So I've run over 18 miles in the last 3 days.
Sunday was 8.2 miles, took it easy. Ran well for 5 miles, sort of ran down the last 3.
Monday - I went out for speed training which I did for 3 miles, then ran into a friend and ended up running a very slow 3 miles with him. The pace was very slow but I felt I could do it for a while and it would get me under 5 hours in the marathon.
Tuesday - I had no plan. Just went out and ran into my friend again. We did 1.5 before he quit, then I did another 3 by myself and just experimented with the slow easy pace.
I'll take tomorrow off and resume on Thursday.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
NY Marathon 2010 Goal
In reading my 2007 wrap up blog, I typed the following - " I'm going to break 5 hours in this goddamn race if it kills me." I've run NY 3 times and my best time was 2007 in 5:25. So this year I'm going to break 5 hours in this goddamn race if it kills me.
There I said it. 4:59:59 or bust.
There I said it. 4:59:59 or bust.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
New York Marathon - 7 weeks from today
Here we go again. The marathon is Nov. 7 and my training has been, well..... disappointing. Mostly due to the heat but somewhat due to a lack of motivation. However this week I picked it up. Ran 28 miles ending with an 8.2 today. If I can do a 10, 12 ,14 and 16 in the next 4 weeks I should be good to go.
I'm formulating a different race strategy for this marathon, I'll post it when I have it finalized.
This week's goal is 30 miles. Stay tuned.
I'm formulating a different race strategy for this marathon, I'll post it when I have it finalized.
This week's goal is 30 miles. Stay tuned.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
NJ Marathon Wrap Up - The Good
Amy letting us use her condo as our base of operations - just awesome.
Mary for being there, helping out and being there.
The race organizers for ensuring there was plenty of fluid stations, first aiders and in general just wonderful organization on a dreadful day.
The volunteers who distribute water and other supplies. They were tremendous.
The people who lived on the course who were hosing us down with water - thanks everyone.
The hot dogs at Max's after the race. Hmmm Hot Dogs.
They had enough water and gatorade on just a dreadful day - 'nuff said.
And finally we didn't die.
Mary for being there, helping out and being there.
The race organizers for ensuring there was plenty of fluid stations, first aiders and in general just wonderful organization on a dreadful day.
The volunteers who distribute water and other supplies. They were tremendous.
The people who lived on the course who were hosing us down with water - thanks everyone.
The hot dogs at Max's after the race. Hmmm Hot Dogs.
They had enough water and gatorade on just a dreadful day - 'nuff said.
And finally we didn't die.
NJ Marathon Wrap Up - The Bad
The heat and sun - just brutal.
Loop courses - I understand all the reason for it but no thanks.
The banner near the finish that really said - finish ahead which was probably another tenth or two away.
The heat and sun, in the words of the great, late 20th century philosopher, Beavis - " Huh huh, the sun sucks"
But really that was all that sucked
Loop courses - I understand all the reason for it but no thanks.
The banner near the finish that really said - finish ahead which was probably another tenth or two away.
The heat and sun, in the words of the great, late 20th century philosopher, Beavis - " Huh huh, the sun sucks"
But really that was all that sucked
NJ Marathon Wrap Up - Loop #2
After my ten minute break at Amy's I soldiered on and started feeling better. Of course this stretch was on the boardwalk and there was a very welcome cool breeze. When I got to the start/finish line I knew I was continuing. I actually started running better, miles 14 and 15 being much better than the previous 6. Soon enough I was back in survival mode again but I was ok with that. I just wanted to finish and I didn't care how long it took. I hooked up with other runners, we ran together for while and then there would be someone else to run, walk or chat with. Everyone I talked to was operating in the same mindset which was - OK, this will be my worst marathon time ever but dammit, I'm gonna finish. So finish I did in 5:36:54. This is almost exactly an hour slower than my fastest time and you know what. I don't care. I finished and didn't die. Mission accomplished!
NJ Marathon Wrap Up - Loop #1
It was hot, 87 degrees hot. I knew early on that this was going to be a long day. I let G Money go ahead and slowed my pace between mile 1 & 2. By mile 3 I was already up to a 10 minute pace and it just got worse from there. This was a loop course, in other words you run the same course twice for a marathon. This meant seeing the mile banners for 17, 18, 19 etc when you were at 4,5 and 6. It was impossible to believe that I would be running this loop again. I thought many times of the cardiac event last Aug and was determined not to duplicate it. So I slowed, walked, drank water at each and every water stop. If I felt funky, I walked. I tried taking pictures and blogging but it became impossible. The iPhone touch screen was not responsive to my sweat and water logged fingers. So I just gave up on the blogging. Mary met me at mile 11 with Powerade and other supplies which was a huge help. I stopped at race headquarters (ok, Amy's condo) for a bathroom stop and a general opportunity to assess my condition. I told Amy and Mary I had no intention to run the marathon, I was gonna finish the half and call it day. Of course, I didn't.
