The Iceman Go-eth

It's hard to believe that we have been unable to run on the D&R Canal Towpath for over two months, due to snow and ice accumulation.  This peaceful "trail" was used years ago as a path for donkeys and horses to pull commercial barges down the Raritan Canal to the Delaware River.  The towpath, as it is commonly called, is now a simple recreational path for runners, bikers, walkers, hikers, and the occasional person that likes to mosey.  The path now stretches almost 30 miles with various access points roughly 2 to 5 miles apart... for the most part.  The towpath is a blessing to most runners, and a monotonous nemesis for a few.  The soft footing is a welcome respite from the pavement that we've been pounding all Winter. 



Saturday morning started out quite nice.  The temperature was in the high 30's, which was a bit warmer than anticipated, thankfully.  Lianne and I headed over to Johnson Park to meet up with our fellow RVRR members for the weekly Saturday run.  It's tough to get up early on a Saturday, knowing that you're going to run... especially when it's 35 degrees outside.  It's even tougher to deal with the guilt of NOT running on a Saturday just because you wanted to sleep in for a bit.  We always have a decent sized group, and today was no exception.  At 9a it was time to go to work, and the roughly 30 or so runners set out for the towpath.  Like most group runs, the first mile or two usually has everyone bunched together... chatting and laughing, enjoying the shared camaraderie. 

By the time we reached the towpath, the group was starting to split out in to the normal "packs".  Of course,  yours truly settles right in to the middle pack... but this soon becomes the back of the pack as others turn back sooner, for a shorter run.  Lianne is fast, though she's quite modest and will sweetly deny any such classification, and so she was motoring ahead with other similarly paced runners.  I held my own and ran with my pacing partner, Shannon.  Shannon and I have run many miles together, and have shared many talks about all sorts of things, as you can imagine.  Shannon and I trained for, and ran, the NYC Marathon together in 2010.  We are very evenly matched, and have routinely traded finishing places over the last year.  It's fairly a given fact that we will finish within 1 or 2 minutes of each other in most races, regardless of distance.  Mind you, there's never any competition between us, but rather the sense that we are able to push each other in order to get the best out of ourselves.

Shannon and I were running 8 miles today, so we turned at the 4 mile mark and headed back with our faces in the sun.  The day had warmed slightly, and we were certainly heated from the run itself.  It turned out to be quite a comfortable morning.  Before the turn we had passed Lianne and her slightly quicker group as they headed back.  Now, however, they weren't just slightly quicker... they were much faster!  I said to Shannon "Those guys are way up there now."  I wondered if we were getting slower because we had lost so much ground.  Shannon is the Queen of Sarcasm, and so she said "Do you think there's anyone behind us saying, 'Tom and Shannon are way up there'"?  "Not a chance", I said.

I kept looking for the bridge on the way back that would signal to us that we only had about a half mile until we reached the starting point of the towpath, but it was still a bit off in the distance.  This is where the path can get a bit monotonous for a few people.  The view doesn't really change much, but it is most peaceful.  Finally we saw that confounded bridge!  Ok, almost done, and then a quick mile back through the park to our starting point.  The last mile was quiet... no talking... just pumping, breathing, and maybe a snot-rocket or two.  Annnnnnnnnnnd, we're done.  A nice even 8 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes... roughly 8:45 minute pace.  VERY mid-pack pacing for a training run. :-)  At least I'm consistent!

Upon our return to the parking lot and our crew, we learned that Lianne and her group had picked up their pace considerably to catch the group that was ahead of them. They ended up running the last 3 miles or so at 7 minute pace!  Yuck... I mean... well done.  Well done, indeed.  I could do 7 minute pace for one mile, mayyyyyyybe 2, but that's pushing it.  I was able to hold 7:30 pace for an 8k (5 miles-ish) on Thanksgiving Day and that was my best effort to date.  Quick change, in to the car, and off to the diner for celebratory french toast!  What celebration you ask?  The celebration of running!!  The fact that I'm exercising, outside, with friends, and having a great time is reason enough for me to celebrate.  So, if for no other reason, start running now so that you can have french toast later.  Simple math really.

I'm glad to be back on the towpath.  I'm looking forward to some upcoming 10-15 milers on there over the next 6 weeks!  Now if the weather will just cooperate so I can put away my cap and gloves, and pull out my shorts, that would just be wonderful.

Car back!
Dragon

Where to begin?

