I Am a Runner

FOUR MARATHONS IN FIVE WEEKS: PART 4 - 5 POINTS OF LIFE 2/19/2012

2012-02-24T14:57:00.007-05:00

It’s over…it’s all over!

After months and months of anticipation, speculation, and apprehension (not on my part), it was now time for what will probably be my last marathon of this year’s racing season. The 5 Points of Life Marathon isn’t one of the biggest or even one of the best marathons out there, but it does offer something that will forever be near and dear to my heart…it is in Gainesville. This would be the fourth year in a row I have entered the 5 Points of Life Marathon, and it is the scene of both my best finishing time and my worst finishing time. Gainesville is my home away from home; running through the streets gives me an adrenaline rush that no other race provides. I would need all the adrenaline I could get, as I was determined to set a PR (personal record) during this race.

After a week of light running and recovery from 26.2 With Donna last weekend, I left Saturday morning around 9:30 am. I would be staying with Lindsey and her roommates (Marisa and Mallory) this year instead of my friends Paula and Bill. I picked up Lindsey at 2:30 pm and we made our way to the race expo. With only 861 participants (168 running the full; 693 running the half), the expo was once again very small. However, I was able to score a pretty nice “I Run Gainesville” running shirt, which I decided to wear for the race. We had lunch at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and did some shopping at the Oakes Mall. It was there that we ran into “Awesome” Amy, who is a member of the Turtle Running Club of Ocala. We had discussed running together for the race, but she was obligated to run with some of her friends who would probably be running a slower pace than I had planned. After shopping, we went back to Lindsey’s apartment, watched the Gators basketball game against Arkansas, and then went to dinner at Blue Highway Pizza. I went to bed around 11:30 pm, as the ladies embarked on a marathon of their own…nonstop episodes of Dawson’s Creek.

I woke up at 5:00 am, which was like sleeping in. The race started at 7:00 am, and I was only ten minutes away. The temperature was 70 degrees, which was 40 degrees warmer than last week in Jacksonville. There was a 70 percent chance of rain, but it was just warm and humid when I left Lindsey’s apartment. I met up with Amy and her friends, took some photos, and made my way to the start line. It was strange running a marathon without either Elaine, Jen or Pam, but I just used this as motivation to make them proud of my finishing time.

This marathon has more hills than any other race I compete in, including Ocala. After three miles (and one potty stop), I was already soaking wet from the humidity. The first part of the race takes you west on Newberry Road, then a right turn on 43rd Street, and another right at Milhopper Plaza back towards downtown Gainesville. Mile ten puts you on the campus of the University of Florida, where you get to run through “The Swamp,” down Fraternity Row and past Lake Alice. This is the point where the half ends and the real adventure continues.

For the next two miles, I literally saw one other runner. This is one of the disadvantages of running in such a small race, as you sometimes wonder if you are the only one running. Fortunately, I know the course pretty well, and they have made significant improvements over the years to have more volunteers directing the runners. I would be passing Lindsey’s apartment at mile 15, so I called ahead on my iPhone and asked her to bring me a soda, a bag of M & M’s and the camera for an action shot of me. When I got to her, I was greeted with a can of Diet Mountain Dew Code Red, but no chocolate or camera. Lindsey offered to run back to her apartment and get the other two items, but I couldn’t afford to wait that long. Besides, I was grateful that she rolled out of bed as early as she did (9:30 am) to accommodate me.

I was pretty beat at this point, but I was keeping a steady pace going. I still didn’t see any other runners, but lots of encouragement from the police officers directing traffic. I was now entering what I consider the worst part of the race. From mile marker 17 to mile marker 22, you run west on Williston Road, which is best described as a highway. This five mile stretch from hell is as boring as it gets. To make matters worse, there was a 30 mph headwind to add to the misery. It was so gusty at points that you had to walk until the wind died down. I did pass several runners along the way, as they were struggling as much as I was. The wind really took its’ toll on me, and it was apparent that today would not be the day for the PR I was hoping for.

Once I made the right turn on NW 34th Street, the wind was now at my back. I did have to endure a brief shower, which actually cooled me down a bit. I was able to pass a few more runners during the last four miles, but I was pretty spent when I crossed the finish line (despite how happy I look in the photo). I missed my PR by only seven minutes, which was also the third best time for me in a marathon.

After a shower and then lunch with Lindsey, I made the drive back to Coral Springs. I had never been so tired driving home after a race, and actually considered staying at Lindsey’s apartment one more night. I downed a Rockstar on the drive (250 mg of caffeine) and eventually caught a second wind. When I got home, I saw that my Facebook page was blown up with congratulations and people telling me what an inspiration I was for completing four marathons in five weeks. I actually get very humbled when I get complemented like that. I do realize that not everybody could accomplish what I have, but in my mind, it’s what I do. That being said, I was verklempt when Pam posted on my Facebook wall: “So proud of you. It's an honor to say I run with you!”

I’m grateful that I held up as well as I did physically, and I want to thank everyone who has supported me from the time I announced my intentions, until this last race.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

FOUR MARATHONS IN FIVE WEEKS: PART 3 - 26.2 WITH DONNA 2/12/2012

2012-02-15T16:04:00.006-05:00

Three down, one more to go!

After a much needed week off from the marathon circuit, it was now time for 26.2 With Donna in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, I actually had a cause for this year’s race. My first cousin Ricki was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and I planned to run in her honor. Lots of folks have told me how touched they were by this gesture on my part, but I’m thinking it was the least I could do. I was running with Jen and Pam, and this would be Pam's first full marathon since knee surgery last year.

I left early Friday morning and made a pit stop to pick up Jen at her house in Belleview. From there, up to Jacksonville. Pam would take her own car, since she planned on staying over Sunday night, and we would head home after the race. We met up around 3:30 at the Palms Retro Hotel. Pam’s running friends from the Marathon Maniacs and the Running of the Ears (ROTE) were staying there as well. With only ten rooms in total, you could say that we had taken over the place. At this point, the forecast for the race was lows in the mid-forties and highs in mid-sixties. Little did we know how quickly and how drastically that was going to change.

After we checked in, we decided to go to the expo. It wasn’t very crowded, since most of the runners typically go on Saturday. I picked up a pink running shirt to wear for the race, and reacquainted myself with my friend from the iFitness booth.

From there, we met up with the Marathon Maniacs and ROTE at Taps Bar and Grill for dinner. It was at this point where we saw that it may be just a wee bit colder than expected for the race. Make that MUCH colder! It was now expected to dip into the mid-twenties on Saturday night, with a race time start of around thirty degrees. Clearly, I needed to do some last minute shopping.

After breakfast Saturday morning, we took a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Factory. It was interesting, and the beer didn’t suck either. From there, we took a short trip to the Premium Outlet Mall in St. Augustine. I picked up a pair of throwaway sweat pants for seven dollars (thank you Bealls), and even found something to give Glenda for Valentine’s Day in the Nike Outlet store. We ate an early dinner at Al’s Pizza, sang happy birthday to one of our running buddies staying at the hotel, and then off to bed.

