This is just an informal log of my training progress for the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington, VT on May 29, 2005.

5/31/2005

I did it! I finished the Vermont City Marathon running all the way. It was a blast! When I woke up on Sunday morning I still didn't know what my pace should be, so I just figured I'd go out with what I thought would be a comfortable (but still somewhat challenging) pace for me. Elly, Megan, and I woke up at 5:00. I had some coffee, a banana, and a whole grain fortified bagel with peanut butter. I also drank a 20 oz. Gatorade and sipped on water on the way to the race. We got to Battery Park around 6:45. The sky was overcast, but it wasn't too chilly out. Runners and spectators were flowing into the park from all directions. At around 7:30 I went to the porta-potty, but as I was to find out later I went too soon. At 7:45 I took a peek at the start line and saw that it was already packed with runners, so I took off my fleece and went to find a place in the crowd. I could not make it up to the 8:00 to 9:00 pace group, so had to wait for the start at around the 12:00 pace crowd. When the gun when off we all just sort of shuffled for a couple of minutes, then went into a slow jog. My first mile was the slowest at almost 10:00. I picked up my pace after that, but still got caught at times behind slower runners. Around a half mile into the race I realized I had to pee again, but now it was too late. I had anticipated this might happen, which is why I'd done some of my long training runs without taking a pee break (I know, it sounds a bit obsessive, but I'm glad I did it anyway). The second mile I hit at just about 8:00, so that was good. From then on my splits varied quite a bit, and I missed about a half dozen mile markers. About 5 miles into the race I figured a Boston qualifier (BQ) was not in the making this time around, so that relaxed me a bit. I tried taking at least a swallow or two of water or Gatorade at every water station (I skipped a couple), and tried two kinds of Gu (which isn't too smart if you've never tried them before...but they didn't affect me anyway). There was a pretty good hill on Battery St. and the sun was out at that point, so I dropped my pace deliberately to conserve my energy. I'd heard that a lot of inexperienced runners sometimes get caught up in the excitement of the race at this point (there are drummers and huge crowds cheering you on) and they go too fast up the hill, paying for it later. I just kept my eye on my goal of finishing strongly and comfortably climbed the hill. But the crowds of spectators along the course really were fantastic and helped a whole lot in keeping everyone's spirits high. In the residential areas there were sprinklers and hoses for us to run through to keep cool. Between miles 20 and 22 I started to feel a bit drained and my legs were pretty sore, so I picked up the pace for some variety. I recognized the back of a woman I'd been running behind earlier in the race, and I wound up passing her. The final few miles on the bike path into Burlington were pretty uncomfortable, but I didn't hit the "wall" that some other runners have experienced. I could hear the crowds and announcer well before I could see them. But once I rounded the corner and got to the sea of people in Waterfront Park I knew I'd made it, even though there was about a quarter mile of snaking pathway to run. I hit the finish at 3:38:56, which is about where I thought I'd be when I first started training. When the heavy finisher's medal was placed around my neck I felt such a great sense of accomplishment. From there I staggered across the park to get water, then went to find Elly and Megan. Even though we'd arranged where to meet, it still took me a while to figure out how to get there amid the thousands of people... and my legs were hurting. I recovered quickly though, and we took a scenic cruise on Lake Champlain before heading home. Now that I know I can run a marathon, I think I'm in a better position to train for a more specific goal (qualifying for Boston). There's just the matter of figuring out which marathon to run this coming fall...Maine, Hartford, Keene, Baystate...?

5/24/2005

I think I've got the tapering blues. It could also be this wet, cool weather. Or both. I ran home from the Girls on the Run location in Brattleboro, which turned out to be around 8.5 miles. No problems, felt strong. I still don't know what my pace should be in Burlington. I'd hate to start out too fast and suffer in the end. But I also want to realize my potential. I think I could certainly sustain between 8:00 and 8:30 for quite a while...but for 26.2 miles? This week I run just 4 miles today and tomorrow, 3 on Thursday, then 3 on Saturday. Looks like I might be doing the treadmill today, but who knows...the rain may let up.

