Weekly Training for 02/25/08 - 03/02/08- Total: ~ 83 miles.

Miles increased a bit this week and thankfully no race. Had a decent workout on Wed (not terribly hard, but cold and windy)...I did cheeze out on a double on Sunday because my legs were killing me from Saturday's late long run. Now on to Arizona middle of this week for the remainder of my pre-New Bedford training at altitude. I'll post some daily logs and pix as time permits...

Monday - 6:00pm - (1:08.19) - medium - 9.5 miles - Andover, N. Andover (roads) with Jon Healey.
Tuesday - 3:00pm - (1:15.14) - medium - 11 miles - Salem NH (roads) solo.
Wednesday - 5:30pm - 20min w/up + 5 x 1200 meters as 400 slightly uphill and 800 slightly down with 400 jog rest + 20min c/dwn. - total 10.
Thursday - 3:30pm - 1:07.24 - (9.5 miles) - Andover (roads) - w/ Matt Pimentel.
Friday - 12:30pm - 43:56 - (6.5 miles) - medium - Salem, Methuen (roads) - solo. 6:00pm - 75min (10 miles) - Andover (roads) w/ Jon Healey and Matt Pimentel.
Saturday - 4:00pm - 2:02 - (17 miles) - medium - Andover, N. Andover (roads) - Jon Healey .
Sunday - 10:30am - 72 min (9.5 miles) - easy - Salem, Methuen, Lawrence (roads) - solo down to Claddagh 4 miler - watched race, then cooldown w/ Matt Pimentel and Linsey Cohen.

Approx. mileage for the week....~ 83 miles

Sunday saw probably my last indoor race of the 2007-2008 season, when I ran the 5000 Meters at the USATF-New England Indoor Track Championships (results) at Harvard. It was my 3rd 5k attempt this year and I kinda went out with a fizzle. I felt ok through the first mile (4:50), then fell asleep during mile 2, and tried to salvage during mile 3. I got the splits from Fernando, but they are too depressing to write about... 15:21.19 officially but that was also a mistake. It was closer to 15:30 flat. No clue where they got 15:21 from. What is interesting is that they got all the places correct, and the times do correspond to the runners directly in front and behind me, so there was a clock issue for sure.

Jon Healey decided to also join me in the fun and run the 5k. All photos as usual by the lovely, talented, and extraordinarily gorgeous Kristin. Appologies for not getting everyone's races on film, but we had to run after the Men's mile heats...

Other Striders braving the competition included:

Men:

5000 Meters: [photos from our heat]

James Johnson 15:21.19
Jon Healey 15:46.36

Mile: [photos from this heat]
Alex Gomes 4:41.39
John Lawrence 4:42.40
Chris Lawrence 4:49.69
Sean Ouelette 4:51.69

Janos Mako 5:12.66 [photos from Janos' heat]

800 Meters:

Jordan Hoofnagle 2:13.01

Women:

Mile:

Julie Hanover 5:42.23 [photos from Julie's heat]
Linda Jennings 6:51.18 ( First Senior) [photos from Linda's heat]

800 Meters:

Ann Kingsland 2:46.30

400 Meters:

Julie Hanover 1:10.11

Weekly Training for 02/18/08 - 02/24/08- Total: ~ 60 miles (6 days).

This week's volume was lower due to the fact I missed Friday's run. It was probably for the best. It snowed all day, I got slammed with work, and it was either treadmill or nothing. I opted for nothing, having run slightly harder than I should have on Thursday's run. Running 10 miles on the treadmill would have most likely done more harm than good anyways. I ended my attempts at recording a fast 5k in the 2008 indoor season by running in this weekend's USATF-NE Indoor Track Championships at Harvard. Another stinkfest that you can read all about when I get to posting the pictures... That to follow...probably tomorrow.

Monday - 5:45pm - (90 min) - medium - 12.3 miles - Andover, N. Andover (roads) with Jon Healey and the Lama.
Tuesday - 12:00pm - Massage - 4:30pm - (51 min) (6.7 miles) - easy - Haverhill (roads) with the Lama.
Wednesday - 12:00pm - 42:15 - (5.5 miles) - easy - Salem NH (roads) with Judge Jones. - 5:30pm - 3 mile w/up + 8x800 at River Rd. in Lawrence (slight hills) - as 4 sets of 800 up @ 2:40 then 800 down - 2:35 (windy) + 4 min on @ 2:30 pace + 2 mile cooldown w/ Jon Healey. (10 miles). Cramped up on the 4 min. Other than that, I felt ok for a change.
Thursday - 4:00pm - 1:11 (10.6 miles) - moderate - Salem NH (roads) - solo.
Friday - zilch, zero, nada, nothing, nill, zip, jack, goose egg. Snow was piling up and Matt wouldn't let me use his treadmill.
Saturday - 1:00pm - 50 min (7.1 miles) - easy - Andover, N. Andover - with Matt Pimentel, Jon Healey.
Sunday - 10:20am - 20 min w/up + 5k race + 20 min c/dwn.

