June 18 - 4 Miles Ran

One vote for the UB Kids on the Block--that may be enough for the upset victory!

I got out at lunch and ran 4 miles through Glastonbury Center yesterday (Tue).  It was pretty muggy and surprisingly I was still pretty sore from the long run on Sat.  I started off very tight, but loosened up after about 1.5 miles and put in a very fast final mile (6:34/mi).

I completed miles 682-685, with mile 683 sponsored by Robin Wildman.  Thanks Robin!

Today's (Tue's) Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/18

Tu

1:15p

4.0

29:38:00

7:24:30

78f

7

685.0

June 16 - Rest Day; June 17 - You Asked for It (Or Maybe Not)

First, the running.  I had to wait until after 8pm for the skies to clear but with the long days near the summer solstice I was able to get in 4.5 miles before sunset.  I ran the Day Pond route with 3 loops, covering miles 677-681.  The miles were unsponsored but Robin Wildman's mile 683 is just at short jog away.
...................................
Today's (Mon's) Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/17

M

8:20p

4.5

39:05:00

8:41:07

65f

5

681.0

...................................

OK, now for the results of the 48 and 18 or 18 and 48 poll. (see June 15 post).  Drum roll, please.....

<nervously opening envelope...seal broken...eyes on card...looking up even more nervously...and>

Er, no one voted.

I may have confirmed that I am Forrest Gump before the followers joined him.  This raises a philosophical question (which I hope does not become a practical question): "if a Brez falls on a jog and no one is around to hear him, does he make a sound?"

Despite the radio silence, I remain undaunted, both in my running and blogging.  I'm even going to up the ante on the polling questions:

Favorite 80's Boy Band:

New Kids on the Block

versus

UB Kids on the Block

(me and my UB housemates, circa 1985)

June 15 - Blog Poll Question: 18 and 48 or 48 and 18?

I turned 48 today and celebrated with an 18 mile run.  To goad the masses of blog followers out of their recent silence, I ask the following philosophical question: would you rather be 18 years old with 48 miles to run, or 48 years old with 18 to run?  There aren't many Jason Lester's out there (see
www.r-u-n.us) so 48 miles would be a daunting task but after your done, man your 18 again!  I know I'm not giving you many ground rules so there will undoubtedly be unanswered questions (mine would be, do I have wear my cheesy 18 y/o mustache the entire time?  See pic below for an unfortunate reference point) but just wing it and let's see what responses we get.

Back to running....I'm ecstatic that I got the 18 miles in but it was a difficult run, especially the last 3 miles.  I planned to run a warm up mile, then 8 miles at 8:30/mi, then the next 8 at 8/mi and a cool down mile.  I felt okay through 15 miles, running right around an 8:15 pace overall.  However, when I reached the big hill on Levita Rd. at 14.3 miles, I started to hit the wall.  I recovered a bit to close out mile 15 but for 16-18 I was in my classic wall posture: blank stare, head tilted a bit a la Rain Man, and choppy old man steps.  After 15 miles at an 8:15 pace, the last three were at 9:35 or so.  Better to hit the wall in a training run than in a race, I suppose.

Fortunately I am recovering quickly and should be able to allow my loving family to lavish me with birthday surprises.  Or at least blow out some birthday candles.

I completed miles 659-676, passing the 2/3 mark.  I hit mile 665 which was sponsored by Robin Wildman back on March 11.  Thanks Robin!

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/15

Sa

10:50a

18.0

2:32:58

8:29:53

72f

8

676.5

The archive shows that the 'stashe survived at least to my junior year at UB-yikes!

June 14 - 4 Miles Ran

Got 4 miles in at lunchtime today.  After a rainy morning, the weather was perfect early this afternoon.  I really tried to take it easy with an 18 miler coming up this weekend, but even dialing back the pace was pretty quick.  This will come back to bite me in the 14-16 mile range tomorrow.  Oh well, carpe diem, I guess.

I ran the Griswold-Prospect-side street run for 4 miles, completing miles 655-658 (unsponsored).

