Philippians 4:13

4 miles recovery and slow on a warm, sunny but windy day.  1.5 miles with Justin and Moxie, 2.5 miles solo.  (Vibram Bikila)

Woke up with the alarm at 4am, saw that is was 23 degrees and snow on the ground...went back to sleep and will run at lunch.  Ah, taper time! 

Ran at lunch on a beautiful day for a run!  I ran a MP tempo run today but had some trouble breathing during the run due a constricted airway.  I hit the 10K mark in 38:20 (6:10 pace) including the first half mile as a warmup.  After that I cooled it down and finished 7.25 miles in 45:45 (6:19 average).  Overall a good run except for the breathing issue, I don't think it is a real problem but I will watch it.  (Cortana)

Cold this morning (20 degrees) but went out anyways for a nice easy untimed 7 mile run with Moxie.  (Ride)

Had the "birds and the bees" talk with my son last night since today they are watching "The movie" in class today.  Discussion went well, we will see if there is followup tonight after school.

A repeat of yesterday only 10 degrees warmer.  7 easy untimed miles with Moxie at 0430.  Probably a bit faster than yesterday but still easy.  (Kinvara)

First time running on the desert in a LONG time.  A beautiful day at lunch (50, sunny, light wind) for a run.  Untimed 4 miler, but based on perceived effort and rough estimate from the clock somewhere between 6:45-7:00 pace.  A front is supposed to roll in this afternoon..ugh!  (Cortana)

4:30am...7 miles with Moxie on a cool morning.  Untimed fartlek run, hard to get up this morning.  (Kinvara)

A beautiful day at lunch, I just could not pass it up.  Did loops around Freeman Park.  0.5M warmup, 3.1 miles at MP, 0.4M cooldown.  4 miles in 24:48 (6:36, 6:03, 6:02, 6:11). Good MP effort felt pretty easy.  (Cortana)

1 mile with the kids before dinner on a glorious evening.  (Vibram)

I woke up to a cold, windy and SNOWY (almost 2 inches) morning...so I slept in a bit more and went to the gym with my wife after dropping the kids off at school.

I had a good hard tempo run this morning.  1 mile warmup then into a 10K progression run starting at 5:56 pace then kept pushing up the pace to 5:27.  The last 0.2 of the 10K was at 4:17 pace.  Overall 10K time of 35:30 for a 5:43 average pace.  Cooled down to get 8 miles total in 47:55.  (Kinvara)

Now for a day of running errands with my wife on my day off and our running groups Pre-Boston motivational get together tonight!

10.5 miles in 1:11:40 (6:50 average) including the first mile warmup at 8:00 pace.  Ran with Gray through SRL to Broadway and back at a decent clip (6:40ish) for the run.  We saw more runners out this morning (about 2 dozen) on the pathways outside of a race...even though it was only about 20-25 degrees outside.

Now for a day of Easter egg hunts, coloring eggs, etc. 

He is risen, He is risen Indeed!

Went to a great church service then had brunch with my parents and brother and his family.

2.5 miles in the late afternoon with Moxie and while the kids biked just to enjoy the wonderful weather and family time.  Ran after playing in the backyard and making drawings on the driveway. 

I slept in and went out on a beautiful day at lunch...sunny, light breeze, 58 degrees.  I ran with no shirt to get some sun (and to scare the locals with my white skin tone!). 

7.5 miles total in 48 minutes (6:24 avg).  10K in 38:45 (6:15 avg) with the last 0.3 miles slower due to a debilitating stitch in my side...ouch. Last 1.3 mile easy cooldown around the park. (Cortana) 

Had to stop once for a pit stop, otherwise a mostly comfortable run.  Last hard run before Boston, all easy from here on! 

The Boston Teams are posted!

http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/team-entrants.aspx

Thanks to PowerBar TeamElite and Saucony Hurricanes for all they are doing in Boston for the athletes!  Looking forward to seeing all the company reps!   Stop by their booths for some great products!

6.5 miles at 6:45 pace on a beautiful and warm day at lunch. Sunny, 68 degrees and a light breeze...nice!  Just a good taper week run. 

Getting excited for the trip!  Have some fun family plans as well as fun friend activities and a few get togethers with Saucony and PowerBar folks. 

4 easy untimed miles with Moxie early on a warm morning (41 degrees).   A nice morning for a taper week run.   Feeling pretty good.

