Pumpkins Run Week! Week of 10-14 to 10-20

5K race week, and race #24 for the year?  Looks like a perfect Autumn week ahead, foliage is almost peaking, the air is crisp and cool and feeling good...this weekend is the Run for the Pumpkins 5K, co-sponsored by the WTAC and the Town of Westerly.  Last year I missed this race because I was slogging my way through the Bimbler's race...so this will be an easier weekend, race-wise!

Monday, 10-14 - 9.5 Miles (Roads) - Local roads from the house.  Easy pace, cruising through the 'hood and checking out the Fall scenery.  Love living out here!

Spaulding Pond in Autumn

Tuesday, 10-15 - 5 Miles (Roads) - Westerly/Pawcatuck run.  Dropped off the car for an oil change, and did an easy run, with a fast-ish last 1/2 mile...picture perfect day.  And productive!

Wednesday, 10-16 - 1 Mile Trail Maintenance, 1 hour karate.  I had a good bruising karate class this morning, and before my daughter's soccer game I did a quick trail maintenance sesh on my part of the Narragansett Trail, which I'd run the week before and noticed some minor overgrowths and one small downed tree.  Hikers, no problem, but a trail runner could run into it...

Thursday, 10-17 - 14 Miles (Road) - Marathon training pacing run with Nicole Z., 'Gansett.  Well!  My friend and super-blogger Nicole, who writes the "Running While Mommy" blog  (http://runningwhilemommy.blogspot.com/), is training for her first marathon, and gave a shout out to anyone who'd like to join her for part of her 14-miler today.  I said sure!  Offered to do the whole 14 with her.  So I met her down in Narragansett, and we started at her place (way past NBX bikes), and hoofed it all the way past Monahan's Dock.  Nicole, apparently, is a rock star, as her friends provided a mobile aid station and met us with hydration at miles 7 and 10.  Awesome!  We kept a pace that was slightly faster than she was looking for, and hit 13.1 miles at 10 minutes faster than her Half Marathon PR?  We were able to talk running, motivation, race strategy, etc. and the miles went by quickly.  Great day!

Marathon Prep!  All smiles at halfway, me trying not to drop my drinks :)

Friday and Saturday, 10-18 and 10-19 - 0 Miles - Had a couple great days off hanging with the family, watching my daughter's soccer game, and taking a day trip to Salem, Mass., where the Halloween celebration is in full swing!  Great couple of days, and good weather...

Sunday, 10-20 - 6+ Miles (Roads) - The 11th Annual Run for the Pumpkins 5K, Westerly, RI.  - See separate writeup!