Run Around the Block 15K, New Shoreham, R.I., Sept. 10

Set on an island accessible only by boat or plane, with an uncommon distance and an afternoon start time, a more unique race than Run Around the Block 15K would be tough to find.

Block Island is still New England's best kept secret, though you would not think so when throngs of summer vacationers descend upon its shores. Off-season, though, it is a whole different vibe. I prefer to go in mid-May and mid-September, to take advantage of warm temperatures while avoiding the Memorial-Day-to-Labor-Day crowd.

September 10 brought sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-70s and lots of humidity - not exactly great racing conditions. Gloria and I took the shuttle bus from Water Street to the starting area near Fresh Pond, at the convergence of Center Street, Cooneymus Road and Lakeside Drive.  

Gloria, pre-race

We got there plenty early, not realizing that we would have to sit in the hot sun for an hour and a half before the start (our friends Tim and Mary Jane wisely took a cab and got there much later). Some runners found some shade under trees on the lawn of a resident who, thankfully, did not mind.


Shirtless and sweaty before the race even started, I did a mile warm-up jog before we headed to the start line. Considering the weather and the hilly course, I had my work cut out for me to get in under an hour (6:26 pace, despite my training to run 6:15s), so when the race began, I bolted out quickly.


The 15K and half-marathon are difficult distances. They are too long to spend time hanging back and plotting moves while the seconds tick away, but too long to start in high gear and keep the throttle up. And with an uphill in the first mile, I figured I would give it some gas and then lay off on the down hill. The top three leaders flew ahead and I was with a small group by the end of the Mile 1 which I surprisingly finished in 5:57.

I thought I was hanging back in Mile 2, yet I shocked myself further with a 6:03. But the Block Island course is nothing but hills - you are either going up or down, almost never on flat land - and Mile 3 was mostly uphill (though more gentle) along West Side Road. Still, the 6:21 was another pleasant surprise.

Also surprising was that I had pulled into fifth place, passing a young guy who looked fit for the event, but had gone off to the side, panting and hunched over. By the end of Mile 4 (6:20),  I was in fourth; and once I hit Mile 5 with a 6:04, the idea of not only finishing under an hour, but getting a PR on this ridiculous course seemed truly plausible.

I was on a 6:09 average pace, but I also knew the giant hill up Center Road near the airport in Mile 6 might be the deal breaker. Sure enough, 6:34. But with every uphill comes a downhill, so I quickly recovered and pushed myself into a 6:08 for Mile 7 as I came back to the Cooneymus Road intersection, bringing my average to 6:12 - still in PR territory (6:15).

Hitting those hills from the first three miles again, I was losing steam. I was overheating and my legs were getting fatigued. The same stretch that I had run at a 6:00 pace just a half-hour prior seemed like mountains now as I huffed and puffed my way through my slowest mile (6:36 for Mile 8).

Still in my fourth place position, I hit Mile 9 at 6:22. With an elapsed time of 56:25, I had just over two minutes to do almost a third of a mile. This was going to be close.


I had to get the last 1.3 miles closer to PR pace. If I was not so tired, I would probably have laughed at myself - an hour before, I was merely hoping for 59:59.  By Mile 9, I absolutely needed a 58:27.

The end of the course features an short, steep, crushing uphill toward Champlin's Marina, which gives way to an equal downhill into the finish line.  I mustered every last bit of energy I had to get up that hill - and it hurt - and then sprinted down with all my might, crossing the line at 58:22, five seconds faster than my previous 15K personal record.

My legs were in agony from the hills, but I was a happy camper and there was nothing left to do but cheer in Gloria and Tim to their triumphant finishes, and enjoy a nice, cold can of America...

America

Tim and me at the finish

Gloria and me, hoisting one more before leaving Block Island on Sunday - she prefers the Narragansett Lager, I like the Mohegan Cafe's home brews.

The standings

Back to the Block

Sometimes the racing schedule dictates the vacation. This time was the opposite. 

When I had settled on September for my annual sojourn to Block Island, and with Gloria to come with me for her first time there, it was obvious that a third go at the Run Around the Block 15K (I did it in 2006 and 2009) was in order. And Gloria, too, decided it would be a great way for her to end her summer of running.

Considering I had been crushing my short races all summer long, going back to truly conquer the hills of the very challenging course made sense. There was no way I could expect a PR on such a course, but I was dead set on doing it in under an hour, for it may very well be my last opportunity to do so. At 41, how much longer can this short-race hot streak last?

