Motivated to Succeed

Still some pain in the inside of the ankle on the left foot. Posterior Tibialis. Not really sure what's up, but I guess I should take it easy, just in case. Registered for the 12 hour race in Wakefield, MA for July 27th (overnight 7pm to 7am) followed by the Color Run in Boston the next morning at 9am. Also potentially registering for a 50km trail race outside of Boston in October on a Saturday. Haven't paid for it yet, but have to move quickly as only 8 spots left. 

Total Time: 27:00 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace: 9:00 

A nice sloppy, wet run through the woods at Olivia's Lookout on the Burbank Trail - Ran in my new Altra Lone Peaks - love them, and loved getting dirty. Only downside is that I learned it is really hard to run blindly down a hill with rocks and roots as you are trying to defog your sunglasses!

Total Time: 55:00 Total Distance: 6 miles Average Pace: 9:09/ mile 

Took a couple days off for some tendinitis leftover from the marathon. Feeling better. Did 5 miles in 43:27, an extra mile for my fried Alexis today on National Running Day since she could not run on the disabled list, followed by 3 miles this evening with Emma around the block in 23:42. All in all a really great day! Got the car fixed and it was only $301 (sway bars and right front brake caliper). Pre the Prizm continues to live! Happy National Runny Day everyone!

Weight was down to 224 lbs today! 25 lbs until I am under 200! 

Total Time: 1:17:00 Total Distance: 9 miles Average Pace: 8:34/ mile! 

6:00PM and 7:45PM - Earned my first triple blister (had one old one that had popped from the marathon on 5.27. Then earned a second one during yesterday's run since I ran with my orthotics for first time in a year. Finally, a nice big new one today during the run on top of it. Ran 4 by myself (36:16), and then did the loop around the block, before doing 8 x 100m striders in the park with Emma. Our last one was a 19.8 for me, with Emma running closer to 18 flat. I wish I had her speed! Focus now is going to be to raise mileage and start thinking about a couple night runs in preparation for the July 12 hour. Maybe will sign up for a 5k on July 4th here in Pittsfield though.

Total Time: 1:08:00 Total Distance: 7.5 miles Average Pace: 9:03/ mile 

Had my third BART graduation today - got a rose from one of my seniors, Elena. I was so happy to get the hug and photo op with her. She is one of the most strong-willed, determined young women I have had the pleasure of teaching. Got on the treadmill and did the first 30 mins a gradual progression, increasing .1 mph each lap. Maxed at about 8:35 pace. Then I did 4 x 400m in 90s (6 min/mi) with 1 min "off" between each, followed straight after by 2 x 400m in 75s (5 min/mil) pace. Was flying. I am definitely out of shape and my 230# makes it difficult, but I am determined to get back a little bit of my speed!

Hurt a bit from yesterday's intervals as well as imbibing a bit too much this weekend. Need to focus on getting sleep and some quality miles in this week! Also increased emphasis on eating right!

Total Time: 20:00 Total Distance: 2.05 Average Pace: 9:45 

Still kind of sore. Emm and I took Lizzy for her first hike today. Did about 2 miles.. she was panting so hard about 15 mins in (all uphill), so we took a break and turned and went back downhill.. she was near sprinting. Darn near went ass over tea kettle. Pretty sure we ran an 8 min mile or something on the way down! Did another couple miles on the treadmill, but acid reflux from salad dressing for dinner. Yuck.

Fast hike in the rain with Lizzy and Emma at Olivia's. Tried to tire Lizzy out, but of course it didn't work. She won't stop barking!

Lizzy's first mountain run - We did a great deal of quick running tonight, because after Emm got out of jury duty and work at like 730, it was getting dark. We got to the lookout and met another couple with their chocolate lab and chatted for a bit, before the husband said "Honey, let them go already!" It was cute. We bounded into the woods, and made it to the top in 18:00, 6.5 minutes faster than yesterday, turned around and nearly sprinted on the way down. Despite one impromptu stop by Lizzy, we made it down in 13:10. By far one of the fastest traversings up and down of Olivia's Burbank Trail. It felt good to escape! Up early tomorrow for a track workout.

Ran with Lizzy in the dark. She didn't like it, big ol' WIMP! But it tired her out enough that I hope she'll sleep the night! Forgot my sunglasses at work I think because I cannot find them anywhere here. If I can't find them I'm officially screwed tomorrow. Glaucoma glasses Griffin for the win!

Took Lizzy for a hike with Emm. Bug City. Emm nearly had a breakdown because there were just so many of them. Next time I should wear deodorant so I don't attract so many of them. We tired Lizzy right out. She enjoyed a nice dip in the pond though about a mile from the end. Nice way to start the afternoon. (Total 3.5 miles - ALTRAS)

PM - Did a warm up, stretched, and then stole a workout from Rachel Spatz. I did 8 x 800m with about 90 seconds "off". They were as follows: 4:06, 4:05, 4:06, 4:02, 4:02, 4:01, 3:59, 3:58. Felt strong and fresh and did a slow cool down. Hoping to get in a workout/semi-long run tomorrow. Time to get in shape for the 12 hour race next month. Pushups and crunches tonight! (5.5 miles - ALTRAS) 

Still icing the left ankle. Felt find while running. Just a bit of tenderness when I wake up and walk around. Might be wearing shoes and orthotics this week.

