I've fallen down the "Summer Blog Update Void," along with many others, and it's easy to see why! More time outside, less inclination to sit in front of a computer, yada yada yada...mine is more to do with a loaded work schedule and less running, but that said, here are a few recent highlights:
7/22 - 10 Miles - Barefoot beach run, Misquamicut. Loving the beach runs, as there are zero bugs and it can vary based on the tides! From Weekapaug to Taylor's house and back is exactly 10 miles to the foot, and I love it. It's historically been a progression run for me.
7/27 - 5 Miles - Rainy Bluff Point. I was going to do the usual loop at Bluff, but when I reached the point, something told me I needed to explore the actual coastline, and I had a thoroughly enjoyable run in the rain, on rocks and packed sand, with not a soul in sight! Turned the 3.5 into 5, and I discovered another facet of the Bluff property. Awesome.
***Highlight***
7/29 - 31.1 Miles (50k) - Airline Trail Madness w/Faith and Laura B. So Faith messages me about a long run, asking if I'm up for 20. Sure! It'll be on rail trail, which will simulate the Yeti course, which I need to be doing. The night before, I get a message saying that if we're feeling good, maybe hit a marathon distance? OK.....I know where this is going. The morning of, another message: "Maybe 50k if we feel up to it..." And that's how it happens...so I filled my hydration pack, and my handheld, and stopped at the Voluntown Chucky's convenience store for supplies, which consisted of pickles, 2 Kind bars, a tube of Pringles, some Jacklinks beef/turkey jerky, and a banana. It would be enough, haha...we had a fantastic time doing three out/backs on the trail, used the cars as an aid station, and I was able to change shirts/hats every time, which helps a lot (trust me on that one)! A great day with friends!!!
8/6 - 4 Miles - Run4Kerri road race, Matunuck. My first race ever and 9th year in a row, and favorite race in my schedule, period. I really love this race, which has transcended running (for me, at least) because it embodies everything good about the sport. Family run event, great cause with a history, local highlight every year (drawing new runners and professionals alike), great vibe before and after, lots of friends...it's just awesome. I picked up my race packet on Saturday, spent time chatting with the Bessette family, and dropping off some books for a local charity.
Sunday, I got to Matunuck early, ran into Tommy and we did a short warmup. I met up with TNT runners George and Jodi, and George mentioned he was running with "Team Jodi." Well, I wondered, can I join Team Jodi? And yes I did! And had arguably the most fun I've had at this race ever. We ran, kept Jodi at the pace she was aiming for, talked incessantly (George and I, anyway!), and had a blast! All crossed the line together, and the afterparty at the Mews was just as much fun! A great day as always :)
8/8 - 15 Miles - Bluff Point loops (4), Groton. Really early work day and I wanted some Yeti-type terrain, so Bluff it is! Kept to the regular loop, ran it 4 times with brief stops at the truck for aid station simulation, and there you go. Warm day.
8/12 - 8 Miles - Narragansett Trail out/back w/Jim. I'd decided on a p2p run with Jim, where we'd drop a car at the "official" NT end at Stubtown Road, and run there from the RI/CT border. There's a perfect mix of flat, rooty trail, a short dirt road stretch, and some very technical and hilly stuff in the Long/Ell Pond area. Very humid day, 100% humidity and tropical as fuck...Jim's usually good for 4-5 miles unless I mess up on plotting and lure him into his longest runs ever (which has happened!), so I picked a route that would get him 4, and if I felt good I'd just run back to my truck. Which I did. Great day, awesome run, and I really love bombing down the steep stretches at Long/Ell, so much fun!
8/13 - 4 Miles. Roads! Misquamicut run w/Mike B. First casual road run since Europe. The tide at the beach was ridiculous, and I'd basically given up on a run, but Mike was going for a run on the roads, so why not...it was hot, his jogging pace was my struggling pace, but it was a nice cruiser around Weekapaug, and I called it at 4 miles and settled in under an umbrella on the beach, took a nap and enjoyed the hot Summer day.
8/19 - 10 Miles - Barefoot Beach Progression run, Misquamicut. A shitty work week meant no runs at all. I just can't physically running after some of the shit I've been doing. And I have family visiting so I had prep to do at the house. That aside, I set out at ultra low tide to do the TS10 (Weekapaug to Taylor's house and back is exactly 10 miles) barefoot at a steady pace. Turned into a hot, frying pan progression run, and I dropped a 1:27 for 10 miles, my first sub-1:30 in a couple of years on this route. With shoes on, who knows? But Summer runs on the beach are to be run barefoot, or not at all, right?
8/20 - 21+ Miles - Bluff Point long run w/Faith and Donnie. - So a LSR (long slow run) with Faith and Donnie (training for his first marathon) was on tap, and a cool morning warmed up quickly. Not as hot as yesterday, but enough to let you know it's still Summer. Did three 7 mile loops from Haley Farm to Bluff and back. Donnie had done 10 miles before he met up with us, and joined us for 14 miles for a total of 24. Faith and I had plans to do 25, but tapped at 21+, and called it a day. Good time there, and ran into Josh and Kate, Spyros, and some other really fast dude that Faith knew who coaches college track? Lots of people out running, walking, biking, even horseback riding!
So my Yeti training at this point is pretty much like my training for every other race I've done, which means I run when I can, long or steep when I can (depending on the race), and trust that my love of running and being out there will carry the day! Much time to get ready, and I'll be working it in as I can. The end of September through the end of October for me will be interesting, as it begins with Yeti but doesn't stop there. Details to follow.