That meant continuing the intense speed training into a fourth month, and by the time September rolled around, I was spent.  My weekly 40-minute tempo runs and 400-meter and 800-meter intervals were taking their tolls on my body.  Never again, I thought. I can not do all this speed work anymore. It is is time to draw the line, appreciate what I have accomplished, and run for fun after this race is over.

Enduring rough seas that turned Gloria's stomach, we arrived on Block Island Thursday morning, Sept. 8, to overcast and dreary weather. 

After breakfast at the Topside Cafe, the sun was finally out, and the weather improved so greatly that we spent the early afternoon relaxing on the beach. 

Then, we rented bicycles, rode the four miles up to the end of Corn Neck Road and hiked to North Lighthouse, and the very tip of the island.  

It was probably not the best way to rest before a race, but it made for excellent cross-training and was a scenic treat for Gloria. It brought me tremendous joy to see her having such an wonderful experience at my special getaway place.  We had a big lunch at Los Gatitos and passed out for the rest of the afternoon, waking only in time to grab a quick drink at the Mohegan Cafe before it closed at 9:30 p.m. (It was a Thursday on the off-season, after all).

Friday was gorgeous as we ate breakfast on Crescent Beach and I swam in the cool but comfortable water. 

After exchanging the bikes for mopeds, so we could tool around the island without having to expend as much energy, we drove the race course to familiarize ourselves with the terrain. 

The memories of running all those hills came flooding back, and it freaked me out a bit. For the first time, I was nervous about this race. Could I maintain the 6:26 pace it would take to clock in under an hour? Sure, I did a half-marathon last year at 6:16, but that was pancake-flat. This, however, was a hilly beast with which to be reckoned.

Gloria assured me that I should trust my training and so there was nothing left to do but have a huge carb-filled dinner at the Poor People's Pub, where I devoured a skillet-full of delicious macaroni and cheese, and watch the sun set from Old Harbor.

With race time at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, at least we did not have to worry about early bedtimes and alarm-setting. That (and the mac and cheese) made for a much more rested pre-race sleep.

<up next...race day!>

My fourth 5K - Hoboken, N.J., July 31, 2006

Ten years ago this summer - July 31, 2006, to be exact - I ran my fourth 5K.  Here is my report from that race, as posted on my old blog:

The start of the 5K race in Hoboken on July 31 came unexpectedly. I heard no starting gun, no air horn. I didn’t even hear a “Go,” let alone an “On your mark” or a “Get set.”

I had finished my second trip to one of the four port-a-johns provided for the 600-plus runners (do a little math and you’ll find that if each person used the john once, that’s more 150 uses per john...ewww), when I noticed everyone ambling toward the starting line; I had no idea where that line was, but at some point the throng stopped, so I guess that was it.

While the fearless Herald News trio (Tim, Carolina and me) discussed our strategies, we suddenly realized everyone started moving. “Oh! We’re running!” was the last thing I said before I took off.

Figuring I had to make up a few seconds to get to my desired part of the pack, I started faster than usual. My iPod’s refusal to work meant I had only my breathing and the sound of sneakers on blacktop to set my rhythm. I settled into a decent pace, noticing I was still passing people.

There were no mile markers and no pace clocks. The only guide we had was the halfway turnaround, and even then, there was nothing indicating how long it had taken us to get there. I was wearing no watch, and I had no music by which I could even estimate how fast I was going. I felt okay, but what if I came out too quickly and had nothing for the end?

This probably happens to many a novice. In my first few races, I got used to having clocks at each mile; a big help in knowing if I needed to pick up the pace or ease back a bit. Without it, I felt lost, wondering if I was going too fast or too slow.

The articles I read about training for races often refer to running at “your 5K race pace.” Well, I’m new to this, and I have no idea what my 5K race pace is, especially if I’ve got no form of chronometer measuring it for me. So, I kept going, still passing people up, thinking “This is the pace I’m running. It’s a 5K. So, this must be my 5K race pace.”

By the third mile, still making my way past more runners, I wasn’t feeling as good. Breathing the hot July air felt more like breathing sand. Maybe I was running too fast, after all, and I’d peter out soon. But the third mile is not the time to slow down so I pushed on, and by the time the finish line was in sight, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was still a “20” on the clock! As in “minutes”! As in “Wow, I’m going to set a personal record!”

With the last of my energy I mustered up a sprint that took me into the finish line at 21:01, 52 seconds faster than my last PR, which was only three weeks before. Despite the pain from having to stop short after a big sprint (why don’t they allow for a longer space to slow down?), there’s nothing like that kind of thrill. Later, I looked at the results sheets to find that my pace was 6:48. So that's my race pace.

