The Fastest Boy Runner in the World

Running more...

2011-08-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

Still doing WASH Workouts:

July 24th: Bobsled Ten Miler Run in Amherst... SLOW, no use recording time (I had biked 86 miles the day before... the ride was great, run the next day = very bad. Effort there though).
July 30th: Cranberry Carver 5 Mile Race: 27:40... it had no hills in it, but instead of quitting (I felt AWFUL), I thought about Washington effort and ran a very fast and hard last mile... it's a stretch, but whatever. At this point I had only been running 20 mile weeks.
August 6th: H road tempo in Acton ME... very hilly road. 4.5 mile tempo, pushed the hills... my alignment felt... okay? Wwwhhat?
August 13th: Bridge of Flowers 10k: 35:26, good for 16th place. The hill at mile 3 I was probably in 24th place. I passed a big group right at the top. Good race. This week I hit 30 somthing miles!

Today: 5x 800 meter repeats on Amherst College trails with approx 1 minute break.
2:37, 2:33, 2:30, 2:26, 2:24.
This doesn't count as this week's WASH workout, but it was a good effort. I am about 60% healthy. When I am 100% (I hope soon...) watch out!

Washington 2012 prep workouts. Mt Orient, aka "upper ridge"

2011-07-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

So, like a few years ago, I'm inspired to train year round for the next Mt Washington competition. My plan is to do a "Washington" workout each week for the whole year leading up to the race in June

So far, so good. Four weeks, four workouts. All were the same: a sprint up Mt. Orient.

Times below:
June 26th: 10:28
July 2nd: 9:45
July 9th: 9:43
July 16th: 9:14

I used to do this run all the time in my training for Wash. Here are some old times as comparison:

June 27th, 2009: 13:43
July 5th, 2009: 12:18
July 11th, 2009: 10:54
August 20th, 2009: 10:21
August 27th, 2009: 9:59
Sept 28th, 2009: 9:58
Oct 17th, 2009: 9:59
March 18th, 2010: 9:49
April 11th, 2010: 9:09 (RECORD)
Oct 30th, 2010: 11:15
Dec 18th, 2010: 10:23
April 23rd, 2011: 10:43
June 1st, 2011: 10:50

Related: my health right now is still an issue, but there has been much progress. I run 20-30 miles a week, Bike 50-100 and swim a few times.

Mount Washington 2011

2011-07-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Ran Mt Washington this year. I had not been running much, 20-50 miles a week. It went okay, considering lack of shape: 1:13.26, 27th place. Good picture though...

Workout w/Andy

2011-01-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

SouthWest 1000 meter repeats.

Basically, it is a 1000 meter repeat with a big steep uphill in the middle, finishing with a long slightly downhill straightaway. The beginning is all flat.

Besides some pick-ups here and there, I haven't been doing any hard workouts since the crash, so this was a stretch. I thought I'd do 3. Andy wanted to do five. I figured I'd stay with him a bit, then die.

Results:

Me: 2:59, 3:03, 3:02, 3:01

Andy: 2:59, 3:03, 3:01, 2:59, 2:56

Andy had a great workout. I ran way above what I thought my fitness level was. So that was good too.

Yip, yip.

Long time no post...

2010-12-19T13:19:00.001-08:00

Injury from the crash finally starting to heal. I took 5 months off, then started running in September. Here's a summary of progress:

SEPT:

W1: 3 miles

W2: 17 miles, 1 LIFT

W3: 11 miles

W4: 20 miles

OCT:

W5: 21 miles

W6: 17 miles, 1 LIFT

W7: 18 miles

W8: 28 miles, 1 race (17:26 5k), 2 workouts, 1 LIFT

NOV:

W9: 19 miles, 1 LIFT

W10: 29 miles, 1 workout, 1 swim, 1 spin class, 1 LIFT

W11: 26 miles, 1 spin class, 2 LIFT

W12: 32 miles, 1 workout, 1 swim, 1 LIFT

DEC:

W13: 33 miles, 1 swim, 2 LIFT

W14: 35 miles, 1 race (16:42 5k), 2 workouts, 1 swim, 1 LIFT

W15: 42 miles, 2 workouts, 3 LIFT

What I've also done is hours and hours and hours of PT, fixing old injuries besides the crash related knee problem, completely changed my running form to toe and forefoot running (feels amazing) and spent $1,000 dollars on rolfing, which was worth every penny. Here's to continued improvement.

Mt. Washington 2010

2010-06-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

I won't be running Mt Washington 2010. So I am posting this to re-cap my year. As next year I plan to run it. I also plan to attempt once more to run a Wash workout every week until Wash 2011.

In late April I got run over by a car while biking. I took a sharp right hand turn, hit some sand and slid (at 20 mph) into the opposite lane and under a 2009 BMW 328i which was coming in the other direction.

