Roboot for the fall season

Sooo, it's been a while. Mid-summer is a horrible time for running and as such I don't really get too much done. Lots of miles, too much sun, gallons of ice water and gatorade. My training really has 4 phases over the course of the year. Spring time is spent building a running base and getting back in the hang of things. Spring races are typically just a wake up call and an indicator of how much endurance you've lost over the winter. Fun, but no one is out for blood. The summer heat becomes a brutal endurance training and a lesson in why A/C is a godsend. July and August have no races really to speak of because the last thing I feel like doing is going all out. Then comes the delightful fall. I love fall. The latent heat of the summer still radiating from the ground, the smell of the leaves in the air and a nice chilly wind all around. This is the big race season and I can't wait. 

So here's the deal. Next Sunday, I have my kick-off race for the season, a sprint tri on the island. My amazing girlfriend, Alicia, has somehow been convinced to come and watch and be my support team which fantastic. I fully acknowledge that seeing me for a few fleeting seconds in passing every now and then may not be the most engaging thing, especially considering we'll have to be leaving around 5 in the morning to get to the there. She is wonderful enough as it is, more so that she's willing to come. 

September 6th finds the two of us traveling to Block Island for the annual 'Run Around the Block' race, a 15k foot race. I expect to spend the rest of the weekend snoozing, cuddling on the beach and dining on fresh sea food. Heaven if you ask me.  Then down to Philly on the 21st for the ING Distance Race, where I PR'd last year. A very quick course and I hope to have a repeat of my results.  6 days later I'm in East Hampton with Reed for the Hampton's Marathon - his first. After that I have about a month off before my birthday races- Dublin, NYC and Philadelphia Marathons. Then that's it! I'm sure I'll work in some short NYRR races here and there but that's all for now. I'll start posting more, I promise....