Well I didn't die
Just got home,absolutely brutal day out there. I was going to quit after the half, I have no idea what compelled me to run the 2nd loop. But I did it and G Money did too. I'll throw up a summation post later after I get a shower and relax a bit.
Race Day is here
6AM, coffee and Captain Crunch the breakfast for all serious marathoners.G Money will be here at 6:30 and then we'll head out to Long Branch and set up the command post at Amy's. A quick check of the weather shows a high of 85 degrees for today, I just hope the ocean breeze makes it feel much cooler.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Lucky number 13
This will be my 13th marathon. In order they are..
Jersey Shore Marathon (now known as the NJ Marathon) - 2002
Philadelphia Marathon - 2002
New York Marathon - 2003
Philadelphia Marathon - 2003
Ocean Drive Marathon - 2004 (Set my PR 4 hours 37 Minutes)
Philadelphia Marathon - 2004
Detroit Marathon - 2005
Philadelphia Marathon - 2005
Marine Corp Marathon - 2006
Calgary Marathon - 2007
New York Marathon - 2007
New York Marathon - 2008
Number 14 will be NY this Nov and maybe #15 in Philly a couple of weeks later. But I have to get through this one first.....
Jersey Shore Marathon (now known as the NJ Marathon) - 2002
Philadelphia Marathon - 2002
New York Marathon - 2003
Philadelphia Marathon - 2003
Ocean Drive Marathon - 2004 (Set my PR 4 hours 37 Minutes)
Philadelphia Marathon - 2004
Detroit Marathon - 2005
Philadelphia Marathon - 2005
Marine Corp Marathon - 2006
Calgary Marathon - 2007
New York Marathon - 2007
New York Marathon - 2008
Number 14 will be NY this Nov and maybe #15 in Philly a couple of weeks later. But I have to get through this one first.....
Quick Weather Update
The official Almo/G Money race headquarters is at my friend Amy's condo. Amy's condo faces the boardwalk at miles 12 & 25 (it's a loop course) so we'll run right by there twice. Anyway I just talked to Amy and although it's a zillion degrees out here in Robbinsville, she says it's almost chilly at the boardwalk. So maybe there's hope yet for tomorrow.
New Jersey Marathon
OK, I haven't blogged in a long while nor I have I run a a marathon in a while. Both streaks end now.
The NJ Marathon is tomorrow - njmarathon.org - and G Money and I are running it. Both Gary and I are ready. I've run 326 miles in 2010, probably the most I've ever trained for a marathon. Gary is in tremendous shape. I would expect both of us to set PRs tomorrow except.... the forecast is for mid to upper 80s. If that is truly the case then the race becomes a survival test. I'm not stressing about it, it will be what it will be.
My bib number is 1609 - Gary is 529
So stay tuned tomorrow as I blog, send pictures and report on my/our progress.
The NJ Marathon is tomorrow - njmarathon.org - and G Money and I are running it. Both Gary and I are ready. I've run 326 miles in 2010, probably the most I've ever trained for a marathon. Gary is in tremendous shape. I would expect both of us to set PRs tomorrow except.... the forecast is for mid to upper 80s. If that is truly the case then the race becomes a survival test. I'm not stressing about it, it will be what it will be.
My bib number is 1609 - Gary is 529
So stay tuned tomorrow as I blog, send pictures and report on my/our progress.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Day 3 - going home
Day 3 began with some excitement. My roommate's heart rate spiked up to 190 and it seemed like half the hospital came in to deal with him. I was so tired however that I fell right back asleep. It turned out he was OK but this episode meant he was going to have to stay at least another day and he was looking forward to leaving.
A cardiologist showed up, talked to me a bit, discharged me and Lauren came and took me home. Long story short, they don't know what caused the event but they know there was an event. So I now have a prescription for some sort of cholesterol lowering medicine. I'm not allowed to do anything strenuous, so marathon training is now on hold. Looks like next week will be spent at various doctor offices. Ugh.
Well the good news is I dodged another bullet. The bad news is we don't know what kind of bullet it was.
