This photo selection is based on me realizing that my final time at Sunday's marathon was 30 seconds off the final time at this 2005 (Chicago) Marathon... although we added 3-4 minutes Sunday by getting a little lost. In contrast, Sunday I finished soaking wet, ripped my number almost in half, looked like a disheveled mess... then got soup on my shirt (delicious soup) and tip-toed around barefoot post race. We had a lot of laughs... Doctor D and I passed each other about 6 times... "hi honey."

This was the photo Hockomock Swamp Rat magazine ran for my Ratdossier profile... a tremendous honor. I'll try to attach it somehow to my blog, but need to ask Double J how to do that. HSR makes me laugh out loud... humorous and witty.

Weekend

Clarence Demar Marathon course. Keene, NH

Professor had his hands full this weekend... runners balancing niggling injuries... political relationships... important long runs. Judge pushed through 2 injuries to complete his long run (24 miles!) whew... Doctor Death's achilles behaved and let him finish his long run (27 miles, Demar Marathon, see photo)... Hillcheck's dehydration unfortunately forced him to cut his a tad short, but he's young and will be fine... Mountain Goat is happily clapping her hooves too

What is going on with MVS?

(Photo credit Ted Tyler, Rhody 2008)

Yes, there is concern and confusion... people are wondering about the changes at MVS. Members watched the MVS webmaster and old website disappear... resignation of a number of club officers and board members... and elite athletes... conflicting posts on Yahoo MVS chatgroup... there's a underlying feeling of difference.

Like you, I'm not sure what's going on. Is the impetus behind it due to the change in the direction of the MVS Executive Board? Because MVS is becoming a triathlon club instead of a running club?

I am friends with and run with a number of triathletes, they are wonderful people and impressive athletes, even if I don't participate in the sport. Where is the concern? Is it wondering if MVS as a triathlon club will be as committed to running as MVS was as a running club? Is it apprehensions whether our top caliber running program suffers? Are our coaches happy with this change? Are members happy with this change?

MVS members remain as passionate as ever about running. They respect and hold highest regard for the MVS coaching staff led by Fernando Braz. Those are some key issues, among other things, which I hope the Executive Board recognized as they change the direction of MVS.

I don't know the answers to all the questions or where things are going. I know I still love running and want to train with Fernando... regardless of whether MVS lets us down.

Track last night

I have a smile this morning. Yes, I got through most of the track workout. Only modified the end, per instructions of coach.

Steve Sarro (physical therapist) talked with me a bit about the injury... then warmed up with Stephanie and Dave Hirst, who are in the illness avoiding part of their taper for Chicago. Above is a photo of Steph smokin' at New Bedford. My track group was Judge, Dan Frank and Paul Dilorenzo.

The only tragedy occurred after the 3rd mile of our cooldown in the dark, when the suddenly injury prone Judge twisted his ankle... hopefully ice fixed it.

What's the photo?

Who? The adorable kids are Chris' niece and nephew... Chris has a incredibly wonderful family. His parents, sister, brothers, their spouses and kids... all of them are warm, kind and lots of fun.

What are they doing? After I did the La Sportiva USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit last year, Chris gave me the nickname 'mountain goat.' It's a big compliment since it's a tough race series, especially when you add Mount Washington too. http://www.usatfne.org/trail/ The kids are helping me look more like a Mountain Goat.

people who care about us

Being an injured runner has been showing me how many people care. My sweet Greek boyfriend knows firsthand what it's like, what to say, what advice to give... reminding me not to throw things! My supportive fellow goons, Judge, Hillcheck and Professor, they know what it's like too... care about how I'm doing... or Judge & Hill just need the goat to pace them, so then they pass her at the end ; )

My currently injured goat buddy double-d offered to let me the use an extra Aqua Jogger and run with him... and he's a legend, sheesh! Dad wants to know what he can do to help and get this, I have a 'Korean Mom' even asking about my knee! My precious roommate Jiyeon, as brilliant as she is sweet, told her mom about my knee. Now I've got a concerned mom in Korea hoping my knee heals quickly... global caring.

Smashing Doors

I need a "badass" photo today. Since Jim Rhoades just made me a facebook friend, here's a photo of his. Thanks Jim.

If I was a real mountain goat, maybe my horns could have taken some of the impact which instead all went to my right knee on Saturday. Brilliantly, rushing inside to get some sunscreen before my run, I pulled the door handle and smashed my knee with the door. I hit it with so much force that my knee bruised, swelled up and could not bend quite right (that's the "before" knee in the photo)

I had been so pumped to race the Maine Coast Half Marathon on Sunday, already mentally rehearsing, wanting to shake hands with KV Switzer http://www.katherineswitzer.com/

I pondered, race anyway? Thinking back to when I did New Bedford when injured and my shin blew up to twice it's normal size, then was hot to the touch for days and then couldn't run for 6 weeks. That was worth it. It was a Grand Prix race. I rationalized that this was not a "key" race, so gotta keep my eye on the prize. I was disappointed, but maybe by passing on it, I can stay in the game for Bay State.

