Did you win? How far is that marathon?

I'm guessing a fairly common question from non-runners as asked of me after answering the question of "what did you do this weekend" and my reply of "completed my 10th marathon in Harrisburg, PA today".

To be continued....

5 weeks & counting.....

until marathon #10 in Harrisburg, PA

Great 8 today in cool temps mixed with sun, clouds & iTunes. Also great that there is no pain in my left calve after pulling it during my 18 mile training run 2 Sundays ago. 9 days not running is an eternity but "listen to your body" is what I did. Looking ahead to the first of two 20 milers this Sunday in the next 3 weeks and the taper that follows....

13 weeks & counting....

NOVEMBER 9, 2008

2:22:26-It is what it is....

The Ragu got me. The weather got me. I got in a 13.1 mile fun run and a great post race beach party....

The Curse of the Ragu

Of course it's pasta for dinner the other night. As I'm walking out of the A&P to the car the plastic handle snaps as the Ragu crashes to the parking lot cement. Did the glass break? Did the glass crack & get in my sauce? Upon careful inspection...no evidence of either.

A short time later....

The jar and other assorted items are sitting quietly on the kitchen table until....the friggin' Ragu jumps off the table...falling in slow motion...towards my bare foot...and HOLY CRAP (among some other expletives) my head starts spinning, the stars start falling... A direct hit 3 feet off the ground on my little toe!! I grab the ice pack out of the freezer & as much as my conscious mind can think, it's got to be broken...how will I run? How will I walk? My race less than 2 weeks away...

Three days later now I can walk without a limp and it's time to attempt a run...a run on the North County Trailway, late in the afternoon on the shaded paved trail....I feel great after 49 minutes....

It won't be a PR but....

it is an incredible, challenging, diverse, scenic course...the Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon on June 22, 2008.

Nothing like a 13.1 mile training run on a new course in a new town. Isn't something new always exciting?

From the start in front of Jennings Beach, a pre-season community of summer homes and under-construction beach side McMansions the course is flat for about 2 miles. Next comes the aptly named streets with hills, some rolling, some more challenging. Sasco Hill Rd. up & then down to Harbor Rd. Harbor Road is a picture postcard of the sound and harbor with stately homes and docked sailboats. Coming onto Pequot Ave. into the historic town of Southport of antiques and the Horseshoe Tavern I knew from my map that I was running with the next challenge was just in front of me. Crossing over the intersection of Route 1 & I-95 bearing onto & up Mill Hill Road, again "hill". Running through first some residential neighborhoods the hill goes on & on & on up into the shaded and wooded Woodland Conservation Area. A short cutover on Morehouse Lane leads to Hulls Farm Road and into a row of horse farms dotting this country road. A long, almost 3 mile stretch leads you down (finally!) along the Mill River back into Southport across Rose Hill Road (yes again 'hill") to a return loop of the views of the sound on Harbor Road and the best downhill of Sasco Hill Road to the flats of the beach area. Of course I took this souvenir shot on the beach 2:20 after I started. Slow & steady... that was me....and strong.