Training Log Archive: Ari-oIn the 7 days ending Nov 9, 2019:
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Saturday Nov 9, 2019 #
9 AM
Rollerski 1:42:47 [1] 14.0 mi (7:20 / mi) +269m 6:56 / mi
CL skiing with juniors. Talked to Barry for much of it. Pointed out that they were already blowing snow out at Wachusett. (It was cold.)
Then realized: wait, wouldn't Wachusett be a perfect place for an Eastern-ish Massachusetts snowmaking course? Closer to Boston than Dublin (1h without traffic), high-ish elevation, existing snowmaking infrastructure, existing lodge, parking, etc. Plus a snowmaking trail could connect to Balance Rock Road, which would then connect to 10+ km of roads which are unplowed in winter and would provide a trail all the way to the summit. Plenty of elevation to homologate a course, probably a good place to move many (all?) Mass Bay West meets, a permanent site for the state meet, and potential venue for larger meets.
A 2.5 km trail would add about 2.5% to the current acreage of Wachusett, so wouldn't require any new infrastructure, so would only require a couple of new guns and some new pipe to serve the trail. Plus trail construction and lighting. But given the proximity to Boston, it would probably get a lot of use from BKL, CSU, high schools, etc. And certainly us master blasters.
I think this works. Google Doc in development … friend from out there has the email for Wachusett's people …
Then realized: wait, wouldn't Wachusett be a perfect place for an Eastern-ish Massachusetts snowmaking course? Closer to Boston than Dublin (1h without traffic), high-ish elevation, existing snowmaking infrastructure, existing lodge, parking, etc. Plus a snowmaking trail could connect to Balance Rock Road, which would then connect to 10+ km of roads which are unplowed in winter and would provide a trail all the way to the summit. Plenty of elevation to homologate a course, probably a good place to move many (all?) Mass Bay West meets, a permanent site for the state meet, and potential venue for larger meets.
A 2.5 km trail would add about 2.5% to the current acreage of Wachusett, so wouldn't require any new infrastructure, so would only require a couple of new guns and some new pipe to serve the trail. Plus trail construction and lighting. But given the proximity to Boston, it would probably get a lot of use from BKL, CSU, high schools, etc. And certainly us master blasters.
I think this works. Google Doc in development … friend from out there has the email for Wachusett's people …
Friday Nov 8, 2019 #
5 PM
Run 26:59 [1] 3.3 mi (8:11 / mi)
Watch has developed a habit of not finding satellites. UI isn't great to tell you this until you start (I think I have it figured out).
I want to create a watch that takes the good parts of a Garmin and the good parts of a Suunto and combines them and actually works.
I want to create a watch that takes the good parts of a Garmin and the good parts of a Suunto and combines them and actually works.
Wednesday Nov 6, 2019 #
4 PM
Rollerski 56:43 [1] 8.3 mi (6:50 / mi) +60m 6:41 / mi
DOMS really not that bad this race. I've been walking okay, going down stairs isn't horrible, and I felt fine getting on rollerskis for DP today. 8 miles on the bike path, which is in really good shape for this time of year: no wet leaves despite rain yesterday. Saw another rollerskier on the roll (but didn't recognize him) and then talked with someone about the Birkie on the T on the way home.
RE: DOMS, this means that I really think better shoes would be better, or at least justifiable. Less DOMS = I was trained better but things still fell apart around mile 22. My legs at age 35 might not be the same as my legs at age 29, running on flats. Plus, in the past five years there seems to have been a move from "we make running shoes so your feet are comfortable and you don't get injured" (not an issue as I have good arches/support/feet) to "we make running shoes to make you fast."
Well, I want to go fast!
RE: DOMS, this means that I really think better shoes would be better, or at least justifiable. Less DOMS = I was trained better but things still fell apart around mile 22. My legs at age 35 might not be the same as my legs at age 29, running on flats. Plus, in the past five years there seems to have been a move from "we make running shoes so your feet are comfortable and you don't get injured" (not an issue as I have good arches/support/feet) to "we make running shoes to make you fast."
Well, I want to go fast!
Sunday Nov 3, 2019 #
9 AM
Run race 3:01:22 [3] 26.2 mi (6:55 / mi) +271m 6:42 / mi
This was an interesting day.
Up early, out the door, down the subway, onto the ferry, onto a bus, down to the start area with plenty of time to spare. Unlike some races (cough Boston cough) they had plenty of port-o-johns, so I was well, uh, evacuated by the start. Everyone but everyone has the new ultra-padded Nike shoes. Expensive? Yes. Probably worth it? I'm thinking so, especially as I get older and brokener. Perfect day. 50, sunny, a bit breezy but not windy.
We were marched up on to the bridge, I ditched my last throwaway item, and we were off. Up at a 6:50 mile, then down at a 6:15, and then settling into 6:31 to 6:47 for the first … half. By my watch, which was faster than the race clocks, but still managed the first half in 1:27:45, which I think is right about where I wanted to be. Not too fast, but not going crazy.
