Pictures from 2010

Here are some of my favorites from 2010

GTD Track Workout 5.25.10

USATF, New England 8 Mile Championship, Stowe 7.18.10, PR

GTD track workout, 7.27.10 (Dave Dargie) 

USATF, New England 8 Mile Championship, Stowe 7.18.10 (with Mom)

USATF, New England 5 K Women's Championship, Providence 10.3.10,  PR



USATF, New England 5 K Women's Championship, Providence 10.3.10, PR
Photo courtesy George Ross http://www.digitalphotoconcept.com/



USATF New England Marathon Championship, Baystate 10.17.10, PR

120th NMH Pie Race, PR, female master course record

apple pies for "pie time" runners

1982:  I was 16 years old when I decided to attend Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) in western Massachusetts.  I had been running since I was 12... not very fast or competitively, but winning a "men's pie" my first semester at the NMH Pie Race by going under 33 minutes (31:30) gave me confidence, identity and direction.

1997:  15 years later, I returned to NMH to run the Pie Race again and finished first female alumni, running 33:56.  After receiving my pie, there was a ceremony in the gym and I was awarded a medal and school sweatshirt.  As I drove home from campus that night, I felt nostalgic about my run and the continuing role running still wove through my life. 

2010:  13 years later, I've notched up my training and scored in the top 10 for masters at 4 of the USATF New England Championships in distances from 5k to marathon... and 6 PRs so far this year!  The rental car I drove to campus (I had hit a telephone pole, car was being repaired) had Sirius radio with 1st Wave tunes we had listened to in 80's.   Intending to run under 33 minutes for a "men's open" pie time, I also would try for a personal best... but no certainties with the tough x-c mud, rocks, puddles, soaked wood chips. 

CMSer Sidney Letendre and I warmed-up for 2.5 miles then lined up on the soaking wet football field.  First mile was 6:23 and I keyed off a female student target, passed her and had to hold strong with second mile at 6:17.  I wasn't sure if she was going to challenge me and did not know how far she was behind me... just kept pushing through the x-c course.  It wasn't until we came out of the x-c course and at about 4 miles I heard someone yell "go Anna!!" that I knew she was still on me... dig deep, don't let her pass me.  The last part of the course comes down Overtoun hill and in front of the gym... flash back 28 years, 16 year old me would have been so impressed with the drive, strength and guts I have found I have inside... kick it out to the finish, my watch read 29:14... a Pie Race PR, 1st female master, 3rd female overall!  Wooo!!!  It turned out "Anna" was the first female student finisher and a x-c runner... she finished 2 seconds behind me... we smiled and shook hands in the finish chute.

Sidney and I scooped up our pies and did a 2.5 mile warm-down... so cool to hang out with and an incredible runner.  An exceptional day... living the dream!!

Here are some links regarding the Pie Race this year and previous years

Time:  29:14.574,  3rd female, 1st female master, set female master course record 

Baystate - USATF New England Marathon Championship, 5 minute PR



My marathon goal this year was for a "mens Boston qualifying time"... see Kevin Beck's article regarding gender based time standards.  Needing a 3:30 (I turn 45 next year) I managed to pull off a 3:22:06... which also was a marathon PR by 5 min,  26 sec. 

Posterior tibial tendinitis had forced me into a 5 week taper, causing me uncertainty how I would run... or walk to my car after the race.  Thinking ahead, I parked close to the finish, had an ice pack there and would take a piggy-back ride to the car after the race, if necessary... really!!  Fortunately, the tendinitis was no problem.

Fernando (PRof)  called me pre-race at Tsongas arena... reminding me there would be some tough miles and I knew how to get through them... I didn't tell him I was peeing at the time, but his call was important, so I covered the mouthpiece... oops, now he knows when he reads this.

Baystate marked my 77th consecutive USATF NE championship race... in other words, 11th straight Grand Prix Ironrunner jacket.   

Thanks to PRof, GTD, Goons & training buddies for so much support and encouragement.  Get this, OCG, Brew and Sonic Boom not only provided incredible course support, they even ran with me!!  Sonic Boom for several miles after Tyngsboro Bridge, then OCG & Brew surprised me and hopped in the last few miles, talking me through, right into the stadium.  Hillcheck on his bike and Flash taking photos... also out there Silent Assassin, AquaLung, Glamour Hammer, Spanky, Pusher, Dead President, Mad Dog, Bones, Mr. Gambino, Tina the Machina, Puma, Showtime, Gumby, Mamacita, Cougar, Taz... plus GTD trackmates Carmela and Deb, Caroline, Tom, Alberto, Janos and friends from Whirlaway, GBTC, CMS, GCST, MVS and USATF-NE.

