2008:The Year in Photos

Tera's final Xmas with us in 2007.

A March snowstorm. Winter is hanging on.

An icy cold January run.

Some downtime in Indy; checkin' out the RCA Dome before they tear it down.

My crew for the PA State Class AA Final. Todd and Chet are my linesmen.

Opening Day tradition for me and Becky.

Frederick Marathon with Tera and Vee. If only I had their speed.

Goodbye Vee.

Mike and me at Game 6. Detroit hoists the Cup in a few hours, but we had hope, and I had my playoff beard.

In action at Frederick.

Summer in Ocean City, Md.

Sam Adams...the dog.

One of the coolest awards at the Run for the Trail 7k. It's a real railroad spike.

Johnstown Marathon becomes #6.

Back to the beach. This time with the greyhounds.

2008: A Year in Review

Despite it's ending, the year that was 2008 brought me some very good fortune and will be a year to remember. Here are some of the highlights, lowlights and recalls:

• January 3. First run of the year. A four-miler with 12 degree/-6 wind chill.
• February 14 through February 19. I complete an amazing run of refereeing 13 games in six nights. I don't run at all during this stretch and battle through it all while I have a chest cold.
• February 29. I drive to Pittsburgh to referee Game 1 of the College Hockey East Championship, but the game is canceled while I am driving in on the parkway. I stay in Pittsburgh for a one night personal vacation.
• March 2. I referee the High School Open Division Championship Game at the War Memorial Arena.
• March 14 through March 16. I get to go to Indianapolis to referee in the Mid-American District Championships. I see the RCA Dome and construction on the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
• March 18. I referee the Penguin Cup Class AA Final at Mellon Arena. It is the eighth time in my officiating career I am blessed with the opportunity to work in the old barn.
• March 29. I run my first road race of the year (PHCC Sprint to Success 5k). I come across in second place with a time of 20:52. A great start to the racing season.
• April 7. Opening Day for the Pirates! The start of another losing season.
• April 11. I attend Game 2 of round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Pens beat the Senators on this night to go up 2-0 in the series.
• May 5. Frederick Marathon. Not a good day as I finish in 3:45:13 and am humbled by the difficult course. Becky and our two dogs (Tera and Vee) make the trip with me.
• May 11. One week after a marathon I run the Komen Race for the Cure in Pittsburgh. I finish in 20:41. Great performance. I finish 102nd overall out of 2,222 runners.
• May 20. The day I pick up my new car, and also the day we lose Tera. She is put to rest and I lose the best friend a guy could have.
• May 30. I kick off my umpiring season.
• May 31. I attend Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Pens lose this one to Detroit, 2-1 and go down 3-1 in the series. Looks like it's over in five.
• June 4. Hold the phone. Pens win a thriller in Detroit to get it to game six. I'm in the building again and again I see them lose. This time it's for all the marbles and I see the Stanley Cup being awarded live. This may never be possible again in my lifetime.
• June 14. Daily American 10k; a staple in my running season. I do a 42:19 and finish first in my age group, 8th place overall.
• June 15 through June 20. Vacation in Ocean City, Md. Great time of year!
• June 27-28. I attend the Mid-American District meetings of USA Hockey as a supervisor for the first time. First time in Columbus, OH for me as well. Second new city this year.
• July 4. Hollidaysburg YMCA 15k. Slower this year at 1:07:41, but good for third in my age group this time. Another award to add to my collection.
• July 14. Hoodlebug 5k in Homer City, PA. Despite temperatures near 80 for this 6:00 p.m. race, I break 20:00 for the first time ever with a 19:49. A day to remember! New PR and 2nd in my age group.
• July 28. Got to golf at Fox Chapel Country Club in our health insurance outing. Most beautiful course I've ever played.
• August 9. I umpire third base in a AAABA Regional Tournament game.
• August 11. I umpire homeplate in a AAABA National Tournament game for the first time ever. Brooklyn defeats New York.
• August 13. I umpire homeplate in a AAABA National Tournament elimination game between perennial powers Baltimore and New Orleans. Baltimore wins behind the pitching of Kevin Brady, a future MLB pitcher who throws 90-95 mph.
• August 30. I run the Rockwood Half Marathon in preparation for my fall marathon. I PR with a 1:37:46, but I'm disappointed.
• September 14. I attend a level 4 seminar in Youngstown, OH in anticipationo of working in the Midget National Tournament in Pittsburgh next April.
• September 26. I take over as the color analyst for Johnstown High School Football games on WCRO-AM, and work my first game. (like I need more extracurricular activities).
• October 5. Run the Johnstown Marathon. My intention is to use it as training for the Richmond Marathon in November and gauge my progress. I do a decent 3:33:05, and as usual I am disappointed.
• October 10-13. We go to Dewey Beach, DE for the Greyhounds Reach the Beach event.
• October 21. We lose our second greyhound this year when Vee suffers a cardiac condition and dies in our home. It's another sad day.
• October 25. I celebrate my 11th wedding anniversary by starting the day at the Red Cross Vampire 5k. In a downpour, I come across in 20:52, finishing second overall. Despite the slow time, the course was difficult and hilly and I feel great. Possibly the peak of my running this year.
• October 27. While working a high school hockey game I am hit on the left foot. I don't know it yet, but I've broken a bone and my running is all but over for awhile.
• November 4. I turn 38 years old today amid the cloud of an injury that appears to be serious. Like Becky said, "you're not getting any younger." So true.
• November 5. I don't know it yet, but I have my last run of the year. Four miles on the treadmill on a broken foot. My foot is in pain, but I block it out. I have a marathon to run in ten days.
• November 6. I don't know it yet, but I work my last hockey game of 2008 in Altoona.
• November 15. The day I was supposed to run the Richmond Marathon. Wisely, I decide a week earlier that I can't do it. I bike 26.2 miles on the stationary bike in honor of it. I still don't know my foot is broken.
• November 19. After an MRI the day before, I am diagnosed with a non-displaced navicular fracture. I now have more time on my hands than I've had since high school and running and reffing are officially done for the year.
• December 22. After 4 1/2 weeks in a walking boot, I am finally out of it. The bone is healing, but the rehab is just beginning.
• December 29. I have a treatment of Active Release Therapy and within 24 hours I notice that the overall feeling of my foot is better. It continues to heal and I look forward to 2009.

What lies ahead? Who knows. But what I can say is that looking back at 2008 collectively, I had a pretty good year. Sure, there were some ups and downs but isn't that what life is all about? How we react in the face of adversity, how we handle success. It's all relevant and helps build us into the person that we are. This is what I believe, and although I have no idea what the new year ahead will have in store for me, I'm ready for whatever it throws at me. The only thing I can safely predict is that like 2008 and many many years before it, 2009 will bring with it hope, happiness, and no doubt new challenges. It will bring good, bad and indifferent. It will bring with it new opportunities and I'm sure will also remind me of the past. It brings the hope of once again lacing up my running shoes and preparing for and running another marathon. The opportunity to once again get to the top of the mountain and qualify for the Boston Marathon. How can I not look forward to that? Happy New Year everybody.

Walk A Mile In My Shoes

On Christmas morning, just as I had planned, I took a walk. My thought process was to walk one mile. It was going to be a banner morning for me. My first "real" activity besides riding a stationary bike and lifting weights since November 6. That night I skated a varsity game in Altoona and was the beginning of a long slow road. After the surprising loss of my walking boot on Monday I had planned a nice walk on our local middle school track for a mile.