I woke up at 3 am on Sunday morning determined not to let the cold weather get the best of me. I put on a short sleeve compression shirt, followed by a long sleeve compression shirt, followed by the pink running shirt I picked up at the expo, topped off with a throwaway sweatshirt. On the bottom half, I was rocking my compression sleeves on the calves and thighs, shorts and sweatpants. I took one step outside and…BA-BAM!!! It was freaking cold! We left the hotel at 4:45 and caught the shuttle bus to the race village. We had close to a 90 minute wait until the race started, and everyone tried to huddle up around the portable gas generators to keep warm. Pam hooked me up with a pair of throwaway gloves and even had hand warmers to put inside the gloves.

It was finally time for the race to begin. There would be a total of 6,356 finishers, with 1,793 competing in the full marathon (4,563 would complete the half). This was clearly the coldest race I have ever participated in, but it wasn’t too bad once we started running. I of course had to take my traditional bathroom breaks early and often, but no issues like those encountered in the Miami Marathon (thank goodness). I was wearing the hoodie from my sweatshirt over my hat, and didn’t take it off until we were a good 15 miles into the race. If you’ve read my post from last year’s race, you know that we run on the beach from mile marker five to mile marker eight. It was magnificent last year; it was torture this year. Just picture a scenic beach run…not a cloud in the sky…30 degree temperature…and wind gusts up to 20 miles per hour blowing in your face (not to mention sand). Pam’s hat kept blowing off her head, and she collected an eyeful of sand for her troubles. Once off the beach, it was a little easier to run, but it was still cold. This is a beautiful race, with fantastic crowd support. Around the 14 mile mark, we ran past a house where the owners created their personal version of a winter wonderland.

This was where the race really became interesting. We caught up with an older guy who was running the race in a pink skirt. This was not as unusual as it sounds, since it is a race where all of the proceeds are used to help cure breast cancer. What was unusual was that the guy was running with a beer in his hand! Now Pam and I have been known to take a few sips of a brewsky during a race, but running with a longneck in hand? Not only that, the dude was picking up brews from spectators along the way (I saw him drink seven, not counting how many he may have consumed during the first 14 miles of the race). He told us that he had been in a nasty car accident and this was his first race back. I chalked up the beer drinking during the race to a possible celebration of life, sine he told us how happy he was to be looking down at the pavement, rather than being flat on his back looking up at the sky. Then out of nowhere, he proceeded to tell us a story about a three-way he once had with his best friend and his girlfriend. TMI!!! He now officially transformed himself from running/drinking buddy to running/creepy guy! It was pretty awkward after that, but I must admit he was very entertaining. We tried our best to lose him, but he wanted to stay with us and tell more creepy stories.

It was around the 19 mile mark that I finally felt comfortable taking off my sweatshirt. The temperature was still in the thirties, but the sun was out and we now had the wind at our backs. I felt great physically, but was very happy to finally cross the finish line and put this race behind me.

The final stop in the quartet takes me to Gainesville next week for the 5 Points of Life Marathon.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

FOUR MARATHONS IN FIVE WEEKS: PART 2 - ING MIAMI MARATHON 1/29/2012

2012-02-02T12:19:00.004-05:00

Two down, two to go!

This was the weekend of the most highly anticipated marathon of my career. First and foremost, not only were my Ocala running buddies coming down and staying with me for the weekend, but this would also mark the first time my good friend Pam would be running a race with me in South Florida. In addition, the ING Miami Marathon would be the largest race I’ve ever participated in. In total, there would be 19,986 runners, 3,945 competing in the full and 16,041 running the half. After the Ocala Marathon last weekend, I had a good seven mile recovery run on Wednesday. It was now time for the ladies to make their way down to hot and humid Coral Springs.

Pam, Jen, Terri and Toni arrived at my house around 6 pm Friday afternoon. After a quick tour of Stately Wayne Manor, we headed down to Las Olas Blvd. for dinner and sightseeing. Glenda’s business partner Gary has a condo right on the intercostal on the 28th floor, which provided several picture taking opportunities for the ladies. We woke up pretty early Saturday morning and headed down to the expo, which was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The expo was huge, and the race shirts were excellent! I purchased two add-on water bottles from the iFitness booth, but did not ask the salesperson for a demonstration to make sure the bottles would be the only thing not bouncing up and down. After a couple of hours of shopping, we took a trip to FIU so my guests could see where I work. We grabbed an early dinner at Sweet Tomatoes, and went to bed around 8:30 pm.

I woke up on Sunday morning at 2 am. No…you did not read that wrong. The start time for the race was 6:15 am and I didn’t want to take any chances of getting caught in traffic. We left my house at 3:15 am and parked at Bayside around 4:10 am (it’s amazing how little traffic there is when you get to a race two hours before it begins). Bayside is right next door to the American Airlines Arena (home of the Miami Heat), which put us as close to the starting line as you can possibly get. We walked through Bayside for a little while, and of course hit the bathroom several times. We made our way over to the American Airlines Arena around 5 am, and met up with the Marathon Maniacs, Half-Fanatics and Running of the Ears for a quick photo session.

We decided to make our way to our corral at 5:30 am. By this time, the streets were packed, and the excitement of the race was starting to kick in. To see so many people in one place out in the street ready to run was quite an adrenaline rush. When the gun sounded for the start of the race, it took us close to 30 minutes before we crossed the starting line.

While in line, there was only one thing both Pam and I could think about…just how bad we had to pee! I can literally drive four hours from my house to Ocala and not stop once, but I can’t run three miles without having to water the lilies. Less than one half mile into the race, I told Jen and Pam I needed to find a bush and take care of business. After a very satisfying drainage, I was back on the road again. I did not see the ladies, so I figured they just started walking (the rule here is to walk and stay to the right). After about five minutes, Jen called me and asked where I was. Apparently, they were still waiting for me, not knowing that I had run ahead. I waited for them to catch up to me, but this debacle probably cost us close to 15 minutes. Pam still had to go, but the Porta-Potty line at the first water station was pretty long. When we got to the second water station, Pam could not hold it any longer, and told us to keep running without her. Since she was only doing the half marathon, we reluctantly ran ahead. Less than a mile later, I of course had to duck into the bushes once again, and now Jen had to go to the bathroom. The next water station (around four miles into the race) had no wait at all, so Jen checked into the Hotel Port-O-Let. This gave Pam an opportunity to catch up to us, and we were ready to run together again.

We had now run over 3-95 (MacArthur Causeway) and were heading towards South Beach. This part of the race was similar the Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon, but it changed once we headed away from the ocean. We were running past a golf course with "real" bathrooms, and I once again had to visit Uncle John. This time, something took place I’ve never experienced in a race before…I had to go “numero dos.” Under the category of “more information than you need to know,” I had more paper work than a traveling salesman! This delay probably set us back yet another ten minutes or so, and quite frankly, it was starting to get a little frustrating. I had so much more energy than I did last week in Ocala, but I could not take advantage of it.

After running on Miami Beach for a few more miles, we made our way towards downtown Miami. It was at the 12 mile mark that we separated from Pam. At that point, Jen and I tried to formulate a game plan to make up for all of our delays. How’s this for a plan…RUN FASTER!!! The race took us through Coconut Grove and past Cocowalk. It was here that we caught up with Chuck and Terri. We were also now running with a woman who was entertaining us with her stylized rendition of “Borderline” by Madonna. Of course, I joined in with the chorus, and changed the name of the song to “Finish-Line,” complete with my own original lyrics. She then broke into Pitbull, which brought back memories from the Miami Beach Latin Music Half Marathon.