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/14

F

1:15p

4.0

30:46:00

7:41:30

70f

6

658.5

June 13 - 8 Miles Ran, 2 Miles Sponsored

Thank you Tom Jones!  Tom broke the streak of unsponsored miles by sponsoring 2 on Wed.  This the fifth time Tom has sponsored miles (1/29, 2/1, 2/15, 4/12 and 6/12).  I really appreciate this donation, because is evidences Tom's commitment to support the Kowalski's over the long term.  One of the main reasons I chose a long-term goal was to make sure that my offer of support was not a flash in the pan.  Chase's sweetness and zest for life need to be remembered for the long haul--I truly believe the best way to honor him is to capture some of his pureness of spirit and carry it forward each day.  So, again, thank you Tom for your generosity and commitment.

I assigned Tom miles 647 and 648 which I completed as part of my 8 mile run yesterday (Th).  This run was my best training run of the year.  I ran the hilly Rt. 149, Cato Corner, Rt. 16 route and felt strong all the way, even on the huge hill on Rt. 16 at the 6.5 mile mark.  My overall pace of 7:25/mi is pretty close to the pace I was running this distance in last spring when I was in great shape leading up to the Cox Marathon in Providence.

I completed miles 647-654 on Th's run.

It's raining this Fri morning as I type so I will have to get today's run in at lunchtime.  I am going to take it easy as I have an 18 miler planned for Sat (which is my birthday-nice present to myself, huh?)

I can't wait for next weekend's races in Fairfield.  The Daily Voice ran a brief article (http://fairfield.dailyvoice.com/sports/runners-fairfield-races-can-help-foundation-sandy-hook-student)
about the Race4Chase team's participation and the race organizer's offer to donate $1 for every mile ran by a Race4Chase team member.  If your interested in joining in the weekend's events (5K on Sat. 6/22; half marathon on Sun. 6/23) check out the Race4Chase event page on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/462968913782262/

Today's (Th's) Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/13

Th

6:45a

8.0

59:23:00

7:25:22

58f

8

654.5

June 10 and 11 - Rest Days; June 12 - 4.5 Miles Ran

Too much rain = too much rest!  I needed a day off on Monday after back to back 10 milers, but I wanted to get back out there yesterday.  With the rain and a busy day including preparations for Ellie's birthday, it turned out to be another rest day.

Today, however, I'm back on track.  I just finished an awesome 4.5 mile run.  With temps in the low 60's, the sun out and a nice steady breeze, it was a beautiful morning to run.  I hope to get back into a regular routine from here on in.  I should be able to get the mileage back on pace as I have an 18 mile run planned for this weekend.  Maybe I'll do it on Sat, which is my birthday.  Probably a desperate attempt to feel more like 28 than 48!

I completed miles 643-46 (unsponsored) this morning.

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/12

W

6:45a

4.5

34:23:00

7:38:27

60f

7

646.5

June 9 - 10 Miles Ran in Southie

I had a great run in South Boston this morning.  I didn't feel very strong after 10 miles on Sat and overeating a bit at niece Hannah's graduation party, but with great weather and scenery around Boston Harbor, it was a fun day on the road.  I ran from the Seaport Hotel near the fish pier down Summer St. to Southie, around Castle Island, down Columbus by the lagoon beaches and back for 10 miles.  I felt really sluggish but with the flat terrain my pace was similar to Sat's hard run in hilly Colchester.

I completed miles 633-642 (unsponsored), and increased my mileage per day since Jan. 1 to a shade over 4.

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

6/9

Su

9:30a

10.0

1:17:11

7:43:06

70f

7

642.0

Starting out at the Seaport Hotel

Cruiseliner off of the Summer St. Bridge at the 1 mile mark

Great burgers and fries at Sully's (but not during a run!)

Statue at Castle Island, 3 mile mark

Castle Island - Old Harbor panorama 

Looking back across Pleasure Bay at Boston

Pleasure Bay 

Beach off of Columbus Rd. at 4 mile mark