2019 Year in Review

Another year gone.  Not a great year personally or professionally so I'm ready to usher in a new one and a new decade.  In terms of running, I finished fairly strong with a good second half of the year.  As with last year, my focus this year was general training for mountain adventures.  To that end, I avoided roads as much as I could, didn't worry about pace/distance and focused primarily on elevation gains and long inclines whenever I could.

I had set a goal early in the year of hitting 250k elevation gain for the year.  Midday through it was clear that I wasn't going to reach it so I re calibrated to 200k.  I finished with 210k which I'm happy about.  Mileage wise I ended up with just over 1600 miles which is fine.

Once again racing took a backseat as my appetite for it has waned.  I managed a whopping three races this year - two of which were classic events: the Blessing of the Fleet and L'il Rhody.   The third event was the inaugural Bubba's Backyard Ultra which I'll detail below.

Not going to bother with predictions/resolutions/goals for next year.  I want to get up to the Whites and other assorted mountains as much as I can.  I have some plans in mind but nothing I want to talk about yet.  The one tradition I intend to cling to is to list my Top 5 races/adventures of the year - let's get this done so that I post this blog before the year ends.

5. Blessing of the Fleet

Been a while since I ran this race.  Really been a while since I did any road racing at all.  As such I knew I'd be a shadow of what I was only a few years ago.  I went into this race intent on just having a good time.  With no training to speak of I raced based on feel and was happy to find myself running seven minute miles.  Finished in just under 70 minutes which is certainly no PR but faster than I thought I was capable of.  

4. Wildcat-Carter-Moriah Ridge Traverse

A fun traverse I had never done before.  Finished in around 7.5 hours and was happy with how my body held up.  A fine day in the fall season up in the mountains.  Also I stayed for the first time at the Rattle River Hostel which was a cool place.  They were able to shuttle me down to Pinkham Notch to make this a point-to-point journey.

3.  Two Nights at Zealand Falls Hut in March

A great three night trip with my hiking buddies to tag a bunch of winter peaks.  Always a good time to hang with them at the off-season huts.  Went over Hale on Day 1 and Zealand on Day 2.  Attempted to make it to the Bonds but the conditions were too much and we turned around at Guyot.  On Day 3 I went it alone over Mt. Tom and then down to my car at the Highland Center.  A beautiful time to be up in the Whites towards the end of the official winter season.

2. Bubba's Backyard Ultra

The third race I ran this year was an ultra of the Last Man Standing variety.  A fun event that forces participants to run a 3.5 mile lap every hour on the hour, it's not about going fast as much as it is about enduring beyond everyone else.  After 14 hours and 48 miles I was toast and quit in fifth place.  A really fun event that let's you connect with other runners in a way that you couldn't do with distance or timed events.  I hope to do another one at some point!

1. Pemi Loop

In late June I drove up to Lincoln Woods, woke up bright and early and ran a clockwise Pemi loop.  I added all the extra peaks (Galehead, N. Twin, Guyot and W. Bond) which made for a long, arduous day of 35 miles, 10,000' gain and 16+ hours.  Very trashed legs after this one but I managed to reach 12 of the 4000 footers in one go.  Definitely a wake-up call in terms of the work I needed to do to make these adventures sustainable but a great time as always.

Well that's about it for 2019.  As another year ends and this blog continues to fade into obscurity, who knows if this will be the last blog post ever.  Probably not but one never knows.   I'll try to get some more posts up in 2020.  And I hope everyone has a wonderful new year in 2020!

2017 Year in Review

It's been a quiet year for the blog with a couple attempts to restart it that just haven't taken.  It is what it is - suffice to say I'm not that keen on blogging these days.  I'll try to be more consistent in 2018.  That falls in line with other things I need to work on but we'll get to that down below.

Currently I'm sick and have been ever since I came back from my California work conference three weeks ago.  I've had a hacky cough and have had bouts of head colds and lethargy.  I need to get it checked soon as this cough is annoying.  California was a great time and running out there was an absolute joy.  Between getting up early to run and putting in long days at the conference it's not surprising that I got sick but it's unfortunate as California derailed my morning meditation ritual and since I've been sick my motivation to run has been nilch.  Sucks 'cause I'm off from work on Christmas break and I'm just not feeling it.

Running-wise I'd say this year was a disappointment overall. I finished with around 1500 miles up from 1400 last year.  I started the year strong but found myself dealing with ankle pain that forced me to take it easy for a couple months.  I picked it up again later in the summer but I never really found a good training pattern or rhythm.  And these last few weeks have seen me not running at all.  Once I stop it's hard to jump start it.

The disappointment also ties into the fact that my interest in running has been diminishing.  Part of that is that I'm limited to doing most of my runs in the city at lunch and I've grown tired of those surroundings.  I feel that if I were in the woods I'd be more enthused about things.  Of course I've been here at home for 9 days now and have barely run.  So....shrug?