As we made our way down Brickell Avenue and towards the finish line, it started to sprinkle a little bit. We were very fortunate during the race, as the sun really never came out. Jen, Terri and I crossed the finish line holding hands, and I had never felt as good physically after a marathon (despite our miserable finishing time).

We met Pam and Toni back at the Bayside parking garage, only to find the battery had died in Glenda’s car. AAA came to the rescue, and we were on the road and back to my house. After a quick pizza lunch (thanks to Glenda), the ladies showered and hit the road back to Ocala around 4 pm. The weekend lived up to all expectations, and we all signed up for the race again next year (including a few more of the Turtles). I guess we’ll have to build an additional wing to the house!

Next up, 26.2 With Donna in two weeks.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

FOUR MARATHONS IN FIVE WEEKS: PART 1 - OCALA MARATHON 1/22/2012

2012-01-24T15:16:00.004-05:00

I didn’t plan for it to happen this way. Heck, I didn’t even check the calendar. I just picked these four races because I’ve run them before, and I knew I’d be running with friends. It just so happens that all four marathons take place in the span of five weeks. As intimidating as it sounds, I was actually excited about the challenge. Last year, I ran Donna and Gainesville back-to-back. I know I’ve trained harder this past year (535 more miles in 2011 than in 2012), but will my body hold out? Apparently, I’m the only one not really concerned about it.

Ocala was first up on the list. If you’ve read my past blogs about this race, you know that there are typically less than 500 participants that do both the full and the half combined. This year was no different, with a total of 494 runners (175 competing in the full). It is a beautiful race, taking you through the scenic horse country of Ocala. Elaine and her husband Joe entered the full, along with one of my new Turtle friends, Toni. Pam was going to do the half, as she does still not want to push too hard after her knee operation last year. Jen had volunteered to work the water station with the Ocala Turtles at mile marker 11, but would jump in and run with us the rest of the way when we got to her station.

I drove up early Saturday morning and met Jen at the Paddock Mall in Ocala. This was the location that the marathon would begin, and also where we went to pick up our race packets. There was no real “expo” to speak of, with just one vendor selling his wares (with no men’s clothes to be found). The race shirt was a long sleeve blue tech shirt, which I gave two thumbs up. I tried on the large, but it was too short. I asked to exchange it, but they told me that they had just enough shirts for the participants, and I would have to wait for tomorrow after the race for a potential exchange. I asked Toni (who was working the packet pickup table) to do the old switcheroo for me when the woman turned her head. Five minutes later, it was all good.

From there, it was a short trip to Gainesville and an enjoyable afternoon with Lindsey. I made my way back to Ocala to spend the night with Pam and her husband Joe. Elaine was making a nice pasta dinner for us, along with Jen and her husband Dan. Elaine lives in the same complex as Pam, so we made our way over via Joe’s golf cart. Elaine and her husband Joe had invited some other friends to join us, and it was a great evening, capped off by a marshmallow roast outside. We got back to Pam’s house around 10:15, and I went straight to bed. The race was starting at 7, and my plan was to get up around 4:45.

Unlike the past two years where the temperature was in the forties during the race, the high this year was going to be 79 degrees. When we got to the starting line, the temperature was 48 degrees. Knowing full well that it was going to heat up quickly, I opted not to wear my jacket. I had on compression sleeves under my short sleeve shirt, and would take them off once it warmed up. For some unknown reason, they start the half marathon 15 minutes after the full, so Pam would not be running with us. The course had changed a bit from last year, and it now entailed making two loops around the same areas. After I made my customary potty break in the beginning of the race, Elaine’s husband Joe and Toni decided to run ahead. I felt unusually sluggish for the first ten miles, but running alongside of Elaine certainly helped. By that time, the sun was now out in full force, and I was shvizing like a pig.

As we approached mile marker eleven, we could see the Ocala Turtles at the water station. To my total surprise, they had made signs for me and posted them on a tree. That made me feel special (not stop eating the paste special), since no one had done that for me before. Lisa, Robin, Terri, Sharon and Chuck were all there cheering us on, and Jen was now ready to join in on the run. Maybe it was the excitement of my friends going out of their way to make the signs for me, but I got a real energy rush, which would carry me for about the next 13 miles.

When I run with Elaine, we tend to stop to take pictures more often than usual, but that is what makes it so much fun to run with her. We saw a guy who was really laboring from a cramp in his leg, so I hooked him up with a packet of Biofreeze.

We passed the Turtles again at mile marker 19 during our second loop, and Jen decided to stop at this point. Her car was parked there, and it would just be an easier deal for her to get home. Joe met us at mile marker 23 (after already completing the race), and ran the rest of the way in with us. I really got tired during the last two miles, but finished as strong as I could. Our finishing time was not our best, but I did get some really great pictures.

I went back to Pam’s house after the race, took a shower, and joined her and Joe for lunch at Horse & Hounds Restaurant & Pub. I hit the road after that, and made it home around 9. It was another great weekend of running with great friends.

One down, three to go. Next up, the Miami ING Marathon.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

LATIN MUISC MIAMI BEACH HALF MARATHON 12/11/2011

2011-12-13T13:19:00.001-05:00

For me, to say that this was the most highly anticipated race of the year would be a major understatement. Not because it was part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, or that it was taking place on Miami Beach. Not even because Pitbull would be putting on a concert after the race. This event would signify the first time that my running buddies from Ocala would be making their way to South Florida to run in my backyard (figuratively speaking).

Jen, Elaine and Tasha (Jen’s friend) had signed up for the Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon with me, and would be staying at Stately Wayne Manor for the weekend. It seemed like ages that we entered this run, but after the debacle last week (better known as the Palm Beach Marathon), the weekend had finally arrived. The ladies drove down on Friday afternoon, and arrived at my house around 4:30. Glenda and Rachel had gone to Orlando for a band trip, but would be back Saturday night. I gave them the guided tour of the Sawgrass Mills Mall, and later dined at P.F. Chang’s.

We woke up Saturday morning and made our way down to South Beach. The expo was held at Lummus Park, which is located off Ocean Drive between 5th and 10th Street. It was cute how Elaine, Jen and Tasha were acting like they had left Mayberry for the first time on a road trip to Raleigh. It took a while to park, but it was good that we scouted out the parking situation the day before the race. The expo took place right on the beach! How cool is that? The race shirt was amazingly nice (not cotton) and the merchandise store had some great gear. The ladies bought me a shirt in appreciation of my southern hospitality for the weekend. Vendors were out in full force, with plenty of protein bars, coconut water and gels for the taking. After lunch, dinner, and yes…even more shopping, Jen and Tasha stayed up late catching up with Glenda and Rachel.

My alarm ran at 3:15, and it was finally race day. We left the house at 4:30 and got to the parking garage around 5:30. There were 3,680 participants entered in this race, and it was exciting to see just how many of them were there as early as we were. We took our obligatory pictures before the race, and made our way to the starting corral. The gun sounded exactly at 7, and it was interesting how they controlled the flow of the race. You are put into a corral based on the time you expect to finish. Corral 1 went first, and they waited a few minutes before they let the second corral start. We were in the fourth corral, so we didn’t really wait that long to get going.

