Not that I hadn't already posted that I decided to do the Philadelphia Marathon in November, but as of yesterday it is official. I am registered and as a result, now 100% committed to heading east.
Oddly enough, my previous three marathons have been outside the boundaries of my home state of Pennsylvania. And oddly even more is that it will take me as long or longer to get to Philadelphia than it did to reach my previous destinations (Cleveland, Baltimore and Cincinnati).
Either way, it should be a good week. Summer heat lies ahead, but the cool down will come just about the time I need it. And I'm hoping that I can make just as much of a stride this year in the fall as I did last year.
I'm close and feel as though it is time. I can only hope and pray that my body is up to the challenge and I run into a spatter of good luck as I move forward.
Official training is still four weeks away, but today I begin doing some speed work and will gradually increase my long runs starting tomorrow. It's not official training yet, but it feels like it now that I'm officially registered.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Grylls? Sure. Bear? No.
Running is a relatively simple task. You put one foot in front of the other and you do it as quickly as possible if you want to be fast. You battle yourself and the occasional other runner if you so choose. You battle the elements, the landscape and occasionally a dog, people and on a rare occasion wildlife (depending on where you run).
I live in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania. I live in a mostly residential area in the suburbs with houses pretty much as far as the eye can see. But there is also a lot of wooded areas, and state game lands within a few miles. It is a rather unique area of the country to live. The weather can play havoc with you and change in an instant. We get to experience all four seasons of the year and generally it is a great place to live.
As a runner, I've encountered the aforementioned wildlife. I've run head on into a skunk or two, plenty of rabbits squirrels and a groundhog or two. I've seen deer in the dim moonlight of an early morning run and even saw what I thought was a fox dashing into a heavily wooded area out in front of me.
A few weeks ago, our neighbor reported seeing a black bear in the alley behind our house. Tree trunks carry the evidence of bear scratching and word around town is that a black bear has been seen cleaning out bird feeders. Living in the area that I do, this is a bit startling. We are not mountain people living in the deep country. And as an early morning runner, it is a concern that I now run with. Different sections of my runs carry me past possible bear encounters. And although I would love to run into Bear Grylls, the Man vs. Wild guy on Discovery and host of my new favorite show; an encounter with a real bear is not high on my list. Needless to say, it will be an interesting summer and fall as I keep one eye on the road, and one eye to the wooded areas as I run past. Hopefully fast.
I live in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania. I live in a mostly residential area in the suburbs with houses pretty much as far as the eye can see. But there is also a lot of wooded areas, and state game lands within a few miles. It is a rather unique area of the country to live. The weather can play havoc with you and change in an instant. We get to experience all four seasons of the year and generally it is a great place to live.
As a runner, I've encountered the aforementioned wildlife. I've run head on into a skunk or two, plenty of rabbits squirrels and a groundhog or two. I've seen deer in the dim moonlight of an early morning run and even saw what I thought was a fox dashing into a heavily wooded area out in front of me.
A few weeks ago, our neighbor reported seeing a black bear in the alley behind our house. Tree trunks carry the evidence of bear scratching and word around town is that a black bear has been seen cleaning out bird feeders. Living in the area that I do, this is a bit startling. We are not mountain people living in the deep country. And as an early morning runner, it is a concern that I now run with. Different sections of my runs carry me past possible bear encounters. And although I would love to run into Bear Grylls, the Man vs. Wild guy on Discovery and host of my new favorite show; an encounter with a real bear is not high on my list. Needless to say, it will be an interesting summer and fall as I keep one eye on the road, and one eye to the wooded areas as I run past. Hopefully fast.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Crazy Month of June
I wouldn't say I was necessarily a world traveler, but with a 5-day stint in Boston, followed by a 5-day stint on holiday with the wife in Ocean City, Maryland I've certainly had to focus extra hard to stay on track.
It is always nice running in new settings and on somewhat unfamiliar ground. But it is also a bonus to be at home running on familiar territory. I have certainly missed that and am anxious to settle back into my normal routine. I am fatigued and have probably put on a few pounds. Eating schedules and running schedules have been a mess. But now that I have put the summer travel behind me I look to build up over the next five weeks in preparation for my official Philly training. It's sort of the build up before the build up. Nothing really "official", but always with an eye to the near future.
July 31. That's the official first day of training. But before then, it's a gradual build up to 10 mile long runs over the next five weeks. I'll sprinkle some speedwork in as well to help springboard my training toward what I hope will be a Boston qualifier.
