Just a half a mile from the railroad track

As runners across the country know, Thanksgiving is about more than just eating and wearing pants with elastic waist bands. Thanksgiving is about Turkey Trots (not to be confused with runner's trots which may or may not occur during said turkey trots). This year in the Bronx, a new tradition was started with The Thanksgiving Marathon. This is a different kind of turkey trot. For one, it's a marathon. Or a half. Or a long 10k (6.5 miles to be exact). Another thing that sets it apart is it's free. No clocks. No bibs. No tshirts. No qualifying times. Pretty much, you show up and you run. When you finish you get a fork on a ribbon with "Thanksgiving 10k (or what ever distance)" written in sharpie on the fork.
I love this. I love this idea. In an age where races are trying to be bigger and bigger and more and more expensive and closing with in minutes of opening up to a year before the event, it's awesome to show up, run as far as you feel like running, have someone put a fork around your neck when you finish, write your results in a notebook (yes, that is the official time keeping device), stuff a few bucks in a paper bag left by said notebook to cover costs, eat a banana, see familiar faces, and just have a good time.
The organizers of this race laid out a great course. While I run in Van Cortlandt park a lot, they went of the beaten paths to come up with their 6.5 mile loop. It was on a several trails I had never been on, a nice mix of hills and flats, and over all beautiful. A nice change form the usually courses up in the park.
Since this was a rather casual affair, I emailed the race director to see if my dog Bea could run the race. He replied very quickly saying yes, dogs were allowed on the trails and she was welcome to run.
WOOHOO! Bea's first race! We've been running with her since she's come to live with us and this fall we've been building her milage. She was easily running a little over 5 miles so I didn't think one loop of the course would be a stretch. The weather was cool, which is to her liking.
Loren and I wanted to make sure she wouldn't annoy other runners. There were also 2 other dogs running, one the half and one the 10k. I wasn't sure how she would be with the other dogs, it can be hit or miss. She spent the first half of the race trying to catch a female pittbull. When she finally did catch her (and left me in the dust) she just wanted to run with her. They ran the last 2 miles with each other. Being the loyal companion she is, with about a quarter mile to go, she waited for me. She had a great time, finishing the course in about 58 minutes. She even got a fork.

I'm really looking forward to more of these free, laid back "races", though I think I'll be skipping the 100 miles around the Central Park Res.
Post run family photo


more race picture here

movin on up

Here at Dog Pound Farms™, we're slowly building our miles up. Look I'm speaking in plural! Ok, I'm talking about me and Bea. Loren took her for her first run since she got sick. She did an easy 3 at 10 minute pace yesterday. It wore her out. I thought you'd all like to know how Bea's doing. She's back to herself which is great news. I missed running with her and hope to start again this week.
As far as my running goes, I just finished my first 20 miles week since early Oct. I've been slowly taking baby steps to get back into marathon training shape. This week also brought me back into the world of running with other people (people who aren't Bea or Loren). I really enjoy running alone and am lucky enough to be able to run alone and push myself, and get myself out the door and do what I'm suppose to do and all that. That's not to say I dont mind company from time to time. It can make those long runs, those really cold runs, those really long cold runs, much more tolerable. Wed, I did an 8 miler, my longest run in months. I went out in the evening with a bunch of the ladies and it was lovely. It make the time fly and it actually felt easy. Totally honest: I was a bit sore the next day. Nothing major but a sign I still have some work to do to get back into shape, but I'm on the right road.
This week I also got some new shoes. I had been running in Asics 2140s for training and raced my last marathon and longer races in DS trainers which I really like. I just wanted to get something less anchor like than the 2140s and a bit more substantial than the trainers for now. So, like many of my running ladies, got Mizuno Inspires. 2 runs so far and I really like them.
I have been giving a lot of thought to my racing year. I dont think Im going to race as much this year. I also thinking I'm gong to skip a fall marathon and focus on the half. I want to give my body a break from the high miles and I also want to try and go sub 1:37 in the half. The magic qualify for NYC time! Unlike qualifying for Boston, you have to run it when you're that age. So even though I'll be 40 next year, to qualify now, I still have to run a sub 1:37. Make sense? Once I'm 40, I need a 1:44 which I know I can do.
So new fall goal. I'm looking forward to that, I love the half. I think I'll go back to the Philly Distance run for that.

"Bah, humbug!" No, that's too strong

Ho ho who you calling ho. I'm in Alabama for the yearly trek to the Mooney's. This year, I almost didn't make it. Actually, Bea, my pup and running partner picture here in all her snow glory, was suppose to join us. Bea got really sick a few hours after this picture was taken. Honestly, I have no idea what she got into, but she got into something that made her really sick. She spent 3 days at the vet.
Poor baby. It was awful seeing her like that.
I really thought about not making the trip down here this year and staying home with her. She came home about 2 hours before Loren and I were to leave. Luckily, Bea has a HUGE fan club. After seeing her at home, consulting with all my dog owner friends, and friend and super star pet sitter Denise agreed to (nurse) watch her while we were gone, I decided to come to Alabama.
It actually might be better that I came as to avoid me watching her non stop to make sure she's breathing and obsessing in a way that only I can.
Reports say she's getting back to her old self. I am so relieved.
On the running front, things are going slow and steady. Loren and I ran 4 miles through the snow of Central park on Wed. Today, we went with the long time Farrooney tradition of running on xmas. Loren and I drove over to her HS track where her parents walked and she and I ran. We started on the track then ran her old 2 mile XC course. Once back on the track I did a temp 400 which felt pretty good at 7:40 pace. 4.5 miles for the day.
At this rate, I'll eventually be up to 20 miles a week! Seriously, I'm feeling pretty good. My foot was a bit aggravated from flying but that's normal.
That's all from down south, hope everyone is enjoying their holidays.