The state of things.

The end of summer is finds me reasonably prepared for the distance of a fall marathon, but I have not done the speed work that has shaped my running over the last two years. August has always been my month of incidental speed work, with the usual races putting speed at the fore front of at least 3 weeks. I have run these races again so I am not totally without some speed work. The Yankee Home Coming 10 Miler was first race of the month. I ran it 69:68, more than three and half minutes slower than last year ( I bonked this year in the 90 F heat). The Bridge of Flowers 10K was next on my race card. It was unbelieveably hot and humid for this race. Finished about four minutes slower than last year (but I finished in about the same place overall surrounded by the same runners I usually finish with). I was slow but did not bonk. I kept the speed down when I felt myself over heating. Last week I ran the Mount Toby 14 Mile Trail Run also about two minutes slower than last year. It was raining in the woods on this run. I felt great at the end of this race, but I was still a couple of minutes slower than two years ago. Was it the rain? Am I getting slower?

My goals for September include bagging three more 20 milers (that will give me six 20s for this marathon since the end of July) , and running two races. Tomorrow I am heading out for one of the 20's. The Fall Marathon 30K tune up is my next race in two weeks. I will run this at my marathon pace ( what that will be I am not sure). I would love to run out at a 7 minute pace, but 7:05 looks more likely.

The last race before my taper is the Dave Maynard Memorial Five Miler in Greenfield. This will be a fast run and it should show if my Thursday night treadmill sessions can bring my speed back in time for The Mystic Places Marathon.

No one cares if I run a 3:10 marathon or 3:03, but it matters a hell of alot to me. That is the funny thing about the people I race with. Run 14 miles through the woods, up and down a mountain, in the rain and who really cares if your time varies by a few minutes. Every one I talked with on Sunday cared a great deal how fast they ran, but they were quick to acknowledge the other runners' accomplishments. It is the great thing about this sport that we can be victorious, or feel defeated by a few ticks of the clock. The reality that after nine years of running a 100 races I will never be in danger of actually winning one does not rob me of the thrill of a victory. Nor am I shielded from the disapointment of a race that goes bad. That is a great deal of what makes this worthwhile.

Here is the plan, I have to get up early tomorrow and run 20+ miles and still be available to my family. So it is off to bed and I will be on the road before 5:30 tomorrow.

Run well everyone.