It is always nice running in new settings and on somewhat unfamiliar ground. But it is also a bonus to be at home running on familiar territory. I have certainly missed that and am anxious to settle back into my normal routine. I am fatigued and have probably put on a few pounds. Eating schedules and running schedules have been a mess. But now that I have put the summer travel behind me I look to build up over the next five weeks in preparation for my official Philly training. It's sort of the build up before the build up. Nothing really "official", but always with an eye to the near future.
July 31. That's the official first day of training. But before then, it's a gradual build up to 10 mile long runs over the next five weeks. I'll sprinkle some speedwork in as well to help springboard my training toward what I hope will be a Boston qualifier.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Yo! To Philly We Go!
November 18, 2007
Philadelphia, PA
The City of Brotherly Love
The Liberty Bell
The Home of Rocky Balboa
A fast flat marathon course, ranked #1 by Runner's World Magazine and the location of my next marathon.
As I spent five days in Boston, I thought a lot about what it would take to bring me back someday. I saw an old city full of character and history. I thought about my finalists and thought about the time I had to prepare for each. I thought about a lot of things. Each time, Philadelphia kept entering my thoughts. I think Philadelphia and Boston are quite similar. Close to the coast, older neighborhoods, and tons of American history.
It really was a no-brainer. It leaves me the maximum amount of time to prepare and run a marathon in this calendar year. I've actually thought about my "lineup". Ideally, I will qualify for Boston in Philadelphia. That will enable me to run Boston in either 2008 or 2009. I will use it in 2009 and will take 11 months to recharge myself and run Chicago in October 2008. That will help to springboard me to Boston in 2009. Worst case scenario; I don't qualify for Boston in Philadelphia in November, and then run the next best place to do it (Chicago) and I also avoid having to do another spring marathon until I get to go to Boston. (winter running sucks).
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Philadelphia, 2007. My choice for #4.
Philadelphia, PA
The City of Brotherly Love
The Liberty Bell
The Home of Rocky Balboa
A fast flat marathon course, ranked #1 by Runner's World Magazine and the location of my next marathon.
As I spent five days in Boston, I thought a lot about what it would take to bring me back someday. I saw an old city full of character and history. I thought about my finalists and thought about the time I had to prepare for each. I thought about a lot of things. Each time, Philadelphia kept entering my thoughts. I think Philadelphia and Boston are quite similar. Close to the coast, older neighborhoods, and tons of American history.
It really was a no-brainer. It leaves me the maximum amount of time to prepare and run a marathon in this calendar year. I've actually thought about my "lineup". Ideally, I will qualify for Boston in Philadelphia. That will enable me to run Boston in either 2008 or 2009. I will use it in 2009 and will take 11 months to recharge myself and run Chicago in October 2008. That will help to springboard me to Boston in 2009. Worst case scenario; I don't qualify for Boston in Philadelphia in November, and then run the next best place to do it (Chicago) and I also avoid having to do another spring marathon until I get to go to Boston. (winter running sucks).
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Philadelphia, 2007. My choice for #4.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Running Along the Charlie
I came to Boston wanting to experience it, and hoped that she would talk to me. This morning I got to run along the Charles River and experienced all the flavor of New England. I swear I've run races with less people running around me.
When you picture a run like this you picture the skyline in the background with row teams in tow. So often in life when you get to experience something that you've been envisioning it ends up being a bit of a disappointment. No such thing here. It was all I expected it to be and then some.
O.k., so it was just a five mile run. Big deal right? Not if you're a runner. I planned on heading across the river and up into Harvard University, but I got so caught up in the run that I was out too long and will have to check Harvard off my list tomorrow or Wednesday.
I also found the finish line. The one I will cross someday in the future. I will get a photo of it before I leave this place, but I re-enacted coming down the homestretch and pictured the throng of people clapping and yelling and cheering me on. It wasn't the same, but for now it will have to do.
I came here with a purpose and so far I'm on track to take away what I hoped I would.
When you picture a run like this you picture the skyline in the background with row teams in tow. So often in life when you get to experience something that you've been envisioning it ends up being a bit of a disappointment. No such thing here. It was all I expected it to be and then some.
O.k., so it was just a five mile run. Big deal right? Not if you're a runner. I planned on heading across the river and up into Harvard University, but I got so caught up in the run that I was out too long and will have to check Harvard off my list tomorrow or Wednesday.
I also found the finish line. The one I will cross someday in the future. I will get a photo of it before I leave this place, but I re-enacted coming down the homestretch and pictured the throng of people clapping and yelling and cheering me on. It wasn't the same, but for now it will have to do.
I came here with a purpose and so far I'm on track to take away what I hoped I would.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
PR and a Flight
The last time I was on an airplane was in 2003. I was in Las Vegas and got up the morning of our flight home and ran a 10k race before departing.
