A good week

Today was one of those wet Spring days. While I was getting ready to go out and run this morning, it was pouring down with rain. By the time I got outside the rain was very light.Utpal and I went out to Flushing meadow, at one point we passed some Cherry trees that were just coming into flower. My head cold seems to have gone and I felt pretty good out there running. After completing our 10 miles we had a little breakfast at our local cafe.
By the time I went out for my second run around 3:30 in the afternoon I was still feeling good. I decided to run what I call my 5k loop. So my total for the day was 13+ miles. I have had a good week.

Several factors

My race this morning was affected by a combination of many different things. First of all after my run run in the afternoon yesterday I developed a stomach problem, which was followed by a headache. I am not sure if this is a reaction to my current training or I have picked something up. When I woke up this morning I had a head cold.I must say that not of these things will stop me going out to run. The weather conditions were cool and a light rain. When the race started I felt OK, but with the first few 100 meters I had some pain from my lower back, so I backed off the pace. After that everything was fine, if somewhat slower. I finished in a time of 16:01, which of course I am still happy with and will be able to go out and run this afternoon.

Spring energy

You can feel the energy of Spring when you are outside.When I have gone out for my runs the last couple of days, I have been inspired to go a little further or maybe a little stronger.
It the the third weekend of doubles and for the last 2 weeks Utpal has come out with me on Friday and Saturday afternoons. It turns out he ran on his own this morning, so did not come out with me this afternoon. I tend to run a little harder on my own.

Grity second week

This is my second week of my twice a day runs. I seem to have gotten over my lower back problem, but was really sore this morning as we started out on our run. It was cold, just above freezing, but quite pleasant. Again we ran about 10 miles and there were periods of time when I felt quite tired and for some reason my right hip was a little sore. I have fallen into a pattern of taking a short nap in between runs on my double days. This afternoon when I went out the second time the temperature had increased by more than 20 degrees and so was a pleasant easy run. Though for some reason I have sniffles.

My breathing was good

My 2 mile run this morning was done with a certain amount of caution. Due to the stiffness in my lower back earlier in the week, I wasn't sure how much I could push. I started out quite slow, I was not sure exactly how slow since I didn't get a 1 mile split time.I tried to keep my shape as they say in English football terms and I felt my breathing was good. I ran twice yesterday as per my training schedule and was happy to run 15:51. The temperature was 30F (-1C) and I tend to run a little slower when it is cold.

Still working tired legs

After 2 days of running twice a day, I went out this morning and my legs let me know what I had been doing. Utpal and I ran out to Flushing Meadow a nice 10 mile run by the end of it, then I went out again in the afternoon, for another 2 miles. I like the feeling of being able to fall asleep quite quickly when I go to bed. This is just the kind of training I feel I need to prepare for the 6 day race. I did similar workouts 2 years ago when getting for 24 hour races. It gets the body used to running on tired legs.

I have used 4 different pairs of running shoes over the last 3 days.

A strange feeling

I felt strange before the 1 mile race this morning, The temperature was just above freezing, but with bright sunshine. The feeling I had was almost like nerves, but there was no reason for me to feel that way. Anyway as soon as the race started it was gone. In the early part of the race I had no idea of how fast I was running and at the 1 mile split my time was 7:47, which I think is 2 seconds slower than last week. In the second mile I felt much better and tried to maintain my pace. Everything was good and I felt like I was pressing through to the end of the race. I finished with a time of 15:24, which means my second mile was 7:37. So all in all an 18 second improvement on last week.
When I was running over to the start of the race my shoes felt very comfortable on my feet. I now from my multi day experience that some days shoes can feel good and other days not so. It is my feeling that when the shoes feel good the body is quite balanced, usually that results in a good run.

A week later, seven to go.