The course took us down Ocean Drive and Alton Road. We eventually made our way to 1-95 (Julia Tuttle Causeway), which goes over Biscayne Bay. Elaine stopped several times to take pictures, and I had a camera in my running belt as well. After we got off the Julia Tuttle Causeway, we ran a bit through some unsavory neighborhoods, but plenty of water, gels and fan support. We came full circle, as we made our way back by running on 3-95 (MacArthur Causeway) to the finish line at Lummus Park. What is cool about running on the MacArthur Causeway is that you can see all of the cruise ships in the Port of Miami, as well as the Miami skyline.

Elaine and I finished a few minutes ahead of Jen and Tasha. This was Tasha’s first half marathon, and she was pretty sore when it was over. Elaine and I ran a strong race, but Jen was a little bothered by the heat. I was pleased with my time, and felt great after it was over. They gave the runners towels soaked in ice water as they crossed the finish line, and even had ice baths for those in dire need. The medals were really nice, and they even had enough for all of the finishers (imagine that). All the vendors from the expo were there again on race day, and we grabbed even more SWAG.

It was now time to be entertained by the musical styling of Pitbull. Even if you are not a fan, you have to be impressed that such a high profile musical artist was signed to give a concert on the beach for a crowd of around 2,000 runners, family and friends. Pitbull performed for about 45 minutes, and we made our way back home after that. Elaine saw the boutique “Dash,” and made me turn the car around so she could get out and take a picture. Such a tourist!

When we got home, the ladies showered and made the drive back to Ocala. The race itself was first class, but the memories from the weekend were priceless!

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

PALM BEACH MARATHON - 12/4/2011

2011-12-06T12:51:00.002-05:00

How can a race be so much fun and enjoyable, yet suck at the same time? The answer is to surround yourself with good friends (and food) while you are trudging through the tsouris.

The Palm Beach Marathon is a race that has been on my radar for a few years now. Living in South Florida, you are pretty much limited to this race, the Miami Marathon and the A1A Marathon. I decided that this would be the year that I would enter, especially since I’m totally over doing the A1A Marathon. I was hoping that between Elaine, Jen and Pam, I would have a running partner. Despite my constant nagging and begging, all three of them decided to take a pass. I wasn’t going to bail out, but I really didn’t want to run another marathon “lone wolf” style. Pam told me that Chuck, one of the members of the Turtle Running Club of Ocala, was entering the race. This would be the 300th marathon of his career, and some of the Turtles would be running as well to help him celebrate. I put a posting up on the Turtle’s Facebook page to see if I could run with them; Lisa and Terri entered the full, with Robin and Toni taking on the half.

During my run with the Turtles (in Ocala) the week before the race, Terri decided that she was okay with my pace and agreed to run with me. Later that week, she told me that Chuck was having a dinner celebration the night before the race, and invited me to attend. Since I was planning on being in West Palm Beach to pick up my race packet at the expo, it was a no brainer (not that I needed an excuse).

I started out the weekend by running the Jingle Bell Jog 5K with Rachel on Saturday morning. It was a good last minute warm-up for the marathon on Sunday, and it’s one of the few 5K races that Rachel and I run together. After about a three hour power nap, we got dressed and made our way up to West Palm Beach. The packet pickup and expo was at The Harriet Himmel Theatre at CityPlace. This is a really beautiful area, with lots of amazing shopping (if you’re into that kind of thing).

The excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I picked up my packet. The race shirt was made out of cotton. REALLY??? REALLY??? A cotton t-shirt for a full marathon? REALLY??? Fortunately, they were selling commemorative tech shirts for the race, which actually had the course map on the back of the shirt. Sadly, joy turned to despair, as I needed a shoe horn to squeeze into a double-XL. The expo itself was pathetic, but I did have a nice conversation with the iFiteness girl (see my previous post “26.2 With Donna – 2/13/2011”).

After some power shopping with Glenda and Rachel, it was time to meet the group at the restaurant. Chuck had chosen Il Bellagio at CityPlace for us to dine, which specializes in Italian cuisine. I had never met Chuck before, but recognized him instantly. Then Lisa, Robin, Toni, Terri, and Sharon rolled in with the rest of Chuck’s friends and family. There were eighteen of us in total, and the food and conversation was excellent. We probably could have hung out all night, but we needed to get what little sleep we could squeeze in before the race. Chuck then presented us with t-shirts he have printed up to celebrate this milestone in his running career, which blew away the shirts they gave out for the race. We agreed to put the shirts on before Chuck crossed the finish line, and then take a group photo.

I woke up 3 a.m. and rolled out of the house around 4:15. I got the parking garage at 5:15, and met up with the Turtles shortly after that. There were 2,106 runners entered into the race, with 532 competing in the full marathon. This was down 763 from last year (2,869), probably because of the crappy t-shirt. We took some pre-race photos, and were now ready to get down to business. It was very windy, with the temperature around 73 degrees when the gun sounded.

The first part of the race was really pretty, as we ran on the beach and through some really upscale neighborhoods. I took my one and only potty break at the three mile mark, and Terri decided to walk with Chuck for a little bit. I continued to run with Lisa, who is considerably faster than me. She can probably complete a marathon in four hours, but decided to do a slower pace and keep me company. It was all good for about the first seven miles, but the flaws of the race became glaringly obvious after that. As we approached one of the water stops (which are stationed every 1.5 miles), we were shocked to discover that they had run out of water! REALLY??? REALLY??? With runners depending on hydration to get them through 26.2 miles, how can that happen? Fortunately for me, I always carry a water bottle in my running belt; this would not be the last water station to come up bone dry.

Around mile marker eight, we were now out of West Palm Beach, and running in “crack town” Lantana (no disrespect to any residents of Lantana). Even worse, the police were having a little trouble keeping drivers off the course itself (I guess the cones they put up weren’t a strong enough message). Physically, I felt fine, but I was starting to get a little winded. I was having trouble keeping up with Lisa around the seventeen mile mark, and it was at that point where she took off and left me in the dust. I really appreciated her staying with me for as long as she did.

The last eight miles seemed to take forever, but it was obvious how much the extra training I’ve done this year has paid off. The temperature was now up to 79 degrees, and a lot of the participants were walking it in. As I crossed the finish line, Robin, Sharon, Toni and Lisa (among others) were there cheering me on, and I felt great physically. My time was very respectable, and I was thankful to receive my medal. Why you may ask? As if the bogus t-shirt, lack of water and poor scenery weren’t enough to discourage you from entering this race again, how about the fact that they actually ran out of finisher medals! REALLY??? REALLY??? Our running buddy Chuck was about to complete his 300th marathon at age 73 and get interviewed by the local television station. Oh, by the way…he wasn’t going to receive a medal. REALLY??? REALLY??? On top of that, the medal itself looked more like one you would give a finisher of a 5K race (just like the t-shirt). Toni and I gave one of the race officials the business about it, but they promised to mail the medals out to those who did not receive one within a few weeks.

As Chuck approached the finish line, we quickly threw on the t-shirts he gave us and prepared to take our group picture. Terri finished shortly after that, and she was equally pleased to find out they did not have a medal for her as well. We hung out for a bit after that, but the Turtles had to get back to Ocala, and I had an appointment with an ice bath.

Overall, hanging out with some amazing people totally overshadowed how poorly organized the race was. I was pleased on all levels, but doubtful if I’ll ever enter this race again. That is…unless they up the level of the t-shirts.

