Happy Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here. Katie and I are on Nantucket to have a small Thanksgiving with Lynn, George, and Ember.

Katie and I realized last night that there was a 5K we could do this morning, so we showed up a little early to get in a little warm up. There was also the option of doing the 'plunge' afterwards at Children's Beach, which raises money for the local library. This event has raised over $50,000 each year, but we opted to watch instead.

As for the race, I was shooting for a time around 19:00, but I didn't want to lead and the pace group was going around a 6:20 pace into the wind. I ended up with 19:24 and Katie got a time of 25:27. After the 5K we went for a 6 mile run out at Sanford Farm, getting in around 11 miles today.

A few weeks ago I did a 10 mile run a bit north of Boston. Somehow I ended up winning my AG, and in the process got a $60 gift certificate to a local running store. My time was 1:05:34, which would have been 8th in the 40-49 AG, so I didn't really deserve the win, especially since the overall winner was from my AG - essentially I defaulted into first place because of that!

The following weekend I used my gift certificate towards two new pairs of shoes, going from a 'Brooks' to 'Saucony' runner. One of the pairs are Kinvara's, and I really like their minimalist feel. I did some mile repeats with them earlier this week and loved the light weight feel.

With my goal of qualifying for Boston in 2012, I'm starting to up my mileage. Over the summer I was running around 20 miles per week. This month will be around 125 miles, which is a good start. I'll try to hold that mileage over the winter and build up in the spring for a early fall marathon, doing some halfs and a half ironman before the marathon.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Beware of Clear Ice

Frost in Granite Bay

A Happy Chilly Thanksgiving to all.  Wow, 27 degrees this morning in Sacramento makes for a cold run.  First time this year for 3 layers for me.  Finally got warm by mile 2 into an 8 mile run.  I noted some ice along the way.  I cross some wooden bridges that frost over pretty quickly making the way slippery.  Careful out there.

We decided it was too cold for Eleanor to be out for the annual Run to Feed the Hungry Race in Sacramento.  It's always fun to have the runners on the 6.2 mile course competing with the walkers on the 3.1 one.  Maybe we can return to that tradition next year. 

Miss Eleanor and Grandma

The training seems to be going well.  The hamstring now seems to be a thing of the past.  I'm afraid new injuries lie ahead.  I have been working diligently trying to strengthen my back going to Physical Therapy once a week.  I'm into the third week and it seems to be making a difference.  First week was stretching, then core strengthening was added the second week.  I'm been doing some on my own but with little commitment.  I seem be getting on track with a little more commitment now.  It's probably going to be a life time commitment but, hopefully, will result in some improvement.  Stretching twice a day and working on strengthening once a day added to running has turned my conditioning into a full time job.  But I guess the alternatives are not so good.  I seem to be feeling better.  Time will tell.

Autumn in Granite Bay

About 10 days to CIM.  I hope all are well and warm.  Right now I just looking to finish.  I need to get Alexa to pick our target time.  I must say I have already started to look ahead to Napa for a BQ.  Well, time to get going on the turkey and stuffing.  Happy Thanksgiving to All.  See you at the starting line.  Todd.

3 Layers on a Cold Morning

2 Weeks to CIM

Craig, Janet and Todds at soccer

We're starting the two week countdown to CIM, the California International Marathon) and everyone is scampering to get those last  training miles in.  Usually I like to taper for three weeks, but still recovering from my hammie I hated to cut down too soon.  Little Big Todd  and I did a 15 miler yesterday (after he ran 10 from his house to mine for, yes, a total of 25 for him).  An added highlight of the day was going to Craig's soccer game after our run.  Todd has been fighting illness with lots of traveling added in so he has had little running the past few weeks.  Alexa also had a cold and she cut down her running early.  I'm not sure what her weekly mileage is these days.

Abby, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Alexa

Katy Gifford is pacing the 5:00 group and I'm pretty sure she's gotten in her training miles.  She has continued her training from her recent trail marathon with Alexa.  Abby did a 22 miler last week and I think she has been doing well with her training program.  I haven't heard her time goal yet.

I'm happy with my progress with my sore hamstring.  I've managed to continue my running 5-6 days per week with 40-50 miles per week.  I have not done any speed work and really lack any real endurance.  It has been more base running than anything else.  I would like to be doing some longer runs (20 milers) and some intervals but decided to wait until after after CIM hoping to avoid injuries.  Alexa and I have been talking about aiming for 4:00 but I'm thinking that may be a little too hopeful.  I guess we'll have to see how we feel that day.

Harriot & Eleanor

Time to go check on Eleanor who is visiting us this afternoon.  Right now she's taking a little nap probably dreaming of running in Boston with her Grand-dad.  We both can dream can't we.  Stay well and run long.  See you at the starting line.

Back on the wagon

Although I had a temporary scare, I will indeed be running CIM this December. My company, Hankook Tire, has its US headquarters in New Jersey. Hankook will be flying Rebbie and I out to NJ on December 5-8 for a company Christmas party. Management has excused me from the opening night social so that I can run CIM. I haven't quite worked through the details but mostly likely I will take some sort of "wash cloth" shower before boarding a 1 pm flight to Newark. This is not a gross as it seems. I did it at Hartford about 5 years ago.

