tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88032842024-03-07T18:09:39.526-05:00...El gringo sin zapatos ...Running various amounts of my mileage barefoot since July 2004. Now that it's mainstream, I am no longer crazy, but maybe I was among the visionaries.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger312125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-82655091041277596572015-01-01T09:36:00.000-05:002015-01-01T09:36:02.740-05:00Happy New Year 2015!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have decided to start blogging again. A new year's resolution of sorts. Too much of my creative energy has gone into small posts at Facebook and elsewhere. Those posts seem meaningful at the time, but fall into meaninglessness and are forgotten. Too much of my creative energy has gone into online courses working towards my Associate School Library Media Specialist certification. One can spend more time on discussion boards for online classes than it takes to attend physical classes. All the reading response and writing for those classes, and all the things learned that need to be applied, are easily lost. I am hoping that organizing, aggregating, and curating my many areas of thinking and living can be centralized on this old blog. I suppose some of it will be copied and pasted from other virtual places I put down text and pictures in the Internets. I suppose some of my writing here will remain original. I suppose some of it (or most of it?) will be this stream-of-consciousness sort of stuff that I was taught and practiced in high school.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-51144524108662525802014-11-15T20:22:00.004-05:002014-11-15T20:27:11.668-05:00Three 2nd Places in Three Weekends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
11/1 - Mendon Trail Run 30K: 2nd place Age Group 50-59<br />
11/9 - Giralda Farms 10K: 2nd place Age Group 55-59<br />
11/15 - Colonial Park 5K: 2nd place Age Group 50-59<br />
11/23 - Philadelphia Marathon: 2nd place Age Group 55-59??????<br />
(Unlikely, but perhaps the patterns of the universe will shine on me?)<br />
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Photo below from the Colonial Park Turkey Trot 5K today -<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-43812297188522968912014-05-22T15:50:00.000-04:002014-05-22T15:51:37.215-04:00What's Up With That?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa5wY-2-T4vOfWqBsLpLMs1AwnjEgP7Gq23seRRFvTw6kIWp9CMiUPLBMsv8lFuDYcjSFpWD4uolbs-OP66HGSQRDydk3ibMRfsHDEHat-4MQKNreq0M611QhRc1o7qU0wWkQ/s1600/six+weeks+of+mileage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa5wY-2-T4vOfWqBsLpLMs1AwnjEgP7Gq23seRRFvTw6kIWp9CMiUPLBMsv8lFuDYcjSFpWD4uolbs-OP66HGSQRDydk3ibMRfsHDEHat-4MQKNreq0M611QhRc1o7qU0wWkQ/s1600/six+weeks+of+mileage.jpg" /></a></div>
I have been complaining about feeling bad this week, that I picked up something last weekend that made my insides feel sick. Also, my legs have felt heavy and dead on short runs. Last night with RVRR was a little better, and the insides have settled. I have also complained about doing nothing but tapering and recovering from long efforts. Looking at my last 6 weeks of training, it looks nothing like that, save for the week before The Boston Marathon @ 21 miles. With a 50 miles slated to get done on Sunday, this week is going to total more than 60. Maybe that kind of explains some of the lingering fatigue.<br />
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Really, this isn't mega-mileage. In my younger days, 50 mile weeks were shorter than my norm. But, the graph from DailyMile.com of my mileage clearly reminds me that fatigue is cumulative, so even though weekday mileage may be short, those long weekends and long races add up over time to create lingering stress on this aging, yet hot, bod. ;)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-89379404030959434592014-05-21T21:27:00.000-04:002015-01-01T09:47:53.199-05:00113 Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On January 29, 2014, I started a running streak. I have not missed a day yet. I was inspired by a conversation with 25 year streaker, Mark Washburn.<br />
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584 miles = 5.26 miles/day average.<br />
<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0ApbbvWxb4LdCdGo4Y2Y4cUE4VXJ0b2gwcDRsZmh5Z0E&single=true&gid=0&output=html&widget=true" width="700"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-37036102977246697162014-01-11T16:45:00.000-05:002014-01-11T16:45:00.203-05:00My State of Running Address<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2013 was a fantastic year for me, full of running accomplishments, and I thought I really messed it up at the end. On the first ski day of my vacation, Sunday December 22, I wiped out at a fairly high speed. Since I ski fairly fast and aggressively, I had my bindings release set at "7", even though binding release calculators put me at a "6". I can replay that split second in my head when I heard and felt something rip in my right knee just before the binding finally released. I took the next day off from skiing to ice and elevate the entire day. It didn't swell much. The pain was on the inner side of my knee, which, according to the Internet, indicated that I had an MCL tear (Medial Collateral Ligament) or "sprained knee", caused by the sudden extreme twisting force. Much better than the dreaded ACL tear. I got myself the best neoprene knee brace I could locate in upstate Margaretville, NY, and hoped both my ski vacation and running future were not ruined. I actually skied easily on it for the next few days, wearing the brace, release setting backed down to 5.5, not pushing it on the hill, being very careful - even though I had to hop down steps and limp around a little when I walked. I continued to ice, and massage of the area seemed to feel like it was helping. As the week progressed, I skied increasingly longer and harder. By last weekend, skiing felt 100%. BUT I HAD NOT GONE OUT FOR A RUN. I wanted to start training for Boston, but I have been putting it off because I still have some pain when I bend my leg up under the power of my hamstring alone, and when I squat, and it feels a little generally unstable. This week I ran a twice to try things out. I am hoping to get 4 days in next week.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-87335426776732084572013-09-21T18:11:00.000-04:002013-09-21T18:16:18.499-04:00My Top 10 Running Shoes of All Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oQCy6h3SiznKwwLZzbhfJeoSm2kdRHcsYGQ-4TewLWdezXIe6y9REMTNkR_UyEM_TNqr-ITr75O_p-CJYdEiNyD4JjBnJhfZUmHT8V7_sYQi84E0yexdaOSiImugTMxZ1-0L/s1600/kilkenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oQCy6h3SiznKwwLZzbhfJeoSm2kdRHcsYGQ-4TewLWdezXIe6y9REMTNkR_UyEM_TNqr-ITr75O_p-CJYdEiNyD4JjBnJhfZUmHT8V7_sYQi84E0yexdaOSiImugTMxZ1-0L/s1600/kilkenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oQCy6h3SiznKwwLZzbhfJeoSm2kdRHcsYGQ-4TewLWdezXIe6y9REMTNkR_UyEM_TNqr-ITr75O_p-CJYdEiNyD4JjBnJhfZUmHT8V7_sYQi84E0yexdaOSiImugTMxZ1-0L/s320/kilkenny.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saucony Kilkenny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DDcu95Ean56dtxRuubU3uwv5Y0hDUX6dIA5-jAiQmpF5t5UI-R9IOJbtoebJjMi-_ioKIGJ-7hvCM7M7cDyOtqxROFSo-43EylBL8ebH05FSSSCt9_4OiX_sT0EiQaBfS4s2/s1600/reebo70759_71256_jb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DDcu95Ean56dtxRuubU3uwv5Y0hDUX6dIA5-jAiQmpF5t5UI-R9IOJbtoebJjMi-_ioKIGJ-7hvCM7M7cDyOtqxROFSo-43EylBL8ebH05FSSSCt9_4OiX_sT0EiQaBfS4s2/s320/reebo70759_71256_jb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reebok Circa Waffle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DDcu95Ean56dtxRuubU3uwv5Y0hDUX6dIA5-jAiQmpF5t5UI-R9IOJbtoebJjMi-_ioKIGJ-7hvCM7M7cDyOtqxROFSo-43EylBL8ebH05FSSSCt9_4OiX_sT0EiQaBfS4s2/s1600/reebo70759_71256_jb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DDcu95Ean56dtxRuubU3uwv5Y0hDUX6dIA5-jAiQmpF5t5UI-R9IOJbtoebJjMi-_ioKIGJ-7hvCM7M7cDyOtqxROFSo-43EylBL8ebH05FSSSCt9_4OiX_sT0EiQaBfS4s2/s1600/reebo70759_71256_jb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DDcu95Ean56dtxRuubU3uwv5Y0hDUX6dIA5-jAiQmpF5t5UI-R9IOJbtoebJjMi-_ioKIGJ-7hvCM7M7cDyOtqxROFSo-43EylBL8ebH05FSSSCt9_4OiX_sT0EiQaBfS4s2/s1600/reebo70759_71256_jb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Saucony Kilkenny XC Flat 2007 (Now updated and not as good)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/content/uploads/2012/01/Vintage-Collector-Lindy-Darrell-nike-Runners-42-640x426.jpg" target="_blank">Nike Sting</a> 1973 (Long gone)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.runningpast.com/jim_fixx_shoes.htm" target="_blank">Onitsuka Tiger Racing Flat</a> 1973 (Long gone)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/content/uploads/2012/01/Vintage-Collector-Lindy-Darrell-nike-Runners-30-640x426.jpg" target="_blank">Nike Terra TC</a> (Long gone)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.arkamix.com/vintage-nike/track-field/nike-waffle-racer-1977-korea" target="_blank">Nike Waffle Racer</a> 1977 (Long gone)</li>
<li><a href="http://runbarefoot.blogspot.com/2007/06/shoe-review-reebok-circa-waffle.html" target="_blank">Reebok Circa Waffle 2007</a> (Gone)</li>
