Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Week 11 training report - 7 weeks to go

I took a couple days off to rest during vacation with the family, logging a total of only 55 miles for the week.

  • 2/18, Monday: 10.02 miles
  • 2/19, Tuesday: 11.51 miles
  • 2/20, Wednesday: 0 miles
  • 2/21, Thursday: 10.51 miles + 1.38 x-country skiing 
  • 2/22, Friday: 0 miles
  • 2/23, Saturday: 22.02 miles
The half marathon I was going to run on 2/24 was canceled due to the snow storm.  Next race is Sunday, March 3rd, the regionally famous Stu's 30k race around the Wachussett Reservoir
 

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Publicity for SPEAC fundraising in Hopkinton Crier

Here's a link to the 'Hopkinton Crier' newspaper's runner profile, promoting my fundraising on behalf for SPEAC. 


Week 10 training report - 67.09 miles total for the week:

  • Sunday, February 10: 16.25 miles
  • Monday, February 11: 5.04 miles
  • Tuesday, February 12: 0 miles
  • Wednesday, February 13: 9.65 miles
  • Thursday, February 14: 12.06 miles
  • Friday, February 15: 9.04 miles
  • Saturday, February 16: 15.05 miles

Help me Crush my Boston Marathon Fundraising Goal!



I'm running the Boston Marathon April 15th, 2013 - fundraising for:
Hopkinton's Special Education Advisory Council (SPEAC)

  • SPEAC is 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. 



"SPEAC believes in the importance of each child’s education, striving to continually improve the quality of Hopkinton’s special education programs through a variety of programs, speakers, administration meetings, and community outreach services. We provide resources needed from the preschool age child to the high school graduate and beyond."

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Mapping roads less traveled

With all the snow and ice lately, it's been more important to take a little extra time advance planning each morning's running route.  With snow piled on each side, the roads are narrower, and ice patches still dot some roads more than others. 

So, this morning, instead of just getting out there running and seeing where it goes, I mapped out in advance a nice route that mainly avoided all heavy car traffic.  We still came across some ice patches, but at least my running partner and I didn't have to worry about navigating both ice and passing cars at the same time this morning. 

I'm an early morning runner; I love getting out while it's still dark, and see the sunrise during or at the end of the run. 

Adding darkness to the snow, ice, and traffic factors makes it all the more important to find the right route, preferrably one less traveled by cars.  As courteous as most drivers are, it's just less stressful for everyone to stay off the main roads as much as possible, and wear bright colors and reflective gear.

Here's a map of this morning's 12 mile route, through scenic roads of Hopkinton and Ashland, Massachusetts:


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Half-way through training plan - week 9 report

Today marks the half-way point in my training for the Boston Marathon, fundraising for SPEAC and raising awareness for special education.  The snow storm delayed the normal Saturday run by a day; I completed the week with an early Sunday morning run through Hopkinton streets still patchy with snow and ice, bringing the total to 65 miles for the week:
  • Monday, 2/4: 6.2 miles
  • Tuesday, 2/5: 15.05 miles
  • Wednesday, 2/6: 6.01 miles
  • Thursday, 2/7: 13.01 miles
  • Friday, 2/8: 8.56 miles
  • Saturday, 2/9: 0.00 (lots of snow shoveling)
  • Sunday, 2/10: 16.25 miles, with 12 miles at marathon pace
During the week, I came across this blog post, "It's Ability, Not Disability, that Matters Most," written by a woman reflecting on her differences as a child - and learning to come to terms with her differences as an adult.


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Last run before the snow...

Heard something about a little snow coming in on Friday and Saturday?  I managed to complete a nice 13 mile run early Thursday morning, including some running on trails in Hopkinton State Park

Early Friday morning, I'm planning to meet a friend to run with for 7 miles before the much hyped snow storm hits.

I hope we get a lot of snow.  It should be fun. 

If forecasts are correct, it looks like I'll have to reschedule my Saturday 16 mile run to Sunday. Other than that, not expecting much impact to the training plan.

Here's the route from Thursday morning: 



Monday, February 4, 2013

Boston Training - week 8 report

Ten weeks to go until Boston Marathon.  Logged 62.2 miles during week eight.
  • Monday, 1/29: 6 miles
  • Tuesday, 1/29: 14 miles
  • Wednesday, 1/30: 4 miles
  • Thursday, 1/31: 11.1 miles
  • Friday, 2/1: 6.1 miles
  • Saturday, 2/2: 21 miles
During Saturday's training run, I did something that will be impossible on April 15th when crowds will delineate the course: I took a wrong turn near mile marker 22 of the course.  I finished the planned 20 mile distance run, with the final mile off-course, and fortunately was able to find my way (running) to the true 23 mile mark where I met my running mates.