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So there seems to be a bunch of interest in this blog again. Let's get it going. The account is here, it's still open, let's start posting.
It's going to be tough this year -- my frantic travel schedule and the city I'm in has destroyed my running, and destroyed Nancy's.
There are 8 weeks to go before this race, we'll be fine. We did it last year, we can do it again. Our bodies remember.

I posted this on Ted's Long Distance Trainers blog on Blogger - it's a quick recap of Sugarloaf:

So today I ran in the Sugarloaf Marathon in Carrabassett Valley, ME. I drove up yesterday with Cheryl and S in the Volvo and my Dad chauffered N in his car. Not bad, about 3hrs total driving.

We stayed in a condo just minutes from the base lodge where I received my packet - 41 was my bib and clearly was based upon when I registered back in January, a good 30 lbs heavier I might add. We drove the course after a linguine dinner and it was just as I expected-a two lane highway (Rt. 27) and the start was in Eustis at Cathedral Pines campground, and the entire race was run on that road. The 1st 5 miles were flat, 5-12 rolling hills with a rough one at 7 that must have been a mile in duration, another steep one at 10, then flat through 17 until the hills began again until about mile 24 or so.

The vibe was positive the entire time - my Dad dropped me off at the lodge @ 5:20am for some complimentary Starubucks coffee while I waited for the shuttle to take the rnners to the start. Lots of first time runners interspersed among 10 and 15 time veterans, and they imparted some helpful advice.

My strategy was simple - easy and conservative for the 1st 13 miles so I didn't expend too much energy on the early hills, and then at run the second 13 like it was a brand new race, this one a half marathon. I'd run the back half the way I'd run a ten miler - forget times and just try to catch up to and pass as many people ahead of me as possible to keep a constant sense of urgency. Goal: 3:45.

A local sherriff blasted a .12 gauge and we were off. Perfect weather, perhaps 50 degrees at the start and beautiful blue skies. I was jacked up but really tried to take it easy early on and my first mile was 7:45. I dialed it back even more for the next few miles into the 8:15 range, gave my zip and gloves to Cheryl, and 5 mile mark was around 41 and change.

The hills 5-12 were long but I kept my eyes on the white line as not to become daunted by the ascent, and it really just seemed like a 7 mile upward trudge. Took off my shirt at the beginning for the hills, and the sun felt great. Mile 10 time was 1:26 and change, so basically an 8:40 min mile to that point.

The downhill descent after the last hill was long and fast, and I tried to keep things in check as not to blow out my quads. Once I got to the bottom near the mile 13 marker my second race began, and that is where the fun really began. I just kept telling myself "Nobody ahead of me is as mentally tough as I am" over and over again and as I started overtaking runners the more I believed it.

Cheryl, my Dad and the kids met me every 3 miles or so, but after I passed them around mile 16.5 or so I didn't see them until 22 because Cheryl helped a runner who collapsed and was completely incoherent. She wasn't sure what to do, and was going to drive him to the finish but then just pulled over as he puked his guts out. He could barely speak his name so she just called 911 and they talked her through until the ambulance arrived. Scary stuff.

The hils picked up again at mile 17 and were rolling through 24 - I'd charge downhill and then steam uphill for that stretch. I'm pleased to say only 2 runners passed me from mile 13 through mile 25.

MILE 25 - that is the first time I honestly, truly felt fatigued. I was still strong at 24, but 25 was rough. I lost my 'mental toughness' for a patch and just battled to maintain my composure. I did regain myself but not after about 7-8 runners passed me. When I hit mile 26, I sprinted - sprinted! - the final .2 with such crisp, upright form I felt like Usain Bolt. How ironic that my second wind hit me with .2 left. I had more in the tank, but being my first 26.2, I wanted to make sure I played it smart because the last six was uncharted territory. Final time: 3:39:19.

Finished 110th out of 339 runners, and 15 out of 26 in the 35-39 age category. So overall, I am pleased with my effort and performance. I've been running consistently for about six months now, in some cases in excess of 50 miles/week, and haven't had any blisters/black toes at all - but today I do have a nickel-sized blister on each foot in between my big toe and the ball of my foot. It's a very awkward place because it's not an impact spot, maybe from running downhill?

I would love to do the 100 on 100 - if it does not materialize I do plan on running a marathon late Aug/early Sept to get one more under my belt before NY in November, but the relay in VT sounds incredible so count me in.

Before you read what follows: I'm toying with the idea of doing the same run that I'm about to describe below, again, in two weeks time -- on 5/8 or 5/9. Anybody interested? Run part or run all -- I would *love* the company. I also love the shared experience of running -- the blog is cool, but it needs to start to expand and we need to build up the culture of running even more, and bring the social into it (something I've loved stemming from the Cherry Blossom 10 blog and race). Let me know about 5/8-9. I published this on my other blog first but wanted to keep the CB10 blog moderately alive....

On reflection, my planned 20 miler was pretty darn tricky given that I'd run 5 miles in the previous 2 weeks. Never one to be deterred by such trifles, I proceeded as planned. David C. came down from Maine, I put on a nice spread Friday night, we carbo loaded, chatted for a bit and hit the sack.

We were on the road by 7:50 only 30 minutes late. We strolled to the jump off point and headed out. I started this long run like I do most of them: through the center of town, into Wellesley. Rather than turn around at the bridge or head into Weston, we turned right on Rt. 16 and picked up the Boston Marathon Course. We followed that for the next 7+ miles, through Wellesley Hills, Newton, to Comm Ave and BC.