<li>Merrell Trail Glove (original) (Now updated, and the upper is not as durable)</li>
<li>Merrell Sonic Glove (Gone)</li>
<li>Merrell Mix Master 2 (Still available)</li>
<li>New Balance MT110 (Still available, but probably on its way out)</li>
</ol>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-34394553980350947872013-09-21T17:33:00.002-04:002013-09-21T17:33:44.777-04:00IN Boston!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was whiny last week about not seeing acceptance to Boston. But I received the email the next day:<br />
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<a href="http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon.aspx" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><img alt="118th Boston Marathon" border="0" height="300" src="http://registration.baa.org/Images/BostonMarathon/Logos/BAAMarathon_2014_Blast-Header_600x300.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /></div>
<br />This is to notify you that <strong>your entry</strong> into the 118th <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">Boston</span> <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">Marathon</span> on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_635549914" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday, April 21, 2014</span></span> <strong>has been accepted</strong>, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.</span></td></tr>
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So I'm in with the other 36,000. This scene at the Hopkniton High School is going to be epic. How can they fit so many people into that space? I learned last time I ran it in 2009 that the place to go is directly to the starting line area. There are port-o-johns there. There are enough of my running club friends coming for us to almost have our own bus to the starting line! I now hope to get enough marathon training in during the ski season to make this a decent race. In it for Boston Strong. That theme should be quite prevalent this coming April.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-38182227761068751132013-09-14T18:40:00.002-04:002013-09-14T18:40:23.576-04:00Waiting for Boston<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am kinda pissed that a lot of my friends who put in their entry for the 2014 Boston Marathon on Friday are now coming up in a <a href="http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/entrants.aspx" target="_blank">search for entrants</a>, but my name is not. After filling out all the entry info, the Boston people (B.A.A.) send you a nice email that says:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Thank you for submitting an entry to the 118th B.A.A. Boston Marathon. It is important to note that your Reference ID does NOT constitute entry into the race, but confirms that your application for entry has been received by the B.A.A.... You will be notified of your acceptance by email and US Postal Service in October. Your notification of acceptance will be sent as soon as we verify your official results from your qualifying marathon. When you are accepted, your name will be posted on the Boston Marathon Entrants page."</blockquote>
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So what is taking them so long to check the Philly Marathon database?<br />
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Registration still seems to be open, so I guess all will be well.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-311603889583101822013-08-11T12:21:00.002-04:002013-08-11T14:20:41.928-04:00Wildcat Ridge Romp 50K<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Wildcat Ridge Romp 50K yesterday was tough. Perhaps the heat and humidity? Perhaps just the rocks. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ottolam/media_set?set=a.10151590046062883.1073741845.664092882&type=3" target="_blank">Here is a great photo set by Otto Lam!</a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5TLQl-sfQeBauhFHzHZVre0YAh0B5wABC9aZtEfGhG4rtvKceO5Q6Ll2Ows6VzJh3OYeV72UNQnN5F3Ug4F3WU2EsWMBdirTBh8DXqQcwJdgppvqM-7NYhAgsmRfW-HJQqXN/s1600/wildcat+rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5TLQl-sfQeBauhFHzHZVre0YAh0B5wABC9aZtEfGhG4rtvKceO5Q6Ll2Ows6VzJh3OYeV72UNQnN5F3Ug4F3WU2EsWMBdirTBh8DXqQcwJdgppvqM-7NYhAgsmRfW-HJQqXN/s320/wildcat+rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though this course had everything from pavement and million dollar homes to garbage dumps, this is a typical rocky section of course. The course was at least 50% technical single track trails. (photo by Heather Simon)</td></tr>
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The last lap hurt a lot on-and-off. I was constantly gauging whether I needed another electrolyte cap, gel, or just water. It was hard to start the last lap of this 3 lap course. I was thinking of DNF, but felt OK after pounding handfuls of blueberries, strawberries, grapes, and half a banana. Miles 18-23 felt the worst, but were not the slowest. As usual, once past marathon distance, my legs started to hurt less, but the pace was slow.<br />
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I was glad to have many friends there. Peter was 3rd in his first 50K; Molly was 2nd woman; Heather was happy and comfortable, and Elaine got through it with varied levels of pain and success. Lauren, unfortunately pulled out after 2 laps with stomach and dehydration issues. 10 milers Angela, Sally, Gail had fun and it was cool to see them on the start line when I finished my first lap - I ran right through them!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ArAH7rMt_XbIuFxTXeGmHOJeB8mk1HMMceYp734KkoBc6PkRTtwfoNIOyc1BUnLZs7t0gUfPofN-s1nPjr4bPbrIsxJncUvVp2DFt91OJm3y6xfpJqHssnbchZJLN-Y-M7gw/s1600/wildcat+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ArAH7rMt_XbIuFxTXeGmHOJeB8mk1HMMceYp734KkoBc6PkRTtwfoNIOyc1BUnLZs7t0gUfPofN-s1nPjr4bPbrIsxJncUvVp2DFt91OJm3y6xfpJqHssnbchZJLN-Y-M7gw/s320/wildcat+group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-race group. L to R: Peter, Molly, Me, Gail, Heather, Angela, Sally. (Photo by Heather Simon)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
This was a great training run for <a href="http://www.njtrailseries.com/mountainmadness" target="_blank">Mountain Madness</a> (Sep.) and Grand Canyon R2R2R (Nov.)<br />
<a href="http://www.backprint.com/view_user_event.asp?PID=bp%1EsBz&EVENTID=117908&PWD=0&BIB=231" target="_blank">Here are pics of me, "stolen from HillcrestPhoto.com</a>".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh4Q-J5oHQ-cLHa0L19gwSlaF8NS5dIYf5vybOsWXM1kiDQQ6CZsvJcjNcmtvezQJSTsPIgPjwVYkG9FEp_-ATg8ce8YWju3jRx8UlpuyqbZ6jHw_xDaR-fVyMmtNJ9qhyphenhyphenoHc/s1600/Wildcat+Ridge+Romp+8-10-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh4Q-J5oHQ-cLHa0L19gwSlaF8NS5dIYf5vybOsWXM1kiDQQ6CZsvJcjNcmtvezQJSTsPIgPjwVYkG9FEp_-ATg8ce8YWju3jRx8UlpuyqbZ6jHw_xDaR-fVyMmtNJ9qhyphenhyphenoHc/s320/Wildcat+Ridge+Romp+8-10-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/356676111" target="_blank">Here is the partial Garmin data through about mile 27.5</a>.<br />
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The first and second laps (10.x miles each) were fairly consistent: 1:47 & 1:58. The last was bad, with a couple of 17 minute miles @ 2:18. [<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AicDo8QO8h6gdHhCOWVnNmhPYzJwcjhXdW1WNEE5Q1E#gid=0" target="_blank">results with splits</a>]<br />
<br />
I wore a new pair of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061J938O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0061J938O&linkCode=as2&tag=thinnmanncom-20">Merrell Men's Mix Master 2's</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thinnmanncom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0061J938O" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, that I had to stop and re-tie/tighten after turning both ankles. That is one of the dangers of wearing new shoes in a trail race. I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008RSNCCU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008RSNCCU&linkCode=as2&tag=thinnmanncom-20">Puma Men's TB Running Short Tights</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thinnmanncom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B008RSNCCU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> thinking they might help with hamstring pain. I only carried a simple <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E5YUFUC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E5YUFUC&linkCode=as2&tag=thinnmanncom-20">Nathan Triangle</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thinnmanncom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00E5YUFUC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
bottle belt, with gels and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AYMJFE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AYMJFE&linkCode=as2&tag=thinnmanncom-20">Endurolyte</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thinnmanncom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001AYMJFE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
salt tabs. I consumed 9 or 10 salt tablets and about 8 gels.<br />
<br />
