Great Run at Bradbury

Yesterday morning dawned perfect and so was the run I joined with the Trail Monsters, picture below. We set out just after 8 AM from the parking area of Bradbury Mountain State Park for a run up to the mountain lookout area and then onto the Bradbury Bruiser trails across the street onto part of the extensive network of snowmobile trails that define Maine in the winter. The snow was somewhat hard from the overnight freeze but softened considerably as the run progressed, ending in some wet feet at the conclusion of the run. About midway through the run some of the group decided to forgo the inconvenience of skirting the caving in "snowbridges" that provided some dry passage around the sides of the streams in lieu of just running directly through the middle. It was quite funny for us that decided to stay dry (me included) and a little uncomfortable for the wet feet later in the run. The run was quite eventful as the scenery was constantly changing from wooded trails to fallow corn fields with a great sighting of what appeared to be a Barred Owl. After about 5 miles on the snowmobile trail we ended at a wide swath of power lines and turned around at that point. Chuck Hazzard decided to jump on the power lines to return home while the rest of us headed back to the mountain.

The trip back was eventful for a couple of the pack who fell into the water (Emma, I won't mention any names), but otherwise it was mostly about battling the constantly softening snow. Near the end on the Knights Woods Trail James pulled away from the group with his dog Maury (sic?) and I hung with him for awhile until I fell back a few paces and could never catch back up due to the fact that every time I tried to open my pace I started heal striking more fervently which just sunk me deeper into the snow, making it nearly impossible to run much faster. James won the day - nordic skiing is definitely paying off for him. All told I ran just under 13.5 miles in a little under 2:10; an average pace of near 9:20 or so. My average heart rate for this outing was 157 bpm, really high for such a slow pace, but understandable considering the soft surface. I wish there was someway to put an objective numeric value to fun on a run (being a numbers guy this would make me more comfortable), but since there isn't I will go ahead and rate this one a perfect 10. Thanks guys.

It was great being together with the whole group again. While my friendship with James and Jamie is relatively new (since last summer) the tough miles and hours we have spent together on the trails has forged a pretty strong bond between us, making it seem like we have been buddies for years. It has been a couple months since we have all been out together so yesterday's run was pretty special. I was thrilled to talk to Jamie about pacing him at Western States and it looks like there is a pretty good shot I will be able to do it. To me, the is almost better than winning the lottery myself. To be able to help a friend accomplish something as big as this is enormous. I can't wait. And on top of that, I just learned that my baby brother is going to make me an uncle again. And the due date of this baby is...WS 100 weekend. Pretty special.

Hitting the pavement

The last two days have found me pounding the pavement instead of the treadmill belt. The weather has been too good to miss a chance to get outdoors. Yesterday I got out with the gang, including Ethan, Jim and Tom for a run in the cooler but still seasonably warm weather for the usual 6+ tour of South Freeport. The pace was comfortable and conversational at 7:35/mile.

Today's run found me alone with Ethan running a slightly faster pace. Ethan and I ran along together for the first 3.5 miles until he kicked it up a notch to get some speed work in. The first few miles with Ethan were negative starting at 7:36 to 7:16 when he sped away and then I maintained a pace at just below a 7:00 pace for the next three miles to the finish. Today's average pace was a 7:08 with a average HR of 163 and max of 181 which I hit the last mile while running a 6:30 pace. This is a pretty high HR for me to hit at this pace but just shows how much I need to catch up on my sleep.

I finally got around to updating my 2007 running log to wrap it up for the year. I ran a total of just under 1,800 for the year. What was most interesting is that my first run of 2007 was in Kelly's hometown of Franklin, VA, as was my last run of 2007. Gotta love symmetry.

I'll probably take tomorrow off and plan on hitting Bradbury Mountain Saturday morning for my first run of 2008 with the Trail Monsters. Jamie is looking for a long run partner so I might see if I can break away from home for a little while and join him. Given the weather and the rain that's coming, looks like skiing is out of the picture.

T-shirt and shorts

Just got done with treadmill run. Why in the world would I run on the treadmill on a record-setting (?) day of weather? And I am not talking about record setting for cold but heat. Today's high was around 60 degrees with a glorious sun and I spent the day working over spreadsheets under artificial lights (but it was warm). It's budget season and work is busy so I had to settle on a machine to move me this evening. I also must admit I had to treadmill it yesterday due to a planned annual lunch out with the L.L.Bean running crew of Ethan Hemphill, Tom Tero, Jim Gott, Mike Simensky and ex-Beaner Sam Downing. It was a great lunch, and my lamb burger was much more pleasing than a run given how sore I was from the weekend's cross country workouts. Last night I ran 5.5 and tonight 5 miles, both at around a 7:30 pace. It is nice to be getting back in the groove and races are starting to appear on the horizon, including the Mid-Winter 10-Mile Classic in Cape Elizabeth.

One item of interest I wanted to pass on is information on a movie about marathoning that is scheduled for a viewing in select theaters on January 24th. Check out Spirit of the Marathon.

