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http://www.glrr.net/

 
 
 

Group Run BLOG

I'll try to update this weekly with what runs we did and who was there.  Hopefully this gives a sense of what our group runs are like and encourages more people to come - glenn  (send corrections/additions to me at president@glrr.net)

You can get directions to the groups and some course maps here: Group Runs


Sunday, August 9, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym, Chelmsford

15.4 Miles, 8:01 pace, T 67, Cloudy

It was me and Andy and the local Kenyan gang - Ben, James and Naomi.

 

We did the basic Tyng Bridge loop, coming home via School St for the 15+  Again I could not keep up - but it's good to have the motivation of a group.

 

Today was the YMCA Triathlon.  I mention it because while we took a water and potty break at the Voc the bike part of the race was rushing past us.  Then we heard a horrible crash noise.  We ran around the bend and there was competitor down hard.  A couple of other bikes had stopped to help.  Andy flagged a car to get the guy on his cell to 911.  We spread out and directed traffic around the fallen man.  It looked bad - he definitely was unconscious.  He later regained consciousness - but was in pretty bad shape.  We left when the Tyng police and fire arrived and took over.  Hopefully it looked worse that it was.


Saturday, August 8, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

8.3 Miles, 8:29 pace, T 61, Sunny

Another big crowd today!  Bill Adamson, Mike Ballerini, Paul Kelly, Andy C, Jim Stronach, Mike P, Scott,  Kim S, Paula and a new face - Gini.  Gave folks lots of options for speed and distance.

 

Again good options for folks to run their pace.  For me it was the Rourke Bridge loop with Gini - great time.  She was hooked into the GLRR scene many years ago with her Dad.  We had lots of time to gosip the old days.


Sunday, August 2, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym, Chelmsford

7.0 Miles, 7:51 pace, T 66, Cloudy and very humid

Just me and Andy - we decided we wanted something on the short side - so we set out for the Freeman Rail Trail.  Picked it up at Golden Cove Rd and ran to the Wang Towers.  Then we double back to Fletcher St and home.


Saturday, August 1, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

6.4 Miles, 8:12 pace, T 70, Sunny

Big crowd today!  Bill Adamson, Mike Sheehan, Mike Ballerini, Paul Kelly, Andy C, Jim Q, Mike P, Scott,  Kim S, Paula and Jimmy and Andrea Shelton.  Gave folks lots of options for speed and distance.

 

A bunch of folks said they wanted to try the new 5 mile Fort Hill loop - after a bit of hemming and hawing - Bill and me started out - no one followed us (chickens) - but me and Bill had a great time running it.  And at least Bill liked it.

 

After that run I set out to find Andrea and bring her in.


Sunday, July 26, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym, Chelmsford

opps - no one showed

I ran from home - to the Freeman Rail Trial for 13.1 @ 8:15


Saturday, July 24, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

7.0 Miles, 8:12 pace, T 70, Sunny

Nice group today - Mark Blaisdell (back from his latest injury), Mike Sheehan, Scott Casper, Paula, Shannon, Mike Paglia(!) and Jimmy and Andrea Shelton.

 

I did the Rourke Bridge loop - but I stopped at Aiken St and doubled back to pick up Andrea and bring her in.  I think I ran with Mike and Mark.


Sunday, July 19, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym, Chelmsford

no run for me

I could not make it to Gold's this week - I had to babysit my grand-daughters - so I had to squeeze in my run.


Saturday, July 18, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

5.75 Miles, 9:17 pace, T 68, cloudy

Geez Glenn - you should update this more frequently - My log sez I ran with a group - but it doesn't say who - sorry.


Sunday, July 12, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym, Chelmsford

12.3 Miles, 8:05 pace, T 74, bright and sunny

Wow - surprise!  Other runners to run with at Gold's - I had just about given up on this group run.  Today it was Jimmy Rhoades, Frankie and Andy.  They of course got away from me...  We did the basic Tyng Bridge loop.  After about 7 miles my shoulder was shot - and I started losing ground quickly - still it was nice to have a group out there to keep me motivated!


Saturday, July 11, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

4.5 Miles, 9:37 pace, T 70, bright and sunny

Big group today - 15 of us.  It was a great day to run and great to see so many faces!

I'm sure I'll forget someone - but here goes: it was Mo Garvey, Erin Trcee, Kim Sabatino, Shannon Spellman, Andy Chandonnet, Jim Stronach, Phil Coddaire, Dale and Mark Schofield, Scot Casper, Mike Sheehan and ....  see, I knew I'd miss someone (email if you were there).

 

Phil, Andy, Jim and Mark went out the Rourke and did various distances at a decent clip.

 

The main pack, which included me, went to the School St bridge.  Dale and I turned back at Bridge St for 4.5.  Most of the others went to Treatment plant and back for 6 miles, and Mo and Erin tacked on another mile for 7.


