Our annual 3-way cross country meet with the local high school teams took place on Thursday. Silas Eastman from Fryeburg Academy ran away with the two mile race, beating Kevin Tilton for the first time (Kevin was not at 100%, but 10:07 would have been tough to beat even if he had been!).
I had my best time on the course at 11:36, although the splits (5:34, 6:02) suggested a relatively poor pacing strategy. I was boxed in early and was actually walking part of the race because of that, and then I spent too much energy trying to catch Peter Haine (11:15, Kennett's top runner). Still, a personal best on the course is always a positive.
Nick had a personal best as well, at 13:28. Although too young to compete for the high school team, he would have been their sixth man. Competing for a spot in the top 7, Alex PR'ed too, at 14:37. Melissa ran with her friend Lea in her best time for two miles (15:35 I think); they both were upstaged by Lea's little sister Hanna, who was 15:17.
The food afterwards was delicious, with Subway subs and a ton of desserts.
The only drawback was the Loco 5k on the track was the same time, so we had to miss that this year, which was unfortunate, because I would rather have had a 5k PR than a two mile PR, since I am in shape to hit one. There's always the next race, though!
===
Darin
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Saunders at Rye Harbor
Nick and I drove to Rye to race a 10k in the 5th Seacoast race. There were 1000 registered runners with no race day registration. They did a good job giving everyone their beer, and the police were on hand to help with traffic.
I got a new GPS watch, and although I watched the videos on how to use it, the enigma of finding the actual stopwatch presented as I was warming up. Fortunately, a woman wearing three watches came by, and correctly judging her to be an expert, I solicited her help. Apparently you have to press and hold... ok, problem solved! Nick and I did a mile warmup dodging traffic on the busy roadway as hundreds of people continued to pour in to tight quarters. A few missed the start, as they were coming up to the start line while we took off the other way.
Nick had his PR, running 45:10. He started in 6:22, which he commented on by saying "oops" in the middle of the race. His closest competitor asked -- Did you just say "oops"? Still, it was a great effort for him as his last 10k was over 50 minutes. His age group (0-39) was a bit wide, I thought, but he still pulled off a T-shirt!
I started too quickly as well, hitting the first mile at 5:43. Fortunately, I did not check the split. I came through the second at 5:59, but then lost Mike G and started looking at my feet for the next two miles, running 6:13/6:14 before getting caught from behind. I woke up and hit 6:02/6:07 for the next two and kicked it in strong (5:04 pace for the last quarter mile) ending up 19th with 37:36. This turns out to be only 5 seconds from my master's PR, done earlier this year at the other Seacoast 10k, Market Square. Considering that I did not feel well for this one, and I was tight as a drum before and after the race, I was happy with my time. Thanks to Donna C for the massage after the race!!
My age division has really beefed up this year, with the masters runners coming on strong. Whereas the last few years I have been often in the top 3 for my age division, this year I was forced out to 8th (12 of the top 25 runners were over age 40!). The good news is that I am still getting faster year over year (last year 38:40 at Saunders) and with all the other older runners out there leading the way, that gives me confidence that it will be at least a few more years before age slows me down.
===
Darin
I got a new GPS watch, and although I watched the videos on how to use it, the enigma of finding the actual stopwatch presented as I was warming up. Fortunately, a woman wearing three watches came by, and correctly judging her to be an expert, I solicited her help. Apparently you have to press and hold... ok, problem solved! Nick and I did a mile warmup dodging traffic on the busy roadway as hundreds of people continued to pour in to tight quarters. A few missed the start, as they were coming up to the start line while we took off the other way.
Nick had his PR, running 45:10. He started in 6:22, which he commented on by saying "oops" in the middle of the race. His closest competitor asked -- Did you just say "oops"? Still, it was a great effort for him as his last 10k was over 50 minutes. His age group (0-39) was a bit wide, I thought, but he still pulled off a T-shirt!
I started too quickly as well, hitting the first mile at 5:43. Fortunately, I did not check the split. I came through the second at 5:59, but then lost Mike G and started looking at my feet for the next two miles, running 6:13/6:14 before getting caught from behind. I woke up and hit 6:02/6:07 for the next two and kicked it in strong (5:04 pace for the last quarter mile) ending up 19th with 37:36. This turns out to be only 5 seconds from my master's PR, done earlier this year at the other Seacoast 10k, Market Square. Considering that I did not feel well for this one, and I was tight as a drum before and after the race, I was happy with my time. Thanks to Donna C for the massage after the race!!