The above picture is of me near-passed-out after the crash. I initially got up and apologized to the nice old lady who drove the Beamer, then some pain and dizziness set in. For the record, my good friend Jon Korhonen who was biking with me, (along with fellow CMSer Andy McCarron), could not avoid me after the crash so ran over me with his bike too, which was funny. It went ground, car, then another bike for the tri-fector.

The bike I road broke as the weight of the car was transferred through the frame and onto my knee - which is what is keeping me from running Washington. I had no broken bones, but the inflammation has been serious enough to more or less sideline me for the better part of six weeks. Cortisone this week and doctors (very) strict orders not to run have been the nail in the coffin for the race this year - SAD FACE!!! :(

THE POSITIVES:

Those of you who know me know very well that working out is a large part of my life. Shallowly, I'd say, it is at current the largest. And has been the largest with seemingly no end in sight for years now. So knowing that - and knowing that I have been continually hampered by injury for the past three years, (thus kept far from where my efforts and passion aspire) - you might think this cute accident has been especially tough to swallow. Amazingly, that has not been the case. It's had far more positives than negatives as far as I can see. Let me list them:

1) I am alive. Although only moments after the crash Jon and Andy where making jokes to my incoherent self (also to the little old ladies horror) about "my finishing the ride," "getting back up to run home," or, the "drat, he's still conscious," it was pretty clear immediately that I was damn lucky. So, there's that. the car didn't run over my chest or skull. It wasn't going 40 mph. Hooray!

2) I have great friends. Besides Jon gregariously taking pictures while I was down, then developing them while I was in the hospital so I had appropriate mementos when I got back... as well as Andy's motherly cooked dinner, with other attentions (wink, wink) - the two of them less than an hour after the crash began planning to get me a brand new road bike. This is no small task or minor gift. Since I'm injured constantly, I've become a mightily decent biker - I don't own a car, I bike everywhere and compete with the Northampton Cycling Club - a new bike is a dream gift - something I could never afford. Loosing my red Cannondale in the crash (it was my fault so the Beamer lady was not obligated to replace it) was perhaps the biggest down of the entire event. Long story short, with the help of over 50 close friends and family, the two of them raised enough money to get me a state of the art Trek Madone 5.2. Basically, a rocket-ship. It's a freakin rocket-ship. Literally the best gift I've ever received.

3) Biggest positive of all - and related to all of the above -My Life Has Been Decided. Or, at least, my life for the next few years. Indeed, I'm obsessed with working out, but this is hardly all I want to do - it's just all I do do. It's all or nothing with me, thus, the only way - I've continually thought - to get out of this workout habit, is to get INJURED! Seriously injured, so I can't return. It's a sick thought, but I've had it often. So, as I am sliding without fail into this red tank of a car, what is on my mind? Obviously, this will suck, but I may be free. So, the irony here: I should have been seriously injured - (all the doctors where amazed I was not) - I should have been out for at least a year, or longer... enough time to do something else... But, instead, I get a brand new bike out of it - bike of my dreams actually - just the thing I needed to compete seriously at the elite triathlon level. Well, that and some more swim training. (I've been swimming 5+ miles a week for six weeks because it's all I can do). The crash decided my path. I am not meant to break - but continue to train. Cool. I can do that.

My Bike. It's a beauty ~

April 11-17

2010-04-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

4/11 - 4/17/2010: Run 52 (2 WOs, 1 Race)/Bike 66 miles/2 Swims

Another solid week. Took one day off via back to back races for the weekend. I'll post on them (Cave Hill Classic 5 mile run & Wrentham Duathlon) later. I did have another solid NCC TT as well.

Upper Ridge, April 4 - 10

2010-04-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ran Upper Ridge this morning with good bud Jon Korhonen. He had fueled himself well with a night of debauchery in Amherst. I told him in the morning we would sprint up upper ridge/Mt Orient.

New Record: 9:09.

Killed the old record of 9:48. Jon pushed hard in the beginning and tried to catch me at the end, which helped. He's only been running 40 miles a week, but you don't run a 4:04 mile without having some natural ability. He finished in 9:19.

The Week of 4/4 - 4/10: Run 47, Bike 81, 3 Swims, 1 Lift

The week started great, ended sub-par as I took Saturday off. Did a NoHo hill climb/race with a bunch of other bikers. I beat some Cat 3 and maybe Cat 2 guys on the four mile climb to finish 3rd of 22 riders. I also had some great swims and one or two amazing runs. Injuries still hurt though... Cave Hill Classic 4 mile race on Saturday this week, followed by the Wrenthem duathlon the next day. I hope to win both.

UPDATE: After the 12 miler I biked 33 miles with workout partner/UMass rowing alum Gregg Murray. Then I felt like running again. Did 9 with a few half repeats/minute pick-ups. Ran into current UMasser Andrew McCann (30:04 10k guy). He's fast. He'll be entering the road race circuit next year...

Good day today.

