Of Mice and Marathons

Brandon picked me up and we went to the celery bog. We did about 1.5 miles in the woods on the bark and then looped around campus ranging from 7:45-7:20 pace. Did another 1.5-2 miles on the bark (or is it wood chips?) - 12 miles, averaged about 7:50 I think. My watch was being funky. Plenty fast for a recovery day, but that's what you get for running with a former 30:1x 10k runner getting back into shape! Nice to chat and run and explore other loops.

Watched some Beach to Beacon footage. Got slight butterflies in my stomach (not like before a game in high school, the exciting kind before a race).

I would have to say that is a Bill Rodgers coming by at 2:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqVm6DFeV0c

AM: North Side - 6.5 miles, averaged 8:21

PM: Jefferson High School, modified due to closed roads - 7.25 miles, averaged 7:48. Started with a 9-minute mile, then picked it up a bit. Did .75 @ 6:05 pace, which is estimated current 10k pace. 

New, untested theory. My right foot sweats more than my left (observation based on level of audible squishiness)

AM: 9th to the Heritage Trail out and back, little variation at the end to get some light, gradual climbing - 6.25 miles, averaged 8:35

PM: Union to Courtland and back - 6 miles, averaged 7:33. Started a MP tempo after 2 miles, but quickly realized I wasn't ready for it. More mad that I was foolish enough to think I was. 1 mile @ 6:50, cursed myself for my post-5k-PR arrogance, ran back toward home, and did a slight downhill/flat quarter in 76 seconds. Just kinda cruised the first 200 or so meters and then I hit the flat a bit harder and went into low on gas mode. Amazing what even a slight grade will do.

Pedestrian bridge to Happy Hollow Hill and around campus w/ Brandon - 8.14 miles, averaged 7:57

AM: Brandon asked me if I wanted to do a workout in the morning last night. Sure! I've never done a workout with someone, but today I learned the benefits. We had settled on a 4-mile LT tempo. I sketched out a serviceable 2 mile loop (pretty good as it turned out). We went to Cumberland Park, and I started warming up. We did 2.5 warmup w/ a bunch of strides (my legs have been heavy). We alternating taking the lead for a mile, which was helpful and fun. 4 miles in 24:08 (6:02 average): 6:13, 6:08, 5:54, 5:55

2.15 cool down. Pretty pleased with my fitness, especially off of 65-75 miles and being fat :)

PM: North Side -  5.25 miles, averaged 8:17

AM: North Side - 4 miles, averaged 8:54. Early. Well. Not for adults. Off to Maine to run Beach to Beacon on Aug 3.

PM: didn't get out after traveling. That's okay. Plenty of running available this week. Plenty of family time as well. It's been a while. Had 20 more minutes than I realized this morning. Oh well. Good, actual recovery day.

In unrelated news, perhaps the only downfall to Saucony is their odor retention factor. I could smell them in my racing bag (while wearing a suit coat I brought for my cousin's wedding). I may have been the only dude in the airport wearing a suit coat and a Timex and Salomon trail backpack.

RYAN HALL DEENA KASTOR AND MEB ARE RUNNING BEACH TO BEACON. I learned this through Facebook on the way to my parents. Also, my mother and sister picked strawberries with one Joan Benoit Samuelson. Many runners who know their running history (Jake, Mr. Murphy I suspect and others) will remember she's a 2:21 marathoner. I knew she was sub-2:30 and an Olympian, but I didn't know she was a gold medalist. I'm looking forward to running the course, running fairly well and running a legitimate course. I'm glad my parents will get to see some world class runners. I'm still working on running an 800 as fast as these guys are averaging 6.2! 27:27 course record in 2003.

10 miles steady over some decent rolling hills, averaged 7:22 w/ 1 mile @ MP mostly uphill in 6:42. Mostly dirt for the run. Then I did some easy barefoot running on the grass for 10+ minutes. Went straight into the pool.