Profile:
Wallace J. Squier
East Hampton, CT
Recreational User
Active distance walker and runner a several times a week. Wants to get more out of his workout as he trains for upcoming races.
Click the link below to view details and maps Wally’s training at MotionBase’s TrailNetwork.

wallysquier.motionbased.com

I started running about 19 years ago. I was in my mid-thirties and had put on a couple of pounds. My buddies at work were busting on me about my weight. One of my buddies was a runner, so I started running. I believe it was in July of 1987. I knew nothing about running, but I figured,  “How hard could it be?” I went just a little overboard and signed up for the NYC Marathon, which was approaching in November of 1987. When I signed up, I thought I had lots of time to get ready. Looking back, what a fool I was: 26.2 miles on four months of training for an out of shape factory worker. Well, I did the marathon in 260.59 minutes. The first 60 or so were not that bad, I think I was doing about an 8 minute pace. By the end of the race, I was on a 15-20 minute pace.

What a thrill, though, finishing in Central Park. There is not much that compares to the feeling of realizing I’ve run the NYCM. Yet, as good as it felt to have the medal put around my neck and get the foil blanket, within two minutes of stopping, my body said, `the heck with you for doing this after only four months of training. Take this…’ I felt sick to my stomach, and my legs were so tight I could not get my sweats on. You would think I would have learned. For the next two weeks I said,  “never again.” Well that changed. Over the past 19 years, I’ve done 12 marathons, numerous 5K's 10K's & 1/2's, and I’m still at it.

That leads me to now. That leads me to now. A year ago, I read this article somewhere about something called a Forerunner 301 by Garmin. The article also made reference to an on-line service provided at MotionBased. It sounded pretty cool to me, so I had to get the 301. I was feeling like maybe I should drop a couple of pounds and pick the running up a little. I’ve been running off and on for the 19 years, but I was just not as consistent as I should have been. I've never been one for really keeping track of how far and fast I run. That is, not until the Forerunner 301, Training Center and MotionBased. I signed up for the free version of MB. I was hooked within a couple months, and then did the paid thing. It was well worth the price.
I must admit, I'm still not as good as I should be about heading out for a daily run. But I at least walk my two dogs daily. I walk or run my two dogs 7 miles every day, sometimes twice a day. Once in a while, I even hit the trails without them. I live in Connecticut about 1/3 of a mile for the entrance of the Meshomasic State Forest. The State Forest has miles of old logging roads and it’s also part of the Blue dot trail system.

I love the Forerunner and MotionBased. I've entered 331 activities into my digest. I'm training for a couple of races with the lab, I’m also doing a couple of races without the dog.
I’ve signed up for The Jay Challenge in Jay Vermont, which is considered to be one of the hardest off-road stage races in the world. I'm also part of a relay team for a 212 mile race through New Hampshire www.rtbrelay.com for the 5th time. Lastly, I'm considering running the United Technologies Greater Hartford Marathon in the fall of 2007.  The Foreunner 301, Training Center and MotionBased give me the necessary tools to train as I need to. Using the 301 with Training Center& MotionBased, I will be able to track my progress over the next year and a half. Each utility in MotionBased & Trainin Center allow for quick and painless entries of my daily workouts as well as the ability to make comparisons of entered training sessions. MotionBased, with all its features, is a must.

I’ve been using the MB & TC for just over a year now with the Forerunner 301. As I get more serious about training and staying fit,  I find myself not only using the programs as a log, I’m also using them as motivational tools. I’m comparing past workouts as well as planning for future runs/walks by what I’ve done in the past.  I know with these two utilities and the 301, all I’ll have to do is put in the mileage and I’ll be ready …..