Most of you use recovery runs to recover from a hard effort, or from a long run.....but after the events of yesterday, my needs were more of the mental/emotional/spiritual kind. My spirit was crushed yesterday, and desperately needed to be restored.
As many of you already know, I started this blog in an effort to chronicle my training for the 2012 Boston Marathon. I, like many others, will never qualify to run in my hometown marathon, but I was fortunate enough to be invited to be a part of a charity team (Melanoma Foundation of New England), so I guess you could say I snuck in through the back door. There are those out there who look down on the charity runners, never taking into account the hard work we do to both train for the race AND reach the fundraising goals set by the BAA. I'll never understand ANYONE who looks down on anyone else who runs a marathon, but people get a little nutty about Boston. After all, it's probably on everyone's "bucket list" and seeing people run the race who didn't make a qualifying time.......but considering the fact that the charity runners don't take away spots held for those who actually qualify on time, I can't understand the enmity. Considering the amounts raised for the various worthwhile charities who partner with the BAA, I can't see any negatives, but there are always going to be those who seek to diminish any of us who don't fit their preconceived profile/image of what a Boston runner should be.....
Naturally, I'd like to think that those people will keep their opinions to themselves now......
Barb, Ben and I made our way into the city to cheer on the runners at the beginning of the Newton hills...just past the fire station where you turn off of Route 16 and onto Commonwealth Avenue. Those of you who've run Boston know that the marathon truly begins on those hills.....the 17+ miles before those hills are just an extended warmup. We got down there early enough to see all the elites come by.....WOW. They just seem to float by.......their amazing form hiding the effort. Got a great shot of the woman from Portugal who was leading at the time. After the elites, we stayed to cheer on all the runners that followed. It was fascinating watching all the runners go by.......some of them seriously concentrating on the hills, while others were just enjoying being part of the most incredible parade in the world! It was also interesting to watch the form of the runners change as the runners from Wave 1 gave way to those from Wave 2.....and then Wave 3. Finally, my buddy Jose found me for a sweaty hug, and our day as spectators was done...
I left totally inspired to run......and a little bittersweet for not being a part of the parade.
We then went to lunch (at the always terrific Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown, MA) and then headed home.
I was driving west on the Mass Pike and noticed rather quickly that there seemed to be an unusually large number of State Police cars streaming into the city, lights blazing. I remarked to Barb that "something is wrong".........how unfortunately right I was.
I can't even begin to put words to how I feel.......all I can say is that I'm so glad that none of my friends who were running were hurt....none of their family or friends were hurt, either, but clearly my city and our marathon will never be quite the same. I don't know what to tell my son......he wasn't around for 9/11, but we've talked through that before. Barb and I were newlyweds....only married for about 6 weeks at the time, and having to confront the randomness. This is different.....the scale is obviously smaller, but it's OUR city......and the first bomb went off not far from where Barb and Ben were cheering for me when I was crying my eyes out as I was finishing the Marathon last year.
So this morning, I set out to run.....to clear my head.....to find or make some meaning of everything. I knew that 2.62 wasn't going to be enough for me, so I intended to double it and go for 5.24 instead. It was such a beautiful day here today.......seasonably warm....clear skies........perfect for running. And while my running usually serves the purpose of providing me with much-needed clarity, I sit here now, hours later, no clearer about anything that I was previously. I've read so many blogs already, and everyone is expressing their shock, sorrow, sadness, and confusion.
I have resolve.
I will never be able to run fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon, but I am determined to toe the line in Hopkinton next April......if for nothing more than to thumb my nose at those behind this cowardly attack. They will not stop us, and they will not stop me. I raised the money in 2012 and I will do it again. To honor those who lost their lives.......to honor those who were injured.....to honor the first responders who turned towards the carnage and confusion when others would turn away.....that the determination to run a marathon cannot be defeated.
As you all know, I've been dealing with a nagging injury this year. 2013 has not unfolded the way I had hoped it would, but I'm not going to let it stop me. I have a marathon to run in 6 weeks that I am clearly not going to be fully or completely prepared for, but I'm going to do it anyway. I'm going to persevere, because THAT'S WHAT BOSTONIANS DO!!!!!!! We will continue.....we will not be defeated......we will not cower......we will not be afraid........we will go on and we will rise again!
