U Penn 0 Palestine 1

 Nothing like running a race on your doorstep and your own backyard, the 4th annual Penn Relays 5k, for once NOT  part of a double header, in 2021 and 2022 it was the day b4 the Run For The Blue 5m race on Market St in late October and last year it served as a November double header w/ the Bridge Run 10k, thankfully this year it stood in its own

Franklin Field holds a special place in my heart when I moved out to West Philly in 06 it became my home base and pretty much all of my prep for Indoor and Outdoor Nationals between 06-16 was conducted on that track, I also got to run a few Masters 4x400m relays w/ my former club at the prestigious Penn Relays there and in 2010 ran my first ever sub 16.00 5,000m in something like 15.58 at a college meet.....yeah Franklin Field and I have a history

While Franklin Field and I have a storied past me and the University Of Penn don't see eye to eye, their treatment of students who were Pro Palestine this Spring was nothing short of shameful in a country where Freedom Of Speech and Freedom Of Expression are not only encouraged but also part of the Constitution  anyone who set up on the main campus to oppose UPenn's  backing of Israel's shameful behaviour  in the Gaza Strip and West Bank were either arrested, threatened w/ expulsion or not allowed to sit end of year exams, eventually the Campus brought in Philadelphia Police to brake up the make shift camps students had set up to demonstrate the Genocide in Palestine and drew the wrath of the Governor of Pennsylvania one Mr Josh Shapiro.......you don't need to " join the dots" to work out who's side of the conflict he was on or whom he would lend unequivocal  backing....., to that end this felt very much the race to wear my Palestine running vest that I wore in Dublin and my Ireland/Palestine t shirt as my warm up shirt

Franklin Field is roughly a mile from where I live so it's an easy get to the morning of a race, I was out the door at 7.30am and on the infield picking up my race number by 7.50am, conditions were sunny and mild for mid November in what was my 11th race this season, as I missed the deadline for entries on next weekends Rothman 8k or Philadelphia Half Marathon this was my second to final race of the season, the year ending Schuylkill River Loop 8.4m will bring the curtain down on a frankly mixed bag of a season, I had said last week after the Rocky Run 5k prior to the 10 miler an hour or so later that I couldn't really gauge where I was at over 5k, today would give me a better idea based off last years results in the 60-69 age group I needed to run in the region of 22.30 at 7.30 mile pace to have a crack at a top 3 finish and getting on the podium

In a field of 217 I knew I needed to be near the front when the siren went off on the south side of the track as we did a lap of the track b4 exiting through the gate onto the sidewalk of  33rd St and towards Penn Park behind Franklin Field , I got a clear start and went through the opening mile in 7.17....although my Garmin aka Hal The Little Bollix didn't register the opening mile till after the official 1 mile marker.....in a season where so much hasn't gone to script this felt like the least of my woes..... 

7.50 at mile 2......again after I went through the official 2 mile marker now for the fun and games.....I can't say for certain the runner  ahead of me cut a loop of Penn Park but I didn't recall seeing him in front of me the last 2 miles now all of a sudden when he should've gone right for lap1 he went left for lap 2.......I don't object to getting beat by runners who are faster and better than me but I draw the line at people who cut loops off a race period muchless a 5k......., not content w/ that infraction he then cut the corner of the turn towards Franklin Field.....everyone else went around the turn he went across it....small potatoes  when ye've cut out an entire loop of Penn Park I guess but it was the incentive I needed to dig deep w/ roughly half a mile to go..... and promptly dropped him like a bad habit.....

Back into Franklin field up the back straight around the top turn  down the home straight to the finish line, 22.22.12 off 7.37 mile pace, 51st overall but 3rd in the 60-69 age group 11 seconds behind second but more importantly 34 seconds ahead of 4th, to compound how off Hal The Little Bollix is when I crossed the finish line which is 3.1m it read 2.94.......like I said Little Bollix.......

