Thursday, July 1, 2010

L.ong Distance

OK, not a long distance run, but a long distance post. I'm hanging out in my college roommate's house, in NH, using her computer. She's recuperating from major foot surgery and suffering a migrain at the same time so needed some support. At least the puking stopped before I got here : )

Yesterday I had two shortish runs. The first was at Thorncrag. I knew I was going to run with Rick later, but, since I was going to Hannaford, I decided to check out the loop I ran last week without the Garmin to see if I was right in my guess of mileage. Well, I wasn't. I did two loops and thought the total was about 5 miles. Turns out one loop is just 2.2 miles. I kept running for the little time I had and ended up with 3.4. I know Thorncrag is hilly and thought my guesstimate would be closer than that. Still felt good about my run. I made it home just in time to run with Rick. We did another 3.2 ish run in the fields. Even with the drying out time, there was still a lot of manure tea.

Today Linda and I headed to Bradbury early. Since Linda had mastered the Scuffle course, not needing me to know the way, I decided to run straight through faster than my usual and then double back to find her. I ran fairly hard but never felt like I was at race pace. I finished in 1:00:59 - very good since that was just about my race pace last year. HOWEVER, last year, I went out way too fast for my own good; I was at 8:20 for the first mile. Somewhere before 2 miles, I got a stitch that I just couldn't get rid of. The first year, I ran the Scuffle in 56:25. That seems out of reach this time, but I'd like to be closer to that than over 1 hour.

I headed back for Linda thinking I was going to get in some pretty good miles, based on her previous Scuffle runs this year...Wrong! She ran hard herself. I met up with her about 1/2 mile back. By then she was pretty spent and we did some walking back. Her overall time was still good!

I hope that we have similar conditions for the race. We were actually chilly at the start, warm during the run, and then chilly at the finish - perfect! I love running!!

Bonuses - At Thorncrag I was rewarded with an Indigo Bunting (like the 3rd one I've ever seen) and I saw moose prints at Bradbury.

6 comments:

  1. So you ended June with a two-a-day; I started July with one.

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  2. I think it is hard to compare Scuffle times as the last two years the course was different and it seems it will be again this year...I think.
    Anyway I will also be happy if I break 1 hour this year. Not feeling too fast lately. Still trying to get up to Thorncrag

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  3. An Indigo Bunting - awesome! I've only seen one, and aren't they beautiful?!

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  4. Hey Jean...Thought you where not going????? Remember what you told me!! ;} PS Go on Adventures with Renee...you will keep love her latest post about the squirrel!!! :}

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  5. Kevin, you're right, of course - It is hard to compare times at Bradbury. Let's hope for the weather we had yesterday!

    D, beautiful!!!

    Grace, nope had planned to go to Bradbury all along.

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  6. Sparkplug - you've only seen one indigo bunting this spring or in your life? They're not that uncommon!

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