Boston 2014 will be a celebration of the human spirit......a celebration of the City of Boston......a celebration of all that is good and right with humanity........a celebration of runners and running........and the best damn parade around.
I'm going to do all I can to be out there next year......to feel that rush of emotions as I make that left turn onto Boylston Street........and there will be tears in my eyes again. I've cried a lot over the last 24 hours......cried at the sight of the devastation......cried at the sight of the victims.........cried at yet another cherished civic tradition ruined by the actions of cowards......cried at another loss of our collective innocence and sense of security....well, I'm tired of crying. The only action I can take is to take part.......my tears will be saved for the realization of a dream.
See you on Boylston Street next April!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
No More Drama!
Ok....with apologies to Miss Mary J. Blige.........but that's the way I feel right now!
This has truly been the winter of my discontent..........a year ago, I was focused and determined, with the Boston Marathon looming just a few weeks ahead. Following a winter nearly devoid of snow, my training was rolling right along. I was healthy....and excited to complete the journey ahead of me. The joint focus of getting my mileage in AND raising the required amount of money for my charity....well, that's how this blog got started in the first place! Needless to say, that ridiculously hot April morning was the adventure of a lifetime, and I still get choked up when I remember the feeling of making that final turn off of Hereford Street onto Boylston Street and seeing that famous finishing straight spread out before me.
Now it's a year later and it seems as if none of that ever happened.
First off, this has been an epically (is that even a word? I don't know...nor care! LOL) crappy winter.....snow storm after snow storm......yuck! Last winter....well, last winter WASN'T.....only one measurable snow storm, and that was very early on. I'm a warm weather creature, so it allowed me to easily train for Boston without having to resort to the dreadmill.
A year ago, I was soooooooooo focused. My training was going great, and I had the secondary focus of raising all the necessary funds for my charity. Those concurrent efforts led directly to this blog, also giving me A LOT of source material to use for posting. This winter, I'm injured, off my training program for my upcoming marathon, and finding it REALLY difficult to write. Blech!
I went to my podiatrist last Monday......he's a runner himself, so he understands that "just don't run on it anymore" is NOT AN OPTION for how to deal with my heel pain. After examining my foot, he determined it to be a touch of bursitis. He taped up my foot with a couple of pads in different areas and told me I could get right back to running again, but I couldn't get the tape wet until I came back to see him in a week (which is now tomorrow afternoon). That meant that I couldn't realistically shower all week.......how fun was it to take a bath, all while keeping that foot out of the tub? It SUCKED!!!! But I managed. I still didn't really run all week....longest run was 6 miles this afternoon.......but I was able to run without pain, so perhaps it's getting better. I am definitely looking forward to going to see him again to work up a treatment plan for the future, as I know he's going to help me address the underlying issues that caused the injury in the first place.
That said, I've got my next marathon coming up on May 26th. Is it realistic for me to even consider the possibility of shooting for another PR when I've lost the last 3 weeks of training? There's no doubt that I can finish another marathon......I know what it takes to get there, but I don't want to just finish.....so maybe this is a blessing in disguise? Maybe I'll hit the starting line undertrained and fresh, relaxed, and with NO REAL EXPECTATIONS.
Ok.......now I feel better! LOL
I'm going to go to bed hopeful tonight......hopeful that I'll be able to get back on track with my training, get my shit together over the next 2 months, and have another great marathon experience.
At the very least, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have some more to blog about over the next few weeks.....starting tomorrow afternoon!
Rock on, readers......the Diesel will be back out there chasing his dreams......slowly......but steadily!
See you all out there down the road.......
This has truly been the winter of my discontent..........a year ago, I was focused and determined, with the Boston Marathon looming just a few weeks ahead. Following a winter nearly devoid of snow, my training was rolling right along. I was healthy....and excited to complete the journey ahead of me. The joint focus of getting my mileage in AND raising the required amount of money for my charity....well, that's how this blog got started in the first place! Needless to say, that ridiculously hot April morning was the adventure of a lifetime, and I still get choked up when I remember the feeling of making that final turn off of Hereford Street onto Boylston Street and seeing that famous finishing straight spread out before me.
Now it's a year later and it seems as if none of that ever happened.
First off, this has been an epically (is that even a word? I don't know...nor care! LOL) crappy winter.....snow storm after snow storm......yuck! Last winter....well, last winter WASN'T.....only one measurable snow storm, and that was very early on. I'm a warm weather creature, so it allowed me to easily train for Boston without having to resort to the dreadmill.
