The past 5 days

This week was hurting allot from the choice I made in running shoes for the race on Sunday. At least I hope that is what the problem was.

Luckily the coach gave a very light workout Tuesday for those who raced.
The workout: (track I run at is 11 laps to the mile)

1. Warm-up 1 mile.
2. 22x1 lap at 36sec.
3. 1 lap jog after every lap.
4. 1 mile in 9:00 cool down.
6 miles in 60 min.

And I could barely finish because of the pain in the front of both my knees.

Wednesday was able to do 8 miles in 72 min. after a 2 mile swim in 1:20

Thursday was a 1.5 mile swim in 55 min. Bike 45 min. 2 mile jog in 10 min.

Friday was 2 mile swim in 1:25 then 8 miles in 64 min.

Today was a long run indoors to lessen the pounding on the still tender knees got started at noon went to 3pm for a total of 20 miles.

MM2

Week 10 Recap

Monday - bike 1.5 hours, swim 1 miles 40 min.
Sunday - 13 miles - 1:49.
Saturday - bike 1 hour, 19 miles swim .5 mile 16 min.
Friday - 2 miles - 20 min. swim 1 miles 40 min.
Thursday - 6 miles 50 min. swim 1 miles 33 min.
Wednesday - 9 miles on treadmill in 72 min
Tuesday - 9 miles on treadmill in 80 min.

39 miles in 5:31 min for a 8:29/mile pace. Not bad for an off week.

MM2

Sunday Jones Group Realtors 10 Mile Road Race

Today was a long day that was supposed to include a long run.
I started at 6am meeting with some friends before going to meet my teammates in Chelmsford, MA to carpool to Amherst, MA.

I was the first to arrive followed closely by George and Henry.
Off we headed to Jones Group Realtors 10 Mile Road Race.
We arrived at 9:30 got our numbers and I did 3 miles as I was looking to do 16-18. But the hamstring was not quite right so I re wrapped the leg and decided to take some Vitamin I for the expected pain.

The race went off just after 11 luckily there was a gun blast as there were no instructions heard. This was a rather hilly course but was not as bad as I feared.

My splits were 8:20, 7:55, 7:50, 9:10(only real tough hill), 7:50, 7:45, 7:40, 7:45, 7:50, last mile(had to be wrong) 7:22 to finished in 1:19:17 for a 7:56/mile pace and a PR by over 10 minutes. And the conditions were ice covered dirt roads in spots mile 4-6 especially. But the weather stayed dry until about noon and was mostly light until I finished.

Patrick Tarpy won in 49:51. Results.

There were no pictures(found this one from Robyn Pringle whose husband Roger ran his first ever 10 mile race) because I did not take any not realizing it until 1/2 way back home. The ride back was quite interesting as the rain changed to snow as we climbed out of the valley we were in. The surrounding hills were snow covered and slick. Many cars off the road until we got to past Fitchburg, MA.

Past few Days

On Thursday I did get a 6 mile run in 50 minutes on the stairmaster. Also did some strength and swam 1 mile in 40 minutes.

On Friday started in the pool and did 1 mile in 33 minutes first time able to keep pace under 1 min/50yards. My hamstring is still not 100% so I went with the bike for1/2 hour did the treadmill for 2 miles in 16 minutes the back to bike for 1 hour.

Today I did 1 hour on the bike a brisk 19 miles then swam after always a risk but the pool was closed when I first got there for a party. Did 1/2 mile in 16 minutes and should of stopped there because thats when the cramps came calling but I finished after walking out cramp a bad 1 mile in 40 minutes. Only good news of the day was weight was 166 at start of day. Have not been this light since I was a teenager.

Treadmill workout

This is vacation week so no indoor track this week so I delayed doing a speed workout on Tuesday did 9 miles in 80 minutes.

Then on Wednesday I was supposed to this 7 minute workout 6-7 times:
1 minute at 6:20 mile pace
1 minute at 7:30 mile pace
1 minute at 6:20 mile pace
1 minute at 7:30 mile pace
1 minute at 6:20 mile pace
2 minutes jog

I did it for 3 times and my left hamstring started giving me a little pain during the faster pace so I went with the slower pace for 2 miles to finish up the workout.
Ended up being 9 miles in 72 minutes.

Not sure what today will bring as I am headed to BSC now and still a slight pain so I will start today in the pool and do some strength and core.

MM2

Week 9 Recap

Monday - bike 1.5 hours, swim 2 miles 70 min.
Sunday - 16 miles - 2:20.
Saturday - 3 miles - 24 min. swim 2 miles 75 min.
Friday - 6 miles - 54 min. swim 1.5 miles 60 min.
Thursday - 6 miles 42 min. swim .5 miles 30 min.
Wednesday - rest
Tuesday - 9 miles at AHS indoor track in 80 min.

Well a pretty good week 40 miles in 6:40. for an 8:30/mile average.

MM2

Sunday Long Run

Today there was a hosted run in Andover, MA it started at the local Masonic Lodge.
I ran with a group that ran South on Main Street which was simple eneough since it is well marked with mile markers every mile. So I ran until got past this sign entering Reading, MA. I went 1 mile in and turned around I made the 16 mile loop in j2:20. Really was pretty good no real issues except the wind was brisk once I headed back north was wondering why it seemed so easy doing mostly 8min/mile going south and was a struggle to keep under 9min/mile going north.

