Saturday, December 29, 2012

Boston Marathon training - week 3 report

A sore tendon above my left ankle has left me a little cautious this week. Between that and the holidays, I decided to skip 3 of the 6 scheduled runs this week, pulled out the foam roller SPRI 36 " x 6 " Full Round Foam Roller - FR-366 (Google Affiliate Ad) and spent more time than usual stretching (something I should have been doing more of the past couple weeks):
  • Monday, December 24th: 11 miles
  • Tuesday, December 25th: 0 miles
  • Wednesday, December 26th: 5 miles
  • Thursday, December 27th: 0 miles
  • Friday, December 28th: 0 miles
  • Saturday, December 29th: 15 miles
Concluded the week with the 15 mile run shown in the map below, including exploration of the Upper Charles River Trail system.

For those interested in exploring the Hopkinton side of the Upper Charles Trail, see this notice from the Hopkinton Trails Club:  
  • Sunday, January 6, 1PM: Hughes property hike. This town-owned property is being considered for a portion of the Upper Charles trail route. We'll follow existing trails from Hayden Rowe to Joseph Road and check out the woods in this area. The walk will start at 192 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton.


Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Hopkinton Special Education Advisory Council. Your generosity inspires me. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!


Saturday, December 22, 2012

Boston Marathon Training - Week 2 Report


A successful week 2 of Boston Marathon training concluded with welcome light snow flurries at the end of a 16 mile run this morning. 
  • Monday, December 17: 7.5 miles
  • Tuesday, December 18: 12 miles
  • Wednesday, December 19: 5 miles
  • Thursday, December 20: 9 miles
  • Friday, December 21: 5.13 miles
  • Saturday, December 22: 16.35 miles



Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Hopkinton Special Education Advisory Council. Your generosity inspires me. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Do you run if it rains?

Enjoyed a 12 mile run in the cold pouring rain. Repeating 5 repetitions around the mile loop road would have become visually monotonous, but fortunately it was too dark to see that early in the morning.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Week 1 report

Marathon training went like clock work this week. My runs started between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. each day, totaling 55.1 miles run for the week.
  • Monday: 9.8 miles
  • Tuesday, 11 miles
  • Wednesday, 5.3 miles
  • Thursday, 9 miles
  • Friday, 5 miles
  • Saturday: 15 miles (shown below)


Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Hopkinton Special Education Advisory Council. Your generosity inspires me. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

What is SPEAC? Hopkins Principal Explains

This week's Hopkins School Family Update featured Hopkins School Principal Greg Martineau's comments about SPEAC, reprinted here with his permission:

Each year I like to highlight SPEAC and share a little bit about SPEAC’s goal, mission, and how to join the group.  First, SPEAC is a group of dedicated parent and guardian volunteers who work with the school district to ensure that all children with special needs and learning disabilities are educated effectively.   SPEAC’s mission centers on a belief in the importance of each child’s education and that there’s always room to improve and learn.  To this end, SPEAC works to establish programs, bring in guest speakers, meet and communicate with building and district leaders, and provide community outreach programs.

During my brief  tenure at Hopkins, I have found SPEAC to be an excellent organization, with a wealth of ideas, information, and parenting experience. I’ve appreciated the group’s proactive approach and advocacy for all students.  Now, another great attribute of the group is that it’s an inclusive group; all parents are welcome to join.  In fact on their web site, they write:

SPEAC membership is open to any and all parties.  You do not have to have a child with special needs to join.  If your child, or you know a child who, has trouble reading, understanding math, has a definitive disability or an undiagnosed, but definitive presence of a disability, organizational or attention difficulties, join SPEAC to learn more about these and other areas in the developing child.

I’d encourage you, if you have not already, to take a closer look at SPEAC by visiting their website at http://www.speacofhopkinton.org/home, and signing up for their listserv communications.  Again, it’s another great Hopkinton organization that benefits students and parents.

Respectfully,

Greg Martineau

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Ready, Set, Ready.

Capped off the week with an early morning Saturday half marathon distance run around Hopkinton, Holliston and Ashland.  Ready to start the 18-week training plan for Boston on Monday.




Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Hopkinton Special Education Advisory Council. Your generosity inspires me. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Time to get serious: 18 weeks until marathon weekend

Many runners training for the Boston Marathon follow an 18-week training plan.  Well, 18 weeks starts on Monday December 10th, just a few days away.  As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm following the 18-week plan in Advanced Marathoning By Pfitzinger, Pete/ Douglas, Scott (Google Affiliate Ad)

Last year I followed the same plan, but used the "up to 55 miles per week" version.  This year, I'm stepping it up a bit, and following the 18-week plan that calls for distances ranging from 55 to 70 miles per week.  To prepare, I've been gradually ramping up my weekly running distance to 45 miles per week (today, the weekly tally stands at 36 and I'm planning a 9+ mile run Saturday morning to cap off the week.  Next week will be 55 miles, with daily runs ranging from 5 miles on the low end to a 15 mile long run. 