For only the third time this season in eleven races I made the podium it's not something I take for granted, I don't have a divine right to rock up at a race and think " oh yeah Top 3/Age Group Award" it has to be earned and worked for, if I can finish out the season in three weeks time on the podium at the Schuylkill River Loop it will be a good way to end a frustrating season, to that end I need to knuckle down this week and resume lunchtime training runs, since returning from Dublin I've raced more times {4} than I've trained {1} I am still in that " mile a day recovery from a Marathon" mindset as of today it's been 20 days, come Friday my " statute of limitations" expires time to get back to basics

Aah Bisto.....It's All Just Gravy At This Point

 For the final time this season up at Silly O Clock  for a race, after today my final two races are at 8.30am and 10am, when ye're up b4 the birds and sunrise at 5.30am to be out the door by 6am to be at the Parkway by 7am for the 5k at The Rocky Run it's always a "Rocky" start to yer day!, but if I wanted medals #9,#10,#11 for the season and #252,#253,#254 for the career that was the price I had to pay.....

Down to the Ben Franklin Parkway by 6.30am ample time for one final pit stop at the Portajohns b4 getting into the corral, I'm not sure if this was the first year or second year the Rocky Run had sold out, it is growing in popularity since I began racing it in 2017, granted 5ks are a " dime a dozen" these days but outside of Broad Street I can't think of too many 10 mile road races and having been shut out of the Rothman 8k in two weeks time for leaving it too late to register I should be grateful I got my {Sham}Rocky Run registration in b4 I got fecked out of this also....

Despite being in the A Corral I didn't make it into the first wave, which was grand as I knew I'd only be standing around waiting for the 10 mile race to go off at 8am....an extra 2.5 mins rest wouldn't hurt any...the issue w/ running two races in roughly an hour is I can never get a true reflection on what either race is, can't go balls out in the 5k knowing a 10 miler is around the corner, next Saturday at Penn when it's  the Penn Relays 5k I'll get a truer reflection of where I'm at over 5k, 7.28 for the opening mile I honestly hadn't given any thought to speed, pace time for either race, at this point in my season it's just about adding medals to the collection and getting ready for the off season

7.55 at mile 2 after the turnaround followed by a 7.54 third mile and 53 seconds for the .1,- 24.10.1 hopefully next week on a flatter course and only one race my time will be quicker....

The 5k runners were still going off when I returned to the start so I knew an 8 o clock start to the 10 miler wasn't happening and while an extra 15 mins recovery was grand and all that it allowed me and everyone else doing the Italian Stallion Challenge of 5k and 10 miles to stiffen up.....

Again I hadn't given much if any thought to pace, time, speed for the 10 miler, when I saw 8.28 for the opening mile I kinda knew what to expect, frankly 1.30 off 9 min mile pace would be ok........9.08 at mile 2 going up Brewery Hill and over Girard Ave bridge b4 hitting West River Dr via Sweetbriar Dr three sub 9s of 8.47-8.42-8.57  on route to the turnaround at the Conrail bridge and mile 5.......

Mount Friggin' Drago a series of  up hills, three, maybe four but what goes up, must come down so while mile 6 ballooned up to 9.59 mile 7 dropped back to a semi respectable 8.39, once back on the flat  of W.River Dr I knew I had one uphill off Sweetbriar and Lansdowne after mile 8 b4 the downhill of Brewery Hill to Kelly Dr, mile 9 and then the slight uphill towards the Art Museum and the finish......in front of the Rocky/Art Museum steps

9.02 at mile 8 and 9.25 at mile 9 at this point beating whoever was around me wasn't a concern.......hold my Guinness Zero.......while negotiating the final incline on Mount Drago I was somewhat agitated by some gombeen having a full blown conversation on his phone via his ear buds " I'm at the top of the hill" " I went out too fast" "I'll be at the finish in half an hour"..... fuck up and get away from me if I could've sped up to spare myself from his auld shite talk I would've but I was happy for him to be ahead of me out of earshot.....cue the final half mile uphill towards the finish.....Gombeen wasn't talking now and judging from the stain on the back of his grey Rocky sweat pants he'd either pissed himself.....OR a fart had followed through....maybe it was sweat either was I was happy to have at least beaten him to the finish line

9.04 for the final mile 1.30.24 off 9.01 mile pace

Three more medals to the collect, three closer to #300 which if I'm lucky will be by the end of the 2027 season, to aid and abet that I'll be back here next year on November 9th for another{Sham}Rocky Run and Italian Stallion Challenge and another 3 medals

One Down, Forty Nine To Go.......

