Going the Distance -- A Fernando Braz Coaching Service

Highlights and Goals

All runners have racing highlights. We even have lowlights! And of course we have goals.
Here are 2008 peaks and valleys reported by fellow Going the Distance runners, and some goals for 2009.
We would love to add yours.
To contribute, send them to me -- Kara Haas -- or contact me if you have questions.
Kara

Julie Hanover
Last year, I focused on the mile and the 800m. This year, I developed a sore achilles tendon during indoor training. I found that if I backed off the speedier intervals, I could still run [along with a LOT of icing]. I ended up running some longer distance races for training runs. I enjoyed the experience so much, I wanted to know what I could run if I really trained hard. So I am now training to get my mileage up for what I hope is a "fast half-marathon for me" this fall.

Along the way though, I really need to get my pacing together and run an under 20 minute 5K (I don't count the Hollis Fast 5K) this year . . . And I may pop in a mile race here and there, as that is my favorite distance.

Robyn Pringle
In 2008 I was still very new to running. I wasn't just wet behind the ears, I looked like I'd been hit with a tidal wave.

I had run a handful of 5Ks and wasn't very good at all, but I was out there, and in love with this sport. Then I found Fernando Braz.

The year before I had run a 5K in September (my very first race) -- "The Run for Ryan" in Chelmsford -- and my pace was 11:00 exactly.

A year later after being coached by Fernando Braz and going to track, I ran that same race and my pace was 9:07 I do believe. That was my first highlight. Little did I know there would be many more to come.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be possible to complete a half-marathon. Fernando trained me at track, and online, and had me doing things with running that made me proud of myself for the first time in years.

I was very nervous about running the Bay State / Sun Half-Marathon last October, especially since I had just been getting over a long bout of pneumonia and truth be told, I was very tired from all the training that my body wasn't used to yet. The longest distance I had run was 10 miles. I thought "Fernando is crazy if he thinks I'm going to be able to finish 13.1 miles!" However, as I had come to learn over the spring and summer, Fernando was RIGHT, again.

I finished! 2:16. That was my first ½ marathon. I did pretty well thanks to Fernando. Another highlight for me.

My lowlight was this season's New Bedford Half-Marathon. I'm nursing a calf tear and did this ½ marathon in 2:34. Bummer, but at least I finished. I'm not wasting any energy on being bothered by that. Fernando has developed an outline specifically designed for me and my needs to get me through this injury and back to track. Fernando and I have focused on this year's goals. I'm running my very first Marathon this year! I'll be doing the Bay State Marathon at the end of the season, and I KNOW Fernando will get me there! :) Happy Running folks!

Holly Madden
My best race last year was at the Bedford 6K. I had no idea I was second women's master until the last .5 miles. I had several ladies right at my heels, but managed to fend them off with a last burst of speed (it helped that many of these women were sapped from having done the Boston Marathon!)

My worst race was at the Ollie 5 miler. I ran as hard as I possibly could, but the humidity, as it always does, made me feel like I was carrying a bag of rocks.

Goals for 2009: To beat my PR at my favorite distance - the 10K. And, with Coach Braz's help, further realize my potential in the marathon at Bay State. Possibly break the 3:05 mark? We'll see.

Beth Clarke
My best race in 2008 would have to be the Boston Marathon, where I ran a consistent pace and my fastest mile was my last mile! My lowest moment in 2008 and in my life was being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. With my positive attitude and the perseverance I've gained from marathon training: by January 2009 I was cancer free.

So this year, 2009, my goals are to PR at the Run to Remember Half Marathon and to inspire anyone and everyone that if you put your mind to it you can do anything!

Chris Chetsas
My highlights for 2008 were running a half marathon PR of 1:34:02, running Mount Washington, and a BQ at the Bay State Marathon of 3:31:38. My lowlights of 2008 was crashing in Boston at mile 22. I did finish at 3:47:51 but it was 4 miles of pain. (Goons, I promise I am not whining!)