As is typical with me, things didn't go exactly as I had planned. Due to some family circumstances that pushed our normal lunch gathering of family at our house back to dinnertime I was able to go on a walk with Becky and Sam. We headed out just before lunch and instead of walking on a track I was on my streets. The same streets that I have trained on for marathons for years.

It was weird walking at first and despite my enthusiasm I noticed that my calf muscle was not totally up to par. In addition, despite my miles and miles of pedaling that horrible contraption known as the stationary bike, my legs were weak as well on the downhill portion of the walk. Still, it felt great to be outside on a partly sunny but brisk morning.

By the time we reached our half-mile mark I began to get sharp stabbing pain in my heel just under the break area. I panicked at first and wondered if the bone was still broken. I sat on the curb and shifted my insoles around. We turned and headed for home. I was miserable and concerned. I couldn't even walk a mile without an issue. And it's not like I was even walking fast. My wife and my dog had to wait for me. I felt helpless and frustrated. But I knew this wouldn't be easy from the get-go. I would push on and do it again. That day was today.

With temperatures in the low 60's it was a great day to head out the door. While Becky went shopping with her mom I headed out with Sam and we decided to make it a boys day walk. Sam did a great job waiting for me and followed my slow pace. The stabbing pains showed up again and this time within the first two-tenths of a mile. They weren't as bad and I pushed through them noticing that my calf was really sore and weak. No doubt this is a bout of plantar fasciitis. I'm convinced it's not the bone. I'm convinced that is healed. This is about building strength in my legs, and specifically my calves which will strengthen the feet. Today was a better day but was another sign of just how far away I am from running without worry and reaching my goals. Funny how those change with your circumstances. A year ago, the talk was all about Boston. Now I'm talking about walking a mile. Truth be told, I'm ahead of my own schedule of where I thought I might be by now. Boston will reappear soon enough. For now, I celebrate each mile of walkin' in these shoes.

Merry Christmas Everyone

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in THE SUN it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there as Santa Claus?"

Virginia 0'Hanlon.115 West Ninety-Fifth Street.

"VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except (what) they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole truth and knowledge.Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus? It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existance. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus? You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love,romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world, there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, VIRGINIA, ney, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Walkin'

Like the great Jerry Lewis once penned...."I'm walkin', yes indeed..."

My appointment resulted in the loss of my walking boot which was a bit of relief, but also a bit of terror. How could I possibly begin walking on this thing? That was my thought after Doc nearly put his thumb through the bone that was broken. He was confident enough to let me out of the cursed boot and told me to start walkin'. So that's what I've been doing. Walking. Or some version of it anyway. I still get some sensitivity and pain in the foot, but I'm trusting that he knows more than me and have begun walking. I'm guessing I've got some strength building that needs to take place and even though I have no immediate plans to skate or run, I am walkin'.

So far, it's one of the best presents I've gotten for Xmas. I'm tentative and scared, but in the first 24 hours or so I am gaining millimeters of confidence. It took awhile to heal the bone, and I'm guessing my psyche will also need some time.

My only plans so far include finding a comfortable pair of shoes and the right insoles to wear and to take a walk outside on Christmas Day.

Follow-Up Appointment

Four weeks and four days in the boot. Tomorrow morning I head back to the doctor to find out what happens next.

I have hesitated to post on the blog for fear of jinxing myself as I had read back over several posts and information I shared turned out to be incorrect or false in regards to how I was feeling and what was actually wrong. So I have done nothing but follow doctor orders and tried to stay upbeat, positive and realistic. Of the three, I believe realistic has been the hardest. It's hard to know what is going on with my foot from day to day.

I do know I'm tired of being this way and I hope for at least a sliver of good news tomorrow. However, without an MRI to get a picture of what is going on, I doubt that good news is really possible just yet. In fact, I wonder what tomorrow will really accomplish besides paying another $20 co-pay. The wonders of modern medicine. Stay tuned...

A Game of Wait

To someone with as little patience as me, going through this type of injury is murder. But I have gained some fresh perspectives on running, hockey, and my life in general.

I'm in no way out of the woods, and have hesitated to even write on my blog being the superstitious person that I am. So all I will say is that I definitely feel as though my foot is improving. Is it healing? I won't know for a few weeks yet. But for now, it's something to hang the hat on.

I want to get back to running. I want to get back to skating. But I will not rush back on any kind of timeline. I want to do this right and let nature take its course.

But man, is this brutal....

A See-Saw Recovery

One day I'm up. One day I'm down. It is the reality of where I am right now. It's all about numbers for me at this point:

• 16 days until my follow-up appointment
• 17 days since I was put in a boot
• 40 days since the injury happened
• 1 maddening day after another

I get encouraged by the smallest signs of healing, but at the same time I get discouraged easily by the smallest signs of not recovering fast enough. I don't know what the future holds. None of us do. But it is all of that uncertainty that I cannot handle the most. So I try to take it day by day and do the right things. It's hard to know what that is though.

I am severely disappointed in the medical community. They didn't do this to me, but with all I've learned since being properly diagnosed it is hard for me to believe what any of these doctors actually knows around here.

The frustration will continue and every day is a day closer to an unknown day in the future when hopefully I can be normal again. Five simple words grace my thoughts so much lately. I want my life back.

A Broken Foot, But My Spirit is Fine

It took me nearly two weeks, but I have come to grips with my situation. That situation came as a result of an innocent hockey play that happens hundreds of times a season. A puck that would have done no or little damage had it gone 3 inches to the right or left of where it was. But as it is, it hit me directly in a spot that was perfectly placed and broke a bone in my foot.

My life has been quite different these past five weeks. Looking back I've been through a lot. A lot of it mental. A lot more of it physical. But as I near the two week mark of my rehabilitation I realize how lucky I am and how quickly life can change.

I broke a bone in my foot. I'm not permanently crippled. I didn't lose a limb. I haven't been financially affected so badly that it will cause me irreparable harm. Obviously, those things could have made it much much worse.

As I rode the stationary bike today I thought about some of those aforementioned scenarios and others. What happens to a runner who suddenly loses their eyesight? A runner who loses a limb? An athlete that suffers a career ending injury? It happens all the time. As an athlete I realize that you certainly can't be careful. If you go out fearing all the bad things that can go wrong, you won't be at your best.

After coming to grips with this situation I look forward to getting back to running. I look forward to getting back on the ice and back to normal. But this injury has given me the respect that I know I must give to the fact that things can change so quick. And if and when I get back to some semblence of normalcy I will probably appreciate all that I can do just a little more. We're all getting older. But we can stay young at heart. But we also must stay diligent and realize what we are and are not capable of. I'm certainly not ready to give up officiating. But I do look at my abilities a little more honestly. This incident was not caused by my lack of ability. To the contrary. But I will return with a sense of honesty knowing that I cannot and will not be able to maintain the same level of skating and running forever. And that is why the here and now is something to be more appreciated everyday. Time stops for no one or nothing. Amazing how time gives you more respect for that very thing. Tick tock tick tock...

Giving Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving and in keeping with the spirit of the holidays I am giving thanks today. Despite not being able to run and being nowhere close and not being able to skate, and being nowhere close I am still able to be thankful.

I am thankful for:

• Being alive. It may be cliched, but although some things I am unable to do right now, I am upright and breathing. Sure beats the alternative.
• My wife Becky. She is the greatest thing to ever happen to me. And despite this little road bumps that affect her as much as me, she remains supportive of me no matter how idiotic I can be.
• Our dog Sam. Despite the fact that we've lost 3 dogs in just over a year, Sam is a miracle of sorts. He had a urinary infection that if we hadn't found it, he would be joining the list of "former" dogs. We saved his life twice.
• Employment. In light of what is going on in the world today, I am lucky to have a good job that pays me fairly and I am able to support myself and my family.
• Friends. It's a select group, but like they say at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. "No man is a failure who has friends".
• A future. One which I hope sees me run the Boston Marathon. But if I never get there, I'll sure have had fun trying.