My age division has really beefed up this year, with the masters runners coming on strong. Whereas the last few years I have been often in the top 3 for my age division, this year I was forced out to 8th (12 of the top 25 runners were over age 40!). The good news is that I am still getting faster year over year (last year 38:40 at Saunders) and with all the other older runners out there leading the way, that gives me confidence that it will be at least a few more years before age slows me down.
===
Darin
Monday, August 16, 2010
Cigna disappoints
After a decent race on Tuesday and an easy run on Wednesday, I went with Alex and Nick to Manchester for Cigna, where 5000 or so came together to run or walk.
The long drive didn't help. By the time I got there, I was already half spent. I did a short warmup, and felt pretty bad.
The first mile (5:41) left me just wanting to get it over with. I knew that if I didn't start under 5:30, I would have no chance of a good time, so I spent the next two miles just hanging on. I ended up just over 18:00, breaking my string of the last several Cigna races (from 2005: 18:38, 18:25, 17:55, 17:40). Last year I was injured this week and missed it, so I was hoping to jump righ back in and hit 17:40 or better, but the 17:41 from Tuesday used me up I think.
Nick was disappointed with his time, although he had a good physical effort, and Alex was slower than Tuesday as well. 2-4 races in a week's time was a lot for all of us.
Training on Friday was solid -- 8.5 with Nick in the woods. Saturday we took it easy for just a few, then Sunday 9 with Nick and Frank. Monday is a rest day, and the next race is Thursday (Saunders at Rye Harbor).
====
Darin
The long drive didn't help. By the time I got there, I was already half spent. I did a short warmup, and felt pretty bad.
The first mile (5:41) left me just wanting to get it over with. I knew that if I didn't start under 5:30, I would have no chance of a good time, so I spent the next two miles just hanging on. I ended up just over 18:00, breaking my string of the last several Cigna races (from 2005: 18:38, 18:25, 17:55, 17:40). Last year I was injured this week and missed it, so I was hoping to jump righ back in and hit 17:40 or better, but the 17:41 from Tuesday used me up I think.
Nick was disappointed with his time, although he had a good physical effort, and Alex was slower than Tuesday as well. 2-4 races in a week's time was a lot for all of us.
Training on Friday was solid -- 8.5 with Nick in the woods. Saturday we took it easy for just a few, then Sunday 9 with Nick and Frank. Monday is a rest day, and the next race is Thursday (Saunders at Rye Harbor).
====
Darin
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday's race a warm one
Sunday's 8 mile workout with Frank was a tragedy. Not for the humans, fortunately; but for my GPS watch, which got run over by a car after I left it on the roof of the car to acquire satellites. We changed our venue and I left it on the roof by accident. It fell off just before we got to the parking lot, and by the time I got back to it, it was in dozens of pieces. Very depressing.
Tuesday's road race, held on a very fast course, was a bit challenging due to the relatively warm evening. I didn't sleep well Monday night, and I didn't feel very strong during the warmup, which was 15 minutes with Frank from the finish line back to the start.
The first mile is downhill, and Kevin and Tim went a bit slow, so two others and I stayed pretty close until we turned up the hill into the second mile. I wasn't sure if I went a bit too fast (since they both finished over 1:30 in front of me, I shouldn't be with them at the first mile) but I felt OK and moved into third going up the hill. The rest of the race was cruising, downhill and flat, but I was alone and did not push. My time was a moderate 17:41; my best on that course, in 2008, was 17:20 (I didn't race last year due to injury).
Alex set his PR by a second. Nick and Melissa won their age divisions despite times that were not their best either. The heat affected them as well. At least the ice cream was good! The guys are looking forward to X-C season. Nick might come with me to Cigna tomorrow.
Wednesday was an easy run to shake out the muscles. Thursday is Cigna, a huge race with big prizes for the top runners and great competition. Should be fun!
==
Darin
Tuesday's road race, held on a very fast course, was a bit challenging due to the relatively warm evening. I didn't sleep well Monday night, and I didn't feel very strong during the warmup, which was 15 minutes with Frank from the finish line back to the start.
The first mile is downhill, and Kevin and Tim went a bit slow, so two others and I stayed pretty close until we turned up the hill into the second mile. I wasn't sure if I went a bit too fast (since they both finished over 1:30 in front of me, I shouldn't be with them at the first mile) but I felt OK and moved into third going up the hill. The rest of the race was cruising, downhill and flat, but I was alone and did not push. My time was a moderate 17:41; my best on that course, in 2008, was 17:20 (I didn't race last year due to injury).
