Long weekend

 Despite my hamstring injury I hoped to have a good long weekend. I got in runs in Concord and Chelmsford and did my first outside bike ride in over a month! It was a terrific ride with temps in the low 30s and maybe even above freezing by the end.

 

On Sunday I met up with Richard Bolt who was visiting from the west coast. We set foot on the highest points in Belmont, Arlington, Winchester, and Woburn. We also attempted a geocache at the Arlington circle (no luck) and hiked around the Arlington reservoir (nice).

Looking back - Feb 1981

 45 Years ago - I had a pretty solid indoor track season and made it through February running 6 races. I started the month just missing the (Methuen) track record with a 9:41.6 win in the 2 mile in a dual meet against Central (02/05/81). Two days later (02/07/81) I anchored two relays (2m & mile) at the State Relay championships setting a PR in the half (2:05) and the quarter (56.0). On the 12th I set the League Meet (and Methuen fieldhouse) record in the two-mile with a win in 9:38.0. The old record was set by Austin Preps John Callahan (9:39.6). A week later I set the Billerica HS record with a third place finish at the Northern area meet, running a 9:31. Mike Flynn (Woburn) and Steve Perkins (Danvers) both ran 9:27 to take first and second place. I finished the month out lowering my school record by a few tenths (9:30.7) at the State Championships where I finished second (Flynn first in 9:13).

Week Ending 02/15/26

 I stuck (pretty much) to my plan to bike/Go in the morning and afternoon and do 4 miles at lunch. Some improvement with my hamstring strain but definitely needs more time. I had some fun this week with a fantastic ride outside on Sunday, some hiking, and run with my favorite training partners.

Week - 39

Month - 126

Year - 521

Life - 167,521

Old course record

 February course records - I have a course record set in February that has survived the test of time. My record for the Fudgsicle series 5k reached 35 years during the month. On 02-09-91 I set the CR of 14:57. That year I won a series race in the 14’s, 15’s 16’s, and 17’s. It was a fun test to see if I had range, and the luck needed to win at each of those times. 

There are two more races this year (14th and 21st) so it could still fall this year...

Week Ending 02/08/26

 Week Ending 02/08/26

 

What a week! Started the week feeling great and looking forward to racing. Ended the week thinking I’ll need some “down” time. Did my first workout in 3 weeks, a 2 mile tempo run and felt great (Tuesday). Felt fine on Wednesday then Thursday morning had a sore spot on my hamstring which isn’t unusual (something always hurts) but by Thursday afternoon I knew it was more than just a niggle. Fortunately the 4 mile championships was postponed and I wasn’t force to “jog through”. Probably a 1^st degree hamstring strain, I’ll need to be cautious to ensure I don’t keep aggravating it. That is easier said than done. On to the bike and eliptiGo!

 

Week – 80

Month – 87

Year – 482

Life – 167,482

Workout

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In anticipation of the USATF NE road 4 mile this weekend I decided to do a workout on Tuesday. I hadn’t done a workout in 3 weeks and the last was a mile in 6:41. Goal: Aggressive warm-up aiming for 15-flat, into 2m in 14 flat (or better), 1m warm-down. Result = 2m in 14:48, 2m in 13:20 (6:48/6:32) and 1m in 6:58. 33 degrees, sunny, light breeze. I felt pretty good after and figured I’d aim to break 26 on Sunday.

 

Felt good on Wednesday (6 in the morn, 4 at lunch, and 3 in the afternoon). Thursday morn I felt a tiny sore spot on my hamstring. Not unusual, something hurts all the time and usually just gets better with time. Lunch it was tight and very tender, and for the afternoon run I knew it was not good. A first degree hamstring strain.  Started really working on it Thursday night and Friday morn. It was tender and had a very sharp pain at 4.5 miles. Went fairly easy at lunch and it was sore but manageable. I’m hoping to still run on Sunday since CMS needs three in the 60+ to score, but now it will be a training run and not a race for me. Such is the way…

First four weeks

 I’m a little above my cap of 80 miles per week but a little behind my mileage from last year. Last year I was training for the Derry Rail Trail Marathon. This year, I'm not sure what races I'll do.