Foreshadowing...

Since my last post, things have not been great....haha, but I am still loving to be out there.  Weeks have been:  14, 11, 8 and 22 miles.  I just could not shake the hammy soreness and needed 3 straight days off in this 11 and 8 mile weeks.

On the plus side Andrew and I did find all 16 trees during the annual Chelmsford Tree Hunt run each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The last tree (Thanksgiving Forest) was seen at about 4:15 PM on Christmas day.  We almost missed it and needed some help from some thoughtful hikers who saw it and double back to tell us.  It is a great event!  Andrew did fabulously!!

The beat goes on....

Running is going well. A few ups and downs but loving being out there. Since my last post, I have had weeks of 19, 28, 21 and 26 miles. My long run was on Thanksgiving morning, 1 hour. It was a slow pace but all felt ok afterwards. As I write this though, hammy is very sore after yetserday's torrid 9 minute per mile pace 52 minute run. I am going to keep on, keepin' on.

The day after Turkey Day, is Peterson family tradition day, we made our way up to Contoocook and Henniker for a little craft shopping for Mom and sightseeing for us. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Daniel's restaurant along the banks of the Contoocook River in Henniker. Some history of the Contoocook River:

The Contoocook River flows for 71 miles from Poole Pond in Rindge, New Hampshire, north to the state capitol, Concord, where it enters the Merrimack River. Encompassing a drainage basin of 766 square miles, the Contoocook has a total drop of over 700 feet which affords one of the premier whitewater boating stretches in New England.

The North Branch River is a major tributary of the Contoocook and flows for 16 miles from its headwaters in Stoddard through Antrim and on to Hillsboro where it joins the mainstem of the Contoocook River. The entire lengths of these two rivers were designated into the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program in June 1991.

History

The Contoocook River's unusual north-northeasterly flow pattern made it an important travel and communication corridor in pre-colonial times and during settlement. The area was home to the Kon-wa-teg-ok trail, which connected the Native American villages along the Contoocook River north to the river's confluence with the Merrimack River. Seven archaeological sites have been recorded along the Contoocook River profiling the Penacook people's lifestyle based primarily on salmon fishing and agriculture. Early European settlers established the villages of East Jaffrey, Peterborough, Bennington, Hillsboro, Henniker, Contoocook and Penacook to take advantage of natural falls or the water power that could be harnessed by dams. Numerous sites in the Contoocook River Valley are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One notable site in Hillsboro, is the homestead of Franklin Pierce, the only New Hampshire native to serve as President of the United States.

Been a long time, been a long time

WoW!

John Parker always worries that if I do not blog I am not running. Happy to say I am running. Since my 4 mile week in mid-Sept (I will never-ever do the batting cages again), here are my weeks miles:

20, 18, 22, 22, 25

Holding steady. If hammy is sore I am trying long runs at 10 to 11 min pace. Trying to simulate being out there a longer time and work that up to > 1 hr. Hopefully, come Mt W I can delay tiring closer to the finish.

Had a great time on a mid-October hike of Mt. Watatic (4th annual). I carried my niece Gina in a backpack carrier. I was very careful hiking down.

Petey

self-inflicted batting cage wound

I have pieced together how the heck I hurt myself.....mind you, it is not too hard to do that. On 9-15 we had our company outing. I purposely strayed away from the batting cages for fear I'd tweak my shoulder (my old swimming injury). I played 9 hole, pitch and putt and then gave in and went to the batting cages deciding the shoulder could not get that bad. Well, it was the hammy to watch out for....D'oh!! I am such an idiot and as fragile as a flower. Live and learn.

I ran 4 miles last week (2 miles per day) after 4 days off and then needed another two days off. Time will tell.

A good stretch comes to an end

Since I last blogged, I had a pretty good stretch.

Aug 28 - Sep 3: 21 miles with a day off (75 min walk). Sunday's run was after/during Irene. Lots of downed trees in the neighborhood.

