The Children's Museum in Easton

16th Annual Father's Day Road Race & Walk
 

Sunday, June 20,2010
 

5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile "Fun Walk"
 

Post Race Party, Raffles and Awards

T-shirts for the first 250 pre-entrants 

Childcare available for pre-entrants

Website to register---
http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/ChildrensmuseumEaston/Fathersdayroadrace.asp

The event is to benefit the Children's Museum in Easton, MA

The Children's Museum in Easton

16th Annual Father's Day Road Race & Walk
 

Sunday, June 20,2010
 

5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile "Fun Walk"
 

Post Race Party, Raffles and Awards

T-shirts for the first 250 pre-entrants 

Childcare available for pre-entrants

Website to register---
http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/ChildrensmuseumEaston/Fathersdayroadrace.asp

The event is to benefit the Children's Museum in Easton, MA

The Children's Museum in Easton

16th Annual Father's Day Road Race & Walk
 

Sunday, June 20,2010
 

5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile "Fun Walk"
 

Post Race Party, Raffles and Awards

T-shirts for the first 250 pre-entrants 

Childcare available for pre-entrants

Website to register---
http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/ChildrensmuseumEaston/Fathersdayroadrace.asp

The event is to benefit the Children's Museum in Easton, MA

Oreo kind of day

Oreo? What are you talking about?
You know how a sandwich cookie, like an Oreo is hard on the outside and soft in the middle?

That was like my track workout today. The first and last were focused efforts and close to the target pace, the two middle halves got off to a slow start and I struggled to keep them in the ball park.

I was at the track to do 4 x 800 (or half miles). I did 3:35, 3:57, 3:49,  and 3:38.

Definitely suffered from a lack of focus as I started the middle two reps. I could feel my mind wandering away, picking through one or more of my "to do" list and taking it on, instead of concentrating on the run.

There was a strong breeze on the straight-away and you didn't feel it on the back stretch so that helped to contribute the 'lazy' start. I should have shifted to start on the other end so I would go into the breeze to begin with and that would wake me up. Instead, I got lulled into a nice easy pace on the back stretch, then came around the corner facing the breeze and a pace deficit that wouldn't be easy to recover from.

Concentration is key to pace work. Especially when you are doing it alone!

May the roads and trails be kind to you today or your next run.

Note photo credit to sassyradish for use of the handmade oreo - looks yummy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sassyradish/3382035562/sizes/m/

Long run Sunday

I got in a good long run Sunday, 15 KM according to my Droid ERIS Tracker app. Not bad. Especially considering that the last time I went that far was August 2006.

Yes, there is a story there. Most of it reported here over the time since then.

The reader's digest version would go like this.
August 2006, good runs on the three day FIRST Program. Generally 3-5 miles on the tempo run, 3-5 miles of track/pace work and 10-15 miles for the long run on the weekend.

That lasted until my kneecap slipped out of position on the kneeler at church one Saturday night and then again during the run Sunday morning. Stayed off running for a couple of days, but when I tried again, the knee cap would move. No pain but it wasn't supposed to do that so I checked with my doctor who sent me to therapy.

Spin forward several months I get the clearance to resume running and the knee fortunately is fine.
Gradually work the mileage back up and when I get to 5, the ankle starts bothering me. Now, what?

Turns out that I had rolled it during a temp run in late 2005, but kept running as it wasn't a bother. Worsened it during the half-marathon in Boston early 2006 but again recovery from that race everything seemed okay. Until the knee cap slipped and then trying to work the mileage back up again was raising the ankle as an issue.

Another round of doctors, x-rays, MRI's etc until finally in November 2008, I saw Dr Leavitt who provided the ankle brace that I have worn while running since then.

It has been a long and gradual return to good mileage. I should have been up to this distance last Oct/Nov except for the heat spell during August that caused me to loose some significant mileage.

No problem, I have patience. I am in it for the health of it as well as making some improvement on my avg race time. Getting up to this distance sets the stage for some good runs ahead.

May the roads and trails be kind to you!

The Children's Museum in Easton

16th Annual Father's Day Road Race & Walk
 

Sunday, June 20,2010
 

5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile "Fun Walk"
 

Post Race Party, Raffles and Awards

T-shirts for the first 250 pre-entrants 

Childcare available for pre-entrants

Website to register---
http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/ChildrensmuseumEaston/Fathersdayroadrace.asp

The event is to benefit the Children's Museum in Easton, MA

2nd Annual Parmenter 5K

Franklin's Parmenter Elementary School will hold their 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, May 16th.

