Reversed

Today, I reversed what I did yesterday. I went for a bike ride first and then went for a run with my son on his bike. For a while this morning I was contemplating heading down to Coney Island to join my friends that were swimming, but I decided that since I was already feeling cold in my living room while wearing a warm long sleeve shirt, I would probably freeze to death should I have ventured into the water. Instead I gave Larry a call, found out that he was in the park on his bike, so I just decided to get the better workout in and join him on the bike.

Just like yesterday, we rode 23 miles together. One difference though was that I was distinctly feeling saddle sore. I guess that’s what happens when you ride two days in a row after not riding for over a month. I am sure the fact that I forgot to wear bike shorts during yesterday’s ride was a contributing factor to the soreness. We also rode in a pack for a while and I felt my HR starting to creep up as the leaders pushed the pace up the hill. I need to regain some bike fitness.

Overall, it was a glorious day to be in the park and the miles ticked off faster than I realized. I could have easily stayed out longer, but I didn’t want to ride alone and I wanted to spend time with my children. I still felt like working out when I got home and I hoped my daughter would accompany me on her bike for a run. She didn’t feel like it though, but my son surprised me and said he wanted to go. I guess he is getting a bit envious of the father/daughter time when we go out.

When I started to run, I realized that I was feeling a little tired. I just took it nice and slow. It just felt good to be outside with my son and easily running and talking. During the run I carried my son’s boomerang since he wanted to throw it around. He obliged me by agreeing to wait until after we made it our 3 mile loop. I don’t think I’ve thrown one before; the thing is pretty cool. A couple of times it slammed into the wet grass and stuck up out of the ground.

We threw it around for a while, but after about 20 or so minutes, I insisted we head home. I was starting to get really hungry and I desperately needed to eat. I bribed him to leave by offering to buy him a treat from Connecticut Muffin.

It was still early in the day by the time I ate, showered and changed into clean clothes. My kids were watching TV at this time and I probably could have gotten away with letting the zone out watching the thing, while I vegged out in my basement watching the Jets game. The urge to do just that was very strong. I don’t know how I overcame it. I guess it was just too nice of a day outside to let it go. The drive to get my kids outside probably comes from the same source within me that forces myself to go workout when all I feel like doing is laying in bed.

My announcement that we were going out provoked howls from my daughter who just wanted to sit on the couch watch a Disney channel program called Hannah Montana. Tears were shed and she suddenly came down with a headache and asked for some medicine to make her feel better. My son wanted to go out though and I didn’t feel like getting into it with my wife about whether or not she should stay home. I suppose it was also possible that she had a headache.

My son and I drove to check out the Red Hook Pier. I’d never been there and it looked like a nice day to check out the waterfront with the sun coming down over it. Here is a picture of us enjoying the scenery. From the waterfront, we moved onto the running track where we kicked a soccer ball around for a while. It was some bonus running around. We played for a couple of hours and then packed it in for the day.

Thanksgiving 2006

I am bored right now so I am going to try to amuse myself with making a blog entry for the past few days. On Turkey Day I ran in the Turkey Trot race held in Prospect Park. It was a cold and rainy day, but everyone’s spirits seemed to be high despite the foul weather. Larry and his family picked me up in the family car and drove to the start. It was the first time I drove to a race start in the park ever. It was a strange feeling.

We hung out in the skating rink concession area before the race in order to stay out of the cold. We ran into Larry’s friends Willy and Van and just bullshitted a bit before the race. Fortunately, the rain seemed to be holding up for the start of the race and stayed that way for the length of time it took me to run it. I started out with Larry in the beginning, but was feeling good and started to run away from him with a couple of miles remaining.

I started running sub-8’s after the 3rd mile and by the last mile I ran a sub-7. Towards the finish someone passed me, but I just couldn’t abide by that so I sped up and ran by him. My coach told me to take it easy for this race, but I felt good and felt like running fast for a least a little while. I finished in 39:17, which I guess shouldn’t be considered slow since I had just run 50 miles 5 days ago.

