This Week In Running 12/27/20

Total Miles: 20

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

Thursday: 90 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

Wednesday run:

Saturday run:

This Week in Running 12/20/20

 Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 10

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

Sunday run:

This Week in Running 12/13/20

 Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 10

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

I've decided to increase the intensity of some of my runs rather than increasing mileage, since adding miles takes a toll on my arthritic joints. Today I could have gone 5 or 6 miles, instead I ran a hard 4.

This Week in Running 12/6/20

 Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 10

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 11/29/20

 Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 9

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 11/22/20

 Total Mile: 4

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Trak

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 120 min Nordic Track

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

Pulled a calf muscle early last week. The Nordic Track doesn't seem to bother it.  Easy 4 miles on Sunday went OK.

This Week in Running 11/8/20

 Total Miles 17.5

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 8.5

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 10/25/20

 Total Miles: 20

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 12

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

This Week in Running 10/11/20

 Total Miles: 15

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4(including D5K)

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

This Week in Running 9/27/20

Total Miles: 19 

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

This Week in Running 9/20/20

 Total Miles: 22

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

Sunday: 7

This Week in Running 9/13/20

 Total Miles: 22.6

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

Sunday: 7.6

This Week in Running 9/6/20

Total Miles: 22

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Friday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

Sunday: 7

This Week in Running 8/30/20

 Total Miles: 23

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Saturday: 11

Sunday: 8

23 miles is my longest weekly mileage in a long, long time. My joints felt good on Sunday so I kept going after the planned 6.

This Week in Running 8/23/20

 Total Miles: 21

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track

Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track

Friday: 5

Saturday 11

Sunday 5 + 60 min Nordic Track

This Week in Running 8/16/20

   Total Miles: 21

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)

Thursday: Took a day off
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 6

This Week in Running 8/9/20

  Total Miles: 21

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 6

This Week in Running 8/2/20

 Total Miles: 21

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4 (including D5K)
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 6

This Week in Running 7/26/20

Total Miles: 22

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 6

This Week in Running 7/19/20

Total Miles: 21

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 7/12/20

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 45 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 7/5/20

Total Miles: 22

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 12
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 6/28/20

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 6/21/20

Total Miles: 21

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Friday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

On Saturday I left off the Nordic Track and went on my longest run since running the Half Marathon - an 11 miler. I decided to run along the coast up in Newburyport rather than my usual route here in Danvers. The route was the same route I used training for the Wineglass Marathon: Starting at the Marina in Newburyport, out to the end of Plum Island and back.

It was a beautiful day for a run

This Week in Running 6/14/20

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 6/7/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 6

This Week in Running 5/31/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 9
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 5/24/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Friday: 90 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 6

This Week in Running 5/17/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 9
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 5/10/20

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 5/3/20

Total Miles: 18

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 4/26/20

Total Miles: 18

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 4/19/20

Total Miles: 18

Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 4/12/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 10
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 4

This Week in Running 4/5/30

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5
Thursday: 60 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 60 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 60 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 3/29/20

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 30 min Nordic Track
Wednesday: 30 min Nordic Track + 5
Friday: 45 min Nordic Track
Saturday: 45 min Nordic Track + 8
Sunday: 45 min Nordic Track + 5

This Week in Running 3/22/20

Total Miles: 19

Wednesday: 5
Saturday: 8
Sunday: 30 min Nordic Track + 6

Planet Fitness closed last week so I've been searching for an alternative to the elliptical machine I used there. Eventually I pulled the Nordic Track out of the attic. This machine was bought in the '80s and has been in our attic for decades. I pulled it out and within a few minutes was on my way. It didn't require any maintenance or adjusting. This may be the best engineered piece of exercise equipment of all time.

This Week in Running 3/15/20

Total Miles: 17

Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Thursday: 60 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 8
Sunday: 5 (including Pot O Gold 4 miler)

Pot O Gold 4 Miler

Probably the last race I'll be able to run in a while, this race was run last Sunday from Danvers High School. It was a small field (about 75 runners), roughly half the field from the inaugural run last year. I didn't think I'd run fast since the day before I did an hour on the elliptical followed by an 8 mile run, but I surprised myself, putting in 4 sub-8 minute miles.

