The Mighty Thaw.......For Now.....

 "Ah! We come from the land of the ice and snow from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow, the hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands to fight the horde sing and cry, Valhalla I am coming on we sweep w/ threshing oar our only goal will be the western shore"

Immigrant Song-Led Zeppelin

Finally a double digit long run as the snow and ice continued to melt......only for another Winter storm heading our way this weekend......ah fer feck sake..........

Sunday Feb 15th hard on the heals of my seasons debut 5k on Saturday morning I nailed a 10 miler Sunday afternoon, it was never ideal to attempt a long run  so soon after a race but my hand had been forced by the fact I'd missed opportunities  to get any double digit runs in over the last four weekends and now the clock was ticking on the Love Run 1/2 marathon in 6 weeks time so I had to grin and bare it and hope I'd roll the dice and come up sixes.........

Early on into the run I was cognizant  my pace was a little brisker than needed, the target was 1.30 off 9 min mile pace so the fact I went 8.12-8.06-8.19 might've explained the early negative thoughts about completing 10 miles, things settled down over the next 2 miles as I clocked 8.38-8.42,41.17 at the turnaround on Kelly Dr 1.22.34 pace

As I made my way back towards the Art Museum I began to entertain thoughts of bailing on the run and doing the walk of shame back down Powelton Ave thankfully I was able to silence those negative voices/thoughts and continue down the Schuylkill River Trail, rather than think of four more miles I broke it down into one mile at a time, approaching the on/off ramp of the South St bridge I had to make a choice  exit the trail and head back the way I came via Spruce St/Baltimore Ave or continue on the trail to it's end at Grays Ferry and head down 49th St........I opted for the trail partially as I felt if I ran out of gas at mile 9 it would still be a step up from my previous long run of 8 miles on Jan 10th

8.48 for mile six, 8.55 for mile seven 8.40 for mile eight and 8.31 for mile nine,.......now for the mother of all uphills on the Grays Ferry Avenue bridge at this point it would've been unthinkable to bail and while it wouldn't have been the end of the world if the final mile crept above 9 min mile pace I was hoping to keep all ten at sub 9 pace.........to that end despite the uphill of the bridge and thanks to some knee lift and lengthening of my stride I clocked 8.58 for the final mile....

1.25.50 off 8.35 mile pace job done my first double digit mile run since November 23rd 12 weeks ago to say I was pleased was an understatement, the finish line of the Love Run 1/2 marathon felt it got a little closer today, granted I still need to log at least one 12 mile run and a couple of 14 milers between next weekend and March 22nd but the monkey off my back today felt huge

Monday Feb 16th I could've taken a rest day today but figured an easy/recovery/shake out 5 miles at lunchtime was probably what I needed if only to flush the crap out of my legs and hopefully ease any soreness away, in what would prove the be an ongoing theme throughout the week it was grey and overcast, however at 39 degrees it was mild enough to be comfortable as I logged my slowest timed run of the season,44.14.8 off 8.51 mile pace out and back on Kelly Dr

Time, pace, speed were secondary today the key was getting it done,sometimes mental strength is  the difference between not just finishing a run like yesterdays long run but also starting today's, I'm a firm advocate that running is as much mental as it is physical ye can have all the physical attributes at your disposal but if ye aren't mentally tuned in it won't matter,also ye have to put in the physical work too no point having a positive outlook/attitude towards the run if the groundwork isn't there, some days it flows and others ye have to grind it out......but shur if it were easy everybody would be doing it........

