Way too much fun for a human (and a dog) to have!

Sunday after coaching two basketball games with Hannie's team (we lost both but I digress), I decided to take Belle and hit Gilbert State Forest.  It had rained like hell Friday night and all day Saturday, but it was sunny and breezy on Sunday so I figured I was going to run into some decent mud patches, but boy was I wrong.

RUNNING is just not supposed to be this much fun.

We start off running up the Heart Healthy Trail, which is fairly hilly and rocky, and came across some small mud patches.  So far - right to plan.  Come down the hill, take the right, come across some really good mud patches, even better.  Cross the Mill St corner, go straight ahead, merge back into the forest; again some small mud but nothing too big.  So now I am thinking this is cool, a few small mud patches, one or two mucky wet patches; no biggie.
WRONG!  I now head off to my favorite trail and quickly found out why the majority of the trail is "softball-sized" rocks embedded in mud.  I guess during an substantial rain, this trail turns into a small river.  How Freakin' cool is this?!?!  We go down this for awhile take the left at the split, so we can stay in the forest, the river ends but the mud sure doesn't.  The reason I love this trail is in the late summer and early fall, it feels like you are running the Pacific Northwest.  It's semi-dark, very plush vegitation with rocks, moss and water here and there.  But after a rain, it ROCKS!  Seems like everytime you turn a corner you run into a nice mud/water bath, a river or a place to just get nice and dirty.
Can't remember the last time I had so much fun running.  The pace wasn't great, but who the hell cares; neither Belle nor I did. 
Now if I just hit the lottery and didn't have to work I could run it everyday.  But until then, roads during the week and the trails on the weekends.
Be well - Sank

Indian Summer Run

Hit Gilbert State Forest yesterday.  It was a beautiful morning, and when I arrived at the Park the parking lot was loaded and there were two trucks coming down the path.  I have never seen vehicles on the path before and shortly following the trucks were a Boy Scout troop that were coming out from their annual camp out.  They most certainly had a beautiful night and morning for it.
Belle and I hit the heart trail and then over to this trail along the back side that she and I had found last time we were out there.  Nice to have the Garmin as I had always just estimated my mileage and splits before.  Nancy was having a family breakfast so I cut my run short at 3.5 miles, but it was nice to get back on the trails.  And with no hunting allowed in Massachusetts on Sundays, I didn't have to worry about that.
Be well all - Sank

Trails....not with Elmer out there

Well I woke up this morning debating on running this 4 mile trail race up in Haverhill, MA or taking Belle out to the state forest for a morning of running, all psyched up for FINALLY hitting the trails again.  Kevin has a swim meet up north which made the race perfect, except that he would have to get up really early but he said he didn't mind.  Then they moved the time that he had to be there back so the timing just didn't make since so Belle won, off to the Gilbert State Forest in Foxboro.  And then I remembered it is hunting season.

So I try to get ahold of Petco, or Benny's, or Bass Pro Shop to get a orange vest for Belle but no luck.  I found an old Boston Marathon jacket (circa 1999) which was bright orange for me, but nothing for her.  So I hit the roads instead.

If anyone has any hunting season safety tips - PLEASE post them in the comment section!

Still trying to get my legs straightened out, that along with figuring out which is the correct mileage, the Garmin or Runningahead.com - but I was out there anyway on a very cold OCTOBER morning (23 degrees F).

But the sun was out and it really turned out to be a beautiful morning.  Well no hunting on Sundays, so I guess I will try again. 

Have a great day all.  Be well - Sank

View from outside my office - no cubicle for this kid

It is a beautiful day here in Sunny Boston today.  This is the great view of the Christian Science Church Plaza headquarters that I get from my office window EVERYDAY. 

If you have never had the chance to walk the plaza it is breathtaking.  For all of you that are running Boston, you really should make a point to do it while you are here.  It is just a couple blocks from the finish line.

I am very lucky in that the hotel that I manage is a VERY short walk to the finish line.  I usually try to get over to see some of it every year. 

Message me if you are planning on running it and need a room and I will try to get you a good rate.

Take care all, Be Well - Sank

Happy Fall Everyone! (plus training update)

Well Summer is over, and the sound of the birds chirping as you run down the trails will be replaced by the crunching and rustling of the colorful autumnal leaves on the ground. 

Well I have officially given up on my 100 mile month goal for September but rather to build up my knee so that I can survive the winter and my goal of Boston in 2010. 

On another goal setting front, Nanc has announced her goal of running the Timberman Sprint Triathlon in 2010, so who knows maybe I will jump back into doing a few Tri's again.  She has always wanted to do one, am I am very proud of her for picking one.  Which as you know, picking the race is the first and biggest step.  Well heading out to run in the sleet and cold of a New England winter maybe the biggest step, but you know what I mean.

Well can't wait to lace them up this aft/evening.  Be well - Sank

                                                                                                                                                               
Amended 7:08pm EST - Just got back from running one of my beginning routes.  I decided to do this loop (albeit less than 3 miles) as I have had some luck with the knee the last few days with the PT exercises and my right ankle was fairly happy from the 2 days rest.  Besides that, I had gotten home late and had to take my son, Kevin, to swim practice and only had a few extra minutes or I was either going to have to skip it or run in the dark (not fun since we live on a fairly busy road).  Wow talk about making a short story long. 

So I lace up and off I go on the Tremont Street loop.  And surprisingly I felt great so I decided to just go with it.  It was just one of those nights when things came together and I actually average 8:22/mile WITH stopping twice to tie my shoes.  I am very psyched!

Good night all & 'til then, be well - Sank

Yesterday I stopped in my old Physical Therapist and he gave me some great strength and stretches for my IT.  Definately plan on getting on those today (just havent done it yet).

Ok back to the rain again today - arghhhhhh.  Well after last night's birthday bash for Catie (sweet 16 for my daughter), I got up right after Nancy left for work this morning to get in...well actually I figured I would just figure out where and how long as I went.  You gotta love the ability to run your maps thru http://www.runningahead.com/ for your mileage as well as to have it link to the blog.
So I got in 4.2 miles.  Still having soreness in my legs but I need to just run and stop overthinking the strides and all that stuff so that I can get into a nice rhythm and pace, but until then I will just plug along. 

Tomorrow I need to head over to the parents in the AM and then back to the trails.  Have a safe and dry Saturday all.  Hope you like the Batman pic, there will be more to follow. 
Be well - Sank

Ok enough with the rain already

Well the rain started last night, didn't get home til late - damn DirectTV box at work wouldn't load - but that's another story.  Got home to get one quick run in, actually felt pretty good, and then another quick one this morning, both on the roads.  Can only imagine how wet the trails must be.  Ran into a fellow Trail Runner at LL Bean today who gave me the low-down on a few other trails around Southeastern MA and RI.  Definately have to get my base up. 

Hopefully the rain ends tonite, and can take Jack (my choc lab) back to Foxboro tomorrow morning.  Stay dry New England.