May 26, 2013

An eventful day. 9am ran the Delaney Dash 4 mile road race in Old Saybrook, CT. This was my first official race as a 60-something. If nothing else, a symbolic milestone in my running experience. I've run Delaney a number of times in the past, but typically as a race early in my running season in any given year. The reason May was early was because I'd been taking winters off due to injury recovery or recovery from surgical procedures such as a hernia operation. 2013 is different. Following a strong finish to a slowly-started 2012 (punctuated with a good 7:12 showing at the the annual Pearl Harbor Masters 5.2 mile race in December), I ran through the Winter, running a couple half marathons (Colchester, Ocean's Run), a mixed trail race (Finally Spring 5K), the Jamestown Bridge 10K, O'Niantic 5K into April. This had a tremendous effect on early year training and conditioning. Also definitely worth noting is impact of weekend long runs with neighbor and running pal Al Litwin on Rocky Neck State Park trails and along the local CT shoreline. Huge. 5K race times started to get faster. Salem 5K, Great Strides 5K, Enough! 5K times dropped to 22:29, 22:21, 22:10. The big breakthrough came when I met my personal challenge to break a 7-minute mile in 2013 at Flanders 5K. Kept it going following weekend at Belltown 5K. Both 6:58's. Cool! The James Greenleaf 5K result of 22:33 reflected a tough stretch during which time my 92-year young Mom died following a sudden decline after several long years of grinding stints in nursing homes and assisted living care. However, life goes on and Suzan & I are blessed with friends and family who are always truly supportive.
Speaking of family, the 2nd big part of the day was celebrating the marriage of my niece Meg to her fiancee Seth at Pequot Chapel in New London at 3:30, followed by a great reception at the Waterford VFW Hall! Meg and Seth came to know each other at L+M Hospital, where Seth (a former US Army medic once stationed in Afghanistan) currently works as an EMT in the ER while pursuing a degree in nursing at Three Rivers College. Meg couldn't ask for a better extended family or better guy in her life... and my entire family couldn't be happier for her! It was almost fitting that they have their reception at the VFW on Memorial Day Weekend in honor of Seth's service to our country. Thank you Seth... and BEST of luck to both of you!

May 23, 2013

Sunday ran 12 with Al Litwin. Giant's Neck through Old Black Point, Black Point, Attawan Beach, Oak Grove Beach, McCook' s, Hole in the Wall Beach, downtown Niantic and across the Niantic River Bridge. Then back to Al' s house. Typical Al, maintaining negative splits. Always keeps me honest... no slowing down allowed. Monday 4.5 early afternoon tempo usual Meech Avenue, Eastern Point Beach, Avery Point, Tyler Avenue, Meech hill, Eastern Point Road. Spotted Mike Boumenot walking back to office from Building 100, stopped to walk and chat, get caught up. Good thing... Legs were getting sore. Getting older is tough... Took Tuesday and Wednesday off to recover. Thursday climbed and descended Raunig' s ladder on a fitness center dreadmill with 200 meter intervals at 3% grade from a 9 minute mile to 5:30 mile and back pace. Invigorated. Looking forward to Saturday's Delaney Dash in Saybrook Point, which will be my first official road race in the 60+ bracket. Then off to my niece Meg' s wedding at Pequot Chapel in New London in the afternoon.