Alex set his PR by a second. Nick and Melissa won their age divisions despite times that were not their best either. The heat affected them as well. At least the ice cream was good! The guys are looking forward to X-C season. Nick might come with me to Cigna tomorrow.
Wednesday was an easy run to shake out the muscles. Thursday is Cigna, a huge race with big prizes for the top runners and great competition. Should be fun!
==
Darin
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Vacation runs
I took a few days off from work this week and managed a visit to the seacoast, and a couple of good workouts. A 9+ miler (most miles around 7:30ish) punctuated by a swim in the very cold Atlantic Ocean on Thursday (after a short easy jaunt on Wednesday) was followed by a 3x mile track workout on Friday. 5:29/5:35/5:37 with 4 mins rest and then a swim after in the (comparatively) warm pool. That puts me on target for low 17:20's for 5k, which is a great goal for Cigna.
Inclined situps and pushups with a short cirucuit only once a day on the vacation trip, but I added some swimming to make up for the decreased core training. Four miles walking to the ice cream shop today was not really the workout I had intended, but vacation is vacation.
I am looking forward to racing on Tuesday (local 5k) and Thursday (Cigna) next week.
===
Darin
Inclined situps and pushups with a short cirucuit only once a day on the vacation trip, but I added some swimming to make up for the decreased core training. Four miles walking to the ice cream shop today was not really the workout I had intended, but vacation is vacation.
I am looking forward to racing on Tuesday (local 5k) and Thursday (Cigna) next week.
===
Darin
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Fatigue sets in
Tuesday's Whittaker Woods run was rough; 19:44 after running 19:00 last week. The double race over the weekend and staying up all night working was too much to allow for a fast race. Yesterday was an easy 4 miles, but the core workouts were good, hitting both AM and PM goals.
It's off for a vacation trip tomorrow with no races until next Tuesday, the local 5k that is really only 3 miles, and net downhill (so usually good for a season best!).
===
Darin
It's off for a vacation trip tomorrow with no races until next Tuesday, the local 5k that is really only 3 miles, and net downhill (so usually good for a season best!).
===
Darin
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Starting August with a good one
Today was the York Days 5k, the 4th race in the Seacoast Race Series.
I had a good racing week, doing the Whitaker Woods trail race in 19:00, my all time best on that course, on Tuesday. Thanks to Steve P. for dragging me along (where have you been all summer?)
Alex continued a string of personal bests with a 26:04, and Nick was a few seconds off his PR (22:23) and Melissa still has yet to have a good race, as she really needs someone fast to run with to have a good one.
After taking Wednesday easy and the next two days off, we all trekked up to Lancaster, NH, for the Street Fair 5k.
A few years ago I was the first overall finisher with a 17:55. So when the race started and I found myself in 20th place, I was slightly unnerved. I came through in 5:35 (exactly what I wanted) but the rest probably didn't help as much as some easy running would have. I died after passing a whole bunch of kids, but I did make it to the top 10. Kemp S. (17:44) passed me and dragged me through for a while, and I finished up in 17:54 (which turns out to be my best on this course).
Alex PR'ed again with 23:28, Nick broke 21:00 and Melissa had a much better race, although I didn't get her finishing time (probably 28:00 or so). X-C practice starts in two weeks, so the boys will be "training" for real soon. They will certainly hack off the seconds once they start running regularly.
Coming back for the double today, my hip was pretty sore. I had to get up at 5am to get to the race, and the first step out of bed was almost enough to put me right back into bed. Internal rotation on my fully extended hip and knee reproduced my usual hip pain, and it was sharp! I considered bagging, but grabbed a shower and some tylenol and went ahead with the drive.
Once the race started, I was fine. Well, my hip was fine. I didn't get my mile split on purpose, but after the fact discovered it was 5:35, same as yesterday (GPS watches are cool). By the second mile, I felt horrible, yesterday's race haunting my legs. Somehow I came through 3 miles in 17:25, and posted a 28 second last 0.1 (it's good to have 800m speed) nearly catching Adam M. and Phil E. The 17:53 was my best 5k since the Irish Rover (3/6/10; 17:51), so I am heading the right direction again. Since I felt horrible and doubled back, I am pretty sure I can go faster still.
I finished up 14th, and 5th in the 40's age division. Several good runners in the Seacoast Series just turned 40 this year (like Mike G -- good race!!) so my division just got a lot tougher! Last year, I would have won the age division; this year, I am struggling to stay in the top 5 in my age group for the series.
I will see everyone at Saunders (Nick is coming too -- although he is bummed there is no 12&under division).