A year ago, I was soooooooooo focused. My training was going great, and I had the secondary focus of raising all the necessary funds for my charity. Those concurrent efforts led directly to this blog, also giving me A LOT of source material to use for posting. This winter, I'm injured, off my training program for my upcoming marathon, and finding it REALLY difficult to write. Blech!
I went to my podiatrist last Monday......he's a runner himself, so he understands that "just don't run on it anymore" is NOT AN OPTION for how to deal with my heel pain. After examining my foot, he determined it to be a touch of bursitis. He taped up my foot with a couple of pads in different areas and told me I could get right back to running again, but I couldn't get the tape wet until I came back to see him in a week (which is now tomorrow afternoon). That meant that I couldn't realistically shower all week.......how fun was it to take a bath, all while keeping that foot out of the tub? It SUCKED!!!! But I managed. I still didn't really run all week....longest run was 6 miles this afternoon.......but I was able to run without pain, so perhaps it's getting better. I am definitely looking forward to going to see him again to work up a treatment plan for the future, as I know he's going to help me address the underlying issues that caused the injury in the first place.
That said, I've got my next marathon coming up on May 26th. Is it realistic for me to even consider the possibility of shooting for another PR when I've lost the last 3 weeks of training? There's no doubt that I can finish another marathon......I know what it takes to get there, but I don't want to just finish.....so maybe this is a blessing in disguise? Maybe I'll hit the starting line undertrained and fresh, relaxed, and with NO REAL EXPECTATIONS.
Ok.......now I feel better! LOL
I'm going to go to bed hopeful tonight......hopeful that I'll be able to get back on track with my training, get my shit together over the next 2 months, and have another great marathon experience.
At the very least, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have some more to blog about over the next few weeks.....starting tomorrow afternoon!
Rock on, readers......the Diesel will be back out there chasing his dreams......slowly......but steadily!
See you all out there down the road.......
Friday, March 15, 2013
A tough, but necessary decision = heartbreak
After some very difficult soul searching, I reached a very tough decision this afternoon. The pain I've been feeling in my right heel for several weeks hasn't gone away....if anything, it's gotten worse. I've tried resting it.....taking several days off when my marathon training schedule has me running. I've been using ice......stretching.....doing everything I can think of..........hoping it would get better.
But it hasn't.....
I'm supposed to run the New Bedford Half Marathon this coming Sunday morning, but I'm not going to be toeing the line. In the interest of trying to make it to the line in Burlington, VT for the Keybank Vermont City Marathon over Memorial Day weekend, I'm going to skip New Bedford and completely shut down my running. As soon as possible, I'm going to go to a podiatrist and have the medical profession take a look at whatever is going on with my right heel.
I'm not going to lie.......this decision is breaking my heart. It's not so much the DNS that bothers me, although the only other time I had a DNS was when I was late leaving the house for a race last summer, and this is clearly a physically-related DNS. What bothers me so much is that I had to admit that I'm injured and need some medical attention. Not so much that it implies weakness, but just that it wasn't something I felt I could just "tough out" and work through without potentially causing more serious injury.
And as long as I'm being honest, I might as well admit that I haven't been blogging about my running because 2013 hasn't been a lot of fun yet. My running has been suffering due to this injury, and it's left me a bit dispirited. I find it very difficult to blog when I just don't have anything positive or inspirational to say.
My hope is that the podiatrist will be able to quickly determine the problem and have a solution that will get me back out on the road very soon. Naturally, the flip side of that is what I'm most afraid of.....that he'll come back and tell me that it's a more serious problem that will drastically curtail my running. After talking it over with my wife, she helped me to realize and admit that knowing is better than not knowing, even if it's bad news. Either way, I'll be able to move forward and get this thing dealt with.
Life has a funny way of jumbling your plans......and I'm now facing a roadblock. I'm hopeful that it's only temporary, and that I'll be back out there soon enough. If it isn't, I'll still move forward. I may be slowed down, but you can't stop The Diesel.......and I've got an appointment with marathon #4!!!
But it hasn't.....
I'm supposed to run the New Bedford Half Marathon this coming Sunday morning, but I'm not going to be toeing the line. In the interest of trying to make it to the line in Burlington, VT for the Keybank Vermont City Marathon over Memorial Day weekend, I'm going to skip New Bedford and completely shut down my running. As soon as possible, I'm going to go to a podiatrist and have the medical profession take a look at whatever is going on with my right heel.
