The Boston Marathon is now a week in the rearview mirror and I'm in a good place now with the results. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me along the way. Family, friends and colleagues. Those who supported my fundraising effort. Those who provided kind words of encouragement. Thank you to each and every one of you.
I want to especially thank my wife and son for all of their support from the start back in December to race day and the days afterward. I appreciate their understanding, unwavering support and their commitment in helping me get to where I did with all of this. I appreciate everything that they did for me. For all of the weekends that we couldn't get out and do things as a family because I was in Boston training. Thank you for understanding. For all of the hours that they stand around waiting for me during races. Thank you. For all of the fundraising efforts that my wife did for me. Thank you. I thank them both so much for helping to support me with this running addiction. I could not have done any of this without them.
Thank you all.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Heartbreak Before The Hill.
Well the marathon is over and here it is two days after and I'm finally posting about my experience. It has taken me a couple of days to come to terms with Monday and to compose myself enough to make this post. Here it goes. My run unfortunately ended at mile 18.3 due to a medical issue that had me in the hospital instead of finishing the race. I pushed myself too much and didn't factor in the heat during the run (I was on pace to finish with a 3:43 finish which would have beat my marathon that I ran in October of 2013). All of my training was run during the frigid cold temperatures of the winter so I was still in that mindset (my last long run a couple of weeks ago was 22 fantastic miles). I've second guessed myself on every aspect of my choices on Monday. I know that there are things that I could have done differently and that I should have done differently. However, I cannot change the past now but just learn from it.
I have had a difficult time emotionally dealing with this even with the tremendous support of friends and family. It is hard to focus on the positive messages when I feel that I've let people down including myself. I'm being hard on myself about it all because I know that I should have stuck to my plan and had the outcome that I had thought about so many times. I've reflected so much that it makes my head hurt. It is now time for me to move on.
While I didn't finish, which was my own goal and something that I wanted to prove to myself, I did raise $6,716.40 for the Curley K-8 School. I have to remember that my main goal and purpose for all of this was to raise money for this worthwhile cause. Not to prove something to myself as paces and PRs really don't matter to anyone else except for me personally. I have learned a lot about where my focus should be and what is important in my life. That is my family. I've also learned a lot about myself and where I can and need to improve. This has been such an experience. All the highs. All the lows. This journey has ended but a new one will follow behind it.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
I have had a difficult time emotionally dealing with this even with the tremendous support of friends and family. It is hard to focus on the positive messages when I feel that I've let people down including myself. I'm being hard on myself about it all because I know that I should have stuck to my plan and had the outcome that I had thought about so many times. I've reflected so much that it makes my head hurt. It is now time for me to move on.
While I didn't finish, which was my own goal and something that I wanted to prove to myself, I did raise $6,716.40 for the Curley K-8 School. I have to remember that my main goal and purpose for all of this was to raise money for this worthwhile cause. Not to prove something to myself as paces and PRs really don't matter to anyone else except for me personally. I have learned a lot about where my focus should be and what is important in my life. That is my family. I've also learned a lot about myself and where I can and need to improve. This has been such an experience. All the highs. All the lows. This journey has ended but a new one will follow behind it.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
What A Feeling.
What a feeling, being's believin'
I can have it all, now I'm dancing for my life
Take your passion and make it happen
Pictures come alive, now I'm dancing through my life
What a feeling
I couldn't have said it any better than Irene Cara (just replace "dancing" with "running"). What a feeling it was yesterday to go and pickup my official bib and runner's packet after the B.A.A. 5K. If you are following my blog you'll know that I have been using the word "emotional" a lot lately to describe how things related to the Marathon have been hitting me. Get ready as I'm going to use it again... It was such a momentous occasion for me to be there at the Hynes Convention Center to pickup my bib. Just a year ago, I had been at the same place for the running expo thinking to myself that I would probably never get the chance to run Boston. I was a bit jealous of the runners who were there picking up their packets at the time. Thinking about how excited that they must be and wishing that I was feeling that same feeling. No disrespect at all just wanting to experience the same thing that they were. Yesterday I was able to experience that feeling first hand. It all hit me at once as the volunteer was handing me my bib and info packet. E M O T I O N A L. All of the early morning training in the cold and snow, missing time with my family, inconveniencing my family to accommodate my training and everything that went into the fundraising came into perspective at that moment. This was it. The tangible bib that I was holding meant everything to me. It validated everything that I had worked so hard for. It was official.
