Training Week 1/16

With the Ocala Marathon at the tail end of the week, training was fairly muted for the period 1/16 to 1/22. Although Ocala was a B-race — one in which I didn’t specifically train for and one in which I would mostly train through — I wanted to use it, at minimum, as a long run at honest-effort and the chance to log Marathon #68.

With all of that in mind, I scaled back on miles this week just in case, come race day, I found myself front of the pack in this low-key marathon affair. This way I could at least take advantage of any opportunities presented.

Race report coming soon; in the meantime, the week looked like this…

Week 1/16:

Mon: 4 miles, very easy – roads
Tues: 4 miles, tempo – snowy roads
Wed: 5 miles, slow social – roads
Thurs: 4 miles, easy – roads
Fri: 3 miles, easy – snowy & icy roads
Sat: 1.5 miles, easy — roads
Sun: 26.2 miles, Ocala Marathon, 3:03, 4th place overall, 1st Master

Total miles: 48 miles

Goal for the coming week is to recover from Ocala — nothing more.

 

Training Week 1/9

Training for the week went, for a second week in a row, according to plan. With Ocala Marathon, a B-race, coming up at the end of next week, my goal was to recover from lat weekend’s Fat Ass 50K enough to get in a mid-week speed work sesion, and that’s what I did. I am hopeful the next week, with some down days — nothing long, no speed — will bring back spunk to my legs.

My goals in Ocala are not to race – I have no business racing a marathon with little-to-no training, as I decided to do this marathon only a few weeks earlier as a destination race as I visit my mother for a few days — but to put myself in position in the event an opportunity presents itself.

Previous year’s results were a mixed bag of talent, a few years with winners going well under 2:50, but also a year or two of the winner only going 3:03. With in mind the idea that I could win this race if the talent stays away, I want to run honest for the first half, maybe going through 13.1 in 3:05 to 3:10 pace (half in 1:32:30 – 1:35:00), then see where my competitors are so that I would be in position, should the field be weak, to make an attempt at winning. It all depends on who shows up.

Week 1/9:

Mon: 3.5 miles, very easy – roads
Tues: 5.65 miles, social easy – roads
Wed: 10.5 miles, speed work, TM – 4 x 12 min @ 6:15 pace w/3′ jog (TM @ 1%)
Thurs: 4 miles, easy – snow & icy roads 
Fri: 6 miles, tempo – icy roads
Sat: 13 miles, social, moderate — roads
Sun: 10.5 miles, “with the big dogs”, honest pace – trails

Total miles: 44 miles

Wednesday: Workout (TM set to 1.0% incline):
o WU – 10 min @ ramp up to 7:30 with several strides at 6:00
o 4 x 12 min @ 6:15 w/3 min jog
o CD – 3 min jog
*To break monotony of 12 min long stretch, each interval was broken up with eevation increases from 1 to 2% for one minute, back down to 1% for another minute or two, and back up for a total of 2 to 3 times.

Next week…

Focus of the coming we be to rest up for Ocala Marathon on the weekend. That’s it!

Training Week 1/2

Training for the week went according to plan. Having organized and participated in the New Year’s Boston Marathon run on January 1, a Sunday, the day before this week started, the only goals of the week were to recover enough to be able to get in a speed session mid-to-end of week. That’s it.

During the course of the week, I also got talked into doing a Fat Ass 50K on Saturday, and so that’s what I did. No worries for tapering or coming in with tired legs; the goal was not to race but to have fun. It was a continuation of my Fall-into-Winter mantra of doing as many social runs as possible.

Follow the fun, as I like to say.

Week 1/2:

Mon: 1.5 miles, easy keep-the-streak-alive run – roads
Tues: 5.65 miles, social easy – roads
Wed: 4 miles, tempo – roads
Thurs: 11 miles, speed work, TM – 6 x 1 mile @ 6:00 pace w/3′ recovery jog
Fri: 4 miles, easy – roads
Sat: 31 miles, Fat Ass 50K trail race, 4:41 finish time (9:02 pace)
Sun: 1.5 miles, easy keep-the-streak-alive run – roads

Total miles: 59 miles

Thursday: Workout (TM set to 1.0% incline):
o WU – 10 min @ ramp up to 7:30 with several strides at 6:00
o 3 x 7 min @ 6:00 w/3 min jog
o 1 x 6 min @ 6:00 w/4 min jog (too hard to hold for 7 min)
o 1 x 5 min @ 6:07 w/3 min jog (dumb down to 6:07, ran out of time, restart TM)
o 1 x 6 min @ 6:49 w/4 min CD

Next week…

Focus of the coming week will be just like last week — recover from long run, this time an ultra, in time for mid-to-end of week speed so that, come Ocala Marathon on January 22nd, I do not roll over and die on the hilly course. I know I won’t run a speedy time in Florida, and I’m okay with that, but I would like to put in an honest effort just shy of race pace. And that’s what the last-minute speed work is all about.

