FitCorp Training Run #17

This was the big one, Framingham to Boston 20.5 mile training run. So with no further ado here is the run down.

• My pace was good almost all the way into Boston. I felt even better about it after comparing this run to the same run last year and seeing I was about 20 seconds quicker per mile.
  
• A special thanks to Firstgiving and Marathon Sports for having water/gatoraide/Gu stops. A special, extra large thank you to Saucony for having a stop with water, Gu, deluxe Gu, food, and best of all A PORTA POTTY.
  
• I don't listen to music while I run, but music is power. Beastie Boys "You can't, you won't, and you don't stop!" and "No sleep til Boston", and Motorhead "We are the road crew" did their fair share to keep me going.
  
• I've never run until my legs were numb before. It was a very new experience.
  
• I only had to walk a couple of blocks and managed to run, very slowly, up the State House hill at the end.
  

Click here to review this week's 20.5 mile run.

Thank you Grandpa Rufus for the inspiration. Thank you dad and Donna, Brenda Bailey, and Louise for sponsoring me and supporting the Eaton-Peabody Lab. Don't forget, you can donate by clicking on the Firstgiving link on the right. Clicking on the ads on this page also produce a small amount that I will be giving to MEEI and the Eaton-Peabody.

FitCorp Training Run #16

Ok, I give up. I have idea what to expect during this year's marathon. Some weeks just fly by and other weeks it feels like I have had to fight for every inch. So here is what I have decided - The 2009 Boston Marathon will not be my attempt at a personal record. There are plenty of other marathons during the year for that. The 2009 Boston Marathon will be conducted grandpa Rufus style which means:

• Enjoy the experience.
  
• Enjoy the company of friends.
  
• Smile at the children.
  
• Help others.
  

Of course if I feel great on April 20th and can do all of the above and set a personal record all the better!

I haven't done it yet, but watch this week for a special post about grandpa Rufus. March 13th would have been his birthday for which I wanted to write a special post, but I just haven't had the stomach to yet. I'll be sharing some of the memories of grandpa people have been kind enough to share with me over the past 3 years. Thank you all for sharing them with me, they really do make the miles go easier.

This week's run was a choice of a 10 or 12 miler. Since I cut last week short I went for the 12 miles which was a run out to BC and back. All in all we'll count it as a good run. My average time on the way out was great and everything felt fine.

On the way back I had the opportunity to talk to a group I've seen on the course for the last month or so. I've been wanting to speak with them as they all look young and they run wearing bright orange singlets that say Dreamfar. I've been wondering who they are and what they are running for.

It turns out they are high schools students at Newton South High School and they are training for the Providence marathon. Best I can tell from my conversation with them is they are running a marathon to do it. If you see them out on a Saturday morning cheer them on.

Back to me. On the way back I started to run out of steam a bit, but still finished the run with a reasonable time and everything still working. On to 21 miles this coming Saturday!

Feel free to review this week's run by clicking here.

I have many people to thank this week. Thanks to Grandpa Peg, Laurie Kelley, Bob Giunta, Gabrielle Ward Beeler, and Kirk for sponsoring me and supporting the Eaton-Peabody Lab. I would also like to thank Doris and Dave for donating a puzzle that brought in $200 via eBay! Don't forget, you can donate by clicking on the Firstgiving link on the right or by attending my Fundraising Event. It will be April 2, 2009, starting at 7 pm at The Greatest Bar. Click here to view the e-vite and RSVP. Clicking on the ads on this page also produce a small amount that I will be giving to MEEI and the Eaton-Peabody.

FitCorp Training Run #15 - The Return of Sick Running!

Usually we think of school age kids as germ factories. They are always catching some sort of cold and these colds spread around school like a fire going through CA forest. I have two school age kids.

I also work at a hospital. You know, where sick people go. I do work in an office, but my co-workers are like yours. They are dedicated, and since they also work in offices, see no problem coming in to work sick since they don't deal with patients.

I tell you all this because it feels like I have had more colds this winter than the past two combined! Last week was no exception. All week I was falling asleep on the sofa by 9. Waking up tired. Head felt like a cinderblock.

Yes, I kept going to work.

Yes, Saturday morning I decided I was going to do the training run.

In a new pair of shoes I was trying to break in.

After a night where both kids had woken us up at some point.