I'm not going to lie.......this decision is breaking my heart. It's not so much the DNS that bothers me, although the only other time I had a DNS was when I was late leaving the house for a race last summer, and this is clearly a physically-related DNS. What bothers me so much is that I had to admit that I'm injured and need some medical attention. Not so much that it implies weakness, but just that it wasn't something I felt I could just "tough out" and work through without potentially causing more serious injury.
And as long as I'm being honest, I might as well admit that I haven't been blogging about my running because 2013 hasn't been a lot of fun yet. My running has been suffering due to this injury, and it's left me a bit dispirited. I find it very difficult to blog when I just don't have anything positive or inspirational to say.
My hope is that the podiatrist will be able to quickly determine the problem and have a solution that will get me back out on the road very soon. Naturally, the flip side of that is what I'm most afraid of.....that he'll come back and tell me that it's a more serious problem that will drastically curtail my running. After talking it over with my wife, she helped me to realize and admit that knowing is better than not knowing, even if it's bad news. Either way, I'll be able to move forward and get this thing dealt with.
Life has a funny way of jumbling your plans......and I'm now facing a roadblock. I'm hopeful that it's only temporary, and that I'll be back out there soon enough. If it isn't, I'll still move forward. I may be slowed down, but you can't stop The Diesel.......and I've got an appointment with marathon #4!!!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Marathon training?
so it's been nearly a month since I last blogged.......so much for getting back to it in the new year. I've never really been one to make "resolutions", but I am goal-driven, so this represents a small "fail".....nothing I can't recover from, but I'm going to have to do a better job. So as I sit here, enjoying my February vacation, still lounging about in my pajamas, slurping down my 3rd cup of coffee on this lazy Tuesday morning, I'm contemplating just what I want to do today.
The reason I've put a question mark in the title is because it really doesn't feel as if I'm in training for my 4th marathon. As I mentioned a while back, I'm trying the Hanson's Marathon Method training plan (beginner) for this one, having previously gone with the Higdon plan. Currently, I'm at the beginning of Week 5 of 18.....and the way the plan is structured, the "fun" doesn't even begin until Week 6. The first 5 weeks consist of easy runs....ending with a long run of just 6 miles. As I've been struggling with health/injury issues, my weekly mileage totals have been all over the place so far:
Week Plan Actual
1 10 16
2 15 4
3 21 8
4 21 18
I've previously mentioned that I've been dealing with some heel pain, so I've been working on stretching my right foot often, but over the past 10 days or so, I've been icing that bad boy down and it's REALLY helped a lot. As a teacher, I'm on my feet all day long, so any foot-related issues tend to get magnified, but I feel like I've turned a corner this week and things are going to get better from here on out.
After one more easy week this week, the Hanson's plan kicks into gear in Week 6 with the introduction of speedwork and a tempo run, as well as an increase in weekly mileage. I'm thankful that I've carried a solid base forward from last year, but I know I'm going to have to be very careful as things get harder. I know from previous experience that the training buildup will be difficult, but my goal is to make it to the starting line in Burlington, VT in one piece. Getting injured is NOT part of my plan, so if I come in a little undertrained, I'll take it.
My next race is coming up in 3 1/2 weeks (New Bedford Half Marathon) and I've got a few friends who are also running that one, so it'll be fun to see them out there. For me, it's a training run and a "check-in" to see how my training is progressing, so I'm not trying for a PR. Having run it once before (2009 - 2:04), I know what to expect from the course, so I think 2:10 is a realistic goal. Of course, I know all too well that the day will bring what the day will bring, so I'll just wait and see.
So today, it's not snowing.......and the rain isn't supposed to start until later this afternoon, and with the temps currently around 40 (with 10+mph winds...feels like 33), I'm thinking I might actually lace 'em up and head out for an easy 5 miles........sounds like a plan. Time for this diesel to get moving!
See you all out there on the road!