Fat Ass 50K @ Bradley Palmer

Fat Ass 50K
Bradley Palmer State Park
Topsfield, Massachusetts
Saturday, January 7, 2012

Results
31 miles
Time: 4:41 (9:02 pace)
5 laps of a 10K rolling trail loop
Marathon #67 (~3:56)

Links
GAC: here
Results: coming soon!

GAC Fat Ass 50K @ Bradley Palmer State Park - Completing Lap 4 of 5, Jay and Thor stay strong through 25 miles for the remaining 6.

Race Report

Continuing a fall-into-winter thirst for all things “social running”, my pal Billy, owner of the South Boston Running Emporium, got my eye trained on a Fat Ass trail race put on by Giles Athletic Club, a club north of Boston known as GAC.

A week later, now only a few days before the event, Larry, another friend, this one owner and CEO of Larryland in Madtown USA, said he was going and dared me to go.

Knowing that Billy and Larry would be there, and with a promise that other friends would too, I decided to give it a go. With temperatures expected to be unseasonably awesome, I was thrilled at another opportunity to run trails before the real brunt of winter storms in.

Fat Ass it was.

To the uninitiated, a Fat Ass might be a funny term that garners a chuckle. In the ultra-running community, mostly of the trail variety, a Fat Ass is a popular type of race that is typically 50K, or 31 miles, in distance and is a sort of throwback to races of yesteryear. With no entry fee, no fancy medals, usually no cheering section, and sometimes not even a clock, these races are a no frills way to gather a bunch of like-minded trail runners for a romp in the woods in the middle of winter. This particular romp was marked and timed and has been successful enough to be considered a 14th Annual! In exchange for that you are expected to bring something for the aid table.

Fat Ass, my kind of race!

Having decided to do the Fat Ass in Bradley Palmer only two days prior, I didn’t exactly treat this like a race. For me it would be just a continuation of my off-season mantra of running whenever and however the mood struck, with all things focused on fun. I wasn’t keen on running hard; my goal was to have fun, run with friends old and new, and maybe notch another marathon, if not 50K!

That in mind, my focus was to find someone to run with. If I could do that, I told myself, I would likely go all the way or at least to marathon distance; if I could not find happy conversation, I would likely just do a few laps and call it a day. I didn’t want to get sucked into running hard, not when I had run a marathon only 6 days prior with the New Year’s Boston Marathon run.

The course at Bradley Palmer State Park was set up with 5 loops of a 10K (6.2 miles) circuit. The circuit was filled with varied trail types. From fire roads, single track, jaunts across grassy fields, and a short stretch on a paved road, the course rolled pretty well but not enough to be considered hard. Single track was non-technical with only a few stretches where you really had to watch your footing. Although it was staffed with a few frozen (at first) stream crossings and frozen mud (at first!) sections, the course was relatively dry and in good shape.

For race start, I settled into the middle of the pack with the CEO of Larryland and Issy. Behind me was Henry and Billy and Mike and many other friends. Ahead were more serious types. The only thing I was serious about was finding someone to chat the miles away with.

The first lap went quickly. Just as I was settling in to an easy rhythm, chatting with Larry and Issy, Issy slipped a pair of ear buds in her ears and got to work quickly moving up in the field. As I watched her pull away, I was a little disappointed at first because I had thought Larry and Issy would run together, and I figured I’d join them! Issy would go on to win the women’s race. And Larry, well, Larry, as I learned, likes to run alone. He’s not the chatter that I am. We had different goals on the day, so no worries, but still no one for me to run with.

Two miles into the first loop, while I was still running with Larry, I hooked up with girl from Cambridge. We got into good conversation until, oops, I ran off course, with this girl and Larry following me. Sorry guys. We backtracked and rejoined the race. In doing so, our little group of three got broken up. I used this as an excuse to catch up to the runners ahead of me.

Motoring along single track trail on a long uphill section, I closed the gap on those ahead of me, made a pass here, another there, and finally came upon a familiar runner. “Henry”, I shouted ahead, “nice to see you.” Henry and I talked for a few minutes before, bam, up came a root and down I went, the ground meeting me quickly but not enough for a tuck of the shoulder and a roll to avoid injury. Talking while running is dangerous. Even so, I was determined to find someone to pass the miles with. Lap 1 came and went in 54:39.

