Cross Training

Back from a ride around Lake Natomas. It was the first time out in a while for me and Webb, my cycling buddy. We both felt the climb back home up to Beal's Point. It was a beautiful morning and great time just to be with a friend on the bike. I hope to bump up my running miles getting ready for SF Marathon the end of July. With the help of some new tech I am able (hopefully) to post this from my iPhone. See you at the starting line. Todd

Nice Weather

After a lot of cold, rainy, windy days the weather has turned nice. I had a great run getting back on course after travels and days off. A recent visit to Abby and Todd's wore me out on the Filmore Hills. It great to have good weather and gentle terrain. April showers bring May flowers.

Finally, an Update!

Golden Gate Bridge

OK so it's been a really long time since posting.  But I continue to be a running man.  I have had lots of great runs in the recent weeks including running down the Champs Elysee, along the Rhine River, and in a wonderful park in Amsterdam.  Right now I'm visiting Abby and Todd in SF.  After a little run to the marina this morning, we walked to a local shop for a great brunch.  It seems that eating has moved up in importance lately.

Todd & Dan at the Arch de Triumph

Janet and I just completed a wonderful tour d'Europe with a 7 day river cruise on the Rhine followed by 2 Days in Amsterdam and 5 days in Paris.  We traveled with Dan and Deborah Stephens, my college room-mate, and cruising buddy.  Although Dan focuses on tennis, we managed a run together one of our last days in Paris.  I had hoped to post often during the trip but it never happened.  We were too busy traveling and enjoying the sights.  We are just about re-acclimated to Pacific Time.

Eiffel Tower in Distance

Although I managed about 25 miles per week, it was a struggle to run and travel.  An email from Abby near the end of our trip encouraged me it sign up for the SF Marathon on July 31.  I hear Todd Y may also be considering it.  Finally, I reserved a room at the Copley Marriott for Boston Marathon Weekend through their website.  Hopefully Abby and I will make it in with the new registration system.  Hoping Nate will be there and maybe even Todd Y.

Mussels, Clams, & Pasta

I signed up for mobile posting and will hopefully be able to post more often.  The posts may be shorter and that may be a good thing too.  Time to get running and get ready for that BIG DAY, whatever that is. Hope all are well.  Stay fit and until that next race ... see you at the starting line.  Todd.

East Coast News

It looks like many of you 'west coasters' are either in Maui or have just returned. Thinking of that warm weather makes me jealous (but Katie and I are heading to Bermuda in three weeks!). Just about all of the snow has melted, and it was quite a winter for snow. Katie and I each had five snow days, so that extends school for another week. Lately, the weather has been getting warmer, and I've even been able to get outside for a few bike rides.

In regards to running, I've been slowly building up some volume after not running for January and February. I had Achilles Tendonosis, and am still receiving PT once a week (Graston Technique). I have zero pain in my achilles, which is great, and as a result of not running for two months I was able to get in a lot of swimming and biking on my trainer.

Speaking of swimming, I competed in a swim meet with my masters swim team last weekend at Harvard. It was the New England Masters Short Course Yards Championships (say that fast ten times!!).  I entered in one individual event (200 freestyle) and two relay events (200 medley and 400 free). I was the youngest person by 17 years in my 200 free heat and there were two people in their 70's! Talk about humbling - swimming is all about technique, and I'm not all that great yet. I swam the 200 free in 2:50, good enough for 11th in my age group (out of 12!!!), and over a minute behind the person that won the age group. Still, it was fun to compete, and my team won the overall title - without me they would have...........well, I guess we'll never know.

Back to running - Katie raced in Hyannis at the end of February, PRing in the 10k with 50:29. She's hoping to go under 50:00 in a 10k that we are both racing next weekend in Cohasset on the south shore, and I'm shooting for somewhere in the 39:00-39:30 range.