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TAMARAC TURKEY TROT 11/24/2011

2011-11-29T10:42:00.002-05:00

Like the Masters, the Turkey Trot is a tradition like no other. Okay…That’s probably a pretty big exaggeration, but the Turkey Trot holds a great deal of sentimental value for me.

If you have ever seen the award-winning documentary “I Am a Runner” (and let’s face it, who hasn’t seen it by now), you know that this is the race that spring-boarded my running career. Although a 5K is for the most part beneath me in terms of distance, I always have a place in my heart (and my racing calendar) for this run.

Since 1996, the routine has been the same: Doug picks me up at my house; we compete in the race, go back to his house and visit with his family, and make our way back to my house. As the years have rolled on, we have picked up other runners along the way, most notably Doug’s two daughters Britney and Brooke as well as my daughter Rachel. This year, my good friend Cyndy from Jacksonville decided to run with us. Doug has experienced some medical issues over the years, and this is the only race he enters. It’s a shame, since he was way faster than me, but now he is just a shell of the runner he once was. Despite his physical issues, his enthusiasm for this race never dampers.

With the Palm Beach Marathon looming on December 4th, this race came at a perfect time. Since I am tapering off before the marathon, my running schedule had me do seven miles Wednesday, the Turkey Trot on Thursday, five miles on Friday, and an always exciting eleven mile run with the Ocala Turtles on Saturday. With over 1,500 participants, this race is always well attended. As the gun sounded, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to attack this run. Because the race is so short, you have no room for slacking if you want to PR. I had a pretty good pace in the beginning, but I’ve gone out quicker in previous races. I did have a negative split, which made me very happy. As I crossed the finish line, I was 45 seconds off my targeted goal. This may not seem like much, but it’s an eternity in a 5K.

Doug told me that he was within 30 feet of me in the last mile, but then felt like he was carrying a refrigerator on his back. It was sad for me to hear that, and reminded me how fortunate I am to not have any serious physical ailments.

As Cyndy and Rachel crossed the finish line, we grabbed a bagel and bottle of water and make our way to Doug’s house.

Let the festivities begin!

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PAL HALF MARATHON 11/6/2011

2011-11-21T14:07:00.003-05:00

This is a race that I don’t always have the pleasure of participating in on a regular basis. It is typically scheduled right after the Florida/Georgia game (Halloween weekend) or Homecoming weekend. Since the Gators game was a noon kickoff, we drove home after the game with plenty of time to get some good quality sleep before the 6:30 am start time on Sunday.

This race takes place in Spanish River Park, which has been discussed in previous blog posts. It was the end of Daylight Savings Time, so I was able to cop an extra hour of sleep. Of course I had to screw up my alarm clock, but lucky for me, I set the alarm on my cell phone as a backup. I parked in my usual spot, only to find out that they moved the check-in table to a new location. In addition, I totally forgot to bring my water bottle. Fortunately, I brought a bottle of Gatorade with me, which fit into my running belt. As I made my way back to the car to put in my contact lenses, it started to pour big-time! Then, I had major issues putting in one of my contacts. Can you tell the morning was shaping up just peachy keen?

With all of the pre-race festivities now out of the way, it was finally time to run. Since this race takes place right on the beach in Boca Raton, you can always count on some extra wind. Today was no exception, especially with the rain coming down intermittently. I got off to a very fast start, and it only rained for the first two miles or so. It had been a while since I’ve entered a race of this length, and it felt great to be back on the circuit.

I could tell I was going to PR this race, but then the bottom dropped out a little bit at the end. I started to get winded during the last three miles of the race, which caused me to lose some time; the wind gusting in my face didn’t help matters either. They had changed the course a bit, so you actually run through the park itself more than in the past. I don’t know if this race was a PR or not, but it was still one of my better times in a half marathon. I was happy to see that all of the extra training I’ve been doing this year is paying off.

The real test will be December 4th…The Palm Beach Marathon.

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GATOR GALLOP 2011

2011-11-14T14:21:00.004-05:00

Although it is technically not a race, Gator Gallop is without a doubt one of my favorite runs to participate in. Not because of the distance (it’s only two miles) and not because of the course (it goes down University Avenue). The excitement is the kickoff to homecoming weekend at the University of Florida.

The weekend starts on Friday morning with the traditional homecoming parade. The parade starts at 11:30 am, with Gator Gallop leading the way before the floats come through. Later that evening is Gator Growl, which is the largest student produced pep rally. If that weren’t enough, the weekend concludes on Saturday with the football game (although this year is not the best of times).

We typically drive up Thursday night and make our way to our “spot,” which is right in front of Leonardo’s around 10 am. When I got up in the morning, I was surprised to see the temperature was a brisk 43 degrees. No worries; I brought a long sleeve shirt and a jacket to run in. Lindsey’s roommate Marisa and her friend Hannah decided to run with me, so we picked up the whole clan at her apartment.

The race…I mean run (old habits are hard to break) begins in front of Percy Beard Track, which is about one mile from Leonardo’s. As the three of us made our way to the start, the crowd was already out in full force. All the schools in Gainesville close for homecoming, and parents love to bring their kids to the event. We picked up our shirts and bibs, and did some pre-race stretching. There are about 1,500 people who enter the run, including parents pushing strollers, skaters and lots of walkers. There is no real official timing of this run, but they do give a modest cash prize to the person who finishes first (not me). Since I don’t typically run a distance this short, my only measuring stick to set a PR is the Gator Gallops I have run in previous years.

As the run starts, it’s very cool seeing all the ACRs (Alachua County Residents) lined up in the street. They are very enthusiastic in cheering everyone on. I was a little sore at first from my eleven mile run on Wednesday, but there is no time to relax when you’re only running two miles. When I got to Glenda and Lindsey, I had loosened up and was ready to take it home. I had Lindsey shoot some video of me running instead of taking still pictures. I crossed the finish line strong, setting a new PR and ready to sit for two hours as the parade was starting.

The only thing missing was my daughter Rachel, who was at a convention this year.

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IT'S A CRUEL, CRUEL SUMMER

2011-08-05T11:28:00.007-04:00

It has always been my steadfast policy to never complain about the heat or humidity in any of my postings on dailymile or Facebook. This seems to be a common theme of my running friends, but I refuse to join in. It is Florida people…it is summer people…deal with it!

That being said, I’ve decided to dedicate this blog to piss-and-moan about just how hot it is out there.

Although there are races scheduled throughout the entire year, you would be hard pressed to find anything longer than a 5K scheduled during the summer months (especially in the south). Although the majority of races begin between 6am and 7am, it’s still too hot and humid for competitive racing conditions. With that in mind, the “unofficial” race season typically starts in October, and runs (no pun intended) through April.

In years past, I have used the summers to do most of my intensive training for my upcoming races. My philosophy was that if you can run through the extreme heat of the summer, you would be totally prepared to run in milder weather conditions of fall and winter. In fact, I would actually start out running around 10am, trading the intense heat for the extra sleep. It worked out pretty well, although I finished up pretty late (which ate up a good portion of the day). However, something happened two summers ago that changed everything for me.

