More Cowbell!: Mudland Farms (5/26/13)

SRR at the Tent...

Race: Pineland Farms 50k

Location: New Gloucester, ME

Goal Time: 4:45

Actual Time: 5:47:53

At the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (10,000 years ago), the glacier that covered most of modern day Maine receded.  During the glaciation process, parts of the earth’s crusts had been pushed down up to 100 meters. Thus when the glacier had receded, the ocean poured into and flooded valleys of Southern Maine.

In places the ocean received clay sediment or rock and gravel sediment created ridges on the ocean floor.  However in some places, the sediment built up over hundreds of years to build a “glaciomarine delta.”  As the crust up lifted these deltas were raised above sea level.  These silted deltas provide great agricultural land.

Much more recently – Saturday – a huge band of clouds covered Southern Maine.  These clouds were visible accumulated groupings of frozen and liquid water droplets and vapor.  As the droplets condensed in to heavy droplets, they become heavier than air.  Once these droplets and vapors condensed into heavier droplets that were heavier than air, they were pulled to the ground – like Newton’s apple – by gravity.

So many of these droplets were pulled to the ground that they created rain: vast amounts of rain that came down in heavy sheets. These heavy sheets of rain hurdled to the ground and struck the dirt that had been built up by the aforementioned glaciomarine delta.  This water from the rain joined with the dirt on the ground to create MUD.

Even without the mud, the rain on Saturday was bad enough that Tim and I were glad we didn't pick a race and felt empathy for those who did run Saturday's races (10k, 5k, Canicross (doggy) 5k).  The hardy souls that represented SRR in the torrential downpours got our props.

ALEX AND BRIAN BEFORE THE 10K

MILLY BEFORE THE  CANICROSS

URVI FINISHING 10K

By Sunday, the rain had stopped but the mud stayed on. Over the 25km course (2 loops for the 50km and 3 loops + for the 50 mile), there were vast miles of mud. And all sorts of mud: thin layers of mud in some of the woods, sneaky mud hiding under pine needles, hills that made for mud surfing.  But the worst mud was the fields and fields of ankle deep slimy mud that would continue for up to three miles, completely unarrested except for puddles so wide they could not be jumped.

These unjumpable lakes of icy Spring water were of varying – and unknown - depths.  Two were less deep than the mud.  One was knee deep.  (My first time across, I looked back at the people behind me and yelled: "Watch out that s**t is deep!")

MUD IN STAGING AREA - (NOT CLOSE TO THE WORST OF IT)

The three-mile stretch from the 5km to the 10km mark was the absolute worst. This slipping and sliding through empty fields with the occasional icy bath for your leg. The first time through I rolled the ankle I twisted in Pittsburgh three weeks ago.

By it was the second time through that was the near death of me – and probably a moment of self-realization that every ultra runner has to deal with and accept. The pain had become so bad in my ankle that I could not get proper stability on the mud.  It was painful to run on it: Hell, it was painful to stand on it.  In these wind-swept open fields from 30km to 35km, I was slipping and sliding in pain on my right ankle as the wind hit in cold blasts at gusts of 20 mph.

I stood there a second and looked back out over these fields: noone near me, no road, no house.  I was desolate and destitute.  I imagined myself in black and white in some Ingmar Bergman existential allegory of death.  I knew that I still had 11 miles left.  I also knew that the next two miles were going to be REAL hard.  I also knew that the 9 miles after that would be comparatively easier. So I gutted out the 2 most painful miles of my running career.  As I put in three miles averaging 17 minute pace, the goals of breaking 5 or 4:30 had not only vanished, but seemed like fools' errands.

SARA and KAREN FINISHING 25K

Without the ankle issue, I'm sure I would have run near 5 hours.  In the second loop, I couldn't effectively run on the deep mud or on the downhills because it hurt my ankle too much.  This left the 35 meters of flat dry trail and the uphills to be the fast parts.  Yes, let's review, the uphills in a trail race were the FAST parts of the second loop.

Until about 28 km in the race, my ankle didn't bother me too much.  It seemed like I might have dodged a bullet and pulled off something. But slowly into the first mile of the real bad mud, it dawned on me how much my ankle hurt from stabilizing.  Fortunately, I realized that I could only do what I could do.  Once I used a clever gambit of my knight and bishop to fight off Bergman's Död, I accepted my duty.

KATE COMING IN FOR THE WIN

I just needed to run 9 miles through pain and just finish - DAMN YOU, PLEISTOCENE EPOCH!!!.  While I was passing 50 mile runners (and some stragglers from the 25k), many 50 km runners just blew by me in that last 9 miles.  With every step I cared less about the pain and the mileage in front of me seemed less daunting.  At 48 km, I thought I should start running hard to finish faster.  Then I thought: Why?  So I coasted in the last brutal 2km.

In the last 200 meters there is the biggest of puddles/ mud pits. Over the race a trail had been created around the puddle.  This was now filled with more mud.  I was trying to navigate through two trees off to the side, when a woman tried to push me and said: "Excuse me, I'm trying to finish..."  Well, I sprinted to the end to make sure I beat her.

SPRINTING TO THE FINISH IN PURE PAIN....

As I crossed in pain but under 6 hours: Take that Död, I'm not going with your dance.  I was handed the "finisher medal:" a cowbell!

MORE COWBELL!!

I had once listed the 5 hardest athletic undertakings:

1.  Cycling Patra-Olympia

2.  Half Iron Duathlon

3.  Bay State Marathon

4.  Climbing Basjke Ostarije (even without minefields after)

5.  Boston Brevets 200k, 2010

This race moves into 2nd...

