We're into February now. It might be about time for me to plan out some races. I'm been having some motivation issues running this winter thus far, so hopefully some race goals will help. The latter half of the year is more a placeholder than anything, and is quite malleable. I would like to run something long in the fall, but haven't given it much thought yet. Conversely, I have given some serious thought to the winter, spring and summer, however, and while I won't run all of these, hope to get the majority in. Here is my first draft of races.
Random observation #1:
Random observation #2:
Monday: 0
Monday is often my day off, but it made for a really easy decision for a rest day when I woke up this morning with very heavy and mildly sore legs. Two days after a 5K; is that what it's from? Is that what my lack of running has done?
Tuesday: 11
AM: 5 miles. 1-3" of snow had been forecast overnight, and we ended up getting over 6" of snow in Westerly! Yes! I always get really excited when it snows. Went for a solo run through Champlin. Loved it! (At a team lunch that day, of the 7 people having lunch at Bridge, I was the only one that was happy about the snow. The rest were all whining about it. Get outside and enjoy nature!)
PM: 6 miles. A double! First in a long time. Met up with the two Jonathans and Chris for a snowy headlamp run in Burlingame. Ran VG, Sammy C's, and Lenny's Lane. Fun!
Wednesday: 5
Jonny had predicted I would be sore after two snow runs yesterday and he was not wrong. But with snow still on the ground, I couldn't resist getting out there on snow covered trails again. This run was in Hale Reservation in Dover, MA. Never saw a soul on any of the trails, but when I was finishing up on a short section of snow covered road, I saw a guy getting out of a Hale maintenance truck to talk to me. I know I went behind closed gates, but I'm pretty sure it's still open to foot traffic. It turns out that he just came over to say "Good morning", warned me about some slick spots, and said glad to see me out using the facility. Really nice!
Thursday: 0
Friday: 0
Nope. Long work day; didn't happen.
Saturday: 6
Hit up the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center trails in Mystic. Crunchy snow run. The trail markings could be better, and I ended up inadvertently getting off the Avalonia Trail (orange) and onto roads for a longer section than I was happier with, but it was all good.
Post-race, went up to watch Matthew's Class B indoor meet. While he's not back to running his longer 1500 and 3000m distances yet, it was cool to see him anchor the Westerly High School 4x800, and the team won in it 8:28. Class B champs and a new meet record!
Sunday: 12
Got an invite from Tommy to join him in running with the nascent Sunday Avondale running group. I always appreciate the thoughtful invites I get, but I had just run this same route last Sunday, and as I'm having enough motivational issues to run as it is lately, I really to need to mix it up to avoid boredom.
Instead, I went to Bradford Preserve and had a great solo trail run. The surface on the trails today varied between crunchy shallow snow and frozen dirt, both of which were fine by me. Ran CCW from BP south to Wahaneeta, east to South Woody, and north around the Woody Hill Marsh and onto the new RINEMBA trails. Encountered a couple of mountain bikers riding the Captain's Daughter. (Hope the Captain didn't mind.) Otherwise, it was just 1,200+ acres to myself. A few short sections of double-track cobbled together with about 1/3 mile of ugly asphalt, but all the rest was great single-track. Finished up before a rainstorm will inevitably erode the last bit of snow. :(
Weekly mileage: 34 (5 trail runs, 0 road runs)
Weekly synopsis: No whining here this week. With a spring marathon off the table, it's refreshing not to fret about training. I'm looking forward to upcoming trail races, and will put in a modicum of training, but nothing structured. By early April, when my stressful and time-sucking work project is over and daylight hours are in abundance, I'm confident my weekly mileage will increase and give me a good base for summer races.
Weekly highlight: The group headlamp run in the snow! With the darkness and headlamp reflections, it's as if you're running completely different trails, and even though these are the Burlingame trails I know and love (Vin Gormley, Sammy C, and Lenny Lane), at times I had to really focus and think to get my bearings on where we were. Great fun!
Random observation #1:
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| [Runners World, Jan 2018] Different strokes for different folks, so not trying to proselytize anyone or provide TMI, but this gave me a measure of personal vindication. What works for me is minimum layers, and minimizing chafing and bundling up. Had never thought about infection. |
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| It's official: Punxsutawney Phil emerged and saw his shadow this Groundhog Day, thus six more weeks of winter remain. This is obviously proven science, so I'm psyched for more snow on the way, hopefully in time for OMF. |
Monday: 0
Monday is often my day off, but it made for a really easy decision for a rest day when I woke up this morning with very heavy and mildly sore legs. Two days after a 5K; is that what it's from? Is that what my lack of running has done?