There are two big hills in the second half. Before one, a friend (former college skier) of mine gave me a back split off the USST contingent, who were right behind. The first "hill" was over the 59th Street Bridge. 7:06 up. Fine. Down the bridge, made the sweeping right, and up 1st Avenue. Around 65th Street, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman with short, pink hair. That could only be one person.
"WOO GO US SKI TEAM! GO IDA! GO LIZ! GO KIKKAN."
Liz looked at me and said "who are you?"
I explained. I fist-bumped Kikkan in the middle of the race. I will repeat that for those not paying attention at home. I fist-bumped Kikkan fucking Randall in the middle of a race.
And then I ran with them. They had been running a pretty similar race. A little more conservative at the start (probably a good idea?) but similar 6:35-6:50s. I matched that for about 2.5 miles up the East Side. I was having fun. And then at some point they pulled away, a little. Which was fine, lots of people on the course, and they were running as a pack and I was a bit of an interloper. (Side note, Liz/Ida said at one point "CSU, but do you ski?" OF COURSE I SKI. Why do you think I am so fucking excited about who I am running with? Okay I didn't say the last part, but still. It was quite the experience.)
And then they were a bit further ahead. And a bit further. And I didn't quite have the legs to catch them. I think by this point I was getting dehydrated a bit too. It was sunny and very dry. Cool, so I wasn't overheating, but I wasn't getting enough water. I don't think this helped, as my HR went up a bit as the race went on.
At mile 21 they were out of sight (a minute ahead), I was holding just-over-7s, and still shooting for a PR. I chugged up the hill, saw my family, and turned in to the park. My hope had been to be able to hold the pace, and to have something in the tank to keep going. But a combination of dehydration (I think) and feet and legs (more on that in a second) meant that the wheels started to come off. When I feel like I'm running a 6 minute mile and it's actually 7:25. So not completely off, but enough off I was over the PR and over 3 hours. Still the fastest race in a couple of years, but given the conditions, I was hoping for better.
And as much fun as it was to run with Kikkan Randall for 3 miles, it would have been even more fun to run with them for 10 and cross the finish line with them. And only a little creepy. (I think Liz was confused because who in this race knew random skiers. They were not at all identifiable unless you were looking close.)
Anyway, some observations …
1) Dehydration. Not too much I could have done. I don't think I missed any drink station but didn't start taking double water until about mile 19. I should have done this earlier. Also, anyone running a 3 hour marathon pace should not be allowed to stop and drink water in the middle of the course. I don't think this helped with my legs.
2) Speaking of legs … I've been wearing the same shoes to race in for about 6 years. Flats. Super lightweight. And they've been fine, but two things today changed my mind. The first is that when I took my sock off there was a little blood, and I have never gotten a bloody blister in a race. Ever. But the second is that everyone has the fancy new Nike shoes. And they are supposedly a lot faster. And my friend Jakob's friend describes them as "running, but better." Are they expensive? Yes. Did I drop $295 on the NYC marathon, and is that more than a pair costs? Also yes.
Strava says I have put 600 miles on the New Balance shoes, which I got through November Project in 2013. So they've served me well. But maybe they'll be relegated to a local 5k here and there. Hello, Nike, take all of my money!
3) I kind of wanted to finish between 2:55 and 3:02. <2:55 would mean I'd have to decide, in the next few months, whether to run NYC again (since it would be a guaranteed entry into NY) and it's a lot of money and logistics. Today was a perfect experience. Great weather, crowds. I don't need to do it again. <3:02 is basically a BQ for 2021. Now, if Boston 2020 has the weather we had in NY today: 50, tailwind, dry, and I get new money-shoes, I can go PR like a motherfucker. But if it's 75˚, I can take it easier, and not die.
So, yes, the race was everything I expected except for my finish time. And I wish I could have kept up with Kikkan. But … that's okay.
So then we walked a while, got food and drinks (and I drank all the drank) and then went out on Central Park West. I got a poncho, finally cooling down, and walked over towards the 72nd Street IND station, and a volunteer stopped me.
"Everyone is supposed to walk down to Columbus Circle."
I was not impressed. But also not very mobile. And she was blocking my way. I went a little New York (and yes, dropped some NY accent):
"Why would I walk all the way down to 59th Street just to get to the 8th Avenue Line when there's an IND station I can go to right here?"
(why = whoi, walk = waulk, all = awl, etc)
"Well I guess you just ran 30 miles so who am I to argue" and she stepped out of my way. I was maybe a little ruder than I should have been, but really. 13 blocks at that point was not about to happen.
Then I ate not that much food, and went downtown for a November Project party, and then rode home with my folks. All in all a successful day! (I am not in the hospital, so, that.)
Up early, out the door, down the subway, onto the ferry, onto a bus, down to the start area with plenty of time to spare. Unlike some races (cough Boston cough) they had plenty of port-o-johns, so I was well, uh, evacuated by the start. Everyone but everyone has the new ultra-padded Nike shoes. Expensive? Yes. Probably worth it? I'm thinking so, especially as I get older and brokener. Perfect day. 50, sunny, a bit breezy but not windy.