However, I learned a few things from the experience:

1. It’s probably better to know how fast your pace is before running the race, even without clocks. If you train properly (which I don’t), you’ll probably feel your pace (thus, I don’t).

2. Don’t assume you’ll be provided with any markers or clocks. If actual pace times are important, wear a watch. Or, use the music. Despite the malfunctioning of my nine-month-old iPod Shuffle, I still recommend it because it’s lightweight, easy to use and cheap.

3. If it feels good, do it, but be prepared to pay for it later with aches and pains. At least you’ll have that PR of which to feel proud!

Post-race triumph

Tim and Carolina

Juice for Life 5K, Englewood, July 31

Note: I mistakenly published this post on Saturday, before it was finished.  Here is the complete race report...


The pre-race atmosphere in MacKay Park was jubilant.  A DJ played funky, danceable R&B tunes including a few by Prince.  There were protein bars, bananas and bagels.  The staff and runners were friendly.  The post-race celebration even had pizza.  Bless their hearts, the Market Place and juice and food cafe did a commendable job organizing its first 5K for the community.

But there was one extremely glaring oversight at the first Juice for Life 5K in Englewood on July 31, and it is a shame because everything else about this race was well-presented and enjoyable.   

Plus, it is hard to gripe when I ran my second fastest 5K ever (hot on the heels of my PR in June and my excellent showing at the Sunset Classic) and even completely won the darn race.

Still, the one problem was a big one - the course was not marked at all.  Let me repeat that:  

The course...

...was not marked...

...at all.

Luckily, I have learned my lesson from previous races that I have run while still in their nascent stages and I emailed the race director for a course map a week prior.  This is what I received...

After studying it, there were still some questionable turns that were not clear on the map.  So on race day I tried to find a race volunteer who could help answer a few questions.  Nobody knew anything about where to make the first turn and where the turn off from Van Brunt Street was.

A feeling of dread crept over me at the start line as I looked around - Oh god, what if I end up leading the pack and have no idea where I am going?

At the go signal, we ran west on Englewood Avenue and those of us at the front of the pack had to make a quick decision, turning right at Elmore Avenue.  From that map, no one could tell if the turn was there or at the next block, but either way, we ended up on Lafayette Avenue with a left turn onto West Palisade Avenue.  Later, we would determine that it should have been the next block, thereby cutting out two-tenths of a mile.

I broke away from the pack into the lead, hoping for the best, but the next turn was confusing.  I knew it was a right onto Van Brunt, but the sign was much farther up than the street and I had my eyes on the sign, not realizing I had actually passed the street and was already at the railroad tracks when I heard someone behind me yell, "Right turn!"

"Shit!" I exclaimed, remembering how a blown turn cost me what would have been my first win at a 10K in 2010, and watching five other guys make the turn before I got back to the proper intersection.  Later, I would calculate that I lost about 15 seconds.

I would not, however, stand to lose my lead, so I pushed hard on Van Brunt and somehow made it to the front as we turned left onto Linden Avenue (which was confirmed by runner-up John Milone, whom I assume called out the previous turn), for the loop around Jackson Street and Forest Avenue.  After getting back on Van Brunt heading toward the next loop (around Nordhoff Place and the Crowne Plaza), a teenager (possibly Ben Tenenbaum) was clearly trying to pull ahead of me.  He got up next to me, but was clearly losing too much steam in the process - grunting and groaning as he tried to keep up.

On the straightaway along Van Brunt, now heading north with no more turns until the home stretch on Englewood Avenue, I passed the runners heading south toward the loop and saw Gloria who was running in the mid-pack and cheered me on as I passed.  Later, she told me that the kid behind me looked like he was completely fatigued as I pulled farther away.  The humidity was high and it was getting hotter - the poor kid just could not hack it.

And by the time I hit the turn toward the finish, I felt like I could not anymore either, so I dug deep, not knowing how far behind me the second place runner was, and rallied to the finish where I broke the tape under a clock that read 16:44.  I knew I had run fast, but I also knew there was no way I ran that fast.

When I found out the true distance - 2.9 miles - I did some extrapolation, but also subtracted the 15 seconds I lost at the first Van Brunt turn, calculating my time to be 17:37, only one second off from my PR a month earlier.  Plus, you know, I won.  But again, I could not feel like it was a true win (nor a true time) because of all that went wrong.

This could potentially be a wonderful race, especially since the vibe continued to be excellent as the runners came into the finish (Gloria finished beautifully, with what would be a PR, even with the missed distance added back in!).  Runners cheered for other runners and everyone came through the finish smiling.