After the race we all headed to Farrell’s for a post race celebration. It was a good time, with some good company and some good beer. Larry and I talked about some future endurance races we could do. He got me thinking about a double Ironman held in Virginia during October. I started to do research about it at the first chance I had. It sounds like a nice race to have on my resume as I start building one for entry into the Badwater 135 at some point in the future.

On Friday I was scheduled to only run 2 miles, but I felt like going longer. I felt like what was the point of going out to only run two miles, especially when it was such a nice day outside. My daughter joined me on her bike and we leisurely went through Prospect Park. Along the way, we ran into Todd and chatted for a few minutes. We took a break from the run to spend some time by the water fall near the Audubon Center. My daughter climbed over and around it while I rested on the side in the sun. Normally, I would prefer to just keep going, but I was suddenly feeling a little tired and felt satisfied just to hang out for a while. After our run, we went back home, changed, ate and then the entire family headed into the East Village to do some shopping. My son for some reason wanted to purchase a spiked punk rock bracelet. We finally found one after walking in a few stores where he paid for it with his own money.

Today I did another run with my daughter. It was another perfect day to be outside. I felt much better than yesterday and we easily completed 4 miles together. While in the park, Larry had passed us on his bike. He said he was going to be in the park for a while so I decided to join him after I dropped my daughter off. She was headed to a friend’s house for a sleepover and my son was on his way to Kung Fu. It was the perfect opportunity to get away for a ride. I quickly found Larry in the park and we rode together for 23 miles. I could have and should have stayed out longer. I was feeling really good and it was a shame not to take advantage of it a little longer.

I spent the remainder of the day not doing much of anything. My son had his cousins come by for a sleepover and he played with them for most of the day. I sat around bored, watching TV and contemplating what my next race should be. I really have no idea and the lack of something to focus on is really bugging me.

Recovery

I am still feeling good from the JFK 50 Miler. I have not once tiny trace of post race depression and I am still glowing from the satisfaction of completing it. I am looking forward to whatever is next, but at the same time willing to let my body recover from the effort of 50 miles.

To help recover, I went out for an easy active recovery run this evening. I wasn’t sure I would run today, as my initial inclination was to get home from work and curl up on my couch with a blanket and watch TV. However, when I arrived home I asked my daughter if she wanted to go for a bike ride while I ran. She wanted to go and I couldn’t say no I don’t feel like it to her. I told her that if she didn’t want to go with me, I would just stay at home and sit on the couch, so I needed her to push me out the door.

I was glad she wanted to go. I felt much better once I got moving. I could tell though that my body needed to recover from the 50 miler. I could feel my heart not wanting to push, similar to the way I feel after Ironman. For the first time my daughter complained that I was going too slowly for her. Hopefully, this won’t be the case for long.

JFK 50 Miler

My coach told me that people will think I am crazy when I tell them that I found this race to be very easy. I really didn’t find it difficult at all. I enjoyed every single second of it and at no point did I find myself wishing that it was over. It was a beautiful and pleasant course with plenty of aid stations along the way. The amount of support along it really sets you up for a successful completion. It really made for an easy race. Best of all they had plenty of Hammer Gel at every aid station. It was great to be able to get my fuel of choice.

The toughest part of the day was holding back in the beginning of the race. Everyone starts out walking the hill leading up to the Appalachian trail. It was a very weird feeling being in a race and seeing so many people walking. However, I guess there was no point in pushing so early when you have 50 miles ahead of you. Here is a picture of me with Larry, Willy, Van and several other friends of Larry. We all started out the race together.

The first two miles of the race is a climb up a highway road to the AT. I think we ran all of 50 feet on it. Once on the trail it was a combination of slow running and walking/climbing over lots of rocks. I loved every second of it. You didn’t really get to look around on the trail though as you had to keep your concentration on the ground. It was an exercise in looking down. The necessarily slow pace along the trail undoubted saves your energy for the later effort along the tow path on the C&O canal. I love trail running and had absolutely no problem with it. You did have to carefully watch your step as the rocks were plentiful and always ready to twist your ankle.