Let me tell you, the Newton hills are no joke. I've driven Comm Ave dozens of time. I never realized though how high those hills are. Starting at about mile 9 on our run, and 17 on the marathon course, there are three, long hills in a row, culminating at Heartbreak Hill at mile 12/20. Everything was going swimmingly the first 8 miles. I took on the first hill with no problem. My legs swelled on the second and I actually walked a bunch of it, running more as I neared the top -- my first sign that yesterday was going to be tough.

We met our families at mile 10, dropped a layer, chugged some Gatorade and headed off. I ran Heartbreak Hill with little issue, but all respect to the Boston Marathoners who hit that beast at 20... After HBH we turned left at BC and headed down Lake St. and made our way to the Charles River. The long down was nice for the cardio, but murder, I think, for my legs. We wound our way through Brighton a bit to make it to Soldier's Field Road, dodged some traffic, jumped a guard rail and hit the Charles River Trail.

After a hippy, Earth Day, Charles River Cleanup chick nearly took David's eye out with her idiot stick (don't wave around a long wooden pole with a giant spike in it while talking to your helpmates, without paying attention to your surroundings, chuckle-head), we chugged along and met the families at mile 15. By this point, I was done, but I'd committed to the full magilla.

I dropped my water pack and on we went. My left leg -- just my left leg -- went into spasm essentially, it wasn't working like I wanted it to nor needed it to. My right leg felt fine. Well, as fine as screaming shins and calves can actually feel, but my left quad was completely shot. I had some stretches where I was trying to stretch, trying to give it a rest by walking, but I was walking, running walking running (and the left leg is far more sore today than the right). David rolled with me, and was an awesome partner. We chugged along, both of us hurting, but me hurting worse, and finished at the Esplanade, right in front of the Hatch Shell.

The weather was amazing. The familial support astounding. The running buddy fantastic. The muscle fitness not so great. Could the left leg issue be because I push off on it more since it is my dominant leg? I don't know. Anyway, glad I did it, hoping to glean some lessons from it, and use it to my advantage in a few weeks. Consider 5/8 people, consider it....

Ironically, the cherry blossoms were gone. So it was a great race, along a great course. I'm really psyched how well everybody did how much fun we all had working together towards this goal, and have seen, once again the transformative power of running.
Once upon a time we used to gather 'round a keg and get bombed. Now we gather around a race and run hard. So cool, so great. Speaking of transformative, David ran the race of a lifetime yesterday and I've never seen anything like that.
Way to go David, you rocked it, you rolled it, and I'm stoked for you (you also smoked me, and have given me something to shoot for). Nancy, you killed it despite illness and stress, and you did great. I'm really proud of you. Abby you powered through rickety legs, nicely done, and Cheryl you ran despite an injury and a wicked schedule. Lilly, you did great and it was fun to see you -- next time, don't eat the tamale for breakfast on race day. Carolyn, way to go, you got out there and ran despite one of the major, wonderful upheavals of life -- Baby A is adorable -- and you and Dan were awesome hosts. Thank you so much!

Well done, I hope you all still use this blog, it'll stay open and you always have a place to congregate and talk running. See you all in a couple of weeks for the "Boston Running Jamboree."

I'm trying to work my way back here after a major cold/cough that got me down for a full 2 weeks. Finally went out again starting last Sat and did alright, but have had a consistent coughing attack that begins about 2.5 mi out and continues sporadically through the remainder of my run - whatever the distance.

Tough week, another one.

Ran 5+with Child 2 on Saturday. Nice day for a run and was surprised to work in a run on Easter Weekend -- which is really busy since we host. It was fun and he and I chatted the whole way.
I banged out another 5+ today with Child 2. It was fun, but not a great run. It's all about consistency. On it again tomorrow. Mileage is suffering this week. Oh well, there ups and there are downs.

Saw a great article come across Twitter, it's ultramarathon man in condensed form: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/ultraman.html?pg=2&topic=ultraman&topic_set=

See you all Saturday.

My last run before the Cherry Blossom was a 13 mi, all-out dash for a personal best.  I did it in 1:59:05 last Wed, did it in 1:53:17 on Fri, and today did it in 1:50:58 (8:32 min per mile).  That's an eight minute improvement in a week!  So today's run felt wonderful in that contented way - it's difficult to articulate - kind of like a late August day spent at the beach, where time just passes without even knowing it.  It just felt right, natural, calming.  The hills came and went without a struggle, I never really felt the grind of fatigue - a splendid, soul-nourishing run. 

  So now I'm really starting to project what my marathon time will be - I know I can do under 4:00.  Just how far under is the question.  And speaking of marathons, today is the NYC lottery, and for the first time will stream live beginning in about 15 minutes.  Man oh man what I would give to run in that!  Let's hope for my number to be picked!!!!!

Got out this morning for 7.11 - pushed hard and finished in 1:00:17, avg. 8:21 min/mile.  One more 7 mi run tomorrow then I don't run again until the Cherry Blossom.

  Go get 'em, Sakurabana!

  Then where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within.
-Ian Charleson, Chariots of Fire

The Cherry Blossom countdown is on and we are excited.  I started my Week 13 training today with a 7.4 mi run in a tee and shorts and felt terrific.  Did it in 1:05:17, 8:47 per mile.  My goal for the 10 miler is 1:20, which would be 8:00 min miles the whole way.  I want to see if I can do it. 

  As I was finishing my run and clicked stop Cheryl was just about to begin hers, just like we were running a relay.  I love the fact that we've incorporated running into our lives.  It's become part of who we are.

  Ted - the Harvard TKD tournament is Sat 4/24, not Sunday - but I'll do the 20 mi run you plotted out either day.