MARCH

2010-04-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

It was a good month. Injuries are making progress, as is my running shape. Some March highlights and week totals:

2/28-3/6: 26 Run, 3 hard Spin sessions, 1 Swim, 1 Lift

On 2/28 I did the DH Jones 10 miler on almost no running in February. I ran 57:52. 5:47 pace. I was fresh, but felt awful and out of alignment, basically jogging in the last 3 miles. It was an ambitious, but dumb move.

3/5-3/11: Run 55, 1 Spin, Bike 12, 3 hard Swims, 1 Lift

Great overall week. Did 18 miles Saturday. 3 running workouts total (I was hurt, I think), and the swims were epic.

3/14-3/20: Run 50, Bike 50+ (3 rides), 1 Lift

Another good week. Ran the St. Patrick's Day 10k in Holyoke with 4,000 other people. Finished 17th. It was HOT! Ran relatively slow 5:36 pace, 34:48. Again, felt out of alignment. Not healthy. To punish myself for being slow, biked 30 miles after the race. It was a nice day.

3/21-3/27: Run 47, 1 Spin, 1 Bike, 1 Lift

Okay week. Feeling injured. Also was on the road in NYC for a few days which hurt my running. Highlight was Andy's Fast Friend's Road Race in Swanzey NH. 4.5 miles, tough course, I got 3rd behind Justin and Greg. It was a fun time and was happy with my 5:34 pace for a 24:59. I was more happy that I was able to run at all... it was a starting-line call.

3/28-4/3: Run 46 (5 days), 2 Spins, 43 Bike, 2 Swims, 1 Lift

Really awesome week. Mostly because by Saturday I finally felt improvement with my alignment/stride which I think has been helping my injuries (I hope!) Also, I did 2 WOs. 1 Mt Wash Town-line Tempo (24:41, PR) and one pyramid on the track 2,4,8,mile,8,4,2. I won't post times because they were SAD! But the point was I am working out more.

WASH Workout: Upper Ridge Again

2010-03-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

Getting back into running and my old plan to do 52 "Mt. Washington Workouts" in the year before this summer's Mt. Wash race. My injury kind of derailed that idea... but maybe I'll start doing two a week to catch up. I'm not sure what number this one is... I'll figure it out later.

Very motivated today. Very fired up.

New Record, bottom to top of Mt Orient: 9:49.

I was happy because I'm not in as good shape as I was when I ran the previous record of 9:58, but I was determined to hurt. I just need to stay healthy and I feel nothing will stop me... haha.

Not running the New Bedford half this weekend - GOOD LUCK CMS! I wanted to, but 1) I don't think I can help the team anyhow, 2) a half not completely healthy may not be a smart idea and 3) I have to travel to NYC for work anyway! I had completely forgot... I would have been in deep doo-doo if I did the race and missed a National College Fair - Doh!

Instead I am going to run the St. Patrick's Day 10k on Saturday in Holyoke. Wish me luck and health.

SPIN CLASS!

2010-03-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

I keep telling everyone that although I'm not running, probably not in great overall shape, that "I am going to spin class!" I say this defiantly, excitedly, as if the person I am telling should immediately recognize 1) how awesome spin class is and 2) how awesome I am for going.

In sum: I go three times a week at the UMass Rec Center. Classes are 1 hour. There are usually 20+ girls, myself, and perhaps one other guy, either very skinny or very overweight and always wearing a far-too-large tee and peddling in the far back, dark corner. I sit in the front. I wear my triathlon shorts, biking shoes (the spin bikes have optional clips) and have been known to break out into giggles when Jill - the stocky, middle-aged, but rather attractive in a she-could-kick-my-ass kind of way, spin instructor - somehow expects us to turn the resistance up "one more full turn" so we can begin our ladder of "2 minute sprint repeats!" I'm laughing because 1) I literally cannot comprehend working any harder than I already am and 2) because indeed, spin class is awesome. It truly is this hard. Sometimes, after perhaps an 8 minute hill with increasing resistance every 30 seconds - a workout, by the way, in which the first time I did it I categorized as in the "Top Five Hardest Workouts of All Time' (... currently my top ten is 70% spin class, 30% everything else... but I digress) - after a particularly hard hill, or sprint session, or something - puddle of sweat beneath me and we've only been going for 20 minutes - I sometimes find myself, yes, giggling, or also often proclaiming "I love spin class!" Needless to say the girls in the class either a) hate me or b) find me irresistibly attractive, albeit in a "silly- dumb-boy" kind of way (but I'll take it!) Perhaps not needless to say though, is that I am not attracted to any of these girls (I'm not!) YES, many or them are technically attractive. Some, you might say even exceedingly so... (I mean, we're all crammed into this small, dimly lit room together... they are wearing tight spandex and sweating profusely)... but the truth is I haven't noticed them, or at least this is not what I pay attention to. To me, these girls are my enemies. (And I guess this should make sense to all you stupid runners), but I sit there spinning away, (sometimes on the point of passing out) and I look over and I see a girl in pink spandex with matching stripped socks and piggy tails, and - I tell you - she is hardly even working. She's peddling at what has to be faster than my pace and isn't even breathing heavy. Now I know that the resistance system is all anonymous. That we have the option to not turn a "full turn" only do a "half" or a "quarter" or a "nothing," but I see this girl (and trust me I keep a good eye on her) and it looks like she is turning the resistance at the same rate as me. In fact, the longer I've been going to spin class, the more I've noticed that all these girls seem to be doing the work I am, or more. Who are these girls? And how do they all seem to know each other? They talk to our instructor, Jill (who is worst of them all, by the way, an unstoppable force of power and pain), as if the whole hour workout, which kills me, is just a social event. They relate and make plans as if they were in a sorority, or some type of secret society or something. (Maybe when I get excited and giggle, the few laughs I get really are just at me, not with me? Hmmm...) Anyway, the point of the above rant, is that spin class is truly awesome. Or it could all be in my head.