The reason I've put a question mark in the title is because it really doesn't feel as if I'm in training for my 4th marathon. As I mentioned a while back, I'm trying the Hanson's Marathon Method training plan (beginner) for this one, having previously gone with the Higdon plan. Currently, I'm at the beginning of Week 5 of 18.....and the way the plan is structured, the "fun" doesn't even begin until Week 6. The first 5 weeks consist of easy runs....ending with a long run of just 6 miles. As I've been struggling with health/injury issues, my weekly mileage totals have been all over the place so far:
Week Plan Actual
1 10 16
2 15 4
3 21 8
4 21 18
I've previously mentioned that I've been dealing with some heel pain, so I've been working on stretching my right foot often, but over the past 10 days or so, I've been icing that bad boy down and it's REALLY helped a lot. As a teacher, I'm on my feet all day long, so any foot-related issues tend to get magnified, but I feel like I've turned a corner this week and things are going to get better from here on out.
After one more easy week this week, the Hanson's plan kicks into gear in Week 6 with the introduction of speedwork and a tempo run, as well as an increase in weekly mileage. I'm thankful that I've carried a solid base forward from last year, but I know I'm going to have to be very careful as things get harder. I know from previous experience that the training buildup will be difficult, but my goal is to make it to the starting line in Burlington, VT in one piece. Getting injured is NOT part of my plan, so if I come in a little undertrained, I'll take it.
My next race is coming up in 3 1/2 weeks (New Bedford Half Marathon) and I've got a few friends who are also running that one, so it'll be fun to see them out there. For me, it's a training run and a "check-in" to see how my training is progressing, so I'm not trying for a PR. Having run it once before (2009 - 2:04), I know what to expect from the course, so I think 2:10 is a realistic goal. Of course, I know all too well that the day will bring what the day will bring, so I'll just wait and see.
So today, it's not snowing.......and the rain isn't supposed to start until later this afternoon, and with the temps currently around 40 (with 10+mph winds...feels like 33), I'm thinking I might actually lace 'em up and head out for an easy 5 miles........sounds like a plan. Time for this diesel to get moving!
See you all out there on the road!
Monday, January 21, 2013
A new beginning.....again!
So the 18-week training cycle leading up to my next marathon begins tomorrow.........and once again, those early doubts start creeping in once again. As I've been dealing with some nasty little PF issues in my right heel, I'm a little concerned when I look ahead to the increase in both the frequency and distance of training runs. I'm not really sure what's brought it on.......although I'm pretty sure the weight I've put on since my last marathon (back in October) is a contributing factor. The weight will come off gradually as I start to train, but any type of pain is always somewhat problematic. Thankfully, the Hanson plan starts off with a few easy weeks before really ramping things up, so I'm going to do everything I can to stretch out my right foot every day.
I've been doing almost all of my runs lately on the dreadmill, and while it's terribly boring, I'd rather run indoors than not at all. When I'm not on a training plan, I can freely admit to be not as motivated as I am when on a plan, so I find myself not so inclined to run outside during the winter. Our winter here in New England has been pretty mild so far, but my hypothyroidism leaves me extra sensitive to cold, particularly in my hands. Given the choice, I tend to choose the indoor route. Some would say that makes me a "wimp"....ok, call me what you want....I hate it when runners denigrate other runners. While our "community" can be tremendously supportive (particularly those who read and write blogs!), there are plenty of those out there who like to look down on others who aren't as fast/skinny/tough as they are. I'm a big man who only started running in my late 40's after deciding to fight my way out of a lifetime of obesity. I'll never be as skinny or as fast as others, but I've run 3 marathons (including the 2012 Boston Marathon), so I'll take anyone on who claims I'm lacking in toughness simply because I choose to occasionally run indoors on a day when others would run outdoors. "Judge not, lest ye be judged"......
I'm hoping to PR in May, so I've got a long, hard road ahead of me. This training program is more qualitative than quantitative in nature, and that's going to be a big change from the way I've trained previously. Adding in speedwork......OMG, I'm going to be doing SPEEDWORK? Of course, you'll be able to time my repeats with a sundial, but you'd better believe I'll be doing them!
All that said, NOW I'll have every reason I need to blog regularly.....as the schedule kicks in, I know I'll be having LOTS to share. I've been saying for a long time that I've been needing to start blogging again, so FINALLY, I think I can put that all to rest.
The schedule begins tomorrow........the end point is on May 26th in Burlington, Vermont.
Wish me luck........and I'll see you all down the road!