No sense in talking much about anything else today. Be thankful and happy. Happy Thanksgiving all.

A Year of Change

One year ago today I was in a rental car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike heading back home from Philadelphia. It was a bittersweet trip that had me thinking about how close I had come to qualifying for the Boston Marathon. A day earlier I had run the marathon of my life. Perfect weather conditions coupled with a perfect course for my style and an alignment of all the stars put me in position to run a BQ. But in the final mile or two my body relented and I narrowly missed. Four seconds. That's all that stood between me and my ultimate running goal.

I struggled for several days to make sense of it and invariably I asked many questions. Many "what ifs" that I couldn't answer. One 'what if' question that still haunts me is, "what if I never get that close again?"

I drove home on that rainy and snowy day with a drive and desire to overcome those four seconds. I couldn't get two words out of my mind. SO CLOSE.

Fast forward one year. So much has happened. I have so much to be proud of. I set new PR's in several race distances, including one I thought I'd never break (5k). I put together one of my best "overall" years of running despite falling back in the marathon distance. A disappointing run in Frederick in May followed by a so-so showing in Johnstown just seven weeks ago had me looking at a run toward Boston in Richmond last weekend.

But the stars of fate worked against me once again. A cruel test of will and a hockey puck hit me and has put me in a predicament I have not had to deal with recently. I recall the broken bone in my right ankle in college that kept me from my teammates on the football team. It changed my life for a short while. But at the time it seemed an eternity. My recollection gets more vivid everyday. I am thankful I'm not in a hard cast as I was then. I am thankful to still be upright and breathing. But like a year ago, two words cross my mind often. THIS SUCKS.

A year ago I was so close. This year I am so far away. Far away from normalcy. Far away from the game of ice hockey. Far away from running and the health and feeling of well being it gives me. Things have changed. I eat less. I sleep less. I think more. It's a horrible combination. Will this pass? Sure. I am certain of that. But when? And how? Those are the questions of life I suppose. They're always there. But it takes something like this to bring them to the forefront. That and, "what happened to you?" I cannot wait for this to pass and for normalcy to show it's beautiful face again.

A New Fight

With running in 2008 in the books, my focus has shifted to what I can do to make sure that 2009 is all that I expected it to be before this unfortunate turn of events.

I have spent the past 48 hours or so looking at what I know and what I can do for right now. Here is what I know.

• I'm not running a step until at least January 2009 TBD.
• I'm not skating a hockey game until at least January 2009 TBD.
• I have a broken bone in my left navicular bone of my foot.
• I am in a walking boot and using my own crutches for a week or so to try and give the foot as much rest as possible.
• I am using a bone healing system with electrical stimulation to promote bone healing.
• I have a follow-up appointment on December 22, 2008. Around that same time I will have a follow-up MRI to determine if this bone is healing.
• Everything takes me longer and is much harder including simply taking a shower.
• I cannot change the past, I can only control what I do now and in the future.
• I will finish 2008 having run 808 miles.
• I will finish 2008 having worked 1,498 hockey games in my officiating career.

Here are a few other things that I am 100% sure of:

• I want to run again and Boston continues to be my ultimate running goal.
• I want to work two more hockey games to get to 1,500 career games.
• I am currently doing all I can to get my foot well and stay in as good a shape as I can. This includes lifting weights and riding my stationary bike; which sucks by the way.

Far worse than anything else at this point is the mental difficulty I am struggling with. I have always been an active person that moved quickly when deciding to do anything. The only major injuries I have had in my athletic career included a cracked sternum in high school that didn't really keep me out of action. I broke my right pinkie in college and played the eight remaining games with a brace and wrap on it. I broke my right ankle my freshman year of college and missed the final six games of that season. That has been it. Not a bad run. At the age of 38 I have not been limited all that much by injury, so this is very new to me. Each day I feel like a slug and struggle with what will happen in the coming weeks. Will it get better? I'm pretty sure it will, but when? Will it give me problems in the future? Maybe, but to what degree I don't know. Perhaps the toughest question is whether or not surgery is going to be needed on this thing. That will more than likely be the first question answered and it will be answered around Christmastime. Until then the only things I control are my mind and my rehab. And for now, it's not much, but it's all I've got. Reluctantly I've accepted that.

Relief and Then Worry

What is a running blog without running? I suppose we're going to find out, but for now it's an injury blog. Today I got what I thought might be good news that gave me some relief. I went to my foot doctor on Monday and was able to get in for an MRI on Tuesday. The results of which showed that I have a fracture of my navicular bone. I was relieved to finally know what was wrong, but obviously no running or any activity for 4-6 weeks is not something I'm looking forward to. It's a new chapter, and one I'm not really excited about. But it is what it is.

What I've read about navicular fractures are not pleasant, but I can at least take solace in the fact that it's a 'non-displaced' fracture and that gives it probably my best chance at healing correctly.

All I can do now is the next best thing which is to follow his instructions, use this walking boot and try to stay off of it as much as possible. That, and read and hope and pray.

There won't be any running for awhile and I'm almost assured of closing the book on the 2008 running calendar. But with a little luck, good graces and some good old fashioned rest, we'll see what happens. I'll keep you posted along the way. I've got little else to do.

Getting Ahead of Myself

That's what I get for posting that things were going well. The next day after my last post I got back to frustration. This injury has been by far, the worst I've had in years. It just doesn't want to seem to get better. Even though I've been staying off of it and doing the right thing it kind of has a mind of its own.

Still, without getting too encouraged, today is a good day. The pain is still there, but I know I'm not near getting back to running or skating. But we'll see.

I've scheduled an appointment with the foot specialist tomorrow and will know more (I hope) upon returning. If I can't damage it any further I'm tempted to skate this week. I hate to give up too many games, but I also need to be smart. Asking myself which is more important to me, I'd have to say my running is more important to me than refereeing. That was an eye opener.

And speaking of eye opener, this injury has taught me how quickly things can change and so I have decided to invest in a face shield. I couldn't help but think how horrible it had been if this same puck had hit me in the eye. I suppose I'm getting a little older and wiser. The shield will be here tomorrow, so I've worked my last game without one (game #1,498).

And finally, yesterday was the day I was supposed to run Richmond. I thought about it throughout the day and while riding the bike yesterday I decided after getting in the hour I had planned on riding it that I would go an extra 1.2 miles since I was close and did 26.2 miles on the bike in an hour and four minutes. Still, I hate the bike and hope I can say goodbye to it very soon.

A Ray of Hope

While sitting in my living room on Veteran's Day wondering when I could stop taking ibuprofen and having to ice this thing and why the world is being so unfair to me I struggled with thoughts on how to get this thing better. Do I get an MRI? Do I continue doing what I'm doing? Chiropractor? Active Release Therapy? Then I came to an easy conclusion. If I could just stop walking around on this thing for a few days it could get a lot better a lot quicker. Seems easy enough. Why didn't the P.A. who had me x-rayed even suggest a brace, a walking cast, crutches? Who knows. But I do know that every day has been like re-injuring the foot to a varying degree. Each night the swelling returns and the icing process begins.

