A Two-Race Weekend and April Snowstorm in New England

When I signed up for two races this weekend, it all seemed so logical.  After all, who doesn't love spring in New England?!  Hmm... famous last words!  It POURED on Saturday as I drove an hour in each direction to run 9.3 hilly miles for my running club's April Grand Prix race, and then I woke up this morning to three inches of snow for today's 5K.  Happy Spring to me.

I should have known I was in for a good time on Saturday when my alarm went off at 6:30 AM, and I started driving into this.

Great running weather, right?!

 Although despite the driving rain all morning, I had a great time at the Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15k.  This race, held by the Tri-Valley Front Runners, is considered a prep race for the Boston Marathon, and more than half their field this year was club runners, which made for a fast and competitive race.  I enjoyed running with the more experienced runners and many of my own club members, which made it easier to push my speed by sticking with runners who were around my target pace. 

The awesome Colonial Road Runners!

 The only thing that I had conveniently forgotten about this area of Western Massachusetts is that it is hilly.  I mean HILLY.  My Garmin tells me that the race had a total elevation gain of 323 feet, and I can say that I felt every one of those.  This course was not for the weak, but after the first few miles, I actually found myself getting into a good groove.  The miles passed by quickly as I focused on getting to the top of one  hill, and then rejoiced in a downhill, and then refocused on the next hill.  I honestly didn't spend as much time enjoying the scenery as I usually would (and it was beautiful!) because I was so intently focused on the hills and keeping up my pace.  

 Although I was exhausted by the end, I was proud of maintaining a strong, relatively consistent pace on a rainy day on a difficult course.  I was completely soaked when I finished, and couldn't have been more excited to see the race volunteers ladling hot soup into bowls right near the finish line.  Awesome!  Inside the school gym where the race finished, I enjoyed a slice of pizza and a chocolate chip cookie as well.  My only moment of sadness occurred when I realized that I had forgotten dry clothes to change into.  Let's just say it was a COLD hour-long drive home...

I spent most of the day recovering and mentally preparing for my 5K today.  The race director for the TCS Shovel Town 5K is a fellow club member, so a large group of Colonials were planning to head out to support him.  I was looking forward to racing a 5K, since I've been mostly focused on longer distances this past year.  Excited, however, until I woke up to a winter wonderland!  

April in Massachusetts.  Thank you very little.

The weather forecast had said "flurries" starting at 10 am, so when I woke up to two inches on the ground and snow continuing to come down rapidly at 6 am, I was less than impressed.  But this is what we runners do, right?!  Onward!  True to form, the snow didn't keep many of my club members away, although it did cause us to break out our winter clothes once again... hats, gloves, jackets, and even ski goggles to ward off the blowing snow.

Surprisingly enthusiastic for this race!

Almost immediately, I stepped in a huge puddle and my feet were soaked in icy water.  Also, although I felt fine when I woke up, my legs felt heavy and tired almost immediately after starting to run - testament to the previous day's hills.  It was the race volunteers that kept me going - over 75 volunteers out on the course, manning water stations, giving splits at mile markers, taking photos and just cheering us on, while they themselves were covered in snow.  The support was pretty incredible, and it kept me motivated.  As I sprinted across the finish line with snow and hail blowing in my eyes, I felt unstoppable.

Although I was over a minute from placing in my age group, I was proud of my time, 26:51, an 8:40 pace.  Not bad on tired legs in the snow!  As is the theme pretty much whenever I race, my immediate thought was food... so one of my running buddies and I changed into dry shoes and socks (I remembered this time, lesson learned!) and treated ourselves to a fancy breakfast out.  Smoked salmon benedict on a sweet tomato brioche with chive hollandaise.  Unreal.  

With the unpredictable nature of New England weather this weekend and some challenging race conditions, I feel stronger than ever with two sub-9 minute mile races down.  This weekend also reminded me once again how much I love being part of a running club.  Had it not been for my teammates, I would absolutely have pressed the "snooze" button both mornings and watched the rain and snow from the comfort of my couch.  Instead, my running friends motivated me to finish both races strong, with a smile on my face.  What a weekend!  I am starting to feel ready for my next race - the Coastal Delaware Marathon on April 24th!  The countdown begins...

Foyer full of wet running gear... a runner lives here!