Sep 4 - Sep 10: 23 miles with a day off (75 min walk). Sunday's run was my first at Maudslay State Park. Ran with Ken and Chris K. Nicest run I've done in a while. Park is beautiful.

Sep 11 - Sep 17. 20 miles. My day off was a 90 min combination of walking and six, slow 5 min runs (at about 12 to 13 min pace). All was well but after Friday's run the tendon behind my left hamstring was killing me. Have not run since, usually it takes about 4 to 5 days to start back.

Looking forward to family hike of Mt. Watatic on Sept 25.

Vacation time for Petersons

We hit Clark's Trading Post and Whale's Tale Water Park in Lincoln, NH this past week. Mileage was ok. Hammy was sore.

Mileage: 18 miles

Sun: 75 min walk
Mon: 20 min run (hammy twinges)
Tue: 31 min run with Joe at Gates Pond
Wed: 30 min run
Thu: 20 min run in Woodstock, NH
Fri: 30 min run in Lincoln, NH
Sat: 30 min run

Dewey Evans' mileage

That's right! Dewey Evans' mileage for the week: 24 miles. Capitalized on last week's off day on Friday to get all 7 days in this week. Pretty good week although a Friday rush to beat the thunderstorm with the lawnmower tweaked the hammy a bit. Yes, I am a fragile flower or something like that....

Sun: 30 min run
Mon: 30 min run
Tue: 30 min run
Wed: 30 min run
Thu: 30 min run
Fri: 25 min run
Sat: 40 min run with DD at the Rivah!

Hey 19!!

Hey

With Sunday's HUGE day (Andrew's mile (total of 17 min run) and my 30 min run), I had a 19 mile week with two days off. Monday was my long walk (Warning 47) day, and Friday was a rare night/day away from the kids for Danielle and me.

Mileage 19 miles.

Sun: 30 water run with DD, 30 min run with DD and Scott and 17 min run at High St mile race (Andrew) plus run back (Ken)
Mon: 60 min walk
Tue: 30 min run
Wed: 30 min run
Thu: 30 min run
Fri: off
Sat: 35 min run

Question: When is a 9:23 mile...Great!

Answer: When it was run by Andrew!

6 year old Andrew ran his first race, The High Street Mile in Newburyport on Sunday, August 7th. In torrential conditions, he ran the whole way without walking a step. 9:23. Splits: 2:19, 2:26, 2:19, 2:19.

Uncle Dave also ran 5:02 and supplied the photo in, did I mention, torrential conditions. ;-)

and the Running von-Tripp children:

Macy (8 yrs old): 7:58

Kyra (10 yrs old): 8:17

Owen (6 yrs old): 8:50

Noel (4 yrs old): 9:44

Decent week: 17 miles

Hey All

17 miles this week. Some typical aches and pains but I'll take it. Last 5 weeks: 5, 10, 13, 14, 17 miles.

Sun: 25 min run
Mon: 60 min walk
Tue: 30 min run
Wed: 22 min run
Thu: 30 min run
Fri: 30 min run
Sat: 23 min run

There is always hope.

Enjoying dreaming about racing.

Book-ended week with runs with infrequently seen friends

Hey

Achy hammy all week. Tried to blame it on massage's effects (Monday massage), but it was sore going into the massage. Felt ok though.

Good to see Rob on Sunday and Ken on Saturday. Haven't seen Rob since last Nov and Ken since Feb.

Sun: 18 min run (alone) and 45 min water run at Walden Pond with Rob
Mon: 45 min walk
Tue: 22 min run
Wed: 25 min run
Thu: 25 min run
Fri: 15 min run - so achy after Thursday's run
Sat: 30 min run with Ken

Thunder-shortened water run caps 20 min runs week

Hey

Finshed up a 13 mile week. Feeling ok. Trying to maintain some hamstring exercises and stretching after each run.

Awoke Saturday and got in the water about 6AM. Thought I heard thunder and turned back after 10 mins, got out at 20 mins and soon after the thunder was booming.

