Aug 5 - 4.5 Miles Ran

Connecticut residents can thank Keith Webster for breaking the heat wave we have been suffering through all summer.  Ever since Keith's mega-sponsorship of 50 miles and fiendish plot to vicariously enjoy my pain in running his miles in the August heat, the humidity has disappeared and temps have been in the low to mid 70's.  We'll have to hit him up for a few more miles if it heats up again after I'm done with his 50.

I was back running the trusty ol' Day Pond loop yesterday evening.  I completed 3 laps for a total of 4.5  miles.  It was another run where I started off feeling very sluggish, but picked it up big time during the middle part of the run.  After a warm up mile near 9 min/mi, I ticked off 7:10 and 6:50 miles around the dirt road circling the pond.  I think this blast of energy relates to my recent 3-day running hiatus.

I completed miles 884-888, sponsored by our favorite weatherman (Keith).  Thanks Web!

Today's (Mon) Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

8/5

M

6:15p

4.5

34:08:00

7:35:07

70f

8

888.1

Aug 4 - 4.9 Miles Ran

It was a close call, but I was able to get out for a run after a full day of fun in Monroe with Shea and my nephew Kevin.  We spent the afternoon at Wolfe Park, first at the pool and then at Great Hollow Lake. I was pretty beat after chasing Kevin (5) around, but it was such a beautiful day I had to get at least a few miles in.  I ran from my Dad's on Turkey Roost to Chalk Hill/Sandy Hook Elementary, then back to Turkey Roost to Hammertown Rd, Wheeler Rd and Greisers Lane (4.9 miles).

I completed miles 879-883, sponsored by Keith Webster.  Thanks Web!  That's 6 down, 44 to go!  Coincidentally, feeling a bit nostalgic after my visit to Wolfe Park (where I spent most of my childhood) I swung by the old Bugg Hill/Far Horizon neighborhood on my way back to my Dad's.  Along the way I past 16 Crestwood Dr.,  Keith's childhood home.  Normally when I point out any personal or historical landmark to Shea, I can't get her to lift her head up from whatever hand-held device she might be glued to.  But when I said "hey Shea that's where Keith Webster grew up" she perked up and asked "really!  Where you invited over there a lot?  Where there a lot of parties there?"  Shea is a big Web fan after a memorable visit to his house in California a few years back.

Good ol' Wolfe Park Pool

Nephew Kevin Patrick rockin' the pool

Cousins and buddies

Getting a push

Aug. 1-3 - Rest Days

My reaction to my buddy Keith's 50 mile sponsorship?  Well, three rest days of course!  Oddly, once the plans to complete the 1,000 miles were finalized and a final date set, I had to actually reduce my mileage to avoid reaching the 1,000 mile mark prematurely.  Probably a bad idea to invite the world to finish with me and then show up and announce that I hit the mark a few miles back!

So, after 3 consecutive days off, I am back on track for a Sept. 1 finish.  Unfortunately, my response to the running respite has been less than disciplined; I've been eating everything is sight--tacos, steak, cookies, milkshake (fortunately just one), ribs--well, you get the idea.  If this keeps up I may show up at Chalk Hill in my Nutty Professor sweat suit!

It's a beautiful morning in Monroe at my Dad's...time to get back out on the roads!

July 31 - 4.1 Miles Ran, 50 (Yes 50!) Miles Sponsored

It's been a pretty amazing week thanks to the sponsors.  On Monday, my old friend John Shepherd sponsored 5 miles from his home in Brighton, England (see July 29 post).  It's been great trading emails with Shep and if all goes well we'll get to catch up in England in mid Sept.

Next, a couple of weeks ago I got word that my high school buddy Keith Webster was about to step up and make a big donation.  He entered a blog comment on Wed confirming his sponsorship...50 miles!  I know his primary motivation is to enjoy reading about my daily pain in completing these miles in the Aug heat, but what a generous gesture nonetheless.  Thanks Web, you're the man!  And although there are some rough times out on the roads, it's always much better to go into a run knowing the miles are sponsored and that a connection can be shared between Chase, me and the sponsor.

I have assigned the following miles to Keith:

878-892 (15);
904-908 (5);
920-929 (10);
967-986 (20).

While owing someone the equivalent of nearly two marathons is a little scary, I am really looking forward to running these 50.

I ran 4.1 miles in Glastonbury at lunch on Wed.  I had an after hours work meeting and didn't think I'd  get out for a run but found a window mid-afternoon.  I love the Glastonbury course--so much flatter that Colchester.  I don't mind running hills and think they are a good training tool, but every now and then it's nice to keep an even pace over the entire run.  After running fairly hard on Tue I decided to try to slow down a little and run at Boston Marathon qualifying pace--7:49 min/mi.  After a warm up mile a little over 8 I settled in around 7:40 and finished with a 7:48 pace for the entire run.  I felt very comfortable at that pace but am pretty far from being able to sustain it over 26 miles.  I'll really have to dig in if a Boston Qualifier is going to be part of the NYC Marathon effort.

