Motivated to Succeed

Day #84: 8.5 miles total; Ran 4.5 miles with the cross country team including warm up and cool down, 2 x 1.3 mile out and backs to the bridge, 1 x 400m at 5k pace, and 2 x 250m at mile pace. Then did 2 miles around the block when I got home, followed by another 2 miles by myself in 17:03. All in all a good day. Highlights of practice: when little TC whined "But Mr. Griffin, I mentioned I have a cramp 3 times and you just ignored me!" I responded; "Well what do you want me to do about it? Are you just going to stop?" TC (trying to catch up to me as I speed away), "Well I guess not!" [He picked up the pace]. After the cross country practice, much of which I ran in the 7:30-8:00 pace trying to dart between groups, I was thoroughly drenched. I tried to explain it was liquid courage and pretty awesome, but my runners were grossed out by it. Oh well. Can't win them all. At least it makes it look like I jumped in a stream!

Surge, then surge again.
No rest for the weary, mate!
Does my butt look fat?

Day #85: 2 miles; easy in 17:00. Long day at work including getting observed and prepping for the state department to come in. My xc team was awesome tonight at their race. 22 in attendance, 21 started, 20 finished, only one took a wrong turn and admitted it so I had to DQ him. New girls school record and boys top runner was 2 seconds from the school record! Really awesome time. They inspire me. I wish I was more like them.

To run without doubts,
In touch with reality,
This is now my goal.

Day #86: 3 miles; just warm up and cool down in the rain with xc today. No time this a.m. to pack my jogging stuff. Made them do hill repeats x 12 and some quick 400s afterwards. Ran another 2 in 16:50 tonight. Need to get in a quality run tomorrow before going on the 3 day professional development. Ugh! No rest for the weary. I need my weekend back!

Puddle stomping fun,
Jump in and out just one time!
To be a kid again!!

Day #87: 5 miles before a weekend conference I have to go to for work. Felt really relaxed. 42:00 flat! Woke up fixed my car lights from the ticket last night, oil change, now I have to shower, pack and meet my wife for lunch before heading out this afternoon. Bad news on her front. Just one week after the 2200 dollar root canal, her car needs 700 bucks of work. I am going to switch to Ramen Noodle Diet very VERY soon methinks.

For that one moment
In the middle of the run
You forget troubles.

Day #88: 8 miles around the Omega Campus. Went out at 6am for 4miles and got lost but enjoyed the scenic country roads. Spent rest of day in training. Highlight of the run besides making it back alive was seeing 9 deer jump out in front of me, one within 10 feet.

Have you ever thought
Who would win - deer versus you?
I almost found out!

Day #89: 3.1 miles after getting back from the training in New York. Ran it in 25:50. Felt pretty good. Left calf a little sore, but yesterday was a hard day of running. More miles to come tomorrow if I finish all my school work.

Streaking: Yae or Nae?
I feel stronger... and swifter.
14 til the 'thon!

Day #90: 7.5 miles; 3 months! I've made it 75% of the way through the challenge! Started with 4 miles by myself in 33:40 - Felt really relaxed. Was nice to be able to get into school for five hours this morning to get some work done. Then went to Lenox and hiked Lenox Mountain after Emma got out of work at 4. All in all an okay day. Getting excited and nervous for the two races coming up the next two weekends!

Nippy air.... cool breeze,
Fall temps bring chilly willies!
Thankful for coffee!

Day #91: 5 miles total; 3 with the xc team, and 2 alone later in 17:02. Did a warm up followed by a "Move and Match" workout with the team - I "hid" 7 runners in the group each with a number on which to "surge" in the second half of the 400m whenever they chose. Most took it really well. They effectively kicked my butt. I took #5 though and I was able to hold off everyone, even Dylan through the tape, so that made me feel good. I don't have speed, but I have stamina. Now if only I could figure out how to actually train for and race a marathon!

Burdock Obama
In the cool autumn breeze; Wait!
The scent of... ewww crap!

Day #92: 2.25 miles only; Had a cross country meet at BCC. So proud of my kiddos- Dylan ran a new PR and school record of 20:57. Sammi brought her own school record from last meet tumbling, running a gutsy 25:41. My #2 boy runner, Mark ran an unbelievable 23:56 (previous PR was 26:xx something), and a total of 4 girls were all under last season's season best of 30:18. So proud of all my runners, 20 started and 19 finished. They all ran with the hearts of lions. Pretty sure they sweat liquid awesome. Took it easy as I felt a twinge behind my knee cap all day from stepping in the hole by the playground during the 400s yesterday.