Here are a few more photos, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ottolam/media_set?set=a.10151590046062883.1073741845.664092882&type=3" target="_blank">by Otto Lam</a>. Notice how in the first tree from the first lap I am noticeably happier than the second three from lap 2....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GOK_s7d8dsJTOJRgILHCWAToaGQicDjvNnYYF_mGmqptLQ3u8gBq6vFsWSnIOMmD1DywZuzqmS6snNntxeA_QkNvkCEIF3HngS6cqmy6HAOhmtKV3ElOmSuvIo1Kfug5RYdF/s1600/wildcat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GOK_s7d8dsJTOJRgILHCWAToaGQicDjvNnYYF_mGmqptLQ3u8gBq6vFsWSnIOMmD1DywZuzqmS6snNntxeA_QkNvkCEIF3HngS6cqmy6HAOhmtKV3ElOmSuvIo1Kfug5RYdF/s320/wildcat1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-53132584546039511052013-08-04T15:19:00.000-04:002014-01-01T09:48:13.528-05:00My Rather Ambitious 2013 Event Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2013 Date | Event Title | [Time, Place Age Group or Over All, Age Grading]<br />
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3/10 <a href="http://www.milesformusic.org/" target="_blank">Miles for Music 20K</a> [<a href="http://www.fasttrackcoaching.net/timing/Results/2013-MILES-FOR-MUSIC-20K-RESULTS.txt" target="_blank">1:30:46, 17/42 AG, 71.6%</a>]<br />
3/23 <a href="http://www.hatrun.com/" target="_blank">HAT 50K</a> [DNF @21 miles]<br />
3/30 <a href="http://www.rvrr.org/chimneyrock5/" target="_blank">Chimney Rock 5 Mile</a> [<a href="http://www.rvrr.org/chimneyrock5/results/ChimneyRock5Miler2013Results.pdf" target="_blank">48:23, 2nd AG</a>]<br />
4/6 <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thinnman/entries/21948167" target="_blank">Gunks Springletrack Marathon</a> ("Fat Ass") [6:42]<br />
4/27 <a href="http://www.countryrun.us/" target="_blank">Clinton Country Run 15K</a> [<a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2013/april/clint15k.htm" target="_blank">1:04:34, 8/38, 74.29%</a>]<br />
4/28 <a href="http://eastbrunswick.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/inspire-5k-to-raise-money-in-memory-of-vo-tech-student" target="_blank">Inspire 5K</a> [<a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2013/april/inspire.htm" target="_blank">20:49, 1/9, 5th overall, 72.6%</a>]<br />
5/4 <a href="http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/endurance-challenge/bear-mountain-ny/?stop_mobi=yes" target="_blank">North Face Endurance Challenge 50K</a> [<a href="http://results.bazumedia.com/event/results/event/event-3781" target="_blank">6:10:31, 1st 50+M, 5/44 in their goofy 46-55 age group</a>]<br />
5/27 <a href="http://www.ridgewoodrun.com/" target="_blank">Ridgewood 10K</a> [<a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2013/may/ridge10k.htm" target="_blank">41:48, 20/88, 75.25%</a>] (Did the 5K as a Barefoot Bandit!)<br />
6/1 <a href="http://rvrr.org/towpath_train/" target="_blank">Towpath "Train"ing Run</a> 25 miles (was aiming for 34) [<a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thinnman/entries/23072082" target="_blank">4:08</a>]<br />
6/11 <a href="http://rvrr.org/summerseries/" target="_blank">RVRR Summer Series 5K XC</a><br />
6/17 <a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Millburn/InvestorsBankPresidentsCupNightRace" target="_blank">President's Cup 5K</a><br />
6/23 <a href="http://viewtherace.com/new-jersey/fitzgerald-s-1928-lager-run" target="_blank">Lager Run 5K</a> on my birthday!<br />
7/9 <a href="http://rvrr.org/summerseries/" target="_blank">RVRR Summer Series 5K XC</a><br />
7/23 <a href="http://rvrr.org/summerseries/" target="_blank">RVRR Summer Series 5K XC</a><br />
8/10 <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/wildcat" target="_blank">Wildcat Ridge Romp 50K</a> [<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AicDo8QO8h6gdHhCOWVnNmhPYzJwcjhXdW1WNEE5Q1E#gid=0" target="_blank">6:08:36, 1st 50+M</a>]<br />
9/22 <a href="http://www.newporthalfmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Liberty Waterfront Half-Marathon</a> [<a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2013/sept/libhm.htm" target="_blank">1:30:27, 11/112, 75.9%</a>]<br />
9/28 Mountain Madness 50K<br />
10/20 USATF National/USATF-NJ 5K XC Championships<br />
10/27 USATF-NJ 8K XC Championships<br />
11/4 Grand Canyon Rim-To-Rim-To-Rim!<br />
11/10 Giralda Farms 10K<br />
11/17 Philadelphia Marathon<br />
11/28 Ashenfelter 8K</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-82147464328501838562013-07-20T15:37:00.000-04:002013-07-20T15:37:13.263-04:00My New Job & Running<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Same place, different position. I will not be an English teacher during the 2013-2014 school year. I am a teacher on special assignment. My position is a combination, they got 2-for-1 on this one. The postings were for a technology specialist and a media specialist. The tech specialist was a new position, and our previous media specialist retired. I was talking with the principal towards the end of the year about our media specialist, whom I had known for at least 15 years of my tenure at school. I threw out there, on a lark, "can I have her job?" He stopped for a second and said something like, "Maybe - why not. Send an email to the superintendent, and copy me on it, saying that you are interested." Done and done in mid-June. With the end of school crush and the beginning of camp preparation I totally forgot about it. On the second day of camp I got a phone call from the board offices, to come down for an interview with the assistant superintendent, but I was not sure what it was for, exactly. I got a call from the principal about it, and had a quick discussion, that it was about that email request. I set up the appointment, went down to the offices, and he already had the new contract ready to sign.<br />
<br />
What this means to me in relationship to running is this: I can return to superior fitness that I had when I was doing a similar position at school, before the last couple of years of full-schedule English teaching. I can ride my bike to work or run to work, not needing to carry around a backpack full of papers to grade. It was always the papers, and the accompanying weight of responsibility for them, that somehow mentally blocked me from using the commute to school as a workout opportunity.<br />
<br />
Another thing it means is that I can eat my lunch during any lunch period I choose!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-46981146944983369122013-04-06T21:14:00.000-04:002013-05-27T21:21:04.700-04:00Springletrack fat ass "marathon" in the Shawangunk Mountains.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
Shawangunk Mountains 25.71 mi 05:59 13:57 pace.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thinnman/entries/21948167" target="_blank">Daily Mile map and data here.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Garmin ran out of juice, so I had to finish this course using endomondo on the cell phone. Total for the day is 25.71 miles. Total time for the day for me was is 6:42. Total running time 5:59. Total elevation gain 3785, elevation loss 3819. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/173805530/383625" target="_blank">Final 6.44 miles on endomondo is here.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Dixon, Kolb, and Ivan ran faster. It was the first time in 40 years of running that I "ran" a course through a cave! The views were spectacular, almost all rocky technical single track, some snow and ice, and a stream crossing using a rope for balance help. My legs don't feel too bad, but my head is sunburned. Getting ready for North Face Endurance Challenge 50K on May 4! Merrell Mix Master felt great, but took a lot of wear out of the sole.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-52689679282386882262013-04-01T13:25:00.001-04:002013-04-18T21:41:42.606-04:00Sub 6 Minute Pace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://athlinks.com/result/91429/127845/3651475/57322905" target="_blank">The last time I ran a race that averaged below 6 minutes per mile pace was on June 15, 2009, at The President's Cup Night Run 5K</a>. I was 49 years old.<br />
<br />
That's kind of depressing.<br />
<br />
I have been through injuries, and I have been building up longer trail racing, finishing my first two 50K's last year. And I love that. But I think I need to get a race into the sub-6 minute zone again this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://athlinks.com/result/212526/293151/3651475/121360701" target="_blank">My fastest race last year averaged 6:13/mile, at the Lager Run 5K on June 24</a>. I had just turned 53. This year, the Lager Run is on my birthday, so I think I need to give myself the present of running sub-6. To get there I need to do track workouts. I have a pretty full schedule, so I think this is all I can fit in. I am going to keep it simple:<br />
<br />
April 4 = 8X400@90<br />
April 11 = 10X400@90<br />
April 18 = 12X400@85<br />
April 23 = 14X400@85<br />
May 14 = 10X400@80<br />
May 21 = 12X400@80<br />
May 28 = 14X400@80<br />
<br />
