Therapy

Jeff always asking us to guess what races these pictures are from

My turn – what do you think Matthew is thinking …………

 

Webster definition of therapy is therapeutic treatment especially of bodily, mental, or behavioral disorder. I indentify with all disorders according to this definition with regards to running – no comments Julie.

Group email went out on Wednesday from Gazelle about a group run on Saturday – could this be the therapy I need…  As I have been on a running low (mental) for the last couple of weeks. Plus you know who doing her best impression of coach Bobby Knight without the chair throwing on coaching me on this mental block that I have (hi Julie).

Decided to forgo defending back-to-back 5K’s wins from a year ago (St. Michaels & Westerly Loins Club) for some therapy – group run in Carter’s Preserve in Charlestown with Jonny, Jeff, Justin, Seth and newest WTAC member Nathan Vinhateiro. We ended up running around 8 miles just over an hour. Because of the conversations while running, weather you were just listening or engaged this run felt like it lasted only 20 minutes. Good weather, good company equals a good run. Looking forward to more of these group runs (therapy sessions) in the coming weeks.

Next week – most everyone is has a Vision Quest (1987 movie) or a fall marathon (Smuttynose & Nipmuck). Good luck to everyone on your quest/endeavors. Look forward to reading post race write-ups.

Tommy 5K - looks like you and I are the only ones around. Maybe bike/coffee ride into Mystic or a run on the beach……

Surftown

Congrats

• Muddy for the win – awesome, have a beer now
• Matthew – GREAT job, watch you the entire way. If you are reading this your are alone – so it’s ok to SMILE no one is looking
• Jeff – nice job. You’ll place again next year / when your 50
• Crutchley – I enjoy finding out post race times from you this year. You PR at almost everyone – GOOD job
• Seth – you are running very well this year, you have step it up. I have a feeling you will be killing it at Li'l Rhody Runaround this year. Remember last year – you said you went out too fast. This year you belong up front.
• Beth, don’t sell yourself short, you did a great job and you will do great at next month marathon.
• Rest of WTAC – great job, nice having home field advantage
• Jana – again thanks for the great pictures of everyone. I look forward to that nightly email saying you have been tag – appreciate the effort/support hanging around to take pics. Maybe we should start a pool and see who can get Matthew to smile.
• 5K – I know you weren’t there but I do have a scouting report (hi Julie)

Woke up early as I do every day, had my stuff already out – I’m like the military, very well organized. Wish my teenage kids were. Arrived early because I know from previous year’s traffic backs up to Jeff house. So hung out in the beach parking lot talking to complete strangers – these are runners so they are ok or insane like the rest of us. Actually, I really enjoy this part of the per race activity – nice meeting and talking with other runners and finding out where they are from and other races they have done or are doing.  I happen to run into couple of high school classmates and a lot of people from work. A very high level executive (one you always want on your side) from work happen to recognize me – now, I happen to work on a project with this person when I was working in facilities/operations over four or five years ago and he still recognizes me. I haven’t seen him in years (work at a place that has over 3,000 colleagues). He was there to support his daughter and cheered me on just after mile 7. How cool, nice knowing I still have connections at work – I’m part Italian if you haven’t notice, so we use these connections when needed. Beth knows these connections can be an advantage at work.

Ok, ok, I know the race – lineup upfront and gave out good lucks to fellow WTAC members. Now six days prior to this race I got Plantar – treated it with ice, Aleve, make shift roller thingy (actually it was a round award I got a work) but it worked - I was about 90%. Started out feeling great just behind Matthew, settling in a comfortable pace. When I past the mile 8 marker turning onto Watch Hill road the Plantar started to fare-up. It was a nagging pain, like marriage (Hi Julie). Change me stride a little to compensate for the nagging pain – wrong thing to do. Because when I got to the last water stop around 11 ½ miles on Ocean view, my calf muscle tightens up big time. One good thing about this – I could hardly feel the nagging plantar pain now. When I turned onto Atlantic Avenue I was running with a limp. Ended up coming in 30^th at 1:28:40 / 1:30 slower than last year. Not bad but because of the injuries this year with the knee and now Plantar – this year sucks. My morale, my drive, my spirit for running is at an all time low, I’m in a funk. Maybe I need to go on some kind of retreat and have an intervention.

Oh, Godfather, what am I gonna do "You can act like a man! [slap] What's the matter with you?"

Remember, part Italian – love this movie.

After the race I went over to the massage table to get my calf worked on – ok, massage by a guy – not my thing. End up going back the parking lot where I meet up with some towns people (Stonington) and talk about the event. Change cloths went back to the tent were I talk to Melanie Diamanti about the 5K race – Tom you would have killed it. Couldn’t find anyone as they must have been out doing cool downs.

