December 28th - Training - Lowell, MA - 5.3

Tonight is my first night with a new blog and I am already getting feedback on how to create as successful blog and how to get people to read it. Who knew people actually read these things and more specifically, mine.

The first word of advice I got was from Jess "VP" Costa who said "Name drop as much as you can. People want to read information that relates to them,"(How's that for a name drop?). She is totally correct! It doesn't matter what your blog is about, if I put peoples names in my entries, people will read whatever trash I put on the web. This could get interesting (and fun)!

I then was catching up on reading Jason Bui's 365 Challenge Blog and came across his 8 Simple Rules for Creating (well his says dating, but this is my blog so too bad!) A Successful Runner's Blog (name drop #2). This information I found very useful and I will attempt to stick to these rules a best I can. They may will be broken when needed due to lack of creativity, energy, or anything else that may hinder my blogging.

(Seems simple enough . . .)

With these rules enacted, lets see how I do with tonight's running experience:

Tonight was the Greater Lowell Road Runners (GLRR) final group run of 2010. It was to begin at 6:30 PM from Hookslide Kelly's in downtown Lowell and was going to be followed by GLRR's monthly meeting. The seven (well 6 at this point) of us who were brave enough to take on the cold met in Hookslide's and took off at 6:32 PM (so we wouldn't leave without anyone). The six of us took off and just as we were leaving the snow-covered patio, EJ came strolling down the sidewalk. GREAT! Our 6 turned into 7 just as fast as our December went from green to white.

Now for those of you who do not know, I am finishing up my first year of running and in that time I would like to think that I have learned a thing or two. The first thing is that I am not a sub-3 hour marathoner and should not try to keep up with those who are. Now, I don't know what made me think tonight I had a chance but I decided to "try" to keep up with Jason, EJ, and David. I knew the three of them can, and have, run sub-3hr marathons but the snow would slow them down. Right?! Hahaha! WRONG! I forgot that yes, it may slow them down (a very little), it also will slow me down as well. I guess being on vacation from school means my logic suffers.

Oh well, I tried. I was able to stay with this trio for about a mile and a half before falling off and catching up with Glenn, (Edit Button #2), and Scott. Glenn, (Edit Button #2), and I continued the remaining 3.5 mile run/ski/skate together while Scott turned around and headed back to Hookslide's for the meeting. 

Now this was my first time running this course and was unaware of the pending hill(s) from hell. I was told about them from David on the first stint of this run but would certainly find out for myself while running with Glenn and (Edit Button #2). I now know that I should of turned around while I had a chance! I wish I wasn't so damn stubborn when it comes to finishing my runs.

(I did not enjoy Mile 3 - Mile 4 . . .)

All-in-all, I did survive the 5.3 miles but it was not my best run. I have taken a lot of time off and it will take some time before I am back to full running capacity. The good thing is that it is now my running season and there are many races on the horizon. Over the next couple of weeks I will be running weekly 5Ks as well as a few longer distance races. It is shaping up to be another busy winter and spring leading to my next marathon around May. I am currently looking for suggestions on which on it should be.

On that note, I am going to call it an end to this post and go to bed!