Motivated to Succeed

8:50 AM - After getting up early and eating some toast Emmy made me and some coffee, I headed from Pittsfield to North Adams to the Mt. Williams Resevoir off of Rte 2. Took about 45 minutes to get there and my little Chevy Prizm took some bumps and bruises on some dirt roads. I got there and registered with my 10.00 fee, day of registration only at this race, and saw the organizer for the summer races that I do in Wilton. I stretched at the car and waited for an interminable 40 minutes before we lined up to go for the 10am race time.

THE RACE

The Mount Greylock Road Race is an 8 mile uphill road race that scales the tallest mountain in the state of Massachusetts. It's summit sits at 3491', so I knew that today was going to be a test, as I've never done an uphill race before. I was nervous and lined up towards the back, figuring it was better to work my way up than to get passed and lose morale on the hills. I don't know about everyone else, but I always seem to lose steam after people start to pass me. The way up was steep, with several 10% grades. However, I never once stopped or walked! That is a feat in and of itself. I carried my car keys and my water bottle in my hand. I really need to invest in one of those water bottle hand holders!

The way up was good. I started in the back and then found a group that I paced off of at about the one mile mark. I would stay with them until about the sixth mile when the mountain leveled off and they took off at an 8:00 pace! Felt good and passed some of the early rabbits. Settled in behind three guys. I noticed that I was one of the bigger runners this far up the mountain. I am 6'2" and about 190 pounds fully loaded. Most of these guys were more about 5'7" and 150 max. Most of the front runners were even smaller. I guess today belonged to the tiny climbers among the runners!

There weren't really crowds going up the mountain, as the mountain is a tourist destination and the road wasn't closed for the race. It was funny to see all the license plates from NJ, CT, and MA and NY go by and people that hadn't heard of this race looking stunned out their windows. One of the guys looking out the window had his jaw open so wide I think I could see what he had for breakfast!

My goal today was to beat the race organizer from the summer series once I knew she was there. I wanted to break 11 minute miles for the 8 mile course which would put me at sub 1:28. I have never done this race or any hill race for that matter so I didn't know what to expect.

There was a really flat part in mile 6-7 that I didn't know was coming, but the veteran runners kind of knew. I was just concentrating on short fast steps stair climbing up the mountain. I did open it up to about a 9:00 pace when it flattened out only to try to stay in contention with the group in front of me.

The end of the race comes abruptly, made worse considering the heavy fog enshrouding the mountain. So cool to think we ran into the clouds today :) The road bends to the left around a bend and the finish line was a crosswalk from the parking lot to the Greylock Monument. Finish was a bit chaotic because there was a park ranger standing there collecting the $2 parking fee from vehicles going up. I grabbed a handful of cookies, pretzels, two waters and quickly headed back down the mountain as the wind at the summit was sure to give me chills the longer I stayed. Splits going up:

• Mile 1: 9:21
• Mile 2: 10:44
• Mile 3: 10:40
• Mile 4: 10:40
• Mile 5: 11:14
• Mile 6: 10:04
• Mile 7: 9:38
• Mile 8: 9:57

Total Time: 1:22:21 Total Distance: 8 miles Average Pace: 10:17

*After reading the results, found out I was 38th place & 2nd place in my age category!!

GOING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN:

It is a humbling experience to climb up one of nature's masterpieces, and I think that going down the mountain showed me the sheer awesomness of our world. I saw some of the slower runners continuing to make their way up as I started down and I shouted encouragement to them. I saw that I had beat Laura Clark, the organizer of the summer series by about ten minutes so I felt pretty good about that. Nonetheless I yelled "Way to go, Laura! Looking strong!". A lot of the runners were happy to be getting the support, and a few made jokes about running back down the mountain. One lady who was in second or third to last said, "Thanks so much! But if anything I should be encouraging you! You're awesome for running back DOWN this mountain!". That made my day :). I tried to hold consistent, and I knew I had reserves from going up. I just wanted to be consistent going up the mountain knowing full well I'd have to run back down the mountain to get my car.

The first four miles were fun. I got to a steep part though and that really rocked my quads and knees. I think I got a full lower body workout today! At about four miles this guy whom I found out is named Randy came up on me and I started talking to him. Besides him one other runner had come down ahead of me and said a quick hey, but Randy I heard trotting up beside me and we struck up a conversation and ended up running the last four miles to the cars together. I found out he has done a lot of the trail races around western Massachusetts and he said hands down the WMAC races can't be beat. I am going to start researching them to do a few more of them. Also talked about grad school and how I am doing Curly's Trail 1/2 in a couple weeks. He said he might do the full marathon. I said I hoped to see him there. :). It was nice to have someone to talk to at the end of the run when I was officially drained.

