6 way interesctions, running shoes and candy

 D - Ran 10-11ish miles



gotta love unexpected 6 way intersections

I am really excited to be getting a Garmin soon: Sunday's run is the perfect example of why I could use one. I carefully plotted out my course into a section of Boston I don't run in - really paranoid I'd take a wrong turn and mess up my run. Of course, once I hit Franklin Park, I though I'll just follow the path and be fine. Wow... there were a lot of intersections, semi intersections, tunnels, twists. I ended up coming out the wrong side of the park (and not realizing it) attempted to guide myself back. Squinting at the tiny map, I got back on track, got lost, go back on track again. Saw some interesting signs (see photo) that were a little less than helpful.

But overall, it was really nice to run in somewhere new.

Later that day I picked up a new pair of running shoes for the gym so I don't kill my ridiculously expensive Newton Gravities doing weight lifting. That's when I found what is probably going to be Charlotte's favorite location in Boston. Its a running store next to a candy store across the street from the Boston Public Library.

New Running Gear & Goofy Running Medals

 C- 10ish miles, 1hr 36min  (M- 4 miles, T- 5 miles, W- 3 miles)

It's very easy to fall into running routines.  While I've been moving from place to place, running has been a constant thing.  I put on the same running clothes, run with the same ipod and strap, and wear the same running belt.  It's comforting, but I can run products into the ground without realizing it- like the time I tried to donate my old running shoes and realized that I'd already worn a hole clean through the sole of one.

The Old-

Yes, the front cover is almost entirely off and the ipod is disintegrating, but I think it says "work hard, play hard" :)

Nerdy chique

So this season, I'm going to try a updating my running gear.  Hopefully, fresh new strong gear = fresh new strong running.  I've got a new running watch to replace my dead one.  I've got a new ipod and to replace my old rusting ipod.  I've got a new ipod strap to replace the old, which was so broken that I've been holding it in my hand as I've run for the past year.  (Yeah I know, way too long).  I haven't quite replaced my water belt, but it's got new bottles and a new heavy duty paper clip to hold it down (I can sense D rolling his eyes through the computer :).

The New-

Yay- actual time reading!

Ready to Run..

Goofy Running Medals

So D already mentioned my other running motivator this season- the goofy "nut job medal" - which is shaped like a chestnut.  It's surprisingly easy to get me to run a 5k at 6pm and a half at 7am the next morning, if you promise to give me an additional silly medal.  I'd love to hear of any other goofy running medals worth collecting out there!

I've also heard of people running marathons to run a race for every letter of the alphabet.  I'm not sure if I could do all marathons, but if I could mix halfs and future fulls... I'm tempted!

New England Winter Runs



After a very busy end of very busy 2012, I think we're going to be getting back into the swing of blogging - but definitely not as frequently as we did before. Since I've been gone, and C mentioned, we've had a few big races, and some great PRs. I'm still chasing my 5k time, but I finally broke the 1:50 mark at the Boston Athletics Association's Half a few months back (1:48:04). I ran a five miler for the first time in three years at the Edaville Rail Run (a PR at 38:58 - which hopefully won't stand for long) on dirt roads through cranberry bogs.

We're still moving along - and right now we've started our training schedule for two events this Spring. March 23rd is the Savin Rock Half Marathon and May 4th and 5th will bring us the Fredrick Running Festival's Nut Job (6pm 5k, followed by an 8am 1/2 marathon).  My hope is that the 5k the evening before we let me sleep better and stretch out before the half. I will be thrilled if I can finally bring my time to a sub 1:45 - at least the pacing C needs to qualify for the Boston marathon.

For now, its all about getting into the habit of running 5 days a week (Jantastic helps) and increasing my mileage. I seem to be working late every day and most weekends, so this is going to be tough- but you know what they say: "if you make it a priority - you find laundry piling up and an empty fridge..." or something like that. At least those runs get done.