Well, the below results - a 2 minute PR on the first NCC Biking Time Trial of the season - says otherwise. Keep it coming ladies. Now if only this could translate to running...

http://www.nohobikeclub.org/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=1113

Getting Healthy

2010-03-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

My last post in October said "Knot in my shin, but it's not too serious." Well, I'm an idiot.

Since then I've been on and off injured with a few sparse weeks of okay running. The shin injury was some serious inflammation. Back in October I got lost in the deep woods of Harriman State park. The run was memorable for the accidental ridiculous length (25+), the injury it caused and also that I could have been kaput if I did not get out of the woods before dark. It was raining and cold. I found the road (albeit on the other side of the park) with probably 15 minutes of sparse daylight left. Fun, fun.

Anyway, the shin injury (and a foot injury that has kept me from consistently training for the past few years) apparently all stray from an old displaced hip that has healed incorrectly, thus messing with my stride and leaving one leg (the right) injury prone.

I've been fixing the hip. I've also been experimenting with barefoot toe running.

I've also been training pretty consistently considering the circumstances. Biking, swimming... the normal stuff.

Today I was able to run 18 miles in two runs.

This week I ran 56 total with 3 swims, 2 bikes, a lift and lots of PT.

Here's to getting healthy and staying healthy.

OCTOBER

2009-11-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

9/27 - 10/3: 72 miles (2 Workouts, Long 19)
10/4 - 10/10: 93 miles (2 Workouts, Long 23)
10/11 - 10/17: 134 miles (3 workouts, Long 22)
10/18 - 10/24: 85 miles (2 Workouts, Long 22)
10/25 - 10/31: 80 miles (Injured, 1 Race, Long 26)

Amazing month minues getting injured. I'm injured now - knot in the shin, but it's not too serious. Once healthy I should be able to run without end again... which is the plan. I'll update this post and add the Workouts/Wash descriptions I did. Also, I have New England XC tomorrow, healthy or not, I've got to do it.

Swan Lake Repeats 9/29

2009-09-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

I did a tough WO at Rockefeller State Park in Sleepy Hollow, NY yesterday. Ran 10 miles around the park as a warm-up then proceeded to do .9 mile repeats (I measured it) around the longer sides of Swan Lake, rest was the short section of the lake.

10 mile warm-up

WO: 5*1450m repeats

Results: 4:45 (1:42), 4:51 (1:54), 4:47 (2:06), 4:50 (1:59), 4:45.

4 mile cool down (2 barefoot)

19 miles total

Overall very happy with effort and results. Beautiful, fun run. I fit it in between college fairs, mid-day before a night fair I had scheduled. Thus, no shower. I wonder if anyone noticed....

Swan Lake Repeats
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Wash 14/52 Upper Ridge (again)

2009-09-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

New Record - (by only a second) - 9:58.

I was hurting from the prior week. Slacking on the Wash WOs, I need to do two this week as I did not do one last week. Also, yes, Upper Ridge every time is boring.

The Week 9/20-9/26

2009-09-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

101 miles!

Great week. Felt great everyday... when I didn't feel great, I just ran until I did.

SUNDAY: Lone Gull 13 miles, 32:55 10k

MONDAY: 18 miles (3 barefoot)

TUESDAY: 12 miles (easy)

WEDNESDAY: 21 miles WO: 4 miles tempo, (sub 6), 16*100 sprints barefoot on astro turf

THURSDAY: am, 7 miles, pm 9 miles (2 barefoot)

FRIDAY: 7 miles (easy)

SATURDAY 14 miles, (last two miles Sub 5:30)

Happy with the week for mileage and difficulty considering how busy I was... Travelled all week in Manhattan and the Bronx, then went to Amherst, then Bristol RI for a wedding, then back to Amherst and NY for this week. Phew! Mission accomplished, somehow.