My best guess is that the ozone layer just totally fell apart. I can remember running on one particular Saturday, and could not believe how brutal the heat was. I had to cut the run short, which is something I very rarely do. When it happened again the next week, I knew I needed a new game plan. I actually started setting the alarm to get up earlier in the morning in an effort to beat some of the heat, but it only helped marginally. Running as much as I could before the sun came out was the best option, but it really takes commitment to set your alarm for 5am on a Saturday to go out and run; fortunately, I have that kind of commitment. The early runs have helped in terms of avoiding a total beat down from the sun, but the humidity does you in as well. I have found myself gasping for air, but my heart rate is not accelerated. The air is so thick, it’s just been impossible to push myself more than 17 miles on any given day.

Hydration of course is another issue. I carry two 24 ounce water bottles on my belt, but of course that’s not enough fluid. Many runners will go out in their cars before their runs and stash drinks in the bushes along their routes. I am fortunate, as I run past my mother-in-law’s condo around the 10 mile point of my run. She hooks me up with a couple of bottles of Gatorade and a bucket of ice water. I also take my gels every 45 minutes, and my Endurolytes every hour. I’m sure they help, but there are some days that it’s all I can do to finish the runs.

I have had to rethink my training strategy for the summer months. I have been running more after work, which doesn’t seem to be as humid. I’m not a big fan of running at the end of the day, but it’s a great way to escape the heat.

Not that I’m complaining…

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FALLING FOR YOU

2011-04-29T12:55:00.004-04:00

Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that make you happy or motivate you. As silly as this may seem, getting a new running shirt or a new running belt can get you “jacked” for your next run.

I had just received an early Father’s Day gift from Glenda…a Garmin Forerunner 305 running watch. Among some of the features of this watch include reading a satellite as you run, monitoring your heart rate, and allowing you to run with a virtual partner (which is good if you’re a “lone wolf” like me). When you are finished, you can upload your data to your computer, Garmin’s website and/or dailymile. This allows you to share your routes with other people, and helps you keep better track of your training.

I already have a Garmin Forerunner 201 running watch, which is the equivalent of the Zack Morris cell phone. It can’t upload your data because it’s so “old school,” but it serves my purposes nevertheless. Lately, it’s been acting squirrely, and I wanted to replace it before it totally freaks out on me.

I decided to christen the watch this past Wednesday night. I was about one mile into my run, and decided to take a brief moment to admire my new prized possession. Then...out of nowhere...FUMBLE ALABAMA!!! I was doing the tango with the pavement. After a quick blood transfusion, I was back on my feet running strong. In all the years I've been running, this is only the third time I’ve gone rumbling, bumbling & stumbling. Coincidentally, that is the same number of times I watched Pam fall during the Croom 50K last year.

Just sayin'.

P.S. No watches were harmed during the making of this blog.

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GUMBO LIMBO GREEN TURTLE GALLOP 10K - 4/3/2011

2011-04-05T15:40:00.002-04:00

I know what you all are thinking. A 10K??? REALLY??? REALLY???

I hadn’t entered a race since the marathon in Gainesville this past February. Now that my foot was completely healed, I was “jonzing” for a race with some sustenance. With spring now sprung, warmer temperatures usually produce shorter races. There is a half marathon in Pensacola I could have entered (Pam & Jen signed up for this race), but that’s quite a schlep…even for me. There was a half marathon in Port St. Lucie last weekend, but the course didn’t look that appealing, considering I would have to drive about two hours to get there. My next best option would be to enter a 10K.

The Gumbo Limbo Green Turtle Gallop took place at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton. I have run this course many times before, and I enjoy it very much. The race begins right in front of the park on A1A. After about two miles, you run into a residential neighborhood with old houses that are worth in the upwards of a million dollars. You circle through, back out onto A1A, and finish out doing a lap in the park.

As I entered this race into my dailymile calendar, I noticed that a few other runners using this social media site had entered as well. I extended a friend invitation to some of them, and we agreed to look for each other during the race. I was excited about the prospect of actually bonding with someone at a race not named Pam, Jen or Elaine.

I did a 12.6 mile run the day before, and was pretty tired when I woke up at 4:45 on race day. There were 602 entrants in the race, which is a very nice crowd for an event now in its second year. I started out pretty quick (for me at least), but I got very tired two miles into the run. I was able to suck it up and finish strong, but not really the time I was hoping for.

After the race was over, I spotted my new running buddies Elizabeth, Damaris and Michelle. We spoke for a while, and they all told me they enjoyed the award winning documentary “I Am a Runner,” which is currently playing on my dailymile page. It also turns out that Michelle works at FIU with me, and I went over to speak to her today. We made tentative plans to run on Wednesday night with the Gold Coast Runners Club.

Look at me being sociable…Pam would be so proud.

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SPRING BREAK…IT’S DAY & NIGHT

2011-03-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

Ah…Spring Break. It’s a time to reflect on what’s really important in life. No school…No studying… Going to the beach every day…Watching (or participating) in wet tee shirt competitions. For me, Spring Break means only one thing: more time to run!

Although FIU was officially open during spring break, I took a few days off to spend time with Rachel (and to run…of course). Having the opportunity to go out and run during the week, either early in the morning or in the middle of the afternoon, was a great way to catch up on all of those extra miles I missed while I was waiting for the swelling in my foot to go down. In total, I was able to run a little more than 36 miles.

The key here is running during the day. I have always had a very difficult time motivating myself to run at night. I’m not talking about running in the dark…I’m talking about running after I get home from work. I don’t mind getting up über early to run. In fact, I have been known to roll out of bed at 4am on weekends during the summer to beat the heat. Since I typically get up at 5:30 to go to work, the morning run is virtually a no go. I’m usually home by 5pm, so the time to complete a leisurely 8 mile run is not an issue. I simply cannot embrace the run at the end of the day.

I run in the morning because I look forward to it; I run at night because I’m obligated to do it. I would have hoped my mindset would have changed after all of these years. Any and all suggestions are welcome here.

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TOO MUCH REST FOR THE WEARY

2011-03-11T11:24:00.003-05:00

The healing process is going slower than I anticipated. After my visit to the doctor (the day after the 5 Points of Life Marathon), I figured there would be no recovery run during the week. I was planning to put in 10 to 12 miles on Saturday, but I wasn’t getting my hopes up.

When Saturday rolled around, my foot was still pretty swollen. Rather than prolong this injury, I decided not to run. I FELT LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL!!! No running for an entire week…right off the heels of back-to-back marathons! I didn’t know what to do with myself. The plan at this point was to put in a run or two during the next week. I figured a couple of three to five mile runs would be a good start to get back into the swing of things.

As the week went on, the foot was still pretty sore, and I didn't get to run at all. It was getting better, but not at any kind of acceptable rate for me. My brother came by on Friday night and took a look at the foot. He was pretty sure that it was just bruised, but did not rule out the possibility of a stress fracture. If I were still experiencing pain in the upcoming weeks, the game plan was to get an x-ray on the foot. I told him that I was planning on running tomorrow (Saturday), and that I would call him with an update.

My goal on Saturday morning was to do anywhere from 14 to 17 miles, although I knew it would probably be closer to 14. It’s amazing just how much not running after two weeks can set you back in your training. The foot felt good while I was running, but it hurt whenever I had to stop (crossing the street, going to the little boys’ room, etc.). It felt great to be back out there pounding the pavement, but 14 miles was a good distance for my first day back. I iced down for a long time after the run and was limping a little bit for the rest of the day.

The good news is that my foot has been getting progressively better during the week, but of course not fast enough for me. I’m thankful that my run on Saturday did not set me back, but I decided not to push myself. I took off the rest of the week, and will look to put in a 17 mile run on Saturday.