Then it hits me. I can stay off of it for a few days. I just needed a pair of crutches. So I made some calls and lo and behold I've got a pair of used crutches. Perhaps it was the anticipation of relief. Perhaps it was just time taking it's natural course. Whatever the reason, the foot was actually better last night. Not 100% and not near 100% but certainly noticeable improvement for the first time in over two weeks.

I'm not close to getting back on the roads, but I feel closer than yesterday and that is a step in the right direction.

A Long Slow Road

The road to recovery. What is being termed most likely a "soft-tissue" injury for me in possibly the worst spot, this road is windy, long and as difficult as any I've traveled.

Although it feels as if the foot is getting better, I still struggle with the fact that by simply walking I am hurting the foot. Each day I ice, I elevate and I medicate. I also am getting impatient as to when I might be able to run again. I am struggling and mightily. This is probably the worst injury I've suffered in a long time.

And despite the positives (they are few and far), I am still struggling knowing that I cannot do what I used to do. I want to get back on the roads and I don't know when that will be possible. Tomorrow evening will be two weeks since I took the puck in my foot and although I would say it is better it is still not near to being good enough.

I am angry with the player that hit me. Especially when I think about the fact that he was in the process of "reversing the play", which means that he purposely threw the puck backwards instead of moving it forward. As I remember the play he had no reason to reverse the play. He had room to get it out or chip it out off the glass. But because of a stupid choice by him, I am hobbled. And I am angry. Fortunately I don't know who it was and don't care. I would never retribute anyway. But the fact of the matter is I am not running, I am frustrated and I am badly in need of getting right and back out on the roads. And so for now; I wait...

Everything Happens for a Reason

Oh, it's the oldest; well, one of the oldest cliches in the book. You hear people say it all the time. Most of the time you wonder if they believe themselves or if it's just to comfort a bad situation. Who knows. But if everything happens for a reason, I for one am here to tell you that it's a straight 50/50 and possibly less that you immediately know what that reason is right away.

And so today, I came to the grim reality that it makes no sense, common or otherwise, to take a trip five hours from home to run in a marathon that will take place in just over a week. Not when my foot is still bothering me badly. Not when I have run 4 miles since October 26 and the first two of those miles were run at a pace slower than eight and half minutes. Not when I've got thirteen days in front of me to recuperate before I have to get back on the ice to officiate my next hockey game.

I could be a hero and go and do the marathon. Of that I am sure. It seemed the longer I ran on the treadmill the other night the more my foot seemed to loosen up. But what damage would I do and how much further would I set myself back upon finishing?

No, the reality of the situation; which I have known for about a week, is that the wise thing to do is take my losses in stride and get this foot well. There are other races to be run. There are many more miles to be run. Frustrating as it is, I'm sure this is happening for a reason. But I have no idea what the hell that reason is right now. And that, perhaps, is one of the most frustrating things about this. That and not running.

X-Rays Negative

After messing around with a severely bruised foot for a week, I decided it was time to put my mind at ease one way or the other. I headed to the doctor and got my foot x-rayed. They came back negative and I was told that rest is what I need. It was suggested that I take it easy for two more weeks. Being the impatient person that I am I'm still holding out hope that I can have myself rested, healed and ready for the Richmond Marathon which now looms just a touch over nine days away.

I can't help but think of all the weeks of training and miles that went into preparing for this race and now it seems as though I'm lying to myself that it's even a possibility. This morning I asked aloud if I was in fact lying to myself. Are all the signs pointing to backing out? Probably. But I've pushed my official decision off until this Saturday. Why? I have no idea. I suppose putting off the inevitable. It also gives me a few more days to maybe try and get out on the road and run a little bit.

My plan was to do that after work on Wednesday. We'll see how that goes. Even though I kind of know what the answer is. I should probably listen to the medical professionals. But I'm not built that way. The x-rays were negative. But negative in more ways than one.

Continued Struggles

I suppose perhaps you could call me impatient. I suppose. But six days after getting hit in the foot with a puck and one week since I ran at all, and frustration is beginning to set in.

I was able to skate today. In pain, but nonetheless, skated a game. I'm not sure it was the smart thing to do and I doubt that I helped my foot, but in a skate boot and with some added padding, I was able to get by.

I have one more game to work this Thursday and then I have an amazing 13 days off before I have to officiate again. That is unheard of in the middle of November, but it's a quirk in my schedule.

After today I feel as though my foot took two steps back and I'm seriously doubting going to Richmond. Still, I'll wait to see how I feel come Friday morning before making my "final" decision.

Ask me today, and I'll tell you that the chances are 90-10 against going.

Hold on a Minute...

With Richmond coming up in sixteen days, I am all of a sudden uncertain whether or not this will be #7 or if that honor will go to Pittsburgh in May. A few things have happened that put this five hour drive south into jeopardy.

As you have already read, our greyhound Vee passed away last Tuesday. The very next day we found out our other greyhound Sam still had a very highly contagious infection that made us question whether or not we wanted to board him with other dogs. It wouldn't be fair. So discussion surrounding a possible cancellation ensued. Not to mention our fear that we had another dog who had an infection that given the worst possible scenario, could kill him.

Fast forward to Friday, we got a bit of good news. Sam's infection is improving, and although he still has it he's not as contagious and shouldn't be a problem boarding with other dogs. Relief settled over us that he's getting better and Richmond was back on.

Until Monday night. That's when I was working my 1,496th career hockey game and was hit on the inside of my left foot. Normally, when you get hit on the foot it's a glancing blow and the stun goes away in a few minutes. This was more solid. It buckled me. And the pain didn't go away. I struggled to skate through 2 1/2 more periods and by the time I hit the locker room and took my skate off, the swelling was there. And yesterday the pain continued with a noticeable limp.

Although I feel better today, my running is "on hold". I want to make sure I don't run on the foot until it's absolutely healed and I have no idea how long that will take. I pray I'll know by Sunday when I'm scheduled to skate again. I pray I can run again by Sunday but I have to establish a drop dead date of next Wednesday to decide whether or not I'm going to Virginia. I hate to cancel, but I also don't want to run a marathon after not running for two weeks. I've got to be able to run at least 3 or 4 more times (lightly). If I can't hit the roads and do it comfortably by next Wednesday (one week from today), I'm out.

In the back of my mind, I feel like someone is trying to tell me something.

So Long Sweet Vee

Just five months ago I was writing about losing Tera, our longest tenured greyhound in our house. She spent seven and a half years with us. One year before losing Tera we got Ventura, affectionately known as Vee. It would be the first time since we started rescuing these spectacular animals that we had two females. It was risky but it ended up being a great arrangement. They loved each other and got along so well. A year together was hardly enough. When Tera passed away in May we never imagined that Vee would go so soon, but yesterday she died in our living room. Becky was home with her when it happened and it is believed she had a heart attack or an aneurysm that killed her in less than 30 minutes. Fortunately she didn't suffer and went quickly. At six years of age, she went far too quickly for us. It is never easy saying goodbye to these dogs. This was no exception. Vee was special in her own way and will be sorely missed. There is another void in our house that won't go away anytime soon. It is the way it is. It is the catch-22 of rescuing greyhounds. You save their life, and in our case each time it was for so little time. But we take solace in the fact that we are saving these animals even if it is for a little while. And today I can't help but think that Vee has reunited with Tera and the two of them are together once again. Godspeed ladies....you were both very special girls. We miss you dearly.

