Laser Show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great day in Newburyport, MA for me. Ripped a 1:07:21 at the Yankee Homecoming 10 Miler for a 6:45/mile pace (broke into the top 100!!). Finally feeling like I am getting back in the saddle. Forgot to start my watch at the start and from then on kept forgetting to hit the spit at each mile. There were people calling off splits at each mile so I had a good idea of my ballpark pace, but wasn't so focused on my watch that I blew up at any point-I think that helped. Started to empty the tank a little too early at the end and got passed by a guy in the last 1/4 mile that I passed at 9.5. Felt in control throughout and strong at the finish. Great weather and my family was there to watch the Laser show. Just about a perfect day.

Update-Family adventure 2011 and some running

Had a low mileage month for June due to my last trip to Richmond CA, followed up by our summer RV adventure, I only ran 2 days during the 11 day vacation, but they were good ones. One was about 9 miles down dirt roads in Moosehead Lake, the other was a good 5 mile roundtrip up and down a small mountain in the Adirondacks. We covered Me, NH, VT, and NY 5 campgrounds and 1100 miles and even hit storyland-awesome time.  Back at it these last two weeks, but this past one I have been in Long beach, CA which kind of sucks for running, long flat and hot runs down the beach. Looks like these California trips are winding down which will make a fall marathon possible. We'll see how the mileage build up goes over the next two months. Bay State is 2nd weekend in October.

Gold Star Run for Honor 10k -Swampscott, MA

Good run on Saturday morning, small field, good enough for 3rd place. Splits below:
1-6:41
2-6:29
3-6:38
4-6:44
5-6:41
6.2-8:21
Total: 41:37/6:42

The Great Stew Chase 15k

Over a month later than last year, but almost just as cold. Blustery but not as windy as last year. I ran totally by feel this year, not looking at my watch at all. Pleased w/ the result, first race in 8 months and 35 seconds faster than last year so I'll take it. Not as big a field this year, so it was good for 9th place results. I have literally done nothing but 40miles a week at 7:30-8:00 min pace for the last few months, so this was a good test of fitness. The pace felt comfortably hard and gives me some confidence that I can build speed towards a 1/2 marathon and the Yankee HC 10 miler. Splits below:
1-6:49
2-6:56
3-6:45
4-7:06
5-7:15
6-6:38
7-7:07
8-7:03
9.3-8:52
Total: 1:04:35/6:56

California Running

I have recently been reassigned temporarily to work two week stints in Richmond, Ca, across the bay from San Francisco. While my time has been busy on tugboats I have managed to find time to squeeze in some mileage. While the running is very "grab it when I can" there is a very hilly trail run right around the corner. This area has been providing 5-7milers of very hilly terrain and I even managed to get 40miles last week. Running in shorts and a t shirt has been a nice change of pace, but I miss my family tremendously and have just been trying to make the best of it. I think I can maintain some fitness and a good mental outlook, but I think this arrangement will make it difficult to get the consistent build in mileage and long runs necessary for a spring marathon. So I'll find some other goals in the 10-13.1 range to race towards and hopefully find the build for a fast fall marathon.

Round 2

Ran 10 miles on Saturday and didn't feel too bad. My daughter who had the same bug pretty much slept all day Saturday. Well I paid the price for not taking it easy Saturday. Early Sunday morning I awake to round 2 of the shits. No mileage today, 3 days off for the week and a meager 32 miles. But I did get down to 173...the hard way.

Stomach Bug

Kicked my ass yesterday. Fluids out of both ends, no mileage yesterday, still hoping I can bounce back today and save the weekly total over the weekend. The good news is I am about 5lbs closer to 165.