Thursday, March 20, 2014

I know – I’m little behind with the blog – you’ll enjoy the end of this one

Saturday 0
My Daughter who turned 13 (going on 21) few weeks back had “girls gone wild” on Friday. This meant having 6 teenage girls sleepover. All the more to go on that WTAC group run, but Julie asked me if I would SHARE the pain with her (her words) on getting the girls up, feed and out the door for 9:00am. This meant I was going to be the bad guy – I love waking up teenagers EARLY in the morning (before noon), really it’s a lot of fun. After everyone went home and we clean-up it starting to rain a little so I went on a little trip to Wakefield, RI (more on this trip later in the blog).

Sunday 6.3
Seeing I was not able to get out on Saturday I decided to run the local roads around my place. I called this run on Strava – Bob Seger as no matter which way I turned I was running with a head wind.

Monday 0
Another zero just after taken a rest day on Saturday. Mondays are getting to be difficult to get out and run. I have multiple global meetings on this day and I don’t have a boss like Jonny. In addition, for some reason I was dead tired. Not from running, just tired from not sleeping. 

Tuesday 7
After another rest day the day before I was looking forward to getting out. I was underdressed for this run but I had no plan on where I was going or a pace I wanted to run. First mile was slow but the next 6 felt great and cruised just under a 7 pace. After catching up on some sleep this run felt good, I felt refreshed, ready for some spring.

Wednesday 5.8
I wanted to do speed work so when I started out I didn’t realize just how wicked windy it was. On the first mile, the warm up mile I was thinking were and what kind of speed work to do. I really like 5K’s 5,4,3,2,1 workout. This gives you 15 minutes of speed, which is almost a 5K race. Compared to doing 400’s, 800’s or 200’s……..I texted 5K later in the day sharing my thoughts on the workout. He mentioned the following - shorter distances do build fast twitch muscle fibers which helps with foot speed. Ok, what do I know, made me feel better as I did 5x500’s and 3x300’s. Some of the laps were into the wind as it was wicked windy Wednesday. Legs felt sore after this workout.

Now for the fun – you’ll enjoy this next part of my Wednesday
I left work hour early to go to Wakefield, RI to pick up my new toy (pic below). Let me say this – I went to three bikes shops – I’ll outline for you on my experience
Mystic – big showroom with lots of choices but would not budge on price
Ray Willis – small with little to no choices although good place for turn-ups
Stedman’s – small with little to no choices BUT hidden in the building are more bikes than appears. Plus the help at this shop is great. The minute I open the door I felt like one of the gang and I’m not a bike geeky guys (at this moment). I recommend this place over any other in the area as they are open, honest and willing to deal. At the end of the visit they kept asking/insisting to come up for group rides.
On the way home I got a phone call from Julie – went something like this:
Hey, did you get your new toy and did everything go ok – Yup, great place good conversation lost track of time. Great can’t wait to see-it (what that means is what did we just waste money on – I can read between the lines) by the way, WE need to go to Home Depot later. Home Depot – why, what just happened. The washer machine finally broke (18yr old machine).

So we go to Home Depot after Julie did some research on-line. We or SHE picks the one that SHE wants. Remember I just got a new toy – I’m agreeing with whatever. As she works out the details with Home Depot person I decide to wonder around. I’m a do-it-yourself person, love walking around Home Depot. I have other hobbies other than running. So when I get back the Home Depot person says we can deliver this on Saturday for you. Julie says great, sooner the better as we have teenagers and tons of laundry.

Now what’s going on in my head at this time – I did not actually say these words (remember I just got a new toy) – Saturday, this is the best you can do. I have a race on Saturday; really, you don’t have this in stock. What I actual said was in the morning or afternoon. They will call the night before and tell us when. I know what you’re thinking (Jeff, Jonny) but I just got a new toy. Although I like going to the dog house, really the dog house can be fun at times as the dog does not talk back and listens to ME – I enjoy dog house time with my best friend but SLEEPING in the dog house sucks. So, game day decision on the race.
the new toy - 2014 Specialized Allez Comp

