Josh Runs – Page 10 – and does other stuff

Good Race, Bad Result

Last weekend was my second race of the year, the Boston Prep 5 Miler. This is an add on race for the Boston Prep 16 Miler. Everyone starts at the same time, then about 1 mile in the 5 milers go left and the 16 milers go right. Just before the split I was in 8th place, but all but 1 of the runners in front of me turned right, leaving me momentary in 2nd place.

I did my best to fight off 2 runners (pictured above) who were right on my shoulder for the next few miles, but about 3 miles in they both pushed pass me. I was feeling pretty gassed by that point, as most of the race had been uphill, but I realized too late that the last 2 miles of the race where downhill, and I should have gone with them. They held the 20 second or so gap they opened up for the rest of the race, and even a finishing 5:20 mile wasn’t even enough to make up any ground and I probably lost a few seconds to #59.

It is worth having some knowledge of a course before you race it, but even going in blind I was able to run my best 5 mile in almost 4 years. I finished in 4th place (first 40+) in 28:20.

Now for the bad result. I felt good during my cool down. I shuffled around for a few miles before grabbing some post race food and heading home. I woke up the next morning feeling fine, and went for my morning run at 6:30 am. By 6:40 I was feeling some tightness in my patella tendon. By 6:45 it was hurting. I should have just walked home at that point, but instead I stretched and went for another 15 minutes. I knew by the end of that 4 miles I had screwed up. I took Tuesday off, then on Wednesday I did a mile on the treadmill and 10 minutes on a recumbent bike. I then got back on the treadmill to do another mile, but cut it short after a 1/2 mile when my patella tendon tightened up again.

I decided to shut it down for a few more days, and will give it another shot on Saturday. I really was in need of sometime off anyway, since the last time I took off was last March when I hurt my back. If it isn’t cleared up on Saturday I’ll have to make an appointment with my active release guy.

In the meantime I’m enjoying some Dragon’s Mile Stout, which is delicious and I highly recommend you try some. Warning, it has a bit of a bite.

New Holland Brewing: Dragon’s Milk Stout

Cheers,

Josh

Supporting Camp WA WA Segowea

After years as a camper, counselor , program director, and cook at Camp WA WA Segowea, I’m now serving as a board member of Smith Park of New York, the organization that runs Camp Segowea and owns the property it is located on. Camp WA WA Segowea has been a treasured sleep-away camp for thousands of children for the past 90 years. Smith Park is devoted to the preservation and operation of Camp WA WA Segowea, the protection of its natural surroundings and historical integrity, and the continuation of traditional resident camping that improves the spiritual, mental, social, and physical attributes of young people in a supportive community. Campership dollars alone are not enough to sustain the many 90+ year old American Chestnut buildings and other facilities. We rely on support from camp alumni, and others interested in making the transformative experience of attending Camp Segowea accessible to future generations of children. This years major projects include repairing the roofs and floors on cabin row, replacing kitchen equipment, replacing rowboats, and more.

I’m asking you to join me in making a contribution to our annual campaign. Our goal this year is to raise $25,000 from people who love Camp Segowea and want to ensure its continued success. Your generous donation will be added to the $3000 already donated by all members of the Smith Park Board.

To make your contribution you can visit our fundraising site https://smithpark.kindful.com/ to make a one time donation or to setup monthly support. Please visit https://smithpark.org to learn more about Camp Segowea. You can also mail a donation to:

Smith Park of New York PO Box 4994 Poughkeepsie, NY 12602

Please email, call or text (512-590-2667) me with any questions about Smith Park or Camp Segowea. I would love to tell you more about what is happening at Camp Segowea, and the work we are doing to help sustain it.

With Gratitude,

Joshua Perks

Secretary Smith Park of New York Camp WA WA Segowea

Running down the mountain

Hazel and I spent the first day of 2019 sprinting down Mammoth Road in Londonderry, NH. It was my 3rd time running the Millennium Mile, and Hazel’s first. It is a silly race, a point to point 1 mile race with 80 feet of drop.

Thanks to unusually warm (50 degrees) weather, and a 20 mph tailwind, this year was extra silly.

I felt good about breaking 4:30 this year, as I’d come close the past 2 years running first 4:33 in 2017 and then 4:30.4 in 2018, and neither of those years had a 20 mph tailwind. I got off to a good start hitting the 1/4 mile in 62 seconds followed by a 2 minute 8 second 1/2 mile before really dropping off in he second half running 69 second 3rd quarter then another 69 to finish up with a 4:25.5. It is a meaningless accomplishment and not one that is going on my PR list, but still fun to do all the same.

Hazel was nervous, but excited to run in her first grownup road race. She had to start in the middle of 1500 runners, most of whom towered over her, but with a lot of ducking and weaving she found her way down the hill in 7 minutes 50 seconds. This would be 1 minute 25 second PR for her, but I think we will hold off on putting it in the record books. She is looking forward to training for her first 5K which might be the Wally Waddle in May.

Josh’s Finisher Video

Hazel’s Finisher Video

Results Here

Jingle all the way

Laughing all the the way.

I’m finding I have little to say about my races lately. I don’t know how I found so much to say about races in the past. Maybe because it was all so new, I found the process interesting, and now that I’ve been at it for 15+ years I just have nothing left to say.

I ran the Jingle Bell 5K in Concord, NH a few weeks ago. The only thing notable about the race, was that I won, and that 2 runners drafted off me for the first 2 miles before I pulled away to win by a comfortable 15 seconds.

Results Here.

Wait, there’s no food?

Assault on Mount Hood is a 3.5 mile xc race that is team scored. The CMS masters team won. I was promised free food and free beer. This year the race had neither so it is dead to me.

Results Here.