Weekend Update...

What a great weekend!  Friday night, Bren & I headed down to Providence, RI for Saturday's St. Pat's 5K.  This is the second year that we took part in this race.  This is one of the few races in the area that gives a medal to all the finishers.  Last year I ran with Bren, so this year I wanted to push myself (especially since most of my training has been at a slower pace).


The weather was near perfect... sunny skies, 50 degrees, and just a slight breeze.  The race started, and because it's an out-and-back course, you're allotted the chance to see the lead runners as they're heading back from the turn-around.  As I passed the mile mark, I could see the leader on his way back.  It was Alistair Cragg (last years winner, and Olympic athlete).  At the point that we crossed, I was at 1.19 miles, and he was already at the 2 mile mark.  His finish time was 15:12, and he was more than a minute and a half ahead of second place... that's friggin' fast!

I ended up finishing 435th place (out of 2688) with a respectable time of 25:41.  Bren finished a little further back, but she finished and got her medal.


Today After our drive home, it was time for my long run.  The training plan had a 16 miler scheduled, but the course I mapped out ended up being a 14 mile route with hills.  The first 2.5 miles took me to the start line of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Road Race (which I'll be running on the 22nd).  From there, I followed the complete 6.2 mile course, hills and all, and a not-so-direct route back home.  The route home included a 3 mile hill (not steep, but it was 3 miles of an uphill grade).  Once I finished, I was spent for the day.  Time to lay on the couch and get ready for the Bruins game.  And yes, they won!!


Weekend totals  -  Saturday, 3.1 miles  /  Sunday, 14.1 miles  /  total for year, 221.67