So, for this past summer, I didn't blog at all. School was off exactly two months, and I ran with it (and during it). I just didn't find time to blog about it, and frankly, that's okay. Still, we can update:
July 2010 Miles: 83
July 2011 Miles: 115
July 2012 Miles: 106
July 2013 Miles: 106
August 2010 Miles: 83 August 2011 Miles: 115 August 2012 Miles: 125 August 2013 Miles: 113
While in 2012 I made a healthy 23% mileage increase for the year during January and February, 2013 saw a 1% increase. I struggled after the blizzard (Feb. 7) to get out. I actually didn't run for 7 days. It was my biggest break in over a year. At least, I think that it was.
Weight
End of December - 223
January - 222.5
February - 221
Hoping Lent helps (no pizza, no soda...the usual). Not so much, thus far. But, we'll see in 31 days.
Weight on October 31, 2012: 220
Weight on December 1, 2012: 218
My mileage went down, and honestly, it needed to. Something had to give. Running was it. The that I lost weight last month, overall, is awesome. Honestly, at one point I had gained 5 pounds (considering I only weigh myself on Saturday, that was not a fluke thing).
What was great was the Manchester Road Race. For the first time ever, I earned a seed card. Based on two different 5k times this year, I had been seeded in the "under 40 minutes" group for the 4.78 mile race. As anyone that reads this knows, it's my favorite race of the year, but I rarely run it fast. That's because there is a mass of humanity on the race course of residential streets. Instead, I think of it as the best Thanksgiving Day Parade ever.
This year, with the seed card, things were slightly different. For once, I wasn't competing with you-know-who. But a woman at work was also seeded, and we run about the same paces. She is younger, so I might have even accepted it if she beat me. Besides, she waited so long to register that, despite earning a under 40 seed card, they only had an under 35 to give her. So they did.
Anthony Famiglietti
So, the 2012 race was slightly different. For one, the great Amby Burfoot would be completing his 50th MRR*. That would tie him for the most ever. Secondly, there were some great runners in the field. Actually, I should say, there were some Olympic caliber steeple-chase runners in the field. Anthony Famiglietti, Donn Cabral, and Delilah DiCrescenzo (the girl from the song) ran. DiCrescenzo won the women's race, in fact. There were also some good, young American female runners, recent all-Americans Sarah Porter and Amy Van Alstine.
Sarah Porter
Donn Cabral
Third, I had no intentions of looking for bacon along the course (though if it was offered nearby, I wouldn't refuse). Finally, with the seed card, I wasn't starting in the midst of the masses. With nearly 15,000 registered runners, and numerous walkers and bandits, there were more people than the Hartford Marathon in a course that was a sixth of the size.
What did the seeding do for me? To start, it was the first MRR that I didn't walk during. There are several bottle-necks that lead to complete stops/walks. Also, the first tenth of a mile or so is a walk. Not this year, I maintained a steady pace through the first mile, and only slowed a little on the killer hill of the next mile plus. The entire time I was running, I was running with others from the starting corrall. The seeding system seemed to work. In fact, as I passed the four mile mark, the woman that was right next to me at the start was nearby. We joked that we must've started in the right place, after all.
I wondered aloud if we would actually make the 40 minute cut off for another seed. I don't know why. Last year, I ran a 45:00 even, for my best MRR ever. Still, she reassured me that we had plenty of time. Usually with a head full of doubt and a road full of promises, I don't quite get my goal. Questions start to appear in my head. This time, with her reassurance, I felt confident. The pace felt hard, but not awful.
As I turned onto Main Street, and saw that big American flag, I knew I was there. There's a few hundred meters between the corner and the finish. Whatever was left, I gave. When I crossed the finish, arms raised triumphantly, the gun-time clock read 39:49**. I had earned a seed card for next year, and honestly couldn't believe. Now, I had to just stay healthy.
Which is why, I immediately headed to the Army/Navy Club, to meet friends and family, and have a donut and an adult beverage.
Cabral finishes
Burfoot & Deena Kastor
Delilah DiCrescenzo winning
Men's winner, Aaron Braun
Stacey said this should win best costume
At the start...