 Given the season I've had it would have been very easy to draw the proverbial line in the sand after Dublin and say that's it.......however having reached the #250 medal plateau in Dublin I'm now looking down the road at #300 so w/ a potential seven more medals up for grabs between November 3rd and December 8th there was no time to sit back and call it a season so while the masses were off to New York City for the marathon the rest of us were heading to Camden for the Cooper Norcross Run The Bridge 10k

Another Sunday I got an extra hour in bed as our clocks went back this week and another Sunday the race didn't begin at Silly O Clock {8.30am} that said I still had to be up at 6am and out the door by 6.30am to get to the Camden side of the Ben Franklin bridge by 7.30am to give myself an hour to prepare

Good conditions for the first Sunday of November, between my socks, calf sleeves and knee sleeves I'm well insulated from the cold from the waste down but I went singlet and no shirt, short or long sleeved....how long I can continue that between now and Dec 8th remains to be seen.....it can be a crap shoot running over the Ben Franklin bridge in early November in the morning I've lucked out the last few years since adding the Run The Bridge 10k to my Fall race season, I recall its predecessor the now {sadly} defunct A To Z 10k from the Camden Aquarium to the Philadelphia Zoo that went over the Ben Franklin bridge one year in particular my hands were frozen coming off the bridge on the Philadelphia side b4 cutting thro Chinatown to the Parkway and eventually the Zoo

Got my customary clear start from the gun and made my way through the field on the left hand side of the bridge knowing the turn back across the bridge would be to my left, even though for whatever reasons this season I'm not running at the pace I have been my brain is still as sharp and if I can run less distance w/in the parameters of fair play to shave a few seconds off my time fair play to me

I was a bit bemused there were no mile markers on the bridge to indicate miles 1 and 2 I believe the 3 mile marker onwards was posted and while it's no big deal as most runner have Garmins I just think that just one of those things as a runner you expect, again not a big deal more of an observation

I had no agenda today other than to finish so when my Garmin said 8.16 for the opening mile I was non plus w/ that, knowing the opening mile is uphill it was always going to be a little conservative, since mile 2 was downhill the 7.45 split helped balance that out

7.59 at mile 3 I was give or take on 8 min mile pace and looking at 48 mins, again I wasn't overly concerned w/ pace, splits, speed overall/age group finish, take Dublin out of the equation I'd have come into this race off the back of the Run For The Blue 5 miler on Oct 20th and probably 2 weeks of solid training w/ maybe a 10 miler last weekend inbetween as it was this was my first run since Dublin and I probably still had some marathon miles in my legs, hopefully this week leading upto the Rocky Run on Saturday I can flush out any gunk in my legs during the week.

7.33 at mile 4 I'd taken advantage of the downhill off the bridge and now flat terrain on route to the USS New Jersey behind the whatever corporate name the concert venue in Camden is these days and heading back along the Delaware River towards the Ben Franklin bridge, 8.03 at mile 5 at this point any one I could pick off ahead of me was a bonus while it was a race I wasn't in " race mode" like Dublin last week if ye beat me ye bete me fair fucks to ya, just getting to the finish was enough 7.57 at mile 6 and now the approach to the track for the new finish this year maybe 150 meters or so....the track runner in me couldn't resist a kick coming off the turn and up the home straight to the finishline.

49.38.4 off 7.55 mile pace, 9 weeks ago at Philly 10k I ran 48.55 off 7.53 pace so throw in a marathon a week ago I guess it balances its self out, overall I finished 204th out of 1620 6th in the 60-64 age group 3.06 off the podium

It's another medal closer to #300 and another 6 miles onto my yearly mileage tally which is creepin' closer to beating last years tally, hopefully I can  log a couple of lunchtime 5 miles this week b4 Saturdays 5k and 10 miler at the {Sham}Rocky Run.....

250 Not Out...............

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay and watch the new glass  cages,that spring up along the quay my mind's too full of memories too old to hear new chimes, I'm part of what was Dublin,in the rare oul times.......