This year I ran a whopping six races.  I tied last years number and continue a downward trend:

2017 - 6
2016 - 6
2015 - 11
2014 - 15
2013 - 17
2012 - 12
2011 - 3
2010 - 3

I've had injury issues the last couple years which kept me off the starting line for several months so that accounts for some of it.  You can argue chicken/egg between this and lack of running interest.  Am I not racing because I've lost an interest in running or am I not running because I'm not racing as much as I used to?  Who can say.

The reality is that I'm focusing most of my attention on mountain adventures, not races. I spend my time looking at the calendar planning big hiking trips/mountain runs rather then looking at race schedules.  I'm a lucky guy to be able to get away for as many solo trips as I take and these days I'd rather look towards the mountains than races, be they long distance or otherwise.  I'd like to run Boston at some point but that would mean putting in a lot of actual training to prepare for a road marathon and that's not something I think I can stomach right now.  I consider it every year but I just keep kicking the can down the road.  At any rate I have other goals.  There are some big races brewing in the Whites for 2018 and I damn sure mean to be there.  That means putting together an actual training plan that involves long distances and hills hills hills.

Cross-training wise I had started to get into a groove with yoga, planks, P90X3 and meditation but everything has gotten derailed at one point or another.  It sounds crazy but I actually blame my new coffee preparation which ties me up for 20 minute in the morning.  It makes greats coffee but it's surprising how costly that 20 minutes is.  Look for some exciting coffee/time management blog reports in 2018.

As I said I'm been much more interested in hiking this year and it ended up being a great one.  I spent a lot of time up in the Whites and had some fine outings, both solo and with the family.  I made my first foray into hammock camping and while it was a little rough I'm looking forward to more attempts next year.  I knocked off a bunch more 4000 footers to bring my total to 39 but I still have 9 more to go.  I hope to finish this list next year.  Let's see if I can keep the upward trajectory on this graph going in 2018!

18 4ks total for 2017 which is a new high for me

As always, let's look back at my top five races/adventures of 2017:

5. Mount Washington - July 2, 2017

I capped three days of hiking in the Whites with a trip up the Rockpile.  I had originally intended for a more epic day but rains made me switch up the weekend plans and by the third day I was too worn out for a major Presidential adventure (but I made it happen soon enough - see #1).  This was a good trek in its own right with a variety of conditions.  Lots of water on the way up Tucks and the summit was thick in the clouds.  A great end to three days which also included the Hancocks and Carrigain.

4. Run with the Beavers 10 Mile Trail Race

Another year, another Beaver race.  In a year of few races, this was a good one.  After a couple months of not running much it was nice to get out there and still be able to compete.

3. RI 6 Hour Ultra

I signed up early when entry was cheap which ended up being a good way to make myself commit.  The race was moved to dirt roads this year (much of it the same as the Beaver race) and it was good to get another ultra under the belt.  This was a fun, low-key race that I "enjoyed."  Unbeknownst to me I spent most of the race in 2nd place before being overtaken in the final lap.  Still I'm happy with grinding out 37 miles and 3rd overall.

2. Mount San Jacinto - December 8, 2017

I had a day off during my work conference and made the most of it, renting a car and driving though the badlands on my way up to the pine covered highlands and the mountain town of Idyllwild.  The hike itself was 5000 feet of incredible California climbing.  It took a lot out of me and the 18 miles trashed my legs by the end but I finished in just over six hours and got a taste of just how amazing the mountains are out west.  I want more!  I've posted a video of this hike at the bottom of the page.

1. Presidential Traverse - Sept 23, 2017

Fulfilled a long time goal of a traverse on the Presidential ridge.  18 miles and a lot of climbing on some rocky terrain.  Conditions were warm and perfect which made for a journey that was hard but manageable.  Finished in 7 hours 10 minutes.  Psyched me up for more such adventures!

I'm not even going to bother summarizing last year's goals as they mostly didn't pan out.  Instead let's just look ahead to some goals for 2018:

• Complete the 4000 footers - 9 more to go and I have some big goals that will help with that
• Pemi Loop - Another White Mountain goal of mine is a 1-day loop around the Pemigewasset Wilderness.  Will it happen in 2018?
• Kilkenney Ridge Race - Here's a ballsy one for next year.  Ryan Welts is setting up a badass 50 miler in the northern Whites in July.  It'll take a lot of training to make myself even capable of doing this one and hopefully it'll light a fire under me.
• Presidential Traverse Part 2 - Here's a stretch goal.  I'd like to take another whack at the traverse and see what kind of time I can put up with a better route and less dilly-dallying.