Once I got off the mountain I shook Randy's hand and we parted ways. I stopped on the way back to Emma's and downed a Powerade in under a minute and then Emmy was nice enough to make me a lettuce, tomato, turkey bacon, cheese sandwich which I quickly devoured. Now it's off to get dinner and get ready for student teaching tomorrow! Feeling pretty good after a really great day!

• Mile 9: 9:11
• Mile 10: 9:26
• Mile 11: 9:30
• Mile 12: 9:26
• Mile 13: 9:03
• Mile 14: 9:06
• Mile 15: 8:57
• Mile 16: 8:00

Total Time: 1:12:37 Total Distance: 8 miles Average Pace: 9:04

*Totals for the Day:

Total Time: 2:34:58 Total Distance: 16 miles Average Pace: 9:41

GREYLOCK MAP AND ELEVATION CHART

4:00 PM - Today was my first day of student teaching!! I went to the Galway Middle School to meet up with Elaine. It's weird to call her Elaine, since she was my eighth grade Social Studies teacher and I always called her Mrs. V. Went to a couple meetings and conferences. Found out about the eighth graders I'm going to be teaching. They sound like pretty good kids. It should be a fun semester.

After school I went home quick and changed into running clothes and then went running on the back roads. I ended up doing a decent run, despite the long run and race yesterday. My quads and butt were super sore, but after about a half mile of easing into a run, I settled into a steady run. Went down Parkis Mills Road to Crane and up across Ballston Galway and turned around after 2.6 miles. Came back the same way. The way back was uphill. Wow. Was not expecting a good run like this. Feels good to have a productive day! Now time for food, shower, and getting ready for the first day of kids tomorrow! Splits today were:

• Mile 1: 8:32
• Mile 2: 8:48
• Mile 3: 8:38
• Mile 4: 8:12
• Mile 5: 7:57
• .26: 1:55 (7:18)

Total Time: 44:04 Total Distance: 5.26 miles Average Pace: 8:22

6:00 PM - So the last couple days have been super busy. Friday was awesome because besides having Emmy come to stay with us for the weekend (yay!) I was able to lead five periods of 8th grade social studies! It was a blast! I was nervous at first, but I think by the last period I was definitely more on my game! Then right after school came home and got dinner and then worked 6pm to 1130pm Friday night, and 830am to 5pm today. I'm exhausted. I had hoped to get about 8 miles in today after work but my feet were just tired and I felt a sore throat coming on. Everyone at my work is sick and stuff so I didn't want to push it too hard. This was my last speed workout before the taper to the race on Sunday the 20th. Also I put in a note to work that I am only going to be able to work on Friday nights now. I'm taking all day Saturday and Sunday off of work from now on to concentrate on student teaching. I might have to get a loan for gas money and stuff, but I think it's the best decision.

Went to the track with Emmy before dinner. It was overcast and temp about 67 or so. More people started to show up and there were a half dozen other people there when we left at the end. I started with a warmup 1/2 mile with Emmy, then changed into my Vibrams and did another two laps. Then decided to do 800s. I felt pretty good, just tired and my ankles were sore from being on my feet at work all day. First two repeats were done in lane 6, second two in lane 4. Then did a cool down mile with her :). She's absolutely a trooper for sticking with me! I felt super fast today, and a couple of the repeats show that some of my speed is coming back, despite being so fat! I weighed 189 pounds today! Ick!

• Warmup Mile: 9:26
• Repeat #1 (.57 miles): 3:33 (6:14/mi pace)
• Repeat #2 (.57 miles): 3:14 (5:42/mi pace)
• Repeat #3 (.53 miles): 2:54 (5:27/mi pace)
• Repeat #4 (.55 miles): 3:04 (5:37/mi pace)
• Cooldown Mile: 8:50

Total Time: 31:34 Total Distance: 4.27 miles Average Pace: 7:23

Overall felt pretty good. Didn't make my 40 miles goal this week, but I feel confident that I am getting into shape, even if my weight won't drop. I think I am getting stronger than I have ever been! So lucky to have Emmy there today to run with.

Cool fact: Emmy said she could hear me huffing and puffing from the other side of the track while I was running repeats.. sick! Means I must be giving a good effort, eh?!