Common about 35 minutes later. I briefly flirted with the idea of getting a real cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts which was just across the street from the T stop at Boylston St., but there was already a long line of bleary eyed runners who had the same idea. So I made my way to the school buses that were parked alongside the Common. There were lines there, too, but they moved fast and I was on a bus in a matter of a few minutes. The trip to Hopkinton was long and made me realize how truly far I was going to run. The bus dropped us off at a school where there were already thousands of runners picking out spots on the wide expanse of dew laden grass behind the school. Large tents were set up where we could get bagels, bananas, Gatorade, water, and other essential fuels. And there was coffee. I took a cup, and drank it while I munched on a bagel. I then sat on my folded towel on the field and prepared to wait the 2 plus hours until it was time to set out for the start line. I drained a 32 oz. bottle of Gatorade while I sat there. Sure enough, about an hour and a half later I had to get up. I packed up my stuff into the red plastic Adidas bag that all runners were required to use to stash their stuff and picked a line to a port-a-potty. I didn't feel like sitting after that, so I wandered about the Athletes Village until it was nearing time to trek to the start line. I removed my outer wear and shivered a bit since the air was still quite cool and there was a misty overcast. It wasn't apparent to me where the baggage buses were parked, so another runner and I wandered about together until we figured out who we should follow. I found the bus that served the range of numbers where my bag should be stashed, and handed it through the window to the volunteer. As I neared the start in Hopkinton Center, more of the Gatorade I had consumed wanted to exit my body so I placed myself at the end of a long line to a portable toilet. A guy behind me asked a woman runner where she had qualified and she said Clarence Demar Marathon in NH, which is where I had qualified. I turned around and recognized her as a runner I had run with for a short time around mile 20 in Keene until she finally went ahead when my legs started cramping up. Small world. At about 10 minutes before the race was to begin there were still more than 15 runners in front of me waiting to use the toilet. At at least one minute per runner, I wouldn't get there before the gun went off. So I bolted the line and figured I'd either be able to hold it or visit a tree later on. Getting into my corral (#11) was a bit of a challenge since it was already quite full and I though I might just have to wiggle in wherever I found room. But eventually the crowd shifted and I was able to get in. As I stood there alongside thousands of other runners I stopped shivering. There was a lot of body heat. And then the sun came out. Oh no. I was thankful I had put sun block at the tops of my ears and that I was wearing a cap. I didn't hear the gun go off since I was too far down the line, but we saw the front of the massive crowd start to move, and a couple of minutes later I started walking. Then the great garment toss began as runners ahead of and behind me started to discard the outer clothing they would not need for the 26.2 mile run. Hats, jackets, pants, and gloves flew from out of the crowd and to the sides to be picked up later and given to charity. It took almost 10 minutes to reach the starting line, and even after that it took a while to get to a slow jog. There was no way to break out of the pack to pick up the pace so I was just content to keep pace with the crowd around me. But in the meantime my bladder was telling me that I should have stayed in that line for the toilet. I saw runners at the sides of the road relieving themselves, so when I found a suitable site where I wouldn't offend any neighbors I pulled off to the side myself and went. That would be two minutes I'd want back. From there on I kept a pretty even pace (around 8:00). There was a slight spot of discomfort in my left calf that would not go away, and which had been bothering me for a few days. Massaging it hadn't helped and I wondered if it would give me trouble later in the race. I forced myself to think positively, however, and tried to ignore it. I watched the runners and spectators, slapping hands with kids along the side, drinking Gatorade and water at the water stations. Navigating the slippery carpet of discarded cups was a unique challenge. I ran for a while near a runner wearing a Yankees uniform, and the reaction of the spectators to this bit of blasphemy in Red Sox country was amusing: "Yankees suck!" was the most common refrain; "I'm sorry for your loss," was another. As the sun grew warmer my legs got warmer, and I settled into a good groove. Still there was no way to increase the pace if I wanted to, and I found myself sometimes having to negotiate around runners and watching my back to prevent collisions. I thought after a few miles the crowds would thin as they do in other races. But not at Boston. OK, that's fine. I wasn't there to PR. Just taking in the whole experience was more important to me for this first Boston. Toward mile 12 I heard a distant but growing crescendo of sound. It was the siren call of the Wellesley College women. In a matter of minutes my senses were blasted by their cheers and screams. They held signs that said "Kiss me", "Hug me", "Runners are sexy", etc. I ran alongside the barrier where they leaned over, and I slapped their hands for what seemed like a good quarter mile. It was surreal with that wall of sound drowning anything and everything else. And then it was past, and my ears were ringing. A guy behind me said, "Hey, let's do that again!" I was tempted, but Boston is one way only. Now I was on my way to Newton and its hills. But I looked forward to seeing Emma and Megan there since the hotel was not too far from the course. At about mile 15 I started looking for them so I deliberately slowed to keep my eyes on the crowds on either side. At about mile 17 I finally found them and stopped to give them hugs. "You're supposed to be running a marathon," Megan chided and sent me on my way. I'd see them again in downtown Boston. The Newton hills were easier than I'd heard. I didn't realize I'd gone over Heartbreak Hill until I started going downhill and couldn't see any more hills coming up. But then my left calf spasmed. I winced but did not stop. I breathed deeply and the cramp subsided. A half mile later my calf muscle contracted again. And I still kept going. I looked at my watch and saw that I had a chance to run a qualifier. I tried to increase my pace a bit and my right leg decided it wanted to go another way. I willed it to go forward. For the last four miles it was like that. Both my calves would spasm and lock up and I'd grimace in pain, but I would not stop. And the cramps would go away, but only for a little while. Any little thing - a quick move to avoid someone, a small change in pace - would cause my legs to cramp up. I saw the famous Citgo sign in the distance - the sign that the end was near - and thought to myself that it seemed awfully far away. But it was all downhill and the crowds of spectators were tremendous. There was no way I was going to stop, or even walk. The sun was now pretty ferocious but there was a good breeze so I was not sweating so much. Aerobically I was doing fine, and I was not even feeling the effects of carb depletion since I'd been taking in Gatorade all along the way. But my legs were really not cooperating. Still I willed them to move, and as I came around the corner to Boylston St. and saw the finish line in the distance I felt the rush of adrenaline knowing I'd still finish strong at my first Boston. A glance at my watch told me that I would not make a qualifier, but that was OK. Then I was at the finish line, arms raised under the blue arch, and boy did it feel good to stop. I turned off my timer at 3:31:45. It took almost an hour to get from the finish line to getting my bag so that I could find my cell phone to call Emma and Megan. There were just so many people. If I'd run harder, I'm not sure I would have been able to do all the walking I had to do afterward to find the girls, find the "T", then get back to Riverside. But still, despite the massive crowds, the whole experience was very uplifting. Each runner did a lot of work to get there, and so many people did a lot of work to make it happen for these runners. Big kudos to the city of Boston, to the cheerful volunteers, to the spectators. I'm amazed it happens every year since it feels like a once in a lifetime thing. I'll do it again, I'm sure.