I have been searching for a blog written from a runner's perspective that matches my own.  There seems to be an abundance of blogs written by very accomplished runners that offer me no real world application or connection simply because I am not at their level.  I wish I was, but I know my limits and I'm fine with that.  Reading about speed work, hill repeats, and 100 mile weeks is interesting to me in the sense that it doesn't seem real.  What I mean is that I can't possibly fathom the sacrifice and dedication that a lot of these runners exhibit.  I applaud them and their effort (and their 8 oz. shoes).  So I've decided to start my own blog and offer a runner's perspective from the average Dragon.  You might say it's a bit conceited to think that anyone would want to read about my mediocre exploits.  I like to think that it's a bit of laziness in that I searched for this type of blog for all of 15 minutes before deciding to just start my own.

Car Back! is the mating call of the mid-pack runner.  The guys up front never get to yell this because there's never anyone in front of them!  Uttering this simple, but important, warning has become such a natural part of my group runs that it's now almost an involuntary reaction.  Car Back!

I am the textbook example of the mid-packer.  I finish mid-pack in every category, in every race... and I'm okay with that.  I like to think that I'm improving ever so slightly with each race, and my finishing times over the last year will confirm that this is the case.  I completed my first marathon last year at the 2010 ING New York City Marathon.  My finish time of 4:08:00 was good enough for 17,568th place... or something like that.  That's about 5,000 places above mid-pack.  Who do I think I am with a finish like that?  Well, truth be told, I was hoping to break 4 hours, but finishing without walking was the more important goal and I'm happy to say that it was realized.  My half marathon PR was set last April at the Rutgers Unite Half Marathon in New Brunswick, NJ, where I ran a 1:44:16.  I'm not winning any awards, believe me.  Still, I get such a charge from being around a bunch of people that love running as much as I do.  Yes, I love to run!  I look forward to any kind of run with anyone that wants to run.  I'm lucky enough to be a member of the Raritan Valley Road Runners, and the people I have met there have become my dearest friends, mentors, and supporters.

So check back, please.  I'll be sharing my views on the sights and sounds from the middle of the pack.
Car Back!

Dragon

Elvis Pancakes

   I'm gonna set the way-back machine for September 2010.  Not that long ago, granted, but I wanted to include this day in my blog for a number of reasons.  This was a long weekend getaway... for a wedding... with a great run... and the yummiest pancakes around... ever!!  My girlfriend (and running partner), Lianne was in the wedding party for one of her college roommates, and I was lucky enough to accompany her on what would turn out to be one of the most memorable weekends.

   The wedding was in Bar Harbor, Maine which isn't exactly the easiest or quickest place to get to from Central NJ.  Our economic choice was to drive the 10-plus hours each way, and take advantage of our time together to talk, laugh, nap, and enjoy New England passing by our windows.  We left on Thursday, and on the drive up, we stopped in Haverill, MA to get in a quick run at Winnekenni Park.  We were lucky enough to find the park, as they had a nice 4 mile loop around a small lake.

   The loop was a good trail run, and at some points became a single track through dense forest.  A nice pit stop for us, but we were soon back in the car and on our way.  We finally arrived in Bar Harbor at around 9p, and checked in to The Colony at Hull's Cove.  We found the rest of the bridal party and hung out for a bit before heading back to the room to get some much needed rest.  Not only were we quite tired from the drive, but we were planning a 15 miler the next morning in Acadia National Park.
   Lianne and I would both be running our first full marathons in November, so the long runs in September were a crucial part of our training.  I was a bit nervous that the long wedding weekend would throw out some type of monkey wrench in our training plans, but I was able to map out a decent route close to our cottage.  Acadia National Park, for those who don't know (like me), is quite hilly... mountainous even.  After some quick searches before the trip, I was able to determine tht we would encounter some type of elevation gain/drop during the run, but nothing ridiculous.  We had been doing hill repeat workouts, so I wasn't too concerned. 
  
   The morning started with a 7a wake up, and some bananas and Cliff bars.  It was a chilly start to the day, but we'd warm up soon enough.  A short drive down the road to the parking lot at the Acadia visitor's center, and we were rewarded with being the first ones there!  I'm not sure what kind of reward that is... no gold stars or anything.  The morning was quite foggy as we set out on the park's main road, searching for the turn off that would bring us to the Carriage Road around Witch Hole Pond, where we would spend most of our run.