Sweat - liquid courage,
Little runners standing tall,
Props from St. Joe's coach.

Day #93: 4.25 miles; 10 x 150m hills, 400m hard, and 800m tempo, cool down. Felt great! Getting stronger every day.

Fall leaves, Autumn air.
Election bullshit wears thin.
Where are the realists?

Day #94: 3 miles with the xc team; nothing special. Had them do Flying 30s, 30 second all out sprints, running from their worst fears. Was really proud of one of my 8th graders, Jonah. He either has some huge fears, or some really awesome determination and grit. He hung tough with Mark and James and really had a breakthrough.

Running for their lives,
Jumbo Spiders, Clowns, and Sheep.
Working for breakthroughs.

Day #95: 5 miles easy before heading to West Newton to get ready for Paddy's Road Race : the Shillelagh Shuffle tomorrow. Going to have a blast running with Emm. Did it last year as a whim as our "anniversary race". Going back for year #2. Did 5 miles relaxed in 41:40, 8:20 a mile! Hardly breathed out my mouth! Heart rate was 150 or under the whole time. Am I actually starting to get in shape? 

Vibrams are awesome.
Kilts are awesome. So can I
wear a kilt, honey?

Day #96: 5 miles total: warm up, 3 mile Shillelagh Shuffle in West Newton, 1 mile cool down. Emm and I had good starting position - arranged ourselves with the 7 minute mile group. Saw some twig of a runners we didn't think would make it, as well as some kiddos who claimed they could run 21 min 3 mile races. (One in a gray shirt nearly got both of us until 2 mile mark, ha!). Lindz and Kara came to watch us. Started with a 7:06 mile, running on the right side. No asthma attack girl this year, but had a drafter that was grunting every other step the whole way. So annoying! And embarrassing. Definitely not appropriate for little ears like ours! Mile 2 was better, but slight uphill made it a slower mile, 7:14, good for 7:10/ mile pace. At this point Emm started to slow, and I decided I was tak

Day #97: 5.3 miles: Ran warm up with the team after telling them that they are now in a race against themselves to make top 7 so they can race Varsity the last two races - Had them do 1 x mile time trial. Dylan 6:09, Mark and James were both in low 7's which isn't bad as they are running on tired legs. A couple of my 6th graders Jess and Josh each ran 8 laps during fitness because they told the teacher a mile is simply not enough! (love it! hahaha that's my runners!) Did 4 x 400 m after the 1 mile. Was pleased by the number going sub 8:00 pace. They are getting faster! Then a 20:00 jog by myself tonight for another 2.3. Starting to taper and think about the marathon. Had a dream last night that we drove right from Shillelagh Shuffle to Lowell and I ran a 4:11. Wouldn't that be something! Haven't seen a 4:xx in front of a marathon time in some time! (5 years)

We run in the rain,
Puddle stompin' motivates,
Or just makes 'em scowl

Day #98: 3.75 miles only; Did warm up with the team and then had the ones that were there do a T-Shirt raffle run. Every runner that completed a lap (.25 miles each), received a pink piece of paper. At the end of 25 minutes, the runners wrote their names on the scraps of paper (pretty impressive once I saw all the paper!) We will draw two names from a shoebox tomorrow to see who gets to walk away with brand spanking new BART XC t-shirts! I ran 2.75 miles during the 25 minutes with various paced groups. Felt good. Most uncomfortable moment was when a runner stated, "Oh no! I have a frontal wedgie!" Cooled down to the school. It's my anniversary tonight and though I am dreadfully behind on grading and have no idea how it's going to get done, I've decided family is more important than work. Oh well! Work will have to wait.

Pink papers, Snatch! Mine!
Don't drop, don't stop! Grab and go!
Ut oh! Wedgie Time!

Day #99: 5 miles, warm up and 1.5 mile loop with the xc team, some 65 m all out sprints at 95% effort, good chat, and a cool down. Then 2 miles at home at 8:40 pace later tonight. Excited to see what my runners do on Friday and then driving late night on the Mass Pike out to Lowell for a weekend at Salem and then my marathon in Lowell! Big day tomorrow, triple digits!

Warm autumn sunlight 
Encourages us to push
My kids are awesome!

Day #100: 3 miles with the xc team; Well I've done it - 100 days so far out of the 120 day challenge. Triple Digits Baby! Now to do laundry and back like a mofo for the weekend. Going tomorrow night to Boston. Salem on Saturday and Lowell for the BayState Marathon on Sunday. Getting it done! Have put off grading midterms all week and graded midterms and data is due tomorrow. Going to start now and hope I finish sometime before midnight. Wish me luck.