Towards the end of the trail, you come to a series of switchbacks that lead back down the mountain to the road below. You could make some time down them, but you had to go very slow at each turn. A single misstep off the trail at this point would see you falling down the side of the mountain. To remind you to be careful, the switchbacks were lined with yellow caution tape.

Having never run 50 miles before, I did get a touch of nervousness when I began to feel some very minor fatigue in my hamstrings. Navigating the trails forces you to use leg muscles that are not as frequently used when running on the open road. I was wondering how this would affect me later in the race, but I tried not to dwell on it too much. My only other concern was that I was going to be too cold later in the day. I was only wearing shorts, long sleeve dri-top shirt and my Hammer Nutrition tri top and gloves. Several times I started to get chilled and I was worried about hypothermia.

After the switchbacks, the trail went on for another mile. At this point you come out to an aid station just before the tow path begins. I ate a PB&J, drank some cola and water It filled me up and I felt great. It was then off to the path which had the canal on the right and the Potomac River on your left. The river was in a raging torrent and the sound of it was tremendous. It filled your ears with the sounds of rushing water for at least 5-10 miles. I am not sure the picture I took of it does it justice, but maybe you can get an idea of it. The tow path was completely flat and level and only marred by an occasional muddy spot. It was very easy running that was only broken up by the arrival of an aid station that was inevitably only a few miles up the road.

During the time on the tow path, it was really tough to concentrate on anything. Time kind of went into abeyance and was only measured in the time between aid stations and the time in aid stations. It was a very odd feeling. I guess it is what they call a runners high. The trail had mile markers along the way (not race markers), but I couldn’t concentrate long enough to mark my mile splits. I was only counting laps on my watch when I hit an aid station. Each aid station listed what total mile you were up to and how many miles until the next one. By only timing the distance between them, I could reasonably predict when the next one would arrive. Doing the mile splits in my head by using the trail markers was just not something I could do. I would forget in about a minute the time on my watch every time I passed a marker.

During the first half of the tow path, I was once again worried about getting too cold. I wished I had brought my running jacket with me and tied it around my waist. Eventually though, I passed the halfway point of the race and I stopped worrying. I knew I could pick up my pace soon and I would begin to warm up.

For the first time in a race I had to stop to take a poop in a Portosan. The first time was the aid station at mile 22. I was able to get in and out of a stall very quickly and catch up with Larry before he left the aid station. I felt much better after that, but by mile 34 I had to go again. This time there was a bit of a line and after doing my business I had to run for a bit to catch up to Larry. By this time though I was ready to begin running and after catching him, I told him I had to go see what I got and sped away. I ran a nice and steady rhythm and I felt as though I could go on forever.

Between miles 34 and 42, the sun really started to shine down over the Potomac and made for some beautiful surroundings. It felt good to run into the setting sun and see the sun’s rays lighting up the mountain side to the right. It was quiet and peaceful and I felt more at ease than anytime I can remember this year. As I came to the end of the two path at mile 42, I didn’t want it to end. Every runner at this point was given a reflective vest to use over the final 8 miles. These miles were run on asphalt roads that consisted of gently rolling hills. Since I didn’t have much distance left, I stated to push my pace a bit. I figured I was running around 9 minute miles at this point.

During my push to the finish a lot of people started to remark how good I looked and cheered my on. I felt great and was really running easily. It feels so good to be able to finish a long race strong. I know that a large part of this late race strength had to do with Larry keeping me in check over the first 34 miles. Next year though I want to try to break 9 hours. I think I can easily do that.

When I got down to the 2 mile remaining mark, I started to push it even harder. I was still feeling really good. I passed a lot of runners on my dash to the finish. With less than a mile remaining I really started to kick it. I began to feel some twinges in my left quad and I worried that something may be going wrong with it. I just hoped I made it to the finish before I pulled something in it. I was successful and crossed the finish line in 9:47:33 with an 8 minute mile for my last mile.

