There were many Sunday Long Run folk out there this weekend covering miles in many different places in many different ways. Some opted for Saturday runs to allow a day’s rest before the Tuft’s 10K on Monday. Others were headed to the Fens to follow the Emerald Necklace in the BAA Half. Another was running his second marathon of the fall in Albany. With all that going on we still had nine runners putting in some key training miles. Kaj, Lois, and I were running our last loooong run before our taper starts. Kelly, Catherine, Carol, and Tall Dave eased their way through their last Sunday Run before Baystate. Iron Mike York was shooting for something in the 20 range as he prepared for his Iron Man Triathlon at the end of November. Brian Gilroy and Nick joined in to help pull us through our runs.
Pre-miles – As not to spend all our AM hours running, the Manchester Marathoners decided to start their runs earlier than 8AM. Kaj parked his car at Brueggers and set out at 6:14AM to get 10 miles in before the pack took off from Brueggers. Lois and I decided to plant our cars out at the water stop spots and run 5 before hitting Brueggers and adding 5 on to the end. We took off at 7:01AM. Mike also planned on running early… more on that later. Lois and I ran from Highland Ave, behind Spot Pond around to the Zoo and turned down Pond St to Grimsby’s. My car was at Grimsby’s for a pre-run water stop 4 miles into our run. We then headed down W Wyoming to Main, arriving at Brueggers at 7:52. Tall Dave was waiting for us already and we were quickly joined by the other runs, Kaj came running it right at 8 and Mike came stumbling in all sleepy eyed, it was obvious buy I asked him how many pre-miles he ran to which he replied “yeah… no”.
In a hurry to scoot out and get back on the road I lead the pack out the door telling them that we ran this run earlier in the training and it seemed hard, now be happy you can run it this week as your last easy taper run. The response was more surprise that we’ve been doing this for 14 weeks than that for some we were done. Up Main St to Ell Pond, I gave out instructions for all who were running a marathon, a quick tap on the monument honoring Melrose marathon legend Clarence Demar for good luck. With that done the pack began to stretch out down the LynnFells Parkway towards Grimsby’s. For me Grimsby’s was 7 miles into the run, the time I like to take my first Gu. Brian and I were in the lead so I let him know I was stopping and he stopped along with me. Then as the runners filed by they all were easily (way too easily) persuaded to stop there too. So two miles into their 12.5 mile run came the first unplanned water stop of the day.
Brian and I quickly vaulted back out into the lead through the hills of the Fellsway East. Brian pulled ahead through the hills but with 5 extra miles behind me and 5 extra ahead of me I decided not to pursue the lead to aggressively. When we got to Highland I closed the gap a bit (I’m sure Brian was letting me though). He passed a nice old gentleman that had a comment for him as he went by. As I passed the old man he asked “Are you chasing that guy?” I said yes. He asked “What’d he take?” to which I replied “The lead!”. I didn’t catch Brian though, not until we hit Lois’ car for the official water stop number 1. I almost didn’t catch him there either as he flew right by the car. I yelled ahead to get his attention and he ran back. A sip of Gatorade and a Snickers and off we went.
To shake things up a bit this week we go counter-clockwise around Spot Pond, straight past the Flynn Rink and on towards the Stone Zoo. Things got quiet at that point, Brian pushing the pace and I following along with some effort. Past the Zoo and over by the Sheepfold we went, where we ran into Nick coming the opposite direction. Nick asked what took us so long, as if he expected to see us further around the loop of the pond. I had no reply, I was running faster than I had planned in the first place and couldn’t imagine being any further into the run by then. After passing Nick Brian extended his lead through the hills along I-93 as we headed back to Lois’ car. We were going so quick in fact that we missed yet another bonus water stop supplied by Sue and her daughter along that stretch. Thank you Sue for getting up and out early on Sunday morning to help out your fellow long runners.
At Lois’ car I had another Gu washed down with a few cups of water. Leaving Lois’ car we headed up South Border Rd. Knowing the hills to come and how Brian kept pulling away, I bid him adieu in advance. Actually I said something like “after we get to the top of this hill I don’t want to see your face again”. It was understood I meant I didn’t want to be running fast enough to be able to see it again. Through the hills I watched him pull away, not too far away though as I didn’t lose sight of him until the winding stretch before Grimsby’s. At Grimsby’s I ate some gummy fish and downed some Gatorade before heading out alone for the final 5.5 miles of the run.
