This past week was a bit of a disappointment. After a great, great run on Sunday (10/23), it seems as though all manner of obstacle got in the way of my running.
My run on 10/23 was just a shade under 10 miles, but I felt terrific and ran pretty consistently at just over an 8 minute per mile pace. I don't think that I've run that fast in several years! I was also helped by the fact that the weather was perfect.
But after that... well, I couldn't seem to get much accomplished. I had planned on taking Monday off. Tuesday, I got in a Karate workout, but couldn't squeeze in a run. Wednesday, I had a great opportunity to do one of my favorite runs. I had to go to Chicago on business, and after checking in at the hotel, I thought a 10 minute nap would be just what I needed.... but... you can imagine the end of that story.
My next opportunity to run came on this past Sunday. I wasn't feeling particularly spry, and the Plummer St. Loop was all I could manage. I'm also starting to battle a cold.
Well, this week is a new week, and hopefully a better one!
Last night, I got home from work about a half hour before my wife who was bringing home dinner, and I decided to get out for a run. I hadn't run since the prior Sunday, so I was really feeling the need. I did have a couple of excellent cross training workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday, but hadn't gotten the chance to run.
As it was about 6:00pm and the daylight was quickly waning, I donned my reflective vest and set out. As I meandered through the back streets of Newbury approaching Route 1A, I started hatching my plan on where to run. Running along Route 1A South into Newbury is a fairly standard route for me with many different options. On this run the plan was to be dependent on the daylight as there are a couple of nice runs that include some trails, but without sunlight, they would be difficult, if not impossible to manage.
I realized pretty quickly that I wasn't going to have enough daylight to do any trails, so I dropped down Plummer Street. Plummer street is a dirt road that goes through a pretty heavily wooded area. Not having run for a few days, my legs were feeling downright "springy" - something I haven't felt out of them for a few years! The running was easy, although I was working hard. I haven't really been worrying about my speed, but this run felt faster than many of my previous ones. I also felt more in control of my body than I have previously - no slouching, no feet moving with a mind of their own - it was great.
The Plummer Street loop is an extension of the Hay Street Loop and is approximately 4.5 miles.
Darkness decsended quickly last night, and I was pleased that I decided to put on my vest. I nearly ran straight into a woman running and pushing a stroller toward me. I didn't see her at all, and had to jump out of the way to avoid collision.
As I finished up the run, I had another sensation that I haven't had in a long time as well - energy at the end of the run. I found myself really pushing through the final half mile, up a small rise until I arrived back at my house. Maybe I can get back in shape after all!
Last night was the first group meeting of the
Dana Farber Marathon Challenge runners.
The meeting was attended by over 100 runners was a brief introduction to what we are embarking on. A few of the facts learned:
Last year, DFMC had 550 runners and they raised $4,160,000 for the Dana Farber Institute.
This year DFMC is sponsoring between 525 and 550 runners again, and again their goal is $4,000,000.
55% of the team has done this before, and 45% are new people - like me - who never were involved with the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge before.
We learned about a couple of neat programs for connecting with kids that have cancer and with the families of children who have died from cancer. We also learned that we have a coach and a running schedule to help get us to the finish line. That's good, because, I think I'm going to need it.
Please
help me along by donating to this very noble cause! Thanks.
Last Saturday was a beautiful day for running. Clear skies, cool temperatures, and sunshine. My wife, Catherine, suggested that I take my weekly run at
Maudslay State Park.
Over the years, Maudslay has been a place where I have run alot - but not recently. So, this beautiful Saturday afternoon I was reminded why I loved running there so much. I'll add a couple of pictures to this entry so you can see for yourself!
Maudslay has a few miles of trails, and I could have simply enjoyed the scenery and the beautiful weather and ran throughout the park. But, I was interested in being sure that I covered a certain distance - and for me this week it was 9 miles.
The Newburyport HS Cross Country team uses this park for its practices and its home meets, so I have become very familiar with their 2.9 mile race course. I decided to run it 3 times (and add a little) to be sure of what I was doing.