Approx. mileage for the week....~ 60 (6 days).

Quote: ""Losers always whine about “their best.” Winners go home and ___ the Prom Queen." - Sean Connery

Weekly Training for 02/11/08 - 02/17/08- Total: ~ 73 miles.

This week was so so. My legs feel pretty horrible as of Sunday night. I know I am in need of another massage for sure. I ended the week by doing my long run workout at the Foxboro Old Fashioned 10 Miler [results][video of start and finish] on Sunday. It was my first 10 mile race and it went as I expected....pretty mediocre. The hilly course, combined with what felt like a constant headwind, and my beatup legs led to a mediocre time that was far from my goal time for 2008 for a 10 miler (55:40 - 5:34 pace). I'm glad I did it however...now I have some idea of what 10 milers and eventually half marathons are going to feel like. The more experience I get at these longer distances the better it will be for me for sure...It's just going to take some time. MVS RT member Dan Vassallo ran a very solid race for 7th overall. Dan was actually leading the race around the halfway point but has been struggling with some tightness and foot discomfort. A very impressive effort for Dan regardless as he ran 53:51 (5:23 pace). He also spotted me 25 beans for the race entry after I showed up all the way down there without my wallet. Thanks Dan!

10 Mile Splits:

5:31. -
5.31 (11:03)
5:19 (16:22)
5:25 (21:47)
5:25 (27:13)
5:32 (32:45)
5:41 (38:27)
5:54 (44:21)
5:39 (50:01)
5:38 (55:40) - 5:34 pace

Monday - 4:00pm (75 min) - easy - 10 miles - Haverhill with the Lama.
Tuesday - 6:30pm - 20 min easy + 18x 60 sec. on / 60 sec. off @ slightly faster than 5k pace + 15 min easy (tot. 70 min) (10.5 miles). Freezing cold and felt pretty crappy.
Wednesday - 5:00pm - 10 miles easy (75 min) - Methuen, Salem (roads) - solo. Icey, cold, wet, miserable.
Thursday - 12:00pm (8.5 miles) - 60 min - Newton (treadmill) solo (would be scary if it was with people)...
Friday - 5:30pm - (75 minutes) - 10.5 miles - Andover, N. Andover (roads) with Jon Healey.
Saturday - 4pm - (65 minutes) - 8.5 miles - Andover, N. Andover (roads) w/ the Lama. Feel like garbage.
Sunday - 10am - 3 mile w/up w/ Dan Vassallo + 10 mile race + 2 mile cooldown w/ Dan Vassallo - Total: 15.

Approx. mileage for the week....73.

Quote: "The best thing about being seen as the nicest guy in Hollywood is that no one searches my backyard for bodies." - Tom Hanks.

Weekly Training for 02/04/08 - 02/10/08- Total: ~ 67 miles.

Mileage went down quite a bit this week and I think I needed it. Passed on the crowded 5k on the track Saturday night and ran Bradford 5 miler again instead. Good solid effort from these old bones I think. Considering the shape I thought I was in, I was fairly happy w/ the results. I'm sure I could have continued on that pace for a 10k distance at least, and because of the hills, I think the effort was even better than that. Feel pretty strong this week. 2 weeks more of training before my last attempt of the year at the 5k distance indoors.

Monday - 6:00pm (75 min) - easy - 9.5 miles - Andover, N. Andover w/ Jon Healey, Molly Taber.
Tuesday - 3:30pm (75 min) - easy - 10.5 miles - Salem, Methuen, Pelham - solo.
Wednesday - 5:30pm - workout - Lawrence - 25 min w/up + 12x 60 second hills at 5k pace (with 1:30 back down) + 20 min c/dwn. - Total: 11+ miles
Thursday - 4:30pm (65 min) - 9 miles - easy - Salem, Methuen (roads) - solo.
Friday - 6.5mile loop - medium - Salem, Methuen (roads) - solo. Snowing the whole time.
Saturday - 25 min w/up + Race - Bradford Valentine 5Miler + 15 min c/down - Total: 10.5 miles.
Sunday - 4:30pm - 65 min slow (50 w/ Molly Taber - 15 w/ myself) (9 miles) - Haverhill.

Approx. mileage for the week....67.

Photo - 1980 throwback of me getting ready for my first 'long run' of the 80s.

Quote: "FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh: You ever hear of King George the III? .....
FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh: He was King of England when America declared independence in 1776. King George the III kept a diary. On July 4th he made an entry in it: "Nothing important happened today"
Special Agent John Doggett: What the hell does that got to do with me?
FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh: A revolution started, things that changed the world forever, and even kings can miss them if they are not paying attention." - X Files - Episode #9.02, "Nothing Important Happened Today II",

Today I decided to pass on the Valentine Invite at BU and run the Bradford Valentine Road Race (results) instead. This last minute decision stems from their being 140 posted entries in the men's 5k at BU and the first heat not scheduled to start until 8:25pm. Though it would have been nice to get on Flotrack in the 5th or 6th heat of the 5k, I opted out due to the fact I haven't been feeling 100% over the past 2 weeks and racing at 9:30pm indoors in a hot building didn't seem to fit my m.o. at this point. I may try one last 5k indoors in 2 weeks at the USATF NE Championships at Harvard.