This week I will continue to focus on core training (AM and PM pushups/inclined situps/circuit) hit the Tuesday race again (hopefully break 19:00 in the last race of this year's series) and try to catch one 10 miler (probably Wednesday, as the usual Sunday long run was displaced by a second 5k race). The following week includes the Madison 5k, and Cigna on Thursday, which is one of my favorites.
====
Darin
I had a good racing week, doing the Whitaker Woods trail race in 19:00, my all time best on that course, on Tuesday. Thanks to Steve P. for dragging me along (where have you been all summer?)
Alex continued a string of personal bests with a 26:04, and Nick was a few seconds off his PR (22:23) and Melissa still has yet to have a good race, as she really needs someone fast to run with to have a good one.
After taking Wednesday easy and the next two days off, we all trekked up to Lancaster, NH, for the Street Fair 5k.
A few years ago I was the first overall finisher with a 17:55. So when the race started and I found myself in 20th place, I was slightly unnerved. I came through in 5:35 (exactly what I wanted) but the rest probably didn't help as much as some easy running would have. I died after passing a whole bunch of kids, but I did make it to the top 10. Kemp S. (17:44) passed me and dragged me through for a while, and I finished up in 17:54 (which turns out to be my best on this course).
Alex PR'ed again with 23:28, Nick broke 21:00 and Melissa had a much better race, although I didn't get her finishing time (probably 28:00 or so). X-C practice starts in two weeks, so the boys will be "training" for real soon. They will certainly hack off the seconds once they start running regularly.
Coming back for the double today, my hip was pretty sore. I had to get up at 5am to get to the race, and the first step out of bed was almost enough to put me right back into bed. Internal rotation on my fully extended hip and knee reproduced my usual hip pain, and it was sharp! I considered bagging, but grabbed a shower and some tylenol and went ahead with the drive.
Once the race started, I was fine. Well, my hip was fine. I didn't get my mile split on purpose, but after the fact discovered it was 5:35, same as yesterday (GPS watches are cool). By the second mile, I felt horrible, yesterday's race haunting my legs. Somehow I came through 3 miles in 17:25, and posted a 28 second last 0.1 (it's good to have 800m speed) nearly catching Adam M. and Phil E. The 17:53 was my best 5k since the Irish Rover (3/6/10; 17:51), so I am heading the right direction again. Since I felt horrible and doubled back, I am pretty sure I can go faster still.
I finished up 14th, and 5th in the 40's age division. Several good runners in the Seacoast Series just turned 40 this year (like Mike G -- good race!!) so my division just got a lot tougher! Last year, I would have won the age division; this year, I am struggling to stay in the top 5 in my age group for the series.
I will see everyone at Saunders (Nick is coming too -- although he is bummed there is no 12&under division).
This week I will continue to focus on core training (AM and PM pushups/inclined situps/circuit) hit the Tuesday race again (hopefully break 19:00 in the last race of this year's series) and try to catch one 10 miler (probably Wednesday, as the usual Sunday long run was displaced by a second 5k race). The following week includes the Madison 5k, and Cigna on Thursday, which is one of my favorites.
====
Darin
2010 -- Yes! I can run this year!
Not again.
That was my first thought as I made the appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. My mind flashed back to 1994; the 9th annual Christie Clinic 10k. It was the first race I paid for in advance! I had taken the week off prior to the race, as I was having an odd pain in my knees. It was a pain I didn't recognize, but I assumed it was benign and continued running. It had been slowly worsening over many weeks. Running 20 miles with the last 6 at 6:00 pace (with the Chicago marathon in mind) clearly did not help, but probably a week off would be enough.
Alas, it was not. As I tried to do some strides, I found I was unable to run even a few steps without severe pain. It was the kind of pain that you simply cannot run through. So I picked up my T-shirt, cheered on my friends, and went home.
I was not to compete again until 1999. After 3 years of esssentially no running, struggling with such treatments as ultrasound, ice, enough ibuprofen to permanently destroy my stomach, and physical therapy, I got to the point of running 1-2 days a week. I used knee wraps, and I iced after every type of physical activity (very religiously) for the next 9 years. Over time, I was able to slowly move up my training, such that by 2006 I was actually serious about running races. I was approaching 18:00 for 5k, and managed to move up to 30 miles a week.
Last year, my orthopedist friend (Dr. K) came up to me and said "Every time I see you running, you have those stupid wraps on; let's just scope you and figure out what is wrong."
One MRI later, I was pronounced completely healed, and I proceeded to go out that afternoon and run 10 miles. Sure, I was sore, but I had made the final step back to normalcy. I took off my security blanket knee wraps, quit icing after every run, and actually got stronger. The act of sitting on the floor with legs outstretched probably made me tighter; I realized that stretching made more sense than routine icing to prevent injury.
