Freezeroo Valentine 8-Mile Run

Run: 8 miles in :56:19 min. @ 10:00 a.m. + 1 mile warm-up/cool-down for a total of 9 miles

Weather: Light Snow & Cloudy, 31°F, 82% Humidity, Wind: SE @ 7 mph; feels like 25°F.
Course: The roads of Greece, NY, starting and ending on Long Pond (as seen in the map below).
Pace: Approximately 7:02 min./per mile

Pre-Run Observations: After reviewing my hard-copy Runners Day-by-Day Log it became apparent that I did not taken my second recovery day this week (yet), and this may account for the ache in my knees and left Achilles (I think). Clearly the product of over training, which seems odd to say as I haven't been dropping monster miles, but have been consistently working it. I don't want to injure myself, but am also cognoscente of the need to get back in the game and join a few formal runs (or races, if you will).

So with an 8 mile run scheduled for today as part of my "on-again-off-again" training plan, and "wow... there’s an eight-miler scheduled today!" I figure I might as well go for it. I have been very inconsistent this year with my Freezeroo participation (an unfortunate situation, I know), so today seems as good as any to get after it. I didn't run this particular course last year (my son and I had taken a roadie to Dublin, OH for my last disastrous marathon attempt), but having run the course two years ago, I know it can be a cold and windy one.

Post-Race Reflections: The run went well. Initially, I started out slowly toward the back of the pack, as has become a common practice, especially in runs that I am treating as training. It is much more psychologically satisfying to pass one or two people, than to begin at the front of the pack and get passed by many others.

After warming up for the first two miles, I slowly began to pick up the pace, really trying to move starting with mile 4. The scenery was beautiful, with many groups of geese and mallards, flying over and swimming in the partially frozen wetlands. The town police officers and volunteers were wonderful road guardians as the course ran across quite a few main drags. I was sure the say “thank you” our of both appreciation and a sense of building the necessary positive karma I might need to make it through to the end.

I neglected to check the timer as I crossed the finish line, but was aware that I passed a few other folks with whom I am competitive, as well as being passed by some individuals whom I generally best. (It's a good thing to see that others are improving too, maybe they will continue to motivate me to raise my own "game!") I would approximate my finish at around 60 minutes, no PR to be sure, but surely a respectable time within which to finish an eight-miler!

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!