4/18/13 UPDATE: So far I have done NONE of these planned workouts! But my distance is long and getting faster. That won't get me under 6/mile for a 5K, but at least North Face won't hurt as much, and maybe I could go faster than last year.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-6550062835221636682013-03-14T23:57:00.000-04:002013-03-15T15:02:42.835-04:00Merrell Trail Glove 2.0<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KPwgBE7Ys_HqRZIPh68WjqJM-m4AbCYD4-2uAHIOPMVvqHxktSZ9-vhi3EIhjV3UP9uztk88VCZ47jcKCS8f1np7KAbh8gyZfE5VewLoRdkFUW7Hz1uB_1YGWzm14oOMJKmP/s1600/2013-02-13+20.19.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KPwgBE7Ys_HqRZIPh68WjqJM-m4AbCYD4-2uAHIOPMVvqHxktSZ9-vhi3EIhjV3UP9uztk88VCZ47jcKCS8f1np7KAbh8gyZfE5VewLoRdkFUW7Hz1uB_1YGWzm14oOMJKmP/s320/2013-02-13+20.19.34.jpg" width="320" /></a>I will just lay it out right now: I love the Merrell Trail Gloves. They are my preferred shoe both on trails and on the road.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIsHJ9NP_vP_5IAB8fV0yIYreftkwi6_WqH7m3Gq6_IW8SSCYkosLdExGMshkNh9oV9VgaO8HwKo9xEkIZWkIOGcavOJZsooXufo-n4wvCvTk4kaHnUf-DVsbEpdXjCJfhbUk/s1600/2013-02-13+20.26.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
I am happy to report that my advance media sample pair of Merrell Trail Glove 2.0 shoes have not let me down. On the contrary they are amazingly better than the original Merrell Trail Glove.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M09pwXoDBpQ0nT591ZXudMV7URiCiJX3Hd3TmDoyibYZ_EyG7dw5etzBiRJ88oQB9uW8hOCYqM-Pb6Xqx-rpDXDVLGG7WaHAGqAolhZihceUWLvPkwJNXOiK_fiQaya8XN3x/s1600/2013-02-22+11.21.07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M09pwXoDBpQ0nT591ZXudMV7URiCiJX3Hd3TmDoyibYZ_EyG7dw5etzBiRJ88oQB9uW8hOCYqM-Pb6Xqx-rpDXDVLGG7WaHAGqAolhZihceUWLvPkwJNXOiK_fiQaya8XN3x/s320/2013-02-22+11.21.07a.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIsHJ9NP_vP_5IAB8fV0yIYreftkwi6_WqH7m3Gq6_IW8SSCYkosLdExGMshkNh9oV9VgaO8HwKo9xEkIZWkIOGcavOJZsooXufo-n4wvCvTk4kaHnUf-DVsbEpdXjCJfhbUk/s1600/2013-02-13+20.26.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIsHJ9NP_vP_5IAB8fV0yIYreftkwi6_WqH7m3Gq6_IW8SSCYkosLdExGMshkNh9oV9VgaO8HwKo9xEkIZWkIOGcavOJZsooXufo-n4wvCvTk4kaHnUf-DVsbEpdXjCJfhbUk/s320/2013-02-13+20.26.15.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/274523621" target="_blank">My first run with them was with my RVRR peeps at Round Valley on February 17, 2013</a>. It was cold and windy and there was a little snow covering parts of the trail. Here is what I wrote after that run, "First run with Merrell Trail Glove 2.0's: WOW - they are actually BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL Merrell Trail Glove!"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/276284709" target="_blank">My second run was February 22nd at Watchung Reservation</a>. I wrote, "Second run in the Merrell Trail Glove 2.0 and they are great. Traction is good on old snow and the rock plate is much more protective than the original Trail Glove - which I don't even think had one - yet the flexibility is maybe even better."<br />
<br />
Therein lies the most major advance in the 2.0 version. I wrote to Merrell about the original Trail Glove, that I felt it didn't have enough protection for long runs on eastern rocky trails. I suggested that they make a Trail Glove West and a Trail Glove East - the East version with a zero lift, but a little more sole. They have answered the problem, as far as I can tell, by improving their rock-plate protection, yet keeping the overall shoe as flexible as ever.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.dailymile.com/photos/606438/004abfa4c3c63a257f7ae4c104152e07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.dailymile.com/photos/606438/004abfa4c3c63a257f7ae4c104152e07.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the Watchung Reservation Run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
There is a slight change in the lacing system, reducing the OmniFit closures from 4 to 2. That adds a little less feeling of <i>shoe</i> on top of the foot.<br />
<br />
I continue to use my older Trail Glove and Sonic Gloves on trails and on the road. I have New Balance minimal road shoes and trail shoes, but their last is a little too curved for the shape of my foot. The Trail Glove's last sticks to my foot as if it was a part of it, and protects my arch area better than the New Balance MT-110.<br />
<br />
I will be running the <a href="http://www.hatrun.com/" target="_blank">HAT 50K</a> in this shoe on March 23. I will give a report on its performance over that distance sometime shortly after that.<br />
<br />
In the interest of full disclosure, they do send them to me for free. I am not happy that they retail for $100, which is much more than I think running shoes should ever cost - but that is because I am not only cheap, but now I am spoiled by the hand that has fed me.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-42216203739902903022012-12-09T21:00:00.000-05:002012-12-09T21:30:00.951-05:00My Rather Ambitious 2012 Event Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">2012 Date | Event Title | [Time, Place Age Group or Over All, <a href="http://www.usatfmasters.org/fa_agegrading.htm" target="_blank">Age Grading</a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">4/22 <a href="http://www.fasttrackcoaching.net/timing/Results/2012-STOMP-THE-MONSTER-5K.txt" target="_blank">Stomp The Monster 5K</a> [20:09, 11/49AG50-54, 74.2%]</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
4/28 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/april/clint15k.htm" target="_blank">Clinton Country Run 15K</a> [63:47, 17/49AG50-54, 74.57%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
5/5 <a href="http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=101899" target="_blank">North Face Endurance Challenge 50K</a> [5:54:49, 2/33AG46-54, 34/252OA]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
5/12 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/may/newport.htm" target="_blank">Newport 10K</a> [42:02, 8/41AG50-54, 74.2%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
6/2 <a href="http://rvrr.org/towpath_train/" target="_blank">Towpath "Train"ing Run 34 mi</a>. [5:36]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
6/12 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/june/rvrr1.htm" target="_blank">RVRR Summer Series XC 5K</a> [22:24, 5/14AG50-54, 66.9%]<br />
6/18 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/june/pres.htm" target="_blank">President's Cup 5K</a> [19:36, 12/102AG50-54, 76.45%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
6/24 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/june/lager.htm" target="_blank">Lager Run 5K</a> [19:19, 15/94AG50-54, 78.16%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
6/26 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/june/rvrr2.htm" target="_blank">RVRR Summer Series XC 5K</a> [20:21, 2/12AG50-54, 73.61%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
7/21 <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AicDo8QO8h6gdFhsUTdmU2tyUzlqUUlMcmVkOEpyNHc#gid=0" target="_blank">Running With the Devil 3 Hour</a> [14.4 mi., 7/69OA]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
7/24 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/july/rvrr4.htm" target="_blank">RVRR Summer Series XC 5K</a> [20:23, 2/12AG50-54, 73.53%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
7/29 <a href="http://escarpmenttrail.com/results/2012_results.pdf" target="_blank">Escarpment Trail 30K</a> [4:32:35, 67/208OA]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
9/8 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/sept/xc5k.htm" target="_blank">USATF-NJ XC 5K</a> [19:53, 11/27AG50-54, 75.98%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
9/23 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/sept/libhm.htm" target="_blank">Waterfront Half-Marathon</a> [1:32:04, 11/121AG50-54, 74.58%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
9/29 <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AicDo8QO8h6gdGJ1VTlRTDM4UlBaNFdkaXAwS0pmd1E#gid=0" target="_blank">Mountain Madness 50K</a> [6:13:02, 22/71OA]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
10/28 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/october/xc8k.htm" target="_blank">USATF-NJ XC 8K</a> [33:14, 12/28AG50-54, 74.73%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
11/11 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/novdec/gir10k.htm" target="_blank">Giralda Farms 10K</a> [40:53, 8/64AG50-54, 76.91%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
11/18 <a href="http://resultsarchive.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=137367" target="_blank">Phildelphia Marathon</a> [3:20:10, 46/524AG50-54, 71.6%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
11/25 <a href="http://www.bestrace.com/results/12/121124WF5.HTM" target="_blank">Westfield 5 Miler</a> [32:28, 1/49AG50-54, 77%]<br />
12/8 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/novdec/bigchill.htm" target="_blank">Big Chill 5K</a> [20:58, 3/95AG50-59, 72.03%]</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