I actually won 3rd in my age group, which was remarkable as two of the top three finishers were in my age group.

The next race? Who knows? I was planning on running the Binghamton Bridge Run in May, but that race has been postponed to September.

Hampton Half Marathon

The first race of the season is in the books, the Hampton Half Marathon that I ran last Sunday.  I have a knack, it seems for just barely missing running goals. I was hoping to run sub 1:50 and ran 1:50:03.

As I did in the Jingle Bell Half Marathon in December, I didn't look at my watch until the latter part of the race; only in the last mile as a matter of fact. It was clear I would be close to running sub-1:50 and stepped on the gas as best I could, but it wasn't enough. I'm satisfied with the race though, especially when I stepped on the scale later and saw I was close to 200 lbs. I'm actually amazed I could run that fast carrying that much weight.

It was a great day for a race, especially for early March. No ice or snow and the temperature at start was just above freezing, with moderate wind. I knew from the forecast it would warm up considerably so made sure to not overdress, as did many of the other runners (see the picture below). It turns out a long sleeve shirt over a short sleeve was perfect.

It's a great course, mostly flat with some incline in the middle miles, with a lot of miles run right along the coastline.

This Week in Running 3/8/12

Total Miles: 17.6

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Sunday: 13.6 (including Hampton Half Marathon and a warmup)

This Week in Running 3/1/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Friday: 90 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 9
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 6

This Week in Running 2/23/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Thursday: 60 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 9
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 6

This Week in Running 2/16/20

Total Miles: 19

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Friday: 90 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 9
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 6

This Week in Running 2/9/20

Total Miles: 18

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Thursday: 60 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 8
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 6

This Week in Running 2/2/20

Total Miles: 17

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Friday: 90 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 8
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 5

This Week in Running 1/26/20

Total Miles: 17

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4
Thursday: 60 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 8
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 5

This Week in Running 1/19/20

Total Miles: 16

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4 (including D5K)
Friday: 90 min elliptical
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 8
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 4

This Week in Running 1/12/20

Total Miles: 16

Tuesday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical + 4 (including D5K)
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 8
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 4

This Week in Running 1/5/20

Total Miles: 20

Monday: 60 min elliptical
Wednesday: 11 (including Wicked Frosty Four and Hangover Classic 10k)
Saturday: 60 min elliptical + 5
Sunday: 60 min elliptical + 4

North Shore New Years Day Challenge 2020

What I call the "North Shore New Years Day Challenge" is running the Wicked Frosty Four race in Salem at 10:00 AM, then jumping in the car and driving up to Salisbury to run the Hangover Classic 10K at 11:30. It's a tight schedule as it's a 45 minute drive from Salem to Salisbury. The plan is to finish the Frosty Four, keep running right to the strategically parked car, and immediately head off to the 10K.

Today was a nice day for a race. Right around 32 degrees, about as warm as can be expected this time of year, and nicely clear and sunny. There was the inevitable wind on the course, but not as bad as it has been some years.

Last year when I did this I ran the Frosty Four moderately, saving myself for the later 10k. This year I held nothing back on the Frosty Four and had a nice run, with all four miles under 8 minutes:

Finishing the Frosty Four

Following the plan I jumped right into the car and headed north. I made it to Salisbury at 11:15, just right to make it to the start on time - and not stand in the cold wind too long. The wind is always worse in Salisbury than it is in Salem, and it was today. Otherwise, the weather was great.

Sitting in the car for 45 minutes after the Frosty Four, naturally my legs were pretty stiff at the start of the 10k. It took a couple of mile for things to loosen up, but I had a good race and negative split every mile:

The race bib comes with two beer tickets so I had a nice time after the race with some friends from the D5K. I also recognized several other runners who had also run the Frosty Four earlier - I'm not the only one who does this.