Motivated to Succeed

Biked on the wind trainer tonight while Emmy ran. It is supposed to be a good storm tonight, with more than a foot of snow expected and winds in excess of 35mph. Blizzard conditions which means very little activity outside the house. 

 Had a wonderful Christmas with both Emma's family and my own. We spent the morning here in Pittsfield, then drove an hour and a half over to NY to Galway to see my youngest brother Harry and my parents. Jonn is over in Norway for three weeks visiting Ellen and my sister and Rocco are in Orlando. (Emm and I are going down to Orlando to visit in February!) Headed home late Sunday because the storm was on its way and we weren't able to go to Harvard to see Emma's aunt and cousins.

Snow is still coming down and they are predicting up to 18-24" of snow by the time this thing is done on Monday! Movies and hanging out to come!

Total Time: 60:00 Total Running Equivalent Miles: 4 miles 

9:30 AM - Lindsay left early this morning to go to work in Boston. We spent about 2 hours yesterday digging out. 18.5" of snow was the storm total. Biggest storm in several years, though it is expected to be in the upper 30s and 40s later this week, so not sure how long it will be around.

Drove Emmy to work and then came home and wanted to get in a run before doing work today. Set up this elaborate laptop station on the treadmill. Had the outdoor eating table with a chair on top of it, and then a foot stool on top of that. Then the laptop and speakers. Started watching Season 1 of the Office on NetFlix and before I knew it I had watched the entire 6 episodes of Season 1 and the first 2 of Season 2.

Mode of operation today was to take my time. I had not done more than 8 or 9 miles since the Hairy Gorilla Half on Halloween. Did 25 minutes of jogging at 9:40 pace, followed by 5 minutes of walking at 14-14:30 pace (brisk walk). Continued cycling through this until the end when I did 20 and 5.

Hit 5.85 miles in 1:00, 9.82 miles in 1:40, and hit 15 in 2:34.  Funny thing: Found out the treadmill shuts off at 99:59 (1h40m). Took a quick break, changed my shirt and downed a granola bar and back on it and away I went.

This was the longest treadmill run I have ever done. Previous record was probably 12 miles.

Total Time: 2:35:00 Total Distance: 15.08 miles Average Pace: 10:16 

4:30 PM - Went jogging after going food shopping before I had to pick up Emmy. Feeling pretty good. My choice of recovery? A large glass of Garelick Farms True Moo 2% Chocolate Milk. Mmmmm !!! Ran most of it at 9:40, with the last .75 miles faster, one lap at 8:34 and one lap at 7:30. I think I'm doing the Hangover Half just for fun on New Years. Now I know I can still go the distance!

Total Time: 30:35 Total Distance: 3.25 miles Average Pace:  9:21

7:30 PM - Emma worked all day today. I tried to focus energy on school work but to no avail. I ended up helping make marshmallow squares for her secret santa get together tonight and then made dinner. Last night I made turkey lasagna, tonight I opted for cauliflower, onions sauteed in a smudge of olive oil, and barbecued chicken and turkey patties. I have to admit I probably looked a bit odd in shorts out on the deck grilling, but man did that piece of chicken and the turkey burger taste good!

After Emm left I decided to run on the treadmill. The first mile was tough because my legs were a bit sore from yesterday's miles. But then the legs loosened up and the only issue was my stomach. I had neglected to wait the hour before jumping into the proverbial pool. Doh! I toughed it out. I guess good training for when I'm running in a longer race and my body isn't agreeing with me.

I also followed our very own Davy Crockett during his Across the Years race. He has been leading the 48 hour race for much of the day. We truly have some amazing talents on here. I am so glad to have been a part of FRB for the last three years :D. Can't wait for 2011 to make it even better!

Total Time: 47:00 Total Distance: 5.01 miles Average Pace:  9:23

4:30 PM - Went running because I was pretty stressed out. Drove all the way to work today to drop off some books and stuff and wasn't able to get in. Tried really hard to concentrate on school work today but I couldn't do it. I wish I had a less demanding job that wouldn't interfere so much with my personal life. I feel like I hardly have time to spend with my family! Was a nice run. First mile hurt a bit. Quads pretty sore. Officially registered this afternoon for the Hangover Half. Should be a blast.

Total Time: 48:46 Total Distance: 5.25 miles Average Pace:  9:17/ mile

9:00 AM - Ran easy on the treadmill today. Hangover Half Marathon is tomorrow. Felt really relaxed. Going to go shopping now to get things for New Years Eve. Tried 2 x 30s wall sits. Man that hurts!