5/19/2005

Less than two weeks to go! I did my 15 miles on Sunday afternoon without any problems after doing 6 on Saturday. At about 12 miles I was back at the house, so ran inside to suck down a packet of chocolate gu and a cup of water. I think this time the gu did help me, or maybe I just really liked the chocolate (it was like a liquid brownie). I ran the final 3 miles at a pretty good clip (the last mile was about 6:40 pace). Monday was a rest day, then ran a comfortably hard 5 miles on Tuesday. I took the day off yesterday since I was feeling a bit tired. At this point, extra days off will not impact my fitness level. The scheduled runs are primarily there to "remind" me that I'm a runner. I just have to make sure I don't run too hard between now and race day. Any speed work, hills, tempos, etc. will really have no effect on my race performance, so it's all about keeping the mind focussed now. I'll be running with Megan during her 5K for Girls on the Run on Saturday. I'll run my scheduled 8 miles later that day or on Sunday.

5/13/2005

My runs this week have been relatively short (5.8 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday, 4 on Thursday), but a bit more intense than usual. I'll need to slow down now to do a 15 miler over the weekend.

5/10/2005

I ran my last really long run (22 miles) on Sunday. The day was cool, cloudy, and very windy. But there was no rain. The course meandered from my house to Guilford Center via Sweet Pond, out to Brattleboro (where I stopped to deliver flowers to Mom...I felt like the FTD florist!), then to West Brattleboro. From there I ran back to Guilford via Hinesburg and Lee, ending at the Grange where I had a brunch of pancakes and French toast. I didn't feel as if I was going to drop dead, so I think I'm pretty well conditioned to run the marathon. I've been running in my new GT-2100s for a week. They feel lighter and faster than the Brooks, so we'll see how they do in the race. Now I begin my taper, though there is still a fair amount of running to do.

5/2/2005

After running 6 miles each day from Tuesday - Friday last week, my 13 miler at 8:00 am on Saturday felt just fine. I then did a 5 mile "recovery" yesterday evening, but I don't think I needed to run it at recovery pace since I already felt recovered. But the arch on my right foot is a bit tender, so it's just as well. I think my shoes have just about reached their retirement time, so I'll be making a trip to Keene to get another pair today. I'd really like to check out the Asics GT-2100, but not sure if I should use them to run the marathon since I've been training so long with the Brooks. I did feel lighter on my feet with my Asics 2090s, so if the 2100s feel the same I might be tempted to go with those (the Brooks just feel a bit more "cloppy").

4/25/2005

The forecast called for rain both days on the weekend, so I figured I should just get my long run out of the way on Saturday. I took off around noon wearing a cap. The temperature was almost 40F, so it certainly was not warm. The first 10 miles were relatively rain-free, then I stopped at home to get a bit of water. But then it started raining steadily, so my clothes were pretty well soaked through. But I ran pretty comfortably, and this was my best 20 miler yet. The route was to the other end of Weatherhead Hollow and back, then down toward Greenfield for about 5 miles and back. I missed doing my 3-mile recovery run yesterday since I took a trip down to Fitchburg for Raivaaja's (Finnish-American newspaper) centennial celebration. Heard some great music by Kaiku, a young group from New York City.

4/20/2005

This past weekend I did about 13 miles at a pretty comfortable pace, then a bike ride the next day instead of a recovery run. Monday was off, then yesterday I ran about 6 miles at about 8:20 pace. I'm trying to stay aware of my body's limitations so that I don't overtrain. I have just two more really long runs left until I start my taper, so I'll need to stay healthy and fresh for those. I'll need to practice getting up at the time I'll be getting up for the marathon, then start my long runs at 8:00 (that should be fun).

4/12/2005

The past couple of weeks I've had some ups and downs. The 13-miler I did on the weekend of April 2 was strong and fast. Then I ran some hills on April 5 (4 times up Marynuk, once up Simon Keets). The following day I ran 6 miles in Chester. My right leg was pretty achy around the inside of my hip and groin, so I took Thursday off. Ran 4 miles on Friday. Then 20 miles on April 9. That route took me to West Brattleboro and the South St. hill, which just about killed me. I think I ran about 21.7 miles or so at a 9:40 pace, which is pretty slow for me. But my legs seem to have recovered OK, so I'll be doing 6 miles today (but not hills!).

3/28/2005

I decided instead to run 2.50 miles up each of the four roads at the Weatherhead Hollow crossroads. I stashed some drinks in our mailbox and went on my way. It was a pretty easy pace for the first 10-15 miles. Took some of my homemade sports drink at around mile 15, then off to Leyden for the final leg. Ran to the foot of Zimmerman Hill and back. The last couple of miles were hard, though tolerable. I recovered pretty quickly, but I was tired. Sunday's 3 mile recovery run was not difficult at all.

