another (short) break from running

With a slight cold and no appetite this week, my running really suffered. I won't be doing a long run this weekend--only four or five miles--or next weekend, as I'm having all four of my wisdom teeth extracted on Friday, March 27. My two top wisdom teeth are erupted. My two bottom wisdom teeth are impacted. The two top ones will be pulled out--it's as simple as that. It's not so simple with the two bottom ones, which will have to be cut in half and extracted using special elevation tools. I assume I'll be in some pain and unable to run for at least a few days. I have to use prescription mouthwash (as seen in the only photo of mouthwash appearing in this post) for the two days prior to the surgery and for the ten days following the surgery.

I'm in the market for a more supportive shoe for only my long runs. The Nike Free 3.0 do not provide enough support in the latter miles of my long runs when my feet start to get sloppy. There are about 200 miles on my Frees (see photos above). They have held up better than expected. I plan to continue using them for my weekday runs.

Boston Marathon -- April 20, 2009

Could Kara Goucher win for the women; Ryan Hall for the men? Sure, in theory, but it's unlikely. Who was the last American to win the Boston Marathon for either the women or men? And WHEN? For two Americans to win the Boston Marathon this year would be an absolute boon to American distance running. If there's any year in which it could happen, 2009 would be the one.

Goucher ran a 2:25 at the New York City Marathon in November 2008. Can she better that time? I think so. According to her coach, Alberto Salazar, Kara is fitter now than she was going into NYC. We'll see how she handles the pressure to pull off at least an equal performance. So many fans of American distance running are pulling for her to win. If any American woman has a shot, it's her. Deena Kastor, who holds the American record in the marathon, is aging, and she's coming off a broken foot. Not that this will matter on race day, as she's not running the Boston Marathon, but I don't believe that her times will improve and that she'll be able to compete with future Boston fields.

Hall ran a 2:12 at the Olympic Marathon in Beijing, six minutes off his PR. Hall made the mistake of not taking off enough time between marathons. After PR'ing at the London Marathon in April 2008, he ran the Olympic Marathon four months later and choked. He hasn't run a marathon in more than six months, and it should show in Boston. I predict that he will run strongly and finish in the top three.

Ryan's predictions:
For the women: Dire Tune
For the men: Deriba Merga

Night Running

On Sunday night, I braved the dark, lonely roads of Guilford for a six-mile run. It wasn't the best idea, as I don't have any reflective running apparel or accessories, and the roads were wet from a light rain.

This six-mile route is an out-and-back, and I felt great out at around 26 minutes and then deteriorated from about 40 minutes. I finished as strong as possible and wound up holding the pace.

While running, I thought to myself that I would never walk those roads at night. I feel no fear while running, even though the thought of a bear barreling from the woods or the Loch Ness Monster emerging from the various bodies of water along 146 crossed my mind.

Serious Trails

I just learned today that there are 5 different trail systems (Timberlands, The Braemore Preserve, James Valley Preserve, Northwoods and Westwoods) comprising 81 miles of trails over 2,552 acres of land in Guilford, CT. All of the trails are hiker-friendly and presumably runner-friendly, too. I know a Westwoods entrance off of 146. I always see runners gathered at this entrance on the weekends. Westwoods alone comprises 39 miles of trails over 1,200 acres of land.