Races, Labor Day, Shopping at REI and Dog stories

Well my weekend race plans came half way to fruition. I ended up doing the Jamie Fund 5k. Went out to ok, had a very good 2nd mile, but the 3rd didn't go so well. Regardless I finished just shy of 28 minutes at 27:52. Not bad, really goes to show me that even though it's only been 3 weeks, I HAVE to get my base up. The IT band really seemed to help so I guess I have a new fashion accessory.

Well my Sunday plan of the Rhode Island race didn't materialize as Nancy had her End of Summer work party and we couldn't make the times work to get it done, get me home and then off to the party, so I got out for a 3.5 mile run with the watch. (I usually don’t wear the watch so I don’t.....well whatever). Well I actually beat my time for the 3 miles, lesson to be learned is to go out in races at my own pace and not with the group. Oh well.

HAPPY LABOR DAY to all. Heading off to REI today to look for some gear. Gaiters mostly, but you never know what fun stuff you can find. The birthday is coming up later this week and the family is looking for stuff to get me, so I might as well get it myself and throw their names on it.  Definately want to hit the State Forest before the day is out and have a day off the roads. 

Back from REI with gaiters, a water bottle with handle to slip your hand in and two pairs of trail shorts.  Not to mention a handful of Clif bars.  Good  news:  Nice Labor Day Sale / Bad News: Have to wait til Friday to use them as they have become birthday gifts.  Oh well.

Got home and Nancy and I decided to hit the State Forest.  She walked and I took the labs with me.  They are running right with me and we take this corner and run into a couple with two brittney spaniels.  Belle stays with me, Jack gets within 8 -10 ft and one of the 'brits' pulls the owner on the leash and is right on Jack.  Jack barks back, backs off and the brittney is right back on him.  I know about the keep your dogs on a leash and all, and later we ran into about 4 other groups both with dogs and not, and no problem.  No big harm, a thousand apologies and we split up. Then we almost get run over by a group of 2 motorcycles and an ATV, 3 times.  Never mind the signs about no motorized vehicles.  Oh well, I still got 4 miles in.  The legs still feel a bit dead for the 3rd straight day.  Will have to see if I can figure that out.

Til tomorrow, be well - Sank

Double Race Weekend & IT problem

Well after finally deciding that the soreness in the outer part of my left knee wasnt going away.  Followed by a few hours searching on the internet, Dr. Me self-diagnosed myself with an IT problem.  (Office hours are Thursdays from 7pm-10pm - have you insurance and co-pay handy). 

Anyway, I headed off to DB Sports in Plainville, MA (a local runner's den that has been around since my first running go round in the mid-80's - great place, well stocked, good people, highly recommended) and bought an IT band.  I decided to take the night off from running and went for a easy 3 mile walk with Nancy.  Good thing as I want to do 2 5k's this weekend.  Yeah yeah I know "take it easy there Jurek" but after only starting again after YEARS away I am pretty happy with my progress, so keep your comments to yourselves.   LOL

So here's the planned schedule:
Saturday Sept 5th - 1st Annual Jamie Fund 5K Road Race & Walk, in Mansfield, MA - couldn't any more convenient since I only have to drive cross town and it's starts at the High School were I went, and my two oldest kids now go.  Anyway, being the first time racing in forever and with a mix of road and trail I have no idea what to expect time wise - wish me luck!
Sunday Sept 6th - 1st Annual Stella Blues Finish for a Guinness in Warren, RI  This race to is benefit the Christopher Stone Fund.  There are details on the website if you google the race but in a nutshell the proceeds are to go the family of a man that sadly passed away in August of ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease).  Although I never met him or his family, it goes without saying that all of our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family, I know my do. 

Well Happy Friday all, and I hope you all have a very Happy, Safe and Healthy Labor Day.  Damn where did the summer go.

Lost!

Not the TV show, but it was I that was LOST.  Yeah it finally happened, and I am sure I'm not the first that it is happened to, nor will it be the last time it happens to me.

So I'm running in the Gilbert State Forest in Foxboro (MA) and I decide to try a new trail.  Map in hand, I head over the roots, fallen trees and mud pits and off I go.  Well somewhere between what the map says and my legs went, weren't quite the same.  Now I kinda figured I was going ok, until I saw the blue triangle saying "Now Leaving the Boundaries of the Massachusetts State Forest".  THAT should have been my first clue, but NOOOOO I kept going.  Ended up somehow finding my way back on the trail, but them compounded it by going right instead of left and again going the wrong way, finding a new "Now Leaving" sign and hit some residential neighborhood.  3 additional miles later and I ended up in the car.

Bad news: I got lost, Good news: It actually turned into a great run, put in some decent mileage for the day, spent an hour or so away from the traffic and craziness of the world.  Not to mention another reason to blog.

Cancelled Race

Got home last night to find a refund check for the Feet-4-Trail's race that was to be held Sunday Sept 20th.  It was to be my first official Trail Race (although short) and I am now definately bummed.  I was able to find a decent list of upcoming races on http://www.coolrunning.com/.  Oh well what are you going do.

I am also looking for a list of TRAIL running clubs in either Southeastern Massachusetts or Northern Rhode Island if any one knows of any PLEASE comment back to me.

I don't have to outrun the bear...

One of my all time favorite stories
Two friends decide to go camping.  In the middle of the night they here a huffing and snorting by their firepit and head out to investigate.  Right next to the fire is a very large and very unhappy grizzly bear.  The second friend starts to run frantically as the first camper heads back in to his tent and quickly puts on his running shoes.  The second camper says, "you can't outrun that bear." The first says, "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you."