I know that I am one incredibly lucky girl... absolutely overjoyed with everything this year has brought.

10/168  3:22:06.7   7:43 pace  (marathon PR by 5 min 26 sec)
Full results 




Providence, USATF 5 K Women's New England Championship, 5K PR!



Photo courtesy George Ross
http://www.digitalphotoconcept.com/

After 3 weeks on injured reserve (posterior tibial tendinitis) I did not know how this race would go... honestly, I was so relaxed about it, I intended to maybe try out my marathon pace.  Raced in my "boy shorts", new black "G" singlet and Asics "tempo" shoes... felt really good first mile even though @ 6:17 was damn aggressive.   I had never gone out that hard before, but kept checking in with my body and felt fine with it.   I was incredibly relaxed, unlike my typical 5K.   I focused on some other runners and did not look at my mile 2 split (6:22).  I had warmed up on the course and things started to look familiar as I neared 3 miles.  Around the corner and up a slight hill before entering the Brown University stadium track... there was the gorgeous, red, springy track... heaven!!   I rounded the turn to the straighaway and saw the clock... holy cow!!!! I was so determined to finish under 20:00 that I almost tripped and did a header across the finish line... I couldn't feel my legs at that point.   Clock time was 19:54, chip time 19:53... which even beat my "Hollis" slightly downhill 5K PR... amazing... maybe I'll wake up and realize it was just a dream??  My previous "non-Hollis" 5K PR was from 2009 Rhody, 21:16, 6:51 pace.  2009 Hollis was 19:58.

Thanks to teammate "Flash" (Scott Mason) there to support us and take photos, Dad for accompanying me, GTD, Goons and my training buddies.

Goatie results, 5K lifetime PR!: 
10/123              19:54.9   19:53.1    6:25 pace

Full results






Photo courtesy George Ross
 http://www.digitalphotoconcept.com/



Track workout 9.07.10

Sitting in an ice bath at 9:19 p.m... fast rewind:

PRof Fernando on cell phone, my hour drive home, making sure I'm rehydrating & discussing ice bath...

Warm down, already getting dark... elite runners Animal, Tina the Machina, Puma... fellow Goons... trackmates... props, encouragement, experiences

4 x mile repeats on the track at 15 seconds per mile faster than most recent 5K pace, plus two miles of "in & outs"... nailed them, progressively faster... last mile 27 seconds faster than 5k pace, holy moly!

Solo, without my group... but one of PRof's 3 simultaneous stopwatches on me... focus, no messing up... this is what we do, loving it and how it makes us feel

CHaD Half-Marathon, 2.5 minute PR, 1st master

Finish

CHaD (Children's Hospital at Dartmouth)  fit nicely into my marathon training program last year... timing, location, great cause... so I returned this year too.  Hot weather made it more of challenge...opted for bra, no singlet and light ASICS tempo shoes.   Nabbed the best parking spot and did a 20 minute warm-up and at the end of one street saw a red sign that said "The Mountain Goat!!" which made me say out loud "no way?!?!" ... (it was cool looking store) ...the 1,500 people in superhero costumes brought some cute glances too...  especially liked the ones wearing their underpants over their clothes.

Having run a 5 minute PR here in 2009, I really didn't feel I could chip away at my previous time, particularly with the tough weather, so I just ran as hard as I could.  At an early water stop, a girl from high school x-c team said I was 8th female, which gave me a boost to put on a "chase"... got one!  Revisited the fact I can't drink at water stops... but the fuel belt would have been hot and cumbersome, so it was better to tough it out.   It was a lot of miles before I found another female to catch, but I got her too and worked to hang tough.

It was not until the final .1 that I comprehended a PR run, then as I approached the mat, the announcer said "Sarah Prescott from Concord... finishing 2.5 minutes faster than last year!!!" which totally floored me, to say the least.   Water, recovery drink and a few quick excited phone calls... my calves and hamstring were cramping, but I stretched lightly and did a 20 minute warm-down... had to see "The Mountain Goat" sign again   :-)  

The stage, jumbotron and Olympic skiing gold medalist Hannah Kearney made the award ceremony extra spectacular... for 1st female master I won a $110 gift certificate for Merrell and a cool Merrell winter beanie.   You really can't top the rewarding feeling of something like that coming together so beautifully.   My Dad was hugely excited, so we went out for Ahi tuna to celebrate... that is, after my ice bath.  Thanks PRof Fernando, Goons, GTD & training buddies!

