Newton 10K

NAME: Newton 10K for Newton Firefighters Association

DATE: June 8, 2008

LOCATION: Horace Mann School, 368 Watertown St., Newton, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Hot, humid, sunny

RACE:
      Course Difficulty: This was a pretty tough course. It was fairly hilly and it featured a portion of the Boston Marathon course, which we all know is tough.
       Course Appearance: Nice, but nothing special. It ran through some of the back roads, and it also ran along I-90, which of course isn’t the nicest thing in the world.
      Race Organization: Very good organization, with three water/Gatorade stops, I believe two splits, six mile markers, and plenty of directional signs.
      Course Safety: Cops were present at most every intersection, but there were a couple times that the runners had to cross the street and there wasn’t any kind of presence by the cops.
      Support: The volunteers and the already finished racers were good, but other than that, support from bystanders was sparse.
      Recommend: Yes, hopefully, it will be cooler next year, but this was pretty good, especially considering that this was the first time that this event has been held.

RESULT: 34/216 – Third in age group (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: This was the first annual Newton 10K. The cost was $35 when you show up there, and most of the proceeds from the race go directly to the Newton Firefighters Association. Since this is the first annual event, there really isn’t a whole lot to put in this section.

MY EXPERIENCE: I overslept big time today, so I literally got there as they were closing down the registration table, and I believe that I was the last one to register for the race. Basically, my warm up was the jog from the car to the registration table, because as soon as I had my number clipped on, I had to go to the starting line and get ready to race.

Since I was basically the last one to arrive, I politely made my way to the back of the pack. When I pulled into the parking lot, the temperature monitor in my truck read at about 85 degrees, and it felt much worse due to the humidity. The heat would get to me and would only get worse as the race went on. My truck’s thermometer read at 93 degrees when I hopped in after the race.

The race started on time (I think – I was so rushed I couldn’t even tell), but I unfortunately forgot my Nike+ SportBand so I couldn’t check to see whether or not it was calibrated correctly. Oh well, not the end of the world.

This was my first 10K, and my longest race to date, so I needed to be sure that I paced myself, especially since the conditions were so hot. I have never trained in this kind of heat, let alone raced in it. My first mile was about 6:45 – usually I come out at about a 6:15 pace, so I was definitely going slower. I have developed the trend of coming out of the gate hard, and then, after the first mile, setting into a much steadier pace that reflects my overall pace.

Through the first two miles, I was fine. Between miles two and three, I started to slow down, and then, after about mile 3.5, the heat really started to get to me. That combined with the several difficult hills spread throughout the middle of the course wore me down, and I have to imagine that my pace skyrocketed. My calves were sore and cramping, and I was dog tired. Again, I really believe that the intense heat was what really got me. There were several times where I really wanted to stop and walk, but I told myself that I couldn’t – it took all of my mental strength at that point (we’re talking mile 4.5 or so) but I was able to keep myself from walking.

An unfortunate little thing that I have is that negative voice in the back of my head that always tries to rationalize walking, dropping out, not going for a training run, etc. It is very difficult to ignore, and it was at its strongest today. It seems like every time I run, it’s always there for something, and, every time, I have to convince myself to ignore it. I am happy to say that I have been pretty successful so far, but it is just so annoying.

For the most part, the course was pretty good. However, there were several locations that were very difficult not only for me, but I would imagine for all runners. Not every road along the course was closed. So, in order to keep traffic flowing, the police wanted all the runners to remain to the right. This worked pretty well for the most part, however, there were several locations without police presence that the runners that would have to cut across the road to make a left turn. Runners would have to stop traffic themselves and make sure that there was no one else coming before they crossed the street. That would be the one complaint that I have that is of real concern for the race committee to straighten out for next years’ race.

While the heat did get to me as the race progressed, I was able to increase my pace slightly on the final half mile or so towards the finish line. This final push helped me net a 48:09 time, which is a 7:45 pace. While I was hoping for something a little better, I do realize that the combination of this being my longest race and it being about 20 degrees hotter out than my previous temperature high wore me down. On the whole, I have to say that I am pretty happy with the race.