Tuesday Feb 17th I do embrace the untimed run, as runners I feel we're so governed by the Garmin, how fast did we run? what was our mile pace? what were our splits?......shur they are important if ye're looking to track your progress but I also think it's important to have at least one run a week where it's about running on feel, as my former coach used to tell me if ye feel ye can pick it up pick up the pace, equally if ye need to back off and slow down do so, for me having one run a week where I can throw off the shackles  of speed, pace, time and just embrace the run for what it is......just a run that's important

As is often the case West River Dr feels lonely compared to Kelly Dr, I know West River Dr was off limits for a couple of years while the bridge was being renovated but even b4 then and subsequently since it reopened runner do seem to favour Kelly Dr, not shur why maybe on a longer run l'd favour Kelly Dr as there'd be more runner to work off of but for a short five mile out and back West River Dr serves a purpose and allows me to mix up my lunchtime runs, a change of scenery never hurts

Wednesday Feb 18th after a hiatus of a couple of weeks due to the snow and ice I was able to tackle  the hills of Sedgley Dr,Popular Dr and Kelly Dr for my tempo run as the thaw continued to melt away the snow and ice of Jan 26th

It didn't dawn on me at the time that this was my 5th run in five day and while I'm no stranger to a Sunday long run/race and then going at it Monday through Thursday  in that scenario the tempo run is #4 so by the time Thursdays easy/recovery run rolls around on day #5 it doesn't matter so much if l'm running on fumes and muscle memory.......however when day #5 is not only a lung busin' tempo run to begin w/ and ye opt to throw in the hills to boot it has the potential to be ugly.......

Opening in 7.43 I was already "suckin' air" and it was going to be a dig deep kinda run, 8.24 for mile 2 heading up Sedgley Dr, Lemon Hill Dr still appears to be "off limits" it's no hardship to  swing over to Popular Dr and back but I prefer the challenge of the hills on Lemon Hill Dr.......either I'm a masochist  which as a runner comes w/ the territory  or I subscribe to the "running is a metaphor for life and ye only get out what ye put in and there are no short cuts" mindset.....or both!

20.37 at the turnaround at the foot of Popular Dr at this point  a sub 40 time wasn't on and negative split seemed unlikely......or in my case himself saying "hold my feckin' Guinness Zero" if yer gonna exit the battlefield at least let it be on yer shield as I channeled my inner Viking.....

Not gonna lie or front I worked the shit out of the red lights coming back up Kelly Dr and subsequently down the Ben Franklin Parkway any respite and momentary breather I could muster I took w/ both hands and somehow managed an inbound time of 20.08 to finish in 40.45.8 off 8.01 mile pace

I know the benefits of the tempo run, I doubt my  pace for Cupid's Chase 5k would've been 7.01 mile pace if I didn't routinely put in a weekly lung bustin' tempo run, short term pain and discomfort for long term gain......but feck me if I'm glad when it's done and dusted period, much less on the 5th day in a row of training........

Thursday Feb 19th I will confess during the previous days lung buster of a tempo run it was lost on me it had been my 5th day in a row.....I guess when oxygen is in short supply clarity of thought tends to fall by the wayside so at some point on Thursdays recovery 5 miler out and back on the Schuylkill River Trail the penny dropped this was my 6th run in 6 days which might explain the 43.43.6 time off 8.31 mile pace

Another day the sun hid behind the clouds but at 43 degrees I marveled at how much of the snow and ice that had been omnipresent underfoot for the past  going on four weeks had melted.....however the Schuylkill River is still frozen and to add an exclamation point to that fact I spied a gaggle of Geese out on the frozen River just b4 I hit the Septa railroad bridge on route to the turnaround  at the South Street bridge

Sadly as I sit here here now at my desk at 3.30pm on a Sunday afternoon it's beginning to snow again, according to the weather peeps on the local news our area can expect between 8 to 12 inches of snow from this system which not only means my inability to get up yesterday morning to attempt my 12 mile long run has cost me any shot at a triple digit mileage month again I'm also looking at potentially another week of inactivity ........feck my life!!!!

At 63 miles for the month I'm below the 76 miles I logged last February, however unlike the clattering we got at the end of January there doesn't appear to be a deep freeze for 9 days following this snowfall so maybe b4 the end of the week some 5 milers might be doable  which would be welcome, hopefully come next Saturday or Sunday I can get a 12 miler in to stay on pace for the Love Run 1/2 marathon which is now only 5 weeks away

What Are Ye Having?.........I'll Have A Double So.......