Sarah Porter at the end of the race...Looks like she worked hard.
Mr. MRR, Amby Burfoot
*His book, The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Lifewas given to me by a former runner of mine at a time when I had barely started running. The way Burfoot described the MRR, and the fact that I was going to be at Thanksgiving at my in-laws that year meant that the MRR was certainly doable for me. Despite the temps in the 20s, and the pounding rain, I fell in love with that race 7 years ago. The people are great, and last year, even gave me bacon, as I ran a PR to the time. Since that first race, the 70th, I've run each year. If I can, I'll go for my own streak. Though 50 is QUITE a lot, I'm nearly 1/7 there. **Official time-39:16!!!
The binge blogging of the summer never took place. A lot of running has. A least a lot of running in terms of how much I've run in the past. I certainly have run more than I ever have over the past 3+ months.
So first, we'll play catch up:
August 2010 Miles: 83 August 2011 Miles: 115 August 2012 Miles: 106
September 2010 Miles: 64 September 2011 Miles: 80 September 2012 Miles: 120 (!!!) October 2010 Miles: 40 October 2011 Miles: 60 October 2012 Miles: 71
2010 YTD Mileage: 511 (Oct.) 2011 YTD Mileage: 686 (Oct.) 2012 YTD Mileage: 762 (Oct.) July 31, 2012 Weight: 219 (and I weighed 216 on the 29th, after my long run). October 31, 2012 Weight: 220 (and I weighed 216 on the 13th, before my marathon).
July 2010 Miles: 83
July 2011 Miles: 115
July 2012 Miles: 106
That's roughly an 8% decrease. NBD.
2010 YTD Mileage: 324
2011 YTD Mileage: 431
2012 YTD Mileage: 451
That's 4.5 % more, and 20 miles ahead. With vacation coming 2 weeks early, I anticipate this being my best August ever (last year I put in 105 miles).
June 30, 2012 Weight: 222
July 31, 2012 Weight: 219 (and I weighed 216 on the 29th, after my long run).
% Change = 1.5%
That's the light side of 220 for the first time since right after I finished my first marathon.
I still haven't quit that diet. Here's the secret...portion control, just like John Travolta said. Of course, it's Charle's Barkley's Weight Watchers for Men. But if it is good enough for the Round Mound of Rebound, then it's good enough for me.
It's unfathomable that some people run as much (or more) as I did in June in a week. Some do it in a day. Ultra might just be a nice word for crazy. Here's June 2012 in a nutshell...
June 2010 Miles: 39 June 2011 Miles: 78 June 2012 Miles: 86 % increase: 10.2%
Last July was my best month ever. I ran 115 miles. It was incredible, and difficult. In the past, we've vacationed in August. This year, we go in mid-July. For this, I predict being around 95-100 miles. I should still be ahead of last year, but this is where time starts catching up with me. I don't know why I care, but I do. August should be my best August ever. Am I worrying for nothing?
June 2, 2012 weight: 223 June 30, 2012 weight: 222 % Change: 0.4%
It would appear I hit a plateau. That was until the TV was on, today.
Today, on Live! John Travolta told me deprivation only leads to yo-yo diets, so he eats what he wants, and monitors intake and exercises. Thank you, Danny Zuko, for describing my whole point of view on dieting. He also told me to lose the weight over time. So, I backed off. I figured, if Vinny Barbarino could do it, so could I.
Diets started: 3
Diets quit: 2
So, with it being July again, I should be binge blogging.
Always finding it hard to update this blog. It's not very interesting, to say the least. Today, to start June, I ran in the rain. It was absolutely glorious. Now for the updates:
In March, I had run 51 miles. Just 1 mile below last March. However, April and May were sort of a switch, running a bit more in April and a bit less in May.
April 2010 miles: 36
April 2011 miles: 42
April 2012 miles: 53 (WHOOT!)
