Motivated to Succeed

12:30 PM - Sunny and temperature in the low 70s. Went running at Spa Park in New York after church with the family. Harry and Emmy came with me. Harry decided to go longboarding while Emma and I ran. Emma didn't know how far she wanted to go and my legs were tired from the run yesterday so we opted for a short, faster run. We were really slicing and dicing at the end and we duked it out. Emma barely beat me. We were running 4:58 pace the last bit. Flying. Afterwards I played about 30 minutes of bocci and then 30 minutes of tag with Harry on my team and the two of us vs. our two St. Bernards. We beat them but barely. Turns out St. Bernards like to find people (go figure for a rescue dog eh?) and they would do whatever it took to find us in the trees. A very fun time. Counted the tag for about 2 miles of barefoot. Probably ran more. We were running the whole time! Exhausted! Splits at the park:

• Mile 1: 9:06
• Mile 2: 7:53
• Mile 3: 7:56

6:00 PM - Overcast and temperature of about 60 degrees. Long day at school made longer by not getting enough sleep last night and forgetting my lunch again at home. Got home from school and scarfed down a couple bagels w/ cream cheese and then went to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail with Emmy. On Saturday I helped her get her first official trainers (a pair of Brooks's Defyance). Also, the place is taking back the P.O.S. Reeboks and ordering me a new pair of Addictions. Sweet. Well Emmy is fast in her Defyances! She was really cruising at the end and I was laboring hard to keep pace. Funny that I can go long and slow for hours and yet we "whip" up the pace to 8:00ish or faster and I die. Got some work to do on speed. Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:02
• Mile 2: 8:44
• Mile 3: 8:47
• Mile 4: 8:19
• Mile 5: 7:18

6:00 PM - Sunny and 84 degrees! at the start. Talk about a warm spell! I had a long day at school, but I still do like working at BArT. The kids make it worth it. Lots of correcting to do tonight. I had them do political cartoons on War of 1812 and Spanish-American War. I can't wait to read them.

So my run. I started at the Causeway and went up into Pittsfield State Forest via Caldwell. It was mucho calor out. Highlight was that at about the 3 mile mark as I was busting up a huge 10-12% incline and the quads and hammys were burning,  I came across 4 high schoolers smoking up some reefer. I must have scared them because 5 mins later they were gone as I came back. Phew. Didn't want to have to call the coppers. Splits were slow considering the heat and the trails:

• Mile 1: 9:09
• Mile 2: 9:26
• Mile 3: 11:28
• Mile 4: 10:02
• Mile 5: 9:27
• Mile 6: 9:37

6:00 PM - Temp of 71 and gusty winds 20-30mph. A hot summerish night. Have had quite the week. I feel bad because I am sure my crankyness has been noticed by Emmy. I am hoping to make it up to her this weekend with a hike and lunch out on the town. We had plans to go to Mission and see a musician tonight but I was too tired and once we got there it was packed and I was just ready to sleep. I can't even tell you how drained I am. I ran as soon as I got home, a Vibrams run. Went to the Causeway and ran into Pittsfield State Forest and back. Just wanted to do a good run. Started clicking miles away somewhere around: 9:00, 8:44, 8:18, 7:50. Pounded out the last one. Felt good.

Total Time: 34:07 Total Distance: 4.07 miles Average Pace: 8:23

Today's Run = LONGEST run ever in a training run besides the 2 marathons. :)

1:00 PM - North Adams, MA. Emm and I went to see two of my coworkers up in Williamstown last night. We didn't get home until 2:30 and I was wide awake at 7. Not exactly a restful night's sleep. To make things worse, today was supposed to be my long run and it was overcast, temperature of 46 at the start and winds steady at 25mph with gusts up to 35 to 40mph (Found these gusts at the summit!)

Today's mission: Summit the tallest mountain in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock (3491' elevation). The mountain road going up is 8 miles up. I was running by myself and had my 24 oz Amphipod and 2 HAMMER gels. I ran out of liquids 1:45 mins into the run so I need to plan ahead for the next long run and keep a stash either at the car or prestash another bottle out on the route.  I followed the route up from the Williams Resevoir where I parked my car to the summit, same route as the road race that's held every September here. Going up is always a beast. Especially in the first few miles where there are seriously some 12-15% grades and numerous hairpin turns.

I got some weird looks from people, especially some hikers that I came across at mile 6. Miles 6-8 had snow covering the roads and there is still upwards of a foot up there! Crazy considering we had 4 days in a row last week with temperatures between 75-87! At the summit I ran around the top and took a couple pictures with my cellphone and then started down because it was incredibly windy and cold! At some points the wind ripped through two layers of spandex, my fleece and long sleeve shirt, and hat/gloves. Coming down felt faster and I had to lean back to keep from falling.

The way down went well overall and I got to the car and was planning on pushing the run out to 18 miles but I had run out of liquids and I was dying. My mouth was so dry and I decided that I had had enough. I wonder what my first 20 miler will feel like! :D HAMMER gels were at 45:00 and 1:30:00ish. After I got home I downed 2 powerades and my first recovery drink a 4:1 carb:protein drink. It said Fruit Punch, but Emma pointed out that it looked like toxic Pepto Bismal. HAHA. Splits:

Going Up:

• Mile 1: 10:13
• Mile 2: 11:34
• Mile 3: 11:59
• Mile 4: 11:38
• Mile 5: 12:28
• Mile 6: 10:50
• Mile 7: 10:47
• Mile 8: 10:45
• .2: 2:05 (10:39 pace) 
• Total Time for Climbing the "Beast": 1:32:21
  

 Going Down:

• Mile 9: 9:03
• Mile 10: 9:07
• Mile 11: 8:44
• Mile 12: 8:56
• Mile 13: 8:57
• Mile 14: 8:58
• Mile 15: 9:03
• Mile 16: 9:34
• Mile 17: 10:00
• Total Time for Descending the "Beast": 1:12:25 (omits mi. 17)

Total Time: 2:54:46 Total Distance: 17 miles Average Pace: 10:17

War Memorial at the top of Mt. Greylock (above) View from top (below)