3/24/2005

After doing a couple of 6 mile runs in Chester Tuesday and Wednesday, my legs are feeling the combined effect of the weekend race and the resumption of training. Ugh. I may need to take a day off before Saturday if I'm to run my first 20 miler in reasonable shape. Right now I'm thinking about running to West Brattleboro via Hinesburg Rd., then return to Weatherhead Hollow via South St/Tater Ln and Center Rd. That way I can stop at the convenience store in West B. to grab water/Gatorade (which will be around mile 12). But there will be a couple of big hills, so I may want to find a flatter route.

3/21/2005

OK, I ran the New Bedford Half yesterday and beat my previous half marathon time by more than 8 minutes! I ran at a 7:19 pace, which was my 5K race pace last June. So I'd say that my marathon training program is progressing better than expected. I did skip a couple of days of running last week to taper for the race yesterday, so I think that definitely helped. I breezed through the first 8 miles without even breathing hard. The most difficult part of the run was near the shore where there was a steady, cool headwind. Even so, the day was warm enough (low 40s) for me to run in shorts. Between miles 8 and 9 I picked up the pace (I think I was running a steady 7:30 or so before then). The final "hill" was not a problem since I train every day on hills longer and steeper than that one. The post race meal of clam chowder and fish sandwiches was great! Unfortunately, Elly and the kids got stuck in traffic so they didn't see me finish. Now I figure if I throw in a little bit of speed work during my final training weeks, I just might be able to qualify for Boston. But that would just be gravy on top of what right now at least looks like a pretty strong marathon finish. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

3/15/2005

Training this week will be challenging. I have scheduled a 6 mile run every day from today through Friday. Normally I would then do my long run on Saturday. But I will be running the New Bedford Half Marathon on Sunday, so that will replace my long run. The scheduled 5 miler on Sunday I would move to Saturday. Yikes. If I stay with the schedule as-is, I'm pretty sure the half marathon will be pretty difficult. So I might do some minor adjustments depending on how I feel as the week progresses. I did 18 miles on Sunday, which was not too bad. Elly met me with drinks around mile 14, but I probably would have been able to finish without them. The final couple of miles were hard, but I kept focussed and strong. There was a variety of terrain (snow, ice, slush, mud, hills, pavement), so it was not a tedious run.

3/4/2005

Last Saturday I ran 19.2 miles, which should have been just 18 (I miscalculated the distance). The final 4 miles or so were pretty uncomfortable, but I recovered pretty quickly. The next day I was able to run 4 miles without a problem. This week I ran in a snowstorm on Tuesday, then on the treadmill for the past two days. The TM runs were intervals and a progression run, each run at sub 8:00 pace. Today an easy 4 (maybe outside), then 13 tomorrow. I'm feeling very strong.

2/21/2005

Thursday I ran 5.5 miles in Chester. The sidewalks were much better since it was colder. On Friday I did 3 miles on the TM at 7:56 pace. Saturday's 12 mile run was perfect, though a bit windy and cold for the first few miles. But I was hardly sore afterward. Then yesterday's 4 miles was strong and easy. Today is a rest day.

2/17/2005

I ran 5.5 miles on Tuesday up in Chester. It was a really wet evening due to the mild temperatures and melting snow, and I managed to step into a puddle up to my ankles. Yuck. I ran up to the end of Cummings Rd. on Rt. 11, then back. So I stayed on pavement only. I didn't dare try any dirt roads. Yesterday I opted for the treadmill and did 5 miles in 40:50, a pretty fast pace for me. I steadily upped the speed until I was doing a 6:40 pace for the last half mile. Today I might try running outside again, but I'll see what the roads look like.

2/14/2005

Since my last posting, I did 4 on the treadmill, skipped the 3 mile run on Thursday because of the snow/ice storm (which kept me at home), then did about 3.5 on the treadmill on Friday. On Saturday I went to Ted's Sports in Keene and picked up a new pair of Brooks Adrenaline running shoes. That afternoon I then ran 15 miles (down past Green River to the end of Jelly Mill Rd. and back). I had to climb 5 hills on this run, and the roads were icy and or muddy all the way, so my pace was pretty slow. But I still managed to run it without getting totally tired. Yesterday I ran an easy 3 along Weatherhead Hollow. There was also some impromptu "cross training" when we went to a sledding party where I ran up the hill in my big Sorel's a few times.

2/9/2005

I ran 4 miles in Chester last night. Since it was cloudy there was not as much daylight left at the end of the day, so I was concentrating on not stepping into any potholes or bottomless puddles. My calves were pretty sore at first, but after a couple of miles I warmed up sufficiently to make this a pretty easy run. Have to do another 4 today, which I'll probably do on the treadmill.