Not long into Lap 2, I spotted not far up a guy in a light blue shirt that I recognized to be a race shirt from the Rhode Island 6 Hour, an event I did nearly two months prior. On a fire road connecting two single track sections, I caught up to him and asked about the RI 6 Hour. The conversation was so strong that I knew I found my companion for the rest of the day. My new friend Jay and I completed Lap 2 in 51:51.

Over the next two laps (Lap 3 – 56:52, Lap 4 – 1:03:50), Jay and chatted about running, his upcoming wedding, and his brave leap into the coaching ranks with his business called EFS. Although our legs were getting heavy, the conversation stayed strong. It was just what I was looking for and made the miles breeze by as the temperatures rose. And as the temperatures rose, the course grew filled with more and more mud to the point where some sections were downright sloppy.

Upon completing each lap, we took our time at the aid table by refilling our bottles and getting in calories. I stayed mostly to the three B’s: breads, bars, and bananas. A salt tablet on alternate laps and a few large gulps of Gatorade pushed me onward. Personal favorite was the banana bread. The homemade fig bars were solid, too. You can’t beat the spread at a Fat Ass aid table. If you were adventurous enough, you could have had grilled cheese sandwiches, any cookie you can think of, boiled potatoes including the sweet variety, and much more.

By the last lap, I knew we had this in the bank. We were both hydrating and fueling well enough. We both had an up and down period but, for the distance, felt pretty good. If nothing else, we were still heavily engrossed in conversation, which was a good sign for us both even though slowed us down some. No matter to me, I wasn’t there for pace. I was there for exactly what we were doing – running, chatting, and having fun. The miles passed quickly.

Lap 5 (54:12) and the finish came with the clock reading 4:41:25.

Issy won the women’s race in 4:31, while Larry labored in Larryland for 4:48. Our victory beers tasted good.

Splits
5 laps of a 10K rolling trail loop
1 – 54:39
2 – 51:51
3 – 56:52
4 – 1:03:50
5 – 54:12
Finish: 4:41:25

New Year’s Boston Marathon

2nd Annual New Year’s Boston Marathon Run
Boston, Massachusetts
Sunday, January 1, 2012

Numbers
26.2 miles
Time: 4:49 (last year 3:45)
4 runners went all the way (last year had 2)
Marathon #66

Links
Michael Robertson blog – Awesome Run Report w/pictures: here
Thor’s FB photos: here
Video #1 – Ashland – Mile 4: here
Video #2 – Citgo – Mile 25: here
Video #3 – Finish – Mile 26.2: here

Run Report

For the second year in a row, I decided that I wanted to ring in the New Year by running the course of the most famous marathon in the world, the Boston Marathon. I had so much fun the year before doing just this that I wanted to do it again. Only this year I was deciding between joining another group, one led by Gary Allen starting at an earlier time, or putting one together myself.

In the weeks leading up to when the calendar would flip from December to January, the decision was made for me when friends started asking me about the “New Year’s Boston Marathon” and if I was putting a group together this year.

At Mill Cities, almost a month away, fellow Goon, Dr. Methane, asked, “Are you running the Boston Marathon course again on New Year’s Day?” Before I could answer, he added, “I’m in if you are.” A few others voiced interested there and over the weeks, with several e-mails coming into my inbox. A 2nd Annual running was cemented during a Christmas Run with the Borderline Running Club, when Bob purposely sought me out to say, “If you put a group together, I’m in… I really want to do this.”

The New Year’s Boston Marathon run was on.

Travel logistics had most of us meeting early morning in Newton in front of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, conveniently mile 16.5 on the marathon course. Others would jump in along the way. We parked cars, hopped in others, and made the trek to Hopkinton for the start.

New Year's Boston Marathon - Happy group at the starting line in Hopkinton

There were ten of us for the start. One would be going 7 miles, two were in for the first 16 to Newton Lower Falls, and one for 16.5 back to our cars at the hospital in Newton; during the way we would gain a few, including Michael at mile 13 at, where he would say, “Marathon Sports Newton, this way I will run Marathon Sports to Marathon Sports.” Marathon Sports is a popular running shore in the Boston area.

New Year's Boston Marathon - Chuck and Don, two buddies from the mountain summer series, join in for the start.

