A Buggy Run

So I haven't officially signed up for a fall marathon yet. But I know I'm doing one. Just haven't decided on which one. So my runs lately have been marathon training like runs. My usual 3-4 runs during the week (3 to 8 miles) and a long run on the weekend. This weekend I planned at least a 13 mile run. Was going to do it on Saturday but had a late night Friday night and then the moon & stars didn't align the rest of the day. Sunday was my back up day.

I had a busy day ahead on Sunday, so the plan was to head out early and get these miles done. I was up at 5am and out the door by 5:30. As soon as I stepped outside, I realized I that I couldn't think of a 13 mile route I had run recently. As I started to run down my street I decided to head into Thompson, Ct. and do a loop that was 14+ miles. I figured at 13 if I was tired, I would walk\run the last mile home.

Thompson, CT is only a mile from my house. This Thompson run is all back roads. It's a very scenic and a very beautiful run. I'm in CT from mile 2 to just about mile 7, then I loop back into Webster, Ma. for another 3 miles of back roads before I'm back on a main road.

At that mile 2, I encountered a horsefly. No big deal, it was just flying around my head. I figured a couple of swats and it should be gone. A mile later, I realized that there was more than just one. I started getting bites on my head and neck. I couldn't tell you how many times I smacked my head trying to kill the suckers!

By mile 4, I realized the buggers weren't going nowhere. My plan now was to just ignore them and continue running. There was nothing I could do. By my 7, it was out of control!! I had one go up my nose, in my mouth and even had one stuck in between my shades and my eyes. By this point they were dive bombing in to me and biting me. There had to be at least 7-8 of them. It was maddening! I honestly thought about flagging a car down and jumping in!! I'm sure someone would stop for a crazy looking guy waving his arms around and smacking his bald head. Right?

 By mile 10 I was back on the main road and just like that, they were gone. I had spent the last few miles fighting these suckers off that I had not really paid attention to my run. Here I was at mile 10 and feeling great. By mile 13 I was still feeling good, so I decided to finish off the 14+ running. And even then, at the end, I felt like I had another couple miles in me. I like not feeling like I'm dying at the end!

This run was a memorable one. Even though I finished strong, I think I have to place this at the top of the list of my most suckiest run. I don't think, I'll be running into Thompson anytime soon.


This week I'll decide on my marathon. I've narrowed it down to two. I just have to see which one of the two fit into my schedule. I'll keep you guys posted.


Have a great week everyone and a Happy 4th of July!!

BAA 10K - Volunteer Assignment

Today I, along with other members of CMS, volunteered at the BAA 10k in Boston. We worked Water Stop #4. This was located roughly at about mile 4 on Commonwealth ave. I haven't been down to this area since the Boston Marathon. This is about mile 24 1/2 of the marathon. It felt weird seeing these streets. Images of the crowds throughout these streets came to mind. I can still remember how I felt....

Anyways... we were manning water station #4. We had 6 tables set up with Gatorade ..

and 6 more tables setup with Water

The race started at 8am but we were told to be there for 6am to start setting up. As you can imagine, it takes quite a while to set the cups up, pour water or Gatorade and stack the 3 high on 6 tables. We were pretty much ready to go by race start. We were setup at a corner were we could see the runners come by us, but head out down Commonwealth Ave, then they u turned and come back towards us. So from the time we saw the first runners, we knew we had about 5mins before they came our way.

Here are the lead men... they didn't grab water from us. They were flying!!!

A couple more went by... then I saw Kim Smith coming towards us... I was like OMG, I need to take her picture.....

EPIC FAIL!!!!.... 

I was just left holding water cups and her shadow laughing at me.....

Shortly there after it got really busy. Close to 5500 people ran this race. It was a hot and humid day and our 12 tables of water and Gatorade were just about done by the end of it. We had to start pouring more cups at one point cause we were afraid of running out. With the heat, that would have been bad!!

It was great seeing all the runners compete. I saw a lot of familiar faces running by. Our crew did a great job with the whole set up and clean up of our water stop. The thousands cups that littered the streets were cleaned up in almost no time. The trash trucks and BAA vehicles are not to far behind the last runners so they pick up trash and their tables as they go by. They have a great system.

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 I want to give a shout out to my friend Sandra that ran this race. Even with the heat of the day, she looked good when she came by us! She rocked this 10k!!!

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And also a shout out to The Central Mass Striders!! They do so much for the running community. I am honored to be part of such a great group.

We all got BAA 10k volunteer shirts too!!

This was a blast! I can't wait for the next one!!

A Little Bit of Everything

So here I am.... Looking at the screen in front of me. I don't know what to write about. This is the 4th day this past week where I want to do some blogging, but don't know where to begin. Writers block? No not really. I have a lot on my mind actually. I think that's where the problems lies.  I have a lot of little things on my mind and not enough of one subject to write out a blog entry.

