20 miles in 3h 53m at LSP

Ran 20 miles today afternoon! I am thrilled!

This is the longest run I have planned for before the Philadelphia Marathon on Nov 23rd.

Started running a little after noon; the weather was cold and cloudy - the temperatures must have been in the mid 50s - upper 60s. Since I had to take care of the vehicle inspection earlier in the day, I could start only at noon. It was kind of odd time to start as it wasn't yet time for Lunch when I started, and it was too late for Lunch by the time I finished.

Had planned to run at 5 miles per hour pace every hour and complete the 20 mile distance in four hours. Some of the milestones along the way are as follows:
10 mile - 1h 48m
13.1 mile - 2h 27m
15 mile - 2h 51m
18 mile - 3h 30m

I was wearing two layers of shirts and a single layer shorts - it was pleasant enough in the weather, though at some places where it was windy, I could feel the chill. I am expecting similar weather for the Marathon on Nov 23rd in Philly which is further south from here.

My car was parked in the free visitor parking lot near the kid's play area and the Columbus monument. This place is in the center and allowed me to create my own 2-3-4 mile long stretches for running and get back to the car for Gatorade and some cookies.

Overall it was a thoroughly enjoyable run. Looking forward to the 26.1 mile run in 17 days!

Three miles in 29 minutes

After a busy week, and taking the day off to recover today, got back to running. Went running in the evening at the running track in the Bayonne Park. Was aiming for a faster run today, and was able to achieve a sub-ten-minute-per-mile pace for the three miles run.

As I build up to the Marathon run on Nov 23rd, I may not be able to spend too much time running during the week days, but it would definitely be possible to put in these kinds of short three mile runs 3 or 4 times during the week.

First 2 hour run and first 11 mile run

Ran 11.15 miles in 2 hours today at the Rockland Lake State Park along the Hudson River in New York State! The longest I have run so far in terms of both distance and time.

Drove a little over an hour to the Rockland Lake State Park as a trial run before the Self-Transcendence Marathon next Friday when I will accompany Dr. Ashis Roy on his 85th Marathon.

The run was very pleasant and very picturesque. It is a 2.8 odd miles bike trail around a scenic lake. Very flat and very fast! I completed a little over three and a half rounds taking two drinks break - the first one after one round, and the second one after completing 8 miles.

I reached the 10 mile mark in 1:48 minutes, shaving off a full six minutes from the 1:54 I had accomplished on my Birthday. 11 miles was in 1 hour 58 minutes.

5 miles in 51:56 on a day of running after a week break

Did not run for a week since last Tuesday's 10K run :(

Finally got around to run today and completed running 5 Miles at Liberty State Park, finishing the distance in 51:56 minutes.

Ran along the water-front walkway all the way to the Ferry Launching area, and then continued to run along the path adjacent to the boat docking area. Discovered a walkway connecting Jersey City to Liberty State Park at the end of Jersey Avenue near the Jersey City Medical Center building.

Today's run of 5 miles in 51:56 minutes is my personal best at this distance, shaving off more than a minute from the 53:08 minutes I accomplished at the Father's Day 5M in June.

First ten miler on my Birthday

There are good days to run. And there are other types of days to run!

Today was a terrific day for running. Wonderful weather. Heavy rains last night had brought the temperatures down to mid 70s as compared to upper 80s and above for the past few days. I was also well rested, having slept deeply yesterday night and taking a break from running yesterday. I was also in high spirits thanks to the amazing love and friendship shown by many on the occasion of my Birthday!

Originally was thinking of running a Watchung Reservation, but decided to go to Liberty State park mainly due to the wet and soggy conditions likely to be there on the dirt tracks of Watchung Reservation. Concrete and tarred tracks of Liberty State park were perfect for running in these conditions.

Ran from around 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM - completing 10 miles in 1 hour and 54 minutes! I was energetic all along, and took only a couple of water breaks all through - the first break after an hour having completed 5.65 miles. There was quite a bit of juice left in me even after the 10 mile run - that is Goooood!

My Garmin Forerunner 305 clocked double digit mileage for the first time! I have taken a picture of this amazing feat for the sake of history!

I am proud of how much I have improved my running over the last few months. At the beginning of this year, I ran a 4M race and finished it in 51 minutes walking half the way. Now I run more than 5 miles without taking a walking break!!

Happy Birthday 2 me!

8 mile run in 1:28

Ran 8 miles today morning in Central Park, the first 6.2 miles being part of the Park to Park 10K. Completed the 10K in 1:07:16 - my personal best for this distance, beating the 1:15:02 I accomplished on Mar 30th at the Scotland Run 10K.

After running non-stop the entire 10K distance, I lost steam and found it difficult to run further towards my goal of finishing 10 mile for the first time. Completed the 8 miles to equal last Sunday's long run effort. The time of 1:28 for 8 mile was a huge improvement over the 1:46 last week. The 10K race component made it for improved timing this Sunday.

Sri ran her first ever event, and did extremely well to finish the race in 1:20!! Awesome!!

I am inspiring many of my friends to take up running - makes me very proud! Krishnan ran 10K yesterday in Delhi, 5K as part of the run organized by Rahul Verghese's RunningAndLiving, and 5K on the treadmill. His 5K timing is very close to my best time!

First 8 miler of my life

Ran 8 mile distance for the first time today! Completed the distance in 1:46 hours at the Watchung Reservation. Parked my car at the Trailside Nature & Science Center and started running along one of the numerous trails there. Soggy and soft trails all along - good for my knees. Very picturesque - the trail running along a stream for long, and always under dense cover of greenery. Part of the time I must have been running very close to the Inter-state 78, as I could hear the speeding vehicles very closeby.

Ran non-stop for the first 3.5 miles (in around 40 minutes) and then took regular walking breaks.

Nice place to run; will come here for my long runs during the week-ends.

Since the last post about the 5K run in JP Park, I ran three more times in JP Park - two of them being a 3M/5K runs, while the third one was a long run of 5 Miles. One of the 3M runs was sub-30 minutes - the first time I ran a sub-30-minute 3Mile!

Father's Day 5 Mile run in Central Park

Competed in the Father's Day 5 Mile run in Central Park today morning.

Got to sleep only by 1:30 AM yesterday night, and had to leave home by 6:30 AM today morning to be at the Race. Thought about not going for a while, but then the fact that I had promised to Gerd that I will be there inspired me to go for it. Met with Harish S on the way to the Park; we took a taxi together from WTC to the Park.

For the first time, I ran all 5 Miles without taking a walking break! Followed the slow run procedure I learned from Dr. Ashis Roy, and completed the race in a trot! The slow & continuous run method makes sense for these races; no point in taking a walking break in a 5M race, when my goal is to be running a Marathon in 4 - 5 months.

My time for the race - 53:08 minutes. That is quite likely my best time for a 5M distance!