Third Run+

It’s been three weeks since my last posting, but I have not been sitting still.

A little more than a week ago, I completed my third qualifying race, the Scotland Run. For me, the most important aspect about this particular race was that I completed it while recovering from a significant head cold with the accompanying coughing, sneezing and runny nose. I was pumped up with vitamin c, decongestants and antihistamines and had virtually no expectations other than completing the event.

Although I was recovering from a cold and the race was the farthest distance I had ever run (10k), the results were on par with my previous outings:

Scotland Run 10K
Distance: 6.2 Miles, 10.0 Kilometers
Date/Time: March 30, 2008, 10:00 am
Location: Central Park, NYC
Weather: 37 Deg. 25% Hum. Wind 8 MPH
Overall Place: 4145
Gender Place: 2669
Age Place: 360
Finish Time: 57:38
Pace/Mile: 9:17
AG Time: 53:15
AG Gender Place: 2513
AG %: 50.4 %
Total Finishers: Men – 3644 Women – 3284 Total – 6928
Age Group 40 – 44: Men – 476 Women – 278 Total - 754

This past week I also rode my bike for 20 miles on Wednesday at an average speed of 18.5mph. I didn't feel all that good afterwards. I'm beginning to trade off the pain of training for the pleasure of talking about the accomplishment.

On Sunday, April 6, I ran around Prospect Park three times, for a total of roughly 10 miles (3.25 around plus the distance to the starting line) in about 98 minutes. This was the farthest distance I have ever run to date. That is a little better than 10 min/mile which seems to be my average. Unfortunately, the pain in my legs following that outing was substantial. I can still feel some tension today, two days later.

But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel: If I can complete 10 miles right now, the idea of a half marathon in a few weeks is well within my grasp!