1:33:11, 7:07 pace, 1/50
33rd of 521 total; 1st Master female

Full results

photos courtesy Dan Grossman, my costume is "Super Goon"

Bridge of Flowers, USATF New England 10K Championship

Saturday was my third visit to Bridge of Flowers 10K in Shelburne Falls, MA... I got up at 3:30 a.m. setting 4 alarms... drove to Methuen to meet Doc, Rebel, Renegade and travel in the Goonmobile limo...  thanks to our sponsor Catauduella

First mile was 6:50, then 6:48, then Crittenden Hill comes in around 3 miles and added about 2 minutes to my mile pace, 8:42... that killer hill scared away a few teammates, as I understand.   Drum beats let me know when I was headed up and I set out to hang with a trio of Whirlaway girls.  Goat form took over and I was able to get past them... kept focused looking for ballons at the top... flying down didn't feel as out of control as last time, but checked my watch after the race and my pace was 6:13!  I felt smooth and looked for fellow Goon, Flash (Scott Mason) who made the trip from RI, I knew he'd be not far from the finish. 6:47 at mile 5.  Both Renegade Rick Bayko and GTD trackmate Janos Mako had something left the last mile and sped up, I had enough to hit 6:31 pace at 6m... heard the annoucer give my name, saw clock, crossed mat, hit my watch 43:12... holy crap... I had been shooting for 47:00 to beat my previous best here!!  WTF??!?!  I'll be perfectly honest, it doesn't make any sense to get 4 minutes faster since I was last here in 2008 and if I figure it out, I'll keep doing it... thanks to PRof Fernando, Goons & training buddies  

Goatie official time:   5/31 in divison,  43:17,  6:58 pace 
Full results


photo courtesy Krissy Kozlosky

GTD track 7.27.10

With so many trackmates at Yankee Homecoming, I got to run in Group B with David Dargie.  Correct, Group B is fast for me, but it was the last week of tempo before marathon track starts, so PRof Fernando gave me thumbs up.  The truth is that the week prior, I accidentally ran part of the workout with Group B (thinking it was Group C)... blonde goat.  Perhaps it was those new fast Asics shoes... or those bold Oakley sunglasses

D. Dargie and I were right on pace, alternating lead... then I didn't know how I'd get through the mile towards the end, so PRof told me to shoot for at least 3 laps of it.  I focused and was able to get through the full distance... the night felt like a serious accomplishment... thank you Annie, Fernando & D. Dargie!

Photos: D. Dargie, me GTD track, notice the workout card in his shorts.  Photos courtesy Dave Smith & GTD

Stowe, USATF NE 8 Mile Championship

GoatMom and I arrived at number pick-up and from moment we got out of the car, running friends everywhere!

Wandered around  von Trapp grounds and Smugglers' Notch, ate riverside at Matterhorn (I scoped best sushi, Mom preferred cooked).  Hit pre-race party, saw Fitz, Michelle, Tom D, JJ... fun to discover Bob Fitzgerald of  NE Runner Magazine also graduated from Northfield-Mt Hermon School.  

Back at B&B, cooler of GoatKick ingredients, comfy beds.   B&B had a great breakfast, but coffee and banana were better pre-race.  We lined up and I went out quickly at 6:45... only checked my first 2 mile spilts, then just focused... not limiting what my body would be willing to give me.   Whirlaway runners seemed to be around me a lot of the race.... Nancy Corsaro, Lisa Zappala early miles... others in later miles.

I've raced Stowe 6 times prior and was hoping to break my previous PR of 1:01:41... reminding myself of that, plus some other some mental tricks, I pushed hard and crossed the line 56:29!!  Woo!!  Janos Makos encouraged me in the final stretch to the finish, he knew me and was able to talk... I didn't figure out it was him until we finished.

Renegade (Rick Bayko) and I warmed-down...  introduced GoatMom to more buddies, checked results... 56:29 is 7:04 pace... extra woooo!  This is certainly gonna need some more celebrating!  Thanks PRof Fernando, GTD, Goons & training buddies!

Goatie results & splits

5/56 (40-44) 56:29.9, 7:04, 5 minute PR!!

6:45, 7:01, 7:11, 6:35, 7:07, 7:17, 7:10, 7:17


Top photo: courtesy JJ, Kristin

full results

(Sorry Mom, didn't get a chance for her ice cream that day)

GTD track 7.13.10

How about if I lift trackmate George's report of the workout? 

