5k to 10k - Week 11

Very good training this week despite the weather being absolutely freezing. Total mileage this week was 25.50, which is the most I've ever run in a week. My long run was actually not as painful this week and I probably could have gone another mile or so but I was cold and ran out of water.

On the subject of water, I found that my water bottle & belt are way too heavy when filled full so I need a better solution to my water issue on long runs. I dropped my bottle in my neighbors yard halfway through my run because it was weighing down my pants, so when I come back to pick it up I see him trying to string it up on the tree. I was like "Oh, that is actually mine. I dropped it on purpose halfway through my run, so if you see it in the future you can just leave it." The best part his response was, "Okay, do you want me to refill it for you if I see it?".

Posting Rights

I was informed that some people tried to leave posts here but couldn't. I have turned on a setting that should let non-Google users post on the blog. Someone please let me know if it works.

5k to 10k - Week 10

This was my first rough week in a while, I only ran 14 miles out of the 24 I was scheduled to run. My long run was brutal this week and was physically painful towards the end. I did post a new long of 8 miles but it was a struggle compared to the 7.5 miles last week.

I am hoping this upcoming week will be better if I can get more runs in. January 1st is fast approaching so I need to decide if I am ready for the Lowell 1st 10k race.

Charities, any ideas?

Not sure how many people are actively following the blog, but I am thinking I may start raising money for a charity for the races I decide to run. I would set something up on the site so you could donate via PayPal or some other method.

If anyone has any ideas for good charities, either local to Massachusetts or another worthy cause let me know.

I am leaning towards smaller charities where the donation will make a bigger impact.

5k to 10k - Week 9

Training continues and each week I realize that running in the winter in New England, regardless of distance, is a feat of strength in and of itself. Despite the cold, I reached the 100 miles run mark in a little under a month a half.

This week my long run was 7.67 miles and the temperature was 27 degrees (22 degrees with the wind chill).

I still need to sign up for the 10k in Lowell on New Year's Day, but I am questioning just how cold it will be and whether or not I am crazy for thinking it.

5k to 10k - Week 8

This week, like last week, was a good week. I ran a total of 22.5 miles this week and am getting closer to the recommended 25-35 miles per week range for peak 10k performance. I have done some additional research and am going to add hill sprints into my training, apparently sprinting uphill on an 8% incline for 20 seconds, 10-15 times is good for building running muscle and preventing injuries from the increased mileage I am running.

It was also my first week doing some of my work out inside in the gym. I gave the elliptical a shot, but I am not too happy with it. For some reason it didn't feel like as good of a work out as running and I still get that weird feeling like you do when you get off roller skates when I get off the machine. I am going to try the treadmill this week since that would also allow me to track my total miles with the Nike+ running app.

2010 Acton Turkey Trot - Results

My 2nd race ever turned out to be even more fun than the first. The weather was crappy but spirits were high and the turnout was good. Although the circumstances were strange, I met one of the Kenyan runners who is a contender for the Boston Marathon. I ran into him in the restroom prior to the race where he was covering himself in Vaseline (not sure why, but I am guessing he wasn't just doing it because his skin was dry).

As for the race, it turned out better than I could have ever expected. I turned in my first sub-30 minute 5k result, over 10 minutes faster than my last 5k just 2 months ago. My official result time was 30:15, but I started my timer right when I crossed the start line and my timer read 29:49.

Onto my next goal, an actual 10k race.