I did get to BSC on both Friday and Saturday. Doing 6 miles and 3 miles. Also swam 4 miles total for the week with Saturday being the best yet with 2 miles in 75 minutes.

MM2

Thursday - Feeling Better

It has been a tough 10 days or so of not too much in the way of a quality workout.
Tuesdays track was good to get back to running with no pain in the hamstring. the workout was a simple one. The workout: (track I run at is 11 laps to the mile)

1. Warm-up 3 miles.
2. 12x3 laps at 38/36/34.
3. 1/2 lap walk and 1 lap jog after every 3 laps.
4. 1 mile in 9:00 cool down.

9 miles in 80 minutes of running.

I did have to modify my workout as Group C workout was 36/34/32 or tad faster.
This being my first speed workout in 3 weeks and the last time I went that fast is when I hurt my hamstring. So I was not going to do that speed until it gets warmer.

Wednesday I had a late night of work and had to go to meet some friends until 9pm.
Decided to play it safe and take a rest day.

Today was back to BSC for my first workout there in almost 2 weeks. I started in the weight room for an hour of mostly light weights and core. Then I hit the StairMaster for an encouraging 6.2 miles in 42 minutes, then the mill for an easy 5 in 44 minutes. Was feeling pretty good so I went to the pool for 40 laps in 25 minutes.

It was the best I have felt in about a month. There is the 1/2 marathon in Hampton Beach this weekend that I have my eye on if things go well.

MM2

Week 8 Recap

Monday - rest
Sunday - 10 miles - 4 mile warup, 3.1 race, 3 mile cooldown.
Saturday - rest
Friday - rest
Thursday - rest
Wednesday - ride bike 45 min, 15 miles.
Tuesday - 4 miles at AHS indoor track in 60 min.

The good news is I am feeling much better this Monday than last so it is time to get back on the horse.

Who knew there were Horses in Haverhill, MA:

Sunday Fosty's Dash for a Cure

Well I finally got back to some running today after by far my least productive week.

The scene was Atkinson Country Club for The 4th Annual Frosty's Dash for a Cure.

I have been under the weather and not been running since Tuesday(even spent 1/2 day at the ER nothing serious just had to have some tests to make sure), so after seeing this race was going to be my best chance to get a snowshoe race under my belt. So at 8am I made my way to Atkinson NH which is just north of Haverhill, MA where I ran last Sunday. The temperature was in the 40's when I left so was not sure what I was getting myself into.

Well I got registered and I was just about the 1st person there at 9am. So I grabbed the Dion 121 and I went to get ready.

By 10am I was out on the course and did the 5k course that we would be running at 11:15am. I took it real slow at the beginning but went the distance in about 40minutes with a stop to eat and take the above picture and enjoy the day.

Made the mistake of going back inside but did not want to stay outside in my now soaking wet feet. So I made some clothing adjustments and headed back out to just make the start. The winner was Jim Johnson and can read his winning ways here.

I finished 30th place overall in 33:11. Results. Not bad considering my week. I was running behind one of the coaches for Trifury her name is Sharon Johnson but she took a spill about 1 mile in so I was able to pass her she ended up right behind me in 31st, winning her age group so I think I did OK.

MM2

Wow, I got a deep tissue massge !

At the urging of my MVS coach I went and got a deep tissue sports massage today.

I have been resting my hamstring this week I have almost no pain today so I was driving by a Zen Massage place and they had an opening at 6 pm.

I took it as a sign from the marathon higher-ups that it was meant to be.

And boy I was rewarded with a most blissful hour.

I had visions of running today as this week other than Sunday has been very light. Tuesday night at AHS indoor track I just never felt right and everyone else was going for an all-out mile that was not for me. So after 1 mile warm-up, I was told I was going to be doing .5 mile in 3:30. I gave it a go and the first one I did at 4:10 and felt like there was no way I was going to do better so I just did another and it only got worse. So I did a 2 mile cooldown and called it a night.

On Wednesday I did get on the bike for 45 minutes and did 15 miles before I called that a night because I was going to the Annual Awards Night for my running club the Merrimack Valley Striders. The only picture I found was of Will Merideth who won for Strider of the Year. Here is his picture:



I had a great time and even spent some time with fellow blogger JJ.

MM2

Week 7 recap

Monday - rest
Sunday - 16 miles at Hosted run in 140 min.
Saturday - rest
Friday - 10 miles on stair climber in 90 min.
Thursday - 5 miles on local streets in 50 min.
Wednesday - rest.
Tuesday - 7 miles at AHS indoor track in 60 min.

38 miles 5hr 40 min just under 9 min/mile.
Not too bad considering the injury.
Also wanted to note the hosted run went well even tho it averaged 8:45 it was encouraging as was able to get below 8min/mile for 4 miles near the end.
Month of January total miles was 183.

MM

Getting ready for 3D

Super Sunday PM- 65" LCD

Here is my view chips,laptop, 3D glasses and LCD:

Super Sunday AM- Long Run

The reward for 16 miles (will update later about the run):




Things are looking up:




Here is Rich Fortuna and MarathonMan2 Rich is the happy guy on the left:



Here we are just before going on runs ranging from 2-22 miles:



Got to Deb Joy & Alan St. Germains House at 8:15 am for a hosted run.
Here is a picture just prior to going outside:


Got to Deb Joy & Alan St. Germains House at 8:15 am for a hosted run.
Here is a picture just prior to going out.