Sunday Run

After a successful trip to Hopkinton last week, and 22 miles in the books, its time for a nice easy run through Melrose. We’re going back to Swains Pond, along the Fells, out to Farm St and back Main this week. There are a few hills in there, but it ends with a nice flat Main St stretch. Remember these next few weeks are all recovery runs. My motto is “Don’t do anything stupid” from here until the marathon, so as the miles go by don’t get too ambitious and try to set any records on a taper run!

The Water Stops this week will be at Citizen’s Bank in Malden, the knoll by the Middle School, and Nicks Pizza in Wakefield. I will only run a part of the route, if anything, so I’ll plan on taking the first two stops. If someone will volunteer to be water stop 3 at Nick’s I can pick you up in the morning and leave your car with a box of supplies. Who’s interested?

Ok, who’s in? ROLL CALL!

Here’s where you get completely overwhelmed by how much I over organize this.

Due to the special requests made along the way, there is extra room in the cars, but here are a few things to note:
– Kaj’s car is leaving early so he’ll be heading to Hopkinton alone
– Katie’s car won’t be transporting people back, we’ll get your stuff out of it
– Those departing in Katie’s car can ride back in Kaj’s car, although generally speaking, just find a seat that gets you back to Melrose
– Thuy needs to be back in Melrose before 1 so she will be leaving the finish early those in her car can opt to ride back in other cars, space permitting
– I’m never really clear on Walt’s doing, but I know what the weather will be while I’m confused

Here is the link to the route for those running it.

THE ROUTE

Memorize it well. If you get lost out here you’re in BIG TROUBLE! We won’t know where to find you because you’re not where you’re supposed to be. For the most part it is straight. Rte 135 to Rte 16 to Rt 30. If you think you’re supposed to turn, you should be at the corner of Washington St and Comm Ave in Newton. That intersection is the first major intersection after the Newton Wellesley Hospital. There is a firestation, THE FIRE STATION all Boston runners should be aware of, on your right as you enter the intersection.

And here is the transportation and water stop plans. Its got a lot of info to make sure we don’t lose anybody tomorrow, and that you’re all well supported all day long.

THE PLAN

Speaking of cars and drivers, remember that Hopkinton is 45 miles from Melrose, that BC is 21.5 miles from Hopkinton, and Melrose is at least 15 miles from Boston College. Also remember that gas is closing in over $3.80 per gallon. I encourage you to tip your driver.

Any questions post them now, otherwise see you before 7AM tomorrow behind Brueggers.

Last week we did Breakheart, this week we do Heartbreak.

The plan is to leave Brueggers at 7AM on the dot Sunday Morning. Be there 10 to 15 minutes early, the cars will pull out at 7. We’ll get off I495 right before 8AM, take a bathroom stop about a mile before the starting line, hop back in the cars, take a quick picture in front of the Marathon Starter Statue, and you’ll be off. Every 3 miles or so there will be water stop cars stretching the way from Hopkinton to Boston College. A car will be designated as the finish line car holding most people’s clothing so you can change into warm dry clothes at the finish in nearby coffee shops. We’ll congregate outside St Ignacius Church, take another group picture, weather permitting, and head back to Melrose. After that it has become a tradition to head over to the Dockside for a burger and a beer to celebrate the season of Taper Time.

First thing’s first, I need drivers! Typically I need at about 3 or 4 dedicated drivers and 6 or 8 people that will drive half the course and run half the course. Let me know if you’re interested. This is a great opportunity to give back to the Sunday Long Run if it has helped you in the past. Also I need cars, big ones. Even if you want to run the whole thing, if you have a car that can seat more than 4 or 5 people comfortably, the more seats the easier it is to carpool people. So far I have the following:

Runners, I can guess who’s coming, but please post here if you plan on running with us. I need to figure out spaces in vehicles so if you don’t say you’re coming and you show up on Sunday, its first come first serve, and typically there are no empty seats to begin with. I’ll start filling in the list as people say they’re coming.