But, lordy, they have got to improve the course logistics!  Even spray-painted arrows on the street would have been helpful.  Hopefully next year, they will do something about that - so there can be more next years.


Results (based on the shortened course): http://www.bestrace.com/results/16/160731JC5.HTM

Running on Phish tour, Summer 2016

Because the Sunset Classic took place on the day after the Phish shows at the Mann, I did no running in the Philadelphia area.  It was nice to not worry about packing running clothes and getting my training done on hot post-show mornings.  On the other hand, it was a bummer because running while on vacation is a treat - enjoying new scenery makes training runs more enjoyable and exciting than usual. 

After the race, though, I was back on the road with Phish, with my weekend in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.  As in previous years, I stayed in Colonie, a suburb of Albany about 30 minutes away from Saratoga.  In addition to its giant mall, it boasts a lovely park called the Crossings of Colonie.  Snaking around the ponds, playgrounds, lawns, fields, and rambles, are 6.5 miles of pedestrian paths.  With a three-mile run on Saturday and a 35-minute tempo run (keeping a sub-6 pace in the middle third!) on Monday, I used all of it.

The following weekend, Gloria and I stayed in Milldale, Conn., outside of Hartford.   I recalled from fall tour 2013 that there was a canal towpath and rail trail that had started in nearby Cheshire (about four miles south) and spanned all the way south to Yale University in New Haven.  To my absolute delight, we discovered that the trail, called the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, continues to be improved and extended (currently finished up to Southington, but planned to go all the way into Massachusetts!) and passed within walking distance of our Econo Lodge.  

On Saturday afternoon (on only a little bit of sleep after that long night in Massachusetts), we ran six miles together along the trail (three south and back).  Gloria runs at a slower pace than I do, so it was nice to take it easy for a change, especially to take in the surroundings.  On Sunday, I did a three-mile run (heading north for 1.5 miles and back) at my own pace while Gloria did a two-mile run at hers.  

I hope our travels bring us back to that area of Connecticut again as they complete more and more of this wonderful project!

The Crossings at Colonie

With Gloria, post-run

Phish at Xfinity Theatre, Hartford, CT, July 9, 2016

After the debacle of Great Woods (Xfinity Center, whatever), I had hoped that Gloria and I could have a much better overall experience the following night in Hartford at the Meadows Music Theatre (Xfinity Theatre, seriously…ugh).  This was to be my 127th Phish show, but my last of the tour, so it had to hold me over for several months.  It was also Gloria's second show and I really, really wanted her to come away on a positive note.  

What we got exceeded both of our expectations...and my favorite show of the tour.  

Me and Gloria, pre-show

Right from the rare "Pigtail" opener (only the third time played and I saw the first one on 12/28/2010), I suspected we would be in for a treat.  I was hoping for some danceable tunes so Gloria could enjoy getting down and letting loose, and "The Moma Dance" and "Halley's Comet" fit the bill nicely.  Even the faster rock of "Birds of a Feather", the slower funk of "Meat", and the classic-rock stomp of "Free" kept our bodies moving.  

"Pigtail"

None of the jams veered to far away and were generally short and tight, but with great effect.  There is nothing quite like a well-played, song-driven first set.  It reminded me of 12/30/1994 - a first set that looks unremarkable on paper but is of the utmost quality.  The staccato rhythms of "Vultures" and the infrequently played ballad "Let Me Lie" (which, along with "Pigtail" sees much more action with the Trey Anastasio Band) had the group playing with ease, so when the best "Julius" I have heard in a long time ended, the set could have ended and I would have been happy.

But Phish being Phish, they surprised everyone and blasted into a killer "You Enjoy Myself" - the first Set One appearance of the song in two years.  Everything was right in the world for 18 glorious minutes as all composed parts were played with precision, Mike Gordon and Trey did their trampoline choreography, Trey played the synthetic Marimba Lumina percussion, and Page McConnell and Mike swapped places (I have never seen Page play electric bass!).  The set ended beautifully.

Picking up where they left off, the second set started with a fantastic "Down With Disease" that was as long at the "YEM", and the band simply refused to let up as a super-funky "Sand" had Page doing what he does best as he stood up to play his clavinet (as they say, when Page gets up, you gets down).

There was more rocking to be had with "Carini" after a lovely "Tela".  The only low point was the coda to "Twenty Years Later" which often has trouble lifting off in its odd-time-signature coda which simply meandered around for way too long.

The "Run Like an Antelope" recovery had Gloria commenting about the great buildup.  Once again, the set could have ended there and no one would have gone home unhappy.  But unlike the first set, the final number, "Backwards Down the Number Line", had a shaky start and was extremely subdued, almost perfunctory.