Also trying a new plan with my day off, trying to get in a long walk to simulate being on my feet for a while. Hoping these to get to 1hour +.

Sun: 30 min water run and 20 min run (with DD)
Mon: 45 min walk
Tue: 20 min run
Wed: 20 min run
Thu: 20 min run
Fri: 20 min run
Sat: 20 min water run and 20 min run

13 miles.

Book end water runs and 15 min runs

Hey

The week started and ended with 30 min water runs. In the middle, some 15 min runs. Hammy is feeling a bit better.

Sun: 30 min water run and 15 min run (with DD)
Mon: off
Tue: 15 min run
Wed: 15 min run
Thu: 15 min run
Fri: 15 min run
Sat: 30 min water run and 15 min run (with DD and DaveLa)

Back to the water

Hey

My first full week of "training" after Mt Washington featured a return to the water of Heart Pond. Chelmsford did a great job removing the weeds, and it certainly makes the experience a lot loss creepy when you aren't stepping thru 20 feet of weeds. I am unsure whether I should take time off since hammy is still not right or just do what I'm doing....I chose the latter.

Sun: 20 min water run
Mon: 30 min water run with DD
Tue: 30 min water run and 10 min road run
Wed: 30 min water run and 10 min road run
Thu: 10 min run
Fri: 10 min run
Sat: 30 min water run and 10 min road run (both with DD)

24 times up the Rock Pile

My 24th Mt. Washington Road Race went about as expected. 117th man and would have been the 25th woman (if I were a woman). 1:29:37. My 3rd slowest time in 24 tries.

I went through 1/2 way in 42:02. The wheels never really came off the bus like last year although because of the lack of base miles, I slowed at the top. Last year I RAN (not walked) a remarkably slow 13:53 for the last 0.7 miles. This year it was 8:18. My splits: 8:42, 11:00, 11:31, 11:48, 12:48, 12:43, 12:45 and the 8:18.

Since I last blogged, my mileage has been pitiful (left hammy issues). I ran 13 miles, 16 miles and then 20 miles (including the 8 miles on race day). I took 4 days after the MTN and did a very slow 2 miles yesterday, 6-23.

Looking forward to next year!!!! It'll be my 25th time up the rock pile!! Who knows, I may be able to run a sub-1:25 if I can just train adequately.

Weeks ending May 21 and May 28, 2011

Hey

There is an old saying. "One does does not blog if there is no good news to report", well, it hasn't been great, but it could be worse. First the right hammy and then the left. As I write this on June 1, I'm going to need a few days off to heal up. Same old thing, tendon/hammy behind and on the outside of the left knee is sore. Usually, I need 3 to 4 days off and then, as Arnold says, "I'll be back (just don't tell Maria!)"

Week ending May 21: 23 miles
Week ending May 28: 20 miles

Sun: off
Mon: 20 min run
Tue: 30 min run
Wed: 35 min run
Thu: 40 min run
Fri: 45 min run
Sat: scheduled off day

Week ending May 14, 2011

Mileage: 26

A promising start finished with a slight setback. Perhaps a "long" run should be followed by some light days. This time it was the same tendon/hamstring difficulties behind and above knee, except this time it was my "good" hamstring. Dealing with it after 2 days off. Not perfect but hopefully I do not have to miss any more time.

Sun: 70 min run
Mon: 45 min run
Tue: 55 min run
Wed: 40 min run
Thu: off
Fri: off
Sat: 20 min run

1 month to go until the MTN!!

Week ending May 7, 2011

Mileage: 29

Not a bad week, sore after Monday but better after Tuesday. Felt ok rest of week. Never went over an hour but felt mileage each day was decent. Missed 2 days (both scheduled off days) but still reached 29 miles, which is decent for me.=

Sun: off (scheduled)
Mon: 55 mins
Tue: 45 mins
Wed: 50 mins
Thu: 55 mins
Fri: 46 mins with DD
Sat: off (scheduled)

Week ending April 30, 2011

Mileage: 30 miles

Not a very good week, hammy very sore especially after Tueday's run. I took some easy days and actually the mileage is not all that bad....by my new standards. Things have improved each day since Wednesday.

