Training Log Archive: Rosstopher

New Bedford Half Marathon. Jeff had initially suggested that we all drive down and compete in this race but Hilly wasn't interested and then we delayed long enough that the entry fee went up. So in the end only Sam and I went.

A really fun day, gorgeous weather, and my first ever half marathon. Talking at dinner last night ( Judy made us spaghetti and meatballs, so the successful runs are really attributable directly to her) I had sorta decided that I would like to run under 90 minutes ( 7 mins a mile for 13 miles is 91 minutes and 90 is a better round number). We got there pretty early and found a place to park and found the starting mob. Sam and I had no idea what to expect, just thinking that there'd be a tonne of fast people. We hung out pretty far back in line but this turned out to be a poor choice because we were really trapped when the race started and even though we had race chip timing it didn't time the start, just the finish. So it took us almost 30 seconds just to get to the start, and the first mile was a lot of work trying to avoid getting stuck behind slow packs.

I was feeling great and I just headed off. It was shorts and t-shirt weather and I was wearing racing flats, and I just felt light and fast. Couldn't hold myself in check even if I wanted to. I really pushed hard for the first 3 miles or so and then tried to relax into a good pace. This was partly due to catching up with my friend Jenn at about 3 miles. She's really fast and I passed her going pretty quickly and that worried me. So I just thought about having good form for as long as I could, until running started to feel really hard again at like mile 9. soon thereafter Jenn passed me cruising like she was out for a cool down jog, and I tried to keep up with her for a little bit and really just hold on and not fall off the wagon for the last 3 miles. I knew that there was a hill at mile 12, and when I got there it hurt just as much as advertised. I just finished reading Running with the Buffaloes and in that book they describe rolling up hills... that's how I tried to do this hill, but it felt pretty awful. At the top you make a turn at a KFC restaurant and the smell of the fryer oil almost made me throw up, but the race was almost over at that point. The finishing kick got me through in one second under 80 minutes (measured by my watch) official time has me at 80:27.

Sam also beat her goal time.

splits
1) 6:10
2) 5:47
3) 5:54
4) 6:11
5) missed this marker (5:52)?
6) 11:44 for 5 and 6 (5:52)?
7) 5:58
8) 6:06
9) 6:23
10) 6:05
11) 6:12
12) 6:22
13.1)7:01
total = 1:19:59

C • Very nice run! 8

I needed to take some blood samples at noon today for an experiment at work, so I ran to work. It is so very nice to run without a backpack. I was trying to push harder than my normal run, and I only estimate my for these commutes anyways. There seem to be an awful lot of stoplights that I have to wait for. But I could tell that I was running faster than 8 minutes a mile.

running home from lab. really nice day so I decided to make a detour trip to hammond pond park to see if I could locate a night-o control that I lost out in the woods a few months back. The snow had made it impossible to find when I got around to picking up the controls, but when I went back today I still couldn't find it anywhere. So if anyone finds the CSU night-o dowel "O" lemme know. I guess I'll go back some night and see if I can find anything reflective in the area. My guess is that it has been munched on by wildlife or discovered by other passing humans.

now I need to rest up for running the new bedford half marathon tomorrow.

C • Half Marathon Resting 2

running to work today was cold. I really wanted to wear shorts because it should just be shorts weather in my mind. It wasn't quite, but I survived the run with the help of hat and gloves.

After work I went to see Watchmen, which although is very long and extremely violent is still a great movie in my estimation. Now I have to go back and read the graphic novel.

Didn't run today, but I made my first foray into the Boston music scene. I went to watch a band in a tiny little club, the Lizard Lounge, in Cambridge. The drummer is my friend's brother, and I had heard great things about their music. However, they weren't playing until 11 which meant that I only got to hear a few songs before I headed out to make the last T home. I did get to hear the couple of bands that played beforehand and, more importantly, I got to marvel and the sheer audacity of the plaid wearing, beard sporting, tight jean wearing hipsters.

running home from work. Being light out at night is certainly novel and nice. I was feeling lazy and planning on just grabbing the shuttle but as I looked outside it seemed too nice to miss a run.

glad that I decided to run after all

For CSU training, people were meeting at Lori's place. Running from Longwood to Harvard Square on a nice evening.

running to and from the track with the crew. headed out to the Harvard Stadium and then back along the river for a bit before heading back to Lori's. really nice to run in a group.

I wanted to do a time trial, after the one a couple of weeks ago I decided that I really would like to run a 5 minute mile again. The 5 minute mark is a mentally desirable goal because it's a nice round number. So I was hoping to run 75 second splits. I went out way too fast because i just felt good and when I came through the 200 at 33 seconds I realized a) I was going to fast, and b) it was going to be hard to run 5:00 now. So I tried to ease off the correct amount.

splits were
72
80
79
76
for a 5:07. I was pretty happy with this considering how far off I was at the beginning. Also it matches what Eric ran in the Time Trial posted in February, keeping up with Eric Bone is a very good thing for me

Daylight Savings Time and the snowy weather helped me decide to skip my run to work. Dark and overcast means that staying in bed looks even more appealing.