12/9 <a href="http://www.compuscore.com/cs2012/novdec/utf10m.htm" target="_blank">USATF-NJ 10 Miler</a> [1:07:34, 6/30AG50-54, 76.5%]</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-84093680008813964572012-11-24T22:09:00.000-05:002012-11-24T22:34:25.591-05:00The Philadelphia Marathon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last weekend I ran the Philadelphia Marathon. The past two years I ran the half marathon instead of the full marathon. The last time I had run the full marathon was 2009. In 2009 I ran 3:21:31. I was 50 years old. Last weekend I ran 3:20:10. I am 53 years old. I can't complain.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYOJza3cNg63RT_jBgPogURnPWs7pyWaOXBlW1Li37WZz0tIyx9uwHS8IUBmDcS2MKIihIwSbzSjsVQShaiYazjvQGJXN5Munfog3TE_MVT-5R1pwunMViVZ9ge3kbMoVqpAm/s1600/philly+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYOJza3cNg63RT_jBgPogURnPWs7pyWaOXBlW1Li37WZz0tIyx9uwHS8IUBmDcS2MKIihIwSbzSjsVQShaiYazjvQGJXN5Munfog3TE_MVT-5R1pwunMViVZ9ge3kbMoVqpAm/s320/philly+2012.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, at about mile 25 (Photo by Sally Hur)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I probably ran a little too fast for the first 15 miles of the Philly Marathon. Averaged sub 7:30 for those 15. I knew at the half -marathon, by the way my quads were aching, that I was going to have difficulty maintaining 7:30ish miles. At 18 things went downhill for me. I got through the final 7 miles with PowerBar Gel, Gatorade, and two unauthorized beer stations out in Manayunk.<br />
<br />
The run was, of course, followed by RVRR hijinks.<br />
<br />
The history of my times on this course are 2008=3:18:22, 2009=3:21:31. That does not include the times I ran when I was young and the course was different. This is a scan of my hand written running diary from November 27, 1986:<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VaVGL5IdIYVKavW6PxEzvsirfULfF28B0YZobjMTU6Buo-vJ4Gf75l23UavjMC9U-kP8oEGe65RHkMMl1TU38gSzrz82WzHt8XHGjhR49_LPG_Pi1IO3S3i7YM8NlE5bPvh2/s1600/1986+diary+scan+philly+marathon+2.41.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VaVGL5IdIYVKavW6PxEzvsirfULfF28B0YZobjMTU6Buo-vJ4Gf75l23UavjMC9U-kP8oEGe65RHkMMl1TU38gSzrz82WzHt8XHGjhR49_LPG_Pi1IO3S3i7YM8NlE5bPvh2/s640/1986+diary+scan+philly+marathon+2.41.06.jpg" width="449" /></a></div>
<br />
I ran my marathon PR at Philly @ 2:41:06. I was 27 years old. Negative splits and defizzed Coke; that was the ticket. 26 years later, I ran about 40 minutes slower. My math says that is a loss of about one and a half minutes per year.<br />
<br />
On race day 2012, it was a 4 AM wake up for the drive down to Philly. Rode my single speed Dawes SST bike from parking on 3rd & Cherry to race, and to the pub.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-19410824898503334252012-10-19T17:09:00.003-04:002012-10-19T17:09:46.801-04:00Do Runners Still Wear These?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Facebook, a local running store posted this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHm-7NoursmZa6hyphenhyphen45zTUm9WziNr4Jkrgwi3N-slMxW48wUgWxjEaQMvgSBhqWmrnlDoANY8j-97PXNIrWtfHijnMZJK3at9F_fFC_deDssnTdkysJmcDcm6zhnXr7D84HZAm/s1600/NB+supersole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHm-7NoursmZa6hyphenhyphen45zTUm9WziNr4Jkrgwi3N-slMxW48wUgWxjEaQMvgSBhqWmrnlDoANY8j-97PXNIrWtfHijnMZJK3at9F_fFC_deDssnTdkysJmcDcm6zhnXr7D84HZAm/s1600/NB+supersole.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is what I call the New Balance Super Sole. I really wanted to post comments, such as, "Do people still wear shoes with 3 inches of cushioning under the heel? How in hell could they have "a lighter feel"?</div>
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But I like the guys - they do try to help local runners and support my running club - so I didn't post there to avoid the mess.</div>
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So who wears these monstrous things? They are purplish - perhaps Barney wears them. We shall never know, since obviously he is usually barefoot.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XwLLH9EZiqc" width="420"></iframe></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-8584966505831191832012-10-07T16:48:00.003-04:002012-10-07T16:48:45.544-04:00The Highlands Trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had a really great run today on The Columbia Trail and the Highlands Trail. The run was an indicator of recovery from Mountain Madness 50K last week. It was also the exploration of a trail that I didn't know existed until a few days ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.highlands-trail.org/description.html" target="_blank">The Highlands Trail</a> is a work in progress, and it seems to have many reroutes, and temporary problems that they are working through. If ever completed, the trail will be a great suburban resource as well as a great rural wilderness route.<br />
<br />
The section I ran was off of the Columbia Trail. I parked in High Bridge intent on running with my running club friends, but I had the start time wrong. A half hour late left me alone for my run. The Columbia Trail is a rail trail, and is relatively flat and easy. For my tastes, it is more conducive to a fast single speed bike ride than running. As a ploy to get some of my trail running friends to come to the run, I looked for some more challenging trails off the Columbia Trail. I found the Highland Trail. Since none of my trail running friends came to the run, I detoured onto the Highland Trail for solo exploration.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="548" src="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/230992633" width="465"></iframe></div>
<br />
The Highlands Trail section I ran - from the Columbia Trail, through Voorhees State Park, and into Spruce Run Recreation Area - was an unexpected pleasure. The terrain turned steeply up hill, and the single-track was similar to Round Valley. There was some road running to link the wilderness sections. When in the woods, I passed only two people just after my turning-back point. They were hunters scouting for a good deer-stand location. That last part was marked with warning signs <i>only in the return direction</i> that deer hunting was allowed there, and that non-hunters should wear blaze orange or restrict their visits to Sundays. Even though I was wearing a day-glow yellow Boston Marathon shirt, I am glad it was Sunday.<br />
<br />
The Highlands Trail runs from the Hudson River to the Delaware River. I am definitely going to explore some more of this trail. I think I can start right where I left off today, or go a little northeast to Schooley's Mountain Park and end (or turn back) where I started today.<br />
<br />
My last 2.5 miles were my fastest today, when I was back on the Columbia Trail headed for the parking lot in High Bridge. My quads were starting to feel tight at that point, but it was aerobically easy. It is evident that I have a great base, tons of endurance, but I need to get my road racing pace back for my upcoming final races of the year, as well as for a good Philly Marathon. I guess I must do my due diligence and get my ass onto a track, as well as doing more shorter uptempo road runs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVIxQyAp-QaFhmmf_NhWxqItVxXdShJO3LCgADwAUxIy0U7u7_AqM5xI9SX_2FfLTwEaEVo7UTc4vaOvIbWXebCdI8kn98Rfid5qhSZieoAH6YQV56ATrSdYnULVZm6YQ3Hmc/s1600/10-7-12+splits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVIxQyAp-QaFhmmf_NhWxqItVxXdShJO3LCgADwAUxIy0U7u7_AqM5xI9SX_2FfLTwEaEVo7UTc4vaOvIbWXebCdI8kn98Rfid5qhSZieoAH6YQV56ATrSdYnULVZm6YQ3Hmc/s1600/10-7-12+splits.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastest miles at the end of today.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqmBuPjbu0BeiMvU_OZMWl7cDOneqTdHiQDQ_twNn3I3yJPkARBc-cbnpacEX01UaHY_UEj3oEJQ60KaNACZnZIQfpZEFHHK-pe4bB3-NH6W0nCVwbBfbdoFykF9OwSRdbEQc/s1600/Highlands+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqmBuPjbu0BeiMvU_OZMWl7cDOneqTdHiQDQ_twNn3I3yJPkARBc-cbnpacEX01UaHY_UEj3oEJQ60KaNACZnZIQfpZEFHHK-pe4bB3-NH6W0nCVwbBfbdoFykF9OwSRdbEQc/s400/Highlands+Trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy altitude corrections, BATMAN!</td></tr>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-85159327251513277182012-10-06T13:38:00.002-04:002012-10-06T13:38:05.666-04:00Mountain Madness MPF Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
That is me at 1:42-1:45, heading into Aid Station 4. Dixon, Dave, Jay, Bill are all over the place.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/50863378?color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/50863378">2012 Mountain Madness 50k</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mountainpeakfitness">MountainPeakFitness.com</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-40654366119137238272012-10-01T22:20:00.001-04:002012-10-01T22:20:45.357-04:00Today I realized...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That running an ultra distance event is like a secret that you take into work with you on Monday morning. Nobody else really cares. You carry it around with you all day, going about your business. Anybody that you mention your run to doesn't really have a clue about what it is all about. All they know is that they "don't even like to drive that far."</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-91824764595763843772012-09-30T23:00:00.000-04:002012-10-06T13:42:19.701-04:00MoMa (aka Mountain Madness 50K)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Friday evening I wrote:<br />
*<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/mountainmadness" target="_blank">Mountain Madness</a> is TOMORROW*<br />