We were marched up on to the bridge, I ditched my last throwaway item, and we were off. Up at a 6:50 mile, then down at a 6:15, and then settling into 6:31 to 6:47 for the first … half. By my watch, which was faster than the race clocks, but still managed the first half in 1:27:45, which I think is right about where I wanted to be. Not too fast, but not going crazy.
There are two big hills in the second half. Before one, a friend (former college skier) of mine gave me a back split off the USST contingent, who were right behind. The first "hill" was over the 59th Street Bridge. 7:06 up. Fine. Down the bridge, made the sweeping right, and up 1st Avenue. Around 65th Street, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman with short, pink hair. That could only be one person.
"WOO GO US SKI TEAM! GO IDA! GO LIZ! GO KIKKAN."
Liz looked at me and said "who are you?"
I explained. I fist-bumped Kikkan in the middle of the race. I will repeat that for those not paying attention at home. I fist-bumped Kikkan fucking Randall in the middle of a race.
And then I ran with them. They had been running a pretty similar race. A little more conservative at the start (probably a good idea?) but similar 6:35-6:50s. I matched that for about 2.5 miles up the East Side. I was having fun. And then at some point they pulled away, a little. Which was fine, lots of people on the course, and they were running as a pack and I was a bit of an interloper. (Side note, Liz/Ida said at one point "CSU, but do you ski?" OF COURSE I SKI. Why do you think I am so fucking excited about who I am running with? Okay I didn't say the last part, but still. It was quite the experience.)
And then they were a bit further ahead. And a bit further. And I didn't quite have the legs to catch them. I think by this point I was getting dehydrated a bit too. It was sunny and very dry. Cool, so I wasn't overheating, but I wasn't getting enough water. I don't think this helped, as my HR went up a bit as the race went on.
At mile 21 they were out of sight (a minute ahead), I was holding just-over-7s, and still shooting for a PR. I chugged up the hill, saw my family, and turned in to the park. My hope had been to be able to hold the pace, and to have something in the tank to keep going. But a combination of dehydration (I think) and feet and legs (more on that in a second) meant that the wheels started to come off. When I feel like I'm running a 6 minute mile and it's actually 7:25. So not completely off, but enough off I was over the PR and over 3 hours. Still the fastest race in a couple of years, but given the conditions, I was hoping for better.
And as much fun as it was to run with Kikkan Randall for 3 miles, it would have been even more fun to run with them for 10 and cross the finish line with them. And only a little creepy. (I think Liz was confused because who in this race knew random skiers. They were not at all identifiable unless you were looking close.)
Anyway, some observations …
1) Dehydration. Not too much I could have done. I don't think I missed any drink station but didn't start taking double water until about mile 19. I should have done this earlier. Also, anyone running a 3 hour marathon pace should not be allowed to stop and drink water in the middle of the course. I don't think this helped with my legs.
2) Speaking of legs … I've been wearing the same shoes to race in for about 6 years. Flats. Super lightweight. And they've been fine, but two things today changed my mind. The first is that when I took my sock off there was a little blood, and I have never gotten a bloody blister in a race. Ever. But the second is that everyone has the fancy new Nike shoes. And they are supposedly a lot faster. And my friend Jakob's friend describes them as "running, but better." Are they expensive? Yes. Did I drop $295 on the NYC marathon, and is that more than a pair costs? Also yes.
Strava says I have put 600 miles on the New Balance shoes, which I got through November Project in 2013. So they've served me well. But maybe they'll be relegated to a local 5k here and there. Hello, Nike, take all of my money!
3) I kind of wanted to finish between 2:55 and 3:02. <2:55 would mean I'd have to decide, in the next few months, whether to run NYC again (since it would be a guaranteed entry into NY) and it's a lot of money and logistics. Today was a perfect experience. Great weather, crowds. I don't need to do it again. <3:02 is basically a BQ for 2021. Now, if Boston 2020 has the weather we had in NY today: 50, tailwind, dry, and I get new money-shoes, I can go PR like a motherfucker. But if it's 75˚, I can take it easier, and not die.
So, yes, the race was everything I expected except for my finish time. And I wish I could have kept up with Kikkan. But … that's okay.
So then we walked a while, got food and drinks (and I drank all the drank) and then went out on Central Park West. I got a poncho, finally cooling down, and walked over towards the 72nd Street IND station, and a volunteer stopped me.
"Everyone is supposed to walk down to Columbus Circle."
I was not impressed. But also not very mobile. And she was blocking my way. I went a little New York (and yes, dropped some NY accent):
"Why would I walk all the way down to 59th Street just to get to the 8th Avenue Line when there's an IND station I can go to right here?"
(why = whoi, walk = waulk, all = awl, etc)
"Well I guess you just ran 30 miles so who am I to argue" and she stepped out of my way. I was maybe a little ruder than I should have been, but really. 13 blocks at that point was not about to happen.
Then I ate not that much food, and went downtown for a November Project party, and then rode home with my folks. All in all a successful day! (I am not in the hospital, so, that.)