Motivated to Succeed

Long anniversary weekend in Boston. To make a long story short: Drove out on Friday evening from Pittsfield to Lindsay's place, but got lost when we got there. The GARMIN was telling us to go in a roundabout the size of a large car. Took an extra 20 mins but finally got there.

Saturday: Went into the city and parked. Found a sweet $10.00 lot and walked a mile or so to the aquarium. Spent the morning there, then over to a Panera for lunch before going and walking to catch the T to go to the concert. Emm got us tickets to see "Boyce Avenue". We love their acoustic music. Well we get there around 3:30, but decide that's too early, so we walk to Starbuck's to get a coffee and tea and see an "occupy" demonstration going on with a cool rally. Police officer was a tool and said "You going to cross the road or just gawk at these losers". Wanted to punch him square in the kisser! Walked back down and stood in line for 2 hours as the temperature fell. Couldn't believe how many people were lined up. We seemed to be "old" though. A lot of middle/high schoolers. Finally get in there and try to score a couch only to find they have all been taken to the "VIP" section. We sit through two opening acts, each an hour long, and finally Boyce Avenue comes on around 8:30 or 9 only to say "We know we became popular for our acoustic covers, but we are going to play our rock and electric originals" (translation: we won't play our good music, we'll just play crap!). We walked out after 30 mins. Getting home sucked. We got backwards on the T, entered the wrong side of the station, then my card wouldn't work so I had to buy another pass. Had to walk about 2 miles in the cold to the parking garage. Finally got home around 12:30 in the morning. Emm had planned a surprise for me. 3 wedding albums of all of our 500+ pictures, as well as a small cake made just like our wedding one. But we were so tired and exhausted she simply said "Happy anniversary. I'm going to bed.".  

Sunday's Race: Got up and watched "Super Troopers" with Emm as she got ready. Headed out to the race, which didn't start until 11:30. Found a parking spot about .5 miles away and walked down to the starting line. We had gone the day before to get our bibs, since there were over 2k people. Smart decision! We went for a 10 min warm up jog, then made it back to the starting line about 8 mins before the gun went off. What I found out afterwards in the race is that this is a very popular and classy race. It is chip timed, and they go with your chip time for race position instead of gun time. I like this for non-elites. Instead of appearing a couple mins slower than you actually ran, it is transparent as far as how long it took you to cover the distance. I don't have exact splits but we started off conservative, and first mile was slow (8:30ish) trying to get through traffic. We did a lot of running along the sidewalk, just as in Turkey Trot. Saw one scary thing, a young girl having an asthma attack. Saw her after the race though so I know she is okay. Second mile was fast, sub 8:00, and finally kicked it in with the third mile in the low 7:00s. Emm hung tough like a champion, gritting her teeth, and grabbed my hand as we crossed the finish line. Loved this. This was the highlight of my anniversary weekend. Can't think of a better way to spend an anniversary. If we could do this every anniversary I'd be a very very happy hubby! Cooled down to the car, and then back home to get caught up on work! 

Finished in 23:48, good for 409th place overall out of 1808 finishers, averaging 7:40/mile. Loved this race! 

Sun came out. I was feeling under the weather and stayed home to try to recover and get caught up on grades/lesson planning, etc. Not feeling it lately. Have an appointment at the doc's to get checked out for depression and high blood pressure. Scary stuff when you are only 25 years old! Anywho, went out to Lenox with Emma. We stretched and hopped onto the Burbank trail and ran to the summit and back, but had to cut it short because the light was fading. Daylight savings time needs to happen soon because there is not enough light in a day any more!

Total Time: 29:50 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace: 9:56 

3:45 PM - Practice with the "pioneers" after school. There is real support gaining behind our run up Greylock next week, as well as in choosing a mascot for the school team. Many people think that "pioneers" is an adequate representation, as it embodies who and what our runners are all about. What do you think? Had about 8 runners show up for practice today, which was good. Tomorrow is our last dual meet of the season. Have been getting a lot of great feedback as far as my race reports are concerned. Going to copy and paste to my log so I have a copy forever. Also going to compile little xc booklets with the course maps, results and my write ups. I think it would be a fitting celebration, as well as printouts for overall improvement on the team during the season, and a closing thoughts section from their dear old coach. I love these kids, even if they give me gray hairs!

Total Time: 27:00 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace: 9:00/ mile 

3:45 PM - Feeling like fall finally! Sunny, to partly cloudy with temp in the mid to upper 50s. Took the team of nine today and went to the Adams cemetery for hills. Trying to work on their speed! Got to the cemetery and had managed to lose one of my runners, Chris. Figured that he was back at the school and had decided not to come. When I heard that he had not stayed and was no where to be seen, my heart sank. On top of this I heard he had had an argument with his girlfriend earlier that day, and of course I jumped to conclusions and expected the worst. Ran as fast as I could to the field .6 miles with my phone. Then back .6 miles. Turns out he had been outside looking at plants and bugs! Just my luck! Glad he was okay though in all seriousness. 

Total Time: 29:10 Total Distance: 3.5 miles Average Pace: 8:20/ mile

3:45 PM -  Hard work paying off. Had one runner, Kylee show up today. As we got changed and headed out the door in our matching team hoodies, Ben K. (principal) came over and said "Benn can we talk for a second." I was like "oh boy. pink slip? stern talking to? what now?" He held out his hand and said "Just wanted to tell you how much it means to see you going for a run on a Friday afternoon with one cross country runner. You are making the difference". If that doesn't fuel your fire, I don't know what will! I had a really nice chat with my sixth grader about the perils of littering to the ecosystem and our shared interest in saving the planet, one piece of litter at a time. She is my hero!

Total Time: 33:00 Total Distance: 3 miles Average Pace: 11:00 

9:00 AM - Drove to Spa Park today from MA for the Great Pumpkin Challenge 10k race. It is a 5k/10k held on the roads through Spa Park. Same course as the Keys' Run I found out. Didn't think it would be as hugely popular as it was. Over 1800 runners yesterday. Glad I brought both my Vibrams, as my blue KSOs are getting sent to the Vibram cemetery. 6 holes in the bottom of them! Too many people as the first 5k was run with the 5k runners. Tucked in nicely and used it as a progression run. 

Ran the following splits: (9:06, 8:40, 8:19, 7:48, 7:53, 7:58) Last two were with significant uphills. Really felt good, considering haven't done many long runs this year. Trying to get in shape for Stockadeathon in a few weeks. I think for Stockadeathon the key will be to stay relaxed and go nice and easy the first half of the race. I'm a Clydesdale after all! We don't like speed! Cooled down at the end. My time didn't get recorded because I couldn't attach the chip to my Vibrams. However a friend who works for ARE recorded my time in the results for me :). Yay!

Cooled down 2 miles around the course and to the car. Then out to Karavalli for Indian food with Tara, Jonn Stanley and Momma Grifff. Then to Virgil's for coffee.

Finished in 146th place of 516 finishers in a time of 51:16, good for 8:15 a mile. 

Total Time: 51:16 Total Distance: 6.22 miles Average Pace: 8:15

Total Time for all miles today: 1:25