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Monday, 16 April 2007

The Numbers

450+ miles of training
2 good legs
30mph headwind today
35 degree windchill
26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square

Too many friends, parents, children suffering or having suffered from cancer.

It's going to be hard today, but I am reminded today is nothing compared to the fight others have had to put up. Today's run is but one more step in working to relieve that suffering. Soli deo gloria.

www.runyoungrun.com

Thanks for continuining to support these efforts!

Thursday, 12 April 2007

www.runyoungrun.com

I will not woefully reflect and see that in the past year I've posted 3 entries...except for that I just did. Well, I may not be great at posting so much anymore, but I've been able to keep up my running. It's almost Patriot's Day here in Boston, which means Marathon Monday is upon us! There are rumors swirling of postponement and what not because of potential downpours and strong winds. But you know what? Boston is Boston. And I don't mean that like "Boston's spring doesn't start until mid April...or later" but I mean that you can't take anything away from the Boston Marathon. So bring it on, Northeast Weather. My feet and everything else might be suffering but I will be loving it just the same.

So come Monday, I will be out and running due east from Hopkinton as it'll be my 3rd consecutive Boston Marathon with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. Each year we run to raise needed funds that support innovative cancer research - a cause that has become close to my heart over these years. This year I am running in memory of Christina, Michelle, Grace, and Alicia's mother, Gwen Cho, and aiming to raise $6000 of support.

If you’re interested at all to learn more about why I run and/or support me, please visit: www.runyoungrun.com.

I absolutely love running, and I can go and on about it... But for me, it’s not the miles or weeks of training that make this race special each year – it has and will always be about supporting new discoveries so that one day we won’t need a Dana Farber team at all. Much love and appreciation in advance for your support and generosity.
www.baa.org
Bib#20338

Monday, 06 November 2006

chicago 10.2006 race diary

Start: Went awry with this one. I took my time getting out the door and went to the 151 bus stop which CTA told me would be running...it was not (transpo downtown was rerouted/closed off b/c of the race). So at 6:45 I start brainstorming on how I'm going to get to Millenium Park b/c I can't see anyone around with a gear bag and I see no buses. I calmly begin considering solutions but inevitably 2 words begin cycling through my mind: Oh Crap. I begin expending precious energy as I begin to worry that mileage today will be far more than the 26.2 as I have to run miles to get to the start line.

7:00am: I meet Bill H. who is waiting for a different bus which I suspect is not running either, but he's 62 and has run several Chicago Marathons. Despite the fact that I find it to be a slight downer that he's got a parka and ski gloves on and I'm wearing a windbreaker, his history of running instantly inspires me. He also shares how he met his wife at a Cardinals game [he's at Cards game with his sister and parents...squirrel runs on field...gal across the stadium grabs binoculars to see squirrel...then scans crowd and sees her friend from grade school who happens to be Bill's sister...then comes over to talk to her and the rest is history...for 40 YEARS]. Bill and I commandeer a cab that masterfully dodges the road closures and brings us right up to the runner entry area. It is now 7:20am.

7:45: 40,000 runners in the Millenium Park/Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain area is pandemonium. I squeeze through the "Do Not Enter" fence to get to gear check and my gear check bag begins to disintegrate. Every bag around me is intact, but mine is shredding. Awesome. Finally get things checked in and then my bladder begins to do tae-bo as I get nervous about getting to the chute in time.

7:55: I haven't stretched. My pre-race sprints are taking place by default as I, well, sprint to the starting chute. I got a Preferred I start number which apparently not only meant earlier release in the race but earlier lineup as well. Yeah, forgot to read that part in the materials.

7:57: Race official spots color of my bib # and is screaming that I need to get inside. I make a strange hovering motion over my lower abdomen and holler that I need to find a port-a-potty. Official/Volunteer looks at me perplexed and tells me to find a tree. With her OK, I find a tree in Millenium Park next to a parked CBS news vehicle and water it. There was about as much coverage as there is in Boston Common, but at this point I don't care.

7:59: I get back to the Preferred entry area and run down the chute right before the marching Preferred II group as the last P1 runner. I am frantically stretching on the pavement as I draw odd looks from spectators and am getting hit in the head with the clothing of disrobing runners who have warmed up for the race but do not have very strong throwing arms.

8:00: Gun goes off and everyone's screaming. Fun begins! Adrenaline starts to rush through every part of me and we get going for the 29th LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. It's high 30's or about 40 at start but there's enough body heat in the crowd.