In addition to the many, Chuck and Don, two of my pals from the USATF-NE Mountain Series, showed up to run the first 16 miles to Newton Lower Falls. Between the two of them, they have run the Mount Washington Road Race over 40 times. This is no joke.

New Year's Boston Marathon - BRC members Bill, Carol, Bob and Thor at the starting line.

Joining the numbers were Bill, Carol, Bob and Thor (that’s me) from the Borderline Running Club. I had extended invite to all of BRC, and I hoped to get more numbers, but I had a lot of interest voiced and had three bag out last minute. So I am hopeful that next year this becomes a BRC staple.

Bill was in for the first 17 miles to our cars at Newton-Wellesley just before the fire station, and Carol was in for the first 7. Carol was awesome, because after running her share, she provided aid through mile 13. Thank you, Carol!

And Bob, what about Bob? He was silly. He was in for the long haul.

Time to start!

New Year's Boston Marathon - Official Starting Line!

Town borders…

ASHLAND

New Year's Boston Marathon - Entering Ashland, the happy group stayed intact.

FRAMINGHAM

New Year's Boston Marathon - Entering Framingham, the morning was warming up quickly and the smiles were still radiant.

Aid Station #1

New Year's Boston Marathon - Aid Station #1 was the back of Carol's car in front of Dunkin Donuts.

NATICK

New Year's Boston Marathon - Natick came quickly, but we were still happy to see new borders.

Aid Station #2

New Year's Boston Marathon - Aid Station #2, thanks yet again to Carol, and yet again at a Dunkin Donuts. Hey, they have bathrooms available. You'd stop there too!

New Year's Boston Marathon - The group waves goodbye and gives great thanks to Carol!

New Year's Boston Marathon - Like America, Bob Runs on Dunkin!

WELLESLEY

New Year's Boston Marathon - Entering Wellesely... we made it halfway!

As our happy group made our way through Wellesley, minus the screaming girls giving free kisses without fear of a jail sentence, we had an unexpected surprise with a pair of roadside Methane Man supporters. Methane is a Goon name for Gary. His supporters breathed a shot of energy into those remaining… and even newcomer Michael, who we picked up at the same spot!

New Year's Boston Marathon - A welcome surprise and shot of adrenaline, Gary had supporters out on the course. Why does he get all the pretty chicks? No fair. But anyway, on we ran...

New Year's Boston Marathon - Gary aka "Methane Man" has supporters show up en route as an unexpected but a very welcome aid station and shot of energy.

NEWTON

New Year's Boston Marathon - Entering Newton, our numbers and smiles were still strong, but one of those would change shortly.

We had plenty of energy in the tank. Those of us going long were still feeling good, and those who were soon to go home were also feeling good, each for different reasons.

New Year's Boston Marathon - That's a little more like it!

Sadly, our little group, four of whom were going all the way, that being Bob, Brenda, Gary and Thor, had to say goodbye to Chuck and Don first and then Bill a little later on. A fun, happy group, conversation was still strong. We missed our friends but forged on nonetheless.

NEWTON – Fire house

New Year's Boston Marathon - Making a left at the Fire Station in Newton, before the hills began.

BRIGHTON

New Year's Boston Marathon - Entering Brighton, just after the Newton hills, including Heartbreak, it was all down hill from here... except for the remaining ups along the way. Pictured: Thor, Brenda (always smiling), Gary (never smiling), and Bob (always goofing off).

BROOKLINE

New Year's Boston Marathon - Entering Brookline, although we almost missed this sign if not for Bob, who grew up around the corner. The rest of us were too tired to notice, until Bob shouted, STOP! Brookline. We were all pretty pumped because we knew we had only 4 miles or less remaining!

Happy New Year!

New Year's Boston Marathon - 2012 Ice Sculpture was put out just for us in front of a stray Chinese restaurant. How nice. Happy New Year!

CITGO

New Year's Boston Marathon - First (really second) glimpse of the Citgo sign. I made Michael stop and pose, for I knew that sign and seeing it meant a lot to him, as it does for so many for so many different reasons. Having him for the second half was awesome and a solid shot of fresh energy.

BOSTON

Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston!

New Year's Boston Marathon - Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston, our happy group was following strick orders, and we were almost there. If you look real close you can see the finish line all the way down the street. Well, maybe not in this picture; but in our minds we saw it. Heck, we smelled it! Or maybe that was just Bob. What about Bob? I don't know.

FINISH

New Year's Boston Marathon - Finish Line!

