Author: Mark Allman

Took a few days to let some things heal a bit. Now back to it. I’m adjusting some routes to add more vertical where I can get it. I have a few ideas.

Today’s run was a 11.22 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:52. Total climb was about 595 feet.

Recovery day. I decided to switch to the bike to minimize the impact load on the feet and knees. Push a bit but don’t get too crazy.

Today’s ride was a mostly flat 4.92 mile route. Pace was 4:48. Total climb was about 180 feet.

What a day for a marathon. Temperatures through the 70’s as the race progressed, ending at around 80. Near 100% humidity at the start and sunny throughout. Brutal. The asphalt roads were pretty toasty for the second half of the race. Perfect training weather though.

I wore my desert hat that has a curtain-like piece that hangs down over the neck. It definitely keeps the Sun off. That and grabbing water at every stop to dump over my head and neck are the ways to beat the heat.

I heard some people talking about the route after the race. They said it’s the toughest route they’ve seen, and beats most ultras. Maybe. It is challenging.

Today’s race was the Mad Marathon in Vermont. Run/walk overall pace was 11:37. Total climb was around 2600 feet.

A warm and very humid mid-day. I decided to swap in some bike work instead of a run to see of that doesn’t aggravate the hip. Didn’t feel a thing. We’ll see later today.

Today’s ride was an easy 7.15 mile mostly flat ride. Pace was 4:42. Total climb was around 105 feet.

Mild, humid morning for a run. Temperature around 69 degrees and some wind. I did something to my right hip while mowing the grass last Saturday — some sort of twist. Weird. I noticed it later in the day after the 11 mile run on Tuesday. Didn’t feel a thing during the run or after for quite a while. I noticed it just a bit today. Nothing painful per se, just a little something.

Today’s run was an easy 5.26 mile hills route, with the short 10+% hill at the end. Pace was 9:37. Total climb was about 325 feet.

A relaxed early morning run today. Not the best summertime conditions: clear, dry, no real breeze and temperature around 58. Not the conditions I’ll see in races. Hard to believe I’m wishing for early mornings being warm and humid. Just can’t keep some people happy.

Today’s run was a 11.22 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:17. Total climb was about 595 feet.

Switched to doing some work in the heat today. Temperature in the late morning was around 85, humid, and a heat index probably at or over 90. It is a bit different. It’s not so much the distance as it is the practicing managing your effort and condition. It would definitely be a day where I’d be stopping at every water station to get a cup or two to pour on my head.

Today’s run was a short 2.33 mile rather flat route with a short 10+% degree hill at the end. Pace was 9:06. Total climb was about 134 feet.

A rainy and mild early run today. Temperature was around 66 degrees with steady rain for the first several miles, then tapered to light rain, and ended probably with about four miles to go. Lots of rivers and large lakes on roads to run through. Who cares, beyond avoiding potholes.

Today was a tired 13.12 mile rolling hills route. A “take it easy” kind of day. Pace was 9:51. Total climb was about 645 feet.

A short hills run today in the late morning sun and heat. Temperature was around 83 degrees. The race in a few weeks starts at 7AM, so we’ll be out there in the later morning. The route was four loops that included a short 10+% grade climb.

Today’s run was a 2.77 mile hills route. Pace was 9:32. Total climb was 205 feet.

Recovery run day. The first half mile — ugh. Everything hurts. Whatever. It gets everything loose. It actually helped that the weather was clear, no wind, temperature around 73 and lots of humidity.

Today’s run was a 2.18 mile rather flat route. Pace was 10:02. Total climb was 90 feet.