I've been doing almost all of my runs lately on the dreadmill, and while it's terribly boring, I'd rather run indoors than not at all. When I'm not on a training plan, I can freely admit to be not as motivated as I am when on a plan, so I find myself not so inclined to run outside during the winter. Our winter here in New England has been pretty mild so far, but my hypothyroidism leaves me extra sensitive to cold, particularly in my hands. Given the choice, I tend to choose the indoor route. Some would say that makes me a "wimp"....ok, call me what you want....I hate it when runners denigrate other runners. While our "community" can be tremendously supportive (particularly those who read and write blogs!), there are plenty of those out there who like to look down on others who aren't as fast/skinny/tough as they are. I'm a big man who only started running in my late 40's after deciding to fight my way out of a lifetime of obesity. I'll never be as skinny or as fast as others, but I've run 3 marathons (including the 2012 Boston Marathon), so I'll take anyone on who claims I'm lacking in toughness simply because I choose to occasionally run indoors on a day when others would run outdoors. "Judge not, lest ye be judged"......
I'm hoping to PR in May, so I've got a long, hard road ahead of me. This training program is more qualitative than quantitative in nature, and that's going to be a big change from the way I've trained previously. Adding in speedwork......OMG, I'm going to be doing SPEEDWORK? Of course, you'll be able to time my repeats with a sundial, but you'd better believe I'll be doing them!
All that said, NOW I'll have every reason I need to blog regularly.....as the schedule kicks in, I know I'll be having LOTS to share. I've been saying for a long time that I've been needing to start blogging again, so FINALLY, I think I can put that all to rest.
The schedule begins tomorrow........the end point is on May 26th in Burlington, Vermont.
Wish me luck........and I'll see you all down the road!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Monday, December 31, 2012
Are annual recaps required?
Based on all the blogs I follow, it would seem that a year-end review is, if not required, expected. Why is that? Is it because, as runners, we're all measured by numbers.......miles run.......placement in races.......PR's.....etc.? Is it because we all keep track of our progress via written logs, spreadsheets, Daily Mile, Runkeeper, Running Ahead, Strava, Map My Run, etc....? Is it because we all sit at our keyboards on December 31st and simultaneously look backwards AND forwards?
Maybe it's all of those combined.....or maybe it's just human nature to compare projections/resolutions/goals/delusional rantings against actual results and try to make sense of it all.
So now I sit here........looking both backwards and forwards.
Looking back, 2012 was an unqualified success for me. Even though I only "raced" 7 times, each experience was a positive one. I ran 2 5k's (including one in Portland, OR while there on "business"), 3 half-marathons, and 2 marathons. The marathons were particularly important to me, as both were uniquely successful ventures. In April, I toed the line in Hopkinton, MA to run the 116th Boston Marathon. On that RIDICULOUSLY hot day, anyone who ran has a remarkable story to tell, but as a charity runner, I raised nearly $5000 for the Melanoma Foundation of New England, so even though I suffered, I had lots of motivation to continue. I'll never forget the feeling of making the left turn off Hereford onto Boylston and seeing the finish line in the distance....the crowd cheering even after 5 hours......I may never run Boston again, but on that day, I was a ROCK STAR!!
In October, I ran the ING Hartford Marathon and got a 7-minute PR. Even though I came out of that marathon a little dinged-up (as my decreased mileage the remainder of the year would indicate), it still felt great to drop my marathon time. While a 4:51 might be pedestrian to most of you, it showed me that I can improve, and gave me a lot of hope for what I'm going to shoot for in 2013.
When I look back on my year-end post last year, there really weren't any "goals" there.....just a hope for another good year.....no injuries......no sickness.......nothing too specific. I think I'll continue that trend now. While I had hoped to hit 1200 miles in 2012, I came up short......ending the year at 1088. I still managed to learn more about myself, both in my ability to persevere (Boston), my ability to learn from a bad race (Jamestown Half-Marathon), and my ability to improve (Hartford). As I now look ahead to 2013, I hope to continue all of those positive trends.