I am all packed for <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/mountainmadness" target="_blank">Mountain Madness 50K</a>. Leaving at about 7 AM.<br />
I ran 5:54 at Bear Mountain in May. That is 11:24/mile. I am hoping to run 6:30 at most tomorrow. That is 12:35/mile.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.dailymile.com/photos/517366/ead72518ddcfe881cdbbc4ede8fe90c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media.dailymile.com/photos/517366/ead72518ddcfe881cdbbc4ede8fe90c1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 Mountain Madness 50K medal (thanks to <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/danclmbr/entries/18303593" target="_blank">Daniel W</a>.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well it is Sunday evening, and not like you readers even care, but I am still going to tell you my story of how Saturday went...<br />
<br />
The day dawned perfectly for a long distance run in the woods. It wasn't raining. The temperature was in the mid-50's, and was forecast to go up to the mid 60's. The sun wasn't shining. What more could we ask for?<br />
<br />
I should begin by noting that anticipation among my circle of trail running friends for this event was huge. In the weeks prior to this race, the eventual winner, <a href="http://processisthegoal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike Dixon</a>, sent our little group several ingenious emails featuring his Photoshop skills to pump us up for the upcoming ordeal...<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFeGno8W4IAfbBVgqYTV62LsUlA2ZRBKJF5l-9M2EOtlaomtUbYB5yAnbvZ0hbsjl9bz3NoLx-Nopp7pKEOv7WmlsfcQE-I2eDw3R-9aMF7stu3Z_d7Yq70NmfvrNju9DLBs-/s1600/MoMa_Fight_Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFeGno8W4IAfbBVgqYTV62LsUlA2ZRBKJF5l-9M2EOtlaomtUbYB5yAnbvZ0hbsjl9bz3NoLx-Nopp7pKEOv7WmlsfcQE-I2eDw3R-9aMF7stu3Z_d7Yq70NmfvrNju9DLBs-/s400/MoMa_Fight_Club.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"MoMa Fight Club" by <a href="http://processisthegoal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike Dixon</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRafztmR_xhuZfWpsp-jbYj3_ALCN2fqPF-8LzztZgI-Po_dPY_3qUU-wvwBPFP_u2LWxRTR8aX_xs8ralh2kctACaLKq-1jkqzOFbMSW1oCd4nKUr7GDm_fAXhVNu_Uwiv9sZ/s1600/Night+at+the+MoMa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRafztmR_xhuZfWpsp-jbYj3_ALCN2fqPF-8LzztZgI-Po_dPY_3qUU-wvwBPFP_u2LWxRTR8aX_xs8ralh2kctACaLKq-1jkqzOFbMSW1oCd4nKUr7GDm_fAXhVNu_Uwiv9sZ/s400/Night+at+the+MoMa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">"Night at The MoMa" by <a href="http://processisthegoal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike Dixon</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf4RXH3dKG6kFWT8vzZYFU0hQlHWsMKvWdqepXrVS_avGdsIZoMDKGX1EqSzc2yJdCE0tltHdcD0xLMHz5EK0yfzy10rrIxXGqUiNZaHXShNy2Kqyar3Xb-FTyd46klBMt9GU/s1600/samuel+L+jackson+moma+rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf4RXH3dKG6kFWT8vzZYFU0hQlHWsMKvWdqepXrVS_avGdsIZoMDKGX1EqSzc2yJdCE0tltHdcD0xLMHz5EK0yfzy10rrIxXGqUiNZaHXShNy2Kqyar3Xb-FTyd46klBMt9GU/s400/samuel+L+jackson+moma+rocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Samuel L. Jackson Rocks MoMa" by <a href="http://processisthegoal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike Dixon</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoPvWVddjSwBdJog6RY8oy8c10A0VYIDWw2QONz8bnxEwV4R3tsl50Rk594aC9APZ0OSeirSHxvTZEXmkpPCcDTRg4EYxcomGI1dlRz7z1kDKAbGwjGopeUzSxicL17UrdLOD/s1600/moma+want+wingie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoPvWVddjSwBdJog6RY8oy8c10A0VYIDWw2QONz8bnxEwV4R3tsl50Rk594aC9APZ0OSeirSHxvTZEXmkpPCcDTRg4EYxcomGI1dlRz7z1kDKAbGwjGopeUzSxicL17UrdLOD/s1600/moma+want+wingie.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not really sure what this is, by <a href="http://processisthegoal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mike Dixon</a></td></tr>
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In addition to Dixon's prodding which left me laughing at my desk at work for several days, I trained there three times with others in the <a href="http://rvrr.org/" target="_blank">best running club in the world</a>. We ran the 25K loop on <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thinnman/entries/17728112" target="_blank">Labor Day</a> and <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thinnman/entries/18019985" target="_blank">September 16</a>. We ran the southerly loop on <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thinnman/entries/17844971" target="_blank">September 8th</a>. The two latter training runs included Angela, training for her first 50K; more about her later.<br />
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With all the anticipation and specific training, I was definitely mentally prepared for this race, even though I had a physical issue that was bothering me. Namely, the pain in my right ankle that killed most of 2011 competition for me decided to reappear on September 12th's Wednesday night RVRR club run. It wasn't the advanced pain, when it moved below the ankle bone, that was diagnosed as tarsal tunnel syndrome. But it was definitely the earlier stage where the pain was on the top of my ankle area. I backed off, and decided that I could mostly taper for two weeks since I was heading into the Liberty Waterfront Half Marathon on September 23, followed by a week of recovery/taper into MoMa. What brought on the pain? Probably running the USATF-NJ 5K XC Championship on the morning of MoMa course training on September 8th, which made for a 15 mile day with 4.5 miles of barefoot warming up and cooling down on the XC course. And that particular Wednesday night run was pretty fast on pavement, and I wasn't really used to both fast running and pavement at that point in my training. Speed will injure you a lot faster than going long and slow. You can quote me on that.<br />
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And another thing I had on the mental side was the feeling that I knew the course, and had no fear of making any wrong turns, or missing any turns. I had the plan to go out relatively fast, to wear my Camelbak and blow through aid stations 1-4, since I knew the big climbing was going to come after aid station 5 on the green trail, which was also the approximate half way point of the race. I knew I would be doing some walking there and some eating. These diagrams might help:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/309253_10151390273769918_1884231895_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/309253_10151390273769918_1884231895_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Madness course map by <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/mountainmadness" target="_blank">NJ Trail Series</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wEJ6gOBZrUqs2-w4y8DhVJ26fRH_nf6gF8fQec6zAtYd__ipm89HfA8ItWFJCqssOEruCLyUc3ierfYF93n7G0W4TetOKAumx8U33id92iWrV8Hky5_JxpyCwf7PLSIB5a2w/s1600/moma+elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wEJ6gOBZrUqs2-w4y8DhVJ26fRH_nf6gF8fQec6zAtYd__ipm89HfA8ItWFJCqssOEruCLyUc3ierfYF93n7G0W4TetOKAumx8U33id92iWrV8Hky5_JxpyCwf7PLSIB5a2w/s400/moma+elevation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation Profile from my <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228205538" target="_blank">Garmin 405</a></td></tr>
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My Garmin's battery died a couple of miles from the finish, but you can see that climbing right past the half way mark. That is about 1180' of climbing in miles 16-20. My pace until aid station 5 averaged about 11:30 per mile, similar to my average at North Face/Bear Mountain 50K in May. Three of my slowest miles happened on that 4 mile section, at 15:55, 14:11, and 15:22. Ouch, but at least I expected it.</div>
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I ran with <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Teddi&lname=Schneider&age=0" target="_blank">Teddi Schneider</a>, visiting the NY area from Louisiana, for much of this race. I think our paces merged between AS1 and 2, and we continued together until about mile 22. Chatting about everything from running to politics to family to careers passed the time quickly. She was good at going down hill, missing turns and getting lost. I was good at going up hill and knew the course better, so it was a good pairing. She felt confident to follow me, and I felt like my run became something bigger than myself. I even told her to chillax when she was getting a little frustrated getting stuck behind some slower 25K runners. </div>
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One of the factors that make this course more difficult, in my opinion, than Harriman trails for the Bear Mountain 50K, are the woods roads that are not maintained. They have big rocks and a lot of erosion, or what I call "oversized gravel" that consists of loose rocks about 2-5 inches in diameter. You can't get away from them and it is hard to find a good line. I think the single-track trails MoMa follows are easier than the woods roads. In contrast, Harriman double track tends to be grassy or dirt, and the tire track line is very easily runable.</div>