Following the race, there were plenty of refreshments, and sprinkler like thing for runners to cool off, and tents for both City Sports (they were giving away free stuff – that’s where I got the running vest in the picture above) and Marathon Sports Therapy. Like the Baldi River Run, prizes were again very useful, as I got a pint glass as the ‘trophy.’ In addition, runners who placed had a choice between a pizzeria gift certificate, special New Balance socks, and a couple other things. I personally chose the socks since I don’t have a pair of pure running socks yet.

At the end of the day, this was a pretty good race for a first time. The cost of $35 was a little high, and it was in no doubt padded because of the extra prizes available. Personally, I would prefer a lower price and fewer perks (the extra prizes, for example). However, on the whole, this was a pretty good race. For a first time out, I was pleased with the quality of this event. Hopefully, next year, it will be a little cooler.

Foxboro Against Diabetes 5K

NAME: The Foxboro Against Diabetes 5K Run/Walk

DATE: May 31, 2008

LOCATION: The Foxboro Company, 38 Neponset Ave, Foxboro, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Partly sunny, mild, light wind

RACE:
Course Difficulty: A great course for everyone. A loop that is flat and fast.
Course Appearance: A nice course laid out along the back roads of Foxboro.
Race Organization: This was the biggest race I have been to so far, and it was as well run as the Baldi River Run last weekend, meaning that everything was efficient and well done.
Course Safety: Plenty of police presence, I think that three different department were represented. All of the roads that we ran on were closed to through traffic (residents of the streets were allowed to access them).
Support: There were two big pockets of supporters, one at the start/finish and another about halfway through the course. There were also some sprinklings of support throughout the rest of the course.
Recommend: Yes, definitely. An excellent event for a great cause!

RESULT: 44/756 (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: The 8th annual running of the Foxboro Against Diabetes 5K was a huge hit! Located at the Foxboro Company cafeteria, this race aims to raise awareness and raise money to help find a cure for diabetes. The race usually gets a pretty big turnout, and this year was no exception. Every year, the race is run in memory of Shannon E. Hurley, who lost her life to diabetes some 13 years ago. All proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in her name.

MY EXPERIENCE: I was a little nervous about this race, not because of the distance or anything, but simply because I have never participated in a race of this size before. Over 900 runners and walkers registered (756 of whom were runners) and my next closest race in terms of numbers was the Baldi River Run last weekend with 262 runners.

Things didn’t start out so hot when I got there. I had to burn all my cash on gas so I didn’t have enough to get a T-Shirt (they gave away 300 to the first pre-registered) and I was also there late (by my standards) so I didn’t have enough time to really warm up. This unfortunately was one of those races where I didn’t really get to hang around and enjoy the atmosphere of the race. It was really get there, quick warm up, run, go home. They did have an after party at a nearby restaurant (the name escapes me at the moment) but I didn’t have time to join in with the festivities.

While I wasn’t necessarily able to soak everything in, I did notice some very nice touches about the overall setup. First off they had excellent music, which always makes everything better. They were also able to get a Foxboro Fire Department ladder truck to hang a huge American flag over the starting area. It was really cool for the horn to go off and then run under the flag maybe 500 ft. down the starting stretch. They also had balloons stretching in an arc over the finish line.

The start of the race was a little tough for me. Because I had gotten there a little late (I had to pick my car up at the shop) I had to do a very much abbreviated warm up routine. When the horn sounded and I started running, I immediately felt my calves and my hamstrings tighten. I slowed up a tad to try and let them catch up, and eventually my hamstrings did, but my calves were a nuisance the entire race. I did my best to try and ignore them, and it worked pretty well, until the last half mile (roughly guessing here) stretch. This is where I would usually try and use an extra burst of energy to try and finish off the race at a faster pace, but my calves immediately tightened as soon as I tried it.