A good new fun option/dilemma for Boston.  My brother secured us seats at the Red Sox game on Wednesday night (great seats on third base line near home plate at ground level!).  But we are scheduled to check out of our hotel and go to Plymouth that afternoon and the downtown hotel rooms are still expensive that night!  So, trying to figure out a way to make it work...probably check out, get our rental car, park at the hotel (or delay getting the car if possible), go to the game, drive to Plymouth that night (only about 40 minutes away...a doable drive later in the evening, especially with our GPS in hand).   Either way, another good thing for the family on our trip!

3 easy miles with Moxie on a warmish but windy morning.  Just another taper run...getting antsy to go!

No run as we are on our way!  See you soon, Beantown! We watched "Fever Pitch" last night to get in the Boston frame of mind...it will be fun.

Plane ride was good yesterday and we got on the T and to the hotel (nice, great location right off Hereford St, about 0.2M from the finishline!) with no problems.  We checked in, grabbed a bite to eat (starving kids!) and found the Whole Foods to stock up on some breakfast and gluten free stuff for our daughter.

What a great morning for a run...sunny, about 45 degrees!  Ran from the hotel down Mass Ave and across the bridge to the other side of the Charles River.  I stopped by MIT, ran along the river and back over the bridge near Cambridge. Ran along the river back to Mass Ave then onto Commonwealth, turned on Hereford then down Boylston to the finishline (starting to see up for th race, still hadn't painted the new finish line yet).  Took a picture from a runner from Japan, then ran to the hotel.  Lots of runner out everywhere, I saw several of the elite Kenyan women and men on the river path...of course they didn't recognize me! 

5 miles in about 39 minutes.  Great start to the day.  Now off to the expo later, hooking up with friends and dinner with the Saucony Hurricanes!

Had a great day...met a VP for Saucony (Fred Doyle) on the T and talked the whole way to the expo.  Saw the PowerBar folks (Dave, Drew, Chad) and listened to Desiree Davila, Time DeBoom and Josh Cox give a talk.  Met Jess at Saucony.  Ran into all the gang wandering around.  The kids last about 2 hours before we were all on overload.  So we left, ate lunch at Flour Bakery and took them to the Boston Children's Museum. 

For dinner met the Saucony Hurricane's for dinner at Pasta Beach on the Rowe's Wharf.  Met lots of good people (Carrie and Shawn with Saucony) and several athletes (Neil, Matt, Matt, Kelly, Nick) most of which will be running around the same time goals.  So between the FRB and Saucony folks we could have a big crew!

3.65 easy miles to the Charles River (ran with LOTS of African runners today!!).  Ran back to Commonwealth and run under the Mass Ave road then to the finish line and back to the hotel.  I wish we had today's weather tomorrow!!!

May head back to the expo to see Curt, Alana, Rob, etc. and to do a video shoot with PowerBar.  Maybe take a bay cruise then dinner with the gang at Maggiano's.  Hotel with the kids to swim then to bed early to get to the 6am buses at the Common. 

Short report: 2:43:26 total time. Good enough for 114 overall, 103 male, 9th Master OA, 1st Idahoan (highest place by Idahoan since at least 2000).  

First and foremost, thanks be to God for the strength to run today in these conditions and to be able to use His strength for this accomplishment.

1:19:56 first half, 1:23:30 second half.  80 degrees at the start, but the heat did not bother me too bad today, I don't know why!  Ran solid, including a pit stop in mile 18 for my slowest mile.  Picked off lots of runners the last 8 miles. 

Feel like this is one of my best runs (probably my best RACE ever) ever considering the conditions (one of the 2 hottest Boston's ever!). 

FRB Masters Team took 4th OA...we kicked the defending champion Whirlaway Racing Team's ASS!!!!

Spent time with family afterwards. Saw Christine Kennedy, Tony Phillippi and Chuck Engle after the race.  An Italian dinner in the room and cupcakes from Sweet bakery.  Went to the PowerBar party...talked with the PowerBar folks (Chad, Dave, Drew, etc.), Josh Cox and Meb Kehflezghi (Meb and I talked for 10 minutes about running and being a Christian athlete)!  Quite a day.  More thoughts later...time for bed.

Details now (after awaking early and being sore).

Met up with Marlin, Rob, Steve and Walter at the Common and rode the buses to Hopkinton where we ran into Cash and spent the morning relaxing and chatting.  We saw Teena (always full of energy!).  Made our way to the start down a back street and found some private PoPs then got into the corral with about 5 minutes to go to stay out of the sun and 80 degree temps.