I completed miles 875-878.  Shep sponsored 875 (it was the warm-up mile, so no pain there) and Web sponsored mile 878 (last mile, not too painful, but they were resealing the driveway at the gym where I finished, and it was pretty nasty breathing that in--so Web can be happy about that!)  I think it's pretty cool how Shep and Web bookended this run--one is in England and the other in California, but back in the day I had some of the best times when the three of us were hanging out during one of Web's visit to UB.

Today's (Wed) Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

7/31

W

2:35p

4.1

32:01:00

7:48:32

80f

6

878.7

July 29 - Rest Day; July 30 - 4.1 Miles Ran, 5 Miles Sponsored

I ran at lunch time in Glastonbury for the first time since June 18.  I have not been running at lunch because it's been in the 90's almost every day for the last few weeks.  Today was beautiful, however.  I felt pretty good, running at a 7:14 min/mi pace.

I believe the record for the longest-distance sponsor was broken yesterday when my old soccer buddy John Shepherd of Brighton, England sponsored 5 miles.  Shep was a star mid-fielder on the 1985 University of Bridgeport soccer team with the scrappy American right fullback (me).  I hadn't been in touch with Shep since his return to England about 25 years ago until he amazingly stumbled upon this blog a few days ago.  Here's an excerpt from his out-of-the-blue email:

.........................
Hi Brez

It's your old soccer team mate and University friend, Shep.

By absolute chance, i stumbled on your charity run, and felt compelled to support your course; I have sponsored you for five miles via the on-line donation page. Please let me know if there are any problems with trans-Atlantic donations, as i can honestly say i have never donated to any USA based charities before. I will also run five miles on Sept 1st in Brighton, as way of morale support and celebration for you, Chase and your great cause.

The events at Sandy Hook shock the world, so i cannot imagine what it feels like to be so directly affected. I know myself that suddenly that meeting was not so important, the e-mails could wait and just knowing that your own children were safe became the important factor in any parents life. If just one positive thing came from the Sandy Hook tragedy, it was that parents over the world hugged their children a little tighter that night, and appreciated the joy they already had.
..........................

How awesome is that...another amazing connection and another person touched by Chase.  If we could only bring him back to meet the countless people he's touched.

I completed miles 871-874, sponsored by my friend Shep, with on more to go.

Today's Line:

Date DoW ToD Distance Time  Min/Mile Notes Effort Total Miles
7/30 Tu 12:30p 4.1 29:38:00 7:13:40 78f 7 874.6

July 28 - 18 Miles Ran

Survived!  That's all I can say about my run Sun morning.  Presumably I went into the run "marathon ready", having put in long runs of 12 to 20 miles, including two 20 milers, over the last two months.  I had been training for a marathon in early Sept, but had to change plans because of my work schedule.  Just recently, Becky Kowalski informed me that she may be able to get me a spot in the New York City Marathon on Nov 3.  This presented me with a dilemma--do I keep in marathon shape for the next 3 months or lower my mileage for a while and power back up in Sept and Oct?

I decided at least for this week to keep the long run at a marathon-training distance of 18 miles.  I went out at an 8:30-9 min/mile pace and picked it up from mile 4 to 14 to about 8:20.  As in earlier long runs,  I reached the Levita Rd. hill (14 mile mark) in decent shape, but again the hill did me in.  I ran the last two miles in 10 and 11 min/mile, really struggling even to finish the last mile.  Going another 8 miles to finish a marathon, at least yesterday, seemed an impossibility.

However, these type of runs happen from time to time and you just have to forget about them and move on (closer mentality).  It even helps to run completely depleted in long term.  (At least that's what I keep telling myself!)

I completed miles 853-870 (unsponsored--next sponsored mile is Len Gutman's 893--I'll get there Len, promise!)

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

7/28

Su

9:00a

18.0

2:38:54

8:49:40

80f

7

870.5

July 26 - Rest Day; July 27 - 5.1 Miles Ran

I had a rest day yesterday but got out for a great 5.1 mile run today.  The humidity was down this morning and temps were around 70.  I rad the Pinebrook Loop with a 0.4 mile add.  I ran a little faster than I have been running lately and it felt pretty good.  I like to say I was "runcomfortable".

I hope followers of this blog got a chance to read the July 25 post.  If not, it would be great if you gave it a quick look.  It details the plan for completion of the 1,000 miles, and everyone is invited to join me for the finish.  I hope we can get a good group of folks together to celebrate Chase and his pure, energetic spirit.

I completed miles 848-852 (unsponsored).

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

7/27

Sa

8:30a

5.1

38:36:00

7:34:07

72f

8

852.5