I Must Be Crazy

After refereeing a college hockey game last night and having some pizza and wings with the boys, I got to bed around 11:30, falling asleep watching the Red Sox game. With a 12:15 p.m. youth game to work today I had to be out on the road no later than 8:00 a.m. or so to get my 20-miler in today. Even though I woke up feeling a bit groggy and sore, I managed to push myself out the door and did my 10-mile loop twice to squeeze in my twent-miler. That left me just enough time to shower up and head to my game.

Despite this absolute craziness, I feel pretty good and am amazed with the ability my body has shown recovering from running a marathon (and a tough one for me) just two weeks ago. With 26 days to go until my next marathon I am feeling pretty confident and will taper now, taking an extra week to prepare my body for the damage I will inflict upon it in Richmond.

I suffered today and finished off a pretty good week. Although I'm sore, I'm in fairly good shape. I've got two hockey games to work tomorrow night and found that today's hockey after the run actually helped loosen me up a bit. I can only hope that tomorrow night does more of the same.

More Suffering

Got my copy of Spirit of the Marathon and watched it over the weekend. It got me thinking a lot about where I am, where I've been and where I'm going. Got me thinking about a lot of things. What I have come up with is pretty simple, and I can't say for sure that the movie had anything to do with anything other than getting me thinking.

This is what I've come up with. I'm not suffering enough. Oh, I've suffered each of the past two marathons. And what I believe is although my training is going well it's almost going too well. Perhaps I'm not suffering like I used to when I first got started. My training runs are sometimes tough, but perhaps they could be tougher. Maybe I've become stagnant and forgotten what it took to get to where I was just before I ran in Philadelphia.

With just under 5 weeks remaining before I go to Richmond to run I've got a little time left to prepare myself properly both physically and mentally. Of that I have no doubt. But one thing is also for certain. I can do better. I can suffer more during training so that my suffering on the day of these events and days after are not as bad. You pay one way or another. It's best to pay up front and that's the approach I'll take. I went hard this morning and gave myself a good start toward what it's going to take to get back to where I need to be. Obviously, I haven't paid enough of a price for Boston. As the mornings get darker and fall slowly creeps up on winter, I'll pay that price. On the roads, in the gym and wherever else I need to pay. Boston is earned and earned hard. Perhaps after Philly I thought it would be easy. Well, it's not. It's the furthest thing from easy in the world. And that's what's going to make it so sweet when I finally get there.

Some Post-Johnstown Wrap Up

Figured I'd post some Johnstown photos as I wait for the pain in my legs to subside enough to start running again. And posting...

This was the "group" photo taken prior to the start at the top of the Inclined Plane. Judging from the finishers I don't think everyone was present for said photo.

One of my marathon traditions. A quick pre-race photo. It wasn't raining, it was just awful foggy and chilly with temperatures hovering around 39 degrees.
And we're off!
26.199 miles later, I barely had enough energy to raise my arms. About a second later I cross in 3:33:05. The fog had burned off and to my dismay, the sun had obviously come out; around mile 17.

A final photo before heading home for the day. Small irony in that I finished in Point Stadium and although the home run record stands at 73, it stood forever at 61.....my race bib.

Pictured are my race finisher's medal, race bib and my 3rd place age group award. The age group award totally shocked me. I still don't look at 3 1/2 hours as being anywhere near fast. BUt I suppose on this day it was.

Behind Every Man...

Of course, the saying I'm talking about is "behind every great man is an even better woman". I hesitated to title this post "Behind Every Great Man" because although I'm am attempting to be a great person I've still got a long way to go and do not think I'm great. But what I can say for sure is that the second part of that saying cannot be more true.

My wife is someone I don't often give enough credit to. With all of my extracurricular activies and the small amount of time I spend at home (mostly in the winter because of school and hockey), it is a wonder she still puts up with me.

And even better yet, she supports me in no matter what adventure or crazy idea I might come home with. I truly don't feel as though I deserve someone as good as her. But I sure am glad that she is my wife.

Today I ran the Johnstown Marathon. I didn't have a countdown clock, I didn't broadcast it very loudly, telling very few people. My concept behind doing it was to see if I could somehow qualify for Boston on my home course. Being that I'm scheduled to run Richmond, VA in six weeks this was intended to be a test more than anything. I figured I'd go out and see how I felt. Since I needed a long training run anyway, I would go as far as I could holding a BQ time and if it fell apart, I'd pull back and simply use it as a training run.

My uncertified time is 3:33:05. I still await the official results, but it won't be that far off of that time. Today was my sixth marathon. Today was my third worst time, but my third best time. I held onto BQ for about 17 1/2 miles and despite doing so, I felt as though I had some heavy legs last night and that haunted me all day.

But this post is more about my wife than about me. Today she got up with me around 6:45 and made me my normal marathon day breakfast of one and a half bagels with peanut butter and jelly (if available). Since I was at home, it was nice having a toasted bagel and yes, we had jelly. Despite having her own things to do today it didn't stop there. She rode to the starting line with me and took my traditional pre-race picture. But she also went out ahead of me, meeting me at mile 5, mile 10, shortly after mile 16 and again at mile 22. She provided me with opened Powergels, and had water and Gatorade ready for me. She was there for me, helping me do what I wanted to do. Running a marathon and trying to qualify for Boston. She supported me; just like she always supports me and for that I love her dearly. We're definitely an odd couple. We have lots in common, but we also are different in so many ways. She goes far beyond what she should for me.

I should have called this post, and Ode to a Great Woman.

700

Every year I set out with the intention of running 1,000 miles. To some runners, that may not seem like a lot, but I have always been a lower-mileage guy. To some runners, 1,000 might seem like a lot. To each their own.

This morning I crossed the 700 mile mark for the year with 13 1/2 weeks remaining in the year. I'm confident that I will be able to reach my mark this year barring unforeseen injury.

I always think I could and should run more, but I suppose that's what 2009 is for.

My Weekly

Still in limbo on topics, but in keeping with at least a weekly post, decided to write about my 10-miler today. Wish I had this type of day when the marathon comes around. I have been struggling lately with some fatigue and haven't felt the greatest on my runs. Forgive me for being skeptical as I headed out the door today, but after officiating some Tier I midget games on Friday and Saturday (real leg burners) I wasn't very confident that today would be all that productive.

As I headed out in the low 50's temperatures it was evident that my legs were kind of dead, but I was very happy with the cool day. Fortunately, after a few miles I felt as though my legs got under me a bit. As it turned out I got stronger as the run went on and when I had finished I did a BQ run and had perhaps my best run in weeks.

Just goes to show you...you can't predict a run, no matter how much you think you can.

I Got Nothin'

I think I might have had this title before. It's been one of those periods where I'm extremely busy at work and with school and have had little time for writing. I enjoy writing and keeping up with this blog, but I'm just in one of those periods. So rather than have weeks go by without writing anything I thought I'd better write something. And like my weekend of running, I got nothin'.

Friday night I came home from work and continued to put in some hours on a major project I'm proposing at work. Ended up working until close to midnight. With a pair of hockey games on Saturday and then a trip to Youngstown, OH for my level 4 officiating certification seminar yesterday I almost forced myself into some rest. I've been sluggish on the roads lately so it was a bit of a blessing in disguise. Even though I had planned on doing a 20 miler this past weekend I was uncertain as late as Thursday whether or not I would actually do it. With my type-A personality, turns out that sometimes these things take care of themselves. I got back on track today with my normal 5-miler and I'm still sluggish. But then again, I am skating again so it happens.

Uncertainty

I suppose I could write it off as being humid again yesterday. But my 16-miler that was indeed run in fairly high humidity was another test of character. I did it in an average mile time of about 8:11, and that is in the range I'm supposed to be, but it's how I feel at the conclusion of these long runs that has me concerned.