Shoutouts

Alex White took 3rd in the 10k on Sat on 2nd in the 50 miler on Sun

Brian Tinger took 1st in the 10k and 4th in the 50 miler

D-Fizz took 2nd in the 50k

Kate Hails was 3rd in the 5k and successfully defended her 25k title

Scot DeDeo won his age group in the 50k with a 5 PR (god knows what his time would have been on a halfway decent course)
The SRR-Tree Bien Teams took 3rd overall in the 25k and 50k races

Milly ran her first trail race. 

SCOTT WITH WATER BOTTLE AND COWBELL!!  Click for Scot's blog here

Five for New England: Great Bay Half Marathon (4/8/12)

Race: Great Bay Half Marathon
Location: Newmarket, NH
Goal Time: 1:27:00
Actual Time: 1:28:59

This small race in New Hampshire is one of my Top 5 favorite races.  I said that despite never figuring out what my Top 5 races were.

So here they are in no particular order:

Run the Goose 7k:  Quirky little race in Gloucester on Labor Day.  It runs concurrently with the Cape Ann 25k.  The course is beautiful, most of it running through a town nature preserve.  There is also a weird spot where you have to run over a damaged dam that includes a 3 foot drop down and then run back up.  I ran it in 2011 and 2012.  Tommy B. also thinks the 2011 shirt is the best race shirt ever.

Martha's Vineyard 20 Miler: One of the key Boston Prep races.  Starting perfectly at the ferry terminal in Vineyard Haven, you can hop off the ferry and almost right into the race, like I did in 2013.  Or, with the island off season (and demand for vacation housing through the floor in February) you can make a weekend of it like I did in 2012.  The course rounds around the island past the gingerbread houses in Oak Bluffs, down the coast and through the state forest in the center of the island.  The "No Weenies" motto is both cute and valid.  The race also has a Clydesdale category, which is always a plus.

MDI Marathon Relay: The Mount Desert Island Marathon was voted the second prettiest course by Runner's World the year I did the relay.  The course through Acadia National Park in October and along the island's fjords is breathtaking.  The "shirt" is a pull-over half zip jacket and the medal was large but not gaudy.  I huge group of us went and rented a house.  Scott, Bolt, SoRad, Evan and I all climbed Cadillac Mountain the next day.  Kelsea and I ran it in 2011 and finished in 4th.  As we each get better, one year the two of us have to go back and win it...

Blue Hills Races (Fox Trot 10 Miler): A spring race through the Blue Hills.  The Colonial Road Runners have it perfectly organized (no "which way do I go?" problems prevalent in other trail races).  While there are no t-shirts (which is fine to me now), the awards are really cool: home-baked bread for overall; homemade cookies for age-groups.  I've run it in both 2010 and 2011 and I hope to return when it's not held the week before my spring marathon as it has the last two years.

Great Bay Half Marathon: I don't know why I like this one so much.  Felix found it in 2010 and we ran it together; so, it is a race that predates my SRR days.  And of course two years later Urvi and I ended up going up together (after two others had bailed last minute).  It was the trip that started us dating so it is important for that.  But the race itself is hard.  It's hilly: tagline: "These legs climbed the hills of Great Bay."  It's the week before Boston, so few New England distance runners do it.

This year made it the third time I've run Great Bay.  This year I was looking to improve on last year's PR.  I didn't.  But, I still loved the race and the little town that gets involved with musicians and belly dancers through most of the course.  Any year I don't run Boston, I'll be climbing the hills of Great Bay

Chris Smith did take 7th overall and won his division.

A Whale of a Tale: New Bedford Half Marathon (3/17/13)

Slamu the Whale (notice, not a penguin)

Race: New Bedford Half Marathon
Location: New Bedford, MA
Goal Time: 1:27:00
Actual Time: 1:28:07

Call me Jesse.  Some years ago, having lost interest in the sports of grass and parquet, I set myself asail in the world of running.  A return to the basest and rawest of sports (along with wrestling...) was my own slip from the world of relying on others to show up for basketball or soccer games.

In continuation of that rawest of sport, I returned to the whaling city for another attack on my white whale - the goal of a 1:25 half.  (Yes, I'm making myself Ishmael AND Ahab in the same blog...) However, my goal is to work my way down toward it.  The first step is to break 1:27.

The beginning of the New Bedford Half is always a little crazy.  The corrals are too small for the number of people trying to fit into them.  I had issues getting anywhere near where I was supposed to at the start.  Instead I was able to get myself right up front.  Realizing this would probably put me both in danger and just in the way of people running sub - 1:10s, I scooted off to the side.  Kevin and Wendy soon joined me.

As the start approached they moved everyone to the starting mats, I slipped into the 8th or 9th row (still way to far up).  Slamu, the mascot of the New Bedford Bay Sox, was at the start rallying the runners.  I gave him a thumbs up and next thing I know... I'm hugging a whale to start the race (not a penguin...).

This seemed like it would be good karma for my assault on the white whale.

I mapped out a plan of attack.  First, I would take the first 3.5 miles in the 6:45 to 7:00 per mile range.  (The 3.5 mile mark is the highest point on the course.  The hill is early and long but more like one that will kill pretenders to the overall title than one that should effect most average runners.) Then the next four and a half was largely gentle downhill to the water where I would hit an easy tempo 6:30s.

I successfully summitted the hill at 23:45, within my 45 second goal window.  I then eased into stamping out the 6:30s and hit mile 7 still in my goal window.  This was not before I was passed by Tim Harden at around mile 6.5.

At the water is the first real challenge of the course.   It is a four mile loop along a peninsula. Victor always says it sucks one way or another.  Either out or back will be a massive head wind.  Tom Derderian says the head wind is like having a two mile hill.  My goal was to fight through the wind at 6:30 whether out or back and then easy 6:30 when it was at my back.