I'm thankful that I will be running but my training took a big-time downward slide last month. After a tough sickness that beat me up for a full week, and then a week long trip to South Korea, and then a extended weekend at PSU with my son, I'm back and ready. To illustrate my decline let's look at September versus October. In September, my best month ever, I logged 232 miles in October I ran 109. I'm very happy to have October in the rear view mirror. I hope everyone is healthy and not pushing too hard like I mostly likely did.

It Pays to Go the Extra Mile

Having not run Saturday and Sunday, I planned to do a medium run today before going to work ... at least 8 and probably 11.  Woke up feeling well; got off to an early start.  At four miles made the turn to extend to 11 feeling good.  Approaching home, I decided to run past our neighborhood to the one behind us to make it 12.  As home was getting near, I thought, "Gee one loop around our subdivision and I will have done a half".  With less than an quarter to go that's when it happened.  Looking down, I saw the JACKPOT!  PAPER MONEY!  I had never seen it before on a run.  Sure, nichols and dimes; sometimes even a quarter ... but PAPER MONEY, now that's a find.  Soaked to the pavement, it took some prying to get it loose.  At first, I wondered if it was glued in place.  But no, it was mine.  Now don't get any crazy ideas about calling me for handouts.  I'm thinking I may need to set up a trust to regulate things.  So, now I understand why they say that it pays to go the extra mile.  By the way, I had a great run.  No rain.  Perfect weather - cool and calm.  Less than six weeks until CIM.  I'm still wondering if I have a sub 4 in me.  Alexa and I are planning a long one this next weekend.  Keep running and stay well.  See you at the starting line, Todd.

First Rain Run

I always look forward to autumn and running in the rain.  Well, we don't have much of an autumn in California and certainly get only a little rain, but I can imagine, can't I?  This morning with it in the low 50's and with a few drops of rain, it's about as close as we get to that ideal autumn day.  Running is going well.

Only 6 weeks, I think, until CIM (California International Marathon).  Katy, Alexa, Abby, and I are all signed up.  Little-big Todd (Y) is also registered but may be out of town on business.  Katy is pacing the 5:00 group so Alexa and I may run together - aiming for that 4:00 target.  Not sure if Abby will be ahead or not.  I think everyone is getting their miles in.  I know LBT was tracking a 3:20 BQ (Boston Qualifier) but may have to delay that until spring.  Did you figure out LBT was little-big Todd Y?  Abby recently ran a fast Half at San Jose and hopes to make her debut to blog posting soon.  She and Todd are busy moving this weekend.  I look forward to hearing about her new running routes in the city once she gets settled.

My "hammie" is hanging in there.  I'm still icing at times, right now sitting on ice after an easy 5 this morning.  I have been steady at 40 or so miles per week for the past 4-5 weeks.  No speed work which is a little disappointing to me.  I miss those "street-intervals" and tempo runs.  It seems that everything is about the same pace.  Long runs are not much slower than the easy recovery ones.  I think I will wait until after CIM to think about speed.  Maybe that will be future blog posting.  Right now I am just trying to stay running fit to be able to run the next day.

Well off to work.  Keep running and supporting those runners.  Feel free to add your comments.  Enjoy Autumn.  Oh, by the way, that's a picture of our dogwood with it's "autumn berries".  Too early for leaves here in the west.  It must be gorgeous about now back east.  See you at the starting line, Todd.

Last race of the multi-sport season

Glad to hear that Alexa's trail race went well. I'd like to try one of those one day once I build up my run mileage!

Sunday was my final race of the multi-sport season here in New England. We're starting to get some chilly mornings (30's) so triathlon season is over. The race on Sunday was a duathlon - run/bike/run - and a short one at that. I went into the race with high expectations, wanting to win my age group, and I was able to accomplish that goal.

The length of the legs were 2 miles, 10.3 miles, and 2.3 miles. It was a chilly morning with temperatures in the low to mid 40's. Katie and I arrived at the transition area about an hour before race time, and I helped Katie set up for her first duathlon. Eventually, we made it to the start, debating what to wear - I ended up just wearing my club's tri suit even though it was around 45 at race start.

My wave of runners went out at a fast pace, and I clocked a sub 6:00 pace for the 2 mile run. My bike time was 3rd overall, and only 20 seconds off the fastest pace. The last run was a bit more hilly and my pace was around 6:20. My overall time was good enough for 5th overall and 1st in my AG, which was my goal going into the race. Katie, placed 6th in her age group and right in the middle of the overall field, and she finished with a smile on her face in 183rd.

Next up is  a 10-miler in early November - my plan is to try to run a road race every month as I keep up with the triathlon training over the winter. Heading into next year my goal is to win an overall triathlon and to qualify for Boston 2112.

Results can be seen here:
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/Oct17_Scitua_set1.shtml