George was primo keeping us on pace and recovery time.  And, it may have appeared I "killed" during the mile, I felt like I was just barely hanging on

Showtime renamed the Group "C1 Cup" because Enforcer, OCG and Goatie got comparing running bras.  

OCG's Garmin reported a 11.11 mile night... thanks Coach Annie (Poopsie) PRof Fernando and Group C1 Cup!

4K on the 4th

Initially, I told myself racing a 4K would be like 10 fast laps on the track... and after spring GTD on the track, this would be the time to try it.   Map folded in my hand, ran the course the day before.. wait a sec... it's grass, some road, college x-c trails, tiny bit more road, more grass!  Last race on these x-c trails, I overshot a turn and had to double back, so in prep for the 4K I ran the course twice and did 14 strides on the trails and grass to get a feel for it... then ran course again race morning.  No room for mistakes... I wanted the 44 age record.   I knew that 40-49 age division would be a reach, so that would be my lofty goal.   All week I repeated in my head 4K, 4th, 44... race day was all focus.   Pre-race prep and then we were off across the grass... after the 1K mark, I targeted a female wearing S2 triathlon uniform and passed her... she didn't come with, and I targeted another female.  It took a little longer but I got her too.   Loud breathing and gasps... go, go, go... don't let up until over the finish... 17:07   

I did the course again as warm down with a local 18 year old high school runner Tom Mulari and we checked the results for the awards.   Race director, Michael Amarello, was posting the age records and handed me my medal!!   4K, 4th, 44!!  (a) I did it ! (b) hey, how did he know me?   I found the full results and I also got 4th female overall, plus 1st in age divison 40-49!!!  BONUS!!!  Got the pint glass!!

4th woman, 1st Master, 17:07, 6:54 pace    1/28

Full results here 

These wood carvings are the start/finish line on NHTI campus for the race - run between them 

GTD track 6.29.10

Courtesy GTD:

It's true. You race fast by running fast.

You get fit by running as if it meant something. We're not joggin'

June 29th track photos
 
This week, Group C1 was just me and Marathon George... we work well together and when you are putting your whole self out there... the nerves, the hard work, the physical and mental challenge... that other person helps pull you though.   Other trackmates encourage and coaches, Annie and PRof Fernando, oversee closely, timing our splits and paying attention to every nuance.  

I drive home in magical contentment... another one... cherishing every second of it.

Global Benefit 5K

I am not a 5K fan, but after GTD track workouts all spring, I figured this was the time and did Global Benefit 5K in Pembroke, NH on Saturday. 

NHTI coach Perry Seagroves designed the course, so I got him to run the course with me as warm up... seeing the course from the source would help blonde goat from scampering in wrong direction.  

Got back, got focused, got in dynamic stretching and we took off.   Ahead of the race winner until half mile and hoping a 6:02 first mile split was off (it was), I kept pushing.  Up the big hill and down, up the second hill and keeping it together, I felt happy with how it went.  Turns out it was my second fastest "non-Hollis" 5K, off my 5K PR by only 5 seconds.  I was particularly pleased about being second woman and fifth overall... getting to hang with some good people... Dad getting to see me race... bringing home some Global Benefit Coffee as a prize... a day well worth celebrating.

I warmed down with Peter Larson (#55) who placed second and Perry Seagroves who was third.  I'm in the white Barbie sunglasses in the photo. The race director got a kick out of me doing the race 3 times (used it as warm-up and warm-down)

Time:  21:21, 6:54 pace
2nd woman
5th overall 

not just any dam award

(look closely at the plaque, it says "dam award"

Components were in place for a good run... cool, drizzly weather, my training had been going well, 15K is my kinda distance, rolling hills... but the one mile hill from 5-6 had me adjusting expectations. What was my uphill pace at races like Bridge of Flowers or Mt Washington? This hill had a chance to really sink my hopes for a PR. I lined up front with Steve Wolfe and Ernst Linder and scanned female competition. A 20 something Saucony sponsored girl looked fit and went out hard with the guys. I made a mental note that no other women passed me as I started picking off guys.

I missed the 5 mile marker and was already on the hill, practicing goat tricks I learned particularly at Mt Washington. I had driven the last 3.3ish section of the course and volunteers let me know when I was near the top, plus working from advice that it finishes downhill, I told myself to try to keep pushing hard... see if my legs could hold up those last 3.3 miles after that 1 mile uphill beat-up session.