Total Time: 30:39 Total Distance: 3.26 miles Average Pace:  9:24

12:00 PM - Got up early after celebrating New Years with our friends and family. Drove to Albany. Was pretty nervous because I haven't run this race in three years since I got injured. The last time I ran it I nearly PR'ed in the 1/2 with a 1:38. I was also only 170 lbs then. My goal going into this race was A. a sub 2:00, B. a sub-2:10, and C. to simply finish. I met all goals and ended up running the best 1/2 marathon of the year for me by considerable time. All this considering I ran monster miles this week and am a bit tired. 

PRERACE : I knew the race was going to be popular since the announcement they were actually having bib numbers. We haven't ever had them before. Got to the lot about an hour before race time, and it was jam packed! Runners, spectators, volunteers crowded into the athletic center. I estimated in excess of 200 runners were there for the Hangover 1/2 and about a 100 for the Sober up 3.5miler. Saw one of my running buddies from college, Pat. He was going for gold today. He's won the race before and is a very respectable runner. (He ended up going on to come in 2nd after getting told to take a wrong turn, but ran a 1:11.)

THE RACE:  Race got pushed back because of so many last minute registrations. We didn't start until close to 12:10. Moved to the back of the pack. I knew that today was just to test the waters and see what I could do on a long training week. It's kind of eerie being back at a race you haven't run in several years, especially the last one you did before a major layoff. Overall things went splendidly though.

MILE 1: (9:19) Things got off to a rocky start because we thought the race had started and were jogging about 150', but it turned out they had not marked the starting line. Ooops. Finally got going though and cruised up the two hills and out of the central campus to the campus road.

MILE 2: (8:57) Settled into a nice pace behind a pack. Just relaxing and enjoying the gorgeous weather. It was 45 out and partly sunny. Amazing!

MILE 3: (8:49) Running on the inner circle of the campus road. Ran next to Wade Stockman, a 75 year old runner who wins his age group in almost every race he runs. His wife is the same way. Annie is 78 and did the same today as well in the 1/2. A truly amazing couple. My parents were both runners in the 80s and remember seeing them at races too!

MILE 4: (8:36) Heading out onto the second loop, Pat came past me and said, "Benn they sent us the wrong way! Mothereffers sent us the wrong way!". He was taking it in stride and just smiling though and running with Tom O'Grady. The eventual winner came by in 3rd and I said: "Oh man you too!? Keep on truckin' man. Show 'em you mean business." He replied: "Thanks! You have a great race yourself".

MILE 5: (8:47) Uphill mile going on the outside of the campus road. Nothing too eventful. Moving past some runners falling back from starting too fast.

MILE 6: (8:44) Coming downhill towards the end of the second loop. Suzy Pris was pacing a friend for a 2:15. Saw me from the inner loop and yelled across the median to me. I waved and gave a thumbs up.

MILE 7: (8:38) Heading into the central campus now. Up and down a nice steady hill. Caught two more runners.

MILE 8: (8:50) Saw a very good family friend, Vitus Chow as I approached the turnaround. He was about a minute ahead of me, and I tried to catch up to him later in the race, but he maintained the 1+ minute on me.

MILE 9: (8:48) Heading out on the final loop on the faster part of the course. Still feeling good and fresh, but I knew that my legs still had the potential to "freeze up".

MILE 10: (9:02) Uphill going into the inner loop. Found a group about 200m ahead and started to make my way towards them. Picked off a lot of stragglers in the course of about 9 or 10 minutes.

MILE 11: (9:23) Blah. Legs feeling it now. Was expected and I was actually surprised I fought it for so long. I haven't had good training and it shows. Just holding my own and keeping people from passing me. less than 3 miles. I can do it!

 MILE 12: (9:26) Tucked in behind a pair of people that were talking about the racing season coming up for 2011. Laughed when one guy said this was his best and worst race of the year. I got the joke (1/1/11.. ONLY race this year).

MILE 13+: (9:36) Hamstrings and quads feeling it. Stopped for water for the first time ( I had a handheld most of the way.). Long uphill before back into the campus loop. Pat Cullen caught up to me on his cool down and ran me in the last .3 miles. Was nice to catch up with him. We both decided that a sub-2 wasn't "that bad" considering my training. We also agreed it was time to head in and get some pizza! 

Total Time: 1:58:31 Total Distance: 13.11 miles Average Pace: 9:03

Emm, my mom, and Harry surprised me by driving from Pittsfield to meet me to take me to Panera. They missed the end of the race though so didn't get to actually see me run, but my mom did enjoy catching up with Vitus.  

This evening Emm and I went bowling with Missy and her sisters and their significant others. Then we went to Missy's house to see Sophie the new puppy! All in all a great day and a great start to the new year! Goals for 2011 and reflections on 2010 to come in tomorrow's entry!