Josh Runs

When you have run 100’s of races you tend to have a few repeat efforts. I’ve run the Ed Erichson 5 miler in LaGrange 4 times, 2015, 2013 , 2011, and 2003. It was one of the first races I did when i began running again 16 years ago. The Ed Erichson was one of the first races ever put on by the Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club back in 1979, and is named after one of the clubs founding members who died in a car accident in the 1980’s.

Race day consists of a 5 miler and a 10 miler. The 10 miler is basically a two loop version of the 5 miler, but with a nasty little hill at around mile 4 and mile 9. In my 4 years of racing the Ed Erichson I’ve never done the 10 miler, and have decided to take a shot at it this year. I’m not sure what kind of time I’ll be able to run, but I’m in the area this coming weekend and I have to do a long run anyway. I hope you’ll join me at the race. http://www.mhrrc.org/News/View.aspx?Articleid=1040

It’s been about 3 weeks since I first hobbled back home from a easy 4 mile run with an aching knee. Yesterday I was able to run 8 miles with no discomfort (and no patella strap), and today I followed that run up with a 7 mile run with a bit of a fast finish. I plodded along for the first 4 miles before picking up the pace for a 7:14, 7:05, 6:57 last 3 miles. I wasn’t trying to get any type of a workout in, but I did want to see how my knee would respond to asking a bit more of it than shuffling along at 8:30 pace. So far so good, but the real tests will come first with my easy run tomorrow, and an actual workout later in the week.

Assuming both those runs go well, it will be time to start half marathon training. I haven’t raced a half marathon since my disastrous 1:18:27 at the Dutchess County Classic in 2015. I have 2 planned this year, the first is the Gate City Half Marathon in May, the second will be the CHaD Half Marathon in October, both are part of the New Hampshire Grand Prix Series. I’ll be running in the series with the Greater Derry Track Club. I have not abandoned my USATF team, so I’ll also running in the New England Grand Prix with the Central Mass Striders as well. It is shaping up to be a busy year of racing.

Aside from all that series racing, I will be attempting to continue my 10 year streak of winning at least one race a year. The streak started back in February 2009 with the Polar CAT 5k at Mendon Ponds. It is a bit of a dubious streak to worry about, because it has less to do with the kind of shape I’m in, and more to do with who happens to show up at the races I do. Still, I’ll feel better once I get the first win of the year out of the way.