Ironically, I woke yesterday morning and ran a 10k race before getting a flight to Boston. Several things were different this time. In 2003 I ran perhaps the toughest 10k course I've ever run and clocked just over 49 minutes. Then we experienced the worst flight in the history of aviation. O.k., it might not have been in the history of aviation, but it was the worst I've ever experienced. I vowed to never get on a plane again.
This time, I clocked a PR time of 41:40 and despite my four year hiatus, I did get on a plane and this time it wasn't that bad. A bit bumpy but nothing horrible.
Amazingly, my body has fully recovered and I knocked off 1:57 off my previous PR. All this despite a difficult course (2nd toughest). I think that perhaps I am feeling much better and have recovered from Cincinnati, and I capitalized on my good fitness from all that training.
Ironically, I woke yesterday morning and ran a 10k race before getting a flight to Boston. Several things were different this time. In 2003 I ran perhaps the toughest 10k course I've ever run and clocked just over 49 minutes. Then we experienced the worst flight in the history of aviation. O.k., it might not have been in the history of aviation, but it was the worst I've ever experienced. I vowed to never get on a plane again.
This time, I clocked a PR time of 41:40 and despite my four year hiatus, I did get on a plane and this time it wasn't that bad. A bit bumpy but nothing horrible.
Amazingly, my body has fully recovered and I knocked off 1:57 off my previous PR. All this despite a difficult course (2nd toughest). I think that perhaps I am feeling much better and have recovered from Cincinnati, and I capitalized on my good fitness from all that training.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Boston I am a Comin'!!
O.k., so it's not for the marathon; yet. On Saturday I'll be flying out to Boston to attend a 4 day conference on risk management. Not the most exciting topic, but something that I desperately need professionally. Dealing with workers' compensation claims and all the nuances of the Law in regards to it is probably my weakest area so it should be productive and useful professionally.
On a personal note, it will also serve as a bit of a pilgrimage. I will be within a stones throw of the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Having never been there, it is my hope that I will be energized and hope that seeing the city and being there will help me to keep my eye on that elusive goal. To envision it without ever having been there is one thing, but to be able to draw upon the actual sites and sounds and flavor will be quite another. I will use this trip to soak in the city and then use it for motivation when I return.
I will also be heading to Fenway Park for the first time. Having grown up in a modest middle-class family opportunities like this were never available. To me, Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field were untouchable, mythical places that existed only on television and in my mind. Don't get me wrong, many kids had it way worse off than us, but my life revolved around Johnstown and chances to go places and see the country was not something I ever aspired to do because it just wasn't going to happen.
As I've grown older I have been fortunate and lucky in some respect. I am forever grateful for being chosen to take this particular trip. I will go with the intention of learning as much as I can to bring it back and use it in my job. But I cannot lose sight of the other opportunities that come with it. To see the places that Babe Ruth and Ted Williams and Carlton Fisk roamed and to run along the Charles River and if I'm lucky; take a jaunt up heartbreak hill. And then to bring those experiences home with me will be priceless.
When I finished the Flying Pig Marathon on May 6 and then had a few days to absorb what I had done, I recall thinking, "Boston, I am a comin'". I meant that I was ever so close to a qualifying time. I still mean that, but I am also comin' this weekend and I will use you to finalize my fall marathon plans. If you've read this and followed along, I hate to put off the announcement yet again, but I think I'll let Boston tell me where I should go to qualify for her. So Boston, "I am a comin' with my eyes and ears open. Tell me. Tell me where to go."
On a personal note, it will also serve as a bit of a pilgrimage. I will be within a stones throw of the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Having never been there, it is my hope that I will be energized and hope that seeing the city and being there will help me to keep my eye on that elusive goal. To envision it without ever having been there is one thing, but to be able to draw upon the actual sites and sounds and flavor will be quite another. I will use this trip to soak in the city and then use it for motivation when I return.
I will also be heading to Fenway Park for the first time. Having grown up in a modest middle-class family opportunities like this were never available. To me, Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field were untouchable, mythical places that existed only on television and in my mind. Don't get me wrong, many kids had it way worse off than us, but my life revolved around Johnstown and chances to go places and see the country was not something I ever aspired to do because it just wasn't going to happen.
As I've grown older I have been fortunate and lucky in some respect. I am forever grateful for being chosen to take this particular trip. I will go with the intention of learning as much as I can to bring it back and use it in my job. But I cannot lose sight of the other opportunities that come with it. To see the places that Babe Ruth and Ted Williams and Carlton Fisk roamed and to run along the Charles River and if I'm lucky; take a jaunt up heartbreak hill. And then to bring those experiences home with me will be priceless.