One more time…

New Year's Boston Marathon - At the Boston Marathon Finish Line, the group is happy and done. Congratulations go out to Brenda (smile!), Bob (please don't smile), Gary (smile? pretty please), and Michael on your FIRST feat. There are other ways to ring in the new year, but this, it was all agreed, is something none of us will ever forget.

There is always beer involved, right? Right.

New Year's Boston Marathon - Cheers to a FIRST FEAT!

Yulefest 5K

Yulefest 5K
Harvard Square
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011

Results
18:13 (5:52 pace)
13th overall of 850
1st Master 40+*
*Won a really cool Yulefest Cup.

Splits (not sure if accurate)
Mile 1 – 5:41
Mile 2 – 5:59
Mile 3.1 – 6:32 (5:55 pace)

Links
Race website: here
Start video: here (me on starting line wearing red top, Santa hat, black tights, and blue shoes)
Results: here

Race Report

Coming soon.

Mill Cities Relay

Mill Cities Relay
Nashua, NH to Lawrence, MA
Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011

Results
Team Dead Livers (Goon Squad Runners)
Time: 254:08 (27.1 miles)
34th overall of 207
13th Men’s Open

Individual Results
Leg 1 – 5.4 miles, 32:30, 6:01 pace
Marathon*: 3:23:00 (7:31 pace)
*After racing Leg 1 for team, kept going to complete full distance for 6th year in a row. Time above is gun time.
Marathon #65

Links
Race website: here
Results: here

Race Report

Coming soon.

North Reading Turkey Trot

North Reading Turkey Trot
North Reading, Massachusetts
Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011

Results
18:04 (5:49 pace)
6th overall of 650
2nd Master 40+*
*Won monthly membership to YMCA.

Splits (not sure if accurate)
Mile 1 – 5:xx
Mile 2 – 5:xx
Mile 3.1 – 6:xx (5:xx pace)

Links
Race website: here
Results: here

Race Report

Coming soon.

RI 6 Hour Ultra

RI 6 Hour Ultra
Warwick, Rhode Island
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Results
6 Hour Timed Event
14 laps completed
37.814 miles / pace 8:45
Time 5:30:37

9th place overall of 80
2nd place Master (AG M40+)

Certified Marathon (split)
3:44:00 (8:32 pace)
Marathon #64

USATF-New England Ultra Championship:
4th Male
2nd Master*
*Hardware: $$ cash!

Splits
Lap 1 – 23:13
Lap 2 – 20:45
Lap 3 – 22:44
Lap 4 – 21:59
Lap 5 – 25:24
Lap 6 – 23:28
Lap 7 – 22:46
Lap 8 – 23:15
Lap 9 – 23:51
Lap 10 – 24:36
Lap 11 – 24:10
Lap 12 – 25:08
Lap 13 – 24:30
Lap 14 – 24:48

Links
Race Website: here
Results: here
Photos: Scott Mason: here

Race Report

Start: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-nXk9MKP/1/M/SDM1152-M.jpg

Solo-Early: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-3zqJrfC/0/M/SDM9737-M.jpg

Doublt-T: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-GpzvRjG/0/M/SDM0249-M.jpg

Still Smiling: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-TptbQDZ/0/M/SDM0256-M.jpg

Doulbe-T-2: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-GPwsCdS/0/M/SDM0689-M.jpg

Gooning Off: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-m2x4fMN/0/M/SDM0696-M.jpg

Double-T Thru Check Point: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-m2x4fMN/0/M/SDM0696-M.jpg

Getting Hard: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-rTPr2N9/0/M/SDM1276-M.jpg

Harder: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-sH65D4Z/0/M/SDM1353-M.jpg

And Harder: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-MMSp3GK/0/M/SDM1355-M.jpg

Mile 37: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING2011/Rhode-Island-6-Hour-2011/RI-6-Hour-Ultra-Runners/i-sH65D4Z/0/M/SDM1353-M.jpg

Luv2Run Brighton 5K

Luv2Run Boston 5K
Brighton, MA
Sunday, November 6, 2011

Results
5K (3.1 miles)
17:57 / pace 5:47
16th place overall of 180
2nd place Master (AG M40+)
Hardware: Luv2Run Pint Glass

Splits
none – no mile markers

Links
Race Website: here
Course Map: here
Results: here
Photos: none

Race Report

In the name of tuning up for an upcoming town Turkey Trot, my wife Heather wanted to line up another 5K, this in addition to the Run For All Ages 5K we did two weeks prior. She figured two or three 5K’s would prep her for a shot at her all-time PR on Thanksgiving Day.