I keep thinking that perhaps some time off would do me good, but for fear of jinxing myself, I have a hard time remembering when I was in such a good running groove in terms of not missing days and getting the miles in.

I suppose in a few weeks I could look back and feel as though I was overreacting. I suppose, like most of the rest of my running life; only time will tell.

Humbled and a Long Way to Go

Yesterday I ran my second ever half-marathon. It was the same race I ran in 2004 when I had to drop out of the Buffalo Marathon. In 2004 I did the Rockwood Rotary half in June. They hold this event twice a year. In June, it is an evening run along the Allegheny Highlands Bike Trail. In September it is held over Labor Day weekend in the morning.

After I did it in '04 I thought it would be the first of many. When I ran it that night four years ago it was in extreme heat and humidity and after crossing the line in 1:42:47 I nearly passed out from heat exhaustion. I remember thinking that I had just done half of a marathon and if I had to do it again there was no way. It taught me just how far and how difficult a marathon could be.

Yesterday the morning was much cooler, but as I found out shortly after the start, humidity was once agian in the air. Within a mile or two my shirt was completely soaked in sweat. This would not be an easy race. At the halfway turnaround I was doing well and although I could feel fatigue setting in, my sights were set on a sub 1:35:00.

A brief but torrential rain made the second half seem even more miserable and although it has been four years, little changed for me at th end other than my finish time. The final two miles were the longest I've had since Frederick and placed doubt in my mind about whether or not I could cover the 26.2 anywhere close to qualifying again. Despite a 1:37:46 (still on a BQ pace at 7:27 miles), I was completely wiped out. My reasons: Went out too fast, umpired 18 innings the night before, didn't take any gels with me, humid conditions coupled with a rain that caused extreme chafing on areas I don't wish to talk about, and underestimating the half distance. You see, 13.1 miles is not a walk in the park. I kept looking at it as a substandard distance.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned with two marathons coming up in just a few short weeks is that I've still got a lot of work to do and I'm going to have to overcome my brain once again. I've got to put this one behind me and be satisfied with the time and move on. Most importantly I need to race smarter, especially at the longer distances.

Obsession....Good or Bad?

She is a grand lady. I'm not sure where I heard that before, but I'm nearly certain it was from an old black and white film. Perhaps a phrase carried over from the 30's or 40's. But I digress.

As I went out on my run early this morning, it was a lot more of the same. Like another favorite quote of mine from Shawshank Redemption, "...it's all about routine, and then more routine..." Of course, I'm not talking about prison life. I'm talking about my running regimen. Even though I'm on the threshold of running a pair of marathons six weeks apart in October and November, I am hitting that point in training where the routine is beginning to wear at me a bit. My body is taking a bit of a beating as well, but I'll save the injury talk for another post. No, this is about that routine.

We're entering the time of year when the darkness hangs on just a little longer. When I exit the side door and head out the alley, it is barely light out. In another week or so, the darkness will hang on and I'll be reminded of another of my favorite movie quotes from Scent of a Woman. As I head down that dark alley, I invariably will remark, "I'm in the dark here". An Al Pacino favorite. But once again, I digress.

The skies are an incredible haze of purples, pinks and blues this time of year. Although I don't particularly like to run in the dark, I don't totally mind it. Inevitably it gets light out and I am there to see the world waking up. It's an amazing experience that is the basis for my writing. Perhaps someday I'll post that first "writing about running" experience here. A final time, I digress.

My thoughts on my run today leaned toward obsession. Recently I have been overcome by this obsession. And I wondered within, can that be good? Typically, the word obsession gives a negative connotation. But I wondered, can any obsession be good or is that not possible? I really don't know. And it's that unawareness that makes me wonder if it's bad.

She is always there. Haunting my every thought. I cannot get her out of my head. I think about how long I have obsessed about her and how close I have come to her. At one time I thought she was out of my league. But recently my confidence has grown. I want nothing more than to experience her and all she has to offer. Sometimes I wonder if it's a phase that I'm going through and the luster will wear off. After all, I've had these types of obsessions before. Not all of them have lasted. Yet this does seem different. Nothing like the others. The feelings and passion I have for her are far too strong. I want to believe that if it ever happens I won't be disappointed. So you see my dilemma? As I penned this post I wondered if you would read this and think to yourself, 'this guy is sick and twisted'. I don't think so. I believe some obsessions can be good. Some can be great. And some, like her.....can be simply grand! No, this is a good obsession. It's what gets me out that door every morning. After all, I'm probably not the first to obsess for her; the Boston Marathon.

Off Topic: Favorite Movie Quotes

Not sure why, maybe just out of boredom and lack of anything else to write. Maybe it was the thought of this exchange in Rocky Balboa:

Paulie: You're gonna do alright, Rock.
Rocky: How do you know that Paulie?
Paulie: The stuff in the basement.

I've often said you've got to have the stuff in the basement in order to be successful. Anyway, it got me thinking of just some of my favorite movie quotes of all time. Here is a sampling.

Shawshank Redemption:
Andy Dufresne: [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Red: [narrating] I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.

Andy Dufresne: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

The Green Mile:
Old Paul Edgecomb: We each owe a death, there are no exceptions, I know that, but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile is so long.

Paul Edgecomb: The man is mean, careless, and stupid. Bad combination in a place like this.

Old Paul Edgecomb: I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not.

Forrest Gump:
Forrest Gump: I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floatin' around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it's both.

Forrest Gump: Sometimes, I guess there's just not enough rocks.

It's A Wonderful Life:
Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

Clarence: Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.

George Bailey: I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year, and the year after that.

I could have done hundreds more of these, but obviously these are from 4 of my favorite movies of all time.

'Nother Race, 'Nother PR

But then again, I knew that going into this one. Tonight was my first 7k race. That equates to 4.35 miles, which explains my weird running mile totals. The race was run on the Ghost Town Trail in Dilltown, PA. We actually started on the road adjacent to the trail itself and probably didn't get onto the trail until right after the two mile mark. By that point I was pacing pretty good and had a good feeling. The first two miles were rolling hills. A few of them were pretty challenging but as we made the sharp right hand turn onto the trail I knew it was flat the rest of the way.

For the next mile or so I trailed (pun intended) behind a group of three other runners. Two of them I had passed earlier and then they re-took me. The other two were ahead of me and we gradually pulled them in.

Just past the three mile mark I decided to make a move. I felt pretty good and I thought that if I had waited the good feeling would go away. So I pulled away from the three of them. Only one of them reeled me back in and he was strong to the finish. I never saw the other two until they came across the finish line a minute or so behind me.

When I went to the race earlier today I was hoping for a 30:00 run. I didn't feel all that great and once the race started I battled cotton mouth throughout. But for some reason that final 2 1/2 miles or so were great and I was strong. I set a PR with a time of 28:47 which I was very happy with. And perhaps the best part was the unique award that we received. It was a railroad spike painted gold with an engraved plate. (I was gonna post a picture but I'm too tired. Perhaps this week.).

Nevertheless, I know of no other 7k races in our area, so I'll have to wait until next year to challenge this PR. But for the start of a new week, I've gotten off to a great start.

A True Test

It's not often, if ever, that you get a chance to re-enact the type of body fatigue that you will experience in a marathon. But today I think I got as close as one can get to challenging that experience without actually running 26 miles.

Today I worked my first All American Amateur Baseball Association (AAABA) game behind homeplate. I am in my fifth year of umpiring in this, one of the top three premier collegiate tournaments in the country. However, prior to today I had always just worked the bases.