So when my hip started flaring up to the point where it hurt to walk, I was indeed very dismayed. I got an X-ray, and I showed it to another orthopedist (Dr. K was out of town). He announced that I needed surgery -- they would have to break my hip and clean out the joint to fix this problem.
After wrapping my brain around that, making a few calls to orthopedists who did the procedure, and sweating like a Sumo wrestler over a bonfire, I decided to get a second opinion.
After a few curbside consults with Dr. K, I finally broke down and made the appointment for a regular exam. But this pain wasn't as bad. It got better when I ran. It was almost certainly not related to the joint, Dr. K. said, so instead of getting an MRI, I took a week off and continued stretching. Plus, I had used acupuncture in the past, so I gave Kenji a call, and stabbed me full of needles, which helped.
Between the rest, acupuncture, celebrex, and traumeel (homeopathic cream) I actually got better. The pain is still around, I cannot lie on my right side, and after long or challenging runs I am very sore. But the problem seems to be more of a hip flexor injury, which should get better over time. I guess the tennis (which I started playing again this year) probably was responsible. So no tennis until this goes away.
In the meanwhile, it's back to running! I planned on doing lots of races this year (including the Seacoast Series) and hopefully I can report on my progress. Also, I hope to learn about blogging and website design (one can always use another skill set!)
Thanks to Jim and Kevin for putting yourselves out there in the blogosphere and getting me started in this venture!
====
Darin
That was my first thought as I made the appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. My mind flashed back to 1994; the 9th annual Christie Clinic 10k. It was the first race I paid for in advance! I had taken the week off prior to the race, as I was having an odd pain in my knees. It was a pain I didn't recognize, but I assumed it was benign and continued running. It had been slowly worsening over many weeks. Running 20 miles with the last 6 at 6:00 pace (with the Chicago marathon in mind) clearly did not help, but probably a week off would be enough.
Alas, it was not. As I tried to do some strides, I found I was unable to run even a few steps without severe pain. It was the kind of pain that you simply cannot run through. So I picked up my T-shirt, cheered on my friends, and went home.
I was not to compete again until 1999. After 3 years of esssentially no running, struggling with such treatments as ultrasound, ice, enough ibuprofen to permanently destroy my stomach, and physical therapy, I got to the point of running 1-2 days a week. I used knee wraps, and I iced after every type of physical activity (very religiously) for the next 9 years. Over time, I was able to slowly move up my training, such that by 2006 I was actually serious about running races. I was approaching 18:00 for 5k, and managed to move up to 30 miles a week.
Last year, my orthopedist friend (Dr. K) came up to me and said "Every time I see you running, you have those stupid wraps on; let's just scope you and figure out what is wrong."
One MRI later, I was pronounced completely healed, and I proceeded to go out that afternoon and run 10 miles. Sure, I was sore, but I had made the final step back to normalcy. I took off my security blanket knee wraps, quit icing after every run, and actually got stronger. The act of sitting on the floor with legs outstretched probably made me tighter; I realized that stretching made more sense than routine icing to prevent injury.
So when my hip started flaring up to the point where it hurt to walk, I was indeed very dismayed. I got an X-ray, and I showed it to another orthopedist (Dr. K was out of town). He announced that I needed surgery -- they would have to break my hip and clean out the joint to fix this problem.
After wrapping my brain around that, making a few calls to orthopedists who did the procedure, and sweating like a Sumo wrestler over a bonfire, I decided to get a second opinion.
After a few curbside consults with Dr. K, I finally broke down and made the appointment for a regular exam. But this pain wasn't as bad. It got better when I ran. It was almost certainly not related to the joint, Dr. K. said, so instead of getting an MRI, I took a week off and continued stretching. Plus, I had used acupuncture in the past, so I gave Kenji a call, and stabbed me full of needles, which helped.
Between the rest, acupuncture, celebrex, and traumeel (homeopathic cream) I actually got better. The pain is still around, I cannot lie on my right side, and after long or challenging runs I am very sore. But the problem seems to be more of a hip flexor injury, which should get better over time. I guess the tennis (which I started playing again this year) probably was responsible. So no tennis until this goes away.
In the meanwhile, it's back to running! I planned on doing lots of races this year (including the Seacoast Series) and hopefully I can report on my progress. Also, I hope to learn about blogging and website design (one can always use another skill set!)
Thanks to Jim and Kevin for putting yourselves out there in the blogosphere and getting me started in this venture!
====
Darin
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