Good Times, Bad Times

It's 2AM and I am listening to the Galaxie Classic Rock Station on my television. It's more miss than hit, but I am too lazy to search for an appropriate CD. Hopefully some brilliant rock masterpiece will hit the airwaves and coax an amazing blog out of me.

The last two days have tested my resolve as a runner. I planned an easy trail run yesterday, but found my legs completely unwilling to cooperate. I tramped heavily through the woods, the heat beating down mercilessly, praying for a quick end to the torture. The end nearly came via a twisted ankle, which snapped angrily back into place after I stumble over an exposed tree root. I shouted an obscenity, limped a few steps, and then crawled out of the woods to complete my journey on a relatively safe dirt road. It was easily my worst run in weeks; I hope to avoid a repeat on race day.

I fared much better today. I planned to run four repeat miles at marathon race pace (7:10), but instead decided to run each repeat 30 seconds faster. I easily breezed through the first mile (6:40), and had absolutely no problem completing the workout. In fact, I ran the final mile in 6:29, which I thought was pretty decent in 30 degree weather. Feeling satisfied but not completely spent, I figured I would celebrate with a casual 5k later in the day.

That five 5k turned into three fast miles. I visited Alex Coffin at Rockwood Park, and he somehow coerced me into running with his group. The next thing I know, I am running repeats around Lily Lake, huffing and puffing alongside the Saint John High School cross country team. I finished the first mile in 6:17 and got steadily faster, peaking at 6:07 for my last lap. Not bad for an easy cool down run.

Well that's it for now. I have a twenty miler planned for weekend, and provided I don't blow away, I expect to run the twenty miles at the Irving Nature Park. If anyone wants to convince me otherwise, I am all ears; I would love to mix it up a bit between now and October!

Fun Run Report - Pete's Pub Paddy`s Day Dash

March 13 - Pete's Pub Paddy's Day Dash - Saint John
Distance - 5K
Goal - sub 22:30
Finish time - 19:45

Well, that was a surprise. I entered this race with the hope that I might be able to run my marathon pace, and I blew all of my expectations out of the water. While it's nowhere near my PB, it's over a minute faster than my best time last year, and almost three minutes faster that what I expected. Here are some highlights of the run:

1)The Weather - I was hoping I would be able to run in shorts today, and my wish was granted. In fact, I was actually quite comfortable outside. I am sure I blinded a few people with my pasty white legs, but I'm not about to apologize. If you don't like it, wear sunglasses.

2)The Course - I like my courses simple and easy to follow, and Pete didn't let me down. A straight forward out and back around Saint John's South End, I did not need a map to find my way to the finish line. I suspect it might be a tad short (based on my time) but since it was a fun run, I am not about to complain.

3)3) The Loot - Twenty dollars earned me a finishers medal, an all-you-can-eat post race chili meal (two bowls!), a running hat, and a guaranteed prize. I ended up with a 90 dollar Sugoi jacket (courtest of Alex Coffin's Fitness Shop), which looks absolutely fetching on my fiance. Talk about bang for your buck!

4) The People - I had a great time catching up with run club regulars Kelly Burke, Jim Miller, Craig Wilson, and local running guru Darryl Steeves. Special shout outs go to Marta and Frank Kelly, who tagged the race onto the end of their 30K run. Impressive.

As you can see, I had a great day. I won't rest on my laurels, though, because the year is still young and I have a lot of training to do. Next up is the Brent Kelly Memorial 5 Miler, and a steady increase in mileage. Wish me luck!

P.S. If anyone has any photos of the event, please send them to kvchallenger@gmail.com. This blog is graphics starved, and I'd like brighten it up a bit.