Turns out my final 3 miles were 6:57, 6:46, 6:40, but I was too focused to notice... no thoughts limiting what my body was going to give me. I knew I wanted to break my Upton PR of 1:12:21, but wasn't sure I had a chance here with that monumental 1 mile uphill, so just kept pushing and didn't look at my total time once along the course. As I neared the line, a bystander held up 2 fingers and said "2nd woman" so I smiled, but relentlessly didn't let up until over that line. I looked at the clock and my watch as I crossed, 1:06:13, and astonished that I had beaten what I wanted to do by 6 minutes!!!! Disbelief!!!! You don't get many days like that, do you?

I did a 20 minute warm-down with the very nice women's winner, Lisa Jacobs. She was doing 16 for the day, so I kept up, chatted and bowed out when we got near our cars so I could slam some recovery drink. They had a fantastic post-race bar-b-que, better food than Rhody... I left a message for PRof Braz and headed home for an ice bath and top rate celebration weekend.

2nd woman (9th runner overall)
1:06:13 (6 minute PR)
7:07 pace

full results

GTD Track 5.25.10

Photos & words courtesy of GTD

Have you ever thought you've done it all? No workout can be any different than the one last week, or month, or year. I've done Fernando's workouts since 2000, and the one on May 25th was completely different from any other. Yet it was perfect. It was a hot night and many are racing on the upcoming holiday weekend, so what would make sense? You had to be there to experience how perfect it was. Tough as always, yet rewarding -- physically and mentally.

Here are photos of some who were there.

Thank you, group C1: Pusher, Showtime, OCG, Carmela, George, Bob, Tim, Ann

Thank you everyone for the kind thoughts and support this week and birthday wishes today! You guys are the best! I truly appreciate it.

(photo courtesy of John Intorcio)

Track workout 4.27.10

Wet and cold... like doing the track workout in an icebath. Even with 2 shirts, a jacket and gloves, my numb fingers couldn't push the split button after the first several intervals. No worries, Brewski's digits kept working longer than mine... didn't miss a lap.

By Chris Russell (official Goon name "Mad Dog") ... good read... scroll down to the blog post

What is it that separates those of us who love running?

Track workout 4.20.10

First GTD spring track workout for 2010.

Being back felt so good... strengthening in every way. Thanks "Pyscho" (Matt Pimintel) for the Merrimack River trail warmup... "Pusher" (John Murphy) and Bob as exceptional groupmates and "Brewski" (Jay Newton) for a our cooldown...

PRof Braz continues to work his magic

Munch, munch, munch

Finished my run on Saturday and checked out garden in front of my house where majority of bulbs are in bloom right now... ahhhh, why are tulips missing their heads?!?!?!


Funny, but hard to get angry with deer, they are so damn cute. This photo may be the closest I get to seeing my blue amiable (triumph) tulips this year. At least the tasty munch didn't include the daffodils, hyacinth, iris reticulata and crocus.

Oh yah... my run?! Went well, rebuilding, getting faster & GTD spring track starts Tuesday, April 2oth!

New Bedford, USATF Half Marathon Championship

Photo by the best, Scott Mason: Goatie in Barbie sunglasses with a Pusher escort




Doctor Death, Mad Dog, Glamour Hammer & I took the Goonmobile limo and met up with fellow Goons Animal, Taz, Heels, Machina, Smokin’ Ivy, Mr. Gambino, Bones, Silent Assassin and Mamacita. Pusher came all the way to support us with huge Goon flag & ran me in the last half mile.

I didn’t have huge expectations, my training had been limited coming off my knee injury and the race was the furthest I’d run in 11 weeks... so, I was absolutely 100% pleased with my results. During the race, I felt strong, catching up with some friends like Julie Moore, John Kleschinsky, Janice Platt, Rich St. Hillaire. Doc and I played back and forth a few times, but he was too fast for me... perhaps fueled by his arrest? ;-)

It was great to see friends Court Bird, Fitz & Michelle, Steve V, Scott Mason there supporting us.

