Running again?

Yesterday was 8 weeks since stopping running and I'm tired of being a couch potato and I'm not getting much skiing mileage in so I've decided to start running again. It's amazing how a 3.5 mile run around back cove can result in an achy body! Too. Damn. Old!

Today my son Will and nephew Ben and I did a burn-off-the-beef 5K. Not a race, just a 5K run at easy pace. It took some convincing to get the boys to go with me and nothing could get Tom off his butt. Why do people think a holiday should be a vacation from running? Holidays make the best running days!

Anyway, my plan is to sloooooooowly ramp up the mileage so that I'm in shape for Pineland this year, unlike last year. Then actually marathon train. Not sure I will actually run a fall marathon but I'm going to train as if I will. I'm going to avoid the fast interval stuff and stick to tempos, MP, and progression runs. I'll probably chicken out on the 'thon though. I'm not going to run one until I really feel ready.

V2

Some comments on gait transitions using youtube videos at the FHS blog...

skate skiing is evil

7 weeks ago I stopped running. In that time I've done (in reverse chrono order)
6 weeks ago I ran 7 miles with the TMs on the River Trail and roller skied (skate) three out of 5 days
4 weeks ago I walked about 3 miles flagging a trail and I roller skied again once (skate)
3 weeks ago I walked about 3 miles cutting a trail
2 weeks ago I walked about 5 miles marking Blackstrap Hell and about 7 miles over two days picking up Blackstrap Hell
This past week I ran/walked three different times, between 2 and 4 miles.

That's not much activity for 7 weeks. The skate roller skiing aggravated my butt so I stopped. One of the days that I picked up Blackstrap Hell aggravated my butt. But the run/walking this past week was fine. I really felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Then I skate skied 9 miles yesterday at Pineland. It was great to get out. But within 1-2 hours of finishing, my piriformis was on fire. And it's been on fire all day today. Skating seems to be the absolute worst activity for this injury. This really sucks.

Coach

Now I've done it. I've decided to make it official and co-coach the Falmouth High School Nordic team with James. "Kids, do as I say, not as I do"! Should be fun. Great bunch of kids.

Blackstrap Hell - The Way Running Should Be

click on image to enlarge

Reports: Ryan, Jamie, Ian, Danielle

About the race
Winner: Shaun Durfee (prize)
Fastest Male: Peter Keeney (prize)
Fastest Female: Shauna Baxter (prize)
Best Guess: Ryan Triffit (6 sec difference) (prize)
Most Injured: Susannah Beck (prize to be given next week)
Most Lost: Katy Hazzard (took home the most injured prize)
Most Found: Bob Poirier (no sight of him at start, but he finished!)

Results also at Cool Running.

Finish Order - This is the order of finish. The higher up you are, the better you ran relative to how you ran at Bradbury (or some other race). "Start" is the number of minutes after the first runner that you started. "Finish" is your finish time; the clock started with the first runner. "Net" is your actual race time. "Diff" is the difference between your predicted time and your actual time. Negative is good! Click Image to enlarge.
By time. Results in order of Net time.

Join your local land trust!

Many of the trails that we run are brought to you by non-profit organizations that can use your help. Become a member. Volunteer for trail days. Or join their boards and help protect and build for the future!

Portland Trails
Falmouth Land Trust
Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust
South Portland Land Trust
Cape Elizabeth Land Trust
Scarborough Land Trust
Windham Land Trust
Friends of Bradbury Mountain
Freeport Land Trust
Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust

Did I miss yours?

Blackstrap Hell - Race Home Page

What is it? Blackstrap Hell is a reverse pursuit race. Racers are seeded by predicted time (based on results at Bradbury races, previous hells, Pineland races, and road races if trail race times aren't available). Runners start in reverse order, slowest first, with the goal that all runners will finish at the same time! To win, you've got to have a good race, relative to your expected race.

Why? Because it's there

When is it? Sunday, November 29 at 10AM, snow or shine.

Where is it? Blackstrap Community Forest, Hurricane Road trailhead

How do I find the start after I park? By following this map

What does it cost? A little skin, a little ego, and lots of ATP

What if I feel guilty not paying? Then protect and build more trail by joining your local land trust

Is there a course description? Read about it, or watch it here, or here.

What are the award categories? 1) first across the finish line, 2) fastest man, 3) fastest woman, 4) closest guess

Are there aid stations? There are no aid stations in Hell.

Are there t-shirts? No, this is a free race.

What charity do the proceeds go to? None, see above.

How to do it? RSVP at the Facebook event page or send an e-mail to walker at maine dot edu

Are there results from previous years? Of course

If I don't read your blog, then how do I keep up with local trail running? Follow the Trail Monster Running blog or facebook.