Lone Gull 10k 9/20

2009-09-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

32:55 for 10k. Results below. CMS pulled through by a few seconds to get 5th ahead of Greater Boston. Thanks to Double J for telling me to run faster at mile 4. (Very helpful). I was happy with the race and effort. Last Grand Prix race is the Bay State Marathon. I'm thinking of running it, but doubt I could muster a performance to help the team.

Last week's results, a few good workouts, good mileage. 9/13/09 - 9/19/09: R86/1LIFT.

WASH 13/52, Bear Mountain, NY

2009-09-17T19:47:00.001-07:00

Randomly went to Bear Mountain park in NY, (I'm on the road for my job, UMass Admissions) and ran up the mountain. I've been feeling sick all week, so didn't know how far I would make it, but after a few miles I felt okay and decided to do a warm-up up and then down the mountain and then run it again at tempo pace for the WASH workout. After 3 miles and still not reaching the top I realized this idea probably wouldn't workout. It was fine though, as I made sure the "warm-up" hurt a lot. Also, to top off the day I did repeat 600s barefoot on the fields of the park below after the run down.

Total run: 14 miles

Elevation: 1300 feet

Ascent: 1135 feet

Average Grade: 4.5%

Here's the route, not bad off a whim. Beautiful view at the top. I could see the city.

Bear Mountian
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Ollie Road Race and Josh Billings (WASH 12/52)

2009-09-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

Back to back races this past week. - Ollie 5 mile Road Race (9/12) and the Josh Billings Run-a-Ground (9/13), a bike, canoe/kayak, 6-mile relay race. I ran the 6 mile leg. As did pal Andy, who also did the Ollie the day before.

Good overall week - 9/6 - 9/12: R83/B50/S1000 meters

I squeaked in a swim and even a track workout... in an attempt to copy Keenans Justin and Andy's week workout I did 8*400 with 200 rest followed by 8*200 with 200 rest. It was ugly, 70-72 for the 400s and 31-33 for the 200s. First speed in a LONG time. Also, I believe only a month ago I was having trouble running 30 miles a week. So overall, I was happy.

Results for Ollie below. Got 50th, which frankly, is pretty bad, but I felt great, just couldn't run any faster. Very strong, no speed is the conclusion. (Ollie was only 4.9 by the way).

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/ma/Sep12_OllieF_set1.shtml

The Josh results below. I felt strong again and a little faster than the day before. It's a very hilly course so I counted it as the prior week's WASH run, which basically meant that I had extra incentive to kill myself on the hills, which worked well. Our team got 6th overall, Andy's team was 5th. I had the 2nd fastest run time in 33:02, behind Andy's 32:32. Good day.

http://www.plattsys.com/results/res2009/josh09.htm

Finishing the Josh

WASH 11/52 - Mt. Greylock (+week)

2009-09-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY: 18 mile run (Mt Wash. Trainer)

In Pittsfield for James Taylor concert Saturday. Sunday woke up and decided to spend the day running Mt. Greylock.

Total ascent in 8 miles = 1732 feet

Max elevation: 3488 feet (It was a beautiful day, beautiful at the top, great fun the whole way).

VC to Summit time: 61:20

Down: 53:58

Overall run with warm-ups and cool downs 18 miles in 2:06. Great way to spend a Sunday. It was easier than I thought. Next time I'll just run it faster.

Mount Greylock Auto Road
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MONDAY: 8 mile run, 34 mile bike, 4 mile run (2 barefoot)

TUESDAY: 11 mile run (3 barefoot)

WEDNESDAY 23 mile bike, 14 mile run (WO w/ Andy)

Randomly Andy emailed me to see if I wanted to do a workout (apparently his normal Keene Wed workout partner had to bail - Thanks Justin!) So Andy traveled down to Amherst to do some South West 1000 meter repeats. It was supposed to be my easy day...

Me: 3:05, 3:05, 3:07, 3:04, 3:04, 3:03.

Andy: 3:05, 3:05, 3:00, 3:05, 3:01, 2:58.

Andy looked great and was very happy, as was I. Also, I believe the 1000s were two seconds longer than we usually do them, so it was a good day - 1st time we did more than 5 SW 1000s since UM years. Elevation profile available below. It's a perfect grade for a nasty workout. Once you start to really hurt at the top of the hill, it's a slight downhill until the end that forces you to run faster than you A) think you can, and B) want to. Good stuff. "South West" is the name of the living area at UMass that we run around.

South West 100s
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Great week thus far R55/B57. I'm going to probably take it easy tomorrow... I'm still injured!!!

UPDATE 9/6/9:

THURSDAY: Bike 34 miles, run 6 (2 barefoot)

FRIDAY: Run 10 miles (AM), Run 7 miles (PM) (3 barefoot)

SATURDAY: Bike 46 miles.

The Week: 8/30-9/5: R78/B138.

One of best weeks in a long time... I felt amazing except for Saturday when I went for a hard bike ride with no food or water in me. I basically crashed the rest of the day. Next week Ollie Road Race. I'd like to do another 70 if possible.