The first mile was excellent for me, as I passed the split in about 6:15. Since it was a shorter race than I have been running recently, I felt like I could really try and push it without having to worry so much about maintaining a solid pace throughout the race. The course was pretty flat, so I was able to maintain a relatively quick pace (for me, anyways) and passed the second split in about 6:30 (I think). It was at about this point that we came across a fairly significant patch of spectators that were very supportive, and it gave me a slight boost in energy and it made me forget about those danged calves, even if it was just for a little bit.

My last 1.1 miles was solid. I cannot remember what my watch said for my split, and I am a little too tired to do the math right now (did not sleep well last night at all). All I know is that I crossed the finish line in 21:11, good for a 6:50 pace. This was a great race for me to run because it allowed me to see how far I had really come since my first week of running. When compared side by side with the Officer Stewart Savage 5K race that I was in four weeks ago, I have shaved about 19 seconds off of my mile time (I had a 7:09 pace that race)! It was a great feeling to see such improvement!

I hung around for the awards ceremony. While it was my first week not receiving any kind of award, I didn’t really care. I had run a good race and I was benefiting a great cause while I was at it. At the end of the day. I have to give this race two big thumbs up. It was well organized, had a nice course, and the people were friendly there as well. I definitely recommend this race to anybody. No matter what your age or ability you can enjoy this race! I will be back next year (I hope)!

Baldi River Run – May 25, 2008

NAME: Baldi River Run & Fitness Walk

DATE: May 25, 2008

LOCATION: Start and end outside Garibaldi Club; 86 Washington St., Haverhill, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Sunny, warm, breezy

RACE:
      Course Difficulty: A relatively easy, flat, out-and-back course.
       Course Appearance: A scenic route along the Merrimac River that starts and ends in what appeared to be Haverhill center.
       Race Organization: A well organized event. Started on time, and the after race events were very well done.
       Course Safety: Good police presence throughout. Controlled intersections, and there were cop cars leading up front and bringing up the rear as well.
       Support: The walkers, who went ahead, were very supportive. Some spectators scattered throughout the course; a large, very supportive crowd at the finish line.
       Recommend: Absolutely. A fun, well organized event.

RESULT: 34/262 – First in age division (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: A five mile run and fitness walk are the main events for the Memorial Day Weekend celebration. However, the fun doesn’t stop with the race, as there is a great BBQ right afterwards in a nice secluded area by the river. Great music and food along with the awards ceremony highlight the event. All proceeds from the event go to the Eric Steinman Scholarship Fund. It’s a great race that attracts many great runners from MA and NH.

MY EXPERIENCE: After learning that I was not going to be able to do the Run for Dave on Saturday like I had planned, I was a little disappointed going into the weekend. Friday night, I frantically was looking for a race that was simply going to fit my schedule, let alone find one that I thought was going to be a great race. Despite my lack of research and hasty selection, I believe that I hit gold in the Baldi River Run.

A 45 minute drive from my house in Lexington, the Baldi River Run starts just outside the Garibaldi Club on Washington St. in downtown Haverhill. The setting is scenic, as it is right along the Merrimac River and the start and end is situated between a nice sretch of historic brick buildings along Washington St. While it may not be the ‘nicest’ block in the world, the area certainly has what many other areas lack these days: character.

Anyway, the runners go off at 10:30 am. This was a half hour after the walkers, which I initially found interesting, but later realized that it didn’t really matter, considering that the course was an out-and-back style route, meaning we would encounter them at some point no matter what time the gun went off. The start was well organized, and the gun went off on time. The police presence was good, as the shut off the stretch where the start/finish lines were, and they also had plenty of cops along the course to control traffic at intersections.

As mentioned before, the course itself is out-and-back. It is flat and fast right along the Merrimac River. Unfortunately, today was a tad too hot, and there was some wind that was great on the out stretch, but it gave me some problems after we turned around and were then heading into it. Wasn’t a huge issue though, the breeze only came in spurts. Another problem was that my dinner was still sitting in my stomach by the time the race rolled around. This was very annoying since it felt like I was carrying around dead weight. It was more of an annoyance than anything else, and it didn’t seem to have a huge effect on my time.