I'm back

Finally, I'm back at the blogging thing. December was a crazy month but with the exception of Christmas week, I got some pretty good training in. The last week and a half I have been nordic skiing more than running which is a fine substitute. On the race front I am still on the waiting list of the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100, having moved up from 65th to 61st on the list. Vermont is on the radar as is the new Pineland Farms 50 Mile race at the end of May. Congratulations to Ian Parlin and Erik Boucher for making that happen. It will definitely be greatly anticipated. Hopefully training, both in the form of running and nordic skiiing, will kick into high gear shortly and there will be more to report.

And I'd like to send a shout out to my ultra crazy buddies Jamie and Ian who did the Fat Arse 50k with the GAC guys yesterday. While I don't know the results, I bet they did great.

Number 65 and Treadmills

So I made it onto the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run waiting list...at spot number 65. While I am still positive, this deep spot has left me with a little doubt. Originally I was hoping I would be somewhere in the top 25, at least in the top 38 which is the number of the last wait list entrant that got to run the race last year. No such luck but that is okay. One cool thing is that the MMT 100 race board instituted this year is a full refund policy through January 29, so maybe that will incent some entrants to remove their name sooner so those on the waiting list have a better idea of their status. Either way, I plan on training like I am going to run it and either end up running it or be in real good shape to pace Jamie at Western States and for the 20th running of the Vermont 100. As long as I am still healthy and running and all my family is healthy, what and where I run is of little importance.

As for my training, last week was really good in that I broke the treadmill barrier and ran on the machine. Each winter it takes some work to convince myself the treadmill is a necessity and the snowstorm last week did just that. I am lucky enough to have a nice treadmill in my basement that gets a lot more use than the typical home treadmill that serves as a drying rack. I do enjoy the consistency of the treadmill which allows me to run intervals and other workouts without much guessing. Also, it keeps me close to home so I can help with the kids if Kelly needs me. I do admit it takes a certain type of runner that can happily run on the treadmill, and I count myself as that type of runner. Besides, there aren't many better ways to build mental fortitude for distance running than running three plus house in one spot. I do admit to having done a great number of 2-3+ hour treadmill runs and I am not ashamed to say so!

One thing that does help pass the time on the treadmill for me and which motivates me is a great flick to watch. I typically choose those movies that Kelly prefers not to watch. For me that means either Zombie or sci-fi/fantasy flicks. Last week I watched, for the second time, Night Watch which is a Russian movie in the vain of The Matrix. Check it out. Night Watch is the first installment of a trilogy (like The Matrix), the second of which is entitled Day Watch. All you sci-fi/fantasy geeks would be served well by checking these movies out. Enjoy.

Two Time Loser

(Jamie After his successful lottery)
I am a two-time loser, and not in the Western States 100 good way. Saturday I was not one of the 360 or so fortunate ones chosen in the Western States 100 lottery. My chances were 16% and luck was not on my side. My buddy Jamie (pictured left) was one of the lucky ones. In fact, he was one of the first 20 drawn. Unbelievable. I am of mixed opinion as to how I feel. On the one hand, I am really disappointed because running Western States is on my running life list. And one never knows what time will bring in the way of health, fitness, and life. On the other hand, I am really okay with what happened. This will allow me to take the experience of a couple more 100-milers into the WS 100 when I am finally drawn. This will go a long way in getting me the coveted silver buckle. Also this saves me quite a bit of money. Good thing. Now I am a first time WS100 loser. One more failed lottery drawing in 2008 will guarantee me an entry into the 2010 running. That is as long as the two time loser rule remains in effect. The way the number of entries is rising big changes are inevitable in the entry system of the WS100.

Now missing out on the WS100 lottery Saturday made me a one-time loser. Why have I labeled myself as a two-time loser? Well, during our lottery party Saturday I had convinced other one-time loser, James Demer (pictured right), to run the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 with me. After some coaxing and browbeating, he agreed. Fast forward to today. The MMT 100 registration opened today and filled up in an hour! That's right, one hour. If you happened to be working today at 10 Am and maybe in a meeting until 11:30, you would have missed getting in...so I am not on the MMT 100 list. James Demer is on the list and I feel terrible that I let my friend and running buddy down. When I went to register at lunch and saw the race was full, my stomach dropped. I still can't believe it. So I am a two-time loser. While the Ultra Gods shined on Jamie this week (Jamie's phrase), they took a poop on me. All is not lost though. There is a waiting list and I mailed in my application for that process today. Last year those on the waiting list faired well, so I feel pretty good. I am going to train as if I am running the MMT 100 and be in really great shape for the 20th Anniversary of the Vermont 100. So this week starts my 100 mile training. Since we have been socked in by a pretty good snowfall yesterday, I hit the treadmill. More on that tomorrow.

(On a separate note, while perusing the Vermont 100 website, I noticed they have posted split time results for the 2007 race. Pretty cool.)

The Countdown is on!

The lottery drawing is nigh. 1 hour and 20 minutes and counting. Guests will be arriving shortly to welcome either good news either for ourselves or the other lucky souls who get to run the Western States in June. To be chosen would be great; to not be chosen would be okay as well. Either way my 100-mile race plans for 2008 will be set. More later.