2/7/2005

I was all set to run just three miles yesterday (thinking that's what I had scheduled), but then found that the plan called for five. After the long run on Saturday I wasn't quite sure I could do five. And for the first couple of miles I felt a bit "off", but then I settled into a nice, strong groove and the run turned out to be quite nice. The route was down Weatherhead into Leyden, MA, up Greenfield Rd. to Leyden Center, down Zimmerman Hill, then Brattleboro Rd. back to Weatherhead and home. It was actually about 6.1 miles. Today is a rest day. I might go to Keene after work to buy a new pair of running shoes since I've put well over the recommended 500 miles on my current pair (Asics 2090s). I want to check out the new Asics GT-2100 and maybe Brooks Adrenaline.

2/6/2005

I ran 3.6 miles in Chester on Friday evening. The sidewalks and roads were really sloppy, but the run was good anyway. It was getting a bit dark by the time I finished, so I'll need to start a bit earlier next time. Yesterday I ran a bit more than 10 miles (Sweet Pond Rd. out and back, plus the Baker Cross block). It was warm, sunny, and muddy. Very good run, felt strong at the end, so picked up the pace for the final 2.5 miles.

2/4/2005

Well, I didn't get to do a 7 miler yesterday because of things happening at work, but that was just as well. I was still recovering somewhat from Tuesday's run. So I managed to put in a very easy 4 miles on the treadmill last night. Today I'll see if I can do another easy 3 miles outside after work. Then do a long run (10 miles) tomorrow.

2/2/2005

The three on Monday was fast on the treadmill. I was running a 6:53 pace for the final mile. Yesterday I ran up to Sweet Pond State Park, then back down the hill to Weatherhead Hollow Pond. Since there was a beautiful snowmobile packed trail from one end of the pond to the other, I decided to try it out. It was great! Just like running on the beach, except colder. I did it six times, and my thighs felt it. Later I found that each trip up the pond was almost .7 miles, so I wound up running about 8.5 miles yesterday when I should have run just five. So I'll use today as a rest day, no running at all, then do a 7 mile run tomorrow.

1/31/2005

Last week I stuck to the training plan and did my mileage (5 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday, 3 on Thursday, Friday rest, and 13 miles on Saturday). Actually, I think I did a bit more than 13 on Saturday, but probably not more than 14. It was really a great day for running, too. Temperatures in the 20s, no wind, bright sunshine. I felt pretty strong, and ran the last mile or so a bit faster. I had no water or food with me, which was OK since I didn't need it. I could have used some tissues, though, for my nose. Yesterday I was supposed to have run 3 miles, but skipped since we all went to CT. I'll do the 3 today instead.

1/26/2005

I've settled on a training schedule that was posted on the NYC Marathon site. I'll be doing the "Basic Marathoner" even though I'm not yet a "veteran" marathoner (since this is my first marathon). But the distances seem about right for where I am - I might even be between "Basic" and "Competitive". If I feel under-challenged I can always throw in a little more distance and/or speed during the midweek runs. The important thing is to listen to my body and to have fun.

1/20/2005

I missed doing my long run this past Sunday for various reasons, but did manage to get in a 5 miler up Sweet Pond Rd. And I've been doing progression runs on the treadmill this week for up to 5 miles each time, so feel pretty good about starting in on formal training this weekend. It's supposed to snow quite a bit, so that should be fun.

1/11/2005

On Sunday I ran 12.5 miles (did the Sweet Pond->Guilford Center->Weatherhead Hollow route). It had just snowed the day before, so the run up Sweet Pond hill was beautiful. I was going to run back the same way, but decided to do the loop instead. It was slushy and wet, but not too bad for traction. My legs were pretty tired at the end, though, maybe from the added exertion of dealing with the snow and ice. But they recovered well enough so that I could go sledding a little later.

1/3/2005

Real training begins this month. Yesterday I ran 12 miles. I parked at the Grange and ran up Carpenter Hill for a short way then to Barney Hill. Left onto Bonnyvale, then Akley to Hinesburg. Left onto Green River, then at mile 9 I climbed a mile long hill on Stage Rd. Downhill from there to Center Rd. and back to the Grange. I felt pretty good running, but the wind was stronger than I expected so got a bit too chilled on the bottom half (yikes). I think I could have run further though, so I think I'm in pretty good shape to start training.

