Memorial Day Weekend Race

I kicked off the Memorial Day weekend this morning with a 5K race. This has become one of my traditions and I have run the Doylestown Red, White and Blue 5K for the past 4 years. This morning's race was even more eventful for me since today is my 58^th birthday! What a great way to kick off the holiday weekend and to celebrate my day.

I finished this morning's race in 24:04. Although not a PR for a 5K race, this was my fastest time for this course and I was more than 2 minutes faster than last year!

Hoping everyone has a safe and healthy holiday weekend!
John

Back in the Groove Again?

The last couple of weeks have been a struggle for me. Feeling frustrated after nearly wiping out on a run and recovering from a strained hamstring, I've been more pre-occupied with feeling how uncomfortable I've been rather than enjoying the sense of euphoria that I am used to experiencing with my runs. This week may have been a turning point for me. After taking a few more rest days than I normally do, I managed to get in a couple of 6 to 6.5 mile easy runs and yesterday, for the first time in more than a month, I returned to interval training on the treadmill and it went well. I am quite happy that this morning I am waking up to little to no discomfort in my right hamstring so I am taking that as good news!

Tomorrow is my 58^th birthday (goodness – how is THAT possible?) and I am scheduled to run the Doylestown Red, White and Blue 5K race which is part of the Bucks 5K Series. This has become an annual Memorial Day Weekend running event for me – the 4^th year that I will be running this particular race. Weather conditions are forecasted to be hot and humid so I am not looking to break any personal records – just looking to have fun and celebrate my birthday with a Memorial Weekend Race!

Happy Trails Everyone,
John

Racing for the Cure

Mother's Day in Philadelphia is celebrated with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – a 5K race that takes you down Benjamin Franklin Parkway, around City Hall, out to the 30^th Street train station and then finishing close to the Art Museum. This year's celebration was marked by mild weather (56 degrees) and partly cloudy skies. I managed to run a sub 25 minute race (24:46 to be exact) which placed me 7^th out of 42 runners in my age group (Male 50-59). I ran the same race last year in 27:19 so I beat last year's time by 2:33. These results are amazingly consistent with my other 5K races this year so I am happy to know that I err on consistency and predictability. Alternatively, I would be very frustrated if I approached each race with uncertainty!

Today was a much appreciated REST day since I included a long run (8.25 miles) in my schedule on Saturday followed by yesterday's 5K. Not to mention the 14 to 16 hours of yard work that I managed to include in my schedule. At least all of my annuals are planted and I was able to trim some shrubs that needed some long overdue attention. All in all, it was a very productive and enjoyable weekend.

Back to business tomorrow morning when I return to the gym to hit the treadmill for my first easy run for the week – targeting 5.25 miles for the morning!

Safe Running Folks!
John

New PR Set for 10 Mile Broad Street Run

To say I am ecstatic would be an understatement for today, I surpassed my expectation. Not only did I set a new PR for the 10 Mile Broad Street Run (1:25:13) – I also beat my best previous time by 10 minutes! I feel like I've entered a whole new level with my running and I am benefiting from my training and my consistency. My speed workouts (intervals) and weekly long runs are definitely contributing to my enhanced performance and my results are proving it.

Year	Time	Pace
2009	1:37:57	9:48
2010	1:35:57	9:36
2011	1:35:54	9:36
2012	1:25:13	8:31

I am the living proof that anybody can do this! Six years ago I was 45 pounds heavier (and overweight) and I never considered myself to be athletic. Now, I am in my 4^th year of running and I am in the best shape of my life – physically and mentally. The medals I collect after finishing these races are visual reminders for me that I can do anything I put my mind to with the right investment of time and effort.

I AM having the time of my life!
John

4th Year on Broad Street

It is 'Broad Street Run Eve' in Philadelphia and I've been reflecting on how I have progressed over the past several years – 3 years, in fact. In 2009, my premier year for the race, I remember being so pre-occupied with doubts. Could I possibly run a distance that I had never run before? What will happen if I get a cramp? Or, far worse, 'What if I hit the wall?'

So here I am, 3 years later with many races behind me (5K's, 10K's, Half Marathons, and 1 Marathon), and I am relishing in my self confidence. Yes, aside from some unforeseen misadventure, I will finish tomorrow's race without cramping and without 'hitting the wall'. What remains to be seen is whether or not I will hit my target time of 1:30:00.
I know I have it in me – I just hope I have it in me tomorrow! In fact, during last week's half marathon race (St. Luke's Half Marathon in Allentown, PA), my 10 mile split was 1:28. I am hoping I will have a repeat performance tomorrow. Broad Street is completely flat but there will be approximately 40,000 runners so I know the first mile or so will be slow because of the crowds. I'll need to focus on when to break out and accelerate to make up for what will surely be some lost time at the start of the race.

But, just as or maybe more important, this is a nostalgic race for me as I will be running through the various neighborhoods of the city that helped shape me into the person I am today. So, even though I am targeting a new PR, I really am looking forward to this race that is very unique to Philadelphia.

Year	Time	Pace
2009	1:37:57	9:48
2010	1:35:57	9:36
2011	1:35:54	9:36

The high temp for race day is forecasted to be 68 degrees. At the start of the race, it is supposed to be partly cloudy and 54 degrees. Can't ask for much more than that!

Happy and Safe Running Folks!
John

Setting Goals

For some time now, I've been casually stating that my 'plan' is to run one full marathon and several half marathons each year. To that end, after running my first marathon in Philadelphia in November 2011, I set my sites on running the Marine Corps Marathon in October of this year. And, I recently committed to somewhat of an aggressive schedule to run a half marathon each month, beginning in June, leading up to the Marine Corps race.

Now, I am beginning to think that I need to really get serious and set some loftier goals. I'm not getting any younger (I'll be 58 on May 26) and I realize that I want to stay in top shape for as long as I am able to do so.

I was reading a recent issue of Runner's World and a photo caught my eye. A smiling young man had just finished a race and he was signalling a 'V' for victory with his fingers. And, his tee-shirt read, "50 State Finishes Today".

The picture of that young man made me think for a moment... What if I set a goal to finish either a half or full marathon in the 48 mainland states by the time I am 65? Hmmm....

Let's see. By the end of this year, I will have finished half marathons in 5 states (Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Illinois, Rhode Island) and marathons in 2 states (Pennsylvania, Virginia). That means I would need to run, on average, 6 races a year over the next 7 years.

Sound crazy? Perhaps. Achievable goal? Very likely.

Stay tuned for more thoughts on how I'd be able to achieve this crazy objective!

John

Back to the Treadmill Today for an Easy Run

It was back to the treadmill early this morning for my first easy (4.5 mile) run following my Half Marathon PR (1:55:38) finish in Allentown, PA last Sunday. My right hamstring is definitely feeling better. I was a little stiff starting out but was in full swing by the time I got up to 1 mile.

I'm traveling for business this week so it will be a week of easy hotel fitness center runs for me. I'll hold off on speed training until I am convinced that my right hammie is fully recovered!

Happy and Safe Running Folks!

John