As I sit here today, the day before the Marathon, I get a chance to reflect on everything that has led to where I am today. What an incredible journey it has been. I was extremely fortunate to have been given the great opportunity, back in December of last year, to have my place in this world class event. Something that I will always be thankful and grateful for. This is truly an experience of a lifetime.
As I finish this post, you can rest assured that I will not be uploading any videos of myself in my running gear poised over a chair with gallons of water splashing down on me as "What a feeling" is playing in the background. Guaranteed. For those who are too young to get this reference look up the movie "Flashdance" from 1983. Now, I'm off to get everything ready for tomorrow and to think about my big plate of pasta with Trader Joe's creamy tomato basil sauce for dinner tonight.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
I can have it all, now I'm dancing for my life
Take your passion and make it happen
Pictures come alive, now I'm dancing through my life
What a feeling
I couldn't have said it any better than Irene Cara (just replace "dancing" with "running"). What a feeling it was yesterday to go and pickup my official bib and runner's packet after the B.A.A. 5K. If you are following my blog you'll know that I have been using the word "emotional" a lot lately to describe how things related to the Marathon have been hitting me. Get ready as I'm going to use it again... It was such a momentous occasion for me to be there at the Hynes Convention Center to pickup my bib. Just a year ago, I had been at the same place for the running expo thinking to myself that I would probably never get the chance to run Boston. I was a bit jealous of the runners who were there picking up their packets at the time. Thinking about how excited that they must be and wishing that I was feeling that same feeling. No disrespect at all just wanting to experience the same thing that they were. Yesterday I was able to experience that feeling first hand. It all hit me at once as the volunteer was handing me my bib and info packet. E M O T I O N A L. All of the early morning training in the cold and snow, missing time with my family, inconveniencing my family to accommodate my training and everything that went into the fundraising came into perspective at that moment. This was it. The tangible bib that I was holding meant everything to me. It validated everything that I had worked so hard for. It was official.As I sit here today, the day before the Marathon, I get a chance to reflect on everything that has led to where I am today. What an incredible journey it has been. I was extremely fortunate to have been given the great opportunity, back in December of last year, to have my place in this world class event. Something that I will always be thankful and grateful for. This is truly an experience of a lifetime.
As I finish this post, you can rest assured that I will not be uploading any videos of myself in my running gear poised over a chair with gallons of water splashing down on me as "What a feeling" is playing in the background. Guaranteed. For those who are too young to get this reference look up the movie "Flashdance" from 1983. Now, I'm off to get everything ready for tomorrow and to think about my big plate of pasta with Trader Joe's creamy tomato basil sauce for dinner tonight.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Rice Medley.
A delicious and wholesome medley of whole grain brown rice, wild rice and red rice mixed with vegetables and seasonings. As Mr. Food would always say, "Ooh, it's so good!". Sorry, I meant "Race Medley". Such a goof ball sometimes.
Today was the 5K race which was the first race in the B.A.A. distance medley and was the kickoff to Marathon weekend. It was such a good feeling to run a race again after all of the training runs the past several months. I had wondered if the fact that there were going to be 10,000 entrants running in this race was going to make the course very congested and slow the pace down. Luckily, it didn't. It was a bit slow at the start but once we got onto Beacon street it opened up pretty quickly.
The race today was a bit of a dress rehearsal for Monday as part of the course included the last part of the Marathon. It was really cool to actually run "Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston". Making that "Left on Boylston" was a truly emotional point of this race. The Boston Fire Department had a fire engine with it's ladder extended and a huge American flag hanging from it over the street. As I went under it, all I could think of was the two firefighters, who passed away a few weeks ago, that were from the firehouse that this engine was from. Really powerful stuff. My thoughts quickly went to the events from a year ago as I was approaching where the second bomb went off last year. I tried to imagine what it would have been like for all those people around that area. It quickly changed again as I approached the Marathon finish and the site of the first bomb. I continued down Boylston weaving my way through other runners and then made the final turn onto Charles street. I put everything into it to finish strong. I ended up setting a PR for myself for a 5K finishing in 22 minutes 1 second with a pace of 7:00 min/mile. My race results overall were: I finished 770 out of 8,640 participants and 65 out of 451 in my division. I'll take that any day.