A cardiologist showed up, talked to me a bit, discharged me and Lauren came and took me home. Long story short, they don't know what caused the event but they know there was an event. So I now have a prescription for some sort of cholesterol lowering medicine. I'm not allowed to do anything strenuous, so marathon training is now on hold. Looks like next week will be spent at various doctor offices. Ugh.
Well the good news is I dodged another bullet. The bad news is we don't know what kind of bullet it was.
Day 2 in the hospital
Day 2 was all about the cardiac catheterization. Had a liquid breakfast and I'm not talking the fun kind. I had a 2 PM tee time in the Cath room but got pushed back an hour. I had to sign a bunch of papers before hand and entered some trial program so that if there was a blockage the hospital could take some sort of action. Stent, Angioplasty or worst case a bypass. I know I expected them to find a blockage and I think they did to. Alas, my veins turned out to be wide open and clear. I know this is supposed to be good news but for me, it didn't answer the question of what caused my cardiac event.
If you ever need a cardiac catheterization here's one thing they don't tell you. After the procedure you have a hole in your groin where they run the probe up. I ended up on my back with a 10 lb sand bag holding a plug in my groin. That sucked big time.
The day ended with me passing out and awaiting a conversation with the cardiologist Friday morning.
If you ever need a cardiac catheterization here's one thing they don't tell you. After the procedure you have a hole in your groin where they run the probe up. I ended up on my back with a 10 lb sand bag holding a plug in my groin. That sucked big time.
The day ended with me passing out and awaiting a conversation with the cardiologist Friday morning.
Friday, August 14, 2009
The ER
On April 3rd this year, a girl lost control of her car, hydroplaned across the grass median strip of Rt 295, right into me. I was taken to RWJ in Hamilton. I ended up in ER room #3 and Marcy was my nurse.
It's now Aug 12 and I am in ER room #3 and Marcy is one of the 5 people working on me. Oxygen, EKG, blood test, they wheeled in a X-ray machine to take a chest x-ray. I had an IV installed and at least felt like I had a fighting chance. Somewhere along the line I called Lauren and told her where I was. She was on her way and arrived a short while later. What a way to spend her 24th birthday.
My initial blood work looked good as did the chest x-ray. But the EKG did not. It was decided I needed a CAT scan of my chest. After this was done the cardiologist stopped by for a long chat. He wasn't sure if I had an actual heart attack or not but I definitely had a cardiac event. He told me he thought that I was lucky to have survived this. 3 lives down now, 6 to go. Yikes.
Analysis of my cat scan showed some calcium build up and it was determined that the next step would be a cardiac catheterization - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_catheterization - this meant I was staying the night. I was eventually moved up into a room that was the staging area right before ICU. They monitor you 24 hrs but it's not nearly as restrictive as ICU is.
Marie and John both stopped by for a visit, Marie took Lauren out for a quick birthday dinner as John and I hung out. They all went to my place to pick up some clothes, a book, my phone charger and my iPod. I talked and texted with quite a few people and I'd like to thank all of them for their concern, thoughts and prayers.
I went to sleep confident that a blockage would be found tomorrow, it would get fixed and we'd be done with this nonsense. Alas, it was not to be.....
It's now Aug 12 and I am in ER room #3 and Marcy is one of the 5 people working on me. Oxygen, EKG, blood test, they wheeled in a X-ray machine to take a chest x-ray. I had an IV installed and at least felt like I had a fighting chance. Somewhere along the line I called Lauren and told her where I was. She was on her way and arrived a short while later. What a way to spend her 24th birthday.
My initial blood work looked good as did the chest x-ray. But the EKG did not. It was decided I needed a CAT scan of my chest. After this was done the cardiologist stopped by for a long chat. He wasn't sure if I had an actual heart attack or not but I definitely had a cardiac event. He told me he thought that I was lucky to have survived this. 3 lives down now, 6 to go. Yikes.
Analysis of my cat scan showed some calcium build up and it was determined that the next step would be a cardiac catheterization - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_catheterization - this meant I was staying the night. I was eventually moved up into a room that was the staging area right before ICU. They monitor you 24 hrs but it's not nearly as restrictive as ICU is.
Marie and John both stopped by for a visit, Marie took Lauren out for a quick birthday dinner as John and I hung out. They all went to my place to pick up some clothes, a book, my phone charger and my iPod. I talked and texted with quite a few people and I'd like to thank all of them for their concern, thoughts and prayers.
I went to sleep confident that a blockage would be found tomorrow, it would get fixed and we'd be done with this nonsense. Alas, it was not to be.....
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