So it is one week after the 50k Championships. What a difference a week makes, last week it was 30F and snow flurries, this week it was 44F when Utpal and I went out for our Sunday run. After running the 2 mile race yesterday on tired legs, the legs were not too lively this morning. These Sunday runs are about 2 friends spending some time running together and talking about the past week. So we managed to eek out about 7 miles and have a pleasant run. It is 7 weeks to the start of the 6 day race, so I now have about 6 weeks of decent training to put together.

A week later, seven to go.

So it is one week after the 50k Championships. What a difference a week makes, last week it was 30F and snow flurries, this week it was 44F when Utpal and I went out for our Sunday run. After running the 2 mile race yesterday on tired legs, they legs were not too lively this morning. These Sunday runs are about 2 friends spending some time running together and talking about the past week. So we managed to eek out about 7 miles and have a pleasant run. It is 7 weeks to the start of the 6 day race, so I now have about 6 weeks of decent training to put together.

Fastest this year

It's 6 days since the 50k race and a beautiful morning. There was bright sunshine and although the temperature read 42F, it felt warmer. I felt pretty good as I started the 2 mile race, but was not quite sure how fast I was running. There is a short steep hill about half way around the loop, I always try to maintain my leg speed up this hill and sometimes re pass runners who have passed me just before. About half way through the second mile I started to feel my legs were tired from the race last Sunday, but I just tried to keep my form. I had gone through the first mile in 7:44 then ran the second mile a little slower in 7:58, for a finishing time of 15:42. Which is not as fast as my friend Amanda thought I should run, but still my fastest time so far this year. I can usually get it down to around 14 by the summer.

Just a little more.

I just would like to mention that these days, running at a slower pace, gives me a chance to watch what is going on in a race. I was lucky that as I was completing a lap the winner passed me and I got to see him finish. His name is Micheal Wardian and he is the defending champion, his winning time was 2:56:36, about a minute slower than last year. It's just my opinion, but I think the conditions and course were probably harder this year. I got to congratulate him and he seemed very happy.

Caumsett Park 50k

Ray K called me around 6 am to say he was on the way to pick me up. There was a light snow falling and the temperature was between 30 and 32 F, it would stay like that all day. It was about a 25 minute drive to Caumsett Park, it was not snowing when we got there. After picking up up our race numbers and chips, we had a chance to talk with some old friends. I got to say hello to a new runner friend from Ohio who I have been corresponding with for a little while. Her name is Amanda Stickel, that's her with her father/coach in the photo. This was her first 50k race. This race was also the US National 50k Championships. It's a tough course in that it is 13 + loops and has 2 hills on each loop. As I said before the temperature never got above freezing, there was strong wind that made it feel like 19F. Figured I could run 6 1/2 hours, but hoped for better. A couple of laps in I was being passed by the leaders and got to see that Amanda was in second place and cheer her on. I did quite well for the first 25 K and was on 5hr 20 minute pace, I knew I would slow down. The main aid station had a good selection of stuff and I was gratefull to get a cup of potato soup late in the race. Most of the time I seemed to be running on my own
with the occasional boost from Amanda as she passed me 4 times and and the odd other runner that came by. I noticed that near the end of her race Amanda was struggling a little and slipped back into 3rd place. I got to see her a little after she had finished and recovered a bit and she was really happy having run 3:46:30 in her first 50k and finished 3rd in the Nationals. She will only improve.
My own race was down to 4 laps and I hooked up with an old friend, Andy Cable for 3 of them. My last lap I once again ran alone and crossed the finish line in a time of 6:14:45. which I am very happy with. Ray had finished just less than an hour before me and was ready with the car to drive me home. We were both satisfied with our days work I think.

Good race.

Drove out to Long Island early this morning with Ray K, who had driven up from South Carolina yesterday. The weather prediction was for snow with some accumulation. It was col, around freezing and there were some snow flurries during the race, but also a very short period of sun. I will write a full report on my blog tomorrow, but I will say that I ran 6:14:45, which was only 3 minutes slower than my time in Chicago 2 years ago.I expected to run a little slower, so of course I am happy.