Mount Washington Trainer 10/52, Upper Ridge 5!

2009-08-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Killed it.

Start to top - 22:42

Base to top - NEW RECORD - 9:59

Overall run - 10 miles in 1:02:29

I needed to kill it as I did it on my... eh-hem "hour" long lunch break.

After work I did 8 miles.

3 mile warm-up

5*800 w/1 min rest in between reps

2:47

2:40

2:35

2:33

2:31

Afterwards I did a 2 mile cool down w/barefoot running, which I've been getting back into. These 800s hurt as the route has a some hills and the rest was short... also I'm out of shape, also the 10 miler earlier in the day.

Thus far with two days left in the week I'm at 85 miles on the bike, 56 running.

UPDATE: The week: 8/23 - 8/29: B115/R61. Could have run more, but didn't want to push-it too much. I'm still injured! Good week. Feel great.

The 800 route: (It looks good in hybrid mode)

Amherst College 800 repeats
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Mount Washington Trainer 9/52 Upper Ridge AGAIN (#4)

2009-08-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Start to top - 22:56

Base to top - NEW RECORD - 10:21

Overall run - 1:07:18

This one hurt like hell. It was good.

The week: B195/R48

hardest running week in a long time - 3 10 mile+ days. Also, 80 mile bike ride in which I nearly passed out on. I did it with Jon and Andy. We averaged 20mph. I did some decent pulling.

Mount Washington Trainer 8/52, The Bobsled

2009-08-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

Called the bobsled because you basically run up, then bobsled down for five miles. Really fun run. Also ran really slow this week: 1:18:35 for ten miles.

Overall Week: 8/9 - 8/15: B92/R39

Pretty easy, but I did two running workouts and one very tough bike ride. The BOF killed me the week before and I took awhile to get going.

The Bobsled Route
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Mount Washington Trainer 7/52, Bridge of Flowers 10k

2009-08-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

First race in awhile. I give myself a C. All the biking did not pay off as I hoped it would.

The Week 8/2 - 8/8: 226B (5 days!)/40R

Mount Washington Trainer 6/52, Roland Park Hill Repeats

2009-08-02T14:46:00.001-07:00

Went to Center Ossipee NH to meet JB and family on vacation at Terrace "The Greatest Place in the World" Pines campground. An injury developed over the course of the week in which I felt I had either a punctured lung, cracked rib or some sort of inner muscle pull. It was probably the latter as I feel pretty much 100% right now, but at the time I couldn't do anything without a debilitating pain in my right side. It still hurt on Friday but seemed to be subsiding so I went out to keep the Mt Washington Training streak alive.

Ended up running a total of 12 miles with 3* Roland Park Rd Hill repeats. Felt awesome. I'm getting in shape.

1 Repeat = .75 miles, 270 foot ascent, average grade of 7.5%

Rest = jog down, (about 8 minutes).

Repeat 1 = 5:43

Repeat 2 = 5:22

Repeat 3 = 5:02

The route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/nh/-center-ossippee/401124924945791900

The week was pretty low overall, but I mostly blame the injury. Next week I've got The Bridge of Flowers Road Race. Still not doing much running, so the results should be interesting.

7/26 - 8/1: R32/B100

Mount Washington Trainer 5/52, Town-LIne Hill Tempo: Pelham to Shutesbury

2009-07-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Very Sore from tough week.

Pelham town-line to Shutesbury town-line: 26:11, 4.25 miles

Overall run: 11.6 miles in 1:22:14

Ascent: 194-1060 feet.

Ran overall pretty slow. Also probably needed a better warm-up before the tempo, but I'll have more goes at it, so we'll see.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ma/-amherst/301124864046143388

The Week 7/19-7/25: B253/R32/S2. Awesome week, including some of the toughest rides I've ever done...

Boy's Weekend: The blister!

2009-07-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

PS: Each "Boy's Weekend" has left me injured.

2007: Andy ran me over with his boat. The propeller scarred and maimed my left leg. Jury is still out whether it was intentional or not.

2008: I pathetically pulled my hamstring attempting to wake board. The injury persists to this day.

2009: This year, results below. Not too bad considering the precedent. I would have run a faster tempo if the irritation on the back of my heel stopped. It just got worse.

Mount Washington Trainer 4/52, H Rd. Acton ME tempo

2009-07-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Went to Andy's summer house in Maine for third Annual "Boy's Weekend." Also in attendance Jon "Asleep on the boat" Korhonen, John "That wasn't my thumb" Jacobson, Joey "Tramp Stamp" Bakasya and Kyle "River Otter" Murphy.

Fun time had by all. On Saturday Andy and I did an out and back tempo - to the end of H Rd, 4.5 miles (hilly) and back 4.5 miles (still hilly).

It was my first real fast paced tempo since April.