Once again, I achieved this for the most part; I had slipped to 6:40s into the wind through miles 10 and 11.  The issue was that at 11 when I was ready to explode toward my 1:27: if my chest had been a mortar, I would have burst my heart's shell upon it.  The wind kept blowing in my face.  Joe described it as fighting for so long into the wind, eventually you lose the battle and slow.

Indeed, by mile 12 and the last challenge - the big hill - I had virtually no chance at a PR.  I took every remaining bit of strength in me and spit my last breath at thee to charge the hill without redlining.  But, it was to no avail.  I turned toward home and hit the 13 mile marker right at 1:27:30.  I heard others sprinting behind me toward the finish, so I eased over to the right to get out of their way and ran a in the last of the distance.

The drama's done - 1:28:07 - second fastest half ever and a course PR.  But alas, I am not satisfied.  I stood at the finish high-fived Megan Hyland and talked with Brian Keefe who in a wave of Personal Records for others (to follow) were like me orphans of such glory...

SRR PRs (soon to be retitled: the Liz Cooney Report)

Liz Cooney, Brendan Caffery, Andy Marinelli, Jess Dombrosky, Amy Diertofupup, Tommy B., Tim Harden, (The Tommy-Tim race was apparently a knock down drag-out sprint) Alison Lackey, Claudia, Chris K., Bradley, Jake Barnett and Larissa.

Larissa also took 3rd overall - (precursor to a good showing in Pittsburgh?)

Non Infantis Flendi: Martha's Vineyard & The Isle of Winter (2/16/13)

Race: Martha's Vineyard 20 Miler
Location: Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown
Goal Time: 2:19:59
Actual Time: 2:20:37 (2nd, Clydesdales!)

In the 1st Century AD Tacitus described Ireland as Hibernia, "the isle of Winter":
"si quidem Hibernia medio inter Britanniam atque Hispaniam sita et Gallico quoque mari."

My recollection of High School Latin states that Tacitus felt Ireland was "between Britain and Spain and in the seas by Gaul."  Or maybe that it was the "point where mediations were held about the various characteristics that differed" between several brown breeds of dogs.  (Out of context either one could be correct.)

Indeed the isle of winter was so formidable even the most powerful and expansionist empire the world had ever seen would dare conquer it.  Although apparently Tacitus' son-in-law, the rogue Governor of Britannia Julius Agricola, did attempt to build an invasion force.  (There is something else in Tacitus' text, if my High School Latin holds up, where Agricola can see Hibernia from his house and Agricola claimed Finn MacCool was "palling around with terrorists.")

... but, I digress.  Situated a 45 minute ferry ride from Wood's Hole, si quidem Vinea Marthae medio inter Nantucketum atque Paenisula Moruae sita et Massachusettsium quoque mari.  And throughout the week there had been much fear among those running a 20 mile race on the Vinea Marthae that it would be an insula Hibernia.  As we crossed the ferry, the chance of various degrees of rain, sleet and snow ("slushballs from the sky", as my father calls them) dwindled from 50% to 20%.  Things were looking hopeful.  It seemed that I may have actually overdressed with my arm-warmers and high socks.  But - as I often tell my poker buddies - 20% is still one-in-five; it's not impossible. 

The weather was cool - 35F - at the start and I went out with a bunch of the boys who were warming up with 7:00/miles.  The first three were great and then they sneakily dropped the minute per mile on me without me noticing.  At 3.5 miles, I looked at my watch and we were doing 6:25.  Before I walked into a Teutoburg Forest problem and Augustus started demanding his legions back from me, I said, "Whoa, guys.  I'm now going to slow down."  Each one of them were a little shocked to see me still running with them and agreed with my plan to go back to 7:00/miles.

Tyler, who I think was just trying to go easy, dropped back with me to keep me company through the run.  Over the next couple of miles my hands warmed up and it looked like Hibernia was a mere scare and fear of those runners who like to fear things.


Around mile six, I saw some sweat fly off my hair in a weird angle.  It took me a second to realize, that wasn't sweat and it didn't fly off me.  In fact my hopes that the weather would pass was like trying to go - as Steinbeck argued - ad astra per alas porci ("to the stars on the wings of pigs").  Over the next 10 miles, I attempted to maintain my 7 min/mile pace as gradually Vinea Marthae seemed more and more Hibernia.


Tyler continued coaxing me onto 7 minutes and cajoling me away from stupid actions.  The sleet and snow and rain continued to fall and soak through my arm warmers and my shoes.  Fortunately at some point everything is numb so it can no longer feel the Hibernian weather falling upon it.  The trails iced into skating rinks that required running on the road. (Drivers were mostly great).  Police and volunteers directed traffic and crossings.  (Can I give three - no four - cheers to the volunteers here?  Running in that weather was awful.  But sacrificing your day to stand at windy corners and point crazy runners left and right?  Superheroes!)

At 17, I told him I couldn't continue on anymore at the pace.  He moved ahead at a more comfortable pace for him.


At this point the 11 miles of Hibernian "slushballs from the sky" had left me shaken.  It took all my strength to, in the words of Virgil, "durate, et, vosmet rebus servate secundis."  Which my high school Latin says: "Toil on and things will be better the second time."  (Robert Fagels more eloquently - and probably more correctly - says: "Bear up. Save your strength for better times to come.")

Miles 18 and 19 dropped well off the 7 minute pace.  With one mile to go, I had to run a 6:40 to break my PR from last year.  I put all my effort into it.  But, my 6:42 mile was not enough and I missed last year's time

In a letter to the governor of Libya, Pliny the Younger said that the Martha's Vineyard race would require something: "Non infantis flendi"  (No Weenies!).

SRR Shoutouts -

Kieran placed 5th overall and 1st in his age group
Deb Downs took 2nd in her age group
Tim Morin and John Wichers each took 3rd in their age groups
John Wichers and I made a one-two punch taking the top slots in the Clydesdales.