 "Last night as I slept I dreamt I met w/ Behan,I shook him by the hand and we passed the time of day when I questioned on his views on the crux of life's  philosophies he had but these few clear and simple words to say I am going I am going any which way the wind may be blowing I am going I am going where streams of whiskey are flowing"

Streams Of Whiskey-The Pogues

In 2023 the Cupid's Chase 5k at the Philadelphia Zoo showed up on my radar,I don't know if it had been in existence  prior to then and hadn't caught my eye or if the 2023 edition was it's debut but I gladly signed up for it, prior to then it was a long feckin' haul from the season ending Schuylkill River Loop 8.4 miler in early December to the Love Run 1/2 marathon in late March, for the past few years coming out of Covid the Love Run 1/2 and now 7 k sells out as I think most runners are just fuckin' desperate to shake off "cabin fever" from the winter and given this hoor of a Winter I doubt it will be any different this year

As I have said before and will undoubtably  say again when it comes to running I am very much "Carrot & Stick" it's not so some much the motivation of a race{ and ultimately medal/medals} that gets me out the door all year round but especially in the dead of Winter but the structure of knowing if there's a race I'm way more likely to say  bollox to whatever the elements are and get out and train for it, w/out a race I'm possibly leaning towards ah feck it and that doesn't lend its self to good race results last years Cupid's Chase is a good example of that, off the back of a below par season in 2024 I was slow coming out of the blocks to resume training last year and didn't get my hole in gear until January 27th......Cupid's Chase was February 8th.......arse,plate,served........there would be no feckin' dejavu this year............!!!!

Granted the 9.3 inches of snow on Jan 26th and subsequent 9 days of  below freezing temps  threw a spanner in the works but last week as temps crawled back above freezing I was out there on Kelly Dr,W.River Dr and the Schuylkill River Trail during the week only for another deep freeze to bollox a long run on the weekend, w/ temps climbing and the ice melting I was optimistic of a good weeks prep heading into todays race........work said"hold my beer".......I can always rely on the job to bollox up my plans,no coverage Monday meant no lunch hour, which means no run,I did get out Tuesday for an untimed 5 miles out and back along W.River Dr b4 a lung bustin' 5 mile tempo run Wednesday on Kelly Dr in 39.37.3 off 7.55 mile pace,out in 19.51,back in 19.46 good to know things "under the hood" are still in working order, sadly no coverage again on Thursday & Friday meant no lunch/no run again, granted I wouldn't have ran on Friday 18 hours b4 my race today but it's not the point I worked four 9 hour day this week{ had to stay an hour late on Wednesday to panda to some langer's ego!!!!} not ideal prep for any race much less  a season's opener, but as I always say ye have to play the hand ye are dealt.......I could've gone the life and lemons route but given my current mood where the job is concerned that line would end w/ me threatening to shove said lemons up someones hole......sideways......w/out the grease...........so lets not and say we did and move on..........

I could've been forgiven for saying feck it and rolling over when the alarm went off at 5.50am but I didn't was up gone 6am and dressed and out the door by 6.30am w/ my travel mug of Barry's Tea{if ye guys wish to sponsor yours truly or at least send some complementary Barry's Tea my way by all means DM  me!!} I didn't check the temps but given at 8am when the race began it was 32 degrees it had to be below freezing as I walked the 45 mins from Chez Fenian to the Philadelphia Zoo....5 minutes into the walk I saw fuckin' snow flakes.......sweet and merciful jaysus they didn't last long and b4 anyone doubts me let me say unless ye were up at that ungodly hour b4 sunrise to see them it's akin to the auld chestnut "if a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it did it really fall?"