Although it was my 8th New Bedford Half-Marathon, there were some firsts:

1) D chips this year... didn’t gouge my ankle with Velcro strap per usual
2) Didn’t get lost getting there (I swear the exit number on race website was wrong for years… not kidding)
3) Course PR & 2nd fastest half-marathon time
4) My first post-race ambulance trip to emergency room for 2 liters of IV, CT scan, dozens of tests & observation. *^&* !! it was one hell of a bonk -- the freaky part is how frequently we all go into “bonks” and how suddenly this became unrecoverable. I mentioned to PRof today that I often bonk after this race and have had to sit down on the gym floor afterwards before. This time, apparently there were convulsions, collapsing, eyes open but unresponsive... I came to on a stretcher being wheeled into ambulance. It shook me up a little and I think it shook up those who witnessed it! Glad I didn't see it! Looking back, I really didn't eat or drink correctly the day before or the morning of the race, it's tough for an 11:00 am race... I'll pay extra attention now.

Thanks so much to the people in my life for the extraordinary care, love & concern. This is living the dream... I'm such a lucky girl.

New Goon, Yeti

Michael Robertson... one of our newest Goons... and has his own blog

Goons went to Amherst 10 miler in the Goonmobile limo... Michael took off his shirt and his official Goon name revealed itself... Yeti. Yeti is cool with his name... we Goons are able to laugh at ourselves

Photo of Yeti if you spot him at next race

Amherst, 10 Mile NE Championship, USATF

36th Annual Jones Group Realtors 10 Mile Road Race, Amherst, MA, February 28, 2010

Several days before Amherst, my physical therapist gave reassurance that I likely would not reinjure my knee if I raced. 8 weeks of recovery is "character building"... got to enjoy snowshoeing & elliptical, but I missed running.

GTD's Professor Fernando told me without reservation that 10 miles would be no problem, despite hardly running for 8 weeks... so I popped some Advil, wrapped my knee, hid behind incognito sunglasses (bet you can't find me) and asked my body to remember what to do. It did.

My finish time didn't make any sense, I expected something much slower. Professor Fernando explained, "like we always talk, fitness ( especially aerobic ) stays in the system for a long time when someone is as consistent as you have been. In addition, you have been cross training." He complimented me and added "the other side of the coin is that you may be quite sore the next few days." True. Quads did feel a bit sore, but nothing like after some mountain races. I'd certainly take it. Knee? No worse. Smiling, fortunate Goatie? Blissfully so.

MY RESULTS, TIME:

1:16:21, 7:38 pace

Four Goats (plus me)

For crosstraining yesterday, I snowshoed up the Shaker Road side to the Oak Hill firetower. It's a well maintained trail system and convenient location to me. About 3/4 of the way up the 45 minute ascent, two people were coming down with a great dane and 4 little goats... no kidding!!! They said they are training the goats to carry packs during mountain hikes... hilarious!! I wish I had my camera, but this photo will have to do, although the 4 little goats were a little larger.

I got to the top, slipped out of my snowshoes and climbed up the firetower. A guy had come up just before me, so we checked out the mountains and I headed back down the trail. I didn't think I was moving very fast, but I caught up with the goat family again on the way down. Honestly, you can't help but smile at their cute little eyelashes... precious goatie eyes looking at you. We exchanged goat pleasantries and I finished down the trail. At the bottom, I took off my snowshoes and got into my car and laughed at the car beside me, a regular 4 door Subaru (not an SUV!) Picture this, to get to the trail, they piled the four goats into the back of their Subaru!!

The Hazards Of Cynicism : Men's Health

Just got back from the PT and read an interesting article while I was there

The Hazards Of Cynicism : Men's Health

WWUD?

What would Uta do? My knee has been bothering me since 1/1. Started with my usual patella getting off-track... stairs were a real issue, running uncomfortable, so my extraordinary physical therapist worked on me... we've been repairing this knee issue a few times a year for past 3 years.

OK, maybe I shouldn't have tried to return to running so quickly, but sometimes you don't realize that until after the fact. The initial problem seems better, but there's something else going on in another part of the knee. Back to PT today, wish me luck!

Score

Yesterday, scored 2 pair online, close-out model at $40 less than MSRP. Who cares if last season's color?

These have worked for me since 2000... except for a design change in 2008 which gave me plantar fasciitis. But, I credit Mizuno for allowing me to exchange... ahhh... 6 pair to US corporate HQ and provide my feedback about the design change.

When I was a "toe runner", I went through a pair every month. In the past few years, I've come down to more midfoot... it feels efficient... and hey, now can get more than a month out of a pair.

Track workout 1.12.10

The hill repeats were brisk... was the weather brisk? PRof Fernando was wearing shorts. It wasn't until driving home that I noticed the temperature 17 degrees... plus a steady wind. My guess is we were distracted by the fun and endorphins? Thank you Group C - Sonic Boom, Carmela & Shawn.