8:07: I look down to find I ran a 7:15 split for my mile. Much better than I expected and I decide to go with my plan: gut it out as hard as I can and see where it takes me. I cramped up last race but still felt fresh afterwards, so I figured I'd push things on this day. I'm going to PR one way or another.

mile 12: I'm cruising, and I still feel good at a 7:15-7:20 pace. I see a huge bedsheet sign on a building as the course turns with Philippians 4:13 on it ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"). Also is a sign that says "12 more miles...it's all downhill from here!" which I unfortunately misinterpret as literal rather than metaphorical. It wasn't all downhill from there.

Halfway Point, Mile 13.1: crowds are raucous, lots of energy and the path narrows b/c there's so many people on each side. The feeling that you're running through a human "chute" is exhilarating.

Mile 15: Bodily equivalent of the check engine light comes on and my legs begin dying. I know this feeling: I'm hitting The Wall. The point at which muscle glycogen is severely depleted to gone...and it's happening at least 5 miles too early! The run-your-guts-out plan sounded much better than it is feeling now.My body is sending feedback to my brain such as "we're in trouble soon...better get ready" and "you idiot."

Mile 16: Cramps set in, along with personal despair over the splits that are getting longer. I high step to loosen up my legs and instead my right hammy goes crazy cramping up. I pull over to the side and realize the final ten miles will be about suffering...but knowing that enduring it will mean the finish will be that much sweeter.

Miles 17-25: (I honestly don't remember anything from this section except telling myself that going out fast is just as bad as everyone tells you it is. Actually, it's worse.)

Mile 26: An end-of-the-course bridge going over Roosevelt Hwy that I did not know about. I dig in, trying not to pay attention to the general suffering taking place around me. A girl, still looking fresh, jumps over the fencing out of the course like a gazelle. Must have been a bandit...but to run all of it and not finish...maybe just a training run for her.

Mile 26.2: I spot Nate and Lyndsay's Dad in the finishing stretch and begin windmilling my arms in delirium as I try to get the crowd riled up. Pure, unadulterated joy as I cross the finish line. I'm happy I PR but most happy that the race is finally done. My mouth is tingling and I begin to consume as many bananas and fig newtons around.

Conclusion: I would totally run Chicago again...the whole experience was enjoyable and I have to think it can't be as painful again the next time 'round. By going out too fast, this race ended up being the hardest mental and physical task I've ever participated in. But the race registration, expo, and race experience were awesome...30th Anniversary of the Chicago Marathon is in 10-2007 and it's a great first marathon I'm told...so if you're toying with the idea...get signed up!

www.chicagomarathon.com

Sunday, 22 October 2006

let's get ready to ruuuuumble

The Chicago Marathon kicks off in 10 hours...and I'm super stoked man. I've never run in a race this large (40,000) and the video I've seen of prior races is almost overwhelming. 2 miles today along Lake Michigan, a great runner expo, helpful Chicagoans, fantastic hospitality from C and J, a perfect pasta dinner over at Nate and Lyndsay's tonight, and a Game 1 win for the Cardinals. You better believe I'm amped like crazy right now.

Praying for little to no rain (though likely) and hoping to somehow PR even though I certainly don't deserve it with my training this time around. Some differences from my last race: no lifting (bad), used a harder training schedule by Hal Higdon (informative and enjoyable), flatter course (good), and I plan to use more gels (will either be more helpful or more nauseating). Will be a race-time decision if I decide to follow a pace team...

If you're curious:

-->Bib # 7768
-->runner updates @ www.chicagomarathon.com
-->text/email updates at http://www.doitsports.com/results/MSG-signup.tcl?sub_event_id=2161

On a random note, if you like running at all, want some inspiration, and have never heard of Steve Prefontaine, check out Prefontaine. Right up there with Chariots of Fire.

Friday, 20 October 2006

BOOOYAAAH

Yes we:
1. crawled into the playoffs...
2. had things come to a game 7...
3. had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th with freakin Carlos Beltran up.

But seeing Beltran - the one Met you'd want up there if you're a Mets fan - strike out looking with a Wainwright curveball...I cannot begin to explain how sweet that was. We're talking heaven on earth.

And for all you Mets fans out there - and you know EXACTLY who you are - the ones that called me after the Mets/Cards series earlier this year and laughing...this win was extra special.

I almost don't care what happens next, but of course I do. And I don't know how we'll match up with the Tigers. But until then, I will take this moment to revel in how the 2006 Mets' season ended and how the 2006 Cardinals' season continued. Thanks for making this win extra special.