Next week is Spring Break for both FIU and for my daughter. I’m planning on taking a few days off, and I’ll resume a full running schedule during the week (translated…making up for lost time).

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PHOTOS FROM 5 POINTS OF LIFE MARATHON

2011-03-09T19:12:00.004-05:00

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PHOTOS FROM DONNA

2011-02-25T11:36:00.003-05:00

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OFFICIALLY A MANIAC

2011-02-22T16:13:00.005-05:00

Remember when I said that I hate marathons, and that I don’t see myself running another marathon without my posse?

Forget all of that; times have changed!

During the 26.2 Run With Donna last week, Pam TOLD me that I HAD to run the full marathon in Gainesville the next weekend. The Five Points of Life is a great half marathon, but the full leaves a lot to be desired. She said that if I did indeed complete the full, I would qualify to join Marathon Maniacs. The criterion to join this organization includes running three marathons in the span of 90 days. Since I had already completed Ocala, and was about to finish off Donna, it seemed like a no-brainer. But could I physically compete in two marathons within an eight-day window? Then Pam dropped the bombshell on me…she had not entered the race in Gainesville. I just assumed she did, but Pam was taking a pass on this one. I tried to convince Jennifer to run with me, but her mother was coming in from Connecticut for the weekend.

Let me get this straight…run in three marathons over a 29 day span, and…by the way…run the last one “lone-wolf” style? REALLY??? REALLY??? I said I would seriously think about it, but of course my mind was already made up.

When I woke up on Monday morning (the day after Donna), my right foot was totally bruised and swollen on the top. This had never happened to me before, but with a week to go before Gainesville, I wasn’t worried…yet. My training for the week included three days of running distances of two miles, three miles and two miles. When Wednesday rolled around, my foot was still pretty bruised, but I went out and did the two miles anyway. My foot felt a little better on Thursday, so I put in my three mile run. I decided to skip the run on Friday, in an effort to give the foot an extra day of healing time.

I left for Gainesville on Saturday morning with my youngest daughter Rachel. We picked up Lindsey at her apartment, and went to the expo. My foot was still bruised, but I “super-sized” the race anyway (I paid the difference to upgrade to the full marathon). I figured that if my foot hurt too much, I could bail out at the halfway point.

It was 55 degrees at the start of the race. YAY!!! There were 213 runners participating in the full marathon, and 680 taking on the half (893 in total, not counting the 364 who participated in the 5K on Saturday morning). My goal for this race was to finish…period!

I started very slow, and it seemed as if everyone entered in the race had passed me. I was testing out the foot, but it didn’t seem like it would be an issue. I started picking up speed, and was running a pretty decent pace. Around ten miles into the race, I got the feeling that this was not going to be as difficult as I had anticipated. After all, this was the scene of my worst finishing time for a marathon…ever! Miles 11-13 took me through the University of Florida campus, including “The Swamp.”

The second half of the marathon could not have gone better. I ran with a guy from Orlando for a couple of miles, but he was having difficulty keeping up. Around mile 16, I really caught a “second wind” and never looked back. I knew at this point, barring something unforeseen, I was going to set a new PR. It was now about 78 degrees, and I was drinking Gatorade like nobody’s business. I also took my creatine at mile marker seven, and never cramped up at all. As I crossed the finish line, Lindsey and Rachel were both there cheering for me and taking pictures. It felt great to be finished, and to have conquered this course in record-breaking fashion. However, it did not come totally without a price.

I went to my brother’s office the next day (he is my primary care physician) at Nova Southeastern University. He runs the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Clinic, and I go for treatment every two weeks to keep me running like a fine-tuned engine. My physical therapist Yasmin told me that I was pretty dehydrated, and that I should probably take it easy on the foot this week. I also took an acupuncture treatment on my calves, not to mention the fun of digging into my feet to break up the Planter Fasciitis.

But in the end, it was all worth it; I’m now officially a Maniac, and I’m now TOTALLY addicted to doing marathons.

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WATCH THE START OF THE 26.2 WITH DONNA

2011-02-17T10:10:00.006-05:00

If you have never seen the start of a marathon, this is really cool to watch. It took about two minutes before I crossed the starting line. Look closely; I'm in there somewhere!

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26.2 WITH DONNA - 2/13/2011

2011-02-15T22:19:00.014-05:00

I've tried my best to persuade Pam to come down to South Florida and run a marathon with me, but it just hasn't worked out yet. Her "dance card" is usually pretty filled, but we came pretty close this year. I finally decided that "If the mountain won't come to Mohammad, Mohammad must go to the mountain." Since Pam, Elaine and Jennifer all live in Ocala, they are more centrally located to do a larger variety of races than I am. When you stop and consider gas, tolls, hotel, food and entry fees (yes…you do have to pay to run in these races), it's hard to just pick up and go every weekend.

Pam ran the 26.2 Run With Donna in Jacksonville last year and could not stop talking about it. I had run the A1A Marathon that same day in Ft. Lauderdale, which was actually a "training run" for the 50K we were about to do. I registered for Donna when Pam had to cancel out on the West Palm Beach Marathon we were planning on doing, because of a prior commitment she had made.

The 26.2 Run With Donna is the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer. 100% of the proceeds and raised funds go to breast cancer research and care. Jennifer was extremely happy that I entered the race, since she was very nervous about competing. She had only run one marathon before, and was disappointed in her finishing time. I assured her that I would stay with her to the end, which was the reason why I chose this race.

I left early Saturday morning, and after a quick shopping spree at the Under Armour Outlet Store in St. Augustine, I arrived at the home of my close friends Cyndy and Al. They offered to let me stay with them for the weekend, which made the trip that much more enjoyable. Al is a fantastic athlete, but his knee will not allow him to run. We went to the expo and met Jennifer and her friend Tracy.

I was planning on running with my cell phone for the first time, so I was in the market for some sort of case. My running belt can hold my gels and my water bottle, but not much more. Another concern was keeping the phone dry, since I sweat like a pig. I meandered over to the iFitness booth, where they were selling running belts made of neoprene. A very attractive salesperson decided to demonstrate how the phone does not move as she ran in place. REALLY??? REALLY??? Was I even looking at her belt? When she finished, I asked her to run in place for me again, only to get smacked by Jennifer. I was there for quite some time, which provided great entertainment value for all parties concerned. I finally decided on the Ultimate II Race Belt, and we continued shopping. I went back once more before we left and upgraded to the Hydration Belt, which has two little water bottles on the side. I know they all thought I was crazy, but I tried my best to explain that I needed to run with two belts no matter what. Since I already own a Spibelt, I would wear it during the marathon, along my new iFitness belt. We had dinner at Sliders that night, and I turned in early, since I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Al was kind enough to drive me to Pam's hotel at 5 a.m. It was 41 degrees, and I was really cold. We took the shuttle to the Runners' Village, and met Jennifer and the rest of Pam's friends. We still had over an hour to kill, but there was lots of excitement in the air. There were 1,571 runners competing in the full marathon, and 3,928 taking on the half (a total of 5,499 for those of you who are mathematically challenged). Since I have absolutely no conception of crowd size, I would have guessed there were over 10,000 runners.