I was glad I did, because even as beautiful as it was, my first circuit took 27 minutes - pretty slow for someone who considered himself a runner. I followed that with two more 'laps' both at 26 minutes. So, I guess I can pretty easily tell my average speed!
Just the same, it was a beautiful run and a beautiful day for being out there. Obviously, I have a long way to go to be ready for Boston in April!
I ran 9 miles today in what was supposed to be a nice long slow run. But, it was such a beautiful day, 75 degrees and sunshine, and I felt great.... so - I started out a bit fast and nearly died on the way back in. I ran what I call the 'extended' dump loop through Newbury. It passes the Newbury dump on Boston Road, then cuts back down Hay street, and out to route 1A past Old Town Hill. It's a lovely quiet run with alot of shade.
I really felt great going out. I had a good spring in my stride and all was going very well for the first 5 miles, and then fatigue started to set in. The next three miles were a real struggle, and I'm sure that each was slower than the previous. I had to survival shuffle in the last half mile.
It was such a beautiful day that you would want to run forever, but I guess I need a few more months of solid training before I can do that!
Runs This Week - The Salisbury Rail Trail
This week I've had a couple of very nice runs on the Salisbury Rail Trail. After dropping Brian & Nicholas off at Karate School (
Tokyo Joes of Salisbury), I can pick up the trail right behind the dojo.
Taking the trail south, you eventually dead end at the river, but taking the trail north, it dead ends on a residential street, but following the streets through this very quiet neighborhood, and crossing over Route 110, you eventually pick up the trail again. Only this time the trail is beautifully maintained and it is a real joy to run. I'm fairly certain this hooks up with the Amesbury rail trail, and so you can go for several miles. (the picture to the right is what you will find behind Tokyo Joes)
On both of my runs, I encountered no other runners, and very very few other people at all. The trail behind Tokyo Joes has some gorgeous views of the marsh - especially at sunset when I was running. The 'northern' trail runs parallel to route 110, and there is little scenery except for woods and the backs of a few houses. But, it is much nicer than running along 110!
Running on the trails is a very enjoyable experience. No worries about cars, soft terrain (making it easy on the knees and lower back), and varied terrain. The latter makes it a little tough to run for speed, but that wasn't my primary objective. Generally, I enjoy the effect running has on my body and how it makes me feel, more than I enjoy the physical running itself. However, running trails is an almost-childlike experience, which I find really fun.
For more information about the Salisbury rail trail you can visit this site:
http://www.newburyportnews.com/lifestyle/local_story_262135058
Welcome to My Dana Farber Running Diary
About a week or so ago, I was accepted to be part of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team.
The past year has been a tough one for me and my family, losing two very special people to different types of cancer. So, I'm very excited to be part of this marathon challenge team as a way to help eradicate - or at least understand - this disease that takes not only people's lives, but, very often, their dignity as well.
The Dana Farber Cancer Institute is one of the most well respected research facilities in the world, and this opportunity to help is one that I am very grateful for. So, obviously, much of this is about fundraising, and I hope that anyone who reads this, will open their wallets and support me as I support this cause. For those of you that have already - thank you very much!
Part of the fundraising technique is a
web page that Dana Farber provides for us, so that our supporters can pledge online, and the financial aspects of support are easy to transact. Talking about this with a friend of mine, he really liked the web page because it shows how much progress I have made toward achieving my financial objective. However, the way he said it, got my mind spinning. He said, well, we can all 'track your progress'.
Well, friends and supporters, I not only need your money, I need your moral support as well! And the concept of this blog is for you to be able to watch how I progress between now and April 16th, 2007, when I plan to be crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon with a big smile on my face.
Thanks, in advance, for your support! It has been 8 years since I have run a marathon, and my conditioning has a long way to go in order to complete this race. As I start this odyssey, I know that there will be days of pain - much like those I'm running for knew. But my pain will be so paltry compared to theirs, and theirs will be an inspiration to me. Thanks again for coming on this journey with me. I have no idea where it will lead... but here we go!