For me, the 5K a few weeks ago showed where I am with regard to short distances. It told me that I am not in PR territory, nor will I probably ever be, but that I was still pretty good. I had hoped to go under 18 minutes that day, and I did. Now, a few weeks later, I knew I’d be locked in around the same time — 18 minutes or under, my line in the sand. The only wildcard was that Heather and I had a party the night before; although the party fell through, I still used it as an opportunity to sample a collection of choice ales, something I knew I would feel the next day.

With a cup of coffee in one hand and the steering wheel in the other, I drove us into Boston for the 10 a.m. start. After warming up a solid 2 miles, complete with many hard and lengthy strides, both into and away from the stiff wind, I was ready. Meanwhile, Heather stayed in the car where it was warm; she was ready, too!

After regrouping, Heather and I talked about how we loved lowkey races like this. Show up, pay a few bucks, no crazy lines for registration or portopotties, friendly local folks. This was downhomey fun.

By then I had already made several friends. Turns out that this race, although small in size at only 180, was stacked deep with fast runners, many of whom were kitted in New Balance Boston gear. I already knew, even before I toed the start line, that I’d be lucky to break Top 10 overall. And so that was my goal: Top 10 overall in a time under 18 minutes.

Back in the pack, Heather thought nothing more than having fun and running hard. Little did she know what kind of race she was in for!

“3… 2… 1… GO!” The race was started.

Off the line I jumped, springing immediately to pace thrusting into one of the first 10 positions in the race. New Balance Boston was, of course, among the 9 ahead. Four of those guys, plus another non-team member, were in a category unto themselves. They filtered behind the Race Director, who led the race by bicycle.

It was quite commical watching the RD on bike trying to stay ahead of the New Balance boys. A quarter mile in, on a slight rise on the bike path on which we ran, the RD pushed down hard on the peddle and shifted at the same time. clunk! Something broke. He quickly pulled to the side of the road while the rest of the field came flying by. “Just follow the New Balance guys,” the Race Director offered in a joking manner.

We didn’t have a choice. New Balance was gone. Three of them would go on to match or do better than 16 minutes flat. A league of their own.

Meanwhile, I lost one, two, three, and more spots. I wasn’t slowing down. But others were now kicking into gear. By a half mile in, nearly all passing was done. We were now locked into position for the remainder of the race.

The course was a single loop entirely along the Charles River in Brighton. Starting in Artesani Park, the course followed a bike path along the river into a stiff head wind, made a right up and over the first bridge and the river, another right back onto the bike path on the other side of the Charles River for a long stretch with the wind at the back. To the next bridge, up and over the river, then right, back on the bike path, into the wind again, another half mile to the finsh.

I was running hard but not feeling all that smooth. I reasoned that it was probably from the beers the night before. Not far behind me, clear out of sight, Heather was feeling good, and she was running hard and fast.

Just before mile 1 I passed a guy on the rise of the bridge over the river. I was somewhere in Top-20; this was not where I wanted to be. Top-10 was the goal, and so after passing I set sights on the group of 6 guys ahead of me.

I spent the remaining time trying, to noavail, to close the gap. Although I closed the gap by a few seconds, the race was too short, and there were too far up, to do any damage.

A weak moment came after crossing the second (and last) bridge. Just over the bridge the course made a hard right into a strong wind. The group ahead of me was now obliterated, strung out in a line. As hard as I tried to get closer to the trailing guy, I felt powerless, not inching any closer nor losing any space. I still did not feel smooth, but I knew I was running as hard as I could. I got back to focus on form and running as fast as I could.

As I rounded the final corner onto the straightaway to the finish, the clock came into view. I was pleased that, although not feeling great, I was again under 18 minutes.

Finish was 17:57, 5:47 pace, the exact same time as the 5K two weeks earlier. This was good for 16th place overall and 2nd Master in the 40 and over class. 2nd place earned me a Luv2Run pint glass.

After finishing, I went back out on the course to cheer Heather in. Heather dreamed of going under 26 minutes. That would be a PR for her. When I saw her come into sight, I looked over my shoulder far back at the clock. It was ticking at 25 minutes. She still had over a minute of running left, so I urged her on by shouting, “Pick it up, girl… you can break 26!” Heather was working hard. She didn’t look at me. But she did pick it up. And she hit the finish line in a victorious effort of 25:51 for an 8:21 pace and a new all-time PR!

Thanksgiving came a little early for Heather. Congratulations, girl… You came into this race with low stress and no expectations. You let the day come to you, ran hard when it felt good and held on when it got tough. You done me proud!