This morning nine runners headed out before the snow began to fall to get in their Sunday long run. They followed the substitute route to take advantage of the efficiency of the water stops, one stop, three visits. Running along this route provided excitement within the first mile. After crossing Franklin St on Main St an SUV, which was traveling south towards Melrose had just minutes before crossed the yellow line, the northbound side of Main St, the curb, the sidewalk, and the brick and glass storefront of Platinum, a new hair coloring salon in Melrose.
Since my body is used to getting up early on Sunday mornings, even without and alarm I was awake at 6:30. I wasn’t running today but decided to visit the water stop and the neighboring Dunkin Donut. Lauren and Barry Cossette set up in the same spot my car occupied the day before, providing water and gatorade to the runners as they went by. The wind was still blowing in from the north but with slightly less force. The temperature had fallen about 15-20 degrees overnight too. And as Audie and Suzanne pulled out to do their lap around Lake Quannapowitt the snow flakes began to fall.
I had my breakfast while sitting with Lauren in her car waiting for the group to hit the water stop for the second time. Judi came back from the lake and headed straight back to Brueggers to finish a 10 mile run the day after running long on the Boston course with Jen Rappaport. Joe came through next, the birthday boy celebrating his day with a strong 18 miles, spilled gatorade all over himself before heading over to Breakheart. Behind him came BarryC with a pack of our friends from Mystic: JohnM, Jen, and JohnK… the last of which was dressed in shorts and a single longsleeve shirt and insisting he was running hot. Lauren jumped in with Jen and headed down Nahant for a loop of Breakheart, Barry catching a breather followed behind shortly after, whilethe Johns headed back to Brueggers. Audie came in from the lake and headed out Nahant too, determined to complete 16 miles for his longest post-injury run. Suzanne braved the ice and snow as well following the full route.
Heading back to Brueggers I left the water stop duties in the able hands of the Cossettes, thank you two for providing the stop today! Back at Brueggers John, John, and Judi chatted speedwork while Joe barrelled through to Pine Banks and back to finish his 18. He reported slippery conditions on snow covered ice in Breakheart and various places along the run. Walt’s prediction was very close, the timing was tough to nail down but the dusting of snow and icy spots was right on, runnable but not as pleasant as yesterday.
Now it’s time to hunker down for the real snowstorm, which judging by the line in the bread and milk aisle at Shaw is gonna be a big one. I hope those running Stu’s in Clinton avoided any nasty weather. Stay safe and see you all on the other side of the storm… First Tuesday of March!
Thanks folks for the efficient and very helpful one stop/3 visit stop. Enjoyed chatting with Judi for first leg of the run. It was slippery on the flatter half of Breakheart. The Gatorade spill was compliments of the ole dribble glass trick. Gets you every time. Trying to figure out what happened to cause that accident at the hair salon. Fortunately, it appeared no one was seriously hurt. The salon, however, seems pretty smashed up.
Great job to everyone who ran today with MRC, at Stu’s and yesterday.
It only took me 3 hours and 40 minutes to complete my first ever 18 mile run. I almost cried when I had to bend over to go under the gate at Pine Banks. Luckily I was able to straighten up and make it back to Brueggers. Thank you to Lauren, Barry and Jim, I look forward to the water stops and the fun conversations. I’m going to drink beer now and watch NASCAR.
I caught a glimpse of everyone running by my house this morning. I felt slight envy, but when the snow started falling soon after my warm house felt ok. It seemed only minutes after I saw the crew pass that I also saw police and fire trucks buzzing by. I was just hoping no one got hurt, but I guess it was just a hurt SUV.Sounds like everyone is training well. I would be happy to do a water stop next week. I have cut back on my running, but if you need a volunteer just let me know.
Thank you to Barry and Lauren for the stellar “two person” water stop. I appreciate the fact that you were in your car or I may have tried seven cars before finding the right one:) Hope you both had a good run. Thanks to Jim for changing up the route which allowed me to avoid Breakhart and enjoy the company of my fellow runners. Joe-HAPPY BIRTHDAY-even though you’re trying to keep it under wraps. I’m sure Red Bones was able to fuel the rest of your run but I hope the winds weren’t too cruel around the lake. It was great meeting some new folks but we also missed the usual suspects. Hope everyone had a great run, wherever you were, and CONGRATS to the STU CREW. I hope the day was better than expected.
Great job today, everyone! It was great seeing you all but I must admit that I was happy I already had the longer of my two weekend runs behind me. Six was about all I could muster in this morning’s dreary weather. Congrats to all those who went the full distance, both here and at Stu’s. As for me, I’ve had better runs. Too much alcohol on Saturday night plus 4.5 hours of sleep is not the best running strategy, in case you were wondering. Not to mention my collision with the pavement in Breakheart, which rivaled the SUV/hair salon crash… Oh well, it’s behind us and I look forward to a better run next weekend! 🙂
p.s. Happy Birthday, Joe!!
I am happy to report that we all made it through the Stu run today! When Dave, Christine, Jose and I met at Brueggers this a.m. we were so relieved and excited that the predicted forecast was a bit delayed, or so we thought. A lone flake falling here and there, but we thought we had escaped the wintry mix for the race. We enjoyed the ride out and conversation to Clinton in Daves’ tempered 75 degree truck, agreeing that we were going to run this as an 18.6 mile training run. So, stepping out into the wind and heavy flurries was a bit of a shock to the system. We met up with Rick, Barry P. and Matt in the gym. By the time the race started the wind was gusting, and the snow accumulated about 1/2 inch. It was one of those runs where if you looked up, the snow went right into your eyes, and if you looked down the flakes accumulated on your eyelashes blurring your vision.
The first and only mile of this race was flat with a slight down grade. I won’t give you a mile by mile description of this course, just know if you decide to do it, the rest is very hilly, with two “nice treats” where you feel someone is applying a blow torch to your thighs at mile 17 and 18.
Despite the challenging course, it’s definitely manageable. I persevered using the Jim Carson method of running from water stop to water stop. They were set up every 3 miles. Also, I was lucky to latch onto a group pacing themselves at 9 minute miles; a very pleasant and comfortable pace for me for this distance. At the first ws I thought the volunteer gave me an empty cup. When I went back for another one I realized the water that was in there had converted to another phase – solid ice! I couldn’t help but laugh, and then had to focus on pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth while running to get rid of brain freeze. The rest of the ws were pretty much the same, so you had to do a quick scan to find the cups with the least frozen crust. Luckily, gatorade has a lower freezing point.
Despite the weather and the hills, I felt like I had a good, strong run, and was suprised how quickly it went by. At mile sixteen it hit me that I hadn’t run this far in a race before, and I started to think about all the club members that wished me well, and believed that I could definitely do this. I am so greatful for your support. This was a great course to run before Boston.
Matt and Kim were excellent hosts. Their home was so warm and comforting, and with delicious cowboy stew, it was just what we needed after todays run. Thank you Matt and Kim.
Now with my lower back needing a little TLC and a couch that’s calling to me- signing off.