Don't call it a comeback...

Greetings fellow Earthlings,

Because I have been running a fair amount lately, I thought a blog update might be appropriate. I normally scribble in my miles on my Sock Monkey calendar, but this electronic format might prove to be a good backup.

Since my last post, I had a brief period of easy training over the summer of '09, post-bar exam and pre-work. I had a razzledazzle trail relay race in summer '09 with old high school running warriors that mildly motivated me. It was a nice effort over 5.8 miles (went out sub-6 pace and slowed down). This colorful race also finished by the Crayola crayons factory.

My first year of work was very busy, and the odds of staying at work past midnight far outweighed the odds of getting in any sort of run.

After a smashing wedding over the summer of '10 and a stunning honeymoon in Hawaii, I began to get out my door and jog in Central Park more. Later, watching the NYC Marathon finish in my neighborhood, I was inspired to kick training up a notch (even though world record holder Haile G. dropped out of the race before I got to see him). After a brief setback over the holidays, I started to get my training consistent by the end of January, gradually building up mileage and peppering in workouts.

I'll note that my right achilles is still chronically sore but I am dealing with it. Most of my weekday runs are on the treadmill, because I like to have access to my Blackberry. While I'd like to get myself outside more, the treadmill provides less pounding than the roads. However, I also usually lose a few buckets of sweat at the gym. Especially when I do harder runs, I feel a tinge of guilt for the slob next to me subject to the fine mist of sweat emanating from me like a halo.

Here are some sparse notes from the last few months:

For the week ending:

1/16: 35 miles

1/23: 41 miles

Probably averaging around 7:30 pace.

1/30: 40 miles

2/6: 45 miles

Personal notes--went to dinner at the 21 Club, thought it may have been a bit stuffy. Ordered pork belly and a martini. Apparantly pork belly is very fatty and I had to google how to properly order a martini. We also went to see Lombardi on Broadway and thought it was, in the words of Tony the Tiger, Grrrrrrrrrreat!

2/13: 47 miles

Wed light workout: 4 miles (6:18, 6:09, 6:00, 6:18). Just getting used to sub-7 pace.

2/20: 50 miles

Wed workout: 4 miles (6:40, 6:20, 6:00, 5:50). Sun workout: 5 miles: (6:18, 6, 6, 5:42, 6:30).

2/27: 55 miles

Wed workout: 4 miles (6, 6, 6, 6:17). Sat workout: fartlek in Central Park, 12 X 1 min on/1 min off (37:49 full CP loop).

3/6: 56 miles

Wed workout: 5 miles (6:15, 6:05, 6:00, 5:53, 6:30). Sat workout: fartlek in Central Park, 13 X 1 min on/1 min off (37:35 full CP loop).

Personal notes: we celebrated Butters' birthday on March 1st! Stacy made ridonkulously delicious chocolate cupcakes. Between going out to dinner and baked goods, my belly has still been triumphing in its fight to survive my new workout regiment. We got Butters a toy bird that chirps, but it kind of scares her.

3/13: 61 miles

Wed workout: 6 miles (6:08, 6:03, 6, 5:56, 5:52, 6:30). Sat workout: fartlek in Central Park, 10 X 2 min on/1 min off (37:40 full CP loop). Sun long run: 11 miles.

3/20: 64 miles

Wed workout: 4 miles (6:08, 6:03, 6, 5:52) (had to stop early for work reasons). Sat workout: fartlek in Central Park, 10 X 2 min on/1 min off (37:30 full CP loop). Sun long run: 12 miles (10 miles in middle in 67.5 min on bridle path).

3/27: 64 miles

Wed workout: 6 miles (6:03, 6, 5:56, 5:52, 5:49, 5:46). Sat workout: fartlek in Central Park, 3 X (3 min on/1 off, 2 min on/1 off, 1 min on/1 off) (37:25 full CP loop). Sun long run: 12 miles (10 miles in the milddle in 65:53 on bridle path).

4/3: 66 miles

Wed workout: 7 miles (6, 5:56, 5:52, 5:49, 5:46/9, 5:42/9, 6:00--not sure if treadmill could go faster than 5:49, but I tried). Sat workout: fartlek in Central Park, 15 X 1 min on/1 min off (37:30 full CP loop). Sun long run: 13.5 miles (10 miles in middle in 66:25 on bridle path).

4/10: 57.5 miles

Wed workout: 6 miles (5:56, 5:52, 5:49, 5:46, 5:43, 5:39).

RACE REPORT: Scotland Run 10K. I ran 35:14 for 10K, which is 5:40 pace (race picture at the top of the post). I ran relatively even splits, but the park is hilly and paces fluctuated, for example, based on whether I was huffing up Harlem hill or zooming down Cat hill. This race was packed with people, close to 8,500 honorary Bravehearts finished. I was able to obtain entrance to the first corral with around 750-1000 of my closest friends. After a bangin' bagpipe tune, the race began, but it took around 15 seconds to reach the line, and then I was boxed in by penguins on all sides. In retrospect, maybe I should have shoved my way towards the front earlier, but the restrained start did help keep me under control. Even with a slow first half mile, I hit the 1 mile mark in around 5:40. I moved up on folks until around 3 miles, then found a group to work with over the last half of the course. Even though a few dudes passed me in the last mile, I ended up beating them because I spotted everyone 15 seconds at the start and so my chip time was superior. That humored me. I finished in 61st place and went about a minute faster than I thought I would. It was a nice outing for my first individual race in 5 years.

I took my Scottish flag to the Upper East Side for brunch after the race and later took a nice nap.