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So the miles went by quickly and easily. I thought we missed an AS4 for a few minutes, because I forgot there were two Boy Scout camps, but once we hit yellow I knew we were good. I was a little worried about the AS2/AS4 area, because it was we got lost and spent a lot of time figuring out the maps on our training runs, but race director Rick McNulty had the route clearly marked with the orange ribbon through that area. Then it was the merge with 25K runners in the woods, then downhill on one of those horrible woods roads into AS4. About a quarter mile from AS4 a guy fell in front of us. He was yelling because his calf was cramping. We stopped and I could see the muscle spasm. I instinctively just reached down and massaged it. He yelled, "Oww!" So I stopped and realized maybe I shouldn't have just taken that liberty with some guy I didn't know. But then he said, "No, keep doing that. It is exactly what my leg needs." So then I felt even more awkward, and I didn't want to stop too long. I think I only massaged it for like 20 seconds and he said he would be OK, and thanks. So we took off. Good Karma.</div>
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Aid station 4 was where Laura was, and it was the first time I actually stopped at one. "Why are you here?" I asked. "I just couldn't do it today." She said, but she didn't look too unhappy. She made the right decision. I took a cup of Mountain Dew, grabbed a couple of Hammer Gels for the climb, and was off again for those slow miles. At least I got Teddi to take that 10 yard detour where you can see the NYC skyline over the adjacent ridge.</div>
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At this point I knew I was in my remaining gear for the rest of the race, feeling maybe 30 seconds per mile slower, but steady, and I informed Teddi that is where my pace was going to stay. After mile 22 there was some significant downhill running on that horrible woods road, so Teddi got some distance on me between there and AS6. </div>
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Aid Station 6 is also the finish line, after doing the final 7 mile loop, that is. Dixon had already won the race in 4:39! It was nice to see him there cheering me on, along with friends from the best running club in the world who had done the 25K and 7 miler. I had more than an hour of running left, at least! I had an 8th of a PBJ sandwich there, and had them put some Heed in my Camelbak, took another E-Cap, reset myself mentally for that beyond-the-marathon part of this and relaxed my way back onto the run.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRpRc2SysAoO171zf3gHPDvfY_WR-03ERkGjXPf1euikgVFtZSeRS735e1lzFv61dSBGSlUljozZoJApMbGkKk8vXZu0twcLannEjb2Rd5ret1hY9UqDGFA49kxBihJNqcDf3/s1600/mountain+madness+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRpRc2SysAoO171zf3gHPDvfY_WR-03ERkGjXPf1euikgVFtZSeRS735e1lzFv61dSBGSlUljozZoJApMbGkKk8vXZu0twcLannEjb2Rd5ret1hY9UqDGFA49kxBihJNqcDf3/s400/mountain+madness+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, entering AS6, "Are you saving me a beer?" (pic by Sally H.)</td></tr>
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I had seen Teddi on her on her way out for the final 7 mile loop, and I caught her again on that loop going up hill. This section, which was described to me by <a href="http://runsonbeer.com/2012/10/you-always-remember-your-first/" target="_blank">Dave A</a>., a MoMa veteren, as relatively easy, was nothing like easy. The climb on this eroded horrible woods road made me curse the glaciers that dropped those rocks all those millions of years ago. We climbed to the "aid station", which was really just some gallon water bottles in a box. I was looking forward for some calories there, because the volunteer didn't put enough Heed into my Camelbak to supply me, so that pissed me off and I kicked an empty bottle in frustration. Then I must have been a little delirious, because all of a sudden I didn't see any more pink ribbons that marked this loop. We had missed a turn - damn! See, this is the part of the course I had not done before; so much for muscle-spasm Karma. Teddi went back and saw one, and I went forward and saw one, but it turned out to be an orange ribbon marking an earlier section of course. We had to double back, adding maybe a quarter mile to the course, and allowing at least one guy to catch us. I suddenly had a stomach issue here, and needed to empty more than my bladder. I told Teddi to go on with him and went off trail. Lucky I had a bandanna on my head....</div>
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I felt a little shaky after the stomach issue for 5 or 10 minutes. I couldn't tell how long, because my Garmin battery died about then. I recovered on the downhill back to the finish line. I felt pretty damn fast over the last mile when we hit the part of the pink loop that merged with the orange we had run on earlier. Another amazing thing about these ultras, having that third wind. That does not happen in a marathon, Once you are toast in a marathon, you are toasted.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing kick (pic by Sally H.)</td></tr>
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The adrenaline, the elation of finishing such a long day combined for a happy finish (sans bandanna). Friends and beers awaited. I finished a minute 15 seconds after Teddy, who was the 2nd place overall woman. I was 22nd/71, 3rd 50's guy. My time of 6:13 was just under 12 min./mile average pace, and faster than the goal I stated on Saturday. <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/228205538" target="_blank">Here is the slightly short Garmin data</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joeazze.smugmug.com/UltraRunning-1/2012-Mountain-Madness-Trail/25669817_GsVwbZ#!i=2120623445&k=2k9FSkn&lb=1&s=A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://joeazze.smugmug.com/UltraRunning-1/2012-Mountain-Madness-Trail/i-2k9FSkn/0/M/DSC02553-M.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddi and Me right after finishing. (Pic by Joe Azze)</td></tr>
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Dave was 3rd at about 5:02, Jay ran an incredible 5:28 despite a long rest and drinking a beer at the last aid station, Bill ran sub-6 for both his first 50K AND marathon, Lindsay was sub-6, Dragon finished his first 50K, Elane breezed through without popcorn, and John- who has a curse upon him for this race - got lost and a sprained ankle DNF. In the 25K Peter was 2nd. In the 7 mile Sally finished her first trail race. Angela, who I mentioned earlier, fell quite early in the race, before AS 5, and deeply gashed her knee. She used her shirt as a bandage, and got properly bandaged at the aid station. She finished the race, her first 50K, sub 7 hours on a knee that needed stitches. After she finished and removed the bandage, we could see the connective tissue under the laceration. That takes some courage and strength! <a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/402727_685223829122_676592040_n.jpg" target="_blank">Here is the pic of her knee, if you can see it on FB, and stomach it....</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Before" picture of the Best Running Club in The World at MoMa (Sally's pic again - Thanks!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joeazze.smugmug.com/UltraRunning-1/2012-Mountain-Madness-Trail/25669817_GsVwbZ#!i=2120620678&k=LV6fW4X&lb=1&s=A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""><img alt="" src="http://joeazze.smugmug.com/UltraRunning-1/2012-Mountain-Madness-Trail/i-LV6fW4X/0/M/DSC02551-M.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The End (Pic by Joe Azze)</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-38385414401427703692012-09-23T21:57:00.000-04:002012-10-04T17:01:15.726-04:00Newport Liberty Half Marathon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Mile splits were 6:20, 6:31, 6:43, 6:44, 6:41, 6:47, 6:55, 6:44, 7:04, 7:06, 7:25, 7:19, 7:51, 7:40. Think I went out too fast? Trying to run with fast females <a href="http://liannerunslikeagirl.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lianne</a> and Nova, I was feeling good for a long time. Lianne pointed out that we were running 5K pace for those first couple of miles. I needed Gatorade late in the race and there was none. Then my ankle pain kicked in. As a result, lots of people passed me in the last few miles as I slowed down. BUT, my time was faster than the last time I ran it in 2010 @ 1:34:39. My PLP today was 74.59, and in 2010 it was 71.29. One can't run all trail miles at 9-12 min per mile and expect to race 3 minutes faster per mile. MoMa in 6 days!