What an emotional roller coaster this race turned out to be. From start to finish. It is something that I will never forget. I can just imagine what Monday's race is going to be like if I thought this one was emotional!
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Today was the 5K race which was the first race in the B.A.A. distance medley and was the kickoff to Marathon weekend. It was such a good feeling to run a race again after all of the training runs the past several months. I had wondered if the fact that there were going to be 10,000 entrants running in this race was going to make the course very congested and slow the pace down. Luckily, it didn't. It was a bit slow at the start but once we got onto Beacon street it opened up pretty quickly. The race today was a bit of a dress rehearsal for Monday as part of the course included the last part of the Marathon. It was really cool to actually run "Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston". Making that "Left on Boylston" was a truly emotional point of this race. The Boston Fire Department had a fire engine with it's ladder extended and a huge American flag hanging from it over the street. As I went under it, all I could think of was the two firefighters, who passed away a few weeks ago, that were from the firehouse that this engine was from. Really powerful stuff. My thoughts quickly went to the events from a year ago as I was approaching where the second bomb went off last year. I tried to imagine what it would have been like for all those people around that area. It quickly changed again as I approached the Marathon finish and the site of the first bomb. I continued down Boylston weaving my way through other runners and then made the final turn onto Charles street. I put everything into it to finish strong. I ended up setting a PR for myself for a 5K finishing in 22 minutes 1 second with a pace of 7:00 min/mile. My race results overall were: I finished 770 out of 8,640 participants and 65 out of 451 in my division. I'll take that any day.
What an emotional roller coaster this race turned out to be. From start to finish. It is something that I will never forget. I can just imagine what Monday's race is going to be like if I thought this one was emotional!
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The Final Countdown.
Oh, We're heading for Venus (Venus)
And still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us
And welcome us all, yeah
With so many light years to go
And things to be found (to be found)
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so
It's the final countdown...
I crack up every time that I hear that song. A montage of Gob Bluth's (Arrested Development) cheesy magic tricks, sorry, "illusions" cycle through my head like I'm flipping channels trying to find something to watch. I absolutely love Arrested Development (original series and not the reborn Netflix version). I digress.
It is the final countdown. 4 days until race day. I have so many mixed emotions right now. Nervousness, anxiety, joy and sadness. Each one waiting for the right moment to hit like a Mack truck.
It has been a very long week this week waiting for race day. The local news coverage of what happened one year ago at the Marathon really hit me harder than I thought it would. I think that that is because I have a greater understanding of what the Boston Marathon means now not only to myself but the other runners, their families and the City of Boston. Very emotional stuff.
This week has also been very long due to the fact that I'm tapering. It was much more difficult this time around as I'm really sticking to it. When I trained last year for the marathon in Hampton, NH, I didn't focus to much on tapering and I it caught up with me. I was just winding down a very active race season and didn't feel that I needed to follow the program that closely. Lesson learned. I was able to get my final training run (5 miles) in tonight though so that helped with putting my sanity back in check. It was pretty darn cold out there with the wind whipping and a temperature of 32. I guess it didn't help that I was running in shorts.
I have the B.A.A. 5K race on Saturday along with bib pickup for the marathon at the race expo. Exciting weekend of running activities. It is kind of sad though to think that it is all coming to an end. This thing that has taken over my life since December. Controlling so many aspects of what I do and don't do. It's a love hate relationship. More of a love thing though.
Now, I have to go and pop in the first season of Arrested Development and laugh my @ss off! Love those crazy Bluth's!
It's the final countdown
We're leaving together
The final countdown
We'll all miss her so
It's the final countdown (final countdown)
Oh, it's the final countdown.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
And still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us
And welcome us all, yeah
With so many light years to go
And things to be found (to be found)
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so
It's the final countdown...
