Put down about 50 miles last week. Best weekly total that I have had since getting back into the sport three years ago. Topped the week off Sunday morning by doing a trail run with my buddy Colin down in Kure Beach. We lopped back thru the neighborhood he lives in and beat the bush back to and then across Dow Road; picked up the trails and headed into the wooods back towards the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Varied the pace some, picking it up on some of the "straigher sections" and zipping up and down the small undulations in the terrain.
Found some old cement underpass that we ran thru twice (out and on the way back). Learned something new about trail running, as Colin picked up a fairly large rock and wipped it thru the "tunnel" and yelled several times, to scare off any wild animals that may have been lurking in the dark shadows and damp cool provided inside. Talked afterwards while sitting around the pool about doing speedwork; said its what I need to lower my race times. Had an invitation then Wednesday to meet up with a local high school track team and do 800 meter repeats, but won't be able to attend due to my work schedule.
Took off Monday, much needed day of rest, then got out for a solid eight to nine mile run Tuesday evening. Legs were heavy/ stiff the first few miles but took an easier pace and allowed them to warm up and eventually loosen up. Got into a nice cruise type pace then, ended up putting down a few miles in the state park. Passed a few other runners, as well as people out walking dogs on the numerous winding trails. Said hello to a lasy I know. Had the thought while I passed a grove of trees just off the main entrance road into the park, that a modern day old Buddha was sitting at one of the picnic tables meditating and perhaps blessing all the trees around him.
Ended the run back on the short strecth of boardwalk off the main square in Carolina Beach. Zoned out to the sound of my new running shoes hitting the wooden boards, the calls of a few laughing gulls swooping around, and the sights and sounds of the waves rolling in off the Atlantic ocean and the surf sliding up onto the beach.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Ran in a 5K race last Sunday morning in Kure Beach. Called the Race for the Planet, Seahorse Sprint which began and ended at the North Carolina Aquarium near Fort Fisher. I didn't pre -register, and wasn't sure I was going to run the race until that morning. Was coming off of two or three good weeks of running, and had tapered down the few days preceeding the race in case I did run. That Wednesday I had run my state park loop as I call it between 51-52 minutes, taking the pace hard on the trails in the woods, then followed that up with a steady smooth 8.5-9 mile run Thursday evening. Enjoyed the solitude in the woods, listening to the sounds of nature, and reveling in the fact that I was healthy and free, doing something that I love to do.
Got up early Sunday morning a little before 6am and could feel the competitive juices starting to stir even at that early hour. The morning was mild; the breeze off of the ocean foreshadowed a pleasant morning and ideal conditions to race in. I packed up my gear in a gym bag (running shoes, change of clothes, towel, wallet/ check book to register) and drove out the straight shot down Lake Park Blvd thru Kure Beach, past the historic fort, and down the bucolic winding drive into the Aquarium.
Registered and also got bug sprayed as the noceums were out in full force likely coming out of the swampy vegetation and all of water near the narrow part of the island (hadn't noticed them anywhere else in the area or on the island until then... and there is no way not to "notice" them). Jogged to warm up for about 15 minutes passing several runners, said hey and talked to a friend Sean whom i had run with before a ways back in the state park (and who would win the race in 18:06), then stretched out under some trees by a picnic table, said a prayer, and headed over to the starting area.
Checked some race numbers to see how many people might be running, and saw there'd be a little under 200, not a bad crowd for a first time race. All the competitors gathered around, listened to some instructions and an overview of the course, and then a count down from 10 to 1 commenced.... and we were off.
Got out well but as always conscious not to go out too fast. As the field made its way on out of the aquarium grounds and up to the main road I had settled into what I percived to be a goood race pace @ 1/2 mile in, and was sitting in about eighth to tenth place. Eventually passed a few runners around the mile mark and settled down into fifth place in which I remained the rest of the race... actually got into a little of what I term "no man's land" as no-one was close in front of or behind me. Held a good soild steady pace throughout, my splits were likely pretty even, and brought her home in 19:13 which was the best 5K I had since I've gotten back into racing again last summer and fall.
Ended up winning my age groug 26-35 years old. 5th overall out of 172 runners, felt good about the effort, think i could have gone faster, and will shoot to do so next time I toe the line and race again. For now though it was just nice to be back out racing healthy and fairly strong again. See you all soon, and will be back for what I hope will be the 2nd annual Race for the Planet, SeaHorse Sprint next spring. Was a well organized, fun community minded event which prided itself on being entirely green.