Monday, March 10, 2014

Ocean Run 1/2 - pre race, race day, race, post race

Pre race - Saturday morning light 5 mile run with Jeff, FiveK and Lulu - perfect morning for a run at the beach - good conversation. First run with Lulu who is not much of talking, she just likes to run. Wow, Tom has a girl who doesn’t like to talk that much – lucky (Hi Julie).
With day light saving Saturday night I figured I would go get my registration/swag early – leaving more time on race day so I wouldn’t have to rush. Text Crutch to see if he was going up early - text back - pick you up around 11:30 – perfect. Nice ride-up along with good conversation. Email later in the day from Jeff on car pooling to the race. Thanks Crutch for driving - FiveK was going up with his OTHER girl.
Race day – we meet at Jeff house for ride up, what a difference in weather from Saturday. We all had our bags filled with all kinds of cold weather gear. My plan was to run in shorts no matter what – just wasn’t sure on the hat/gloves thing.  We arrived in plenty of time and meet Tom and Shara in the parking lot. Crutch deciding he was going to walk down to race start – the rest of us were going to wait for the school bus. We decided to us the bathrooms at the school – doing our impression of Muddy. This was good choice as lines were long at the starting area. Arrived in plenty of time to drop our bags off and go for short cool down. As everyone was lining up for race start – I had to go find a bush around the corner one last time. When I came back to the starting line I was not able to get up close to the front – about 20 feet from the front. I usually like to hang around third row, so first challenge was going to be in the first ½ mile going around people.
Race – Took about 10 seconds to get of the starting line so I could start the space watch. Quick loop around dirt parking lot before we could get out on the road.
1, 2, 3 – familiar with this part of the run from Crabman. Fun passing everyone you recognize as this section has two out and backs. Cone turnaround at one point which I’m not a fan of but this was early in the race so it wasn’t that bad. I ran about a mile with Shara who was completing in her 2nd ever ½ marathon.
 4, 5, 6 – around the four mile mark I think, Beth was volunteering as a flag person turning the runners to the right and cheering us on – great to see her out there after running 20+ the day before.  After we came out of the neighborhood you have to go up Matunuck Beach Road for a short distance before turning left. This is where the head wind started to pick-up. I tuck in just behind a tall runner – literally just behind him. I look at the space watch and I didn’t like the pace he was going at this point – I wanted to push him. I don’t think he like me drafting because he slowed up a little but I was not leaving me wing man. When we turned left onto Matunuck School House Road there was a water stop – guess who pulled over to get water or to lose me - thanks tall guy.
7,8,9,10 – This section was the lonely section as the field now was spread out and the wind was picking up. Not that bad but just enough to be a jerk. Other than the water stops there were little to no spectators in this section – sucks running alone in a race when you can’t get up to the lead group and no one behind you to push you along. My time in this section was not what I wanted – I was slowing down, wasn’t sure why - all alone with my inner voice. The BEST part of this section was this lone spectator group (not sure where on the course). It was Chris G along with his wife and boy cheering me on with big smiles – I wondered over for a quick slap of the hand and thank him for the support.  This was just what I needed – little encouragement in the lonely section. I started to focus on my pace again and ignore the wind. I reach back for my GU which was a first for me. Couple days before this race I tried GU for the first time – wasn’t pretty. I ended up with GU chewable (another story for another time). All I could think about was how funny it looked like trying to run and chew these GU things. It took about ½ mile for me to finally finish the packet, chocking on one.
11, 12, 13 – Finally the last third of the race, it felt like I was in the Green Hill area forever. Back in the grove again – still alone but I could sense a group coming from the spectators at the water stops encouraging runners on. Turned onto Moonstone Beach Road which is less than 2 miles to go starting to look at the space watch and doing the math – ok, no PR but I know that coming in as I was lacking speed work. Turned left onto Cards Pond road and who do I see taking pic’s – Chris G again with the family. Encouraging me for the last mile – thanks Chris. Turn right onto the field for a strong finish – OMG felt like I was running with no right shoe – up down, up down, up down. Not the best way to finish but the rush kicks in. Space watch was 1:28:43, official time was 1:28:55 – remember the start, 10 seconds behind. Good for 20th overall 3rd in that age group with you know who - four more months to go.
Post race – I was supposed to go to a high school lacrosse tournament in Springfield, MA right after the race, but it was cancelled. Thankfully it was cancelled as I enjoyed the post race gathering with everyone.
Nice course, flat only one hill. TRIMOM put on a great race, the course was well marked and she had plenty of volunteers all helpful, respectful and encouraging everyone on.
Chris and family – thanks for the encouragement/support/pic’s, much needed on Matunuck School House Rd
Beth – cool seeing you volunteering, couldn’t wait to get to mile 4ish knowing you were there to cheer
Mike C – nice race, you will get that goal for a ½ later this year no doubt
Seth wife (forgot name, sorry) – nice job on your first ½ - the dog and you need a blog now
FiveK – 4th place and in the hunt at the end – NICE job. Sometimes I wonder if I slow you down
Shara – you kicked butt for your second ½ - 4th overall women – Sweet
Seth – awesome PR, job well done
Matthew – nice job on the 5K – I know you will be faster later in the spring and I’m not looking forward to it (that’s a joke – smile)
Jeff – another PR, I knew you were going to run well at this race – great job - fun laugh on the podium






Tuesday, March 4, 2014

January and February

January and February
Not my favorite time of year – especially for running.  In the past I used these two months to explore other workout routines like lifting weights, biking and working the muscles around the knees.  My running during these months averaged around three to four times a week and nothing long.
The other day I went to log into Strava and did some geeky data exploring.  I wanted to know how many miles for the month of January/February - just so you know I’m not Jonny miles or Jeff the Gazelle - I have a life outside of running.  I’ve been running around seven years or so and this has been the most productive winter running I have run.  I’m still going to continue with a least one rest day a week – I believe in rest days.  Now that March has arrived and hopefully some warmer weather we will be getting into the spring race season.  Now the fun begins with speed workouts and biking (soon I hope).  But the real challenge for the next couple of months will be family obligations as we go into lacrosse season with the kids and yes this has already started - we are a lacrosse family.  Now more than ever I have to pay attention to the calendar, schedules and my personal secretary (hi Julie).
Last week I was little disappointed in that I was not able to add in speed work.  I did have two good tempo runs back-to-back but not the same.  With Ocean Run Half coming this weekend I’m not sure on a pace or a goal for time.  I have time this week to form thoughts/comprehend something so we’ll see - or as I like to say game day decision