Red Clover Running Club Fun Runs

2008-04-13T10:53:00.017-04:00

I just got the 2008 schedule for the Red Clover Running Club Fun Runs, which occur every other Wednesday evening during the late spring and summer:

April 30

May 14, May 28

June 11, June 25

July 9, July 23

August 6, August 20

September 3

All runs start at 6:30 PM. Registration is free and begins at 6:00 PM.

Water and yummy cookies are provided at the finish!

Location: Upper Dummerston Rd., Brattleboro, VT Across from the Country Club

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One more week

2008-04-12T09:13:00.002-04:00

It's just over a week until the Boston Marathon. The taper has been going well, I think. I may have run my 1600 meter repeats a bit too fast on Wednesday, but I've had a couple of days to recover. Right now I'm feeling pretty refreshed. I'll do 5 miles today, then 12 tomorrow. The long range forecast for Boston on 4/21 shows sun and clouds with the temperature in the 50s, which is pretty much perfect for me. Of course, yesterday's forecast showed a temperature of 70F, which is not so good. So I guess things could still change. It is Boston, after all. There's a lot to think about before the big day: what to bring, what to wear, who to bring, how fast to run, etc. I feel that my goal pace could be a bit faster than it was in Keene, but Boston does have a few more hills. Then again, Boston has far more spectators cheering you on so the motivational factor alone could add quite a few seconds per mile. I'm getting psyched.

New Bedford Half Marathon 2008

2008-03-23T10:00:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday I raced the New Bedford Half Marathon. Again it was cold, windy, and a great deal of fun (just like the last time I raced here)! I beat my previous time on this course by almost two minutes (1:32:51), and it's a new half marathon PR for me. This was the third time I've run this course that winds its way around the city of New Bedford, MA. I think I paced myself pretty well, with the first mile my slowest at 7:29 as the crowd held me back a bit. Miles 5, 6, 7, and 8 were all under 7:00 since this is a gentle downgrade, then back to 7:00+ pace with the wind on the water and an upslope back to the center of the city. My placing was 42/162 in my age group and 389/1664 overall (7:05 pace) in a highly competitive field since this race is part of the USATF NE Grand Prix series. I think the faster runners make me run a bit faster as well, so I hope Boston provides the same kind of inspiration since a major percentage of the qualifiers there are much faster than I am.

After the Halfway Point

2008-03-04T20:53:00.002-05:00

I can really tell the difference in my fitness after training for a few weeks, especially when I try to push a little harder. I've found that with the Pfitzinger plan, after the halfway point I'm able to run my tempos longer, my intervals faster, and my long runs more evenly. The 20 (almost 21) miler I did on Sunday was by far my best in a long time. Since I felt good, I decided that I'd try to run each 5 mile segment a little faster than the preceding one. And I did, with my final 5 miles at under marathon pace. I know that the function of the long run really isn't to push oneself to go faster - it's more about time on your feet and building endurance - but I find that the addition of a little more speed helps me psychologically. As long as I don't push so hard that I'm not ready for my following workouts, the knowledge that I can endure some speed over very long distances is excellent feedback that I can use to improve my performance going forward. The pace I kept for this morning's 8 miles with 5x100m strides was about 15 seconds per mile faster than I usually run - a little harder - but not excessive. Knowing when to back off, though, is something I just have to keep in mind as I continue to improve my marathon pace.

Marathon Hall of Fame and Museum

2008-02-28T07:13:00.003-05:00

Hopkinton, MA is thinking about creating a Marathon Hall of Fame and Museum as part of an effort to attract and retain visitors to the town and Metro West area. Hopkinton is the starting point for the Boston Marathon, and it gets 20,000+ "visitors" on the morning of the great race. After the starting gun goes off, those visitors are gone.