<p>Oops, I saw that Erika had called me out the other day. I hadn't posted since this place had been reformatted. Months ago. Almost forgot my password, but somehow it came back.</p>
<p><br>
Congrats to the Boston runners! A woman I'm coaching ran 3:03 for a PR!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Umm back to Saturday's race, nice seeing you Erika, we've seen you a lot out training this spring/winter and as always looking fit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was a bit of a comeback for me. First race since June. I have stage 2 osteoarthritis in my knee, after a fracture and severe meltdown at NYC Marathon in 2009/followed by relapse last summer (although less severe). I've balanced nordic skiing and running for most of my adult life, but going to have to shift that more to skiing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, just been back at it for a few easy weeks (25 mpw at 8:30 pace is pretty easy).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Felt both good and awful on Saturday. As E said, weather was perfect. Lined up on front row not seeing many of the usual local suspects, and thinking hmm maybe top 5 today? Then everybody and their brother and sister blasted out of the start like a snot rocket on a cold day and I was no better than 25 or 30th at the base of the big hill (2 min into the race). Worked my way up, and was in top 10 by the top (skiing really helps for hill climbing). Two young bucks passed me in mile 2 and 3; other than that I held on sort of in oxygen debt, but trying to keep it going. No speedwork = no turnover.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>17:53 for 8th place, 1st in AG and 1st masters too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Really excited to see my wife, a former elite runner who has had had MS for 20 years (some of them rough) run 24:06 looking comfortable.</p>
<p><br>
Congrats to the Boston runners! A woman I'm coaching ran 3:03 for a PR!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Umm back to Saturday's race, nice seeing you Erika, we've seen you a lot out training this spring/winter and as always looking fit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was a bit of a comeback for me. First race since June. I have stage 2 osteoarthritis in my knee, after a fracture and severe meltdown at NYC Marathon in 2009/followed by relapse last summer (although less severe). I've balanced nordic skiing and running for most of my adult life, but going to have to shift that more to skiing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, just been back at it for a few easy weeks (25 mpw at 8:30 pace is pretty easy).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Felt both good and awful on Saturday. As E said, weather was perfect. Lined up on front row not seeing many of the usual local suspects, and thinking hmm maybe top 5 today? Then everybody and their brother and sister blasted out of the start like a snot rocket on a cold day and I was no better than 25 or 30th at the base of the big hill (2 min into the race). Worked my way up, and was in top 10 by the top (skiing really helps for hill climbing). Two young bucks passed me in mile 2 and 3; other than that I held on sort of in oxygen debt, but trying to keep it going. No speedwork = no turnover.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>17:53 for 8th place, 1st in AG and 1st masters too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Really excited to see my wife, a former elite runner who has had had MS for 20 years (some of them rough) run 24:06 looking comfortable.</p>