Questions: 

What spring races do you have planned?

Any tips for racing in the rain?

What is your favorite post-race treat?

Only in New England! Old-Fashioned Ten-Miler Race Recap

Remember last weekend when I wrote about my negative 20-degree wind chill race?  Well, fast-forward only one week, and I am running in SHORTS and and a short-sleeved shirt, in 55-degree weather!  No... I didn't head south... that's just our crazy Massachusetts weather!


This was my first year running in the Wampanoag Road Runners' Old-Fashioned Ten-Miler in Foxboro, MA.  The race was my running club's February Grand Prix race, and we had a great turnout from our group, which made participating a blast!  I really enjoy the comradery of running with a group.  Even though we all have different paces and don't typically run with each other, it is so encouraging to see our club members along the course and to cheer for each other at the finish.  And running with our group has definitely improved my speed, as I strive to keep up with some of the faster members of our club (or at least to keep them in my sights for as long as possible!)  

Brrrrrrrr!! Paddy Kelly Race Recap

Valentine's day brought more than just chocolate and roses to Southeastern Massachussetts this weekend... It brought the coldest day of winter 2016!  After waking up for a coffee run, my car took its sweet time turning over (saying "wtf" in car-growl-speak) as the temperature read NEGATIVE seven degrees.  Yikes.  But it was my running club's race day, the Paddy Kelly 5-Miler in Brockton, MA, so time to suck it up!

New Year's Running & the Winter Warrior Challenge

I started the new year by participating in a fun run with Colonial Road Runners in Abington, called the New Year's Day Fun Run & Brrrrrrunch.  What a blast!  I ran 3.1 miles in 27:10 for an average of 8 minutes 49 seconds per mile.   It felt great to start the new year with a fast outdoor run.  I also enjoyed meeting many other Colonial runners over the potluck brunch.  They are a great group full of like-minded crazies like me!

 

Blue Hills Observatory Trail Running

So far, I am 1 for 1 on reaching my first goal!  And having fun doing it as well...

This weekend I went for the first of what I hope to be many adventures in one of my favorite places - the Blue Hills.  I am lucky enough to live right at the foothills of the Blue Hills, with trails just a few blocks from my home.  It certainly makes getting outside easy and appealing.

I started today near the Trailside Museum in Milton, and was surprised to see that the ski lift was running, and there was already snow on the slopes.  With weather in the 60s for the past few weeks, it was a reminder that winter is here!  I ended up getting quite a bit lost, exploring a part of the trails that I had not hiked before.  I followed the Red Dot trail, which is a steep, rocky (and today, very muddy!) part of the Blue Hills.  

Today was one of the first days in the 30s that we have had all winter, and I was surprised to see ice forming along the trail, but the sky was blue and I loved the crunch of leaves and ice as I hiked up... much more out of breath than I would like to admit!  It was so beautiful that at times, I lost track of the red dots, and ended up forging my own trail through the woods, until I caught up with the path again.

I have to admit, I am a sucker for waterfalls, even when they are tiny little waterfalls like the ones in the Blue Hills.  I love the handmade log bridges over the mountain streams, and the sound of trickling water over the stones.  It made the muddy parts of the trail (which was most of the trail!) totally worthwhile.

I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at a familiar site at the top of the mountain - the Observatory at the top of Great Blue Hill!  I've hiked up to the observatory many times before, but always on the Blue Trail, which is a two-hour, grueling hike to the top.  Who knew there was a 20-minute way to get to the same place!  What a discovery!  I learned from a sign on the Observatory that south of Maine, it is the tallest point in the US along the Atlantic Coast.  That made me feel quite accomplished.

The coolest part of the Observatory, aside from my new-learned fun fact, is that if you climb the stone steps to the top, you can see the Boston skyline.  It is a seriously beautiful view, and one that I never get tired of seeing.  If I hadn't already been completely out of breath, I could say that it took my breath away!

Admittedly, if I had read the trail signs on the dozens of times I have made this hike already, I would have noticed that there are many ways to get to the Observatory - one of which involves a 20-minute walk up a paved road.  Who knew... I opted for running down the road back to the trailhead - a run that always makes me feel like I am flying, because of the steep incline and mountain breeze.  What a refreshing way to spend an afternoon!