15th Consecutive Boston in the Record Books

I know - I'm not supposed to be this quiet on this end. First of all; I would like to thank my BAA team-mates for their confidence in me and their unconditional support in me trying to pull off another personal record this year. I explained that it would be a long-shot, but no one ever doubted and in fact, most said that they wouldn't be surprised after last year's 2:49. A VERY quick race report; plan was to go out fast, stay fast in the middle and finish fast at the end. We all new it was going to be an incredible day; and after 14 Bostons, this would be the first with any kind of tail wind. And what a day it was, the fastest marathon ever for Mutai and even some sensational times after that. There was never any doubt in my mind; I was going for it. It was a stretch, but if I could hold on, it would yield great results. Here are some splits:

5K -18:55, 6:05 pace
10K - 38:38, 6:12
10m - 62:38, 6:16
1/2 - 1:23:41, 6:24

I actually felt okay, but at 21mi it was over and I really payed the last 5 miles. If I could have run the last five at the same pace as the first five I might have hit 2:50, but in an all or nothing attempt, that is what you get. I have gained valuable experience, and have never tried to run a marathon that fast from the start. I will come back next year and try again. Back to crossing over; I am going to ramp up the cycling and start from sctratch with running. No immediate panic for LP. I want to do a smart ramp up and peak right before the IM.

-Kyle

Ready To Line Up For The 115th

I am ready to go! Legs feel okay. Looks to be a pretty good day with a tail wind. I will give the fast pace a shot and see what happens. I wish eveyone a great race! I think there will be some PRs tomorrow. #731 -Kyle

Bib #731 - Starting To Wind Things Down

Trying to keep up: 337 miles total for March (10.9mi/day). Last week: 9600yds, 94mi, 49mi Hey, I finally found the pool! Swimming has been going great. I'm looking forward to open water swimming. Let's hope for some unusually warm days AFTER the marathon. Not much to talk about with the bike; I think one day was outside. Weather still not cooperating. Final weeks of training have been in lousy conditions. It's been hard to gauge where I am with fitness level. The miles for March were very big and just a bit over 2010. Last few track workouts in windy/rainy conditions, also making it hard to gauge. I had a great run on Thursday in mild conditions for a change! 2x20min at PMP tempo - I am right there, so will be going for it on 4/18!!! I have nothing to lose and might as well go out and let it rip. Next few days look to be unusually mild and honestly, I would rather see it stay cool here all the way through the marathon. Keep fingers crossed for a good day! Last year's conditions were ideal and who knows if we will ever see day like that again! This year is my 15th consecutive Boston marathon! On target for 60 miles this week, not much else going on and starting to taper as this old body is definitely tired and needs rest. I hope everyone's training has gone well and folks are starting to get rest! 9 days and counting ... -Kyle

Ready For Spring Weather and Thank God For The Trails

I'm ready for Spring to come any time mother nature wants to bring it. Finally back running on trails! How long has it been? A short taste of spring, but now it seems we are back in a psuedo winter, again. Last week's running miles = 90. Not much else going on as that sport is taking up all of my time (~60mi bike and 3Kswimming). April 18th is approaching rapidly and it is almost time to start scaling things back. I am looking forward to scaling back running and doing some long outside rides, hopefully in warm sunny weather. New Bedford Race Report; 3 years in a row now, no taper and high miles in the legs; I just could not find a rhythm and backed off; either a PR or I don't care and don't want to risk injury = 1:26:30. Hope everyone's training had gone well. It has been a tough winter for us New Englanders and I know a lot of people have struggled. There are a lot of injuries out there! Time to hit the trails and give the legs a break!

Better Numbers This Week

6300yd, 121mi, 83mi - first week running over 70 miles this year. Miles for March close to that of 2010, so it's not bad at all. Finally out on the Boston course this am. It felt good to be out there and to up tempo the first 13miles. Plan is to take an easy day tomorrow and resume until Thursday or so, then take some easy miles going into New Bedford next week. No expectations for NB1/2; I have bombed that race two years in a row now, and I don't expect anything different. Focus is on prep for Boston - anything else that happens will be a bonus - 1:22 in 2007 still stands. Finally it looks like we are in the clear and I will be able to continue ride outside this week. Sore shoulder from Monday night sprinting feels fine and I am due for 10K yards this week. -Kyle

Hopefully The Groundhog Is Right This Time

Very quiet on this end, but training is going okay. Back on the bike a day last week and today - it had been a month of no outside biking (thumbs down). Snow banks too high - too risky and I don't want to get whacked - it has been bad enough run commuting with those knuckle-head drivers. Not much else to report; February was a lost month of swimming; pool closed, Feb school vacation and I had to travel. I will need to make up for it this month, but I still feel very good in the water and I'm still doing lots of fly, which is hard work. The return to the Foxborough Old Fashion Ten Mile this year; blustery cold conditions, but I still went out hard, but legs began to tighten; lot's of speed work has done a number on the legs and I only managed 66 minutes. The race was totally dominated by the BAA. Also, three weeks of long runs 23, 17 and 21 - I decided to give it a break last weekend and just put in medium long runs. Mileage not great, but last two weeks 65 and 67 miles. February running miles just a tick above 2011. Need to put in high miles this week, as the following week is New Bedford on 3/20. I also need bike miles, as February wasn't a great bike month either. Body okay. Nagging heel thing (not achilles) comes and goes, but it doesn't keep me from running. It has been a tough winter for us New Englanders, but there is sign that spring is coming! We have earned our dues and it feels great ride outside. Only a couple of weeks until spring and I am ready for some mild, sunny days where I can get out and cruise on the bike. Also, running on some soft surfaces like trails is highly desirable, as the roads just beat you up after a while. Last week; 5800, 102, 67. Thanks for checking in. I will try to get back to posting the numbers on a weekly basis. -Kyle

Fast Forward To February

Once again. Not keeping up with this blog .... I will try to do better in the coming weeks. All is well and my fitness is coming back. Only 9 weeks until the Boston Marathon!!!

Here are the numbers for January:

S-17800yd, B-421mi, R-193mi

Bike miles almost double that of Jan10, so hopefully I'm on track. Unfortunately, the last two weeks have been disasterous for training. Too much snow has limited swimming; the pool has either been closed or I have been unable to make it for some stupid reason. Also, there is no room on the road for a bike; too risky, so all miles have been inside and time on the bike has suffered recently. I have been run commuting - also risky, have already had a couple of run-ins with cars operated by aggressive numb-skulls. Multiple contiguous track workouts accomplished only by use of the treadmill. I think I have shoveled snow every day for the last month, which I think my body is getting used to and my arms have really bulked-up. It has been a tough winter and it is probably the reason us New Englanders have such mental toughness or maybe it's that we cherish the spring so much, that we spend so much time on the bike when the weather gets nice.

I am just back from my second quality swim workout this week. Lot's of fly. Big thanks to coach Kim D. She's made everyone on the team choose a specialty stroke to focus on this winter. Who would of thought a few years ago that my strength would be the fly. It's obvious; it's a stroke that suits me well, less about technique and more about muscling your way through the water. I am actually starting to feel proficient at it.

Less than two weeks is the first prep-race; Foxborough Old Fashioned 10 miler. I am glad they brought the USATF GP series back to this race. My PR is there in 07 - 62:37 and I want to see that time fall this year. I'm unsure, but maybe if I can get some quality runs in here the next 10 days, it might be a possibility.

Anyway, there is a forecast for some better weather coming and no snow storms! Let's hope the ground hog is right this time!

-Kyle