2013 "goals":
Races: Only have registered for 3 races so far, but I'm sure there will be more....several 5K's and 10K's sprinkled in......maybe another half marathon or two........I'm pretty sure there's going to be a fall marathon (either Marine Corps or Philadelphia), but here's what definite as of today:
January 1st: 4th Annual First Run 10K - Lowell, MA
March 17th: 36th Annual New Bedford Half Marathon - New Bedford, MA
May 26th: 25th Annual Keybank Vermont City Marathon - Burlington, VT
Tomorrow's race should be fun, as we're still cleaning up from the snow we got overnight Saturday. We had no real snow at all last winter (which made training for Boston SO MUCH FUN!!), so this was the first time I'd had to shovel since 2011....with nearly a foot of snow on the ground, it was hard work, and my back is still a little stiff, but I should be good to go tomorrow morning. I last ran New Bedford in 2009 (2:04), so I'm familiar with the course and will be interested to see how I'll do. Finally, I'm really looking forward to running the VCM in May......Barb has already booked our hotel room and friends who've run it in the past tell me I'm going to love it. I'm going to start training for it at the end of January and will be trying a new training program:
I saw the book a while ago, but after getting it for Hanukkah, I've hardly put it down. The Hanson's lay out a pretty logical plan (works for me!), with more of an emphasis on quality of training, rather than sheer quantity of miles. It incorporates things I've only read/heard about previously.....like something called "speedwork"....."tempo runs"........."strength runs" (ok, I'd honestly never heard of "strength runs" before, but speedwork and tempo runs.....yeah, I've avoided those in the past!)......their plan calls for a long run topping out at 16 miles, instead of the "normal" 20......anyway, it's a great book, and a very interesting plan. I'm going to be trying it out for the VCM and, if it works, I'll probably do it again for the fall marathon. Stay tuned for results!!!!
Mileage: That's simple.......I'm going to shoot for 1200 in 2013 and go from there.......my mileage spreadsheet has a variety of columns representing various benchmarks......1000 miles for the year, 20 miles per week (1040), 3 miles a day (1095)......assuming I can hit 1200, it then moves on to 25 miles per week (1300), and ends at 6K per day (1358). I find it very motivating to turn the red numbers black, indicating I've gone from being behind plan to being ahead.......I'll let you know how I do!
PR's: Well, for shorter distances, I'm just not sure I've got the "speed" anymore. When I look at my 5K/5 Mile/10K PR's, they all date back to 2008/2009.......maybe I'm a little "gun shy" about risking injury to see how fast I can go, potentially risking my marathons? I hurt my achilles tendon back in 2009 and have NEVER really run as fast since, which actually worked out pretty well as I shifted my focus to longer distances. Still, I wonder what I could do if I really tried.........
I'd like to continue to drop my marathon time....4:45 would be another 6 minutes, and I still believe I could go 4:30 and under. My hope is that with my new training plan (and hopefully losing about 15 pounds!), those goals will come into view.
More importantly, I want to be able to continue to enjoy running.....injury-free. Each of the last two years have seen me go over 1000 miles and that's mostly due to consistency....the kind that can only come from not being hurt!
I'm also going to get back to blogging again (hey, these are "goals", right?) on a regular basis.....I think being back on a training schedule will give me plenty to write about!
So I'll end here.....looking back on a great year, but also looking ahead to what should be an even better year!
To all of you, my friends and loyal readers (that is, at least, when I bother to write!), I'd like to wish you all the very best for the coming year. A year full of accomplishment, laughter, joy, happiness, love, and peace. And may all of your 2013 runs find the sun shining down on you, a clear road ahead, and tailwinds at your back!
See you all out there on the road, my friends......
Maybe it's all of those combined.....or maybe it's just human nature to compare projections/resolutions/goals/delusional rantings against actual results and try to make sense of it all.
So now I sit here........looking both backwards and forwards.
Looking back, 2012 was an unqualified success for me. Even though I only "raced" 7 times, each experience was a positive one. I ran 2 5k's (including one in Portland, OR while there on "business"), 3 half-marathons, and 2 marathons. The marathons were particularly important to me, as both were uniquely successful ventures. In April, I toed the line in Hopkinton, MA to run the 116th Boston Marathon. On that RIDICULOUSLY hot day, anyone who ran has a remarkable story to tell, but as a charity runner, I raised nearly $5000 for the Melanoma Foundation of New England, so even though I suffered, I had lots of motivation to continue. I'll never forget the feeling of making the left turn off Hereford onto Boylston and seeing the finish line in the distance....the crowd cheering even after 5 hours......I may never run Boston again, but on that day, I was a ROCK STAR!!
