Mixing It Up.

Saturday's 6.2 miler was so refreshing. Kind of like a tall glass of ice cold lemonade on a hot summers day.  Well, maybe not lemonade as I cannot stand the stuff but it sounded good anyway. Why was it so refreshing?  Because it was an outdoor run. Just me and the open road on a cold winters day. Darn that was such a great feeling to pound the pavement again. 

I took my rest day on Sunday to go hiking in the Blue Hills with my son. We had such a good time taking the more rugged red trail up the side of the mountain. It was great that both of us were out getting fit together. Thanks my friend!

My 6.5 mile run yesterday was forced back indoors at the gym.  While I was dreading it at first, I decided to add hill training into again. This really made it much more bearable and something that I'll be thanking myself for come April.

I'm a runner.  This requires both physical and mental strength to get through not only training but races whether they are a 5K or a full marathon. Dreading the gym is a mental thing which I have overcome by mixing it up and adding routines that are going to benefit me in the long run. Yes, I would rather be running in the great outdoors but I have to remember that if I'm given lemons that I should make a tall glass of lemonade to quench my thirst. 

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

I did it.

That's right. I had to do it. I went to the gym yesterday to run on the despised dreadmill of hell. It was horrible, like a bad case of chaffing at mile 20. Unfortunately, I've been out of commission the past week with something resembling the flu, then a bad head cold which turned into an even worse chest cold. I should have bought stock in Kleenex & Mucinex!  I was itching to start running again yesterday since I was finally feeling better. I decided that I should run indoors since it was pretty cold and it was my first run since meeting up with the phlegm monster. I have to say that I have been pretty spoiled by being able to run outdoors for so much time this year. Damn!  I was so done with the gym at mile two.  The hot, smelly & uninspiring surroundings were getting the best of me. I wanted at least 6 though so I decided to alternate in some "heart break hill" training. That is what I needed as I was able to finish with just over 6 miles. Nothing like making a nice clean & dry running shirt a dripping wet mess!  Sweet. 

Open road, here I come.  Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Olympic Skating

Wednesday night's 10.15 mile run (had me feeling a bit like the legendary Olympic skater Scott Hamilton.  The Boston area had been hit with a second bout of snow in as many days on Tuesday and I was hopeful that it would be cleared on my route to and around the Charles River.  It started out pretty clear on the way from South Station towards Downtown Crossing.  Slush, random patches of ice and dogging commuters trying to make their way home was pretty uneventful.  That quickly changed once I arrived at the Esplanade.  Some sections were not bad and allowed me to run at my training pace.  Then, as I approached the Boston University Bridge, I turned from runner to Olympic skating champion Scott Hamilton.  Me, a skater with never having put a pair of blades on in my life!  I had to make sure that my routine would score well with the judges.  I was doing well staying on my feet along a long patch of pathway that clearly had been half-heartedly plowed of the recent frozen precip that had fallen from the sky.  A bit treacherous and a slight heart pounding adventure at times.  As I was approaching the end of the neglected route, I knew that I had to finish big to maximize my routine.  I waited for the exact moment and launched into the pièce de résistance, the Triple Lutz Triple Toe.  Landed it!  10s across the board.  I had done it.  Alright, well I never really did land it but it sure felt like I had.  It was still a good run overall but I had to stick with a slower pace due to all of the ice and snow along the way.  I'll take going slower over having to run on the dreadmill any day.  Hopefully the 50+ degree temperatures over the next couple of days will help melt away what's left on the running paths so that it is a bit safer out there.  

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Brrr...

Yesterday's 6.5 miler training run was COLD!  18 degrees and snow.  It was the first time that I've experienced my eyelids staying locked in position other than that one bout of pink eye that I got from my son (who got it from one of his classmates in elementary school when he was younger- I won't go into detail on that one.  Yuk!).  They were frozen in place which caused me to have to stop and thaw them out.  Pretty cool!  While everyone else was whizzing by in their nice and toasty warm cars, I was defrosting my eyes on the side of the road while the snow was flying and the wind was whipping.  Nice, I am a true runner!

This is the first winter that I've actually run outside and I think that I'm pretty used to it now.  Previously, I would schlep over to the gym and run on the "dreadmill" if one was available.  Otherwise, I would wait around and do weights or use a stepper.  BORING.  The hot, sweaty, smelly gym where hygiene and etiquette seemed to be mysterious concepts for many.  I vowed that I would not have any of that this winter (well until it gets unbearably cold out)!  I found that investing in quality winter running gear makes all the difference when the mercury dips.  Yes, it is cold at first and I find myself continually repeating, "Keith, what the frig are you doing?".  However, I quickly warm-up and the inner runner kicks in.  Cold weather runs can be so invigorating and motivating.  Seriously.

Until next time, as the great band Journey belts out, "Keep on runnin' ".

Accepted.

I am a very lucky runner.  A little background as to why.  I am an avid distance runner (one 5K, one 4 mile bridge race, one 10K, five half marathons, one full marathon and many many training runs this year) and proud member of a running club at work.  After the tragic events of April 15th 2013, I vowed that I wanted to run the 118th Boston marathon in April 2014 to show solidarity in the running community and to be part of the “We are Boston.  We will run.” movement.  That was all dependent on whether I would be able to actually run and complete my first marathon and qualify to run Boston.  I completed my first marathon in October 2013 but did not have a qualifying time for Boston.  I was obviously disappointed but realistically knew that I wasn't going to qualify.  The only remaining option available was to run for a charity.  Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for them, the available charity spots filled-up quickly.  Just when I thought that I would not be able to fulfill my dream, an opportunity to run for an outstanding charity that is near and dear to my heart became available.  I submitted my application and it was accepted.  Yeah!

 

I will be running the Boston marathon April 21st, 2014 supporting the art, music and science programs at the Curley K-8 School which is a Boston Public School located in the heart of Jamaica Plain.  Thank you to Susan Elsbree and the Curley K-8 School for giving me this opportunity.

My fundraising goal for this endeavor is $5,000.  These funds will go a long way in helping the school to continue the great art, music and science programs that benefit all of the deserving students in this academic community.  This is an absolute honor and privilege for me to be able to run in the first Boston marathon since the awful events of April 15th, 2013.  Please consider making a tax deductible donation, whether small, large or someone in between, to the Curley K-8 School.  I am finalizing a donation page and will post information about it as soon as it is ready.