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-38023526397067572912012-09-22T20:23:00.002-04:002012-09-22T20:23:57.279-04:00Liberty Half Marathon is TOMORROW<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My ankle hurts in the vicinity of my old injury. That isn't good. The pain showed up at the Wednesday Night Run on September 12. It was about 10 miles. The first few were barefoot. A mile of the barefoot was on pavement. Then the last 7 were on pavement, wearing New Balance 730 shoes. I think the fast running with shoes on pavement was the over-stressor. Combined with the previous Saturday of running the USATF-NJ 5K Championship race, with about 4.5 miles barefoot warm-up and cool down that day, and which I followed with a 7 mile trail run over rocks and roots in Ramapo State Forest. I had a painless trail run this past Monday at Watchung Reservation. Took a Tuesday and Wednesday off - my lower back was hurting; I think I went a little too hard on the rocks, but was feeling great. I ran a painful couple of miles on Thursday, felt better for 5 on Friday, but today the ankle wasn't too comfortable. So I tried a bunch of different shoes to see what I should wear tomorrow for the Liberty Half Marathon. Surprisingly, the shoes that felt the best are my oldest pair of Merrell Trail Gloves. I think because the heel does not get in the way. (Even the Merrell Road Glove heel gets in the way of a comfortable midfoot strike for me.) I think I will use them with an extra plastic arch thing thrown in for good luck. I should be icing the hell out of the ankle, but I have not been. I think I will go do that ASAP.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-35249971080118132402012-09-22T20:19:00.003-04:002012-09-22T20:19:57.962-04:00Proud Parent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My son recently started college at Rutgers University. He lives at Livingston Campus, which is right next to Rutgers Ecological Preserve. I have told him to run there. He posted this today on Facebook. Could I ask for anything more?<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8803284.post-2169619346222697122012-08-11T20:22:00.001-04:002012-08-11T20:22:45.002-04:00How to run Watchung Reservation's Sierra Trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://ucnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wrmap804.pdf" target="_blank">The park map in PDF format is available here.</a><br />
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Watchung Reservation is a great oasis of almost wilderness in the midst of Union County. I am lucky enough to live within a 12 minute drive to its westernmost parking lot at Seeley's Pond. I have been running there for a good 20 years. There was even a time back before they were banned that I rode my pre-suspension mountain bike there over its rocky trails. I realized today that I have the trail memorized in "sections" that I have made up on my own and that I should publish them with my thoughts about how to run through them.<br />
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The Sierra Trail is a 10.5 mile/1700 ft. elevation change trail, blazed with white squares. It is fairly easy to follow, even through some of the more dense blazed-trail area around Trailside Nature Center. Parking at Seeleys allows a runner to take a relatively flat, relatively less-rocky section for the first part of the run, going clockwise around this trail. This allows a good warm up before some of the more technical stuff.<br />
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<b>Seeley's Pond Section</b><br />
From parking at Seeley's Pond lot, run towards the baseball field and find the unblazed trail down through some woods and over a small stream. Cross Sky Top Drive, keeping the Smokey The Bear fire danger sign on your right. This is where you pick up the Sierra Trail blazes.<br />
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<b>Warm-Up Section</b><br />
This section is mostly flat with a few short rolling areas, and some improved wooden boardwalks and steps. It merges with and diverges from a pink blazed trail.<br />
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<b>Deserted Village Section</b><br />
This section is paved at first and brings you through the area known as the Deserted Village of Feltville. I think the park superintendent lives there, and it has been an area of some refurbishing activity lately. There are a few park events there each year. <br />
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<b>Cemetery Section</b><br />
After the paved road turns uphill, it turns right and goes onto natural trails. The trail passes a Revolutionary War era family cemetery. I usually say high to any spirits that might be hanging about there. This section allows for some fast running now that you are warmed up and done with the first hill. Plus it ends with a fairly steep downhill on a woods road. Don't miss the left off the road and onto the next trail section.<br />
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<b>Lake Surprise Section</b><br />
This section parallels the north shore of Lake Surprise. It is rooty and there are some short rollers, but you can continue fairly fast running due to its flatness. This is a popular area for walkers and fishing.<br />
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<b>Watchung Stables Section</b><br />
Cross the road at the East end of Lake Surprise and enter an area mostly comprised of woods roads and a few connecting trails. You are likely to see people riding horses in this section. Slow down or walk if you encounter horses so you don't spook them and cause a rider to be thrown or injured. At one point you will pass an open grazing area of Watchung Stables on your left. This is another section that allows for faster running due to its openness, though it ends with a longer gradual uphill that leads you to the Summit Lane/Tracy Drive circle. Follow the circle to the left. Cars go fast there, so be careful on the circle and then crossing the road to reenter the trail.<br />
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<b>Water Tower Section</b><br />
This is where some technical running starts. Keep a lookout for blazes here because some of the open rocks obscure the trail. The hill begins steeply off the road, then becomes a gradual less technical climb to the water tower, which is the highest point in the park, though it lacks any scenic view. After rounding the tower, run gradually downhill on a woods road and cross Tracy Drive. The downhill is fast running.<br />
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<b>Road Crossing Connector</b><br />
Short section that crosses Summit Lane. Don't miss the left turn towards Trailside Nature Center. If you get to another road, Tracy Drive again, you missed the turn.<br />
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<b>Trailside Nature Center Section</b><br />
This heads through heavily used trails to Trailside Nature Center. The white blazes merge with a red-blazed trail that diverges again. You will pop out at the Trailside Nature Center parking lot. Cross the lot diagonally and when at the far corner, you will be adjacent to a wooden arch that marks the entrance to the maze of blazed trails that criss-cross this area; there are green, yellow, orange, and blue trails. Stay with white. Some of the trails cross and some run concurrent with the white blazes. The running here gets very technical and will probably be the slowest running thus far. By the way, if you need a bathroom or water stop, head to the back of the old building farthest down the hill before entering the trails. After going through the arch and reentering the trails, there are wooden "steps" down a ravine, over a bridge, and back up again. This area can be very icy in the winter.<br />
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<b>Rocky Ravine Section</b><br />
You will run downhill into a rocky ravine. Then go back uphill out of the ravine. Lots of roots and rocks in this section. Rolling. It goes for a while until it comes out onto a woods road, left turn, that you could take straight out to Sky Top Drive near Seeley's Pond, turning this 10.5 mile run into an 8 miler.<br />
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<b>Magic Forest Section</b><br />
Only about 30 yards on the woods road to a left turn to go uphill through the Magic Forest. It is a stand of fir trees unlike any of the vegetation in the rest of the reservation. The trail may be covered with needles in the fall, making it feel softer and magical. It was also known to be "magical" as a popular area for marijuana smoking back in the 1980's. The climb leads to the Sky Top Picnic Area where there is a working water fountain and faucet in warmer weather. The trail crosses Sky Top Drive and enters the woods on a woods road. The woods road is fairly rocky and leads to the most technical section of the run.<br />
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<b>Technical Section</b><br />
The most difficult running is here; down hill on the south side of Sky Top Drive. It is rocky and can be slippery, especially in the fall. Once all the way downhill, running goes parallel with Green Brook on your left and our own escarpment on your right. This is the most rocky section of the entire trail. It is also the home of "The Submarine" (a partially burried metal tank thing) and a "lemon squeezer" rock formation. The trail climbs back up to an overlook that reveals the next ridgeline and I-78. Then it is mostly rocky downhill back to Sky Top Drive. A left onto Sky Top brings you back to Seeleys Pond parking lot. Cut through the woods again across from the Smokey The Bear sign.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2