Got up early Sunday morning a little before 6am and could feel the competitive juices starting to stir even at that early hour. The morning was mild; the breeze off of the ocean foreshadowed a pleasant morning and ideal conditions to race in. I packed up my gear in a gym bag (running shoes, change of clothes, towel, wallet/ check book to register) and drove out the straight shot down Lake Park Blvd thru Kure Beach, past the historic fort, and down the bucolic winding drive into the Aquarium.
Registered and also got bug sprayed as the noceums were out in full force likely coming out of the swampy vegetation and all of water near the narrow part of the island (hadn't noticed them anywhere else in the area or on the island until then... and there is no way not to "notice" them). Jogged to warm up for about 15 minutes passing several runners, said hey and talked to a friend Sean whom i had run with before a ways back in the state park (and who would win the race in 18:06), then stretched out under some trees by a picnic table, said a prayer, and headed over to the starting area.
Checked some race numbers to see how many people might be running, and saw there'd be a little under 200, not a bad crowd for a first time race. All the competitors gathered around, listened to some instructions and an overview of the course, and then a count down from 10 to 1 commenced.... and we were off.
Got out well but as always conscious not to go out too fast. As the field made its way on out of the aquarium grounds and up to the main road I had settled into what I percived to be a goood race pace @ 1/2 mile in, and was sitting in about eighth to tenth place. Eventually passed a few runners around the mile mark and settled down into fifth place in which I remained the rest of the race... actually got into a little of what I term "no man's land" as no-one was close in front of or behind me. Held a good soild steady pace throughout, my splits were likely pretty even, and brought her home in 19:13 which was the best 5K I had since I've gotten back into racing again last summer and fall.
Ended up winning my age groug 26-35 years old. 5th overall out of 172 runners, felt good about the effort, think i could have gone faster, and will shoot to do so next time I toe the line and race again. For now though it was just nice to be back out racing healthy and fairly strong again. See you all soon, and will be back for what I hope will be the 2nd annual Race for the Planet, SeaHorse Sprint next spring. Was a well organized, fun community minded event which prided itself on being entirely green.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Out and About- Notes
Ran about forty miles last week which was the best week miles wise I've had in well over a month. Took a long run last Sunday morning, crossed Snow's Cut Bridge and got onto River Road ...ran River all the way up to Cathay Road...Cathay to Carolina Beach Road and down CB Road to Bonaire where I stopped at a friend's house. Run took an hour and thirty four minutes; later I clocked the distance to be about 11.5 miles. Best long run that I have had again in well over a month.
Did a tempo style run Wednesday evening. Picked up the pace pretty hard on the trails in the woods of the State Park for ten to eleven minutes... then again the last 1/2 mile to 3/4 miles snaking back towards the boardwalk and beach. Felt good pushing it, not too hard, but good solid steady exertion. Went today as the evening waned for an easier, smooth 7.5 miles, though my legs were a bit heavy and my hamstrings tighter.
Looking at doing a 5K race down by the Aquarium at Fort Fisher past Kure Beach next Sunday morning (the 19th). Had debated a little about a doing a 5K up near Wilmington last Saturday but decided there was no need to push things and run a race when i was just starting to feel strong again physically, as well as physiologically from the flu enduced layoff. Should be a neat run too down on that part of the island in the middle of springtime, lots of natural scenery.
Did a tempo style run Wednesday evening. Picked up the pace pretty hard on the trails in the woods of the State Park for ten to eleven minutes... then again the last 1/2 mile to 3/4 miles snaking back towards the boardwalk and beach. Felt good pushing it, not too hard, but good solid steady exertion. Went today as the evening waned for an easier, smooth 7.5 miles, though my legs were a bit heavy and my hamstrings tighter.
Looking at doing a 5K race down by the Aquarium at Fort Fisher past Kure Beach next Sunday morning (the 19th). Had debated a little about a doing a 5K up near Wilmington last Saturday but decided there was no need to push things and run a race when i was just starting to feel strong again physically, as well as physiologically from the flu enduced layoff. Should be a neat run too down on that part of the island in the middle of springtime, lots of natural scenery.
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