Saturday, July 4

No group run - we all went racing


Saturday, June 27, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

5.8 Miles, 9:39 pace, T 73, bright and sunny

We had a nice group for my return from vacation.  It was Mo Garvey, Erin Trcee, Kim Sabatino, and Andy Chandonnet.  I ran with Erin and Kim.  We did out to School St, back on the other side of the river to the treatment plant and back to the office, for a very nice and easy 5.8 miles.  I think Andy and Mo did the same, but went a bit quicker.


May 30 to Jun 21 I was away on vation


Sunday, May 24, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

no run for me

 

I was timing at the Spring Fling Triathlon and the Acton 5K


Saturday, May 23, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

4.5 Miles, 9:20 pace, T 60, overcast and brezzy

3 Miles, 7:20 pace

Today we had another new member - Laura Schweizer.  Along with Laura we had Jimmy and Andrea Shelton and Andy Chandonnet.

 

Laura, Andy and I ran the 4.5 mile loop, from the office, out to School St, over the river, then back on the other side to Bridge St and back to the office.  A great day to run!  We did the look at about a 9:20 pace.

 

Afterward, Andy and I went to look for Jimmy and Andrea - we missed them, but we got in a nice brisk 3 miles at about 7:20 pace.

 

Jimmy and Andrea also went to School Street.  Jimmy went all the way to Saints (Rt 38) before coming back over the river (for 5 miles) and Andrea did the same as us for 4.5 miles.

 

I'll miss the next four weeks (I'm away on vacation) - but Jim Stronach has stepped forward and will host the runs from the office.  See you in late June!


Sunday, May 17, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

no run for me

 

Argh!!!  I overslept - I ended up doing 11 miles from my house.


Saturday, May 16, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

About 5 miles at about 8:50

I didn't run - I was racing at Bedford, NH (yeah - I ran like crap - so what else is new?)

 

Dale Schofield stepped up and hosted today's run.  Thanks Dale.

 

I think it was Erin Treece (back again - and yet faster again), Mo Garvey, Lynda and Les Merrill and Andrea Shelton.

 

I'm not sure of all the details - but I think the main group of Erin, Dale, Mo, Lynda and Les did about 5 miles at around 8:30-8:50 pace.  They then helped Andrea complete about 4.5 miles.

 

Great job everyone.


Sunday, May 10, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

no run for me

 

Mother's Day - so I was pressed for time - I solo'd for 16 Miles (out to Forge Village) at 8:05 pace.


Saturday, May 9, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

4.5 Miles, 9:00 Pace, T 63

4.5 Miles, 8:28

What a great day to run!  Perfect weather.

 

Erin Treece was back, along with Dale Schofield, and Andy Chandonnet.  Also this week Jim Stronach was able to join us.

 

Jim and Andy headed out to the Rourke and back for a 7.5 miler.  Andy was really moving on the last mile - which was nice to see.  He's been battling back problems all winter.  Jim was not that far behind.

 

Dale wanted to try 9 miles and set off to do the treatment plant route - backwards.  Meaning she started off on Merrimack St going towards Saints.  More on that in a moment.

 

Erin and I ran the same route as we did last week.  Last week we ran about 9:50 pace.  This week Erin was feeling good and we covered the same 4.5 miles (out to School St, back on Bridge) at a 9:00 pace.  Great improvement!!

 

Dale, who is getting ready for a half marathon in a couple of weeks, has been trying to loosen up her calves.  She was stretching them on the stairs before we started. They never did really loosen up - so she did the smart thing and took it easy.  Erin and I meet her on the river walk on the north side of the river and she ran back with us. Now if she was me, Jim or Andy - she'd have done the dumb thing and pushed through it and got injured.

 

Next week, I'll be at the Bedford 12K Grand Prix race.  I gave Dale an extra set of keys - so she'll be there for you to host the group run.

 

After everyone left I decided to explore a new possible 4-5 Mile loop.  Jim Stronach is always complaining the regular routes are too boring.  So, I ran from the Office towards Saints and turned right after Middlesex Community College.  From there I ran up to Fort Hill and Shedd Park.  Then past the Pyne School and into South Lowell.  I came back on Lawrence St.  The first 2 miles are mostly up hill, so it makes it slightly challenging.  The run home is nice an easy.  Maybe we'll try it on the May 23rd run.


Sunday, May 3, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

no run for me

 

I solo'd today - we had the Westford Road Race to help at today, so I ran from home - just a pretty easy 7 Miles at 7:44 pace.


Saturday, May 2, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

no run for me

6.2 Miles, 9:15 Pace, T 58

We had a really great group today!  Lots of different folks - and pretty much someone for everyone to run with.

 

We had Erin Treece, Mo (I forget the last name), Dave (Wood?), Dale Schofield, Jim Quadros, Andy Chandonnet, Jim and Andrea Shelton and me.  Erin and Mo are new club members - so it was great to see them there.

 

Jim Q and Andy ran together and did about 5-6 miles (7:30 pace or so - I think).

 

Dale, Mo and Dave went together - I think Dave split off for about 5 miles.  Dale and Mo ran the 9.6 mile loop at a pace of about 8:50-9:00.

 

Erin, Jim, Andrea and me started together.  Jim and Andrea hung back.  Erin and I did the 4.5 mile loop - School St to Bridge St at about 9:50 pace.