I passed the first split in about 6:35. The mile splits at miles 2 and 3 I missed, but they had one other split at mile 4, but I cannot remember what it was, I was just focusing on the road ahead at that point. It was something like 27+ minutes, but that’s a rough guess. When I crossed the finish line, I was clocked at 34:48, good for a pace of 6:58. I am definitely happy with this result, as it is the first time that I have officially broken the seven minute mark on one of my races.

Immediately after the race, the cookout started. Burger, dogs, chips, and watermelon were all laid out. There was good music and even some bocce ball going on as well. The location was on a grassy spot overlooking the river. It was a great setting, and both my dad and I agreed that this was definitely the most organized and ‘most fun’ of the four races that I have participated in to date. The awards ceremony took place here as well, and they without a doubt had the best prizes so far as well. A glass beer mug with the race decal on it. Since I’m 18, I won’t be able to put it to good use for another two and a half years, but it is still pretty cool.

On the note of beer mugs, the one concern that I had with the event was that beer was flowing freely and often. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that Michelob was the sponsor of the event, but I am generally not comfortable when I see people start downing beers at 10:30 in the morning. A minor glitch on the face of what truly is a great race.

In short, a great event. A good race accompanied by good fun and good people cannot be beat. If I am home from college at this time next year, I will definitely make my way back up to Haverhill so that I can participate in next years’ Baldi River Run!

Thanks to John O for pointing out some mistakes (start time & number of time splits)!

Race Change

Work can be a pain in the ass sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working where I do and the people there are very nice, but someone has gotten very sick and won’t be able to go in tomorrow. So, guess who is picking up the slack? Yours truly. So, this means that the Run for Dave that I had been looking forward to is now undoable. I simply cannot make the drive there, race, and get back in time to be at work by one in the afternoon (it would be an hour plus drive for me) while maintaining my sanity.

However, all is not lost. There is an equally great race on Sunday that I have chosen to participate in: The Baldi River Run (5 miles) in Haverhill, MA. Boston’s Run to Remember came to mind, but unfortunately, I will end up working late, and I am not sure that I would be able to wake up in time to get to South Boston early enough to register and still put together a good race. The 10 AM start in Haverhill will be much better for me, as it is the same distance and I will be able to snag a couple more hours of sleep.

So in conclusion, I will run the Baldi River Run on Sunday, and not the Run for Dave on Saturday. Oh well, at least I’m still racing this weekend.

Training Log – May 22, 2008

SCHEDULE: Warmup, Run, and Stretch

RUN:
      Length: 3.26 miles
      Time: 24:37
      Pace: 7:32 per mile
      Calories Burned: 499

CONDITIONS: Partly sunny, mild, light breeze

NOTES: A quick run to prepare for the Run for Dave. On the whole, the run was a good one, as my pace was steady and I felt good all around as I was running today. This new dynamic stretching warmup routine is definitely a keeper – I once again felt loose going into my run, as opposed to the first half mile feeling like molasses. I didn’t ever really go all out today, I was just trying to take it easy, but still maintain a solid overall pace.

Another thing that I am very happy with is what appears to be increased flexibility. My muscles have some serious issues with tightness, so this has always been a primary concern of mine. The comprehensive stretching that I now do immediately after my runs seems to be helping out a lot.

One minor concern: there seems to be a little stiffness/soreness in my groin area. This has been nagging me a bit the past couple days. It isn’t anything serious at the moment, but it is nagging and takes a good deal of time to loosen up and get comfortable.

Only one more day until Saturday – in case you haven’t guessed, I LOVE race day!

Training Log – May 21, 2008

SCHEDULE: Warmup, Run, and Stretch

RUN:
      Length: 8.53 miles
       Time:  1:09:02
       Pace: 8:04 per mile
       Calories Burned: 1,294

CONDITIONS: Mild, sunny

NOTES: To start, I thought that I would begin adding a more extensive warm-up into my routine. Prior to today, I would simply begin running at an easy pace and let that loosen my muscles up. Today, I did some dynamic stretching exercises, focusing on quads, hips, hamstrings, etc. This got my legs a little loose and my heart rate up before I started down my driveway. Without question, this is something that I will continue to do. My run simply felt better – my legs didn’t cramp, and that first half-mile was much more enjoyable since I was already warmed up.