This weekend I got in a beautiful 8-9 mile run (pictures below). I left work on Sunday with just enough time to get an 8 miler before the sun set. It was relatively warm (40s) not too much of a breeze, and I had plotted out a new course. It started off going through a little park (part of the Fens) across the street from office, then out to the river. I was supposed to do a little loop through the Harvard Athletic fields - but I ran into an obstacle.

 

I got to enjoy a sunset, a few new neighborhoods, a new park and it served as a great reminder to stay off the treadmill.

Beautiful Parks - a cleared path and white snow, the ideal New England winter run



A fence across your path - not exactly ideal

Sunset over the frozen Charles - I'll never got bored of that view. (Though I hear the Potomac is pretty too)

A British Jantastic?

C - Sunday - 3 miles & Pilates
      Monday - 4 miles
timeless

Today should have been a non-running day, but I can't run tomorrow.  Despite some soreness from yesterday's pilates, tonight's run felt good and I really picked it up toward the end.  Tomorrow I'm supposed to attend a weight-lifting class with a co-worker during lunch.  If I don't write for the next week, it's because I've pulled every muscle in my wimpy arms.

My well loved running shoes.  Nike's Pegasus works well for me, so all I change is the color.

-Anyway-

I love listening to podcasts when I run, and MarathonTalk in particular.  It's a free podcast put out by a couple of speedy Brits who know what they're talking about and enjoying talking all things running.  It really makes me feel like I'm part of larger running community and, strangely, it keeps me focused while I'm running.  I also appreciate that they're funny without being a non-stop comedy routine; I used to try running to CarTalk, and I actually stopped mid-run a few times because I was laughing so hard.

Jantastic - the Marathon Talk 2013 Spring Motivation Challenge

Bring it! (or bring on January anyway!)

 

The guys at MarthonTalk are hosting an annual challenge from January-March.  You have to predict your goals a month ahead of time as follows (taken from their page):

• January (Jantastic) = How may runs will you do. Set the number of times per week you are going to run.
• February (Febulous) = January + How far will your long runs be? Set the distances of your longest runs.
• March (Marchvellous) = January + February + How fast will you run? Set your race targets.

I'm not sure if I'll do the whole challenge, but trying the January challenge will be a good way to get me moving.  I'm usually pretty good at sticking to my running plans, but <depending on what race David and I choose soon> I may make my January race plan a bit more of a challenge for me :o)

Also, for those following the blog, I said I was going to run a Thanksgiving Day 5k and I did.  Promise.  I've been waiting to write a race report on this race-

Batten Kill Valley Runners

17th Annual Running of the Turkeys

cause the race results still aren't posted.  Loved the race, but at this rate about all I'll remember are the spiffy gloves all the runners got- and that I promptly lost.

Second 5k of the Season - Cambrige 5k Yulefest

C-     Monday - 0 miles
         Tuesday - 5 miles
         Wednesday - 5 miles
         Thursday - 5 miles
         Friday - 0 miles
         Saturday - 8 miles
times unknown

OK, so I'm not exactly back to my normal weekly running mileage, but I'm getting there.  My goal is 3 miles and pilates tomorrow.  Hopefully I won't continue the post-pilates pain-in-the-butt trend, and I'll keep ramping up the mileage.  

D and I ran a 5k on Sunday.  The Cambridge 5k Yulefest in fact.  This was a fun race in the heart of Cambridge, Mass.  A lot of runners were dressed up and the outdoor post-race party afterward was nice.  Since all runners have to be over the age of 21 years, a race admission gets you all the beer that you're willing to stand in line for at the after party.  D and I didn't go crazy with the drinks, but it was a fun, festive (chilly) atmosphere.  Plus, there were lots and lots of free trial sized Luna bars- always a plus.

