Hey all - I have already planned out my 2014 races. (most of them) My oldest son has started running 6yo - and is up to 1.25miles! So I may add more. My first race is actually Jan 1 2014 in Westfield MA - Not too far of a drive and its a 10k! I really like that distance. Next race is a FM in Hartford in January. The description and pictures from last years event sound interesting. If you've ever been to the XL center (or any arena) you walk in at ground level, you see the vendors for beer and food and then you go through the doors and up or down the stairs to your seat. The race is at that vendor / ground level. Its about 0.2 miles, so, about 131 laps I think. The good news. Its indoors and warm and the porta potties and your supporters are never more than 0.2 away. The downside... variation of scenery. So far, my longest run barefoot has been 13.4 miles. And I have completed a HM BF. Since its getting colder, my BF milage has been getting lower. Depending on support / setup I may attemp this barefoot with the plan to put on shoes if needed. At any rate. Maybe I'll see some of you there! JEFF
Jeff, I did the XL center run last year. All I can say is I hope they have their act together. We ran a marathon relay team and were there for basically 4 hours. The DJ and photographers left after 2 so those of us running the later laps had to do so in silence and we got no pictures. They ran out of the free tickets we were all supposed to get for the hockey game. Even though we were supposed to have 6 hours to finish they were basically hurrying people off the course at the 4 hour mark. It was NOT fun. And it is very, very dull. Just my two cents, hope they have improved.
Hey Paul, they aren't off to a great start. I like Sunday races which this was billed as. After I registered they emailed that it would be held on Saturday because the new XL center management didn't remember and scheduled basketball on Sunday. They offered to let us switch to Worcester Dec 28 (Saturday) if we preferred. I really don't think I'm expecting much, but my last FM was 4:40. I feel I've improved since, but don't want to be pushed off. At the very least, I will be more prepared for any shenanigans.
I got an email update recently. A couple things Im picking up. 9am start. 5k will be gone, but everyone else running? 20 FM + 10 FM relay + 35 HM = 65 people on the course. Lately, Ive been having trouble getting all my miles in. I think I'll be okay. I havent run many BF miles, but Im planning on doing this race BF. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Happy New Year! If you’re receiving this email, then you have successfully registered for the Arena Attack-XL Center. Thank you for choosing to run in our race… we absolutely appreciate your support. In return, in just 22-days, we’re going to give you an awesome race day! Important Race Info: Here is the schedule of events and the remaining spots open per race. We want everyone to have fun, be safe, and have plenty of room to run their race, so once a race reaches capacity… its closed. No exceptions. That said, if you have a friend that hasn’t signed up yet, please make sure they do so soon. Here’s the race registration site: http://www.lightboxreg.com/2014-arena-attack-xl-center 8:00 A.M. 5k Run Start (18 of 50 entries left – 50-minute course time limit) 9:00 A.M. Marathon Start (Sold Out – 20 Entries – 6-hour course time limit) 9:00 A.M. Marathon Relay Start (Sold Out – 10 Teams – 6-hour course time limit) 9:00 A.M. Half Marathon-1st Heat Start (Sold Out – 35 entries – 2:10-hour course time limit) 11:15 A.M. Half Marathon-2nd Heat Start (18 of 35 entries left – 3:10-hour course time limit)
RACE UPDATE: I prepared pretty well. Longest run was 16+ miles x2. Not as far as I like, but decent. My "taper" was just an easy week. I have been streaking since before the Holidays, and wanted to keep at it. (Day 66.) I laid out my clothes, packed them in the morning. Parked on time, went to grab my bag. Where's my bag!?!?! Home. 40 minutes away. No time. Wishing I hadnt done the packet pickup the day before, asked them to accomodate me. They were able to. Looking around, hoping to buy some tech clothes somewhere wasnt happening. Jogging pants (I think thats what they are) cotton briefs and cotton t-shirt. I went back to my car to see what clothes I had stashed around. 1 pair of socks. 2 pair of flip-flops and 1-tech hat. No help. I actually wore the hat to make me feel like I looked more like a "real" runner. Then I took off my shoes and socks. 0.2 miles or 330 feet? 130 laps. After 30 laps, feet were bothering me. The indoor track was concrete with a layer of polyeurythane on it. I realized I was slipping to a stop and slipping to move on each. and. every. step. By lap 45, I was ready to walk off the course. I walked around and asked the RD if I could leave for my shoes in the bag-check-area. He said okay. I came back and struggled through the final laps. 45 = 9 miles BF. I have done about 13.4, and was really shooting for 70 laps for a new high, but it wasnt my day. Also, my last good BF month was October. I have done only a run here or there BF since. Not sure when I will next try BF FM. But someday. My FM PR is 4:40. I planned on 4:20-4:30. I did 5:27.
Not sure if this will make any difference, but you guys would be the only ones worth sharing this with... When running, I felt the friction was happening to the forefoot. The pad. Even with shoes, I was sure this was where the problem was. When I got home, the blisters were just north of the pad. They were on the top of the pad going up between my 3rd and 4th toes. Left foot blister wasnt too bad, resolved well in 24 hrs. Right foot was a larger blood blister that is much better 48 hrs later. Any suggestions (other than shoes) on what I could have done differently?