The first thing I noticed upon arrival at the Zoo was the lack of a line for runners collecting their race bib,could the weather have kept numbers down this year?I suspect so but  it looks like there were more runners this year than last year so maybe  they were staying in their cars till the last minute possible....shur I'd have done the feckin' same thing were it not for the fact my mode of transport to the Zoo was Shank's Pony aka the shoe leather express......having "availed myself of the facilities" I waited till 7.45am b4 stripping down to race gear......trust me base layer was very much in full effect today and possibly will be again next month at the  Shamrock Chase 5k and Love Run 1/2 marathon

I got a clear start from the gun and was somewhat surprised to find myself in 7th place so early into the race, if I'd gone out too fast it was going to be a tough race, turns out that 5 mile tempo run Wednesday was a pretty good indicator of where I'm at right now,seasons openers are always tough to gauge exactly where ye are, at least in a months time as long as I maintain this level of training{ and hopefully add a few more lunchtime 5 miles and weekend long runs......he said hopefully!} I'll have a good idea what to expect of myself at the Shamrock Chase 5k

Last year I complained about a lack of signage/race marshalls  out on the course, credit where it's due this year neither were an issue and kudos to the staff at the Philadelphia Zoo for making the course inside the Zoo and the mile outside "user friendly" I had no issues underfoot today

I was relegated to 9th place on the back section of the course but didn't panic A if ye offered me a top 10 finish pre race I'd have snatched the feckin' hand off ye  taking it and B I always back myself to kick like a Mule and finish strong when the finish is in sight, to that end I reeled in two runners ahead of me inside the final 150 meters to cross the finish line in 7th in 21.44.6 off 7.01 mile pace,not too shabby if I say so meself, 2 years ago I finished 8th off the back of a 21.02.5 time in 6.47 mile pace  it should be pointed out this was also my fastest 5k in 2 years,still life in the auld dog yet.......the race timer asked me to confirm my age was 62 and not a typo, born and raised Irish Catholic lying isn't something that comes naturally and while I may "bend the truth" now and again I never lie about my age,I'm proud of the fact at 62 I'm still kickin' arse and takin' name

Three times in four years I've come away from Cupid's Chase w/ a bonus medal for winning my age group,who knows if I'd gotten off me hole a bit earlier last year this could've been my fourth but that's ok as it stands I'm now at 271 medals  for my career 300 is looming and in a year I celebrate my 50th season of competitive running I hope these two are the first of several this year.......

Hangin' In & Hangin' On

 "Then you close the door and leave me screaming on the floor oh baby, I just buckle I can't take it anymore let you walk all over me honey you make me feel like my therapy is a waste of money drinking it down, haunting your city falling for anyone who tells me I'm pretty I blocked your number but you didn't notice oh God,I thought I was too old for this, I should be over it,I'm much too old for this but I'm not over it cause I'm stupid and I'm damaged and you're a disaster when you walk into the room oh, none of this matters oh baby I just buckle my resolution in tatters cause I know it won't work, but make it ache make it hurt I'm not better than this, show me what I'm worth keep me a secret, choose someone else I'll still be here hanging off, I'm hanging on your belt the buckle of your belt"

Buckle-Florence & The Machine

So the feckin' Groundhog  saw his shadow so that means another six weeks of Winter at least the temps finally got above freezing during the week so that some of this crap might thaw out and melt but once again come the weekend it plummeted below freezing again and another  long run went by the way side....

Monday Feb 2nd After 9.3 inches of snow and 9 days of below freezing temps I was finally able to get out and run for the first time since Jan 23rd, to say I'd been climbing the walls was an understatement.......Obviously there was still snow and ice on the ground on the sidewalk as I made my way up the Ben Franklin Parkway towards Kelly Drive but thankfully someone had ploughed/shoveled a path to make it accessible for pedestrians and runners like myself who wanted top get out and run

At 32 degrees it was hardly balmy but given the previous week had been in the teens and low 20s this felt like  a Summers day, the sun being out to boot always helps,there were still patches of snow and ice on the route to the 2.5 mile turnaround just beyond Girard Avenue so at times I had to exercise a little caution and slow down or stop to negotiate them, in these condition "Safety First" is the mantra

42.25.6 off 8.25 mile pace and remarkably a negative split out in 22.07 back in 20.18 but trust me it was a case of getting it done w/ so I could be back inside in the warm more than  anything!