Out (warm up): 35:57

Back (tempo): 27:47

The route with elevation:

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/me/-acton/812124805862666141

Also did a 34 mile bike ride. Also hilly:

http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/united-states/me/-acton/855124805921730910

Overall down week - after three very tough weeks. The down week was not intended, but I crashed mid-week and thought it was about time for a rest.

7/12/2009 - 7/18/2009: B143/R32/S.5

Mount Washington Trainer 3/52, Upper Ridge 3

2009-07-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

Should be last Upper Ridge for awhile. Great overall week. Also, saw the Dr. Paul Farmer of foot-care, Dr Louis DeCaro, who explained all my foot woes, discovered they were not just connected to my foot but, in great sing-song fashion, that the "foot bone connected to my...." well, I have displaced hips too, which puts my stride on a further disadvantaged/unnatural level. The next day he got me in to see his physical therapist. After some adjustments (more to come in the future) I ran today and felt as good as I can remember. Which has something to do with the adjustments and also something to do with the fact that I'm getting in shape.

Salem to the top: 24:06

Base to top: 10:54

Overall run: 10 miles in 1:09:44

Also, I've resolved (since Washington) to work out at a minimum of 3 hours a day. "Work out" includes any combination of running, biking, swimming and focused stretching/lifting/core-work. While a few days this week I didn't reach the 3-hour goal, the days I did were 5+.

Website for Dr. DeCaro is below. Seriously, great guy. When I came in for my "gait clinic," not only did they film my stride on a treadmill, trace both my feet, do castings and multiple examinations with a team of specialists, but DeCaro himself had found an article in the New York Times that morning which he put in my file to be given to me when I came in. It was about a crazy runner. He was super pumped for me to read it.

http://www.decaropodiatry.com/

The week 7/5 - 7/11: R33/B242/S1.8k

Mount Washington Trainer 2/52, Upper Ridge 2

2009-07-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Second week of Washington training of 52 weeks. Did Upper Ridge again on the Holiday - the 4th, overall very sore from tough week.

Salem to the top: 25:41

Base to top: 12:18

Overall run: 10 miles, 1:13:16

I also biked to Pittsfield. It was mostly up-hill, 51 miles:

http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/united-states/ma/amherst/527124683093766902

The week 6/28-7/4: R40/B237

Mount Washington Trainer 1/52, Upper Ridge 1

2009-06-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

I've resolved to do 1 Mount Washington training run/work-out a week until Mount Washington 2010. Still sore from the mountain last week I did Upper Ridge/Mt Orient training run Saturday, 6/27.

Salem to the top: 26:54. Base to top: 13:43. Overall run (upper ridge - middle ridge and back) 10 miles in 1:14:20.

The route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ma/-amherst/623124612495484147

Later in the day I did a 45 mile bike ride. Average 18.7 mph.

The bike route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/united-states/ma/-amherst/456124620325022227

The week: R24/B218/S.5

2009 Mount Washington Results

2009-06-27T12:32:00.001-07:00

Finished 26th overall (25th men) my best finish thus far. Not a bad day considering the lack of running leading up to the race. Due to injury, in the two months before the race I was only able to run a total of 100 miles, but I biked over 1,000.

2007 Results: 29th - 1:15:57

2008 Results: 27th - 1:08:05

2009 Results: 26th - 1:11:47

Finishing the race - 22% grade incline - compliments Kevin Tilton.

2009 Mount Washington Training

2009-06-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

Injured: 4/14, inflamed ligaments in my right foot.

5/3-5/9: Bike 62 miles/Run 5/LIFT

5/10-5/16: Bike 88 miles/Run 18 miles/LIFT

5/17-5/23: Bike 173/Run 18 miles

5/24-5/30: Bike 72 miles/Run 22 miles

5/31-6/6: Bike 310 miles/Run 12 miles

6/7-6/13: Bike 261 miles/Run 25 miles

"Work could cure almost anything, I believed then, and I believe now."

2009-04-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

-From old EH, A Moveable Feast.

Above quote proves true again. Injured today after two great weeks. Instead spent the day focused on what work remained: Read MLK Letters from Birmingham Jail, ate well (healthily), played guitar and got some stretching in with the hope of being positive to run tomorrow.

Some of my favorite quotes from MLK below.

"Socrates felt that is was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal."

"Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily."

"We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right."

"There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love."

South West 1000s

2009-04-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

5 * 1000s around UMass South West living area.

1st 400 = flat

2nd 200 = steep uphill

3rd 400 = slight downhill

Rest = 3 minutes jog back to start

Results: 3:09, 3:03, 2:58, 2:58, 2:53.

Did it at 8am with Andy and Jon. Good Workout. Jon finished a few seconds ahead on each one. Andy was a consistent 3:00-3:04. Revelation of run: After the 5 mile warm-up felt horrendous. Thought that I ought to walk home - really almost did, this despite the fact that through my years of accumulated running wisdom I knew some of the best workouts and races come after moments of this (almost literally) debilitating doubt, what Coach O'Brien would call "the demons." Still though, planned to walk back to bed, depressingly. Then I did a stride. Felt okay, which equaled a glimmer of hope. So I did the workout. In sum: It is still about how you feel. Do what you need to do to feel good.