Sun: 65 mins with DD and Scott
Mon: scheduled off day
Tue: 45 mins, very sore after
Wed: 20 mins
Thu: 30 mins
Fri: 45 mins
Sat: 60 mins with DD

Week ending April 23, 2011

Mileage: 29 miles

Things holding steady, a bit more sore towards the end of the week.

Sun: 30 mins
Mon: 65 mins
Tue: off
Wed: 45 mins
Thu: 35 mins
Fri: 50 mins
Sat: 30 mins

My nephew lowered his PR in the steeple at Princeton. "Sophomore Chris Estrella (Lowell, Mass.) placed 46th overall and eighth among Division II-III runners in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 9:35.44, despite suffering a tumble with 600 meters remaining."

Supplanting Mac in the Steeple

My nephew ran his second steeplchase ever at the George Davis Invitational on April 9th. He ran a 8 second PR and, in the process, made the top ten individual list for UMLowell in steeple performances. His time knocked out John McKenna from the list. I ran with John back in the mid '80's at ULowell. 3000 METER STEEPLECHASE (TOP INDIVIDUALS) 1. TIMOTHY GUERIN 9:01.93 LARRY ELLIS INVITE @ PRINCETON 04/17/09 2. Kevin Alliette 9:14.31 PENN RELAYS 04/24/04 3. Steve O’Brien 9:17.57 New Englands @ Northeastern 04/08/10 4. Mike Wright 9:18.30 N.E. CHAMPIONSHIPS @ NU 05/09/87 5. John Doherty 9:18.84 Brown Invitational @ Brown Univ. 05/03/92 6. Ben Saviet 9:20.91 Larry Ellis Invite @ Princeton 04/16/10 7. Declan Gilbert 9:21.89 N.E. Championships @ Northeastern 05/14/88 8. Mike Toomey 9:28.54 BC Relays @ Boston College 04/18/92 8. John Doherty 9:28.54 Northeastern Invitational 04/11/92 10. John McKenna 9:42.34 Men 3000 Meter - George Davis Invite Steeplechase========================================================================= Name Year School Seed Finals ========================================================================= 1 Macky Lloyd JR College of S 9:38.00 9:14.47 2 Michael LeDuc FR Conn College 9:30.00 9:25.15 3 Kurt Ruegg FR Harvard 9:20.00 9:30.18 4 Christopher Estrella SO Umass Lowell 9:40.00 9:41.02 5 Ethan Penny SO Stonehill 9:37.05 9:59.08 6 Timothy Nohelty FR New Haven 10:20.00 10:04.39 7 Nathanial Webber FR Stonehill 10:15.40 10:13.91 8 Chance Wilk SO Keene State 10:20.00 10:16.27 9 Gabe Campbell JR Bentley 10:11.95 10:17.32 10 Harry Mullin SO Merrimack 10:22.00 10:23.89

Week ending April 16, 2011

Mileage: 30 miles Handled coming off the Rivah marking aok. Hanging in there. Hamstring almost predictable in how it will feel. Sun: 40 mins Mon: 40 mins Tue: 30 mins Wed: 60 mins Thu: off Fri: 45 mins Sat: 40 mins

Week ending April 9, 2011

Running 4 days in a row now. Trying to figure out what I can handle. Friday's run was slow since we were marking the course but it was my longest run since last June. Had a blast at the Rivah! Could have done a better job seeing the job thru to the end though. Thanks to DRC for doing my job! Mileage: 22 Sun: 30 min run Mon: off Tue: 40 min run Wed: 40 min run Thu: 30 min run Fri: 66 min run (marking the Rivah with ScottyG, DoubleJ, DD, DaveLa and DanV) Sat: off, co-race directed at the Rivah!