When I finished the Flying Pig Marathon on May 6 and then had a few days to absorb what I had done, I recall thinking, "Boston, I am a comin'". I meant that I was ever so close to a qualifying time. I still mean that, but I am also comin' this weekend and I will use you to finalize my fall marathon plans. If you've read this and followed along, I hate to put off the announcement yet again, but I think I'll let Boston tell me where I should go to qualify for her. So Boston, "I am a comin' with my eyes and ears open. Tell me. Tell me where to go."
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Letting Go Before Moving On
I read somewhere once that you have to let go of the past before you can move on. I'm pretty big on things like this, and on Sunday I experienced this first hand.
As I prepared for my longest run since the marathon (just 5 miles), I was getting ready to start out my back alley like I've done hundreds of times. In the four weeks since Cincinnati, I have not kept time on my stopwatch because I didn't want to delete my mile splits from the marathon. I'm not exactly sure why but I couldn't bring myself to deleting it and in effect, "let go of Cincy".
But since I have posted on here several times since May 6 that I would be announcing my next marathon, I figured that if I cleansed myself of Cincinnati and moved onward it might make it easier for me to commit for the next race.
So reluctantly I brought up my mile splits on my watch and hit the reset button. 0:00:00. I felt a rush of adrenaline and then put one foot in front of the other and pushed off on another training run.
Where will that and future runs lead me? I've thought about several and have put a lot of thought into it. But I've narrowed the possibilities to one of two races.
It's either going to be Philadelphia, PA on November 18 or Akron, OH on September 29. I've also considered the local Johnstown Marathon but I guess what I'm waiting for is to decide if a fall marathon is exactly what I want to do. Letting go of Cincinnati was tough. I'd like to sleep on "no plans" for a few more days.
As I prepared for my longest run since the marathon (just 5 miles), I was getting ready to start out my back alley like I've done hundreds of times. In the four weeks since Cincinnati, I have not kept time on my stopwatch because I didn't want to delete my mile splits from the marathon. I'm not exactly sure why but I couldn't bring myself to deleting it and in effect, "let go of Cincy".
But since I have posted on here several times since May 6 that I would be announcing my next marathon, I figured that if I cleansed myself of Cincinnati and moved onward it might make it easier for me to commit for the next race.
So reluctantly I brought up my mile splits on my watch and hit the reset button. 0:00:00. I felt a rush of adrenaline and then put one foot in front of the other and pushed off on another training run.
Where will that and future runs lead me? I've thought about several and have put a lot of thought into it. But I've narrowed the possibilities to one of two races.
It's either going to be Philadelphia, PA on November 18 or Akron, OH on September 29. I've also considered the local Johnstown Marathon but I guess what I'm waiting for is to decide if a fall marathon is exactly what I want to do. Letting go of Cincinnati was tough. I'd like to sleep on "no plans" for a few more days.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Next Step
Coming back from injury is always tough. This one has been a little tougher because of the long layoff I had to endure between runs. There is always a bit of a hangover anyway when it comes to the weeks after a marathon, but coupled with doing a lot more sitting around and wondering when and if you'll run again makes it that much tougher.
Ideas of doing another marathon have flashed through my head since I returned to running. I have narrowed it down to two possible races. They are both in the fall. I am still watching and waiting to decide what it is I want to do, but I am close to making my mind up. One of them is run in September, so if I am to run that one, I must make up my mind in the next week because training will begin again.
I am craving the discipline and the structure of training. Running "whatever" miles is o.k., but it leaves too much to chance. "I was gonna do 6 miles today, but it's too warm out, so I'll do 5 instead." That kind of thinking is not done when you've got a structured plan in front of you.
Speaking of warm. It has been warm and summer is basically here. With the difficult winter, it is nice to have, but it's almost too warm. I look to make my next marathon announcement by week's end.
Next race: Saturday, June 9. Daily American 10k.
Ideas of doing another marathon have flashed through my head since I returned to running. I have narrowed it down to two possible races. They are both in the fall. I am still watching and waiting to decide what it is I want to do, but I am close to making my mind up. One of them is run in September, so if I am to run that one, I must make up my mind in the next week because training will begin again.
I am craving the discipline and the structure of training. Running "whatever" miles is o.k., but it leaves too much to chance. "I was gonna do 6 miles today, but it's too warm out, so I'll do 5 instead." That kind of thinking is not done when you've got a structured plan in front of you.
Speaking of warm. It has been warm and summer is basically here. With the difficult winter, it is nice to have, but it's almost too warm. I look to make my next marathon announcement by week's end.
Next race: Saturday, June 9. Daily American 10k.
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