In today's race, I actually felt ok despite the conditions and hilly course. Bradford isn't terribly fast, in fact as if the hills are bad enough, miles 2-4 were completely slush (which didn't treat my flats too kindly). I have a feeling that that particular road stretching over those 2 miles hadn't seen a snow plow and instead was just sanded to melt any ice that would have formed. Regardless, it was a mess. I ran behind Whirlaway's Chris Mahoney and SISU's Matt Germaine for the first 3 miles, then made a move up the last set of hills to pull right behind Chris for the last mile. We ran together and basically finished together, with neither one of us really kicking it in. I put forth zero kick and instead settled for a nice workout in 26:22 for the 5.07 (note the .07 :) ) miles and 2nd place by 1 second.

These photos by Ted Tyler from Coolrunning

The entire photo set can be viewed here.

Weekly Training for 01/28/08 - 02/03/08- Total: ~ 95 miles.

Mileage increase this week...Having an on again/off again feeling like I may be coming down with something...trying to stay healthy while everyone around me is sick... Horrible workout on Wednesday and legs are feeling slightly beat up this week.

Monday - 6:30pm (78 minutes)(10.5 miles) - Andover, N.Andover (roads) with Matt Pimentel, Molly Taber.
Tuesday - 12:30pm - (59:20)(9 miles) - Salem, Methuen, Pelham (roads) - 6:00pm - (60min)(8 miles) - Andover (indoor track) first 20min w/ Ann Kingsland last 40 with Judge Jones.
Wednesday- 10am - 45min easy (6 miles) - 5:30pm - 25 min w/up - 5x1200m hills as 800m up (2:35) / 400m down (72-74s) with 400m jog in between (was supposed to be 70 down) - 18 min c/down - River Rd. in Lawrence. Solo. It was windy and I felt like absolute crap. - 10.5m total.
Thursday - 6pm - (75 minutes) (10 miles) - Andover, N. Andover (roads) with Jon Healey.
Friday - 6pm - (12 miles)(1:22:15) - Salem, Methuen (roads) solo. Wet, dark, and slippery.
Saturday - 4:30pm - (11 miles)(1:14:30) - Salem, Methuen (roads) solo.
Sunday- 3:30pm - 18 miles (2:02:59) - steady. - Salem, Methuen, Pelham (roads) solo.

Approx. mileage for the week....95.

Quote: "If you don't set goals, you can't regret not reaching them." - Yogi Berra

Photo: Throwback - 1996 - Love those Umbros...

Weekly Training for 01/21/08 - 01/27/08- Total: ~ 60 miles.

Lower mileage week during this training cycle leading up to the 5k at Terrier. I almost didn't even want to blog it because my mileage went down so much...but after this week, I will have an off week as far as racing goes, and the mileage will go back up even higher. Looking forward to that for sure. I detest these lower mileage weeks but they are necessary (listen to your coach!). The week ended on a good note with my 2nd generation PR in the 5k. Now on to the serious mileage....

Monday - 6:30pm (60 minutes) - 8.8 miles (thanks for figuring this out Jon)... Andover, N.Andover (roads) with Jon Healey.
Tuesday - 4:30pm - workout - warmup 2 miles + progression run on delivery road in Methuen. 440 at 5k pace - with 3 min jog then  8 - x 2:30 min  progression as:
                      1 min - estimate 5k pace |  1 min - estimate tad faster than 5k pace |  30 sec - estimate 95% - rhythm (Rest:  jog 90 sec between each interval). + cooldown 2 miles - solo. Total - 9+
Wednesday - 5:45pm - 60 minutes (8 miles) at River Rd. in Lawrence with Molly Taber, Jon Healey, Judge Jones.
Thursday - 3:30pm - 45 minutes (6 miles) at Merrimack College - Andover, N. Andover with Molly Taber, Matt Pimentel, Crystal Sineath.
Friday - 2:30pm - 45 minutes (6.5 miles) - Salem, Methuen (roads) - solo.
Saturday - 6:30pm - 3 mile warmup + Race - 5k + 1 mile cooldown - Total 7 miles.
Sunday - 5:30pm - 1:23:11 (12 miles) - Haverhill (roads) with Molly Taber.

Approx. mileage for the week....60.

Going along the lines of everyone else's blog entries with 'quotes of the week/day/month, etc', I will begin to offer mine...starting with one of my favorites that holds true to my own personal life and my renewed passion for running...

"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." - Warren Miller