As for the run itself, it was definitely a good one. This is my longest run since I started keeping track, and I can say that it went very well. Other than the fairly big climb at the end of the course, I never really slowed down significantly or felt and aches or burning sensations in my legs. Sure they began to get tired after mile four, but it wasn’t painful or distracting. My breathing was better, I had no cramps (one at the very end coming up the hill, but that’s it) and my back never acted up. In short, all of the problems I had yesterday weren’t an issue today. Some of that may have had to do with flatter course that I ran today, but I think that I also chose a better pace and regulated my breathing much better today as well. The one annoying portion of the course was the busy intersections that I had to cross. This was a good route, but I may make some adjustments to try and cut one or more of them out next time around.

A shorter prep run tomorrow and I’ll be ready for the Run for Dave!

Training Log – May 20, 2008

SCHEDULE: Long run and Stretch

RUN:
      Length: 5.67 miles
      Time: 46:49
      Pace: 8:15 per mile
      Calories Burned: 878

CONDITIONS: Cool, sunny, light breeze

NOTES: Overall, a very average run today. There was good, and there was bad as well and when the two cancel each other out, you get an average run. First the bad: My back hurt today. That is never good, obviously because you never want to be hurting, but also it means that I need to be very careful, because my back has caused me to be sidelined for weeks at a time in cases where I didn’t address the problem appropriately. I did some intensive stretching immediately following my run, but it still bothered me a bit at work. It never hurt to the point that I was concerned I might seriously injure myself while running, but it was more of a nagging nuisance that wouldn’t go away. Other bad parts included a slower pace than I was hoping for (the back had something to do with that) and my breathing seemed to be rather poor today. Personally, I think that this is the next big thing I need to tackle: my breathing while running. Just as an example, during the Parker Road Race this past weekend, my breathing style changed at least three or four times. I need to establish the in through the nose, out through the mouth routine that many athletes have down pat.

But it wasn’t all bad. Unlike last Tuesday, I never stopped running. Sure, there were a couple cramps, some tightness and burning and pain, but I pushed through it. On the climbs, my pace slowed down to that of a snail occassionally, but I never stopped and walked. I came close on one or two occassions, but it never happened. I ran/jogged the entire route, and this is definitely a good thing. I can safely say, however, that hills are something that I need to work on, particularly steeper ones. I find the gradual climbs to be OK, but steep hills like the ones I ran on today give me some serious trouble. Something to work on in the future.

So, to recap, despite the fact I wasn’t breathing efficiently, my back was acting up a bit, I was running a very hilly course that was giving me fits, and I was exceptionaly tired, I never stopped running. You can bet the farm that I wanted to (very badly at one point), but I didn’t. Something to build on. Another long run tomorrow (on a flatter course) and a shorter tune up run on Thursday will have me ready for this Saturday and the Run for Dave.

The Parker Road Race – May 18, 2008

NAME: The Parker Road Race & Springfest

DATE: May 18, 2008

LOCATION: Start and end at the FW Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Sunny, mild

RACE: 
      Course Difficulty: Moderate – Hilly course, several gradual climbs and declines
      Course Appearance: Pretty – Goes through the wooded residential sections of Devens
      Race Organization: Good – Well organized and streamlined, awards ceremony could have been a tad smoother
      Course Safety: Excellent – Light traffic, state police in all necessary locations
      Support: Below Average – Sparse support throughout course, solid crowd at the finish line
      Recommend: Yes – A small race (numbers wise) but a good course and a fun time

RESULT: 14/84 – First in age division (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: An all day event that is focused around the 5 Mile road race. Benefiting the FW Parker Charter Essential School, this years proceeds went to the new building fund, as the school is looking to add a new wing on to the school. Three races take place during the event, the Tot Trot, 2 Mile, and the 5 Mile. After the race, you can listen to music, play games, get a massage, participate in raffles, or simply hang out on the lawn during the Springfest. It really is a great time!