That's plenty for 2018 and that about does it for 2017.  For anyone who still reads this blog, thanks for doing so.  Hopefully as I get back into the rhythm of things I'll keep the blog going for 2018.  One can hope!

2016 Year in Review

Another year done.  Not the best year running wise, mostly because I spent a goodly amount of the time injured.  Towards the end of 2015 I probably did too much, starting with the RI 6 Hour and continuing as I pushed my body in order to reach 2000 miles for the year.  Well I reached 2000 but then the next week I felt an unpleasant sensation in the lower leg after the Resolution 5k.  So began my bout with a stress fracture.  Like a stubborn fool I continued to run on it until a lackluster performance at the Belleville Pond 10k.  After that I was properly diagnosed with the fracture.  I spent six weeks not running and then I slowly begun to incorporate running into my walks.

I passed the time with some great hikes up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  And by June I was running pain free again.  I felt slow and out of shape so I didn't put any goals on myself other than to enjoy running.  As a result I only raced a total of five times this year.  But all post-fracture races were successful and will appear below in my legendary Top Five.

Cross-training wise I had been diligently doing a daily plank routine but I frigged up my wrist in the process so that got derailed as well.  It also stopped my weekly yoga session which was unfortunate.  I had also tried to get back into P90X but it didn't really take.  I'm hopeful to be more consistent with all these aspects in 2017.

In terms of last year's goals, here's what I wrote and what ended up happening:

• Set some PRs - Nope, not a one.  But I did only run five races and after the fracture I consider the rest of 2016 a rebuilding year.
• Run a sub 4 hour 50k - Nope.  The fracture derailed any chance at racing a 50k, let alone running one in under four hours.  However I did eek out a 50k long run this month which was a big step in the right direction
• A return to cross-training - Let's call it a draw.  I definitely did a lot of different stuff in the few months when I wasn't running.  But then I hurt myself doing planks just in time for the running to start up again.  Every since the mid-year point it's been hit or miss.
• More mountain adventures - A definite success.  I got up to the White Mountains a lot this year.  While I only checked off three new 4000 footers from my list, I summitted 14 of them in total, most with either friends or family.

And so that brings us to my top five races/adventures of 2016:

5. Run with the Beavers 10 Mile Trail Race

I was way off my PR from the previous year but so was everyone else on this humid, oppressively hot day.  After healing for much of the year it was great to race with friends again on this challenging course.

4. Father/Kid Hiking Trip in the Southern Presidentials

In October I took Ezri on a two day backpacking trip up to Mizpah Hut in the Southern Presidentials along with my friend Rob and his boy Robbie.  It was a challenging two days but the kids did great.  Ezri bagged three 4000 footers including Mt. Eisenhower.  She climbed five total in 2016.  I'm very proud of all she's done this year.

3. Li'l Rhody Runaround

A race I've often struggled with, I finished only 21 seconds off my PR this year.  Very pleased with my effort and fitness level afterwards.

2. Group Backpacking Trip along the Bonds

In May I joined Rob and three of his friends for trip over the Bonds to the Guyot campsite.  A fun adventure filled with incredible views and camaraderie.  I had done much of our route solo the previous year but doing it with a group was a completely different experience.  I actually had made a pretty lengthy blog post about our journey but chumped it and never finished.  Perhaps I will get it done in 2017!

1. Kismet Cliff Climb - The Beast of the East

I had known about this race for a few years but scheduling conflicts always got in the way.  Now healthy and with a clear schedule, I did as much hill work as I could in preparation.  The course and difficulty did not disappoint.  Neither did the conditions which were cool, dry, perfect.  I finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes, good for 7th overall against some of the best mountain runners around.  A great performance I'm really proud of.

So not a ton of racing but I made the most of my chances.  And my mountain adventures made up for the lack of races.  Amanda and I got our first taste of winter hiking and it was a magical experience.  And throughout the summer Amanda, Ezri and I had several fun camping trips that also featured great hikes.  And lest this blog become all about hiking I did end the year with nearly 1400 miles (1395 actually) so my weekly mileage is back to where I'd like it to be.  I'm feeling healthy and all systems seem go so I'm looking forward to 2017.  In fact, as far as goals go for 2017 I think I'll just recycle the ones from last year as they still seem applicable:

• Set some PRs
• Run a sub 4 hour 50k
• A return to cross-training
• More mountain adventures

Okay maybe I'll add a couple more crazy ones...

• Single Day Pemi Loop?
• 50 miler?

Thanks to everyone who continues to read this blog.  My posts dried up with the stress fracture and the flow of words never really returned.  Maybe consider that one final goal for 2017 - more blog posting!  Happy New Years all!

