Moon Pie

BQ1 has started a program for a fast 10 miles at the RC Cola Moon Pie race in June. I've always wanted to run this one fast, but it's never happened. Jeeeez, can't even manage half marathon pace. The heat is what seem to get me. The little hill at mile 4 isn't that big of deal. Last year we ran faster the week before when it was cooler in training than on race day a week later.

I'm doing my own training for this one. Little speed work in the heat once a week with EB and a second speed workout later in the week. Trying to keep the long run around 14 to 16 miles to keep the endurance up.

Training this year just doesn't seem to be going right. I can hit the targets, but come race day it isn't happening. My mental toughness seems to have slipped. I just can't seem to keep the pace going. Don't know the answer. Speedy suggested another time trial. Perhaps. That seems to be what turned the corner when I finally did get a sub 19:00 5k. A couple more weeks of training and the Wich brothers should have enough speed training to make this happen. It would be a good test for all of us. Then once more before the target race.

Thought marathon training was the answer, so I started another running streak in January. Stopped it last week, at around 82 days or so. Took 2 days off. More miles seems to work the best for me, but it isn't working this year. Perhaps its' the lightweight trainers I've been using. I do alternate a beefier shoe every other run. Barefoot sure as hell isn't the answer. BUT, I do think the form drills are definitely helping, though that is what tweaked my glut/piriformis. It's been sore for at least 3 or 4 weeks.

Maybe it's just age. Damn near 50 years old. Frustrating, plus I'm still looking for a job.

Purity Moosic City race report

Dylan decided to race the one mile fun run, yesterday. This was his first race. He's 8 years old. Can't remember how old Darrell was for his first race. We started towards the back of the pack, almost to far back. We had to go around a few walkers. I pretty much just chased after him. He did pretty much what I told him. Start slow and pick off runners. At the turnaround, a half mile out he'd worked his way up to 3rd overall, passing two older girls. He battled with the 2nd place runner most of the way home and finished 3rd overall. He won a nice boom box for his efforts.

My race didn't pan out as well. My only hope of beating the Wich brother's was to go out hard and maintain to the finish. First mile pretty well told me it wasn't going to happen. BQ1 passed me around mile 2 and then an entire truck load of UPS runners. Just couldn't maintain the pace. Ended up with a 19:40 or so, good enough for 3rd in my age group. BQ1 got 3rd master for the 5k and his brother got 1st in his age group (plus he beat me). The 10k guys did well, taking 4th and 5th overall. Which placed them as the 1 and 2 masters runners in the 10k. (those guys are in a whole other sphere of racing, their pace for 6.2 miles was quicker than we ran the 3.1 miles)

This race is great for the kids. The Wich's had 2 vans worth. The herd all won some hardware. Great day for a race, the weather couldn't have been any nicer. Just cool enough for the runners, but not to cold for the spectators.

spring ?

Plenty warm last week, almost like summer. Lots of sunshine and temperatures in the mid to upper 80's. Dylan was out of school for spring break. We went fishing most every day. Caught plenty of small fish, but no keepers. Darrell went with us a few times, just enough to get sun burnt. He's pretty fair skinned like Paula. Dylan on the other hand almost seems to have a built in tan. Not much on the job search. Started that in earnest this week.

Picked up Paula's little girl on Easter sunday. Her name is Zoe. Not sure how she's going to spell it. She's a tea cup, long hair chihuahua. Super tiny dog. Really funny watching her and Harley. She's smaller than his head. He plays real gentle with her. Lance on the other hand wants nothing to do with her. He almost acts like he's afraid of her. She makes him look big and he only weighs 11 pounds.



Darrell and I had a small beer sampling on the deck one day. We compared our California common to the Anchor Steam. Similar, but ours wasn't as malty. Plus, ours seemed to have more of a hop flavor. Also tried the Hop Devil. Think that may be our next brew, something really hoppy. Only downside to the real hoppy beers is the price of the hops. It adds up pretty quick. That and the amount of sludge left in the fermentation bucket afterwards. Should be able to avoid that by using a straining bag to contain the hops.



Making another sub 19:00 5k attempt this weekend at the Purity Moosic City Dairy Dash 5k and 10k. (plus the kids one mile fun run, perhaps Dylan will jump in ?) BQ1, his brother and I will be racing in the 5k and the Fast Master and Preacher will be racing the 10k. All of us will start together. The 10k group splits around mile 2 and the 5k group heads to the finish. We should have plenty of time to find a spot to watch the 10k group push it to the finish. Think this will be the largest concentration of the herd in one race, yet. (herd is the name bestowed on the small running group that meets at "o dark thiry" quite a few times a week)