Very little running this week

Actually, more racing than regular runs and the racing at a slower pace--It is bizarro running week!

Yankee Homecoming 10 78:08:00 7:48:48 28-Jul-09

Glad valley 4.38 32:08:00 7:20:11 30-Jul-09

home 4 miler 4.28 30:38:00 7:09:26 31-Jul-09

The home 4-miler is actually a PR and was done in the rain, though not obsidian-making levels of precipitation.

Oddly, there was torrential rain right before I ran and of course during the time the wife went out for groceries.

An evening in hell

I ran the Yankee Homecoming 10-miler last night. It started at 6:35 PM, but it was still hot and muggy. It was the kind of weather that, even wearing shorts, you sweat while just standing around.

The first couple of miles--from the High School to the waterfront were a mixed bag: I kept the pace under 7:00 per mile but my temperature was climbing at an unsustainable rate. I hit the wall at 3 miles--still right about at 7:00 pace at that point. My legs felt weak, I was out of breath and felt like my brains were boiling. I must have slowed down to 8:00 or higher because I had close to three minutes ahead of an eight minute pace but only ended-up two minutes ahead of that pace by the end. Also, from the three mile point I was pretty constantly getting passed and hardly passing anyone. Between slowing down and the evening cooling, I was not really overheated by mile 6. I probably could have stepped-up the pace to closer to seven minutes per mile and maintained that till the end. Between the heat and fatigue of the first 10K, I just didn't have the will-power to do this.

In the future, when it is hot like this I will pin my number to my shorts and run shirtless. It will be cooler that way and also will save weight. A t-shirt doesn't weigh much dry but when saturated with water it is heavy and uncomfortable.

310 1240 dbp 46 251/762 M 35/123 M4549 CHELMSFORD MA 1:18:08 7:49

Update 2: I never saw cheer-boy among the finishers on the results page.

Photos via Jim Rhoades for cool running

Update: It wasn't all bad. Late in the race I passed a spectator who was smoking a large cigar. I love cigars and would smoke them all the time except that I feel like crap afterwords. I do like the smell of tobacco smoke on a sultry evening but amongst the running set it was probably viewed by most runners as kind of assholian.

After the run we picked-up some beers and went to a fellow runner's house, which was right near to part of the course. Grilled burgers, beer and badinage were the order of the evening.

Little girl who will kill her parents over this someday

Link 

 Kind of slow for the first 20 sec or so, but gets pretty funny.

All Alone

The wife has the kids and a few of her High School friends--plus their kids--down at the pool today.

I am by myself.

With the dog, who crated herself and is napping.

Maybe I'll take her for a walk.

No long run, or any run today: Running a race on Tuesday and need to taper.

Update: Back from our walk. The girl's panting sounds like a steam-locomotive going up a steep grade.