The ever democratic Somerville Road Runners were represented by 18 people - from Kieran at 2:5 to Urvi at 4:08 - taking home the inaugural "Running Club Cup."

Twin Towers Run in a Blizzard: 20 in the snow - photo blog (2/9/13)

Davis Square

Deb and Bradley in Davis Square

Riding on the Roads are Tough

Bradley leaving us behind on Eastern Ave in his Yak Trax

Bradley and I at Tower 1 - Arlington Water Tower

The River

Bradley at Tower 2 - First Flag Tower

Boston from the First Flag Tower

Bradley and I at the First Flag Tower

Divergence: Derry 16 (1/27/13)

Race: Boston Prep 16
Location: Derry, NH
Goal Time: 1:51:59
Actual Time: 1:53:13

Nearly 3000 years ago the great Greek philosopher Hesiod commented on the challenges of man.  In his "Works and Days" he states: "Failure you can get easily, in quantity: the road is smooth, and it lies close by.  But in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to it..."

I don't know if the original designers of the Derry Boston Prep 16 had ever read Hesiod, but it certainly seems that way.

Derry is the first monumental race of the New England Calendar.  A monument the Olympians would sure to have smiled upon.  It's "moderately challenging" course is long and steep and one must put sweat that will freeze in the New Hampshire winter temps upon the brow.

This was my second time running the race.  Last year was an eye opener.  It was my first step toward my great 2012 season.  In what would be a year of accomplishments and winning the SRR Most Improved Runner, I was still learning myself and my abilities.   Fortunately, through much of it I was helped by running with, fellow SRR Most Improved Runner, Megan Hyland.

This year, I was left to my own devices and wiles.  My goal was simply to beat 7:00/mi on the course.  At the same time, I was not too worried if I didn't. Last year, I was happy to take every race and to taper for the fastest time possible. 

At the start I was able to temper my speed (after I had put significant distance between myself and hacking Colombian guy).  The first five miles saw me run one second faster than last year.  Yep, one second. 

It was the second five miles where I lost time.  This is probably because I wasn't able to push myself up the smaller hills the same way I was able to follow Megan last year.  My own will power is lacking still on small hills.  (I'm STILL learning the balance.)

But the BIG hill (from 10.5 mile to 12.25 mile) is the long and steep way to excellence.  Last year, I wasn't prepared.  I was passed by at least half a dozen people.  This year I was passed by ONE and passed one, so it was a net zero.

But, it was in the final three miles that I really noticed a difference in quality this year.  I was able to charge the entire last three miles.  I passed one person this year (passed by 12 or so last year). 

I came in 18 seconds slower than last year, but I felt I had a better race.  Between the colder weather and the fact that I didn't taper for it, I think it was a net win if not a PR or absolute improvement.

On one side there is the easy road: smooth and close.  On the other is the long and steep way that fewer people travel upon.

In the words of Derry, NH resident Robert Frost:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

Congrats to Liz Cooney who is on her monster tear - 2nd place in her age group.

39 for 39 β: Cape Cod Marathon, Halftoberfest, Part 5 (10/28/12)

Finishing the Marathon

"Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel!" ("Fate goes ever as she shall!").

~Beowulf

Race: Cape Cod Marathon

Location: Falmouth, MA

Goal Time: 3:30:00

Actual Time: 3:27:48

For the second time of the weekend I was running down the hill of the Nobska Point Lighthouse.  I saw Hurricane Sandy's angry waves smashing off the rocks that lined the sea wall like angry fates. While the hurricane hadn't hit full force yet, I was looking forward to the tail wind from 22-26 that Deb Downs had promised me to finish race and finish the Clam Chowder Challenge.  

Over the month I had discussed the Chowder Challenge event with several people.  Most people just thought it was crazy to run a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday.  Ray Charboneau told me he'd do it if it was the other way around and he could race the full and then do whatever in the half the next day.  Frank Georges attempted to convince me NOT to run the whole challenge and just run the full marathon in a third attempt to qualify for Boston.  (I missed by 4 minutes at Providence and then by 9 at Reykjavik.)  My Co-workers basically questioned why anybody would do that...

I didn't know how I'd feel running a marathon, considering:

a) I hadn't run more than 14 miles (or 16 depending on whose memory I use) at once since Reykjavik;

b) I raced a half marathon a week earlier; and,

c) I jogged a half marathon the day before.

So, I decided to go out conservatively.  Fortunately my race buddy, Mariah (who had run less than me since Reykjavik), was also into starting conservatively.  But one cannot control too much in life and one has to follow the fates as they are handed to you.

We ran the first two and a half miles together at a slow easy pace.  We did the first mile in just under 9 minutes and the second in just under 8.  At the first water stop Mariah pulled off and said she was going to walk through the water stops.  I waved goodbye.

After finishing mile 3 in 8 minutes or so, I started picking up speed.  I passed Mike Joyce, who had started too fast, and then I passed the gang cheering out in front of the house we rented.  (Oddly, the lunatic neighbor was not out to cheer).  

By mile 7, I realized I was actually running well and comfortable.  I was putting in 7:15 - 7:20 miles with some ease.  This would take me to 3:12 or so and qualifying for the Boston Marathon, if I could keep it up.  I was almost trapped in the Anglo-Saxon wyrd.  Like a warrior in Beowulf, I had no choice but to continue on this path despite the fact that I knew I would not be able to. 

At the half marathon point I was at 1:38.  This meant if I continued at this rate, I'd be right under 3:12.  I also knew I wouldn't but had to try.  Alas, off to fight the Firedrake. 

Urvi was at mile 16 to cheer me on.  She and Amy determined that I was doing well, since I merely high fived and did not stop for a kiss. 