Week ending April 2, 2011

Gave the tendon/hammy above and behind my right knee 3 days rest. Ramping up now. Ups and downs, trying to keep the faith. Mileage: 12 miles Sun: 36 min run with DaveLa Mon: off Tue: off Wed: off Thu: 15 min Fri: 20 min Sat: 30 min

Week ending March 26, 2011

Rest did a world of good for hammy. However, perhaps 50 min run was too much, too soon. Good hammy, the right one, hurts now. Forced me to miss 3 days in the following week. Good part about being hurt is the joy of getting to run again once (at least partially) healed.

20th Rivah is coming!!! soon.

Mileage: 23

Sun: off
Mon: 40 min run
Tue: 40 min run
Wed: 40 min run
Thu: off
Fri: 30 min run
Sat: 50 min run with E-Streeters and DaveLa

Week ending March 19, 2011

Rest did a world of good for hammy.

Mileage: 9

Sun - Weds: off
Thu: 20 min run
Fri: 25 min run
Sat: 35 min run with DD, Bob

Week ending March 12, 2011

Had a great run with the YAEC guys at Cisco on Thursday. Course was really hilly. Felt aok aerobically but the hammy was feeling it and after struggling thru a 20 min run the next day and a, not as bad, but some sharp pains 35 min run on Sat, I missed the next 4 days running. Dealin' though, looking forward to the Rivah on the 9th. Run the Rivah!

Mileage: 25

Sun: 45 min run
Mon: 30 min run
Tue: 40 min run
Wed: off
Thu: 45 min run with Rachel, Glenn, JoeK, Spin, ScottyG
Fri: 20 min run - way sore
Sat: 35 min run with DD, Scott, Carlos and DaveLa

Week ending March 5, 2011

Hammy is what it is. Hah! Belichikian for -- I'm dealing. Felt great on Sunday but by the end of the week I was having the little sharp pains during the day, even on Saturday (off day) when I went on a leisurely walk with OliBear. I mentioned to DD that I longed for the days when I could do a workout and grab my knees in exhaustion after a hard tempo ar my fifth hill repeat....I can only dream.

Mileage: 21

Sun: 40 min run
Mon: 30 min run
Tue: off
Wed: 35 min run
Thu: 35 min run
Fri: 35 min run
Sat: off

Week ending Feb 26, 2011

Hammy is a bit better. Running 3 days in a row now. Patience is a virtue. I am in Mt. Washington, lottery bypass has been granted.

Mileage: 18

Sun: 20 min run
Mon: off
Tue: 30 min run
Wed: 35 min run
Thu: 30 min run
Fri: off
Sat: 35 min run

Week ending Feb 19, 2011

Hammy is still iffy after last week. I took it easy Mon-Weds, shorter runs but did so for 3 straight days to help promote blood flow. Friday night, after an AM run, my hammy was so sore that I called DD to cancel Sat AM run. He did not get message and showed up Sat AM. The slow 27 min run was not as bad as I had thought it would be.

Shoulder is definitely better, not perfect, but better. May try to swim in March.

Mileage: 12

Sun: off
Mon: 20 min run
Tue: 20 min run
Wed: 20 min run
Thu: off
Fri: 23 min run
Sat: 27 min run

Week ending Feb 12, 2011

Had a setback. First two runs of weeek went well, 55 min followed by a 33 min run. After a scheduled day off, hammy was sore for a brisk 7 degree, 35 minute run with JoeK in Bolton. Hammy was still sore for 55 min run the next day. It felt ok on run but walking around was awful. Took next 2 days off and planning on a third before a 20 min run on Monday. Perhaps a bit too much too soon, but I have been patient.

We'll see.

Total miles run: 21

Sun: 55 min run with DaveLa
Mon: 33 min run
Tue: off
Wed: 35 min run with JoeK
Thu: 55 min run
Fri: off
Sat: off

Week ending Feb 5, 2011

Not quite the same without swimming. Shoulder/neck are better but still sore while sitting at work and at night. Not sure what to do. Running-wise it was an ok week. A bit more sore than last week but dealing.