Note for next year or have noticed or just feedback

·         Looking for a clean, no line Porter John - they have a few at the finish line, so do your warm up that way and they are all yours

·         Arrive early because of traffic

·         13.2 - everyone that had a space watch had 13.2 or more for distance. I believe this is because they wouldn’t let us run tangents. I was upset that we had to “stay to the right”. We all have run these roads before and know about the traffic – really. I know, I know – safety

·         They really need to work on the mile 3 markers and the timer – the last 3 years this has been off.  Jeff last year gave HM group this feedback. Guess they forgot  

Great participation from all the volunteers, recognized a lot of people volunteering

Plantar Fasciitis

Days before Surftown and I get Plantar Fasciitis

I’m miserable, unhappy, unpleasant – all those adjectives and then some

Running this year sucks

That’s all I have to say on that

Long weekend

Friday – 5.5

Saturday – 11.5

Westerly side of the river, down to Westerly Yacht Club

Sunday – 0

Monday – 17

I ran down to TS house in the rain. I was soaked to the bone from mile 3 on. Very difficult run, wet to the core. Everything went wrong from chafing, bleeding and the quest for thrust. Yes, I did use body glide, but when you are soaked to the bone, has little effect. One positive, I was able to stop at the water fountain in Watch Hill for a quick drink. On my way back running in White Rock, about 2 miles from home the road traffic was heavy and puddles everywhere with no side walk. Did my best to stay away from puddles and most of the drivers did their best to stay away from me until one driver in a blue Subaru decided instead to drive through a puddle while I was next to it. At this point in the run I was miserable, feeling major discomfort so I did what we all would have done – gave the double #1 sign to the driver along with yelling what that meant – like they didn’t know – made me feel better yelling it though. Looking back should have done this on Saturday instead.  I will have to start to pay attention to the weather now that summer is over.

Not sure if it was the run on Monday but I feel that I’m losing bit of the love from running. Instead of feeling like I wanted to run, I felt I had to run. Instead of wanting to go out and push the hill, I felt I had to push the hill. Don’t get me wrong - I believe this lacking in foresight or focus to be necessary. Attention to the detail of, and 100% commitment to each aspect of training (long runs, rest, recovery, speed work, hill work, tempo runs, sleep (what’s that), and so on is part of the daily life of a runner. This is fundamental to any hard core runner. But this structure, regimen, intensity, focus can also be demanding and yes, somewhat, draining.  Summary - running alone just sucks. I’ll shut-up now

Summer coming to a close

Friday 5

Last dash & splash for the summer – 445 club had two new members (Jonny E & Matthew W) join in for the early morning run. We ran the streets than last mile or so was on the beach, which was low tide. It was still dark out when we finished the run position.  The splash which did not last that long – yes, I happen to see and remember Jaws – I was more concern about the jelly fish as this is the time of year they come around.

Saturday 14.5

Woke up early again – had not idea were to go. I Decided I would follow the Pawcatuck River – from the Westerly side, starting from White Rock. Ended up going as far as Avondale, where I decided I would take the trail Jeff shared with us runners last fall that’s part of the open space area – nice flat short grassy trail – my kind of trail running. On the way back on Route 1A encountered a lot more traffic then I was expecting – this little stretch of R-1A has no shoulder and at one point on the blind corner by no bottom pond a pick-up truck got a little closer than I was expecting – scared the Sh*t out of me (got the morning dump out the way). I know, I know you trail runners are saying we have no traffic on trails. Decided I would run down Elm Street  - previewing the track for the Schonning 5k race on Wednesday. They are doing some construction on this street (new sidewalks) and the side that we runners run on not the best of surfaces – uneven and pitted. Ran through the park, back into White Rock, up to Timber Ridge, Pawcatuck. One thing about these long runs in the warm weather – no water stops. Need to figure something out – fuel belt?

Sunday – double, bike 18, run 11 on the beach – both to TS house

Woke up early again – decided I would go for a ride down to TS house, yup, ride instead of run to her house. This was a nice ride with very little traffic. No sign of life what so ever when I was going into Watch Hill, had the entire road to myself. Surprised that I did not see any other fellow bikers as this was a great morning to be out. Got home, eat, clean up and got ready for the beach. On the way down to Seaside we were in traffic at the four-way intersection where Langworthy Road and Shore Road meet (down from Dunn corners). When I happen to see a Gazelle sighting in a car (so, does this become a Jeff sighting than). Hung my body out the window trying to get his attention, wouldn’t you know it – he stop in the road, window down – headed to the beach in a few, I’ll text you. The family was laughing and making in front of me for looking like a fool with my head out the window and waving franticly – herd this the entire day – sarcasm in my family is WAY over the top from the norm.  Got to the beach – high tide, or was the tide heading out? Waited for a few, than I decided to start the journey  down to TS house for my annual 10 mile run on the beach. Tuff run as it was high tide, plus felling the fatigue of the long run from Saturday and the bike in the morning. I was hoping for a 5K/mermaid sighting for some water – no luck. Turn around at TS house headed back wounding why the hell I did this – as I was coming up on the state beach I happen to see another runner – orange shirt with this large thing strapped to his left arm – it was wakey, wakey (Mike C). Ran the last 3 back with Mike, this helped having company and conversation on the way back. Went for a swim, had a snack and waited for that text message. I was getting antsy so I decided I would walk down to the Westerly town beach, about 1.5 miles. Almost there when I happen to see 2 runners coming my way – Jeff and Matthew. Turn around and starting running – funny having a gazelle behind me, short leaved  as they came along side and we enjoyed a nice low tide run down to the breachway. Turn around at the breacheay with them and stop at seaside as they continued back to town beach.