The Dubliners Dublin In The Rare Old Times

A few days have elapsed since Sundays Dublin Marathon I wanted the dust to settle b4 committing my words to the blog, nothing has changed since crossing the finish line Sunday lunchtime, sure my legs hurt a lot less than they did as I crossed the finish line on  Mount Street Lower, my finish time is still my slowest time ever but the smile on my face when I think of the race as a whole gets wider

I knew going into Sunday for whatever reason I was on a hiding to nothing,after a brisk 21.02.54 5k on Feb 10th my season has gone downhill rapidly.....or faster than Alberto Tomba in the Giant Slalom as I'm fond of saying,I kept waiting and hoping for a turning point all season  but it never came, by the time I struggled to a  record slowest half marathon at the PDR six weeks b4 Dublin in 1.54.44 off a generous 8.44 mile pace and then four weeks later could barely get a 9 miler in off 10.11 pace I knew I had two choices, bag Dublin and let down several family members who'd booked a weekend in Dublin to see me run and accept I was on a hiding to nothing, about to run my slowest ever marathon.....or go along for the ride and maybe get a new perspective on running the marathon,all of my previous 15 marathons had been built around trying to get from point A to point B in as quick a time as possible,this time maybe I could soak it all in enjoy the sights and sounds around me and maybe interact w/ my fellow marathoners......when in Dublin as they say!    

A nice change of pace.......{ no pun intended!!!} not having to get up at the arse crack of dawn to be at the start, a respectable 8.45am start for once,granted my corral spot was based off a projected 3,30 finish that I knew was wishful thinking but I didn't feel the need to move back into the slower corrals these runners were going to pass me anyways sure I might as well stay where I was  and  just focus on what I had to do,I did however make a point of starting near the back of the Gold corral....no point in everyone passing me thinking "look at yer man here,,,,feckin' gobshite!!!

By nature I'm a meticulous planner and no less so as a runner, this time out the only plan was to reach the finish so pace etc was not an issue, get out get into a good rhythm and hope for  the best, based on my last race the Philadelphia Distance Run six weeks ago I got eight miles in b4 having to stop and walk b4 getting going again and then hitting a  "wash, rinse, repeat" mode over the final five miles, the further I could get today the better, no target mile mark but anything above mile 8 would be a plus.......

My opening 10 mile splits were: 8.29-8.18-8.40-8.21-8.39-8.41-8.43-8.23-8.48-8.37 1.23.39, glass half full off that pace I could reach mile 20 in 2.47.18 but I knew that wasn't going to happen, somewhere between  exiting Phoenix Park and mile 11 the inevitable happened and I stopped to walk b4 getting going again,it sounds churlish when I say I was delighted and surprised to reach 10 miles w/out stopping but this was where I was coming into Dublin, the next 16 miles were going to be a challenge........enter the crowd and my fellow runners,I got so much love and support from everyone around me it boosted my moral,in my previous 15 marathons since 1985........{YES I'm very aware next November is the 40th anniversary of my 26.2 debut........} I hadn't struggled this much for this long so I hadn't had to lean on the crowds and my fellow runners.......however there is a reason why Dublin is known as "The Friendly Marathon" they lifted my sagging limbs and spirits to the finish line and while it isn't possible to thank everyone who cheered and encouraged me offered me Water, Lucozade, Jaffa Cakes, Gummies, Wine Gums, Salt Tablets, and told me I'd make it to the finish "Go raibh maith Agat"......or "Thank You" for the non Gaelic speakers/ readers of my blog.........Kevinrunningfree in Gaelic coming a long way off!!!!

For the second time since 2001  I hit the deck during a marathon, in Philly in 01 in the closing four miles the loop of the lace of my running shoe  got caught on my toe and sent me tumbling in Dublin between mile 15 or 16 I misjudged a manhole cover and caught the lip of it and went crashing to the ground, thankfully my catlike reflexes  meant I threw out my right hand to try and brake my fall, I picked up some nasty Dublin road rash for my troubles and some bruising around my right hand, right shoulder, right hip but it could have been far worse, my injuries could have been race ending and I could have caused a chain reaction, if anything I was more embarrassed to fall in public in front of a large crowd but upon getting to my feet and letting those around me I was ok I joked " let this be a lesson folks.......don't drink and run!!" and continued my quest towards the finish,at this point  THAT was all that mattered

Even though this was a sub standard marathon  by my standards, there were other runners around me who were also struggling and when I was  in those moments of being able to run rather than walk I tried to lend support and encourage my fellow runners we could do this and reach the finish, I joked to one runner that there was no difference in the finishers medal if we walked or ran!