12/12/2004

Today I ran about 11.2 miles (according to map24.com). My route was up to the other end of Sweet Pond Rd., then back the same way, down Baker Cross, then Weatherhead Hollow into Mass. for about a half mile, then back home. I ran it pretty slowly (1:45:00), which works out to be about 9:20/mi pace. I think that's right about where I should be, though, for my long run pace. My legs felt great, and I could have kept going for a couple of miles more. The ankle was sore and a bit swollen afterward, but certainly not really painful. On Friday, I'd run a bit over 5 miles on the treadmill, then had done some leg extensions and presses. I think the workouts in the fitness center are definitely helping my right knee.

I met another Guilford runner while shopping earlier today, and she said that her marathon times had improved by 15-20 minutes since moving to and running in Guilford. You really can't run far around here without running into some pretty nice hills, which will really get you into shape for racing. In fact, my run today up Sweet Pond Rd. featured two hill climbs (one over there, and the other back). Most of the time you're either running up the hill or down it. There really isn't much in between.

12/05/2004

Yesterday I ran about 5 miles at an easy pace. I took the dog for the first mile and a half, then dropped her off at home. Went down to Massachusetts and ran up Simon Keets Rd., then circled back to Vermont past the farm. Today I ran the full length of Weatherhead Hollow, down and back for a total of 9 miles. Though my ankle was OK, my right knee was a bit annoying. Even so, I managed to run the second half faster than the first by a minute, which doesn't happen too often (and considering the run back was more uphill). But for the last couple of miles I increased my pace just to see if I could sustain it and achieve a negative split.

My goals for the coming week are to increase mileage and to do leg extensions and presses to strengthen my knees. I'm not sure yet how I'll be running (treadmill or outside), but I hope to be outside as long as the weather is good. I might try fitting runs in during lunch, or the early AM.

11/28/2004

OK, I didn't think I'd be able to post to this thing daily...

Anyway, I turned my ankle again on an early morning run a couple of weeks ago. I hobbled home and took it easy for quite a while with no running at all. Once I was able to walk without any pain I treadmilled a couple times a week and ran very conservatively on the weekends. On 11/21 I ran 9 miles in just about 90 minutes, but I finished OK. Today I ran 8 miles and felt quite good. I'm wearing a basic ankle brace for support, and it keeps me aware of how I plant my feet.

11/7/2004

I ran up Sweet Pond Road this afternoon, a long steady hill that winds through evergreen woods and past a small pond. At the top of the hill, right at the intersection of Abijah Prince Rd. is the 2.6 mile mark. The run down the hill is far easier. So I ran 5.2 miles in 49 minutes (with a break to talk for a bit with Kim, who had just walked around the pond with Gabriel). My legs feel just fine. The ankle is a bit tired, but OK. Not as much trouble with the aerobic stuff today since I deliberately slowed down my pace.

11/6/2004

Today I mark my official start of training for the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington on May 29, 2005. After laying off any type of running for almost two weeks after spraining my ankle, I ran a four mile loop this morning in 35 minutes. It was no picnic - my aerobic fitness has suffered - but my legs are still strong. My ankle is still tender in spots, but I'm able to walk and run - albeit a bit more conservatively - without much discomfort.

A little bit about my running history...

I ran cross-country in high school for two years. I wasn't fast, but still enjoyed being out in the cool autumn air on the often muddy trails that comprised much of Vermont high school courses. After high school, though, running ceased until last year.

I started running on a treadmill in October 2003 as part of an overall effort to lower my blood pressure. In addition to increased exercise, I focussed on eating leafy vegetables, fish, olive oil, nuts, fruits, and a glass of red wine a day (basically a Meditteranean diet). And my blood pressure did go down, quite a lot. The running had the added benefit of being fun, and I graduated to running outside in the spring. My first 5K race was on Father's Day in Chester and I ran it in 22:40, coming in 7th out of about 60 runners. My first 4 mile race was in Brattleboro on July 4th, where I placed 23rd out of about 100 with a time of 29:20. My first 10K was the Bridge of Flowers Classic in Shelburne Falls, MA where I ran a 48:53 coming in well under my 50 minute goal. Finally, I placed in the top quarter of the field in the Maine Half Marathon on October 3, running 13.1 miles in 1:43:57. So it looks like right now I'm stuck at running roughly 8 minute miles, which is not quite good enough for me to qualify for the Boston Marathon. But I think with some dedication and plain stubborness I can one day get to Boston.