2015 Year in Review

With another year of running in the books, it's time to look back on my highs and lows.  Last year ended one of those lows, with my knee all janked up from two long punishing races spread two weeks apart, NipMuck trail marathon and Bimbler's Bluff 50k.  As a result the yearly recap was doom & gloom and I didn't even bother to list some goals for 2015.  Oh well.

The year started off with low mileage and lingering knee soreness.  The crazy amount of snowfall made winter running impossible in both the woods and the city.  I spent a good amount of time on the country roads of Seekonk where at least there was a shoulder to run.  During these cold months I didn't do much in the way of long runs and the highlights were mostly restricted to the 4th Season trail races.  I ran the Ocean's Run 1/2 which confirmed that I was much slower than last year and not in great racing shape.  Additional, I had a pinched nerve from doing push-ups so I spent much of the winter going to PT and avoiding any cross training all together.

As the weather warmed I began to increase my mileage but my appetite for racing wasn't there.  I didn't have the base for a long spring race and I didn't have the speed for shorter fare.  I stuck to maintenance miles instead.  By late summer I was getting back to longer runs but they were usually capped at 16-17 miles.  Running in East Providence this year proved to be less than ideal - running on city sidewalks isn't great and the nearby trail offerings got boring after a while.  I did push myself to the brink for a Strava elevation challenge in July of 16k feet which was grueling but satisfying.

With the fall came a return to racing.  In addition to the standard Mews and L'il Rhody races, I also finally tackled another ultra and had a grand hiking adventure (see below).  November wore me out and my mileage crept down after that but I finished the year with just over 2000 miles, a goal I had in mind but one I didn't want to articulate until I was near the finish line.  In December I also got to go to southern California for work, taking advantage of the amazing canyon trails that Chris Garvin now calls home.

And now as always, the top races/adventures of 2015:

5. Resolution 5k Trail & Beach Race

This race wasn't particularly memorable but in a year when my road speed was clearly down, I still managed to put up a good time on this mix of beach and easy trails.  This was the last race before Mother Winter beat the shit out of us.  It's also memorable as the last time I'll probably ever beat Matthew Walker.  It took a serious fall on his part to make it happen but I'll take it.

4. Run with the Beavers 10 Mile Trail Race

This is always a fun mid-summer race with top notch competition.  The second lap is a bear but I managed a 18 second PR on the course.  WTAC also bested Super Hammett Bros. and pocketed a goodly amount of beers.

3. Ragnar New England Trail Relay

I had been interested in trying a trail relay for some time and was delighted to join Bob Jackman's squad of Rhode Island runners.  The camping, night laps, beer drinking and exhaustion made for a memorable and challenging experience.  Highly recommended!

2. RI 6 Hour Ultra

I thew my hat in the ring for this race at the last minute.  I had never done a timed event before and the short loop format was more enjoyable than I would have thought.  Despite my lack of long runs my legs performed dutifully, carrying me past the 50k mark before damage control kicked in.  I ended up 4th overall and the third male, reaching a new distance record of 40.5 miles.  A true confidence booster that made me excited to try something long in 2016!

1. Pemi Loop - Three Day Hiking Adventure

I had thought about a long solo backpacking trip for some time.  It came together in October with an attempt to complete the 31 mile Pemi Loop in the White Mountains.  Weather and gear ultimately prevented me from completing the loop, but I got to camp on my own and brave the elements.  The second night I stayed at the Greenleaf Hut and my buddy Rob joined me on Day Three for a frosty ascent of Mt. Lafayette.  A truly memorable trip. 

So we say goodbye to 2015.  Not a PR year for Seth, but a solid rebuilding year.  Looking ahead, here's what I hope to accomplish in 2016:

• Set some PRs - My dream of matching Seth 1.0 may never happen.  I'm just not that fast and I don't know if I have the drive to push myself to a 5k PR at this point.  But there's definitely room for improvement at longer distances.  I will need to get back to some honest speed work to make this a reality though.
• Run a sub 4 hour 50k - I'm leaning towards running the Pinelands 50k again.  It will depend of family plans, etc but if I do, I want to really race it and push the pace.  I ran under 4:06 in 2014 and while six minutes is a lot of time I think with the proper training I can get it done.  I have a tendency to underestimate my goals so this may be veering too far in the opposite direction but whatever.  Let's do it!
• A return to cross-training - My P90X days may be over.  Or maybe they're not.  Either way, I definitely need to get back to consistent strength/core training.  I also want to hit the yoga studio more often. And finally...
• More mountain adventures - I hear the call of the White Mountains all the time.  The family got snowshoes for Christmas so I want us to head up there for more mountain adventures in 2016.  Hopefully we can work some more hut trips into the mix as well.

Thanks to everyone for reading my blog and thanks to my running friends for making it another fun year.  Thanks to my wife for being supportive of all of my grand adventures.  See you on the trails!