Full Runners
———————-
Kerry Armstrong
Dorota Bulik
Carol Carstensen
Judi Chiavetta
Betty Cooper
Michele DeAngelo
Jen Dodge
Walt Drag
Rich Fortuna
Alicia Furbush
Chas Gallant
Kathryn Gorczyca
Lisa Hentschel
Kaj Kandler
Andy Nagelin
Judy P
Gillian Petrozziello
Carly Rose
Jeff Rushton
Katie Sinnott
Dan Slattery
Mike Urquiola
Jose Viveiros
Brian Walfield
Joe Winslow
Tiffany

Half Runners
———————-
Ed Bradford
Lois Parker Carmona
Jim Carson
Gloria Chin
Nancy Gaudet
Carleen Melkonian
Audrey Paradis

Driving Only
———————-
Derek Hentschel
Liz Tassinari
Thuy Dang

Please post by Wednesday night, when Part II will come out.

(3/22/12: So far we have 33 people coming. We can fit that in 6 cars. If you’re coming and you’re not on the list by Friday Morning… well, you’re not coming so SIGN UP NOW! If there’s anyone not on the list that you thought was coming, remind them to post NOW!)

Last week we had a good recovery run, with an easy flat start, a few hills thrown in to give you that Heartbreak Hill feel, and then a flat finish. Everyone looked like they had a good strong run a week after their 20.

This week we have almost 18 miles, a bit more hilly though. This is a good opportunity to start testing out your clothes you plan to run in for your marathon. If you haven’t gotten new running shoes recently, check them, you’ve probably been running a lot more than you normally do so they may be starting to break down. You want to break them in for the 22 next week to know they feel right, and then have them in prime condition for your marathon. Also start making a habit of eating the same thing on Saturday night and Sunday Morning so you know your stomach can handle the food before a big run.

The run will take you up to Melrose Common on East Foster, over to Swain’s Pond along Swains Pond Ave, right onto Lebanon, left onto Forest,  and over towards Oak Grove. If you don’t know where those places are check the map. This run has gotten a few people lost in the past. when you come up to the ponds, Swains Pond Ave turns right, don’t go straight up the big hill. When Swains Pond Ave comes out to Lebanon. GO RIGHT. A few people have veered off to the left and headed into Malden. Eventually they come back, but its best not to add unnecessary miles on. When you come out of Forest St in Malden there will be a Citizen’s Bank across the street. Water Stop 1 will be in the lot.

The second leg of this run is past Oak Grove Station on Winter St. Run directly across to Glenwood St. Follow this curvy hilly road out to Highland Ave. You’ll recognize the paper boy at the rotary, go right onto the Fellsway East. Take those hills all the way to the LynnFells Parkway, past Grimsby’s, Dunkin Donuts, the hill into Melrose, to the knoll across from the Melrose Middle School. That’s where you’ll find water stop 2.

After that stop take the LynnFells all the way to the Saugus entrance to Breakheart. You’ll find another water stop there.

Loop Breakheart back to the water stop.

Follow the LynnFells back to the knoll for another stop.

Go back over the LynnFells hill to Grimsby’s, turn left onto West Wyoming, and another left onto Main St and bring it on home to Brueggers!

If you’re running the short route, take a look at the map, since we’re looping Melrose Center for the first 7 miles you can make this one a few different distances to fit your training.

Water Stops: I’ll take one of them, probably the first one. Then I’ll move along the course and join in on the run. I’ll need a car for water stop 2 and another for 3… and maybe someone to pick someone up. I have most of the supplies, so I could distribute them in the morning. Let me know who else can help.

So who’s in? ROLL CALL!!!

Ok, I’m back, barely. Thank you to AJ and his helpers, they all did a great job coordinating water stops and keeping the crew running in my absence. Such a great job that I think I’ll let him keep running the show. I’m retiring!!!

Just kidding. This week you’ve got 16 miles in front of you. Run this as a recovery 16, nice and easy with the only challenge being through Breakheart.

There are three water stops on this run, all of them in one spot, Nahant St in Wakefield. The run will head up Main St to the water stop, around Lake Quannapowitt to the water stop, and over through Breakheart to the water stop, then back to Melrose. Simple.

I’ll handle the water stops. AJ, if you can bring the stuff in the morning I’ll run into Shaw’s for whatever we need restocking of, and we’ll go from there. If anyone is interested in helping with the waterstop let me know, but this week is a pretty simple one.

Who’s in? Roll call!!!
See you all in the morning!