Tuesday: 11
AM: 5 miles. 1-3" of snow had been forecast overnight, and we ended up getting over 6" of snow in Westerly! Yes! I always get really excited when it snows. Went for a solo run through Champlin. Loved it! (At a team lunch that day, of the 7 people having lunch at Bridge, I was the only one that was happy about the snow. The rest were all whining about it. Get outside and enjoy nature!)
 |
| The majesty of winter |
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| Fresh snow all around me; I am a happy boy. |
PM: 6 miles. A double! First in a long time. Met up with the two Jonathans and Chris for a snowy headlamp run in Burlingame. Ran VG, Sammy C's, and Lenny's Lane. Fun!
 |
| Left to right: Chris, Jonny, Jonathan |
Wednesday: 5
Jonny had predicted I would be sore after two snow runs yesterday and he was not wrong. But with snow still on the ground, I couldn't resist getting out there on snow covered trails again. This run was in Hale Reservation in Dover, MA. Never saw a soul on any of the trails, but when I was finishing up on a short section of snow covered road, I saw a guy getting out of a Hale maintenance truck to talk to me. I know I went behind closed gates, but I'm pretty sure it's still open to foot traffic. It turns out that he just came over to say "Good morning", warned me about some slick spots, and said glad to see me out using the facility. Really nice!
 |
| With YakTrax, even running the short road portions were fun! |
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| All is quiet and pristine on Noanet Pond |
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| Single-track snowy fun! |
Thursday: 0
 |
| Brought my running clothes and headlamp to run after work, but didn't have a strong conviction with the temps in upper 40s and melting snow, so when my colleagues invited me to Flip Side, that was an easy and fun choice. Where else can you find pinball machines and jukeboxes these days? |
Friday: 0
Nope. Long work day; didn't happen.
Saturday: 6
Hit up the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center trails in Mystic. Crunchy snow run. The trail markings could be better, and I ended up inadvertently getting off the Avalonia Trail (orange) and onto roads for a longer section than I was happier with, but it was all good.
Post-race, went up to watch Matthew's Class B indoor meet. While he's not back to running his longer 1500 and 3000m distances yet, it was cool to see him anchor the Westerly High School 4x800, and the team won in it 8:28. Class B champs and a new meet record!
Sunday: 12
Got an invite from Tommy to join him in running with the nascent Sunday Avondale running group. I always appreciate the thoughtful invites I get, but I had just run this same route last Sunday, and as I'm having enough motivational issues to run as it is lately, I really to need to mix it up to avoid boredom.
Instead, I went to Bradford Preserve and had a great solo trail run. The surface on the trails today varied between crunchy shallow snow and frozen dirt, both of which were fine by me. Ran CCW from BP south to Wahaneeta, east to South Woody, and north around the Woody Hill Marsh and onto the new RINEMBA trails. Encountered a couple of mountain bikers riding the Captain's Daughter. (Hope the Captain didn't mind.) Otherwise, it was just 1,200+ acres to myself. A few short sections of double-track cobbled together with about 1/3 mile of ugly asphalt, but all the rest was great single-track. Finished up before a rainstorm will inevitably erode the last bit of snow. :(
 |
| Well signed new mountain bike trails. |
Weekly mileage: 34 (5 trail runs, 0 road runs)
Weekly synopsis: No whining here this week. With a spring marathon off the table, it's refreshing not to fret about training. I'm looking forward to upcoming trail races, and will put in a modicum of training, but nothing structured. By early April, when my stressful and time-sucking work project is over and daylight hours are in abundance, I'm confident my weekly mileage will increase and give me a good base for summer races.
Weekly highlight: The group headlamp run in the snow! With the darkness and headlamp reflections, it's as if you're running completely different trails, and even though these are the Burlingame trails I know and love (Vin Gormley, Sammy C, and Lenny Lane), at times I had to really focus and think to get my bearings on where we were. Great fun!
Holy shit! Jeff has a beard!
ReplyDeleteSeth, I guess I haven't seen you in a while. Isn't the winter beard a requirement of WTAC trail runners? Like the snow, mine will be fleeting.
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