Well I've been training for 5 months now so its not like you'll be able to follow me from the very start of my journey but at least you can tag along with me for the most important part!
Up to this point it has been rather boring... running miles and miles outside, or dying of boredom through the winter on the bad running days by spending time on my treadmill or eliptical in my basement workout room. Monroe has no sidewalks or shoulders on the road so when there is snow on the ground it gets too dangerous for my taste to run outside most days. I am now a week away from my first real mountain race... the Prospect Mountain Road Race which is relatively easy. It's only 4.5 miles with a 1,600 foot elevation gain in the Adirandack range of NY so it's not long, not very steep and not at altitude, but it is a start to gauge how I have trained to date.
Since the spring has come I have run each weekend on trails in the "mountains" of northwest CT. I ran over our highest mountain peak, Bear Mountain, at 2,300 feet last weekend so they are not REAL mountains but again, its a start for a flatlander like me. During the winter when running trails would have been suicide, I was forced to put my treadmill on the max incline (12%) and just start running for 3 or 4 boring miles each week (it's all the mind-numbing, running in place on a "hill" I could take).
I have been struggling with various shin, achilles and ankle ailments for the last 2 months and they wont go away. The days I run trails I have no issues but when I hit the roads they come right back. I sure hope I can find a way to get rid of them, because it is holding me back a bit right now. I have numerous pairs of running shoes for the road and none seem to help or hurt me in any different way. My NewBalance 1223s are absolutely the most comfortable but rather heavy and my Asics Gel Landreths are light but not as cushioned. I will say however that I LOVE my trail running shoes... they are awesome! I have a pair of Solomon SpeedCross 2 shoes that have superb support, cushioning and protection from rocks on the trails. They also have the best footbed of any running shoe I have ever owned and they are light to boot!
Gotta get to bed so I can get out on the trails early in the am!
My Bio
- Scott
- Monroe, CT, United States
- Hi! My name is Scott Redfern and I am the founder of Running, Riding and Racing for Other People's Lives. I live in Monroe, CT with my wife Jan and my two fantastic teenage children where we have lived for the past 20 years. Our whole family is actively involved in community service through our church, Monroe Congregational Church (MCC) and any other opportunities that we find to get involved. Our typical vacation includes traveling to, and exploring a national park. We also enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, kayaking and other fun challenges to relax. I am a dedicated Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 63 and I teach my Scouts to take pride in serving and helping others while focusing on the core basics of Scouting in our troop. Troop 63 is known for its dedication to camping, backpacking and experiencing a broad spectrum of outdoor activities. As is evidenced by what I have chosen for my fundraising activities, I am an avid runner and all around fitness enthusiast.
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