I ended up working a memorable game between Brooklyn and Buffalo, won 10-7 by Brooklyn. But it was what came after the game that meant the most today. At least as far as my running is concerned.

After working a nine inning, roughly 3 hour, 14 minute contest I headed home to a waiting 5-mile run. I was not looking forward to it, but my training is important to me so skipping today was not an option. I had already put it off from this morning so I could save my legs for the game. What I did inadvertently was tire myself out. As I headed out into the second mile my legs began to get weary. The type of leg weariness you get around miles 18-20. It was at that point I decided to push myself through the tired legs and take advantage of the "opportunity" that had presented itself. I mean, how often do you get to mimic marathon conditions? No, there were no crowds. I was not on a timing chip and there was nothing on the line other than getting back home to my leftover mushroom swiss burger (one of my specialties on the grill...this one was leftover from last night). Still, I felt it was important to shoot for a BQ time on weary legs. Lo and behold I crossed my imaginary finish line in 37:10, good for a 15 second cushion off a BQ to me (37:25).

A true test that I passed today with flying colors. Now to the Motrin...

In Transition

As the nights and the mornings get cooler and football season almost completely underway I am returned to my childhood when the dog days of August were a subtle reminder of things to come.

Dare I say that winter is fast approaching, but it is. In just a few weeks the leaves will begin to change colors and not long after that the cooler nights and mornings will also help to transition our weather patterns to colder rains and we will switch to fleece tops, gloves and hats. Running will definitely become more comfortable and eventually downright miserable.

Like our bodies, and our lives, it is a time of transition. Much like the subtle changes that we go through in training I have become much more aware of these little things. I appreciate them more. To most, summer is still in full swing. But in my mind we are on the downturn. And with it and all that comes along with it I am bursting with joy. My "running" season is definitely in the fall. It is when I am at my best and my best is yet to come.

It's All About Passion

According to dictionary.com the word passion is defined as "any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate". That and eleven other definitions.

As I grow older and wiser by the day, I have learned a lot of different things. Running has clarified a lot of what I have learned; be it about sports or life in general. I think that what I have learned the most through my running is something that has driven me throughout my entire life. Only recently, however, has it crystallized for me. I have learned that it is passion that is the driving force behind what we do. Without it, we are wasting our time. George Sheehan wrote an amazing article entitled "Why Do I Run?" that is a classic article that all runners should read. The message contained in it is about passion. All of us, runners and non-runners should ask ourselves that very question. Why do I ______ (insert what you're doing here)? If you can't partially answer that question with the response, "it is something I'm passionate about", then you should move onto something that does make you passionate.

I have long been a proponent that motivation is something that has to come from within. External forces like other people or music or situations can only motivate you so much. Your motiviation has to come largely from within. And it is my belief that passion is the fuel for that fire. Why do you do anything that you do? It's a critical question.

I run because I have a goal. That oft-stated goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Plain and simple. I use this blog to help my personal motivation. I realize that in all honesty, including those who may stumble across this blog or be a regular reader to it, could care less about my situation. Perhaps you are reading this to fuel your motivation. I don't know. But I do know that I am passionate about running. I am passionate about teaching, my job, officiating, umpiring and all the things that I do in my life. When I golf I want to be the best I can be. When I am organizing an event at work or changing a process or negotiating a contract I want to do the best I can do. Why? Because I am passionate about it.

I believe that far too many people who roam this great planet have lost that passion about what they are doing. They are easy to recognize. They are the ones complaining about something all the time. They want to take the easy road to success (dont' get me started on success...that definition could take months to dissect). My point is, too many people feel stuck and place themselves in that position. Instead of finding what they can be passionate about or look for ways to improve their situations by being excited about something, they would rather blame someone else or some other circumstance for where they are. I feel sorry for these people. Have I figured it all out? No, not even close. But I do feel that through running I have become a more complete person. I feel that through running I have been able to put a lot of everything else in my life into perspective. I have learned perhaps, that it is all about the passion and recognizing that when it's not there, it's time to move on. I am certain that someday my running days will be over. But for now, the fire still burns. And that fire has a name.

All Streaks Must Come to an End

After last Sunday's debacle, I thought I would take Tuesday off and be back on the roads on Thursday. As it turned out, I think I had a touch of the flu and missed Thursday as well. With a golf tournament yesterday and "official" Richmond training beginning this week I figured I'd take the week off and finally got back on the roads today. It was a quick five miler, but it proved to be challenging because of the break and because my body is still a bit tired.

With today's run I also saw my string of ten consecutive BQ runs come to an end. I actually wanted to see it end today and subconsciously tried to keep from hitting my mark for an eleventh consecutive run. I wanted to do away with that theory of running and get a fresh start this week. I have adjusted my schedule slightly and will be back out on the roads tomorrow for the first of hopefully many productive runs that will wind up with me crossing the finish line on November 15 reveling in a BQ marathon run!

Ten In a Row; Lesson Learned

I set out several weeks ago to see how many consecutive BQ runs I could string together. At first it was simply a different type of training that I figured would help me get to that promised land. I wrote about it here, saying that it goes against the grain of traditional marathon training.

Yesterday I went out a bit later than I had hoped to get an 8 mile training run in. I knew it would be the toughest BQ run to date because Sunday's generally are. It's long run day for me. Throw into the mix that I umpired in extreme heat on Friday night, ran a 5k Saturday morning (20:12 btw, in the Citizens Helping Citizens in Indiana, PA) and then spent Saturday afternoon and early evening cutting my grass and sealing my driveway (also in extreme heat and humidity).

The run began as most of my other runs have. I was hitting my splits and banking some time. I knew I would need to bank some time as the temperature rose and I could feel the humidity sapping me (it felt like Frederick, Md. all over again). By the time I hit mile 6 I was just ahead of a BQ pace. I would need to come across the 8 mile mark in 59:52 to secure a tenth consecutive BQ run. When I was in the final mile I could feel that it was going to be close and pushed myself to the brink of exhaustion to make the mark. Coming across in 59:27 I sealed the deal but not without a cost.

I spent the rest of the day yesterday sluggish and on the couch trying to keep cool and rejuvenate myself. The run had totally wiped me out. When I awoke this morning I had a headache that had returned from last evening and was still feeling pretty groggy. Yes, I got a tenth consecutive BQ run in, but it wasn't very smart. As I continue to recover today by drinking fluids and resting at home (I had to use a sick day), I know how dumb that thought process is. I will still attempt to maintain BQ times during my shorter weekday runs, but I will use my long slow weekend runs for that purpose. Long and slow weekend runs. It was dumb to try and maintain a qualifying pace on a day that started with me being fatigued and on a day when the purpose of the run is not to qualify.

My stubborness cost me a sick day and perhaps a few more days on the shelf as I recover and rest to get back to 100%. Stupid...

A NEW PR!!

It took three years and nearly eight months, but my longest standing PR (not counting my half-marathon PR which was set over four years ago....but it's my only half marathon to date so I don't count it), finally went down this evening!

One of the biggest hurdles I've faced since November 20, 2004, when I set my 5k PR of 20:04 in the Somerset Turkey Trot, was finally eclipsed tonight. In that time I have run eighteen 5k races and got to within 0:08, 0:12 and 0:14 of tying the old mark. This year alone I posted a 20:52 and 20:41 but it was looking to me like I'd never beat my 20:04. In the back of my mind I have not only wanted to get a new 5k PR, but I've wanted to break that 20:00 barrier.