The finish was at a local high school, where you were able to use the showers and get something to eat. It was a real pleasure to be able to wash up and refuel so soon after the race. After showering and eating, Larry and Willy came in and we hung out for a while and talked with other about the race. We soon left on the bus that takes you back to the start (it took forever to arrive), went to the hotel and then got ready to spend the remainder of the night out eating and drinking. It capped off a perfect day.

Me and Larry at Start

Comments

An occasional commenter on my blog, Janice (Fast @ Forty) has lamented on her own blog that she hasn’t received any comments. I’ve left a couple on her blog, but they don’t appear because she has comment moderation turned on. She is probably doesn’t realize it because it appears that she hasn’t entered an email address for herself. So Janice, check your blogger settings and I am sure you will get some comments. An email address would also be very helpful.

I have also lamented that I don’t get so many comments. I see other blogs that have so many comments, you would think they go out and solicit for them like a politician. Or maybe I will just have to write more compelling content.

Time Keeps on Passing By

Time just keeps on passing by. What once you couldn’t wait for becomes a memory long past. When I was in the 6th grade, just days before graduation to junior high school, I remember saying out loud in my kitchen that I couldn’t wait for the last day of school to arrive. My mother replied that I am going to wish my whole life away, by wishing for days in the future to arrive quickly. When I retold that story to her many years later, I gave her a bit of a guilt trip. She could have had no idea at the time what a profound impact such a small comment could make on me.

I am looking very forward to the JFK 50. I think it will be a very profound and intense experience. Maybe that is why I like challenging endurance events. The harder and more difficult it is, the deeper and longer lasting the memory. If the moment that I am waiting for is going to pass me by quickly, I had better make sure it is memorable so that it stays with me throughout the rest of my years.

Is it better to do a few long and challenging events or to do many shorter events. I think the longer stuff has a greater impact and affect on you. There was a time I did many shorter races during the course of the year. While I remember doing that, I really couldn’t remember anything specific from most of them. The long stuff seems to stay with me. All the training leading up to it, all the difficulties juggling my schedule and all of the blood, sweat and tears leading up to the longer races has a much greater impact on me than going out on any particular weekend and doing a short race.

In exactly 3 days from now, I will be running in the JFK 50. I will be somewhere on the Appalachian trail, climbing over rocks and roots in an effort to complete 50 miles of running distance. I know that is what I will be doing. I will remember the anticipation leading up to it. I can’t make time stand still, but I can do my best to remember the most of it.

6 Days Left

I did my last long run before the JFK 50– all of 10 miles. I was scheduled to go 15, but I felt that I should probably begin taking it easy. I doubt any additional mileage will help me at this point.

For the first time today, I coached basketball. It was at my son’s basketball clinic. I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but as soon as I started throwing the ball around with the kids, I found myself smiling. It is fun to see the enthusiasm of children learning to do a sport. I hardly minded being on my feet for another two hours almost immediately after doing my run.

Today will be a long one. I am going to the Giants game this evening. Hopefully it won’t be raining too hard when I get to the stadium. I am going with my father; we haven’t been to a ballgame of any kind together since I was about 13 years old. The fact that he is going is absolutely miraculous. If this could happen, then it is also possible that I will easily break 9 hours at the JFK 50.

Drinking to 50

Thursday, November 9

I ran for just shy of 30 minutes or about 3.4 miles. I was still feeling the after effects of being so cold at the marathon, so I had overdressed this morning's temps. I got overheated pretty quickly and was really hungry (I didn't eat well last night, but did drink) so just decided to bag it after a little more than my 2.5 mile loop rather than get stuck on the other side of the park.