At the gun, we were deep in the corral and had to start slower and bumping elbows trying to find room to run, which was good and made us start conservatively.  Steve got anxious and bolted ahead and we never were able to hook up with Rob as Walter and I ran together. 

We got right on pace in the next few miles picking it up a bit and weaving through runners.  We were running well and strong but man the heat...taking lots of fluids and dumping water over our heads at every stop and from the folks in the crowd handing out water!  I saw Alana and Rocky at mile 6 and got a boost from their cheers.  I was so wet from all the water I was dumping over my head that my shorts with gels kept feeling like they were falling down around my butt!

About mile 7, we caught up with Steve and kept rolling.  About mile 8 I pulled away from the guys and just kept running consistently, feeling very strong and running with a nice easy pace.  Hit the halfway point in 1:19:56 and I was feeilng really good and ready to challenge the second half!   As we ran through Wellsely College, gave lots of high fives to all the girls!

I remember hearing lots of good music on the course and singing along a few times and having a big smile on my face!  There were several times myself and the guys around me would pump up the crowd and they would respond with roars!!  Several of the small towns along the route were every bit as loud as the run up Boylston.

I remember running a good race in my approach to the hills.  As I would hit an uphill, I would go to my quads and focus on knee drive and direct force to the ground and not hamstring activation, then on the downhill go back to my hamstring strength and fly down the hills.  It worked great, thanks USATF coaching clinic for the tip!

Hit the PowerBar Energy zone at 17 miles and saw the PowerBar folks (Chad, Tim DeBoom, etc.) and got a boost but had to take a pit stop just after to clear out from all the water Gatorade.  Felt much better and didn't loose too much time.  Ended up passing all the folks that I remember passing before so the stop paid off. 

The official water stops were plentiful, but the warm water and Gatorade were not!  I liked the spectators supply better because it was cold!  The last 5 miles I didn't drink any Gatorade because it just upset my stomach.

I felt very strong on the Newton Hills and up Heartbreak never wavering and passing folks and just easing up the hills at a good pace.  Once over the top and coming back down I felt great and was able to pick up the pace through Brookline and into Boston.  The hill at mile 25 sucked, but I knew I was almost done.  Once we hit the underpass at Mass Ave I knew what I had left and was all smiles!!

Picked off a few more runners on Boylston and was running well with no one behind me so I slowed to make sure I found my family in the grandstands!  Gave a wave and a kiss and thanked God for the strength today as I finished to hear my name and PowerBar mentioned on the PA!!

After finishing and walking the long walk to the gear bags and to get medals, food, water, etc. I was thanking all the volunteers for being out there, they make this possible too.  There were and incredible number of volunteers and medical folks in downtown Boston..wow!  Thanks Boston for a great race!

Overall probably my best race ever and an event I will never forget!

Splits: 6:30, 5:51, 5:57, 5:45, 6:02, 5:56, 5:56, 6:04, 6:01, 6:10, 6:21, 6:15, 6:15, 6:10, 6:15, 5:52, 6:24, 6:57 (PoP), 6:09, 6:28, 6:38, 6:00, 6:13, 6:11, 6:23, 6:29, 2:31 (0.4).

Recovery day exploring Boston on the Freedom Trail.  I feel really good today and the walking tour (about 3 miles) was not hard. 

Our kids enjoyed the Freedom Trail and all the history.  Ate at Sweet Bakery, Galleria Umberto (best pizza and arancini!) and Modern Pastry. 

Took the ferry back from the USS Constitution to the aquarium, then walked over to Qunicy Market.  Stopped in at Bill Rodger's Running Center and met Bill and Bobbi Gibb (1st women's finisher!). 

Ate at Atlantic Seafood Co. for our 19th Anniversary dinner then back to the pool for swimming with the kids.  A really good day!

Congratulations to the FRB Women's Open Team for finishing 5th Overall!!!

Another recovery day.  Will spend some time in Boston looking around and going to the Boston Museum of Science (went to the IMAX for a dolphin movie...my daughter was thrilled!).  3 miles walking around town.

Red Sox game versus the Texas Rangers tonight at Fenway!  What a great park...too bad the Sox lost again.

Long drive later to Plymouth.

4 miles to shake out the legs from the hotel.  (Tangent)

Going to spend the day exploring Plymouth... Plimoth Plantation, Mayflower II, Plymouth Rock, watching the herring run up the creek!.  Lots of walking, counting as 3 easy miles.  (Fastwitch) 

3 miles early before exploring Plymouth some more and then heading to Logan airport to return home tonight.  A great Massachusetts vacation!  (Fastwitch)

I slept in after getting home late last night.  Went out for an easy 7 miler and ran to the running store where I saw an ad for the Open Mile at the Tiger Grizz High School meet today.  So, I thought I would try my first ever mile race...5 days after Boston.