I felt good at 30k.  I thought the wyrd may be on my side for the marathon since this is where I had fallen apart in Lowell and in Reyjavik.  I passed Tim at 19 and felt bad.  I knew he was in for a long next 7 miles by his face and gate.  

21 is where the Firedrake struck me and my weapons were useless:

"Wielding his sword, he struck at the wyrm
and his fabled blade bit to the bone
through blazoned hide: bit and bounced back,
no match for the foe in this moment of need."

~ Beowulf

The accidental and unlikely dreams of BQ were gone.  But, I only had to make it over the Nobska Point Light and then there would be the downhill leading into a tail wind.

As I came down the hill next to the angry rocks and felt the HEAD wind, all I could say was: "Damn you, Deb Downs!"

I fought through it as best I could.  I slowed from 7:20 miles to 9:45 miles with now only the goal to finish the marathon, the Clam Chowder Challenge AND Halftoberfest.  Until mile 25 I fought through the headwinds and used the last bits of energy to say: "Damn you, Deb Downs!"

After 25 the course turns left.  A volunteer (who I later found out was Chris Spinney) told me: "turn left here and you are out of the wind."  Awesome finally I can stop saying "Damn you, Deb Downs."

Turns out, nope the wind is actually worse for a block or so!  "Damn you, Chris Spinney!"

Now, I just counted down the estimated minutes left until I finished.  At the 26 mile mark I realized 

a) I had passed 39 miles for my 39th Birthday; and

b) I might as well "sprint"

I pulled with the cheers from the gang at 3:27:48 for the Marathon and 5:19:52 for the Clam Chowder Cup Challenge!

SRR Shoutouts -

Jake Barnett finished 8th Overall

Diona finished in 6th Overall

Deb Downs finished 7th Overall "Damn you Deb Downs!"

The 50+ men's team won (Ray, Robert and Jeff)

Alison Lackey finished her first marathon 

Kit Newton had a one hour PR

Ruth Sespaniak had a PR of more than 10 minutes

Bradley had a MONSTER PR and BQed with a 3:05

The Women's Open team took 3rd.

39 for 39 α: Cape Cod Half Marathon, Halftoberfest Part 4 (10/27/12)

Half Marathon Finish

Race: Cape Cod Half Marathon

Location:  Falmouth, MA

Goal Time: ??:??:??

Actual Time: 1:52:04

All of the month was leading to this weekend...  

Halftoberfest's month long quest to 4 half marathons and 1 full marathon culminated with running 39 miles on my 39th birthday weekend.  (Well, 39.3 miles. Bradley wanted to make sure I didn't just stop running at 39 miles because that would have had me quitting 25.9 miles into the full marathon.)

Not much really to say about this race.  The entire goal of this race was to not tire myself - considering I had a marathon the next day.  

So, I had an easy jog for the first 10 miles, almost exactly at 9 minute miles.  Then at the 10 mile I picked up speed and ran the last 5k in 22 minutes.

Then a big delicious basic breakfast at Artie's - a hungry man with linguica.

SRR Shoutout -

Chris Smith took 3rd overall (2nd male).

Detroit-Rock City: Detroit International Half Marathon, Halftoberfest, Part 3 (10/21/12)

Race: Detroit International Half Marathon

Location: Detroit, Michigan & Windsor, Ontario

Goal Time: 1:27:00

Actual Time: 1:30:55 (10th in my Age Group and 104th Overall)

So I went to Detroit to celebrate Scotchtoberfest.  But then I found out there’s no such thing as Scotchtoberfest:

SCOTCHTOBERFEST!

So, instead I continued Halftoberfest and ran the Detroit International Half Marathon.  My goal had been to run a 1:27 flat.  While I trained for this to be my A race of the season, I haven’t been taking the fall too seriously.  The real reason for the race was Urvi.  This was her first Marathon since she didn’t complete Chicago last year and her first Marathon that wasn’t New York.

We stayed in town at the Marriot Renaissance Center.  In the morning we only had to go ½ mile to the start line.  That was great.  I figured we’d leave at 6:15 and still have 20 minutes to do a couple of miles of warm up before the race started. 

This is where I lost my race.  The last corral was Corral “L”; I was in Corral B.  I said goodbye and good luck to Urvi as she left for gear check.  I then spent my 20 minutes fighting from Corral L to Corral B.  I got to the corral with 2 minutes to spare.  No chance for a warm up.

2 minutes after the wheelchairs and hand bikes went, combined Corrals A (like 5 guys) and Corral B were sent off westward into the morning darkness.  I ran down Fort at steady 6:30 miles.  The end of mile two begins the first tough bit of the race. 

The road wraps around as it joins the on ramp to the Ambassador Bridge.  The Bridge heads SOUTH to Windsor, Canada from Detroit.  It is a slow going more than mile climb of 152 feet to the 5k point.  I kept this steady.  Finished it right around 21 flat.

Down the bridge I kept my head trying not to go too fast (avoiding the edges of the bridge since there are no guard rails.  At mile 4 you leave the bridge and run through the customs booths (where someone with a mike was welcoming us to Canada – CANADA!)

CANADA!

Once we are off the ramp, we were there – CANADA!  The colours of the sunrise were disbursing on the river; but, it was still dark.  Despite the darkness, Canadiens lined the road sitting in chairs cheering runners from all over the world (including every state AND every province).  There were three miles in Canada, including the first relay hand off and the 10k point.  I was still doing well at 10k – 41:30. 

You left the waterfront with a left toward the tunnel and at mile 7, we were heading to El Norte again via the underwater mile.  Miles 7-8 are in the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel with its harsh slope down and gentle up back into Detroit.  Half way through the tunnel there is the border and they have place a line with flags in the wall tiles.  The guy next to me commented that he thought people got immediately ruder…

We came out of the tunnel next to the Renaissance Center.  The sun was fully up and the few angiosperms I saw were filled with their autumnal colors.  Across the road there was a sign that welcomed you back to the United States.