The race itself was pretty flat and good for a PR.  I believe there was water on the course, but I never wanted any, so I'm not sure where it was.  I didn't have a watch (still not working), so I was nervous about my pace and wasn't sure if I'd hit the first mile.  Turns out there were mile markers and race clocks at every mile-- and I ran the first mile too fast.  There weren't a lot of people cheering, but there were enough.

From the Runner's World Facebook Page- love it!

Some streets were blocked so that they had no traffic and some streets only had one lane blocked for runners.  My biggest aggravation was when some cars started pulling out into the middle of runners.   I already wheeze enough without breathing in some car's exhaust in the middle of mile 2 of a 5k.  I hope that the policemen along the course moved to stop cars from "entering" the race, as the cars were just starting to pull in to the course when I ran by, and I'm not sure what happened afterward.

So on the happy side- yay, I ran a PR.  23:36 minutes (7:35/mile pace).  I know that I shouldn't dismiss a PR.  I am happy with my time, but darn it, based on my training, I know I'm capable of running a sub-23 minute 5k already.  There.  Now I'm done complaining.  Yay PR.  D had a good run as well, but that's his story.  

Other race notes- D wasn't happy that the race T was a standard cotton shirt, but I thought it was fine.  There was chip timing.  The race cost is more than most 5ks, but includes the after party.  The photographers focused on the costumed runners, and I haven't seen any actual photos of the race winners- gives you a sense of the type of race that it is.  Fun race, but with a party emphasis.

Now, where to run our next race...

'Tis the Season.. For Short Races

C- 0 miles (4 miles yesterday)

So my original plan for this week was run 4 miles on Monday, run 2-3 miles today, take Wednesday off, and run a hilly 5k for Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, my plan did not factor in the fact that my butt would still be sore two days after pilates..

Love pilates, but moves like this one are literally kicking my butt

Did I need to take today off? Probably not, but I'm not currently training for a long race and I really would like to have a decent Thanksgiving day race.  Also, the race will be hilly, so it'd be nice to start without a sore butt.  I am not really aiming for a PR with this one... but I would like to finally crush 23 minutes sometime soon.

So, in order to meet that 5k goal, I had to find another race.

5k #2

I found a promising race in Boston in early December, but it's a bit overpriced.  Still, D kindly agreed that we'll race it when I'm up there, so I'm designating the Boston race my will-break-my-PR race.  More on the December 5k later, but D thinks that a crowded start to the race may be the answer to my running-the-first-mile-way-too-fast inability to pace.

Not running this 5k, but D and I ran it last year with some great friends.  I'd definitely recommend it to anyone in the Hartford, Ct area.  It's a great short run to keep you motivated during the winter.

Still not enough races.. 

So two 5ks on the race plan, and I'm already eye-ing another short race.  This is one of the few times of year when D and I aren't training for a long race, and I suppose I get a bit carried away with the small races- but I'm OK with that.  They're fun, easier, and relatively cheap.  Besides, 'tis the season!

A monument to an addiction..

So for another mini-race, I'm trying to find one to ring in the New Year.  D and I ran a wonderful New Years Day 5k by Boston last year (D's description of the Needham 5k is here).  However, this year we're going to be in DC.   So far as I can tell, DC is not as big on the whole New Years Day races thing.  But I did find at least one New Year themed race:

 

Anyone know anything about 4 mile races? :)

Long Time Gone

C- 3 miles (unknown pace- dead watch); pilates

Still running and racing, promise!

Ok, so it has been a long, long time since D or I have updated this blog, and it's my fault.  I've had a lot of change in my life (finished school, moved, new job, etc) and not a lot of time.  Still, D and I have been running through it all, and PR-ing as we go!

It is rewarding to know that after coming back to this blog, we've made progress in our running and are continuing to aim for faster times.  Check out the PR section soon to see some new times and goals.

We're currently deciding on our next 5k and a half marathon.  With any luck, we'll have the 5k out of the way soon, and we can start working on finally breaking the 1:50 barrier in the half marathon.  So watch out!