Monday, April 16, 2018

17:22

The view from my front door at 7:14 AM shows the remnants of the freezing rain from yesterday, which has turned into a driving rain in the 30s for this morning.  I don't envy the Boston Marathon runners.  Glad this is not the year I decided to try to check Boston off my bucket list!



When I think about it, I've been so fortunate with my three fall marathons in terms of the race day weather. Toronto was a bit warm for my tastes, but overall I think I'll stick with the fall destinations. Training over the hot summer and reaping the rewards of cooler days in the fall is part of what makes the process worthwhile!

From the television, the second wave of Boston runners have just started their quest for 26.2 miles. Most everyone I can see is covered in hats, rain gear, ponchos, etc. The scene cuts over to the women's lead group, an hour into their race, at mile 10, and it's striking how low the spectator turnout appears to be. Those who are out there face rain and winds that tug at their umbrellas. I can still hear the spirited cheering, though!

It is appropriate on this Patriots' Day, a day of historical significance in Massachusetts, for me to reveal my own marathon plans of 2018... news that all four of you have been eagerly awaiting! (Just imagine the fife and drum roll now!)



...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

The Philadelphia Marathon
Sunday, November 18
https://philadelphiamarathon.com/



My interest in this marathon began last year when I was considering a marathon which would not require a qualifying time or a lottery pick for entry. Plus, the historical aspects of this destination are a major appeal! I have not been to downtown Philly in more than a quarter century, so this trip should be a treat!

I would say that I've been more and more interested in American history as years go by. I've recently finished an excellent book on the writing of the Constitution, and there is no question that Philadelphia is a must-visit city for anyone interested in that time period. I look forward to sharing some historical insights this year -- as well as my training progress!

Saturday, April 7, 2018

17:30

Spring is off to a roaring start, and this weekend it's time for me to make my yearly transition to the outside trails to ramp up.  I write this with a smirk, since it snowed yesterday!

Yes, we did have three powerful nor'easters here in Massachusetts in March and narrowly missed out on a fourth. And, true, I did have more yard debris to clean up than the usual, but since mid-March, I've had no real excuse to not be outside. The town even did a good job clearing the rail trail after storms this winter. At least, as far as I could see while driving past the trailhead in the comfort of my car!

So, without further ado, let me introduce my shoe selections for the 2018 active season!

The Brooks Ghost 10s which served me very well in Toronto last year will move into the training rotation for this year.  The other pairs of running shoes from last year will find a suitable donation bin and hopefully wind up serving some other useful purpose!

Below on the right, are the Saucony Cohesion 11, about half the price of last year's Saucony Kinvaras.  But the reviews remain quite strong, and I am optimistic that they will stack up.

On the left are the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3.  These are the next edition of last year's Zante v2.  Once again, I expect to mainly use these as a daily footwear, and pretty little in terms of running.




Last, but certainly not yeast, I managed to score a pair of Pizza Hut Pie Tops! If they're comfortable enough I'll try them out on a 5K, and once I cross the finish line (or maybe even before), I'll activate the pizza ordering mechanism for a healthy refueling option!



Stay tuned, friends. The next post will be the big reveal for the year, and you're not going to want to miss it!