Regarding the 2012 Boston Marathon, my plan is to hopefully qualify at either Quebec City (8/28) or Lehigh Valleh (9/11). I'm currently leaning towards the Lehigh Valley Marathon because I'm doing AG Nationals (Olympic triathlon in Vermont) on August 20th, and that would give me three weeks between races, instead of eight days. The Lehigh Valley course is supposedly very shady and partially run on some trails - the Quebec City Marathon could be very windy and has very little shade. Both courses are relatively flat.

With the qualifying standards, I'm thinking my best shot of getting into Boston is running ten minutes under my qualifying time, which would be sub 3:00. I'm doing a half marathon at the end of May which will be a good measurement of how I'm coming along, and I'm hoping to run that in the 1:24 range.

I hope that there are more posts as the weather warms up and more races take place. I'll let everyone know how our 10K in Cohasset goes.

Where have all the runners gone?

It sure has been quiet in the world of blogging for the Mighty Marathoners.  I hope it's because there is lots of running with too little time to write.  I thought we better get the blog going again if we are ever going to get to Boston en mass - we're hopefully still aiming for 2012.  A lot has happened since the last CIM posting.  In different half marathons, both Abby and Alexa ran 148's.  I think Katie Hammond ran this weekend in Hyannis but I have not been able to track down the results yet.  Nate may have sat out with injuries.  This weekend, Todd Y and Todd Z have a go at the Napa Marathon.  I'm hoping to better my BQ time to be able to register with an earlier wave.  I have been running well with a number of medium length runs of 10-14 miles.  But the long runs are still limited.  Speaking of long runs Katy Gifford is prepping for the AR50 (American River 50 miler from Sacramento to Auburn) in April.  Alexa and Katy did a training run of 21 miles last week; Kate ran 26 this week.  Now that's some distance training.  Time for me to go to work.  I'd love to hear from others.  Let's get this blog going again.  See you at the starting line, Todd.

Work to do...

Congrats to the CIM runners! Way to set PR's as well. It looks like I've got some work to do if I want to join Todd and Abby at Boston in 2012!

I've been logging some good mileage over the past few weeks and actually set an unofficial PR yesterday in training for 13.1 (1:32:23). I have two half marathons planned in the first half of 2011, building mileage to hopefully running a Boston qualifying time in the fall of 2011. I'm targeting a half ironman at the end of June and then will transition to building up to a marathon in mid October.

With speculation about new qualification standards, I'm aiming for 3:00 instead of the current 3:10 standard. That probably means that I'll need to get my open half time to 1:24-1:25.

Happy holidays and enjoy the rest and recovery after all of your hard work!

CIM Results

Runners are Ready

Support Team is Ready

It was a great day for the runners and for the support team.  That means the weather was wonderful and the runners did well.  The rains held up until after the race and jackets came off early for the support team.  Abby, Alexa, and Todd Z all broke 4:00 with PR's for Abby and Alexa, and BQ's for Abby and Todd.  Little Big Todd held in there despite some recent set-backs in training.  John Bricher finished his third marathon well and Katy Gifford paced the 5:00 group, getting the job done on time.  Chad, Todd Farmer, and Janet raced from spot to spot to cheer on the runners.  As the runners became more spread out, it was more difficult to see all the activity.  Janet was sad to miss Abby's 3:38 finish ... I guess that's the price you pay by going so fast.  Todd Y left from the race to catch a 1:30 flight.  I'm anxious to hear about the "Van Bath" with camp stove heaters and all.

     Net Chip Times:

Abby with Medal

• Abby    3:38:17
• Alexa    3:57:30
• Todd Z    3:59:21
• Todd Y    4:07:28
• John Bricher    4:33:57
• Katy Gifford    4:57:14

Chad and Alexa

Abby, Alexa, and Todd Z

Janet and Todd Z

Todd F and Abby

Great Finish at the Capitol

Pacer Katy

Beach House Deli - Yum

After the race, lunch at Beach House Deli made the day all worth while.  Time to take a nap and dream about the next race.  Till the next Starting Line, Todd.