 

Then I went back out and found Andrea and ran back with her.  She did about 14:00 pace.

 

Then I went back once more to find Dale and Mo and ran them back for their last mile.

 

A great group run day!!!


Sunday, April 26, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

no run for me

 

I did something dumb today. I doubled at the Pleasant Mile 5K in the morning and then the Groton 10K in the afternoon.  I figured if I'm going to screw-up why do it half-assed, when I can be a full ass.

 

Needless to say it was HOT - about 78 for the Pleasant 5K and about 82 for the Groton race.  By the time I got to mile 2 of the 10K I was cooked.  The last four miles were the worst I've felt since the last 4 miles of the Cape Cod Marathon (last October).  Boy this day sucked!


Saturday, April 25, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

no run for me

?? Miles, ?? Pace, very hot!

I was timing a race in Pepperell (the 2nd Murph 5K).  I ran afterwards - and man it was HOT!!  80 degrees in April is no fun!

 

I know Jim Stronach, Mark Blaisdell and Irene Park were there.

 

I think they did the 5 mile School St to Hunts Falls (Rt 38) loop.


Sunday, April 19, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

16.8 Miles, 7:49 pace, T 50

 

On my own again - hopefully as the warmer weather arrives - this group run will be a group again.

 

I used the time to try the Chelmsford/Carlisle Cranberry Bog and Great Brook run again.  This time I did not get lost - hence the better pacing.  On the other hand - the bog on Sunday morning is pretty much un-runable.  On Sunday morning's it's dog central - with lots of big dogs unleashed running and chasing everywhere.  I don't think I'll be going back on weekends anymore.  It's too bad - because aside from the dogs, it's a great run.


Saturday, April 18, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

8.4 Miles, 9:33 pace, T 54

Great day to run!

 

We had a group!  There was Lynda and Les Merrill, Dale Schofield, Mark Blaisdell and Jimmy Stronach – and me.

 

I ran with Lynda and Les on the same 4.5 mile loop we did last week (School to Bridge).  We probably ran about 10 min pace.

 

Jimmy and Mark ran ahead – Jimmy did about 5 (School to Hunts Falls) and Mark did about 6 (School to the treatment plant).

 

Dale went long – she went to the Rourke to cross the river, like last week.  After my run with Lynda and Les, I ran the treatment route backwards until I found Dale.  Then I finished up with her – at probably around 9:45 pace.


Sunday, April 12, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym

18.3 Miles, 8:35 pace, T 33-39, very windy and cold

 

Opps - nobody here (again)- guess I'll run by myself

 

Came home and ran from my house (not far from Gold’s).  Ran over to the Freeman Trail.  The intent was to run through the Cranberry Bog and then to Great Brook.

 

It didn’t go as planned.  I made it through the bog with out getting lost, but when I came out I went the wrong way on Curve St.  That really cost me.  I was almost in Carlisle Center before I realized I messed up.  That made impractical to run to Great Brook (where I planned to get water from the rest room).  So I hoofed back the way I came, mostly, to Rt 110 – where I made another wrong turn on Byam.  That got me dumped back on the Rt 27 for a crappy running lane to Chelmsford Center.

 

Oh Well – at least it was long.


Saturday, April 11, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

8.6 Miles, 9:45 pace, T 39

 

Some new group runners – yeah!!

 

We had new club member Joiu Li plus Bethany Linstad, Dale Schofield, Lynda and Les Merrill – and me.

 

Lynda, Les, Joiu and me started with the 4.5 loop (same as last week – out to School back to Bridge and back to the office).  Nice and easy - around 10 min pace.

 

Then Joiu and I went out on the 4.5 mile loop again to find Dale and Beth who wanted to run long.  They went to the Rourke Bridge.  We caught them on the Boulevard, just before the river walk.  We finished our run with them at about 9:45 pace.


 Sunday, April 5, 7:30 AM, Gold's Gym
16.1 Miles, 7:48 pace, T 42

Opps - nobody here - guess I'll run by myself

 

Since I was on my own - I made it up as I went along.  Did the usual start out Locke Rd and eventally to Hunt and High St.  At High St. I picked up the Freeman Trail to S Chelmsford Center.  From there I took Park St to Curve and then to Great Brook Farm.  Through Great Brook on North Rd and then Rangeway to Rt4 and back to Gold's.

 

If I had it to do over, I'd skip North Rd, Rangeway and Rt 4 - too much traffic on Rt 4 and no running room.  So next time it will be a loop in Great Brook and back out the Concord Rd to return to Chelmsford.


Saturday, April 4, 8:00 AM, GLRR Office, Downtown Lowell

4.5 Miles, 8:39 pace, T 48

It was me and Rich Molloy.  I haven't run with Rich in a long time - so it was a pleasant surprise.  We'd an easy spin around the 4.5 mile loop - which is out to School St, across the river, back along the boulevard and down to the river walk until Bridge St.  Then Bridge St. back to Merrimack and we're done. 

 

Great day for a spring run!


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