For a while after completing the loop I stood wondering whether I should continue on for 5. It was a real big internal debate whether I should force myself through it or take it easy. The conflict was that I knew I'd be going through a lot worse at the JFK 50, so if I can't suck it up now, how can I expect to do 50 miles. I started to continue on, but after a few more steps just said fuck it... I was hungry and hot and I just felt like cooling off and eating.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Thursday night saw me out drinking with some former coworkers. It was the second night in a row I went out and drank. I am on a streak, because I also went out this evening and downed a few. I seem to be doing ok with that though, as I ran well this morning and I feel fine now. I guess drinking beer is helping me with my carbohydrate replenishing.

This morning’s run was quite enjoyable. It was cool, but not too cold and a pleasant breeze was in the air. The lake in Prospect Park was a lovely mirror image of the trees and sky behind it. I am quite pleased with the picture I took of myself in front of it. The shadow that appears on half my face reminds me of the episode from Star Trek where two beings whose faces are split black and white (only on opposite sides), battle each other to death.

I am feeling good for the JFK 50. I think this race is going to be a lot of fun. My only real goal is to finish it, even though I am trying to predict how long I will do it in. It makes me smile to think of how difficult completing this race can potentially be. I can picture myself doing the race in abject misery, but nonetheless pushing on. I haven’t looked forward to a race like this in quite a while.

JFK 50 Mile Predictions

This past marathon was so easy to do. I guess that I have reached the point where on any given day I could run a marathon. Probably I couldn’t run 50 in a row like Dean Karnazes, but provided I don’t have a killer workout week beforehand I should be able to go out and complete 26.2 miles with ease. I guess I should be thankful for my fitness, but I am greedy and want more. You can never be too fit; you just have to work for it.

For the first time I really started contemplating how long it will take me to complete the JFK 50 miler. I am beginning to think I can do it between 9 and 10 hours. Maybe even an outside possibility of breaking 9 hours. A 9 hour pace works out to around an average of 10:48 minute miles. On paper that sounds very easy to do. I have never done anywhere near this distance before nor have any experience with the course, so I have no idea how reasonable this sounds. I like the idea of it though so I am making a sub 9 hour race my A goal, between 9-10 hours my B goal and completing it my C goal. My legs are feeling great right now, so I have confidence that this will be possible.

I looked back at my NYC Marathon entry and realized that I left off several thoughts and moments of the race. I guess that is what happens when I write my entries at 4am. One of the things I will remember from this race was the pitch black tunnel everyone ran through when crossing the 59th Street Bridge. There was a section of the bridge wrapped in a construction shroud which was poorly lighted. It was such an odd feeling running in total darkness with thousands of people around you that could hardly be seen. That must be what it’s like in an ant hole. I wished I had taken my camera with me. I would have liked to snap a few pictures while running on the top of the Verrazano Bridge and at various points along the course. I regret not doing so; maybe next time. I will just make sure to take it with me for the JFK 50.

NYC Marathon 2006

Even though this was the easiest I’ve ever run a marathon, it was one of the toughest that I have done. The problem was that it was just too cold for me. I was cold from the moment I got off the marathon bus and remained cold until about mile 20. I am sure this wouldn’t have been the case if I raced it. However my race plan was to pace along with my friend Larry as training for the upcoming JFK 50 miler. We ran around a 9 minute mile pace, which just wasn’t fast enough to generate enough body heat to warm myself up.

For the first time I got to run on the upper level of the Verrazano Bridge. It is so much nicer than running on the lower level. Besides the much better view, running on the upper level is a freaky experience. The bridge deck starts to bounce up and down in response to all of the runners. It was a very strange feeling to have your foot suddenly fall down a couple of extra inches when you are not expecting it. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Larry’s inclination was to run alongside the crowds and to interact with the spectators as much as possible. This is far different from what I am used to as I normally prefer to just be left alone and run as far in the center as possible. It was amusing at times, but was a bit too much sensory overload for me. I prefer to be in my own little world while doing an endurance event. The miles ticked off easily and steadily all the way onto First Avenue.

My one concern during the race was when I was climbing over the Pulaski Bridge into Queens. My ankle started to hurt around this time and I feared that it was going to get ugly quickly. However, it seemed to ease up once I crossed over it and it didn’t really bother me again.