Here is where the story is better than week 4. When I was approaching the first water stop and realizing that air was going in and out, but actual breathing was not happening, I decided to cut the run short. Instead of doing the 10-16 I had planned I did 6, went home, showered, and went back to bed. The new shoes? Gave me a blister.

Either I'm getting wiser, or really sick of being sick, but I knew the road would still be there next week. And so will I. Hopefully able to breath.

Feel free to review my Long Training Run #15 by clicking here

Thanks this week to Steve Taranto for sponsoring me and supporting the Eaton-Peabody Lab. Don't forget, you can donate by clicking on the Firstgiving link on the right or by attending my Fundraising Event. It will be April 2, 2009, starting at 7 pm at The Greatest Bar. Click here to view the e-vite and RSVP. Clicking on the ads on this page also produce a small amount that I will be giving to MEEI and the Eaton-Peabody.

FitCorp Training Run #12 - The Best Worst Run Ever!

I should have known that it wasn't going to be my best run.

Factors working against me:

• I felt like I was fighting a bug all week. You know the feeling, run down and tired.
  
• I had one of my shoulder and neck aches the night before, and therefore tossed and turned all night and slept very little.
  

I took about four advil to get out the door, but I knew the run would help.

So why do I call it the Best Worst Run?

Factors to the Worst:

• Even though I went outside to pull in signal for my Garmin before the run, when the run actually started it couldn't get a location. Check it out on the review the run, it has me running across the common and depending on it's mood, in Chinatown.
  
• Right from the get-go my pace and energy were off.
  
• I didn't hit my stride until about mile 7, and it only lasted until about mile 7.5.
  
• My legs felt dead and hollow most of the run.
  
• I had to walk sections coming back, at best alternating blocks.
  
• I thought I was going to have to roll myself up the State House hill.
  
• Having such an off day really was a spirit breaker.
  
• My feeling like poop was so strong that it seemed that every dog I got within 20 yards of assumed the position.
  

Factor to the Best - Despite all of the above, I completed the long distance. 18+ according to FitCorp, 19 according to Garmin

Also making it interesting along the way and an alright run:

• I ran up the BC and Newton Hills.
  
• I hit the wall twice and managed to keep going both times.
  
• I never realized how many houses in Newton remind me of Grandma Frankie's house. Always an enjoyable sight.
  
• The snow has melted and the trees are starting to bud. I don't care what the groundhog said, spring is right around the corner. When we did this run last year the water stops were in snow banks.
  
• Coming back along Beacon Street I saw a Tesla Roadster with CA plates. It is a very good looking car!
  
• Even feeling like toast at the end I was able to make myself alternate blocks of running and walking.
  
• I was right, the run made my shoulder and neck stop hurting.
  

All of the details for this week can be seen by clicking here.

Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to the next run and a chance to redeem myself.

Thanks this week to Doris and David, Lee and Sharon, Judy Cause, Bill Peake, and Dad for sponsoring me and supporting the Eaton-Peabody Lab. Don't forget, you can donate by clicking on the Firstgiving link on the right. Clicking on the ads on this page also produce a small amount that I will be giving to MEEI and the Eaton-Peabody.

FitCorp Training Run #10 and an Overall Good Day

Overall Saturday was a good day.

There were three options for Saturday's training run, roughly 14, 16, or 18 miles. Last year I went for the longest distance no matter what. But this year I seem to have better self-control, as I decided to go for the middle distance. As of Friday the weather people were calling for weather in the 30s for Saturday morning, but in typical New England fashion it actually was in the 20s. There went the dream of wearing shorts!

The run itself went pretty well and followed a familiar course of out Beacon Street, but instead of taking a right in Newton Center continuing on and taking a right at Walnut Street. From Walnut take a right on Commonwealth, over the lovely Newton Hills, and back on Beacon. I'm starting to wonder if I could run stretches of this course with my eyes closed. I wish I could claim deep thoughts for this run, but the truth is my big toe on my left foot began to hurt somewhere in Newton and I just kept pushing myself to complete the run. How do I keep the push going? I remember Grandpa, and how he was slowed down from Parkinson's from water skiing to fighting to walk. Running through a bit of pain didn't seem like much in comparison. I didn't even mind not running all of the way up the State House hill. By the time I was back at One Beacon Street both legs were solid and tight. But I did, I completed 16.5 miles. It was a happy surprise that Saucony had bagels for the runners along with information and coupons for Marathon Sports.