SUCKS as I think this will be the last of the beach runs for the summer  

Monday – rest day

Tuesday – easy 6 or so from work

Wednesday – Schonning 5K

Favorite day of the year BACK TO SCHOOL day

I’ll end this with a few of my favorite comic strip – strips about school  

Shouldn’t have – but I did (run on 49)

Friday 7, before 7 at 7 pace with 5K

(777 was the # Tom5K had to win Foot Pursuit in April) – go figure

Annual Friday run & splash – Muddy was going to join us for the run then go longer, but he drop us like a cheap date for some guy who runs trails all the time (aka Jonny). When I arrived at the parking lot of the Westerly town beach 5K was just pulling in. I happen to ask where Jeff ? Get this, he says – I should have gotten this in writing – Jeff said he’s too beat to come out for a run. WHAT, no way – we both couldn’t believe it. Could it be that the age thing is finally creeping up, as you have just over 300 days before the big 50 – but who’s counting. Understandable as he has vacation hang-over from the west coast. 5K and I ran around Misquamicut back to the town beach and meet Steve S. He and 5K were going to do TRI swim training while I was going for a splash and dash – next year for that swim training. No traffic, good company, conversation and run.

Saturday  14.5 shouldn’t have – but I did

Started from the house down to White Rock, than on to Boom Bridge. Figured I would run into Ashaway. Instead of turning right onto Anthony into Ashaway, for some reason I continued on Boom Bridge. Now, how do I get back to Pawcatuck? I did not want to do out and back. Decided to take 216 than 49 back home. Trouble with this is 49 is not the best of roads to run or bike on – so your road sense or guard goes up a notch or two. Because I went out so early, only three cars went by me on 49, all going the other way.

Sunday – Bike 13

Yup, got the bike out. The plan was to run at the beach down to TS house again. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t working on my side – so settled for the easy bike ride around Greenhaven. Had the roads to myself – no one out.

Monday – not sure yet

Might go out for 4 from work in the afternoon easy as this will be day before the battle

Tuesday – Battle of Stonington 5K

Wednesday – WTAC last fun run

Thursday – probably my boring 6 from work

Friday – not sure yet

Weekend – long run, where is the question

Just a update

Friday 5 - annual run and splash

Ran with 5K, Jeff, Matthew, new guy – Jeff’s neighbor Chet and ready for this ………..wakey, wakey,  Mike C. Please note, this was not at 4:45 – more like 7:00ish. Ran the streets of Watch Hill than splash at Napetree.

Saturday - 7

Out the door and not sure which way I wanted to go – decided to run to Westerly. Ran down to the park, ran in the park than around the park - no Beth sighting. A motivating place to run early in the morning because you have the park to yourself.

Sunday 16 (double)

Ran 6 at 6 from house out and back – nothing new, same old, same old.

We (family) went to the beach late morning. Got a text message from wakey, wakey asking if I was at the beach, sent a text message to 5K to see if he was at the town beach.  Seeing Jeff just did a TRI and Run for Kerri – I figured he was dead. Plus I figured he was getting ready for his trip out west to get his yearly supply of EPO. 5K replied back that he was down to TS beach with a mermaid. Arrived at beach and happen to hook up with WW (wakey, wakey) who gave a detailed race recap. I happened to notice – low tide – YES. Ask Lori (Mike C wife) if WW could come out and play. Text 5K – on my way. Left Seaside beach, had a nice run and conversation with WW who ran down to the Westerly town beach we me. This is where I was hoping for a Jeff sighting who would have joined in for the rest of the way. Took out the IPOD hit play and off I went down to TS house again. Low tide the entire time – love running on the beach at low tide, hard pack sand and little traffic. As I was getting closer to TS house I was hoping that 5K had extra water. Arrived at the wall of TS house, she was not home, again – according to WW who is friends with her, she in Wisconsin. 5K had water ready – Yes, thanks. Chatted it up on the Block Island TRI and meet a mermaid. 5k joined the run back for about ½ mile – he had to get back, understandable. This was the best beach run of the summer – low tide, not that humid, good company and conversation. Why does summer have to end. So ended up doing the run down to TS house for additional 10 miles.

Monday 0

Rest day

Tuesday (double) 5 in the am – 3 in the pm

Track work out with 5K in Westerly – 7x400’s, 2x200’s and a bunch of warm up/cool down laps

Dog Watch (Stonington Fun Run) later tonight – solo, as Jeff on vacation and 5K has family down company. I will give full scouting report later in the week (hi Julie).

Wednesday 3+

WTAC Fun Run – I have Muddy job or Mason as I have to put the signs out, so get ready for some lost runners around the beach.