The possibility of missing Mt Washington b/c I may not make lottery is starting to set in. That would be a terrible way to end a 23 year streak. As they say, the times they are a changin'. But as Tom Petty says, "Most things you worry about don't happen anyway." We'll see which one occurs.

Will all this snow melt for the 20th Rivah???

Total miles run: 19

Sun: off
Mon: 50 min run
Tue: 30 min run
Wed: off
Thu: 33 min run
Fri: 50 min run
Sat: off

Week ending Jan 29, 2011

Running week went well, swimming week not so much. Worked in a few snowshoe (SS) runs. However, DD does not think I am race ready, and I will not be doing his snowshoe race on the 5th. On the swimming front, my shoulder is worse. May be all the shoveling and roof raking but this has been an ongoing and worsening situation. My neck and shoulder are very sore and I'll be taking some days off from swimming.

Miles run: 23
Miles swum: 3.74 miles

Sun: 45 min run with DaveLa
Mon: 33 min swim
Tue: 33 min swim, 20 min run, 10 min SS run
Wed: 33 min swim, 35 min run, 10 min SS run
Thu: off, no swim b/c of snow (again)
Fri: 33 min swim, 30 min run
Sat: 45 min run with DaveLa

Week ending Jan 22, 2011

A decent week. DD's snowshoe race is 2 weeks away and my goal is just to finish. Hopefully, all the adrenaline I know I'll have will be taken by the initial climb. I do not want to get suckered into going fast"er" on the downhills.

I did not run on snowshoes at all last winter. So, I started with a 5 minute jaunt after my Saturday run. It's the start of a 2-week SS ramp up.

Trying to decide whether to start the small biking stints again.

Miles run: 18
Miles swum: 3.74 miles

Sun: 42 min run with DD and Scott
Mon: 33 min swim, 21 min run
Tue: 33 min swim
Wed: 33 min swim, 21 min run
Thu: 33 min swim, 42 min run
Fri: off, pool closed
Sat: 21 min run with DaveLa, 5 min SS run

Week ending Jan 15, 2011

Not a very good week. After Sunday's 40 min run which went fine, hammy started feeling achy and then down-right sore. Certain movements with leg would really hurt. Each day got progressively better, though, and I had back-to-back 20 min runs by end of week. Planning on 40 min run on Sunday.

Weekly Mileage: 9
Miles Swum: 3.74
Minutes on stationary bike: 0

Sun: 40 min run with Scott and DaveLa
Mon: 33 min swim
Tue: 33 min swim
Wed: off, no swimming pool closed b/c of snow
Thu: 33 min swim, 20 min run
Fri: 33 min swim, 20 min run
Sat: off

Week ending Jan 8, 2011

Felt ok all week. Ran three days in a row because of a medical procedure on Friday. Felt fine by end of the day on Saturday. Upped daily swim length by 10%, knot in my shoulder blad but that may not be swimming related.

Miles run: 15
Miles swum: 3.74 miles
Minutes biked: 45

Sun: 35 min run with DD, DaveLa and Scott
Mon: 33 min swim, 15 min bike, 20 min run
Tue: 33 min swim, 20 min bike
Wed: 33 min swim, 10 min bike, 35 min run
Thu: 33 min swim, 20 min run
Fri: 20 min run, pool closed
Sat: off

Week ending New Year's Day, 2011

This week marked my first back-to-back running days since May. Hammy holding together. A bit more sore than usual but I'm dealing. Now on a run-run-off schedule.

Weekly Mileage: 13
Miles Swum: 3.4
Minutes on stationary bike: 30

Sun: 30 min run with Scott
Mon: off, pool closed due to snow, PT drills
Tue: 30 min swim, 30 min run
Wed: 30 min swim, 20 min stationary bike, PT drills
Thu: 30 min swim, 10 min bike, 20 min run, PT drills
Fri: 30 min swim, 31 min run with DD and DaveLa
Sat: off, PT drills