I have been icing, elevating, "Advil"ing and praying. I have faith that everything happens for a reason and try not to get too riled up when things don't go as anticipated. The biggest concern is whether I did internal damage like I when I hurt my meniscus falling on a tree root and missed 6 weeks of running. This bruise looks like it is more directly on the patella, rather than the inside, which makes me slightly more 'cautiously' optimistic. Tom Brady said if it's as bad as his knee, we'll just drink lots of beer.

The rest of the Goon squad did their 14 yesterday and I am so happy they are all feeling good. Sounds like they had a blast. Way to go, goons!!!!

Me yesterday? Did elliptical and I looked back at my races and training this year and feeling fortunate. A 2nd, 3rd, 5th in age... a smokin' half marathon... 11 minutes quicker up Mt. Washington... finally fulfilling my 5k PR... cranking at Yankee Homecoming... can't even complain about Bridge & Ollie. Don't tell F, but I'm actually following the program better than usual.

My point is, cherish it when it's good. It can be taken away quickly. Although I could miss the rest of the season and still feel it was a successful year, possibly I can fix this, hang in the game for one more month? Please?

Doctor Death, Greek

Speaking of great photos by Scott Mason, this is as good as it gets... the form, the focus, the feet and perfect background! The runner is one of the four founders of the Goon Squad, 2008 MVS president, the Doctor Death and very studly Greek. Mmmmm, I could look at this photo all day. At track Wednesday, Greg, was giving me crap when he saw me 'check out' Chris when I came up the final straightaway.

Mount Washington Road Race

I love the pre-race video from from DoubleJ (and Kristin).

http://doublejrunning.blogspot.com/2008/06/2008-mt-washington-road-race-us.html

Thank you, Scott Mason

DoubleJ showed me to Scott Mason's race photos and if you haven't seen his work, they are fantastic... like you are looking at an artist's work, plus they make you look "feet off the ground" fast. See, I'm flying, in the air!!!

Thank you to Scott Mason for sending me the shots from Bridge of Flowers. Check out Scott's gallery here http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/galleries

Scott did photos at Women's Olympic Trials and Rhody, and gets photo credit for the picture of Judge at Bridge of Flowers below.

Hill "Check" Man

If anyone is curious why Dan is called Hill "check," just pull a 'Z' move and try rudely cutting him off at a water stop or on the track. Dan's cross training sport is hockey and he knows how to put someone out of his way. Ask him about the water stop story sometime. Here's a photo of Dan at Rhody. Dan is one of the founding members of the Goon Squad and is close to another USATF-NE Ironrunner year.

Not if, but when

In running, it's not a question of if you will get injured, it is a question of when.

First Hillman's posterior, then Chris' achilles, then last night during track workout, the Judge's hamstring. After Ollie and speedy long run the next day, my posterior needed a few days on the lacrosse ball and icing.

Goon Squad is dealing with the inevitable challenge of learning how to manage our bodies' response to increased miles, speed, plus some racing. We are at a heavy point in marathon training and asking a lot of our bodies. Keep the faith, boys. Let us know how it is going.

Judge did not like how he looked in last photo, so above is a great shot from Bridge of Flowers of Judge. We hope his hamstring is better today.

The Goon Squad

Members as of January, 2008

Doctor Death (Christopher Chetsas)
Judge (Scott Masse)
Hill Checkherout Man (Dan Hill)
Mountain Goat (SP)
Warrior (Mike Masse)
Taz (Jim Johnson)
Spanky (Hank Wilder)
Cougar (Kelly LeCours)
Bentley (himself)

Training with Fernando

When Merrimack Valley Striders had the old website, I did a write-up about training with Fernando Braz. I wrote it about 4 years ago and recently just updated a few of the numbers.

Training and Qualifying

Working with Fernando Braz, I went from being intimidated about racing, only having the confidence to do one or two 5Ks a year, and believing that one marathon would be my lifetime goal, to running 15+ races a year, including eight consecutive USATF-NE Ironrunner Series, the USATF-NE Mountain Series, completing twenty marathons, a 50K trail ultra and two Mount Washington Road Races.

While training with Fernando, I dropped my marathon time by 18 minutes (the 2001 Cape Cod mentioned below) and qualified for the Boston Marathon... then I requalified seven more times after that.

My most memorable experience and proudest achievement to date was my first time qualifying for the Boston Marathon in a PR of 3:39 at the Cape Cod Marathon in 2001. The whole experience was unreal. I remember near the finish, Fernando was beside me on his bike and it was like a scene from a movie. The coach had brought me so far and my dream was coming true of qualifying. It was one of the greatest moments my life and I felt the high for months.

Fernando is amazing and he knows exactly what to say to me. In fact, the best advice I ever received came from athlete Jill (Gaitenby) Boaz who told me to "listen to Fernando." And I do.

Before and Now

Before Fernando, I raced a few 5Ks and one marathon. I was a recreational runner and nervous about racing. I tended to overtrain and train incorrectly, to the point of several stress fractures. Listening to Fernando I’ve learned so much and achieved things I never could have imagined. In 2002 I had the NH State Age Record for 20K distance for my age and in 2003 the NH State Age Record for 6K distance for my age. I’ve been proud to earn “hardware” in my age division, win a couple races and still achieve PRs in my 40's. I’ve trained with Fernando for 8 years and aside from his incredible technical knowledge and his ability to connect with individual runners needs, Fernando offers so much support, fun and motivation.