Marathon Training Week 2 (And Battle of Stonington!): Week of 8-19 to 8-25

Battle of Stonington week!  I've done this race the last three years.  My results are as follows:

2010 - 103/169, 25:39 @ 8:16
2011 - 102/176, 26:15 @ 8:28
2012 - 92/244, 24:01 @ 7:45

As I'm now on the edge of a sub-7 average pace for a 5K, I'm looking forward to this race.  I did take a pretty good spill running trails yesterday and my knee is hurting a bit (blood and bruises, yo), but I've got PR's to set, dammit!  That, and some kid from Mystic and his friend (who, incidentally, appear to be gearing up for Nipmuck) came out to my town and took my Cossaduck Hill CR by six seconds, so I have to go get that back as well...

This applies to trail obstacles and segment thieves alike...

Side note:  since I seem to be running at Green Falls a LOT lately, I created a segment for the section from the parking area below the dam, to the top of the dam itself...ladies and gents, the CR automatically went to Jonny Miles (with the Gazelle in 2nd), so game on and go get some, it ain't an easy piece of real estate...

Monday, 8-19 - 0 Miles.  Job interview (gasp!) with New Balance... - More to follow if I get the gig...and I needed a zero after this past weekend, and also going into the BOS tomorrow and some solid plans for the latter part of this week....

Tuesday, 8-20 - 5 Miles (Road) - Warmup, cooldown, and the Battle of Stonington 5K.  Results?  Officially 22:02 @ 7:05 pace, 48th of almost 300?  I started my warmup alone, and ended up running into a large chunk of the WTAC crew.  Great turnout by the WTAC, we had 15+ members at the race???

This is the final event in the Borough Fun Run series, and my fourth time running it.  Awesome job by Stephen and Heather Bessette putting on the series, and this race.  Great, flat course, a two loop tour of the Borough.  Chatted with fellow WTAC'ers before the race, and shared a few words with quite a few other runners, some of whom came down to spectate and cheer.  Cool scene we have here!  My nephew Tristan, fresh off his Tough Mudder race, even came down for the BOS and PR'd by 2 seconds...

My race started with me reaching to tap record on my running app, and exiting out of said app right when the gun went off, and trying to get it started again in the first few yards of the race.  Another argument for a Garmin...my splits were close to even, but slightly slower mile over mile?  Definitely felt the added miles from last week, but powered through to a near-PR.  Great results by the crew (PR by Jonny Eckel?), and lots of wine was won by the over 21 crowd!  After a quick cooldown and shirt change, headed over to the "Dog Pound," the back deck at Dogwatch Cafe, and had a drink with the crew.  Great night...love living here :)

Sunset on the docks

The "Dog Pound," packed and enjoying the evening

So a great time had by all...Muddy Puddin' the Segment Thief was absent this evening due to legs trashed from swiping people's CR's, so he missed out on FREE BEER...sorry, dude, and they were handing out nice bottles of wine to the age group winners...hope that Green Falls segment was worth it, sucka!

Wednesday, 8-21 - 3 Miles (Roads) - Warmup, Cooldown to the car, and 1 Mile final Tom McCoy Family Fun Run. - Well?  I made it to several fun runs, and had a great time at each one.  The kids' run, the 1 miler, the 5K, all fun.  Free event in its third decade of existence, and such a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.  A good way to get the community together weekly for something fun and free at the beach in the summer...there should be more events like this, especially for families on a budget!  My opinion, anyway...

Had to park 1/4 mile away and run to the start, then run a quick warmup loop, as I was still sore from last night's activities and wanted to at least give a PR a shot.  This was a 1 mile run to finish out the season, on a flat course, temp 80-ish?  I lined up in the second row and took off tentatively.  Mike B. had a bet going with his son about the run, so of course Conor took off like a shot, with Mike expecting him to burn out 1/2 mile in (he didn't).  I stayed with Mike and knew I was pushing it, but it's only a mile so I knew it wouldn't last long...the last couple turns, Mike found another gear I simply don't have, and with about 100+ yards to go, Muddy sees me and calls out 5:49?  Huh?  I finished well, I think, although Mike's kick was way out of my league.  Officially I was 6:10, my GPS had me at a 6:04 mile average, so I either shaved 42 or 48 seconds off my 1 mile pace...so that's pretty flippin' awesome.  Either way, now I'm wondering how long a distance I could sustain that pace.  1 mile? 2? 5K???  Start at a 7, then hammer the last mile?  Should be fun finding out.  Cue "Chariots of Fire" slo-mo beach scene here...I'll be the dude in the back, dying and trying to keep up with the other guys in the white shirts :)