I worked together for a mile or so between mile 22 and 23 w/ Colin a 26 year old Dubliner who had gotten sick on Wednesday and was struggling b4 he encouraged me to press on w/my own race and not worry about him, he said this would be his first and last marathon to whit I said at 26 I had bad marathon days and bounced back and kept coming back for more, I hope Colin will try again in a year or two

When I reached the turn at mile 24 I knew I was close, at no point did I ever think I wouldn't finish,my goal was to finish like every other marathon if it was sub 4 hours that would be a bonus,I knew that wasn't going to be the case now.....and frankly I didn't give a fiddlers....it might not have been fast, I may have walked quite a bit of the preceding 14 miles but I was going to cross the finish line and claim  medal #250 and honour the memory of " the auld fella" who died 40 years ago on Oct 27th 1984, b4 my marathon debut in Harrow in Middlesex in November 85 I had plucked some grass from his grave and wrapped some scotch tape/celotape   around it and taped to the back of my race number, on one of my last trips back to London I had plucked some more grass clippings from near his headstone to repeat the gesture

I knew prior to heading off my family would be somewhere inside the final mile but I only caught a glance of my nephew Tom and brother in law Chris  b4 I made the turn towards the finish,my calves had been cramping for most of the second half of the marathon as I hadn't drank enough water in the build  up to today, had I been " firing on all cylinders" I would have left " no stone unturned" in my pre race build up but it's been that kind of a year, the proverbial writing had been on the wall way back on March 24th when I ran 1.29.17 for the Love Run half marathon off 7.29 mile pace and sadly for whatever reason I was never able to turn the proverbial corner, to my knowledge I'm not sick or injured I just haven't been able to race to the degree I'm used to or train to the levels I'm used to,picked the wrong year for the shit to hit the fan...

4.34.08 off 10.24 mile pace the final 16 miles went:10.16-10.09-10.39-12.12-10.26-12.38-11.35-11.35-12.11-12.07-13.32-12.40-11.25-11.43-11.52-10.10-3.19....but I FINISHED!!!!

The medal felt sweet,I'd earnt this one I felt and when I eventually made my way back to the Grand Canal Hotel to be reunited  w/ Mrs Shamrock Warrior and my family no one cared what my time was,what my pace was or that I'd walked /ran the final 16 miles, they were just happy I'd finished and been a part of the journey.......

I won't say if this is my last marathon or not, bit too soon to make that determination,I haven't ruled it out, I would consider Dublin Marathon again but lets let the dust settle,now that I've reached #250 the target is #300, if everything stays on the up and up that could take another 3 years but one race at a time, one medal at a time and after today one Guinness Zero at a time......Slainte!!!!

Another Brick In The Wall....

Another 5 miler in the books,another 5 miles towards hopefully triple digit mileage this month.....its going to be close so every mile counts

Once again "Hal the little bollix of a Garmin" fucked me partially  my fault for not paying attention at the opening mile,in my defense yer honour I didn't feel the Garmin vibrate which would have alerted me to the fact the mile split came up too early as the 6.43 mile split indicated.....at this point in my season of discontent I shouldn't be too surprised at anything that goes wrong.......

Having missed the opening mile split I saw 8.14 for mile 2 b4 8.57 for mile 3, as is my won't on a good day I ran beyond the turnaround point but knowing that "Hal the little bollix" was off I wanted to try and get the run as close to 5 miles as I could

9.27 for mile 4, a bit slow,but at this point I was just switching to neutral mode and looking to see out the run w/ a hopefully long/longer run on Sunday

8.51 for the final mile for a questionable 42.13.2 time off 8.26 mile pace,one that won't go down as a memorable run and will instantly be forgotten if I'm being honest,in the general scheme of things nothing of note today.....other than a timely reminder to fish out "Hal's" instructions and see if I can calibrate the little bollix.......but also my final lunchtime run b4 not only b4 Dublin but also The Bridge Run 10k the following Sunday,upon my return to work on November 4th I'll be getting ready for "The Italian Stallion Challenge" at the Rocky Run followed by the Penn Relays 5k, Rothman 8k and the season finale the Schylkill River Loop 8.4m.......which yet again will be an out and back race as the yokes in charge of rebuilding the bridge under Spring Garden St bridge are still working on it 18 months and counting......said it b4 and I'll say it again if Wimpey or John Lange were rebuilding it it'd been done LONG ago

 

Sometimes Less Is More....