Tuesday Feb 3rd As is my won't an untimed run out and back along West River Drive.......the frozen Schuylkill River.........it's probably been ten years since it was this cold that the  Schuylkill froze but it should tell ye just how fackin' Baltic it has been here in the last week and a half

At 37 degrees it felt pretty good and again a bit of sun always helps however I was somewhat surprised not to encounter anyone else out there at lunchtime, I counted a handful of fellow runners on Kelly Drive yesterday but it was just yours truly out there on West River Drive today

Wednesday Feb 4th I had already written off attempting the hills of Lemon Hill Dr,Sedgley  Dr and Popular Dr as I figured they wouldn't be "user friendly" period much less for a tempo run and frankly after the arse fuckin'  I took at work all morning it was  a credit to me I ran at all, I elected  to do an untimed  5 miler out and back on trusty Kelly Drive as I knew it was manageable underfoot, given I'm 10 days out from hopefully the season opener on Feb 14th now was not the time for throwing caution to the wind or playing fast and loose w/ health and well being

I didn't record the temps I think it was around 37/38 degrees I know the sun was out as the thaw continues to slowly melt the remnants  of the 9.3 inches of snow,alas we are still going to be dealing w/ this for the foreseeable future,,,,,,,

Thursday Feb 5th File under " careful what ye ask for" I still had the option of a Tempo Run if I wanted it....however in my haste to get out the door in the morning I forgot to unhook the Garmin off the charger so that put the kybosh on that, since I'd already done Kelly Dr twice and W.River Dr once this week already I thought a change of scenery and a venture along the Schuylkill River Trail was called for...........

Things were grand until I reached the footpath from Locust Point to the South St bridge which was still covered in snow and ice bar a narrow path to the right of the trail, even if I'd had the Garmin a tempo run in those conditions underfoot  would have been wishful thinking or a recipe for disaster so I cut my losses and settled for another untimed 5 miler

Glass half full I'm grateful for the four runs this week even if three of them were untimed it allowed me to get back into a routine which hopefully will continue next week and the weeks to come, glass half empty I already knew the weekend was shot in terms of a run of any type  muchless a much needed long run, yes I'm in better shape heading into next Saturdays season opener than I was a year ago, I had a paltry 43 miles under my belt where as right now I have 94 miles w/ I hope another 20 to come this week.......however "Big Picture" person that I am I'm looking at the weeks  till the Love Run{seven} and my lack of double digit runs to date this year I may well have to " double dip"next weekend and go long on Sunday after the 5k Saturday, it's not ideal......but the lesser of two evils in terms of making sure I have a handful of double digit runs to my credit b4 tackling a half marathon on March 29th

In closing an homage to The 2 Johnnies I'll end my blog how they end their podcast w/ my "Yurt & Dirt" of the week,my Yurt goes to the powers that be at the Broad Street Run who offer "tenure" to anyone who has ran ten or more years in the race and spares us having to go through the ordeal of the lottery,I have enough things to worry about right now w/out having to hope and pray I'm one of the fortunate 40,000 runners who get to participate in the May 3rd race.......I just need to get my double digit weekend long runs in!.....my Dirt goes to the organizers of the Shamrock Chase 5k on March 14th, when the race was first advertised the main reason I opted in was it was scheduled to be at the Philadelphia Zoo where the Cupid's Chase 5k is run each February,it's 3 miles from where I live I have been known to run home after the race to pad my weekly mileage if need be{ not this feckin' year if I have to go long over 10 miles  the following day!} well now they've moved it to the Navy Yard which means more of a commute to and from the race on a day when I also have to get myself up to Brooklyn in the afternoon to catch The Mary Wallopers that night, if it had been advertised for the Navy Yard to begin w/ I feel it wouldn't have been a consideration but given I've parted w/ the entry fee already and frankly money is scarce as it is{ mine should read I Hope To Pay The Bearer Of} I guess I'll have to suck it up now.........run they said, it will help deal w/ stress they said.......lying hoors he said!!!.......