You can register at Active.com here

The event website can be found here

The Children's Museum in Easton

16th Annual Father's Day Road Race & Walk
 

Sunday, June 20,2010
 

5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile "Fun Walk"
 

Post Race Party, Raffles and Awards

T-shirts for the first 250 pre-entrants 

Childcare available for pre-entrants

Website to register---
http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/ChildrensmuseumEaston/Fathersdayroadrace.asp

The event is to benefit the Children's Museum in Easton, MA

The bio-mechanics are completely different

Some area runners are leaving their sneakers behind to try on a more natural approach to training.

From barely-there shoes to nothing at all, some seasoned runners say barefoot running has its benefits.

"Running sneakers provide a tremendous amount of support and cushioning, but they could be hurting us by causing the foot area to move differently," Framingham runner Adam King said. "Shoes are basically doing the work nature intended our feet to do."

A self-proclaimed "fitness geek," King said he's always interested in running improvements and was intrigued by the trend he read about in magazines.

Set your feet free with barefoot running

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley, Daily News staff

first 100

Completed my run in the rain today, updated my spreadsheet and realized I had just completed 100 miles this calendar year! Woot Woot!

102.5 total over 26 days for a 3.9 miles/day average.

My run in the rain was a good one. I have always considered myself a "mudder" and have run some of my better times in the rain.

Because I feel more at one with the world?

Because I concentrate better?

Because I had a good workout on the track this Thursday, setting me up to run fully a minute per mile better over this same route than I did last Sunday?

Whatever the reason, and maybe it is a combination of the above, I will take it.

The feeling after is good! The runners high is worth running for!

Spring time? almost

I got over to the Franklin High School track yesterday for some pace work. It was my first time this season on the track and it was warm enough to do so.

After a warm up, 3 x 800 was the order for the day. I felt pretty good doing 3:29, 3:38 and then closing with 3:32. A good run home (2 miles) gave me a total of 4 for the day on the FIRST Program

I have the St Pat's 5K to run next week down in Providence. I did the inaugural run last year and it was a good event. Well organized, festive and out and back course, up hill going out, downhill coming back can make for some good times, even if it is early in the season.

What are you up to with your running?

Father's Day Road Race & Walk

16th Annual Father's Day Road Race & Walk
 

Sunday, June 20,2010
 

5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile "Fun Walk"
 

Post Race Party, Raffles and Awards

T-shirts for the first 250 pre-entrants 

Childcare available for pre-entrants

Website to register---
http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/ChildrensmuseumEaston/Fathersdayroadrace.asp

The event is to benefit the Children's Museum in Easton, MA

HMEA 5K Race/Walk - May 23rd

The Horace Mann Education Associates - HMEA, Inc. is located here in Franklin, MA but their effective service delivery is to over 100 communities in MA.

HMEA has a long history of providing innovative services in school, at work, at home and in the community and now serve over 2400 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services include: Residential, Day and Family supports, and services for children.

HMEA's Employment Programs provides people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue meaningful employment either on a full- or part-time basis. For people in the Employment Program who work part-time, HMEA encourages volunteering for community organizations, or leisure and recreation activities to supplement their day.

HMEA's Employment Programs serve people 22 years of age and older who live within the commuting distance of program locations in the following cities and towns: Bellingham, Clinton, Hopedale, Plainville and Worcester

The annual fund raiser for HMEA is the 5K Race/Walk and Family Fun Day scheduled for May 23, 2010.

SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, May 23, 2010 HMEA's 9th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run in the Park - MARK YOUR CALENDARS and grab your sneakers to participate in this "Fun-filled Family Day fundraising event...

This event, which is hosted by our good friends at EMC2 Corporation in Franklin, MA gathers 2,000 or more people to help HMEA continue its mission to make a difference in people's lives. AND, all the money raised is returned to the many programs at HMEA, which supports 2,400 children and adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities.

Once again we have Gene Lavanchy from Fox News25 and tentatively Gail Huff from WCVB-TV Channel performing hosting duties for us. And our great friends and inspiration to many, "TEAM HOYT", Dick and Rick will be on hand again this year -- plus we're pretty sure there will be a few other celebrities and mascots on hand as well!

So come on down and participate in the fun...there's raffle prizes, food, tee shirts for participants (while they last), prizes, a Kids Corner filled with games and activities, a Kids "FUN RUN" and so much more... 

In addition to working the road race registration table (and providing splits at the 2 mile mark), I have decided to help HMEA do some fund raising this year.

I love the quote from Horace Mann that they use on their History page:

"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity"

You can help the HMEA make a difference with a donation. I have a widget in the center column of this and my other blogs, should you choose to donate an amount within your means.

I will appreciate it.
The HMEA clients you help will too!

-----

If you would like to register for the race you can do so here
http://www.hmea.org/events.html

If you'd like you can contribute in one of several options directly through the HMEA website here
http://www.hmea.org/donations.html

No photo stop

It is a weird weather pattern that we appear to be stuck with here in the Northeast/New England. There is this nor'easter just stuck spinning around above us and dropping flurries here and there, some times in blinding fury, sometimes in gentle waves.