USA! USA!

We ran down West down Jefferson and Civic Center Drive toward Joe Louis Arena.  We passed the 15k mark on 6^th Street – 1:02:40, which would have been my 15k PR!  This is where the no warm ups really caught up with me.  By mile 10, I had a tight left hamstring and both hips with pains.  @#$&$%!!

While, I probably would not have run my PR, I knew I couldn’t now.  I figured at this point I would just enjoy the rest of the run.  This was of course depressing; I just hurt badly and everyone around me was now passing me as they built up speed to finish strong and all I could do was virtually limp.  I crossed 20k at 1:26:20 – losing 45 seconds a mile in that 5k. 

The 20k saw the Half/ Full Split.   I gained my composure briefly.  I put everything I had into the last kilometer.  Sprinting down Fort Street to the end, I brought in a strong finish passing half a dozen people in the last km.

I finished 10^th in my age group and 104^th overall. 

More importantly, I got to the 40km point in time to catch Urvi.  I ran with her up the last hard hill – up to mile 25!

SRR Shoutouts

Gwen ran the International Half also – 2:19:56

Urvi ran the full – 5:15:47

Andrew Darien and his “Washed up Wolverines” took second in the Master’s relay

Back to the Beginning: BAA Half Marathon, Halftoberfest Part 2 (10/7/12)

SRR's of all ages handing out finisher medals

"I am waiting for you, Vizzini. You told me to go back to the beginning. So I have."
-Inigo, Princess Bride


Race: BAA Half Marathon
Location: Boston, Franklin Park, the Zoo and Emerald Necklace
Goal Time: 1:40:00
Actual Time: 1:35:39


In the turn with about 150 yards to go, I opened it up to full throttle. I knew the two guys behind me had really good kicks and it would be all it took to beat them.  The slow building sprint that I had started was all out now.  Every step in my life had led to this moment.  This was the culmination.  I held on as Hector and I each opened on Chucky and the previous 10 minutes of lead were not wasted as I just out ran Hector the whole way.  Immediately the Herald reporter was asking me questions and I was handed a first place medal (and a fifth place medal for the shotput)...

That was of course the last time I was on this track: 20 years ago at the Boston City High School Championships.  Sunday brought it back to the beginning.  So I have, back to Franklin Park to the 2nd Stage in Halftoberfest and the 2nd Half Marathon of the weekend - The BAA Half Marathon.  I finished on the same track I'd run so many times next to the same field I'd played upon so many times.  My club was in charge of handing out finisher medals. So as I came across the line,  Urvi emerged from the pack.  She gave me my finisher medal and a kiss.  And there I got to unite another place with another shared memory with her...

The BAA Half course is very much another coming home event like the Hub on Wheels.  It starts from in front of the Giraffe Entrance to the Zoo, out along Arboway, Jamaicaway, and Riverway and back.  Then through Franklin Park, by the Shattuck and the Golf Course and then through the Zoo.  The last mile takes you out of the Zoo and around my old football practice field and into my old football and track haunt - White Stadium, to sprint the last 150 or so yards around the track.

As it might surprise you to hear, the second half marathon in a weekend (I ran Applefest on Saturday) - hurts.  By mile two I realized there would be very few miles that were 6 somethings. (I think only 1, 6 and 13 were, in fact, the only ones under 7 minutes.)  Neil Cronin - who I'd worked with years ago when we both smoked and before we ran again - passed me at 2 and we chatted a bit.  

By the five mile mark I felt like I had reached the 30km point of a marathon and had to fight through it to finish.  (Perhaps not so oddly, this was around the 30km point of the weekend).  Fortunately it was part of the out and back and downhill.  I was briefly able to zone out of running by cheering people on coming up to the turn around.

We passed by Forest Hills on the overpass (ridiculous running the overpass by the way) and reentered Franklin Park right at the 9 mile mark.  I looked at my watch and realized I was guaranteed to finish faster than 1:40 basically.  I  pulled in the throttle a bit and headed out to finish in 7:45s the rest of the way.  There was another turnaround about 10.25 miles.  Here my coasting dream was shattered.  I saw Matt Noyes coming and realized he was waaaay closer than the 5 mile turn around.  Shit.  

So, I picked it up.

Coming out of the zoo at the 12 mile mark, I knew what and how to run this last mile.  Every step was one I had taken a million times in either football cleats or waffle flats - or mostly both.  I stepped in the ghosts of my own self.  The self before my wasted 20s.  The self before I had virtually ruined my life.  The self of those final fitful joyful days in the Spring of life.  I was able to channel that long ago past with my current training.

The entrance to the stadium was the 13 mile mark.  After almost unconsciously turning right down the track, I went CORRECTLY left.  I kept my eyes on the football yard markers on the walls like I always had.  I outsprinted two people from the entrance to the finish line.  I finished with some Deion high-stepping into the aforementioned kiss from Urvi.

Later Matt said that he should make sure to race me every time I'm running my second half marathon.  That's the way he can keep up and maybe beat me.  But, really, once those ghosts of yesterday joined with my exercise of day to help exorcise some of those demons from that wasted ruined middle years, he never had a chance.  Maybe on another track in another stadium in another park...

I finished with a combined time of 3:09:40 marathon for the weekend.

SRR shoutouts

- Men's Team 2nd Place overall

- Women's Team 2nd Place overall

- Bradley Harris had a PR to lead the men's team and lock up 10th in the Distance Medley (only like 45 minutes away from beating Kiprono for that $100,000)

- Megan Hyland had a PR to lead the women's team, finished in 5th in the Medley and in 11th place missed the $300 for 10th in the race by one minute.