Total Time: 45:00 Total Distance: 5 Average Pace: 9:00 

(PM) - Went to Olivia's Overlook on the Burbank Trail - Went backwards for us, which I guess is the correct counter-clockwise to do the loop.. it seems easier this way. Will have to try this running a loop to see how much faster it is. Lizzy jogged most of the way to the pond, and then enjoyed jumping into the water, though we still can't get her to swim. Total there and back including stop at the pond was about 40 mins. 15mpm pace including the 10 min stop. 

Got to Shady Pines early this a.m. for Field Day. Set up the course. Relay went first 3 x 1 lap for a mile. I wasn't going to compete, but one student didn't have a team so Linscott and I joined them. I was the anchor leg and ended up moving us from 7th to 4th overall, to a 7:40 finish. 3 min break and then we had 10 runners toe the line for the mile. I let the kids go, chatted a bit with a few teachers in the back and then my main man Aidhan Kerin in the back. Just stayed smooth and consistent. Started picking people off as they fell off pace. Before I knew it I caught up to one of my 6th graders, James. Stayed with him for the last lap, but he kicked it into overdrive the last 100m and beat me by one second. Yup. got beat by a 12 year old. Surprising was Chris D. one of my xc runners who averaged 9:30s in his fastest 5k, ran a 7:44 out of no where in the heat and humidity to take the win! I settled for 3rd in 8:07, one second behind James. Tonight, when with Emm and ran Lizzy to Monks Pond and back. 12:56 on the way out, 13:19 on the way back. So humid you could cut it with a knife. Let Lizzy off the leash on the beach of the pond though. She loved it. All in all a good day. Last day of school tomorrow!

Well, I did it. Finished my second complete year teaching at BART - really about 2.3 school years since I started in February of 2010. At times I find myself thinking, "wow, that's it?!". Realistically though, I cannot complain. Most people my age, especially those with education degrees, have such a difficult time finding steady employment in education that they are just leaving the profession altogether. Sal Presti, my buddy from grad school, has stopped looking I am pretty sure, and is currently waiting/bartending and might be moving to Washington, D.C. or Florida to pursue something else. It really has been a rough time, and I feel like ever since about when I graduated undergrad in 2007 the economy has been in the toilet.

The last week was about the worst week of training I've had all week, but I am hoping to change that this summer and get more consistent, focus on my diet, and hopefully regain some speed and shed a few pounds. I don't know how hard it is or what game plan I need to get back under 200 lbs, but I want to make it happen! 

Easy warm up followed by a one mile time trial. hit 800m in 3:01, 1200m in 4:27, and finished the mile in 5:55, the fastest mile since high school, if that's saying anything.

7:00 PM - Ran Olivia's Overlook - Burbank Trail with Emma and Lizzy after she got out of work at 7:00. Lizzy is getting stamina and endurance! I'm proud of her. She really loves the downhills and jumping into Monk's Pond about 2 miles in. She is so funny - stays right with you but has no sense of personal boundaries, so she'll cut you off thinking that it's her trail, not yours. She is pretty good on a 6' leash and will trot right behind you if you hold the leash right behind your back. Ran 2 miles on the treadmill at about 9:30 pace when we got back. All in all a great night. 

6:00 PM - Ran 2 miles on the treadmill and then went with Lizzy and Emm to the trail. Forgot the leash, but Lizzy stayed with us the whole way, minus 20 minutes in when yours truly biffed hardcore and ended up with a nice war wound. She turned and ran the other way, some fearless steed she is! She thought it was a game! All went well and we spent a nice 5 mins or so at the pond where she jumped in. About .5 miles from home, a black bear got startled by Lizzy and Emm up front. It booked it the other way. That was the second black bear we've seen in two years here. They must like the trail as much as we do! Looked at the nice cows on the drive home. All in all a great run. Fastest for Lizzy by far @ 43 minutes for 3.5 miles. She jogged almost the whole way!

Read some of David Bach's "Smart Couples Finish Rich". A lot of it will apply to us in ten or twenty years, but still a good refresher from his "Automatic Millionaire" book. About .28 to the finish, between the a/c unit going (was nearly 91 degrees out today), the treadmill, the light/fan and Emm on the elliptical and me on the treadmill, we tripped the breaker I guess. While I was waiting for Emm to go downstairs to turn it on, in two minutes I counted 130 drops of sweat that hit the treadmill. Disgustingly awesome.

Total Time: 50:00 Total Distance: 5.1 miles Average Pace: 9:45/ mile