 So I took a day off on Tuesday, after the buffeting I took on Monday on already leg weary legs there didn't seem much point going at it again Tuesday just for the sake of tagging on more miles for the sake of it, as Kenny Rodgers said "gotta know when to hold em, gotta know when to fold em" 

The plan was a rest day then go at it again on fresh and rested legs, I opted for 5 miles more so because it was 2.10pm b4 I got out the door and I usually account for 45 mins for a 5 miler, I don't like to take liberties  w/ my time you factor in I need 10 mins b4 the run to get changed and stretched then another 10 mins post run to towel off and get back into work clothes there's 20 mins already tack on another 45 for the run I'm already over my hour so 5 it was today

I was confident my time would be quicker than Mondays  laboured 45.54.5 off 9.11 mile pace and logged a 8.46 opening mile heading up the Parkway towards the Art Museum, sunny but a bit brisker than last week, October is a funny month weather wise, I always say treat each nice day as it'll be the  last one because eventually it will be, I only have today and tomorrow this week to worry about it, by the time I resume lunchtime runs post Dublin it'll be Nov 4th and probably halfzip weather time.

8.52 at mile 2 it was noticeble the headwind along the Schuylkill was less obnoxious today, 9.07 at mile 3 unless the arse fell out of in the final 2 miles I was going to be sub 45...., small victories fellas...small victories..... to that end I picked up the pace heading back towards the Art Museum and the mad charge down the Parkway towards City Hall

8.49 at mile 4, 34.47 so even a 9 min mile was going to see me under the magic barrier but I wanted to finish strong I'm already planning for the Bridge Run 10k on Nov 3rd......8.31 for the final mile and a 43.48.9 finish off 8.46 mile pace

Slightly slower than last Wednedays 43.32.0 off 8.42 mile pace but I'm happy w/ the overall effort and time not to mention having the balls to get out there and run when it would be all too easy to pack the tent round up the doggies and piss on the camp fire, another one tomorrow b4 attempting a longer run on Sunday......

All In, No Matter What The Outcome Is

 Final full week of training heading into Dublin, while I'm off from work next prior to heading to Dublin I will try to get some miles in b4 flying to Dublin on Wednesday night, while I doubt they will make a difference in the overall outcome of the marathon they will help me potentially crack triple digit mileage this month which sadly hasn't happen for months, possibly March?

I was feeling leggy from Sundays exploits and it would have been easy to blow off my lunchtime jaunt up the Parkway and along  Kelly Dr period, it's a slippery slope blow off Monday and b4 I know it it's Thursday and I haven't done jack shit which means by Saturday or Sunday there'll be less inclination to get out there, sure as far as Dublin goes it's too late now but the lure of returning to triple digit monthly mileage is a big motivation...whatever it takes yeah?

56 degrees at 2pm as I made my way up the Parkway towards the Art Museum, 8.37 for the opening mile kinda where I was hoping for roughly 9 min mile pace, thankfully no issues w/ Hal the little bollix of a Garmin today!..........9.10 at mile 2, this is where it got interesting......... I was leggy to begin w/ and now as I headed north along the Schuylkill I had to contend w/ a strong headwind.......

I did strongly consider turning at 2.5 miles and making it a 5 miler but ploughed on till mile 3....fuckin ada.....9.56 split at this point I stopped to walk a little and somewhat belatedly opted to make this a 5 miler 9.19 at mile 4, 36.22 I was going to have to hoof it if I was going to get sub 45 for 5 miles

8.53 for the final mile for a 45.54.5 time off 9.11 mile pace, yes slow but somedays its about the effort not the time, it would be easy to " throw my toys out of the pram" at this point and say if I can't run the Dublin Marathon to the level I've been accustomed to the last 39 years why bother? kind of a cop out so I've accepted Dublin won't be my finest hour....or four and embrace the event and run a marathon from a different perspective, interact w/ the crowd and my fellow runners, hopefully help a fellow marathoner  as we grind through the miles towards the finish and if any would be spectator wants to bestow some Guinness upon us mad bastards out on the course I can say w/out fear of contradiction  I'm here for all of that.......Slainte!