100 days down,
Turning into a robot,
Feels so easy, boss!

Day #101: 1.5 miles with xc team at their meet; So impressed by the fact they learned how to race! Dylan ran nearly 2 minutes faster than last year in a time of 16:15, I had two seventh grade boys run 18:48 and 18:51! My boys beat Drury and my girls got so many compliments for their race, the closest of the day. Boys beat Drury 23-32, landing 3 in front of their first. The girls had the closest contest of them all, losing in a heartbreaking yet motivating 28-27. I think runners on both sides learned how to hang tough, push themselves, and come out on top. A lot of personal victories today. More to come on Sunday when I am able to write at home. Marathon in about 24 hours from now.

Splish! Splash! Slip and slide,
Pass the blue, hold fast or die,
Gasp! Lunge! Dive! OUR Pride! :D

Day #102: 1 mile on the hotel treadmill at 11:00pm at night after a day spent in Salem, MA doing witchy things. The big day is tomorrow!

1 mile - go time,
Loosen the nerves, sleep... attack!
Tomorrow's the day!

Day #103: 26.22 miles; BayState Marathon in Lowell, Massachusetts. Got with Lindsay to the start about an hour early. She was doing the half and ran a PR of 1:48 I believe! Stayed warm inside, then lined up in the 12 min/mile pace. I like starting in the back. Found a rhythm early on and goal was to try to hit 10's as long as possible. Hit the half in 2:11 and then took off on my own as everyone I was with started to fall off pace. I ended up running a 2:15 second half (walked through one long aid station for about 90 seconds which probably is to blame). Right hamstring started to get tight in mile 23 and 24. Hung tough. Best I've ever felt in a marathon and fought all the way to the finish for a new marathon PR! ... 4:26:51. Ran faster at 220# than I did at 160! Haha! Legs are goulash and tenderized meat today, so working to get the kinks out for a short run later today.

Left, right here we go!
Two looped course, heroes galore!
Push... earn that medal!

Day #104: 2.25 miles; 20:00 recovery run. After a day of rest my legs feel much better. Spent much of the day resting and elevating them as I got caught up correcting papers and such. Ready to get back at it and make it to practice tomorrow to do a hill workout! *Gulp* Next races are Stockadeathon 15k on 11.11.12, Turkey Trot in 'Toga on Thanksgiving, and First Descents Marathon in Lewes, Delaware on 12.1.12!

Calf sleeves are sexy!
Look at that definition....
It's okay to hate!

Day #105: 5.25 miles; Woke up with a sore throat, but got better as the day went on. Practice was awesome. Kids ran to St. Stan's church (.75 mi w/u), then did 2 x 1 mile hills up E. Hoosac St., some did 2-3 x .5 mile hills, then a .75 mi cool down. I drove Pre the Prizm to be able to hit all the groups multiple times. Felt like Lance's pace car in the Tour dodging traffic and pedestrians to get where I needed to. All that energy translated into a solid run at home. Did 5.25 miles in 42:15 including w/u, middle 4 miles at 7:55, 7:55, 7:48, 7:46, then a short cool down. I ran a marathon 2 days ago, right? Ha! Who would have thought?

Hills break the weak, but
reward determination.
We're winners, tonight!

Day #106: 5.5 miles; 3.5 miles with the cross country team including helping them through a 8 x 400m workout. Gave each group target paces (1:27-1:32, 1:37-1:44, 1:50-1:55, 1:57-2:05). They all hung tough (until the last 2). I ran a couple 1/2 ones, gave splits 200m in, then ran 3 full ones, including a comfortable 1:33. Dare I say my fitness has IMPROVED since the marathon? Spent the day making over 10 phone calls and nearly 100 emails. Madness trying to make awards and find money to pay for it all. Hoping some of my friends will chip in. We'll see. Later, 2 miles at home in 17:00. Two weeks to go in the challenge!

Once 'round the oval,
Not that far... but tests your will.
Do you have guts, son?

Day #107: 5.50 miles; 3 miles with the xc team at 8:00 pace, felt great. Went up and around the golf course and on the bike path. A kid playing football had a seizure and I tried to help. I called his mom and he said "Well I think he's just having an anxiety attack". She didn't want him to go to the ER, so I asked one of his friends to take him home. Later tonight did 2.5 miles at 8:25 pace. Felt really good. Taught one of my 6th graders how to write haikus. 'Twas a glorious day!

Gnats in the eye sting,
Frankenstorm better get here!
I want a snow day!