   The road began to rise, and we were nowhere near the anticipated turn off.   The views were already quite beautiful, but we were hoping the turn off would come soon, and bring some relief to the climb.  2 miles in (up I should say) and we found the turn off, after some short backtracking.  The morning was quite still... fresh... new, and we were drinking in the serenity.  We arrived at the entrance to the carriage road and took a quick break to explore the area, get some water, and stash some fuel.  The loop was just over 4 miles.  Just long enough to get a good rhythm going, and allow us to get hydrated/fueled every 36 minutes or so.  The crushed cinder and stone pathway was packed down hard, which made for a welcome surface, especially considering the distance for the day.  Each hilly lap afforded us magnificent views of the Maine coast, and the cruise ships anchored in the harbor.  The misty morning, and cool temperature was such a blessing.  To characterize a 15 mile run as pleasant or comfortable seems a bit odd, but that's just what it was.  The setting, the weather, and the views were integral parts of the whole, but without a doubt the company we shared with each other was the key component.  We didn't see another soul until we had completed 2 loops, and even then it was in quick passing.  Near the end of the 3rd loop we started to see a few more visitors on bicycles, doing a bit of bird watching we supposed.  We made it back to our fuel stash for the last time, picked everything up and continued for another half loop to another exit from the carriage road that would take us back to the visitor's parking lot.  The quick downhill run to the parking lot was considerably shorter than the 2 mile uphill trek.  Lesson learned for next time.  As we departed the dense wood in to the open space of the parking area, we were immediately struck by the number of cars in the lot, and the people milling about the bus pick up area.  Lianne and I were spectacularly sweaty and gross, wearing minimal clothing, and walking among the hygenically superior tourists in their warm coats and hats.  It's not THAT cold people!  A quick cool down, some more water, and we were ready to eat the tires on my car. 

   The town of Bar Harbor was just about a mile down the road, and we had planned to just park somewhere and find some suitable place to chow.  On the short drive there we talked about the run and how really nice it was.  It didn't feel like just another training run, and we both felt it.  Early morning, foggy and cool, no one else around, stunning views. and each other.  Quite nice.  Soon enough we turned on to Cottage St. and quickly found a parking spot.  As we were pulling in, Lianne noticed a cute Bed n' Breakfast called the 2 Cats.
She wondered aloud if we were under-dressed, or not-so-rosy-smelling.  Granted, we had put on fresh/dry clothes, but I can't say that we did anything about any possible odor other than the clothes.  Truth be told, we were good to go.  We sauntered up to the menu near the sidewalk to get an idea of what was on offer.  Another couple was leaving at that time and, unprovoked, said that we MUST go inside.  I asked what they had eaten and the woman began to talk about eggs benedict, or some other sort eggy food.  Lianne is not a fan of eggs, so this did nothing for us, until... the guy told us to get the Elvis Pancakes.  Elvis Pancakes?  Lianne and I traded looks.  I asked if that was pancakes with peanut butter and bananas.  "And chocolate chips" was his reply.  That did sound good, but the zeal he expressed about the Elvis Pancakes sealed the deal.  We thanked them and walked up to the hostess stand, and were quickly seated.  A quick perusal of the menu, to make sure we weren't missing something else, and the waitress stops to take our order.  Tea for Ms. Lianne, and coffee for yours truly.  Annnnnnnd we were both going to have the Elvis Pancakes, thank you.  I'm not sure if I remember her saying "great choice" or "they're my favorite" but in my recollection of the morning I always like to think that she said something to this affect. 

   We waited anxiously for the flapjacks, sipping our respective hot beverages, and then we overheard another waitress.  She said something like "mumble, mumble, mumble, 5k, mumble, Half marathon, mumble, mumble".  We both perked up, and I turned around to ask if I heard her correctly.  It turns out that there was a 5k and a Half Marathon the next morning, starting a few blocks from where we were sat.  Ding, ding, ding!!!  Idea bells clamoring as Lianne and I locked eyes.  We thought about it for 2 seconds and then remembered that the reason we were in Bar Harbor to begin with, was because Lianne's girlfriend was getting married and that Lianne was IN the wedding.  Slightly more important than a race we just heard about.  Ehhh, it would have been nice but it just wasn't possible.  A few minutes more and the pancakes arrive.  Now, I love pancakes and french toast, and ususally they all taste about the same no matter where you go.  NOT the case here.  These were perfect pancakes.  The size, color, crispness, smell... everything.  Some REAL maple syrup on top of them cakes and we were off!  To say that these were good is the understatement of the century.  Bananas, peanut butter chips, and chocolate chips all combined with perfection in the dough-y goodness of hot cakes.  A side of real bacon to round out the morning meal and we were two of the happiest people on the planet.  Actually smiling because of pancakes.  Who would've thought that was possible. 
   The next day the wedding was wonderful, Lianne looked beautiful, and everyone had a great time.  We were able to convince a few people to join us the morning after the festivities for one last meal at the 2 Cats.  I had to get Elvis Pancakes again.  Lianne got the Cherry Garcia, but later wished that she would have just stayed with Elvis. 

   We are planning a return trip this fall for the Half Marathon, if we can squeeze it in between all the pancakes we're gonna eat.

Car Back!
Dragon