May 2010 miles: 42
May 2011 miles: 62
May 2012 miles: 52 (weird how that's the average of the previous 2 years)
YTD mileage 2010: 192
YTD mileage 2011: 238
YTD mileage 2012: 256
% increase from last year to this year: +7.5% (and still 18 miles ahead of last year, as in March)
March 31, 2012 weight: 231
June 2, 2012 weight: 223 (221 a week ago...stupid Memorial Day picnics)
May 31, 2012 weight: 234 (nearly 5% less; alright!)
Here's the deal: Since September 6, I have been back teaching school, and leading a hectic existence. Since December 24, I have been a father of two, and leading an even more hectic existence. Something had to give. It was either the running or the blogging. Since running is good for me, and nobody truly reads this, I chose the blogging.
Here are my updates, to let you know, I am truly alive.
For 2011, I ran a grand total of 785 miles. That was 185 miles more than 2010, or a full 30% increase in mileage. That was pretty impressive for me, as the 600 miles in 2010 had been my best annual mileage prior to 2011. More importantly, I made my resolution, and exceeded it by 35 miles.
Since 2012 has begun, I have continued running. In fact, I have exceeded my January and February 2011 mileage totals for each of the first two months of this year.
Those are all improvements if I've ever seen them. However, there is always the weight resolution. When I went to my doctor in January, I had lost another 4 pounds since June. That was great. It was a 12 pound decrease for the year. I had been lower at the start of the school year.
So, how are things in March?
Feb. 28, 2011 weight: 240
March 1, 2012 weight: 233
% Change: -3
I guess I can say I've done something right, but I've been hovering around there for a few months.
Meanwhile, it's time to start racing, again. Last year, I avoided races until June. However, this year, I decided to run a few races prior to this. My first race is this Saturday Sunday. It is the Shamrock-N-Roll 5k, sponsored by WPLR. The course will begin at the legendary Toad's Place, and is run past Yale, up and down Temple St. and Whitney Ave. in New Haven. What's cool is, I think we'll even pass a Torosaurus Latus, at the good old Peabody Museum.
I have barely run this week, because running has been a struggle the past two weeks. Last Friday, I hit up the chiropractic wizard, known as Dr. J. Saturday, I had a massage. I still feel wrong, so I shut down after Monday's work, hoping I could make a race out of Sunday. Regardless of what happens, the weather looks great for a run, and I can see some of my favorite architecture and points of interest in a city I don't get to spend enough time in these days.
Hope the baby sleeps well on Saturday night/Sunday morning, because I'm on duty. See you at the finish line...
Suffice to say, I haven't been updating. Not even my monthly updates. The school year began, and I just couldn't keep up with working, running, and blogging. On September 24, I had run 600 miles, as much as last year. I had to average 12 miles a week to reach my goal by the end of the year. Since then, I've averaged 13.3 over the past ten weeks. That means, I should hit my 2011 goal this coming week. Weather won't stop me, so I hope that life doesn't get in the way.
Meanwhile, I haven't been able to do those monthly updates. Here's what I can say:
September 2010-60.81 miles (3.2 average on 20 runs)
September 2011-79.89 miles [wow] (3.8 avg. on 21 runs)
October 2010-40.42 miles (4.042 average on 10 runs, including a half marathon)
October 2011-62.4 miles (3.5 avg. on 17 runs)
November 2010- 46.03 miles (3.06 avg. on 15 runs)
November 2011-57.64 miles (avg. 2.88, 20 runs)
And, my weight sucks.
Manchester Road Race recap to follow ASAP. I enjoyed it too much not to write about it.
Total Mileage: 42 April 2010 Total Mileage: 36 Total Workouts: 14 April 2010 Total Workouts: 13Average Miles/Run: April 2010 Miles/Run: 2.77 Calories Burned: 8149 April 2010 Calories Burned: 7562 Still won't get into net calories... Longest Run: 5.63 three times Fastest Pace: 7:30, because all I was running was a mile. Weight March 31: 237.4 Weight April 30: 236.0 Total blog posts April 2011 - 3 Total 2011 miles by April 30 - 176 Total 2010 miles by April 30 - 156
Note: Apparently I left this as a draft for most of April...many apologies to my one reader.