In October, I ran the ING Hartford Marathon and got a 7-minute PR. Even though I came out of that marathon a little dinged-up (as my decreased mileage the remainder of the year would indicate), it still felt great to drop my marathon time. While a 4:51 might be pedestrian to most of you, it showed me that I can improve, and gave me a lot of hope for what I'm going to shoot for in 2013.
When I look back on my year-end post last year, there really weren't any "goals" there.....just a hope for another good year.....no injuries......no sickness.......nothing too specific. I think I'll continue that trend now. While I had hoped to hit 1200 miles in 2012, I came up short......ending the year at 1088. I still managed to learn more about myself, both in my ability to persevere (Boston), my ability to learn from a bad race (Jamestown Half-Marathon), and my ability to improve (Hartford). As I now look ahead to 2013, I hope to continue all of those positive trends.
2013 "goals":
Races: Only have registered for 3 races so far, but I'm sure there will be more....several 5K's and 10K's sprinkled in......maybe another half marathon or two........I'm pretty sure there's going to be a fall marathon (either Marine Corps or Philadelphia), but here's what definite as of today:
January 1st: 4th Annual First Run 10K - Lowell, MA
March 17th: 36th Annual New Bedford Half Marathon - New Bedford, MA
May 26th: 25th Annual Keybank Vermont City Marathon - Burlington, VT
Tomorrow's race should be fun, as we're still cleaning up from the snow we got overnight Saturday. We had no real snow at all last winter (which made training for Boston SO MUCH FUN!!), so this was the first time I'd had to shovel since 2011....with nearly a foot of snow on the ground, it was hard work, and my back is still a little stiff, but I should be good to go tomorrow morning. I last ran New Bedford in 2009 (2:04), so I'm familiar with the course and will be interested to see how I'll do. Finally, I'm really looking forward to running the VCM in May......Barb has already booked our hotel room and friends who've run it in the past tell me I'm going to love it. I'm going to start training for it at the end of January and will be trying a new training program:
I saw the book a while ago, but after getting it for Hanukkah, I've hardly put it down. The Hanson's lay out a pretty logical plan (works for me!), with more of an emphasis on quality of training, rather than sheer quantity of miles. It incorporates things I've only read/heard about previously.....like something called "speedwork"....."tempo runs"........."strength runs" (ok, I'd honestly never heard of "strength runs" before, but speedwork and tempo runs.....yeah, I've avoided those in the past!)......their plan calls for a long run topping out at 16 miles, instead of the "normal" 20......anyway, it's a great book, and a very interesting plan. I'm going to be trying it out for the VCM and, if it works, I'll probably do it again for the fall marathon. Stay tuned for results!!!!
Mileage: That's simple.......I'm going to shoot for 1200 in 2013 and go from there.......my mileage spreadsheet has a variety of columns representing various benchmarks......1000 miles for the year, 20 miles per week (1040), 3 miles a day (1095)......assuming I can hit 1200, it then moves on to 25 miles per week (1300), and ends at 6K per day (1358). I find it very motivating to turn the red numbers black, indicating I've gone from being behind plan to being ahead.......I'll let you know how I do!
PR's: Well, for shorter distances, I'm just not sure I've got the "speed" anymore. When I look at my 5K/5 Mile/10K PR's, they all date back to 2008/2009.......maybe I'm a little "gun shy" about risking injury to see how fast I can go, potentially risking my marathons? I hurt my achilles tendon back in 2009 and have NEVER really run as fast since, which actually worked out pretty well as I shifted my focus to longer distances. Still, I wonder what I could do if I really tried.........
I'd like to continue to drop my marathon time....4:45 would be another 6 minutes, and I still believe I could go 4:30 and under. My hope is that with my new training plan (and hopefully losing about 15 pounds!), those goals will come into view.
More importantly, I want to be able to continue to enjoy running.....injury-free. Each of the last two years have seen me go over 1000 miles and that's mostly due to consistency....the kind that can only come from not being hurt!
I'm also going to get back to blogging again (hey, these are "goals", right?) on a regular basis.....I think being back on a training schedule will give me plenty to write about!
So I'll end here.....looking back on a great year, but also looking ahead to what should be an even better year!
To all of you, my friends and loyal readers (that is, at least, when I bother to write!), I'd like to wish you all the very best for the coming year. A year full of accomplishment, laughter, joy, happiness, love, and peace. And may all of your 2013 runs find the sun shining down on you, a clear road ahead, and tailwinds at your back!
See you all out there on the road, my friends......
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