- Seth Maleri, Anthony White (my brother for the day) and Brendan Cafferey all had awesome PRs on the men's side

- Amy Dierberger, Korynn Stoyanoff and Sarah Bolt all had awesome PRs on the women's side.

DOUBLE PIE!: Applefest Half Marathon, Halftoberfest Part 1 (10/6/12)

DOUBLE PIE!

Race: Applefest Half Marathon
Location: Hollis, NH
Goal Time: 1:30:00
Actual Time: 1:34:01

O' zapft is! - (It's tapped) - the traditional beginning of Oktoberfest.

And thus without the full fanfare of 12 Guns like Munich, the first (and probably only) Halftoberfest is launched!  Part one of my month-long quest to complete 4 half marathons and a full begins.

The first race is a classic Southern New Hampshire hilly challenge.  Much like Lake Winnie, Great Bay or Derry, the course if fraught with steep downhills, short steep uphills and long windy uphills.  It is not the best PR course in New England.  Of course, regardless of John Wichers' warnings, it didn't stop me from trying.

In the morning it looked like it might be one of those excellent autumn days for running.  By 10 am, at the startline we realized it was not.  Wendy and I stood sweating awaiting for the gun to go - temperatures were at around 70 for the start and probably 75 by the finish.  Between the hills and the heat I was beginning to question  my racing this as my first goal of Halftoberfest.  But, it did have a Clydesdale category, so I went racing for apples.

Fuji: Start - 5k

Fuji apples, a Japanese hybrid of Red Delicious and Virginia Gennets, are easily my favorite apple.  Sweet and large with a long shelf life.  With their crispy yet refreshing meat, they are so easy to eat.

The first three miles of the half were just like that.  Even the hill between mile 1 and 2 wasn't that bad since it was so early in the race.  I sailed through the first little loop at 6:30 miles (realizing this was too fast in general but okay for the downhill).  It was at the top of the hill that I noticed another guy probably over 190 who was running well.  Uh,oh this is my challenger in the Clydesdale...The loop passed the start finish again so we got the cheers of the crowd a second time.

Baldwin: 5k - 10k

Baldwin apples date from the 18th Century and the variety is a New England original.  It was found, other than developed, by a guy named Baldwin in Wilmington, MA.  At first bite they are sweet.  Yet, then the juice slips down your chin and then you are hit with wee bit of tart....

Miles 3-6 had a reasonably tolerable long hill, followed by a downhill.  Yet this downhill was far too steep to be a "clydesdale hill."  (The long reasonably flat downhill where the extra momentum of the weight and Newton's Apples are helpful.)  Instead I lost any advantage I might have had over others.  I couldn't even break away from my Clydesdale challenger on the hill.

Gala: 10k - 15k

Developed in the 1970s in New Zealand, I always think of Galas as "faux Fujis."  They aren't quite as sweet and aren't quite as crunchy as the Japanese hybrid.  If you find fujis a bit too sweet, you'll probably love Galas.  They still are what I buy if there are no fujis and the Golden Delicious aren't available.

At the end of the steep non-clydesdale hill at mile six the course is in the Nashua River valley with only little bumps and lumps.  It was not as flat as I thought it was going to be; so I was not able to break the elastic of the other Clyde.  I opened a bit of a lead, but realized that the next 3 were going to be a challenge for me...

Granny Smith: 15k - 20k

Granny Smith's are my number 2 LEAST favorite apple ever (mealy, waxy Red Delicious are number one).  Granny Smith are tart to sour, ubiquitous and worst of all occasionally fall into the Golden Delicious/Ginger Gold bins and a week later trick you into eating them!  Yet, once you've already bitten into them you have to finish them.  (To be fair, they are still apples... they are still high up in the hierarchy of delicious things to eat...)

Yep that's how miles 9 - 12 were.  There is a long series of mild-steep hills from 8.5 to 10.5.  I knew they were coming and I knew I would have to fight through them.  But coming up to it I also knew I had to be in the lead over the other clyde at the top of the next hill at 12.5 miles.  But I didn't want to destroy myself over either of them since I did have the BAA Half Marathon the next day.  I kept a good time over the first series, with the idea that if the other clyde caught me, I'd go with him.  The second hill of the granny smith section (which is also the hill from mile 1 - 2) was the one that was make or break.  I knew I would be okay if the worst thing I did was let Clyde number 2 catch up and not pass me.

Ginger Gold: 20k - finish

Ginger Gold is an accidental variety of the strong stout Newton Pippin and the Golden Delicious.  The pippin takes away the mealiness but keeps the golden's sweetness.  It is my second favorite apple.  

The other Clyde did catch me at the top of the 20k hill.  We talked for a bit and realized we were each other's competition.  Fortunately for me 20k to the finish is largely a clydesdale down hill past the Larmouth's house and then a left hander at 13 miles into the High School to the finish.  I was able to run the last 1.1 as a progression sprint.  I sprinted away from the Clyde and by another woman who had passed me on the uphill.  At the left hander I looked over the marshy field and saw I had lost the other clyde.  

I pulled in for a respectable 1:34:01.  On the hot day and hilly course, I'll take it.

It turned out I was actually racing for 3rd in the Clydesdales not first.  For which I won a medal and an apple pie.  As we were about to leave the awards ceremony we heard Wendy's name called (she had just left).  So, John and I went to get her medal and pie for third place in her age group.  As we were walking away again, "and in third place in Male's 35-39, Jesse Morrow").  That meant I got two medals and DOUBLE PIE!

Shoutouts

- Wendy took third in her age group

- Urvi did better than she expected in her pre-marathon tune up

- Julie Dragon took third in the Filly's category.

Tino Pai (Tino Pie?)

Jesse...

October's Challenge: Halftoberfest!

Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke: oi! oi! oi!