I really started to get cold while crossing the 59th Street Bridge. I started to increase my pace once we got on it, but Larry admonished me not to start increasing my speed on the uphill. I replied that I was getting very cold and afraid that I would get hypothermic. He suggested I run ahead if I was getting that cold, but I wanted to try to stick with him for as long as possible in order to practice for the 50 miler.

Once on First Avenue though, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I was just too cold and needed to generate some body heat. I told Larry I needed to get going and easily sped away. I left him at around 16.5 miles and quickly dropped my pace to 8:30 as of the 17 mile mark. I finally warmed up at the 20 mile mark, just as I crossed into the Bronx. I was feeling so much better.

The problem with running a faster pace this late in the race was that I was passing everyone. I had to weave in and out of thousands of running which is very tiring and monotonous. Heading over the Third Avenue Bridge back into Manhattan, a runner in front of me suddenly slows down and crossed into my path. I tripped over him and was sent flying across the bridge. I was preparing myself to start sliding along the bridge deck when a German running mercifully caught me just before I was about to crash. I thanked him profusely, but felt very bad for him, because it appeared that his effort cost him a groin pull. Not much else happened from this point on. I slowly increased my effort and was running sub 8 minute miles by the end. My last mile was a 7:35.

As far as marathons go, NYC Marathon can be a pain in the ass. It is such a death march after you cross the finish line. It is a sea of the walking wounded as everyone meanders up Central Park’s West Drive to find their baggage car. It takes forever to get your bag back and all you get when you arrive is a really crappy bagel and an apple. I couldn’t wait to get my clothes back on and head into the subway.

My kids were very happy to see me when I got back home. We played together for a couple of hours and ate dinner. Afterwards, I rode my bike to a post marathon party a couple of miles from my house. I felt good enough to do several laps around Prospect Park. I didn’t stay long though as I was soon feeling very tired. I guess the beer I drank didn’t help. I rode my bike home and literally fell asleep within minutes of walking in the door.

Trick or Treat

It is just shy of 1am. I haven’t stayed up this late in longer than I can remember. The day started early enough, around 6am with a run through Tallman State Park. I didn’t want to be pissed off at myself for not doing another morning run, so I got out the door of my hotel and had a thoroughly enjoyable run. I stopped on several occasions to take pictures of sights that I thought interesting, including this corny picture of myself taken while holding my camera phone at arms length.

After my run, it was a quick breakfast, shower and change of clothes for another morning spent in an all day conference. Today though, I had an important engagement in the afternoon, so I snuck out of it at the lunch time break. I had to be home to change into my Halloween costume and pick up my children from school. It is an annual tradition that I will not miss. I figure I only have a few years in which my kids will want me to pick them up in school dressed in some creepy costume and I am not going to miss one opportunity.

I went as Dracula this year and my son and daughter were matching vampires. I think we looked fantastic if I do say so myself. We went trick or treating throughout our neighborhood and my kids got bucket loads of candy. Hopefully their teeth won’t rot out before they reach their teenage years.

After Trick or Treating, we went back home along with another couple and their children. We have been Trick or Treating together for several years now. We ate dinner and the kids then played together and handed out candy to passing trick or treat’ers. My friend knew I had to be back at my conference this evening, for a Halloween party that my company was throwing. It was regrettable that I had to leave my children, but I was exceedingly happy that I was able to get out at all and spend most of Halloween with my children.

I got back to the conference early enough so that I missed very little of the Halloween party. It was ok as far as a “work” party goes and I stayed up later than I would have liked and drank more that I should have. I think I am writing with a fairly decent clarity, so it doesn’t appear as though I drank too much.

Well now it is past 1am and I am going to go to sleep. I am willing to bet my last dollar that I will not be getting up in the morning for a run. I can’t imagine how that would be possible. Miracles do happen though and perhaps I will be feeling exceedingly masochistic. I do enjoy my pain.