an amazing likeness
Pretty quiet in here lately...
Wondering if anyone trying out some of the new races this year: Band on the Run Half coming up in June? Moose Pond Half in November?
Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.
#2867
Only race I'm really planning on running in the near future is Cranberry Island. Been otherwise occupied and racing hasn't been much of a priority.
Erik does a good job putting on races though so I expect that Bands on the Run will be a good event.
Run to Win25 Marathons, 17 Ultras, 16 States (Full List)
I'm Betty if you're Al
I have been MIA from the racing circuit due to severe IT Band issues that began right before Boston. Signed up for the Old Port 1/2 in July but going to "take it easy" and focus on my gait and trying to run pain free. Taking the rest of the summer/fall off. Planning on hitting it hard in 2013.
"I would rather have high expectations and fail then have low expectations and succeed." DB
Hope the IT issues clear up for you soon, Tracey. I went through a bout of it back in Jan '09 and found it took 2 things in addition to the usual foam roller, and leg stretches...(1) never, ever keep running once the pain starts, and (2) manage road camber so that the camber loads were evened.
I ran the inaugural Bands on The Run Half in Lewiston...and of the 7 half marathons I've run so far this year, I'd rate this course as second worst. It was a wacky mix of mills, neighborhoods of triple-deckers, heavy traffic on Center St and Memorial Dr, a beautiful river paved path, single-track along the river (blocked by two-abreast runners with iPods!), a path along railroad tracks, and even...through a cemetery.
Started in second of two start waves, separated by 10 minutes from the first wave. While promoted as giving women (wave 1) a head start so leaders all would finish near same time, suspect it was also to help with crowding on the single-track sections. It had a bad side effect -- since the bulk of the runners (1:45 - 1:50 finishers for men and 2:00 for women) were all clumped together from about mile 6 and overwhelmed the water stops, and held the faster runners up on the single-track sections.
Also, I'm still puzzled by a few of the sections....having us run along railroad tracks on a narrow path, if a train had come it would have been like that movie 'Stand By Me'...but don't know if the tracks are active. At the end, they had a small out-and-back of 1/4 mile at about 12.5. Why didn't they just lengthen the first cone turn at mile 2-ish and make the distance there so that we'd turn to the finish directly at 12?
Just pondering...
Yikes, that doesn't sounds like a fun half at all.
IT band is doing ok, thanks for the advice.
I have been taking it really slow and concentrating on strengthening as well as stretching. My foam roller has been my best friend. I did 3 miles on the track yesterday 1 mile barefoot, 1 mile w/ precisions trying my hardest to mimic the barefoot gait, and another mile barefoot. Felt alright.
Day by day. Day by day....
Forgot about this thread, so just wanted to circle back and publicly give two thumbs up to the Moose Pond Half in Bridgton (Shawnee Peak), put this one on your fall schedule next year.
Will have to do that, thanks! I heard it was a good event.
I haven't been running much at all the last 6 months, but going to start putting more regular time out running probably starting in January (when Lillian goes to daycare and Erin leaves the house to work so I'll be able to get things done w/o as many distractions!)
Not sure what next year will look like for me yet, probably going to concentrate on shorter distance races (5k/10k) to get some real leg speed back and then go back to the marathon in Fall or Spring 2014...I'd like to make another go at sub-6 pace.
As for new races next year, I'm in the process of putting together a "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" race, probably in August in Falmouth if I can get a permit from the appropriate folks. Otherwise I'll likely do it at Bradbury Mountain just because I know I could do a quality event there; but the Falmouth location I've picked will be a lot better, I think. Basic premise is that there's no "course" - just checkpoints on a trail map. You pick your own route to hit them all. Will probably take ~10 miles per loop if you are really efficient. I'll provide more details later once I have permission to actually put it on.
That sounds like fun, Blaine! Hope you're able to put that together.
"...You have to have faith, to know that you can do what you want to do." -Joseph Nzau
Home Away From Home
I'd be interested if it fits into my work schedule for sure.
MM#5768
"Anyone can do it in ideal conditions"- A quote from a true NE CN runner and friend.