Often in my months off from specific training I like to give myself a physical challenge.  This month I have not only done that but come up with a clever name:

HALFTOBERFEST!

Halftoberfest will be four half marathons and a full marathon run all in the calendar month of October.  It will take me to 3 states, a province, 2 countries, 2 mid-race border crossings and two weekends of back-to-back racing.  

1.  Applefest Half Marathon, Hollis, NH - 10/6/12

     Includes Clydesdale category

2.  BAA Half Marathon, Boston, MA - 10/7/12

     Culmination of the BAA Distance Medley

3.  Detroit International Half Marathon, Detroit, MI - 10/21/12

     Includes running over a Bridge to Canada and back through a tunnel to USA

4.  Cape Cod Half Marathon, Falmouth, MA - 10/27/12

     First half of the Cape Cod Clam Chowder Cup Challenge

5.  Cape Cod Marathon, Falmouth, MA 10/28/12

     Second half of the Cape Cod Clam Chowder Cup Challenge

Saga of the Maraþon: Reykjavikur Maraþon (8/18/12)

(at the start)

                     

Race: Reykjavik Marathon

Location: Reykjavik, Iceland

Goal Time: 3:10:00

Actual Time: 3:18:50

(After SnorriSturluson)

In the 30^th year of the reign of Olaf Folkekongen – King of Norway – Jesse Spencerson went with his family to move his homestead from Atlanta in the south of Vinland to Boston in the North.  From then he set a goal to run the Marathon of Boston one day.

By the 40^th year in the reign of Margrethe II – Queen of Denmark – the qualifying time for Jesse Spencerson was 3 hours and 10 minutes.  In his first battle of the year – at Providence – this goal he failed to achieve.  And thus it left like Nevsky’s Battle on the Ice – the Marathon of Reykjavik.

The day of battle dawned, and with his forces for marathon and half and 10K, Jesse made his way down the Wash Road toward the start of the race.   Under the Red Awnings brought by the Islandsbank, Jesse of Somerville and the rest of the forces awaited the start.  As the gun was fired he spoke this verse:

1. Upon the sound of the starting shot

The surge of Hoenir’s human cohort

Took by winged foot the tölt toward

Thor the Thunderer’s blessed forty-two.

And past the councils of Man and the Geese’s pond,

The thousands in the cohort thinned in pace

And spread in gait into the capital seaport’s gate,

As I began the road to Boston’s qualifying place.

With a couple of easy miles to warm the legs and face the challenge of running 24.2 more at a pace set to qualify for the Boston time.  At 5km in there was a band of troubadours playing one of his favorite songs – “The Final Countdown” – and thus Jesse knew this was his day.

(longboat sculpture, Reykjavik)

The race turned toward the harbor - shops once placed as a poor country’s entrepôt – and ran about the old village’s kitchens and shops.  Then past the sculpture of the longship, Jesse said:

2. The wrought relic raises its iconic mast

And glints against the outline of Ejsa

Harkening back to the water-walkers ridden

By the founders of the City and Commonweal.

Along the coast I run

Hearing the call of Siegfried’s music horn

Following the words of Egil’s mead of Odin.

It carrys my feet at a quick gate

It carries my kilometers ever faster.

Down from the first great hill, he ran with allies found along the way.  These five men pitched into the wind hid about the long road into the city.  But upon 18K, those battling the full marathon went left and those battling only half stayed straight.   Jesse Spencerson was the only of the five to go left.  And up the second mighty hill he ran toward the hills of the sports halls and stadia.  Alone. 

At 20K words of encouragement and greetings of support came from Brian as Jesse Spencerson passed.  At half way through (21.1) the time was but 45 seconds off, enough for him to close and still qualify.

  

(Hamming it up for the Camera)

 

Winding through the park atop the hill Jesse ran through the zoo and past the hockey rink.  He was passed quickly by the relay men in green and then soon by Brian of the Three Musketeers relay.  Jesse told him of the position of the men in green. 

Out of the park and tired Jesse entered the bike path that ran along the south and against the old National Airport.  Of course there was yet another pretty (yet small) foss along the way.

30K struck and Jesse was hit with a moment of truth, 45 seconds slower than his wanted pace.  Thus, he spake:

3. Alas another 45 I need to make

If I am to Shawmut be in 2013.

Oh the speed is not fleet of feet

And the lead to qualify flees from me

Perhaps with another 2000 meters along the sea –

As long as I see no tricks from Loki –

If I can but save this race for me.

But at 32K, alas, he was not faster but 5 seconds slower.  Thus, Jesse with no chance to reach his goal accepted this minor defeat and as not to injure himself for another week, with hiking and biking in Iceland to see, slowed to 8 and 9 minute miles.  He dropped in 9K from 40^th to 63^rd as those many in the middle passed him.  At 1 mile to go (right before 41K), he made a last desperate charge.  First passing an Albanian and then 5 others.  His last 8 minute mile brought him in to break 3:19 and place him in 57^th!

(First place team award, finisher medal and BIB)

4. Though city streets

Over central Olmsteadian like ponds

Along seaside boulevards

Upon the hills of suburban avenues

Down into dells on parkland paths

Through fog engulfing dunes

            With reeds two meters high

Now I make my way around

To the big finish to cheers of friends.

Hooray! Hooray!

Marathon number 4 complete.

SHOUTOUTS

-          Mariah took second overall and second in her age group

-          SoRad, Korynn, Brian T and Laurie all had PR’s!

-          Shark Tank also qualified for Boston (on her “goddamn Birthday!”)

-          The Three Musketeers (Andy and Brian K.) took second in the relay

-          SRR – En Fuego (Mariah, Brian T and myself) won the team competition

-          SRR – AV Club (SoRad, Korynn and Victor) took third in the team competition