I followed the circle of the MRC Summer Route around Melrose with Lois and Mike running together somewhere behind me. Dave, Carol, Catherine, and Kelly all turned down W Wyoming to Main St to end at Brueggers and end their training for the season. Great job you guys and god luck at Baystate! I believe Kaj also headed to Brueggers from there for 22 miles in total for the day. Nick, I’m not sure what he did, the 12.5 mile route too?
We all know the Summer Route step for step after running it since March. Each of those spots that pose a bit of a challenge… the Welcome to Melrose Hill on the LynnFells, headung up to the turn onto Bellevue, Mooreland St… each of those challenges are magnified with about 16 more miles under your belt. Without the help of Brian pulling me alone I tried to keep up the pace myself but I’m sure I slowed. The weather was beautiful all morning, low 40s at the start, near 60 towards the end, but through this stretch I found myself seeking the shady sides of the street to keep cool. As I made my way down Lebanon there was a little planned detour over to Linwood Ave where the last water stop of the very long run was waiting. On my Halloween decorated doorstep sat water and Gatorade and GU. I took a Gu and washed it down with Gatorade, generally a no-no on a long run but I only had 2 miles left. Later Lois and Mike would hit my house together and enjoy the power of the Gu that they so sorely needed.
Paralleling Lebanon we went down Linwood to Sylvan and back on the Summer Route. Main St took us to W Wyoming where we ran the last stretch back to Grimsby’s. I felt good, the cool air rushing down from Spot Pond rejuvenating me as I finished up at 10:42 (Kaj’s initial reported start time lead to some very exact time keeping this week). After a few cups of water and a quick visit from Brad on his Sunday Run, I decided to walk back up W Wyoming a bit until I saw Lois and Mike coming up. It’s a good day when you can run 22 miles and feel like taking a walk afterwards. As they streamed past me, Mike slightly ahead of Lois, they both took the opportunity to walk with me, although I prodded both to keep going until they got to my car. In the parking Lot of Grimsby’s Lois and I were done with our 22 and could officially start tapering. Mike, having slept through his early miles, was sitting at 17 miles so far and trudged out along the LynnFells to circle back to Main St to complete 19 miles.
Great runs for all today, I hope that goes for everyone that raced today too. This is the last officialy week of the Sunday Long Run program for the Summer/Fall 2008 session. It was quiet a success in my opinion, many familiar faces returned for more, some new faces joined in, and hopefully all that ran with us for any of their training will be pleased with their fall races. We’ve all helped get each other ready for the starting line, I wish you each the best in getting yourself to the finish line!
(For those that made it to a finish line today, let’s hear how it went)
Had a great “short” 12 mile run today. Thanks to everyone for all there help and support these past Sunday mornings. My first marathon will be next Sunday. I went from the great Walk to Run program with Nick a few years back to a marathon. Something I have always wanted to do. I couldn’t have done it without all the great company and of course all the coordination from Jim.
I feel as ready as I guess I should be.
Good luck to everyone in their upcoming marathons!
Jim!
First & foremost I would like to begin by thanking you (& Lois) for coordinating the MRC Long Run program this Fall. We had many new faces & many veteran club members join us this season. The Sunday Long Run program has become an intergal part of the MRC & as you can see from Kelly ‘s posting , MRC is providing a start to finish approach to running.
Good Luck Kelly & everyone who have trained so hard this Fall. I can’t wait to hear your stories.
Since I did not know where & when the “early milers” started, I arrived at Breuggers around 7:05 looking for the early group. With none found, I headed out on the Winter route & did the 4.5 miles short run, arriving back at Breugger’s just before 8 AM.
Since I had time constraints (Wife’s B-Day), I decided to run the 7.8 mile route with the Long Run group this morning. But thanks to Lois I felt pretty good at the first water stop & headed out to the back of Spot Pond to lengthen the run.
“Contration” Nick circled Spot Pond, down Pond St. & back to Main St. It was truly a beautiful morning for a run & I didn’t want to stop. Total about 14 miles in 2 hrs. A Happy Camper! I am looking forward to January!
Once again, thanks to all for a great run and thanks to Jim for organizing this. I really enjoyed meeting up with everyone and having company at least for part of the run. I ended up deciding to make it 13.1 at marathon pace so I am feeling very confident (and hoping I didn’t make a big mistake). Also, hope I have a chance to see all the other Baystaters next week – although I am not sure with 1500 runners. Good luck to all and I hope the BAA runners all had great runs.
A BIG THANK YOU!!! Today races went very well. Thank you Jim for organizing the sunday long runs and for your support and guidence. Also, Big Thank You to everyone that helped with the Sunday long runs. Such as water stops and the support, and friendship. We all finish todays BAA race and looked strong. We wouldn’t have done so well without the help and the support of the MRC.