"Run Like an Antelope"

The last time "The Lizards" was played, it was the encore of (1/2/2016), so I am sure everyone was as surprised as I was that its return was in the same slot.  No complaints here - especially because that ending section gets me every time.  To follow that up with a high-flying, big-climaxing, show-closing "Loving Cup", was the best way to rest any doubt that this show could redeem the badness that surrounded the previous night's show.  

With all of my expectations met - amazing playing, easier parking situation, and Gloria's satisfaction with the night - I was content to go home after my seven show run.  It was yet another summer tour to remember.

Phish at Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA, July 8, 2016

Ah, the former Great Woods - a lovely little Massachusetts amphitheater set away from the state's major cities, with a setup that includes great sight lines and easy to-and-fro for bathrooms and beers. 

Unfortunately, it is so poorly run, its corporate namesake, Xfinity, and its promoter, Live Nation, should be utterly ashamed of themselves. I had a horrible traffic experience the first time I was there (8/11/2004), though my second time (7/1/2014) was much better. 

This time was worse than the first, in even more ways, which is a shame because the one element that was not a problem was the band.  Plus, this was my girlfriend Gloria's first Phish show and I wanted her to experience the magic of my favorite band.

Within the first three songs things got shaky - "Party Time" and "Poor Heart" were sloppy, but "46 Days" was good if not great.  Gloria and I did not know that at the time because we missed all three thanks to the stopped-dead traffic jam getting into the place.  I seriously have not had this much trouble getting into a venue since that first Great Woods show and the Coventry nightmare that succeeded it.

Finally parking the car after what seemed like an eternity, I could hear "The Dogs" as it gave way to a truly excellent "Bathtub Gin".  From there, we were in full upswing with Mike Gordon's big rocker "How Many People Are You?" and the bigger rock of "Fuego".  The set had two ballads, "Fast Enough for You" and "Strange Design", both performed beautifully, and perfect for the mildly cool evening (we were in the seating section between the pavilion and the lawn).

"Fast Enough for You"

But it was the jam out of "Cities" that broke free of all convention, even for Phish as Mike Gordon ditched his bass and played guitar while Trey Anastasio played Jon Fishman's Marimba Lumina.  The jam got so weird I could barely follow any sense of beat, structure, or melody.  I can not say it was enjoyable music, but it was interesting to watch.  Closing the set with the second-ever performance of their barbershop quartet rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity", the band was on a good roll and left me positively excited for the second set.

Gloria and me having some beverages during the very weird "Cities"

Set Two started with a "Ghost" jam that fulfilled my expectations, including a short major-key bliss jam and some bass bombs.  As if that was not awesome enough, they launched into a 19-minute version of "Light", with an enormous jam that knocked my socks off.  This was shaping up to be a set to remember as "Wolfman's Brother" kicked in.  

But in the middle of a vocal jam (!) during "Wolfman's", the sound disappeared.  

The band played a little longer, so either they were not aware because the stage sound was still operational or they had hoped the problem was temporary.  During that time, Trey joined Fish on drums and Mike played keyboards with Page McConnell.  But it stayed quiet, so the band stopped and eventually left the stage.

After about 15 minutes, they returned, but the mojo was gone.  And so were the exterior lawn speakers, which means that no one outside of the pavilion got the full sound of the show from that point on.  

I guess "Chalk Dust Torture" (during which I went to the bathroom) and "Saw It Again" rocked well enough and "Back on the Train" was nice, but my whole experience was soured with only half the sound that we had before.  I can tell you for certain that "Slave to the Traffic Light" was beautiful but I bet it would have been epic if I could hear it fully.  And with an encore of the rarely played "I Am the Walrus" (the fourth Beatles cover of the tour!), it was mixed feelings all over again - happiness that they played it, frustration that I could not hear it well.

Already a bit pissed about the way things went in the fourth quarter of the show, things got even worse as Gloria and I waited for the traffic jam leaving the venue to finally get moving.  

We waited.  And waited.

An hour had gone by and we had not moved an inch.  We decided to stay in our parking spot, shut the car, put back the seats, and take a nap.  We slept for more than an hour, and when we woke, all the same cars were in the same position as they were before we slept.  How could a venue in its 31st year of operation be so completely inept with traffic control that it would take three hours to leave the parking lot.  

Three hours!  And we still had to drive to the Hartford area where we were staying to be near the next show.  It was a long night.  Worth it?  I am still wondering.  

OK, maybe for that "Light" jam.