Running results

Sorry... let me correct this, it was intended to be a link to the 2.6 mile Bolton Race results that my uncle and cousin did last week...

Cool Running- Bolton XC Race

While I'm at it, I should mention that I also did a 5k last week, my first in about 6 years and set a nice P.R.  25:56 for a 8:22 pace on a fairly hilly course.  The official results show over 26 minutes, but I'm going to go with my watch time (mostly because I like the results better!) since I think it's a bit more accurate in this case.

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Running with my new Toy

I've been wanting to try out the AllsportsGPS tracking software for my phone for a while. Essentially it uses the GPS in your phone to track your pace, elevation, distance, etc. while you're running and acts as a training log for your workouts. It has a running and biking option along with a few others like hiking that I can use to gauge how I'm performing.

I got to use it for the first time last evening when I ran from my house to my in-laws where my wife was spending the afternoon by the pool with the kids.

Distance:	4.22 mi (Change units)
Calories:	714
Average Speed:	6.7 mph 0:09:00/mi
Duration:	Total: 0:46:55 Active: 0:38:01 Resting: 0:08:53
Elevation:	Total Gain: 299 ft Total Loss: 299 ft Net Change: 0 ft

It seemed to work pretty well, although I'm not sure how it figures the resting part and the elevation. I did stop twice, once to answer the phone and the second time when my mother was passing in her van and pulled over to say hi. I'll continue to use it and track my runs over the next month to see if I can get it dialed in pretty well. At the very least it will be a fun way to record my running as I get ready for the Hartford 1/2 Marathon which is back on the "probably" list after dropping off the list during my injury hiatus.

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Rec track at Soapstone

Took "our kids" to Soapstone Mtn to run for track on Saturday... one of the parents took some pictures, check them out...
http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4f5463774e7a51334e5877784f5467794e5451324e513d3d0d0a&sb=1

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My New Shoes Came!

My new Zoot running shoes arrived!!!  

I couldn't resist the clearance price of $59!

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New running partner

Went for a run this morning with my latest running partner, my 10 year old daughter! We got up at 5:30, and went for a short run in the snow! It was dark, but I brought along my headlamp, and our neighborhood is well lighted.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2442927

She seemed to have a lot of fun, so hopefully this will be at least a weekly thing for us.

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Youth Track

Our local youth recreation track club starts up tonight for a new season. Kids in town from 2nd to 8th grade get together to run and participate in track meets with other towns in the area. I've helped "coach" for the last couple of years and had my two older daughters involved as well and its been very rewarding.

We'll get together to run on Wednesdays and Saturdays with up to 100 kids. It's generally a lot of fun for everyone and it helps me get in my run training as well. We won't do a ton of mileage, but I can count on staying on my feet and moving for an hour at least! I'm going to be getting out my bike early on Saturdays and getting in a pseudo brick when I combine it with track... should be lots of fun! Any parents are also welcome to join, so if my brother or uncle are reading this, they are welcome to come and run with us (9 AM on Saturday mornings, or 5:30 on Wed afternoon)

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Running challenge

I'm trying to find a way to get my running kickstarted again and make things more interesting. There was a time last year when I really got into the flow of running and started to enjoy it a lot. I'd like to get back there! One of the really fun events I did last year was the Colchester 1/2 marathon in February despite the brutal cold. I'm thinking there's a way to wrap these two items together.

There are 75 days between now and the 1/2 marathon on February 23... perhaps another challenge to set say 60 as a target number of days to run. That's quite a bit, but it would force me into consistency which would ultimately be my goal. I should probably set a number of miles too in order to add a bit of spice. I need to find a way to get it back into my daily schedule, probably by starting to run during the day at work again.

The best case scenario is that someone else, either a friend or relative, would join me in this challenge. Perhaps someone could pick a different activity, or even a few different folks? Anyone interested? It would be nice to have a bit of competition to keep me going... we could even put a small wager on it. Or not.

Drop me a note in email or a comment below if you're interested...

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Training totals update...

I haven't posted a lot of summary information in a while since it's been essentially a month or two off since my racing season but it's occasionally nice to do some comparisons to get a feel for how much things have changed in my life the past few years.

Some exciting number differences:

	2006 total	2007 - 11 months	% Difference
Swimming	43,000 yards	90,000 yards	110%
Biking	2,000 miles	2,800 miles	40%
Overall hours	278 hours	338 hours	22%

You'll notice that running is not in my table... it's actually down from last year, essentially on the strength (or weakness I suppose) of the last few months where I haven't done much running. Ultimately, if I want to get a lot faster in Triathlon, this has to change. I really need to get back in the habit, hopefully some of my new found motivation will go into this area.

Overall some very exciting and motivating numbers... it will be interesting to see if they continue to ramp up in 2008.

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Motivation and other thoughts

Motivation is a funny thing, sometimes it's easy to get sometimes it's hard. I have the Mooseman 1/2 iron coming up in two weeks, but I've struggled this past weekend to get the workouts in. My running has been weak, and I just can't seem to want to push that hard. Oh well, it's a bit of a down spot, but it will come back I'm sure.

I should be starting open water swims with the Cyclonauts this week on Wed. and Fri. Combined with Masters on Tues. and Thurs, that will be a ton of swimming for me at least. Not sure how long I will keep up that schedule, but I'm hoping to have a real breakthrough in the water if I can. I just have to make sure I still have time to bike and run as well.

Tomorrow I'm planning to run right after my swim in Suffield. The pool is actually right along the 10k course I raced last summer, so I think I will run that course and then head to work. I'm also thinking of riding the bike after swimming sometime from there, I would have access to some nice biking roads as well. I'd probably want to bring my stuff to work ahead of time and then end up at work as it would not be that fun to wear a backpack in the aero position on the bike. Something like this route, only in reverse and starting at the Suffield Academy

Hoping for a good week...

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Still in the running

Well, another 11 mile plus run yesterday brings me up over 90 miles, so it looks like I may get to 100 after all for the month. The other really good thing is the frequency, I've run over 21 days so far this month and can get close to 25 if I really try. I think the regularity of the runs have really helped my legs recover better and better as they are getting used to the running. The other good test was the 2 runs in 3 days of over 10 miles each. I was feeling tired towards the end yesterday, but I feel mostly recovered today. Hoping to get another mid-length run in tomorrow... we'll see how I feel after that.

Also anticipating the Mooseman race coming up in June... I plotted out the bike course on gmap-pedometer. Gmap is a pretty cool tool that lets you plot courses with elevation and distance, I use it to map out bike and run routes. Check out the Mooseman bike course, or the Ironman bike course. Just a few hills :)

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20 miles in 6 days?

I'm up to 80 miles of running with less than a week to go. Not sure I'm going to make it unless I get at least one really long run in during the week. I'm going to set aside some time on Thursday to go out for a run, but work has a way of getting in the way a lot.

We'll see...

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