MY EXPERIENCE: I can easily say that, as a package, this was the best event that I have been a part of so far. The course was fun and provided a nice challenge for a beginning runner, it was well organized, and the festivities were awesome as well.

My hip was still a little stiff, but it loosened up quickly into the race. My first mile I ran a 6:13 pace, but that quickly fell off. I think that I started off too quickly because each mile was a little longer in terms of my time. However, it still felt good to know that I could actually run a mile that quickly.

The race course was very nice, in my opinion. For the most part, it was gradual rolling hills. There were a handful of brief flat spots, but those were not exactly common. Throughout the course, there were accurate time splits, several water stops, and some ok support (mostly from the volunteers, but that’s ok). The accurate time splits were refreshing after last week, as my overall time was way off last week at the Helen Driscoll Road Race (more on that later).

When I crossed the finish line, I was able to clock a 34:59 total time, good for basically a 7:00 minute mile. For me, I was pleased. First, I placed first in my division (even though there were only three people in my age group), and secondly, it means that I have shaved about 10 seconds off my mile time – and this was on a course almost two miles longer and much hillier than my baseline (the Stewart Savage 5K). I was suspicious of last weeks’ time of 6:33 per mile at the Helen Driscoll Road Race, and this pretty much confirms my hunch that the clock was way off last weekend. I’ll leave the times as is on that page since those are the official results, but keep in mind that those are off.

Unfortunately, I was unable to hang around for the Springfest portion of the event, but it looked like a good time.

Overall, this was a great event. I hope that I am around to do it again next year (I’ll likely be at college), and it was well worth it! I haven’t chosen my race for next weekend (I can’t do Boston’s Run to Remember…sigh), but it’ll likely be a similar distance. On the whole very pleased after this event!

Training Log – May 16, 2008

SCHEDULE: Prep run, stretch

RUN:
      Length: 2.89 miles
      Time: 22:02
      Pace: 7:37 per mile
      Calories Burned: 446

CONDITIONS: Cool, overcast, light breeze

NOTES: Decent run today. The course I ran was pretty hilly, so my pace was a little slower than I would have liked, but it’s not a big deal. These runs are pretty calm and easy for me anyway, I certainly am not trying to break any personal records or anything.

While on the whole the run was good, I was a little concerned about some pain in my back that also traveled down my leg. I tripped yesterday and fell awkwardly on my hip (there is a substantial bruise at the moment), but this was the first time that it displayed any real pain (other than the slight tenderness that comes with bruises). It loosened up after a little while, but the first two thirds of a mile were pretty tough. Hopefully the off-day tomorrow will do it a lot of good.

I am upset with myself that I planned my time so poorly today. I woke up late, so that screwed some things up, but I still should have been able to squeeze in some kind of weight lifting routine. Only one workout this week is very disappointing.

Anyway, can’t wait to get through the off-day Saturday! My training for this week is complete! Next up: The Parker Road Race & Springfest!

Training Log – May 13, 2008

SCHEDULE: Long Run and Stretch.

RUN:
     Length: 5 mi.
      Time: 47 minutes
      Pace: 9:26 per mile
      Calories Burned: 776

CONDITIONS: Some wind, partly sunny

DESCRIPTION: I have always known that water is important. However, today I learned the hard way just how much more important water is than I originally thought. About two miles into my run, everything started. The cramps, tired legs, poor breathing, etc. It was like a chain reaction that I couldn’t stop. Around mile 2.5, I began wondering why was having such bad cramps at this point, when I had just run a 4.2 mile race and had had barely any cramps at all? Then I noticed the dry mouth, chapped lips, etc. My water intake today compared with the average amount of water that I take in during a normal day was definitely lower. I had to cut my run short (I was planning on doing something closer to six miles), and there were several times that I had to stop and walk. This is my first real trial so far in my two weeks of real running. Fortunately, I know what the problem is and it is easily correctible: just drink more water before, during, and after running! I still have two more runs before the Parker Road Race (5 miles) in Devens on Sunday, so hopefully I’ll be able to straighten everything out.