Day # 48: 12 Miles in 1:34:35

In what was my most difficult run thus far of the training program, I completed the 12 mile run in 1 hour, 34 minutes and 35 seconds. Today marked the longest continuous run that I have ever made. I paced the run pretty well with each mile split in the 8-9 minute/mile mark. As a result, I felt pretty comfortable and had no respitory issues, but towards the end of the run my knees and heels were in a bit of pain. After running all the way from Boston into Cambridge, I looped all of Storrow Dr. came back up Beacon Hill, then ran through Govt. Center, the Financial District, the Wharf area, Downtown Crossing, Boston Common, Public Garden, then back up Charles St. and Public Garden. An incredibly draining, yet satisfying run today.

Day # 45: 5 Miles + Beacon Hill Finish

Although it was just as humid tonight as previous evenings, I walked out of the apartment and started jogging down Pinckney Hill to begin my 5 mile run that the Higdon program suggested. I took a similar route to last night by running down Mass Ave., but tonight I ran past the Prudential Center and all the way down to Lansdowne St. next to Fenway Park before turning around and running back down Mass Ave. and Newbury St. Hitting the Public Garden, I felt strong so I ran across the park then ran the perimeter of the Boston Common before running down Pinckney, down Charles and then sprinting up Pinckney. A tough 5+ mile run completed in 41:08.

Day # 44: 3 Miles + Beacon Hill Finish

I left the house at 7pm tonight for a 3 mile run in Boston. After running the Charles last night, I was more interested in running the streets tonight, so I ran down Charles, onto Beacon, then Arlington, then ran down the park on Mass. Ave. til I got down to the Prudential Center. Once I was parallel with the Pru, I went down a block to Newbury and ran it all the way back to the Public Garden again before jogging up Charles and sprinting all-out up Pinckney St. It was still very humid tonight, but not as bad as last night. That combined with a drizzle made for less than favorable running conditions, but beggers can't be choosers. I ended up finishing the 3 mile run in 21:34. Roughly 7:11 mins/mile

Day # 43: 7 Miles in Extreme Humidity in Boston + Beacon Hill Finish

Wow, what a difficult run...Arriving home after work at 6o'clock, I quickly laced up the running shoes and trudged out the door and down Pinckney St. for what was one of my most difficult training runs yet. 92 degrees and extreme humidity greeted me as I jogged down the hill and towards the Charles River. I stretched at the 5 minute mark, then proceeded to run from the Arthur Fiedler bridge all the way down Storrow to the Mass Turnpike exit. The run is roughly 3 miles each way. That plus my 1/2 mile jog to get over the bridge got me to the 7 mile mark. Coming home, I crossed back over the Fiedler Bridge, and once I got to the intersection of Charles + Pinckney---I sprinted full speed 1/6th of a mile straight up Pinckney. If you've seen my street, you fully know why they call it Beacon Hill! A great day run considering the conditions. I finished off the 7 miles in 49:55 - just over 7 mins/mile.

Day # 42: No Day Off - 8 Hours of Moving!

I spent today lifting couches, love seats, box springs, mattresses, dressers, a dining room hutch (weighing well over 300 pounds), all in an effort to help Sara move to her new house in Waltham, and also in my move from Waltham to Beacon Hill in downtown Boston. I wasn't able to fit in my scheduled 7 mile run, but it was certainly no day off for the legs. My plan is to run 7 tomorrow evening after work if I can get out early enough and if the weather cooperates.