how 'bout some running?

i have been "seriously" running for three and a half years. when i say "seriously," i mean that i think about running when i'm not at the gym, i run outside when it is 100 degrees and when it is 5 degrees, and i currently log 32-35 miles/week. and i am very happy about it.

i have run three half marathons (ing miami: january 07, salem wicked half: september 07, and hyannis: february 08), one full marathon (NYC november 07, 5:13:15), and various 5Ks & 10Ks. i am currently in line for a nahant 30K (18 and some odd miles), the salem wicked half again this september, and (gulp.) an ULTRA in Texas next February (50 mile trail run). http://www.tejastrails.com/Rocky.html

and i am still happy about it.

my normal week consists of 7ish miles on tuesday and thursday mornings, a fast track workout of 3-4 miles on wednesday, and anywhere between 13 and 19 miles combined long runs saturday & sunday. my favorite place to run is literally around my neighborhood (so i don't have to drive anywhere), but, to change it up, i also run at the charles river (http://www.soundkeepers.com/running/boston.html), the lake in wakefield (http://www.visitingnewengland.com/wakefield.html), nahant beach (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/lynnshores.htm), and, for a killer hill workout, Breakheart reservation in Saugus (http://www.saugus.org/FOBR/).

i don't pretend i necessarily know exactly what i am doing, the best way to do it, or know enough to tell other people what to do - but, what i am doing seems to work for me. and that's all i really care about.

cross training & rest days are super important. i normally run five out of seven days (taking monday & friday off from running, and substituting it with something else, like swimming or taking a long walk). i attempted to get into triathlons, but, i was too selfish with my running to give up any more days to other activities. ha. maybe next year.

i am a solitary runner - and 95% of the time i run alone. my brother in law, anthony, is also a runner, and has accompanied me to miami & hyannis for two half marathons. he has also been with me through some nasty long runs on the charles, thinking about what we were going to order at the texas roadhouse after.