My goals for 2009 are to run two back to back BQ marathons within 3 weeks. This is something I tried back in 2006 but was not able to accomplish. So far 2009 has started out great for me. First, I had a half marathon PR of 1:33:28 in New Bedford. I just ran the Ocean Drive Marathon in NJ on March 29th, and ran a BQ time of 3:29:41. Next is Boston.
With the guidance and training of Fernando, I have a great chance of reaching my goal.

Melissa Donais
2008
The first half of the year brought a number of challenges for me. Shortly after Christmas in 2007 I fainted after a run. At the time I thought I had the flu, but instead I was sick for five months. After numerous trips to various doctors in both the Merrimack Valley area and Boston, along with lots of tests and body scans, it was determined that I had Mono, Parvo Virus, and Lyme disease. When I was at my sickest I was unable to get out of bed without fainting, but there were times when I felt better and could do pool workouts or core work. However, for five months, I was unable to run. I learned so much from being sick; I saw how quickly the body could deteriorate, I appreciated and longed for the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other (something I had previously taken for granted), and I grew a voracious appetite to achieve my goals once I regained my health.

I began running again on May 7th, and, not wanting to waste any time, I ran my first race on May 18th. I was in a unique situation where I felt the need to put together some semblance of a track season, and Fernando kept a close eye on all aspects of my training, attending nearly every run and workout. One of my highlights for the year was the 17:57 I ran at the Rhody 5k, just four weeks after I began running again.

2009
A goal of mine this year was to build a stronger body. A lot of this came in reaction to my being sick, but it also came from my realization that in order to compete at the post-collegiate level I need to increase my mileage. For the first time I ventured from my comfortable 5Ks and ran the Yankee Homecoming Ten Miler and the Larry Robinson Ten Miler (63:17). The extra strength helped me in running a PR in the 10K (37:26) at the Tufts 10k for Women, and an 8K PR (29:45) in Philadelphia.

I kicked off 2009 with my first half-marathon in Disney World (1:25:23; 6th place), and I hope to continue to build mileage and strength over the course of the year. My next race will be the Olympic Development 5K at the Penn Relays, and my goal is to PR! Under Fernando's guidance, I have no doubt that it will happen!

Linda Jennings
2008 Highlights
I started 2008 doing all my running in a pool. With Fernando's guidance, I got back to running on the roads and improved as the year progressed. On Labor Day at the New Haven 20K, which was the national championship race for that distance, I finished as the first senior and earned my first senior national championship. The next month, I won my first race - the Tyngsboro Trot 5K. A week later, I matched my PR at the BAA Half Marathon and not only finished as the first senior but also the third master. After a setback of a broken wrist and surgery, I ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon. The year ended on a high note -- I received an honorable mention in the 55-59 age group from Running Times magazine Master Runners of the Year!
2009 Goals
I ran both the Disney and New Bedford Half Marathons in the same time (1:35) and was not ready to go for a PR at either one. This spring I will continue to build on that strength and set some target races for later in the summer and the fall.

Mike Teixeira
In 2008, my best race was the New Bedford half, where I ran 89:11, a six second pr! Faster than I was running fifteen years ago, when I was 35!
My worst was Yankee Homecoming, where I was no match for my own unreasonable expectations! My goals for 2009 are just to spend more summer nights chasing other GTD'ers; Glenn Simms, Marsha Hogan, Kelly Lecours, etc., around the track!

Jon Healey
2008 Highlights
I credit Fernando for getting me to cross the line in style for a couple PRs in 2008. Despite some ups and downs during the year I was able to set personal bests in the road 2 mile (9:34 at Carson 2 miler), half marathon (1:09:44 at Philly Distance Run), and marathon (2:29:08 at Philadelphia Marathon).
2009 Outlook
I am looking to put together a good base in the spring and summer and really capitalize in the fall with new half and marathon PRs.

Steph Hirst
The 2008 Boston Marathon didn't go quite as planned. Uninspired by the Wellesley College girls but determined to finish, I ran/walked/shuffled my way to Boylston Street.
Things came together at the Hartford Marathon, and I was able to squeak in under my goal of 3:35 with 14 seconds to spare. That day was capped off with a double date with my husband in the med tent -- who needs moonlit walks when you have adjoining cots and chicken broth?
This year, I'm looking forward to having fun running some new distances (like my first 5K!).