After the run?  Trophies for the kids and free ice cream gift cards for the kids, provided by our local Cold Stone Creamery.  Great community involvement with this series, and I'm glad to be a part of it.  I'm standing next to FiveK tonight and he says "Best club I've ever been in."  Agreed 100% here. Next event?  The Roger Schonning 5K in Westerly, which should be awesome...

Thursday, 8-22 - 0 Miles - As I'd planned on spending the day with the kids, and running trails Fri.-Sun., I took a zero today.  I did, however, pull the trigger and registered for the 30th Annual Nipmuck Trail Marathon.  This was my first ever marathon last year, and with shitty training and low miles going into it, I finished but not well?  This year, my miles are way up, training is going great, and I have to beat a 6:15.  I think I've got this...and Seth and Jonny are running!  So there's a WTAC contingent headed up...if I could convince a few other trail-centric dudes to fork over 40 bucks, we'd have quite the showing...

Friday, 8-23 - 6.5 Miles (Trail) - Narragansett Trail from Lantern Hill to Wyassup Lake with Jim H.  Technical as it gets...I'd wanted to run the entire section of trail that I manage for the CFPA, as there were two areas that get pretty overgrown pretty fast.  Fortunately the trail's in good shape, and there are only two trees down on the trail that need to be cleared.  I played the role of Spider Man on this trip, and caught many, many webs to the face and torso.  Only ate one, I think.  There's also a new and active beaver lodge above Yawbux Brook (the reason for one of the downed trees)!  No sightings, though...

Foxwoods from atop Lantern Hill...

Jim coming down the "Lemon Squeezer"

Saturday, 8-24 - 31.5 Miles (Bike) - All over the damn place.  Decided to change things up today.  The girls were going shopping, and I convinced them that I'd be a dark, sulky cloud over their heads if they made me go.  Did I also mention I hate shopping?  I really, really do.  So I took the dog for a nice long walk, then saddled up and hit the road.  Went out to Hangman Hill Road toward the village, and look what just opened 1.5 miles from my house:

Can't wait to check this out, it's right up the street!!!

Tried to take all back roads today, and turning onto Anguilla off 184 I came across this, one of the only Avalonia properties I haven't run:

More trail fun!

Continued down to Greenhaven, crossed into Westerly, and turning toward White Rock I run into Gazelle, who's picking his boy up from soccer practice.  Chat for a bit (he and FiveK did a monster ride this morning), then get back underway.  Made my way out to Boombridge, and headed back to the house.  Great ride, and a perfect day for it - 70s, partly cloudy, and a nice cool breeze...

Sunday, 8-25 - 5.5 Miles (Beach) - High tide beach slog, Misquamicut Beach.  I scrapped my long trail run plans and the girls and I hit the beach today.  Upon arrival, Mrs. B. informed me that Mr. B. was already on his way to do the "Swifty Loop," so I waited a bit and headed out.  Soft sand = good workout.  I'll admit that I was hoping to see Mike headed toward me sooner, as the State beach was very crowded, but I kept going until his familiar stride appeared on the horizon.  Good run, given the crowded beach and tide, and perfect weather.  Mike ended up getting his 10 in, I came up well shy of my weekly total, but I'm stoked because I hit several milestones this week:

1.  Battle of Stonington - Shaved 2 minutes off my time from last year;
2.  Fun Run mile - 6:10, or according to Strava, a 6:04, so I shaved 42 to 48 seconds off my 1 mile PR.
3.  31.5 mile bike ride - My longest ride ever, all continuous, and with 1400+ feet of elevation gain.  Stoked.

Pretty damn good highlights for one week!