March 2011 - The Month in Review
Total Mileage: 52 March 2010 Total Mileage: 50 Total Workouts: 18 March 2010 Total Workouts: 18 Average Miles/Run: 2.89 February 2010 Miles/Run: 2.75 Calories Burned: 10575 February 2010 Calories Burned: 9061 Still won't get into net calories... Longest Run: 5.58 on 03/26/2011 Fastest Pace: 8:01/mile over 2 miles on 03/09/11 (with several more runs w/ <8:20 miles on the same route this month) Weight February 28: 240 Weight March 31: 237.4 And that's a loss! Total blog posts March 2011 - 2 Total 2011 miles by March 31 - 134 Total 2010 miles by March 31 - 120
Total Mileage: 42
February 2010 Total Mileage: 50 :(
Total Workouts: 15 (plus a LOT of shoveling, again...mostly the first week)
February 2010 Total Workouts: 16
Average Miles/Run: 2.8
February 2010 Miles/Run: 3.125
Calories Burned: 8608
February 2010 Calories Burned: 8623 (hmmm...that's pretty close) Again, I won't get into net calories...
Longest Run: 4.05 miles on 2/20 and 2/26/11
Fastest Pace: 9:06/mile over 2 miles on 2/14/11
Weight January 31: 240
Weight February 28: 240
Well, at least I didn't gain anything, right?
Total blog posts February 2011 - 1 (this one...I've gotta do better).
Total 2011 miles by Feb. 28 - 81.14
Total 2010 miles by Feb. 28 - 70 (and finally, we're ahead of the game!)
This month has been very tough. The first week was spent clearing the roof of snow, and dealing with more horrible winter weather. That Saturday, we moved my SiL to her new digs. That Sunday was the Superbowl. That was 2/6, and the date of my first run of the month. In the last 9 days I have 1 less run than in the previous 19. That's my February in a nutshell.
Total Mileage: 39
January 2010 Total Mileage: 20
Total Workouts: 15 (plus a LOT of shoveling)
January 2010 Total Workouts: 6
Average Miles/Run: 2.6
January 2010 Miles/Run: 3.3
Calories Burned: 8443
January 2010 Calories Burned: 4076
(I won't get into net calories)
The past two weeks, I've run 22 miles each, culminating with an 8 mike run on the Saturday. These two weeks, and especially these two runs, could not have been any different. We can start with the distances and finish times of each run: July 24-8.01 miles-103 minutes (1:43, or 12:51 miles) vs. July 31-8:36 miles-76 minutes (1:16, or 9:04 miles).
The two big factors were the weather and my body (aren't those what affects everyone?). The past two weeks, something has been (not) seriously wrong with my left shin and calf. My foot wouldn't flex when I pushed off the ground. I kept running anyway. Finally, I had enough last Monday (July 26), called my support crew (read: chiropractor), and made an appointment for the next afternoon. I also tried running on the treadmill to see if it made a difference. It did, but I hate the treadmill a lot more in the summer. At the appointment, she told me something was up with my soleus Additionally, I've been to the walk-in twice in the last four weeks. The first time, 2 weeks ago, I went through a battery of tests, and was given weak antibiotics, because they couldn't find anything wrong with me (I had been coughing for 2 weeks at this point). I went back this Friday, saw a different doctor, and was put on the nebulizer for a breathing treatment, as the cough and wheezing were worse. She checked out my chest xray, and decided that I had had bronchitis for over a month. Awesome, new meds: z-pack, a steroid, and an inhaler. Freaking great!
As for the weather last week versus last week, it was diametrically opposed (I think). July 24, at 7:30-9:30 it was 80-82, and the Real Feel was between 98 and 102, due to 80% humidity in the morning (got to 92%, no rain). July 31, the climate was drastically different. The temps from 7:30 to 9 ranged between 63 and 68, with a feel of 63-70 in the sun. In the shade, I actually shivered on my first loop.
The courses were also a bit different. I have a 4 mile (4.18) loop that I use regularly through some of the neighborhoods around mine. On the first Saturday, it took me 44 minutes to complete the first loop of this. I felt awful. I was drenched in sweat by the end of the 2nd mile. Soaked completely through my shirt and shorts. My leg was in pain. I did my usual water stop in my garage, and then proceeded to change the route. I could not mentally or physically do that loop again. So, I ran up and down the side streets on my usual two mile loop, making it up to about 4 (3.83) for a grand total of 8.01. The 3.83 took me an hour, and I had to walk several times due to pure exhaustion.