I crack up every time that I hear that song. A montage of Gob Bluth's (Arrested Development) cheesy magic tricks, sorry, "illusions" cycle through my head like I'm flipping channels trying to find something to watch. I absolutely love Arrested Development (original series and not the reborn Netflix version). I digress.
It is the final countdown. 4 days until race day. I have so many mixed emotions right now. Nervousness, anxiety, joy and sadness. Each one waiting for the right moment to hit like a Mack truck.
It has been a very long week this week waiting for race day. The local news coverage of what happened one year ago at the Marathon really hit me harder than I thought it would. I think that that is because I have a greater understanding of what the Boston Marathon means now not only to myself but the other runners, their families and the City of Boston. Very emotional stuff.
This week has also been very long due to the fact that I'm tapering. It was much more difficult this time around as I'm really sticking to it. When I trained last year for the marathon in Hampton, NH, I didn't focus to much on tapering and I it caught up with me. I was just winding down a very active race season and didn't feel that I needed to follow the program that closely. Lesson learned. I was able to get my final training run (5 miles) in tonight though so that helped with putting my sanity back in check. It was pretty darn cold out there with the wind whipping and a temperature of 32. I guess it didn't help that I was running in shorts.
I have the B.A.A. 5K race on Saturday along with bib pickup for the marathon at the race expo. Exciting weekend of running activities. It is kind of sad though to think that it is all coming to an end. This thing that has taken over my life since December. Controlling so many aspects of what I do and don't do. It's a love hate relationship. More of a love thing though.
Now, I have to go and pop in the first season of Arrested Development and laugh my @ss off! Love those crazy Bluth's!
It's the final countdown
We're leaving together
The final countdown
We'll all miss her so
It's the final countdown (final countdown)
Oh, it's the final countdown.
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
AT&T Athelete Alert.
The Boston Marathon is only 8 days away!
Interested in following my progress during the Boston Marathon on April 21st? AT&T and the B.A.A. provide a service called "AT&T Athlete Alert" which allows you to sign-up to receive text messages and/or e-mail alerts when I reach the following marks during the race: 10K, half-marathon, 30K and the finish line. If you want to sign up to receive notifications, just click on the link below and select how you would like to get notified. My bib number is 27855.
http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Monday, April 7, 2014
It' All In The Numbers.
This tapering thing is for the birds! It is very difficult to run so much during training in the months before the marathon and then have to limit how much you run in the last couple of weeks. I know that I need to do it but it goes against the norm over the past 4 months. That said, I might as well do something with the extra time on my hands so I figured why not reminisce about my training and put it into some real numbers. Show what goes into training for a marathon. So, without further ado...
Training Stats
Number of months training: 4
Number of training runs: 46
Distance run: 454.48 miles
Total time spent running: 58 hours 10 minutes
Average length of each run: 1 hour 15 minutes
Average elevation gain: 506 ft
Average elevation loss: 560 ft
Average speed: 7.2 mph
Average distance: 9.88 miles
Average temperature: 29
Average real feel temperature: 23
Lowest temperature: 12
Lowest real feel temperature: 3
The most important number: 27855
Why is 27855 the most important number? That is my official bib number for the race. I was so excited to get my marathon packet recently which contained my runner passport and that awesome number. 27855. Numbers. Hey, I should play the lotto now that I have some numbers to use!
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
Training Stats
Number of months training: 4
Number of training runs: 46
Distance run: 454.48 miles
Total time spent running: 58 hours 10 minutes
Average length of each run: 1 hour 15 minutes
Average elevation gain: 506 ft
Average elevation loss: 560 ft
Average speed: 7.2 mph
Average distance: 9.88 miles
Average temperature: 29
Average real feel temperature: 23
Lowest temperature: 12
Lowest real feel temperature: 3
The most important number: 27855
Why is 27855 the most important number? That is my official bib number for the race. I was so excited to get my marathon packet recently which contained my runner passport and that awesome number. 27855. Numbers. Hey, I should play the lotto now that I have some numbers to use!
Until next time, keep on runnin'!
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