I guess I'll start somewhere and see where it goes.


In a Funk
Though I have been getting my runs in, I feel like they have been stale. I feel like I have been running just to run. With no purpose. Still running on and off with my Garmin.

Need to start Racing
This might help! But life has been busy. Work, family, and home projects, feels like I'm always doing something. So trying to plan out races have been a bit difficult. Also, with upcoming home projects, the cost of races factor in as well. Will have to chose wisely.


Members Only
No, not the jacket..... The club is having their "Members Only" run this Wednesday afternoon. A fun run mostly with dinner afterwards..... yumm....I'm hoping I can get out of work in a decent time to make it there! It will be a good chance to meet some new people and also to put faces\voices to people on their Facebook page.


New Runner at work
There is a guy at work that has bee running on and off, but has recently become more serious about it. He's been running at work during his lunch. He's been asking me about different routes to run, so last week I ran with him to show him a good 5 miler. This dude is fast. He easily runs a 7min mile pace. He slowed it down a bit for me, but we were still cruisin. I was running at a race pace. I caught myself gasping for air as we talked during this run. It was a great 5 miler. But I was toast at work after :) .... he'll be great to run with for my speed workouts!


I am Sparta!!!!!
I just won an entry to a Spartan Race thanks to Michael over at Slowly Tri-ing. This is gonna be awesome. Thank you Michael!!!!!!


The wife is a runner now?
She just signed us up for a 5k in July in Oxford, Ma. This will be her 3rd 5k. And she just told me to make sure I set the alarm tonight because she is going running in the morning....Things are getting weird around here......



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'Til next time!! Have a great week everyone!!!

Running Naked

I ran naked this past week..... and I liked it! So much so, that I think I'll do it again next week!! 

Streaking Through the Quad!!! Wooo!

Nooo.....
I'm talking about running without my Garmin. I've been running at work during lunch and I kept forgetting to grab my Garmin in the mornings. Not a big deal. I know the back roads behind my work like the back of my hands. I know what roads to take if I want to run a 3 miler, 5 miler and\or up to an 12 miler. I've run these same roads for the past 3 yrs.

I don't know about anybody else, but it's such a freedom to run without the Garmin. Nothing telling me how fast I'm going, how far I'm running or how long I've been running.... it's just me and the road, enjoying every single step. It's been awesome!!

Like most runners, I'm a stat freak. I like to analyze my runs. The Garmin has really become a useful tool to a lot of us. But at the same time, we've become too dependent on it. Don't you  think? I can't tell you how many times I look at it during a run or a race. Sometimes I look at it and not even realize what I looked at so I look at it again.... LOL. It's crazy!

It's all good though. Like I said it's a useful tool. For training it's been perfect! I don't know what runners did before it.... Really? What did they do? ? Hmmm?
Running without it this week has been great though. I'm not training for anything so it's OK. I've just been running just to run. Just for the love of it. Isn't that why we all started running for??


Anyways......
How do you guys feel about running without your Garmin. Do you feel naked without it? Do you care either way? I'm interested to know how you feel.

Vacation is good for the Mind and Soul

You know when a vacation was good, when by the end of it, you are ready to come home. This vacation was one of the best, if not THE best vacation I have ever had. There was eight of us that went down to Punta Cana, DR. The wife and I, and six great friends of ours. No worries and no cares in the world. Just our toes in the water and our asses in the sand......

..... and a lot of eating and drinking! I ate more last week than I probably did the whole month before. Buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food was great! I drank more Piña Coladas and Mama Juanas than I can count and smoked a couple cubans as well... It was good times...

I did get four good runs in. First one was a  spur of the moment 3 miler on the beach enjoying the beautiful scenery...

It was a great run, but the sand did a number on my toes and it was about 1pm so the sun was really coming down on me hard. Finished off the run with a dive into the ocean!

The other three runs were 6:30 - 7am runs to beat the heat & humidity. A 3.5 on Tuesday, 3 on Wednesday and a 4 miler on Friday. All on the resort.

Friday's run - Running in circles....

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I needed last week. It was good for the mind and soul. But vacation is now over.... It's time to get serious. Serious about training and about my passion. It's time to set new goals and meet them. I'm currently looking into some races to enter. There are a couple big 5ks that I'll probably do, but not totally interested in 5ks. I'm looking for some longer distances.  I found a couple 10ks that I'm interested in, but still looking for some good halfs. - Anyone local know of any let me know!!

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 I need to read up on some of my favorite blogs also. I feel like I missed out on a lot!

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Well, back to the grind... time to lace up them shoes and keep on chugging away. Have a great week everyone!!