Click here to see the details of FitCorp Training Run #10

Instead of stretching and showering like normal I hurried home for my chance to buy Red Sox vs. Yankees tickets. Lest you think I stank all day, I was home quick enough to shower before the tickets went on sale at noon. The good news is that after waiting in the Virtual Waiting Room for 2 hours success was had!

The final good item from yesterday is Brooke and I have arraigned to have a fundraising event at The Greatest Bar on April 2nd. Be on the lookout for your invitation in the next few weeks.

Thanks this week to Magee Filitor-Murray and Nicole Phillips for sponsoring me and supporting the Eaton-Peabody Lab. Don't forget, you can donate by clicking on the Firstgiving link on the right. Clicking on the ads on this page also produce a small amount that I will be giving to MEEI and the Eaton-Peabody.

FitCorp Training Run #9 - That is better!

I have no idea why, but this 10.5 mile run from the Woodland T stop back to One Beacon Street over the Newton Hills is becoming my best run. This week I actually had some speed back, which is surprising as I was trying something new. After last week's run I overheard one of other marathon team's trainer suggesting not to use energy gels on long runs. So I tried it this week and things seemed to go well. I'll still keep them with me, but will continue to try limiting my use of them.

For those keeping count - only one standard poodle this week.

You can view this week's run by clicking here

Thanks this week to Marilyn Paterno and Mary Leach for sponsoring me and supporting the Eaton-Peabody Lab. Don't forget, you can donate by clicking on the Firstgiving link on the right. Clicking on the ads on this page also produce a small amount that I will be giving to MEEI and the Eaton-Peabody.

FitCorp Training Run #4 - Revenge of the Road

It was bound to happen at some point, and I should probably be glad to get it out of the way now, but this past Saturday's run was bad. How bad you ask? A little over 10 instead of 12 bad. A 11 minute plus pace instead of a 10 minute pace bad. A had to walk part of it bad. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

It all started Christmas eve. The kids were excited. Trina woke up at 12:30am. Luckly Nana was able to get her back off to dreamland. Then it was Zander at 3:30am. He too could be convinced that sleep was a good idea. But his waking up woke up Katrina, who took over my side of the bed, which sent me packing to her bed. Needless to say, we were up early. The point? Night 1 of bad sleep.

Christmas was a terrific day. We opened presents with the kids in the morning. Enjoyed some breakfast. Hosted the family for lunch, and then opened more presents with them. Needless to say, an exhausting day. The entire house was in bed by 8:30. Which would normally make for a great night's sleep. And sleep well I did. Until 4:30. So by mid-day I was tired and starting to not feel well. By Friday night it was the cold sweats and early to bed again.

Hello Saturday Morning! I woke up feeling with a head like a cement block. Isn't that what the Claritan is for? So I started treating it like any normal Saturday morning. Coffee, breakfast, newspaper, check. I put my running bag together and got ready to go. But I wasn't feeling 100% and told Karen I was thinking about skipping the run and doing it on Sunday instead, but was afraid that I wouldn't get it in. Her response was right to the point, " you mean you're afraid that if you don't run today you won't ever run again?". Yes! I didn't say this obession makes sense.

So now you have the back story. The run was suppose to be 12 miles. I knew it was going to be a fight to complete, so I tried to start out slow. I usually don't hit my grove until mile 4, so I wasn't overly concerned at the mile 3 waterstop when I still felt dead on my legs. But she. I hit mile 5 I knew. I knew 12 miles were not going to be mine that day. I knew that it was time to turn it around. I went out with a low tank and started back on empty. The way back was so bad that I walked part of it and couldn't even run all of the way up the hill to One Beacon Street. The lone highlight I can think of was seeing an Irish Setter. I was so disgusted that I didn't even bother stretching. You can review the terrible run following the link below.

FitCorp Training Run #4

Lessons learned: listen to my body, cut myself a break, bad days happen, and stretch no matter what.

The good news is this coming Saturday is the Newton Hills. Time for some redemption!

Thank you to Carlo Severo, John Meade, Margaret Moran (who will hopefully also be at the marathon), Dave Santino (Marathon 20??), Karen, Mary Buonanno (My smile at the marathon mile 10 water stop), Dave Magliozzi, and Catherine Corliss for supporting me and the Eaton-Peabody Lab since my last post.