Archive for April, 2011

Week Whatever – Horn Pond

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Most of our SLR runners are recovering from Boston, some are headed south to Nashville for a marathon, and a few are still training, so we’ll keep the Sunday Runs going for another few weeks. This week we’ll run to Horn Pond in Woburn (here’s the map).

I’ll do a water stop at Eugene past I93 but I plan on running a bit of the route. LizT plans on parking at Horn Pond. Brian Walfield plans on supporting as well. I’ve been away since the first run of April so… who has the supplies?

I know we have Dorota doing her first taper for Sugarloaf, and AJ’s got a 22 on his way to Edinburgh, but who else is in to keep them company? Let me know so I can plan the supplies.

See you Sunday!

Congratulations Boston Runners!

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

None of you made it onto the national coverage so I didn’t get a chance to see any of you, but I do see you all successfully made it to the finish line. Great Job! Congratulations. After many weeks of training and a few hours of racing, it’s time to put your feet up and relax for a little while. Enjoy the post marathon period, you deserve it. See you at the MRC SLR Brunch (some upcoming Sunday).

Boston Marathon Weekend

Saturday, April 16th, 2011

The final week of the official Winter/Spring 2011 Sunday Long Run season is upon us. Monday many of our SLR pals will be heading out to Hopkinton to make their journey to Boston. Good luck to each and every one of you. You’ve dedicated your Sundays to this goal, trudging through one of the snowiest, messiest winters in recent memory. All ths ice covered hills you’ve climbed has prepared you for Monday. Now the training miles are in your rear view mirror and the entering Boston sign is ahead of you. You’ve earned yourself a great run, now go get it!

For those not running Boston, I’m not anywhere near Melrose (or any other city for that matter) so I don’t know what’s going on as far as a Sunday Run. There are a few of you planning on marathons and halfs a little further out in the future. We’ll support those runs in a somewhat less organized manner into May. Post here and let us know what you’re training for and I’ll figure out how to help get you there.

After I get back we’ll plan the Winter/Spring SLR Brunch. We’ll get together at someone’s house and replenish from all those winter runs with some good food, good coffee, and good stories from your races. If you’re willing on hosting the brunch, please let me know. It will be a pot luck style brunch so the host is only responsible for providing a space to eat, we’ll bring all the food.

That’s it from me. Have a great marathon everyone!!!

Week 14 – This is it!

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

Yes, this is it. After 14 weeks of training, it’s the easy week before the big run! This is what I call “Don’t Do Anything Stupid Week”. Unfortunately I won’t be around to hear about the stupid things you’ve done during your taper but that doesn’t mean you don’t run. Go out there and do an easy run, enjoy the last day of SLR training, and for goodness sake stay safe! I’m far far away so organize this one yourselves. Who’s in, who’s doing water stops, and who’s going to be the one that does something stupid?

Week 13 – Taper Time

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

After last week’s extravaganza we get back to normal. Those running Boston have hit their taper, where muscles are allowed to recover for the big race. The first taper run is slightly under 15 miles. Yeah, you’re in such good shape that an easy recovery run is 15 miles! The rest of  you run whatever you need to for which ever race you have coming up. If you need extra miles, typically a car will be back at Brueggers with supplies so you can refuel before tacking on a few more miles by running the MRC summer route or looping around Pine Banks for some miles.

You’ve experienced one of the snowiest, coldest training periods in recent memory. Just to put an exclamation point on that Mother Nature coated us with the white stuff one more time, although I think it’ll probably be just a memory in Melrose by Sunday Morning. The route this week takes us through the area we ran on the snowiest run of the season, Swains Pond. You’ve run this route a few times this winter: Up to Melrose Common, around Swains Pond, Lebanon to Forest and the first water stop at the Citizens Bank. From there you head out Glenwood St (the map says Greenwood, someday I’ll fix that) to the Fellsway East. Head right, through the hills, past Grimsby’s to the Melrose High School. Water stop 2 will be at the knoll. Then continue on the Fellsway, take a right at Main St in Saugus and continue onto Farm St turn left on Nahant, which will take you to Main St in Wakefield where Water Stop 3 will be at Nick’s Pizza. Head back Main St and taper run number 1 will be done!

Water Stops. I believe Barry will be there (although he’ll be celebrating his birthday into the wee hours the night before the run). I’ll be there, but I might have to leave early. Anyone else helping?

Who’s in this week? Roll Call!