Absoloodle

2009-03-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

"I told him of my fear of losing control of my destiny, how, because I had camouflaged myself so well, I seemed now to be shaped and directed too much by the needs of others. How the power of one within me was being dissipated even though their purposes for me were not corrupted or ill-intentioned. On the contrary, their deeds came swaddled in the innocence of love. I was becoming powerless as those around me plundered my spirit with the gifts of themselves... It was time to slough the mottled and cunningly contrived outer skin and emerge as myself, to face risk or exposure, to regain the power of one. I had reached the point where to find myself was essential."

-More from THE POWER OF ONE, finished a few days ago.

I wrote - if I recall correctly - that whatever running pursuits I have I have because, partly, "I have nothing better to do."

Well, we'll see if that's true.

Starting Season 2 this week. The first ended successfully: I ran for three months, built up training, stayed healthy and ran a PR in the mile: 4:17.57. I said afterwards if I ran any slower I would have dubbed the season a failure.

But I didn't run any slower.

Absoloodle!

The Cactus

2009-02-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

"God and I have no quarrels, madame. The almighty conceived the cactus plant. If God would choose a plant to represent him, I think he would choose of all plants the cactus. The cactus has all the blessings he tried, but mostly failed, to give man. Let me tell you how. It has humility, but is not submissive. It grows where no other plant will grow. It does not complain when the sun bakes it back or the wind tears it from the cliff or drowns it in the dry sand of the desert or when it is thirsty. When the rains come it stores water for the hard times to come. In good times and in bad it will still flower. It protects itself against danger, but harms no other plant. It adapts perfectly to almost any environment. It has patience and enjoys solitude. In Mexico there is a cactus that flowers once every hundred years and at night. This is saintliness of an extraordinary kind, would you not agree? The cactus has properties that heal the wounds of men and from it come potions that can make man touch the face of God or stare into the mouth of hell. It is the plant of patience and solitude, love and madness, ugliness and beauty, toughness and gentleness. Of all plants, surely God made the cactus in his own image? It has my enduring respect and is my passion."
-Professor von Vollensteen, from THE POWER OF ONE.

Apology # 1

2009-01-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

Notice the "#1." That means that after most posts (if not all) I will probably feel the need to apologize.

This one is for saying that The CMS Racing Team "doesn't really care who shows up to race," etc, etc.

Now that is not exactly true. We do care. We'd rather have more than less, certainly. But perhaps the one condition to be on our team, unspoken, albeit - (and all the better for it!) - is that we all love running. Which. We. Do. So we are all obviously going to attend every race we can.

It's great to be on a team with a bunch of guys who just love running. That's why we are here. And that, I suppose, is another reason for this blog. Something to do with the love of running.

It's kind of metaphorical.

Literally

2009-01-16T13:31:00.000-08:00

"I'm here, I suppose, to defend the titled conceit and all those like it."

I put the above in the "about me" section, as, I suppose, an explanation for why this blog exists. Actually, it exist because I am part of the CMS (Central Mass Striders) racing team and one of our teammates - a very devoted, and admirable Jim Johnson - was kind enough to create a blog for our team. We are a big running club, while the Men's Racing team, is rather small in comparison to all the mothers and fathers and retired runners, smokers, walkers, etc who make up the CMS "club." I joined the team after college because my good friend (and literally - more than once - life-saving hero) Andrew "The Hammer" McCarron told me to join.

The racing team is a very unobtrusive team. Although we compete to win (mostly in the New England Gran Prix Mountain, Cross Country and Road Series - and win often enough, we do)... (phew!) BUT, even though we compete and win, the team doesn't really care who shows up to race. Very low commitment. Which, I suppose - and those who know me best will agree (Hi Mom!, Hi JK!) - is a rather smooth arrangement for myself, said obsessive self-destructive runner.

Well, I'm still self destructive. But for the past year or so, since multiple running revelations, of them that running is undefeatable and that life is not... well, since then I've been running about average, rather than a complete failure. (See UMass of Amherst running profile: Matthew Clark... well, that's not completely fair, I had a few good relays).

I'm self destructive but I am running fast.

It's time to take on the above conceit. Literally, that is. I've got nothing better to do with my life. I'd like to whisk by some Olympic milers, (maybe not in street clothes), but whisk by them nonetheless. I'd like to be an Olympic miler.

I've got less than four years.

Hazah.

PS: I never answered my original thought (I'm not really a good writer)... Jim Johnson created a CMS Men's Racing Team Blog (see http://cmsmort.blogspot.com/) and in order for me to post there I need my own blog account too. Thus "Fastest Boy Runner" etc, etc. Thanks Jim!