Despite some difficult humid conditions and a temperature of 80 degrees I went out to a fairly fast pace and although the splits weren't negative, I felt strong enough and composed myself when fatigue began setting in to will my way to not only a new PR, but a smashing of the old mark and finally eclipse the 20:00 barrier. My 19:49 in the Hoodlebug 5k in Homer City might stand longer than the previous mark, but then again it might not.

In the final half mile I felt my legs begin to wobble and my desire waning. But I knew I was close and did not want to live through a Philadelphia incident again. As I approached the finish line and saw that a sub-20:00 was inevitable I had to smile and tonight it has not yet left my face. A hard earned PR that I will attempt to break in just six days as I head back to Indiana County for the Citizens Helping Citizens 5k (if you're keeping track, last year I did a 20:18 in that race). All I need to do is 30 seconds better and I'll set another PR.

Can I ever get a sub-19:00? Doubt it, but I'll keep on trying. And who knows......

It's All About the Core

When I was looking at the "near miss" in Philadelphia a little closer and the inevitable disaster in Frederick I pondered over and over what I had done differently or what I could change about my training. Sure, the course in Frederick was difficult and definitely had an effect on my time, but there had to be more to it.

When I looked back I realized how emphatic I was with strengthening my core muscle group leading up to Philadelphia. In fact, I was reading an article on core-work in Runner's World and recalled a statement I made to Becky right after my near miss in Philly. I told her that I felt that my core work was instrumental in that run. So as a result I began my strength regimen again this week with special focus on the core group to make an attempt to get back to where I was last November. It's only been a week but so far so good. I am building up to a full workout focusing on the core and have gotten more consistent with strength training overall.

In another two weeks I'll head out to the ice rink to begin skating again as hockey season is less than 8 weeks away. That should also help as I head toward #6 in Richmond. As I run, like today in the upper 80 temperatures, I focus not so much on Richmond as I do with maintaining consistency and injury free. In addition, I am stringing together as many BQ runs as I can muster. In order to run fast, you need to train fast. This goes against the grain of most training experts advice, but since I often can run BQ times with little difficulty I'm simply extending the length of time that I'm maintaining that pace.

In that light, today was my fifth consecutive BQ run. Two of them have been done on either tired legs and/or in oppressive heat. It's something to build upon. That, and my core.

FNG and a 15k Finish

Yes, you can tell it's summer. Posting goes by the wayside a bit. For some reason it seems easier to post in the winter. Whatever the reason, it is what it is. I post when I can post. Today, a little catch-up; and ketchup once I get the grill going, but first thing's first.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

I celebrated the same way I did last year. I ran the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA 15k run in Altoona, PA. Thanks to fellow hockey official and occasional commenter on this website I have pics of me and the two guys who finished ahead of me. After running a minute and 20 seconds slower than last year (my 15k PR) and not finishing in the top three, I'll take the 3rd place finish.

3rd place finish at the 15k

photo courtesy of: Tim Sheehan.

This week was also the week we finally dove into getting a new dog. On Monday, we got the newbie and after spending the past year with two female greyhounds, we decided we missed a boy in our life. I'm beginning to remember why we went to two girls. No, it's not that bad but he is definitely a bit on the 'touched' side. A little wild and crazy and definitely no boundaries. Fortunately Vee likes him and he seems to be adjusting to our lifestyle. Or the othe way around, I'm not sure. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Sam Adams:

Sam Adams....the dog.

Other than that busy week I ran the Daily American 10k on June 14 before our vacation and finished in a solid 42:19, so the running has been going well. Latest news: I have decided that my 6th marathon will be in Richmond, Virginia on November 15. Chosen because of it's flat-ness, time of year (weather should be alright) and because it is a Saturday marathon. I love those. More races should do that. Official training will begin in a couple of weeks. For now, I enjoy the summer. Below are two additional pics from today. The shirt and race logo and the hat is what I won for taking 3rd place. Ranks as one of the weirdest awards. I prefer medals, but whatever. A visor doesn't suite my bald head.

My Summer Vacation

We began our summer vacation at Camden Yards last Saturday night, June 14. The photo above is from our "cheap seats" where we watched our hometown Pirates attempt to pull back to a .500 record for what seems like an eternity. Unfortunately, we blew a 9th inning lead after coming back and it wasn't meant to be. When it happened again the next day....

...we were in better seats and the outcome was a little better as the Battlin' Bucs pulled out a ten-inning victory after another blown lead. The day had started out at the Inner Harbor...

...where I started out my day with classic Chesapeake Bay crab cakes from the ESPNZone leather recliner/table chair, along with my 'first' refreshment of the day...
From there it was off to Ocean City, Maryland for four days where we stayed at the Dunes Manor Motel oceanfront...

The week included sand, surf, good food, my normal running routine (of course) and even a bit of golf...

When the last day had arrived, we were relaxed, re-energized and ready to head back to reality (not)...

So what did I learn on my summer vacation? I learned that if I set my mind to something I can do it; sort of. I had two rules as I headed out for a week of peace and quiet. Rule #1: Don't call work (I sort of failed at this one as I did call in but I didn't discuss work). Rule #2: Don't wear a watch and watch the time. I have to admit that I was able to accomplish this and I'm better for it. Time is our enemy. It never stops. When we constantly clock-watch time goes so fast. I thought that by not keeping my eye on the time all the time, it seemed that it went slower and I was able to enjoy every day a little bit more. Maybe this was in my head, but I don't think so. I also learned a few other things:

• we are a nation of excess. You don't need to look far to see huge SUV's driving down the highway at 80 mph, towing an even bigger boat while gas continues to rise.
• in keeping with the theory of excess, we eat way too much food as a whole. Worse yet, we waste too much food.
• If you're not wearing Tommy Hilfiger or Hollister clothing, you're old.
• I'm not as old as some, but I'm old.
• The waves of the ocean just continue to come in and go out. Like time, it is endless. It is fascinating. I think I enjoyed the ocean more than ever this year.
• I used to think it was people that made the world go 'round. I don't think that's true. We only live here and consume too much of everything including, of all things, time.

I thoroughly enjoyed my summer vacation this year, but now I'm back to reality. It is nice to recharge the batteries, but there is also something to be said for getting back into a routine. And like everything else, the running calendar begins to get routine and serious as I enter the summer phase of my training.

Oppressive Heat

Today's long run of 8 miles seemed like an eternity running in 82 degree heat with searing humidity. Thankfully there was a breeze and my course provided shade over about half of it. But at times, when the wind died down and the shade was nowhere to be found it got brutal. I thought about those folks who run in the Badwater Ultra in Death Valley in the middle of July where it can get to temperatures over 120 degrees. I wondered how they do it. Fortunately I won't have to find out anytime soon. I actually enjoy running in hotter weather because of the limited clothing and I'd rather be hot than cold. But this weekend took a lot out of me.

Can You Find Me?

A Helluva Run

It was a miraculous run that came up just short. The team that refused to quit lost to perhaps the only other team in the NHL that they couldn't beat in a seven game series (my opinion). That still doesn't help to soften the blow of being 2nd best. Still, I feel fortunate to have been able to be there to see the Stanley Cup awarded to the best team in the NHL this season. The Mellon Arena, 41 years old, saw the Cup awarded inside of it for the first time and perhaps the last. The odds are pretty good that it won't happen inside that building again until it is torn down after next season. Then again, with the promise of a new season looming just three months away and a team built to challenge for the championship for years to come, it could happen. I wouldn't lay money on it but I also wouldn't have put money on a Game 5 for the ages once we get down 3-2.