Took the kds over and dropped them off in the stands and talked with all the coaches about Boston, ran a bit of a warm up then got the the line for the mile race.  About 6 coaches and 3 others (including me).  The gun went off, hit 400 at 68 (too fast on fatigued legs), 800 at 2:20, 1200 at 3:47,  then 1 mile at 5:00.  Too fast with my first 400 but felt good about a 5 minute mile after running the marathon on Monday.  Finished behind 2 younger coaches and a young guy...still holding up the flag for us old guys.

Met and ran against a guy from Logan by the name of Carson who used to run with Paul, Cody and Jon.  He now coaches for Preston HS...good guy.

Now to catch up on chores around the house, help kids with homework and other daily duties. 

8 miles with Moxie in 58 minutes through SRL.  Took the first 3 easy, sped up for the next 3 then ran into Alana, Deborah and Lyndsi and ran with Alana for about a mile.  Finished off a bit faster for a nice run on a great morning before church.

7 easy miles with Moxie at 4:30am on a warm morning.  Nice and easy in about 50 minutes. Supposed to be nice and hot for the next few days!  (Ride)

7.2 miles at lunch in 46 minutes (6:24 avg).  I felt great and started right into a good pace for a 10K then backed off a little for the last mile.  72 degrees and sunny...nice but it was still cooler than Boston!  I guess we are just as lucky that we didn't have today's weather for the race last week (heavy rain, high winds)! (Cortana)

4:30am...7 easy untimed recovery miles with Moxie on a nice warm morning.  (Fastwitch)

Quick untimed 4.25 mile run at lunch on the desert in beautiful weather!  (Cortana)

4:30am...standard easy morning 7 miler with Moxie, slow (about 51 minutes).  (Ride)

No lunch run, busy at work.  After work stopped by Teton Running then had an Idaho history program that my daughter's 4th grade class put on at school which was really great so only a single run today.

4:30am...met Nate for a run, 7 miles having fun and great conversation.  About 1 mile total before and after meeting him.  8.1 miles at 7:21.  Good early morning run...now waiting to see what the weather does later today for my lunch run.  (Fastwitch)

Nice run at lunch in cool and breezy conditions.  First 2 miles with Dan (7:35, 7:24) then I picked it up.  6:59, 6:33, 6:12, 6:26, 6:34, 0.2 - 1:22.  Overall 7.2 miles at an average pace of 6:49.  (Cortana)

It was cold and very windy out this morning so I opted for a TM run at the gym.  I ended up running next to Marlin for most of the run! 

2 miles easier then started into a MP progression.  At 6.5 miles, I kicked it up and ran 0.5M at 4:17 pace, then finished off the next mile at MP.  Overall 8 miles in 49:20 (6:10 pace) for a good run.  Hope the weather improves for a lunch run...it was snowing on the way into work!  (Kinvara)

Too windy and cold outside to want to run, plus I got really busy at work today.

I received an elite entry into the US Masters Marathon championship at the Twin Cities Marathon in October.  Now need to ensure I can afford to go and fit into my schedule!

Went out early with Moxie for 7 miles, dropped her off and finished off 10 miles in 1:13:50.  (Ride)

Kory Wheatley and his family showed up for the Sunnyside Run for Technology 5k and brunch.  We had a great time with the Wheatley's!

5K in 17:20 for first place, Kory came in second!  The first mile was ok (5:27) but then my hips started to tighten up (residual fatigue from the marathon) so I dialed it back as I was way out in front.  Ran back to see my family running the race as well.  Ended up with an additional 2 miles.  $20 gift card to Barnes and Noble! (Fastwitch)

Overall a great morning of running and friendship! 

10 miles in 1:16 with Moxie before church.  Ran from home through SRL to Broadway and back on a nice morning.  (Ride)

4:30am...6 slow miles with Moxie.  I almost didn't go as my achilles tedons were both fairly sore and stiff this morning, so this was just a short easy run.  Felt a twing in my right PF about 5 miles into the run.  Had to get home before Kami left for work at 5:30.  (Ride)

5 untimed miles at lunch on a nice day...60 degrees, partly sunny but with gusty and swirling wind.  Almost did not go but glad I got it in between work commitments. (Cortana)