Amidst some of that, I ran today. And ran fairly well. It was a long run (about 8 miles total) and the longest scheduled recently. I had two decent runs earlier this week. The tempo run of about 3 on Tuesday and the pace work on a nearby hill loop on Thursday that covered about 3 in total.

One more long run scheduled before the St Pat's 5K down in Providence. I should be good and ready. It is still way early in the year and cycle of running but the race in Providence will be a good barometer of conditioning. It is a good course, uphill going out and once turned around basically down or flat returning. A good course to practice running negative splits.

Coming by Spring Pond in along Washington St in Franklin, I was sorely tempted to stop for a photo. The pond had an opening of water before the ice took over. Reflected in the water were the clouds that resembled a nice snowy peak. It could have been a nice photo but it would have broken my rhythm before the hill (which I was dreading anyway) so I dared not.

The image is captured in the mind. Maybe a future run will present a similar photo op in better circumstances.

HMEA 5K Race/Walk - May 23rd

The Horace Mann Education Associates - HMEA, Inc. is located here in Franklin, MA but their effective service delivery is to over 100 communities in MA.

HMEA has a long history of providing innovative services in school, at work, at home and in the community and now serve over 2400 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services include: Residential, Day and Family supports, and services for children.

HMEA's Employment Programs provides people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue meaningful employment either on a full- or part-time basis. For people in the Employment Program who work part-time, HMEA encourages volunteering for community organizations, or leisure and recreation activities to supplement their day.

HMEA's Employment Programs serve people 22 years of age and older who live within the commuting distance of program locations in the following cities and towns: Bellingham, Clinton, Hopedale, Plainville and Worcester

The annual fund raiser for HMEA is the 5K Race/Walk and Family Fun Day scheduled for May 23, 2010.

SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, May 23, 2010 HMEA's 9th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run in the Park - MARK YOUR CALENDARS and grab your sneakers to participate in this "Fun-filled Family Day fundraising event...

This event, which is hosted by our good friends at EMC2 Corporation in Franklin, MA gathers 2,000 or more people to help HMEA continue its mission to make a difference in people's lives. AND, all the money raised is returned to the many programs at HMEA, which supports 2,400 children and adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities.

Once again we have Gene Lavanchy from Fox News25 and tentatively Gail Huff from WCVB-TV Channel performing hosting duties for us. And our great friends and inspiration to many, "TEAM HOYT", Dick and Rick will be on hand again this year -- plus we're pretty sure there will be a few other celebrities and mascots on hand as well!

So come on down and participate in the fun...there's raffle prizes, food, tee shirts for participants (while they last), prizes, a Kids Corner filled with games and activities, a Kids "FUN RUN" and so much more... 

In addition to working the road race registration table (and providing splits at the 2 mile mark), I have decided to help HMEA do some fund raising this year.

I love the quote from Horace Mann that they use on their History page:

"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity"

You can help the HMEA make a difference with a donation. I have a widget in the center column of this and my other blogs, should you choose to donate an amount within your means.

I will appreciate it.
The HMEA clients you help will too!

-----

If you would like to register for the race you can do so here
http://www.hmea.org/events.html

If you'd like you can contribute in one of several options directly through the HMEA website here
http://www.hmea.org/donations.html

Arnold St hill - take it one step at a time

I had a good long in the cold this morning. I chose to do the good hill route out Summer St, up Arnold and then down Upper Union. A little over seven miles, it was a real good workout for me.

Arnold St hill - take it one step at a time, originally uploaded by shersteve.

I did stop to take a couple of photos but otherwise kept a good steady pace.

How was your run today?

first steps in snow

It was cold and blowing snow when I ran this evening. I cut the run shorter than I planned due to the slippery conditions underfoot. There was almost an inch of snow but some of the pavement below was nicely iced. I had some skidding moments and decided to follow Falstaff's advice: Discretion is the better part of valor.

 

If you got out today, I hope you had better weather to run in!

First I ran, now I run FRST

My entry for January's theme of health is up on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog today.

I share my experiences with the FIRST Program. FIRST comes from the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training. It is a great three day per week running program.

Read more about it in the post on JJL today

1st Run in New Year

1st Run in New Year, originally uploaded by shersteve.

I got out early Friday morning to crunch my footsteps in the new snow. Stopping to take a photo or two, I did complete three miles with some double telephone pole fartlek.

Drove home from the recent Baslock reunion so I missed running Sunday. Will definitely need to be more diligent with the running schedule as I go forward.

Do you have goals for the new year?

Happy New Year 2010

Wishing all the best to all runners for 2010!

This year, a opportunity to achieve personal bests!