This week, I was able to do the 4.18 mile loop twice. The first time through, I felt awesome. It was like I was in a race. The chiropractor visit combined with some serious aided stretching (thanks to the Wife), and I ran at a pace that was, for me, gang busters (great vocabulary, Teach). Keeping up a full head of steam, I completed the first loop in 36:36 (8:45 miles, which is pretty good for me). I got my water, took my inhaler, and headed out again in under 2 minutes. My stride hadn't changed much, and it was really good. As I went up "the hill," I felt as though I was flying up it (this sucker rises 100ft in a little under a quarter mile, that's more than a 4% grade). In fact, I felt so good at the top, that I considered doing another 2-4 miles after this loop, but then I decided not to push it, based on my calf/shin. It was probably a good idea, because, though I really felt good on this round of the loop, by the time I got to the last half mile, I was ready to be done. On the entire run, I didn't sweat through my shirt, let alone my shorts. Conditions were SO much better!
When I finished on the 24th, I felt enormous relief: it was over. I hadn't felt that awful in a long time when I finished a run. This week, when I finished, I felt enormous relief: I KILLED THAT RUN! It gave me a lot o hope, because I again was contemplating at least 2 more miles when I came inside. If I had about an hour more (S had to go to a baby shower in NY, and I'd feel guilty coming in from my run 20 minutes before she left), I absolutely would have. Saturday made me feel as though I was back on track. There are roughly 70 days until the ING Hartford Half-Marathon (this year, I'm taking it easy). I promise not to wait 50 days for my next post, like I did last year. I'll be ready on time, and feel a lot better.
July 2010 Update:
Total mileage 83 (July 2009, I did 92, not bad, considering I run 1 day a week less, and I'm not training for a marathon).
Total running workouts: 24 (2009: 18...hmmm maybe I skipped a few more days than I thought)
Extra workouts (x-training): 9 (2009: 1)
Blog posts: 3* (2009: 4)
Weight at Start of Month: 236 (2009: 239)
Weight at End of Month: 232 (2009: 235)
Finding time for the run is tough. I've found enough time for about 14-15 miles a week. This will be my third week in a row with that, but there could also be snow...which there has been each of the last two weeks. One thing is for certain-I'm fat. No doubt. Huge. I weigh what I weighed at the end of last school year. I hate that.
It is obvious I need more cross training. Muscle confusion...probably not an option. I still need to get my mileage in, but need something else.
Thank goodness for Lent. No pizza, no soda, no bad for me snacks, avoiding sweets (more of a guideline, than a hard and fast rule, because of birthdays), and maybe I'll rededicate myself to at least one day of weights.
The crunches are not done every day, but I've done more in the past 6 weeks than I've done in a long time.
Winter doesn't motivate...I must motivate. February break is a great help...Since I don't have one next year, I need to get my weight DOWN...seriously.
The treadmill is a bitch. The treadmill, at least for winter, is my best friend.
Back in the saddle, I tried to restart the marathon plan from week one. I thought, why not? I'm back to the weight I was in January (not good), and need to find some focus to get this thing rolling. I will finish that damn race.
Week 1's plan was to get up to around 14-19 miles. I failed. It happens. My knee was getting sore everytime I ran, and my calf and hamstring were still feeling it a week after the Iron Horse. Surprisingly, my toe felt fine. I didn't run Sunday, and should have, but never found the time. It's the last week of school, and I screwed up. Also, Saturday's run had to be cut short, having been to a bachelor party the night before, my stomach wasn't settled (read: I hate Budweiser). Overall, I only ran 11.53 miles (thanks MapMyRun).
This week, my first run went great. I've got to put in 4-5 today, and 3-4 tomorrow. Break Friday, as usual, which is good because that's the last day of school. Which means party...which probably means more Bud (Yuck). I'll get my five to six in on Saturday, no matter what.
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