25 miles

As previously mentioned, Saturday was my last long run before the race in Virginia. Conditions weren't quite ideal. Even after nearly a week of rest, my legs didn't feel fully recovered from all the running in early September. I could feel the beginnings of a cold coming on. And, for various scheduling reasons, I had to be out the door at 7:00 AM.

But, on the other hand, it was unseasonably cool - 52 degrees - meaning perfect weather for running.

For my long runs, I frequently run a 3.15 mile loop around a local park and golf course. The advantages are that it's flat, there is minimal traffic, there are public restrooms, and I can leave a cooler in the car stocked with with Gatorade and whatever else I want that day.

The disadvantages are that it's boring and that by my sixth loop, I really feel tempted to cut the run short. Every excuse possible went through my head on Saturday - 19 miles is long enough to develop the requisite amount of fitness, I don't want to injure myself, etc., etc. But I had told you guys that I was going to run 25, and I sure didn't want to come back with only 19 to show.

It was pretty much all mental, though. By the time I finished that lap, I was raring to run my heart out for one last lap and see what was left in the tank. I held back for a slow mile 23 (10:55), then ran mile 24 in 10:01, and mile 25 in 9:48. OK, so there wasn't much left in the tank! But I finished without injuries, and with an overall pace of 10:26, which is faster than any run over 15 miles I have done at the past.

I'm going to run five miles further, but I'm hopeful that cooler weather, rested legs, better pre-race nutrition, better in-race fueling, and a dose of adrenaline will push me along to an even faster time.

After which, I just have to figure out how to increase my speed to beat you guys in the marathon.

More fun than watching the Red Sox

An email from Todd inspired me to think about things that, of late, have been more fun to do than watching the Red Sox...

10. Watching the Buffalo Bills
9. Watching college field hockey
8. Having a glass of water
7. Rearranging the bookshelf
6. Cleaning bird crap off my car
5. Draining blisters on my toes
4. Laundry
3. Scrubbing grout
2. Blowing my nose
1. Writing lame blog posts

And yet, I continue to watch.

CarlCrawford in Perspective

Chad Finn makes the argument that - so far, at least - he's having one of the worst seasons by an outfielder in Red Sox history. Hard to believe it, but he's got some numbers to back it up.

Josh Beckett, a lonely nation turns its eyes to you...

I don't think it's hyperbole to say that tonight's game is huge. Beckett needs to come in and pitch like he's capable of pitching and shut down the Rays. Someone needs to turn this team around and he's only pitcher on our staff that's capable of doing this (being the proverbial "stopper"). Lester's the only one who might be close but I just have no faith in his ability to pitch big in big games.

In other Sox news, this is interesting: sounds like Buchholz will be throwing a bullpen session this weekend with an eye towards becoming a long reliever in the playoffs. If this really happens, then we could use a combo of Aceves and Buchholz as a starter, which I like MUCH more that Miller and Weiland.

I haven't heard any news on Bedard? Is he still hurt?

race night

this is the third time this year i've been signed up to race with todd.  the first time was march.  i pulled my hamstring in february and sat that one out.  the next one was in june.  high fever, chills, sore throat and body aches left me making a last minute (literally) decision to bag it.  this time, it's the calf...  but i'm racing.  it won't be the rain nor thunder nor lightening nor legs that stop me from running tonight....

(maybe i need to stop signing up for races with todd?)

anyway, looking forward to getting a run in, as i haven't done that much at all lately.  going to try out a compression sleeve.  nothing else has worked, so maybe this will?  a report will follow.

regardless, i look forward to seeing todd hammer through yet another blistering race and look forward to getting some miles underfoot (for a chance), even if i keep it slow and sure.  i'm rooting for todd to take a top 5 (top 3 even) in the AG!  (the better he does, the higher up he'll be in the beer line!)

Josh Reddick: Wrestler

Presented without comment:

"Josh Reddick doesn’t only sit on a Triple H-themed folding chair in the middle of the Red Sox clubhouse and he didn’t only buy Dustin Pedroia an autographed Ric Flair robe off eBay earlier this season. Nope, he also apparently spends time thinking about his own wrestling costume, just in case a career change comes along.

“Obviously I’d have to put on about 30 more pounds,” he told CSNNE.com’s Jessica Camerato. “I feel like I’d be one of those high-flying guys that just jumps up off the ropes all the time doing all kinds of crazy flips, that kind of thing. I’d be loud — I’d have to be loud. The quiet guys don’t really make it a whole lot. [I would] probably wear the standard Speedo with kneepads and boots. It’d have to be red. Red’s been my color since I don’t know how long.”"

Quote of the Day

"Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own; sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."
- William James, as chosen by Scott Jurek as the Young Gun's unofficial creed as detailed on Born to Run, p. 112