Now it's going to start to get interesting! Or, as said by Navin Johnson, the character played by Steve Martin in the film comedy, "The Jerk,"  "Things are going to start happening to me now."

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Naked runner reported!

Runners World reports a naked runner in Springfield, MA.  For the record: I am from Springfield, and I am a runner, but I run fully clothed, and my blog clearly proves that I have been running in Hopkinton early in the morning!

Picture of me, Finishing a Run This Morning - in Hopkinton, MA: 


Story About an Elusive Naked Runner - in Springfield, MA: 

http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/naked-runner-reported-springfield-ma

Springfield, Massachusetts (Google Affiliate Ad)

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Special Education. Your generosity inspires me. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

8 mile run

Here's my typical Wednesday morning run, about 8 miles starting at 6 a.m., usually with one or more other runners starting at nearby Collelas, a family owned supermarket.



Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Special Education. Your generosity inspires me. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Why do I run?

Why do I run? I have never been able to craft a one line response, but these comments from New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof come close to what running does for me as well.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to my marathon fundraising for Special Education. I am blown away by your generosity. Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Trails

This run included a mile and a half stretch of traffic free running on the new Legacy Farms Road and cleared rail bed trail from there to Prestwick Drive near the town center.  Wouldn't it be great to advance more pedestrian connections like this where you live? 




Ready to make your end of year tax deductible donation to my marathon charity? Read more and donate on my fundraising page!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

New running shoes: "check"


Invested in new running shoes to start training for 2013 Boston Marathon.  Broke them in at the track Tuesday and 8 mile scenic run this morning.


Ready to make your end of year tax deductible donation to my marathon charity? 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Special Ed Workshop in Ashland 11/27/2012

"Managing the Work of Homework: How Parents Can Develop and Nurture their Children's Executive Functioning Skills" Presented by Carla Brady – Architects For Learning
  • Students can become successful Homework Project Managers by developing and using consistent, self-guided processes that allow homework independent and efficient homework completion.
  • During this presentation we will review one effective model useful for students of all ages.
  • We will also discuss the specific strategies embedded in the model and explore how parents can develop and nurture their children’s executive functioning skills.
  • Tuesday, November 27, 7pm Ashland Middle School, 87 West Union St (rte 135)
For more information, visit www.ASHPAC.org

Monday, November 26, 2012

20 weeks 'til race day

With exactly 20 weeks until Boston Marathon 2013 race day, it's time to start ramping up the training.  I'll be following the 18 week plan in Advanced Marathoning By Pfitzinger, Pete/ Douglas, Scott (Google Affiliate Ad), which starts at 55 miles per week and peaks at 70 miles per week. So far I'm in the 40s per week, and should be back on track this week despite a 2 day training setback after stubbing my toe walking barefoot in the house (a runner's 'no-no').  

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Marathon Entry Confirmation received today




Tuesday morning at the High School track

Invigorating to run on a frost covered track at sunrise, the wind sweeping clouds of frosty mist over the track and field. With the Hopkinton Running Club Tuesday Speed Group.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Carrot Cake for Thanksgiving - free with your donation

My friend Anne bakes an amazingly delicious carrott cake and will bake one for free for your family feast in Hopkinton area if you donate $40.00 to my marathon Special Education fundraising today!  Reply here or contact me for details.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Boston Marathon 2013 Application is Submitted

Dropped off my completed application and entry fee at the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) office today, at 1 Ash Street in Hopkinton.  Looking forward to start my training plan for Boston 2013 in a week or so.  Fundraising for Hopkinton SPEAC is already underway! 
 

Friday, November 9, 2012

I'm Running the Boston Marathon - for SPEAC

I'm running the Boston Marathon in 2013

  • SPEAC a group of dedicated volunteer parents and guardians who work with Hopkinton schools to ensure quality education for children with special needs and learning disabilities



10 x 1000m at the new track by joemarkeygarmin at Garmin Connect - Details

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Self driving vehicles and automated traffic management

This kind of thing just fascinates me from every direction: big data, computing, lean sigma, human change management, disruptive technology, transportation, traffic efficiency, and public policy. Wall Street Journal Special Report on "Innovations in Transportation, September 2012."

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Hopkinton Economic Development Progress Update

In January 2012, the 20/20 Economic Development team, a public private partnership on which I serve, provided a quarterly update to Town Selectmen.

Two areas of interest are opportunities to advance economic growth by building upon
  • existing life sciences industry presence in Hopkinton
  • Hopkinton's reputation as a hub for health, fitness and the marathon starting line.
Here's an article and video from HCAM, the local cable access channel, providing more coverage of 20/20 and economic development in Hopkinton.