Its hard to believe that today was our last training run, the weeks went by so fast! All the routes were challenging but have definitely made us better for it. Thank you for all the organization and support, it was definitely a team effort!
Hope to see alot of you at Baystate, I’m very excited after a 5 year marathon hiatus. Good luck to everyone in their races!
I tried to post this on the MRC forum but it keeps telling me that my name is an invalid user name so I will try to post it here and hope you get this. I would hate to miss this opportunity and it is really so nice of you guys.
Catherine and Kelly, that would be awesome if you could pick up my number. I would love to take you up on this – assuming they will let you. I don’t normally go to the Tuesday night run but it would certainly be easier driving to Melrose than to Acton!
Thanks so much.
Carol Carstensen, Malden
Yes I agree with everyone and a big thank you goes out to Jim for all that you do w/ the Sunday Long run. Also to all the water stop help as well as support and guidance from everyone.
I made it to the finish despite the injury to my back. It may have not been my best run physically but it certainly was my best run mentally. It just shows you that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. Of course, this could not of been done w/out the great thoughts, advice of MRC!!!
Thank you!!
Thank you all for the support and organized Sunday Runs! I never would have been able to do this run had it not been for this club! Thanks Jim for all the advice about blisters and missing toenails too! The run went pretty good for the most part. I was doing really well until about mile 9 when I was definitely feeling very tired. I slowed down a bit and kept trugging on.. by 11, I was even more tired, and my pace continued to slow… but I made it still at 2 hours and 15 mins which I was so happy about! While running the last few miles I was thinking to myself that I would never do it again, but after the fact, I’m thinking “when is the next”! 🙂 Thanks again and since I can’t make many Tuesdays until January, keep me posted if anyone ever organizes up a weekend run or anything, and hopefully I’ll see you at some races soon!
Well, I’m a few weeks late but what the hey…
I ran my 11th marathon in my 50 marathon goal. Hartford, CT is where it all went down. I woke up at 4am (as usual) and had my Starbucks, oatmeal, gatorade, yougurt, banana and toast with jelly. Two hours later, I did the same thing but cut the portions in 1/2 and began my long run ritual of stretching, getting dressed and going over my running supplies.
I walked to the start of the race, where it was painfully obvious that ING was sponsoring the run. I always like to check out the tents and finish line to know exactly where to go after the run.
The gun went off around 8:12 and after waiting the usual 3 minutes to reach the starting line, I started my Garmin.
I kept miles 1 – 5 slow like I wanted. My goal being to finish this marathon w/o any cramping or walking…I don’t care the time but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna walk again! Miles 6, 7, 8 I’m moving along nicely at an 8:15 pace and saying to myself..”keep calm…breath…Oh! look someone running barefoot”. I cruised at that pace for a while. I’d paid the $5 to have Bamzu Media send me, my wife and my coach text messages of my progress at each chip station. I’m a geek and was curious to see what the txt messages said, so I checked my cell (I almost always have my cell on me when I run..you know for emergencies…NOT because I’m a geek). The messages were pretty cool. Hey look I’m now at mile 16! My heart starts to beat a litte faster because this is where things break down for me. Keep cool, breath easy, you’ve always got your iPod should you start to bonk. Miles 17, 18 and 19 go by and I’m still keeping my pace. This is looking good. No cramps, no mental blanks. Nice! At mile 20 they have a water station handing out Gu, water, Gatorade and flat Coke. I grab what I think is a Vanilla Gu but it turns out to be Double-Espresso. Not wanting to risk it, I put the Gu in my belt and keep running. 21 goes by and I’m starting to feel it. I pop on my head set and begin listening to my carefully crafted playlist. The first song goes by..the 2nd song goes by and that’s all I really ask of my iPod, get me from one mile to the next. Ah then comes Sexy Back..now I’m moving and focused. I’m not keeping the 8:15 pace anymore but I’m still moving. Mile 25 passes and I realize that I’m gonna make it. Breath easy I remind myself. You don’t want your calves to cramp again and end up walking across the finish line. So focued and determined were my next 1.2 miles that I didn’t even realize I was going to run a PR. I came across the finish line at 3:43. Grabbed my medal, some food. Stopped and talked to a dog owner on my way back to the hotel and had a huge smile on my face as I drove back to Medford.
Chris, great run, great recap. Sounds like you finally got the marathon you’ve been waiting for. Funny, my best one was at the same race, slightly different course, and pre-ING sponsorship. Without sounding like a free advertisement for the Hartford Marathon, this seems to be a good run to do in the fall!
Congrats on “running” a marathon!
Jim