It took about three minutes to cross the starting line when the gun went off. We started running over a bridge, and I had to go potty after about two miles …my usual M.O. At the five mile point, we actually ran on the beach for the next two miles. The sand was hard and compact, and it was a welcomed break for our legs.

It was truly a chamber of commerce day, with the temperature now around 50 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The crowd support for the runners was AMAZING! It seemed like the whole city embraced this race, with people thanking us for participating in such a worthy cause. Folks stood outside their homes and offered the runners orange slices, drinks, pretzels and even M & M's. Talk about southern hospitality!

Jennifer was consistently running ahead of us, and it was obvious we were holding her back. At around the 18 mile mark, we told her to just take off. It was also around this point that Pam's knee was giving her trouble and I was starting to get cramps in my left calf. The last three miles were very difficult for the both us, but we worked as a team and encouraged each other on.

With just two-tenths of a mile to go, I got a killer cramp in my calf. How could this happen now? I stopped to rub it out, and told Pam to keep going. There was no way I was going to hobble across the finish line after giving it my all for 26 miles. I worked my calf over as quickly as I could, and did my best impersonation a man running full speed ahead. Pam decided to wait for me, and we crossed the finish line together. Jennifer was there to greet us, as she finished ten minutes before we did. Not only that…she shattered her last marathon time by almost 50 minutes. I was really proud of her.

We hung out at the Runner's Village for a little while and celebrated our accomplishments. No personal best this day, but my times have become very consistent. My brother (who is also my doctor) suggested I try Creatine before my next race to help with the cramping. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Next…on to Gainesville and a big decision to make.

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2011-02-14T11:27:00.004-05:00

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THE OCALA MARATHON – 1/23/2011

2011-02-10T15:09:00.004-05:00

I was pleasantly surprised when both Elaine and Pam told me they wanted to run the full Ocala Marathon this year. We had previously competed in the half, and I was really looking forward to running a full marathon with my buddies for the first time. With the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer (26.2 With Donna) coming up on February 13th, this was a great chance to run two marathons within a three week window.

Elaine and Pam both offered to let me stay with them, since they live in the Ocala/Silver Springs area. After a spirited game of “Rock-Paper-Scissors,” I would lodge with Pam and her husband Joe. An extra added bonus for the weekend was the opportunity to spend Saturday with my oldest daughter Lindsey, since she is a student at the University of Florida.

I left early Saturday morning and drove straight to the race expo at the Ocala Holiday Inn Conference Center. I met up with Elaine and Pam, bought a pair of compression sleeves for my arms, and continued my journey for another 35 miles to Gator Country. Lindsey and I had an early dinner, and then made our way to the O-Dome to watch the Gators destroy Arkansas 75-43 in basketball. I arrived back at Pam’s house around 11 pm and went right to bed.

It was a chilly 28 degrees when the race started. With only 130 participants doing the full marathon (302 were doing the half), we got going right as the gun sounded. Jennifer had not entered the race, but met up with us at the five mile mark. She was still training for the 26.2 With Donna, and planned on staying with us for about five miles.

Since I usually run “lone wolf” style, running with my buddies made all the difference in the world. I could not even begin to describe just how great I felt at the end of the race, both physically and emotionally. With about two miles left, I got this unexplained burst of energy, and literally sprinted across the finish line.

I did not set a personal best, but I came pretty close. We probably putzed around at the water stations longer than we should have, but it was fair tradeoff. The entertainment value alone was worth the price of admission; I don’t see myself running another marathon without my posse.

I’m looking forward to 26.2 With Donna this weekend.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

ULTRA MARATHON, ULTRA DISASTER

2011-02-09T22:07:00.005-05:00

“It’s only five more miles.”

Famous last words.

These are the words uttered to me over and over again by both Elaine and Pam as they tried to convince me to enter the Croom Fools Run. When I first saw that Pam had entered the race, I immediately went to the website. Within the same race was a 15 mile run, a 50K run and a 50 mile run. I knew she was not at the point to do 50 miles; when she mentioned the word “Ultra,” I knew it had to be the 50K. By way of definition, an untramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles. The thought of doing a race this long never even entered my mind, but this was a trail run that takes place at Croom which is within the Withlacoochee State Forest in Brooksville (close to Tampa). I knew that if I even had any kind of shot at completing this 31 mile race, running with Elaine and Pam would be my only chance.

“It’s only five more miles.”

I did most of my training at Vista View Park in Davie. There was an equestrian trail in the park which I was told would be similar to the trail I would be running on during the race. I purchased a pair of Brooks Cascadia running shoes, which are made specifically for trail running. My initial observations were the following: 1) the terrain is not smooth like pavement; don’t take your eyes of the trail, and 2) DON’T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE TRAIL! You really have to concentrate more on where you are stepping and less time on observing the nature around you. The training also took a toll on my lower back.

I got to Brooksville the day before the race, and picked up the race packets for the three of us. When I turned into the Withlacoochee State Forest, there were no road signs (or signs of civilization for that matter) for about five miles. The folks putting on the race told me that there would be water stations every five miles (as opposed to every mile) and that the runners would have to check in at these water stations. This would be the method in which they would keep track of all of the runners, since it was a forest with no crowds to cheer us on. The event was limited to a total of 250 participants.

When the three of us arrived at the race the next morning, it was pitch black (there are no street lights in a forest because…well…it's a forest). When the race started, the sun was starting to come up, so we could actually see where we were running. To my surprise (and delight), the trail was much flatter than the one at Vista View Park. The course was marked by paint on the trees (orange for 15 mile and 50K; blue for the 50 mile). Things were going really well, and Pam had only fallen three times so far.

The 15 mile point brought us back to where the race began, and gave us an opportunity to get some refreshments out of our cooler. Four miles later, I was having trouble keeping up with Elaine and Pam. They were willing to stay with me, but I didn’t want to hold them back. BIG MISTAKE!

I was starting to cramp up and had to incorporate some walking into my routine. I was chugging along the best I could, but at the 23 mile mark, the race turned into a complete disaster! I followed the “Yellow Brick Road” the whole time, but it led me to a dead end right in front of a river. Now what? I didn’t have my cell phone with me (not that there was any reception) and no one around to ask for directions. The only thing I could think of doing at that point was to start to follow the blue paint markings that were designated for the 50 mile run. At least it would get me to the finish line. I bumped into a guy who was lost as well, and he figured he had run an extra ten miles out of his way (he was doing the 50 mile race). We made our way to the one and only road in and out of the forest. Some folks who were already finished with the 15 mile race were kind enough to stop and bring us back to where we should have been. They told us that the course was recently changed, so some of the trees were mismarked with paint. We were apparently not the only two runners to get lost, and I figured that I ran an additional four miles. I was now back on track and ready to finish this race off.

When I started to run again, I got cramps in my calves so severe that I couldn’t even stand up. In addition, I almost fainted on three separate occasions. With no one around to help me out, I truly felt as if I were battling for my life more than trying to finish the race. I seriously did not know how this was going to play out. I tried to block out the pain, and massage my calves as much as I could. I eventually crossed the finish line covered in salt from severe dehydration. This was where Mr. Salty was born.

Elaine tried to get me to eat something, but I had no appetite. My original plan was to drive home after the race, but there was no way this was happening. I checked back into the hotel and battled cramps in my feet for the rest of the night. I had no strength to get out of my running clothes, let alone take a shower. I felt better in the morning, but it was quite an effort to drive home.

Jennifer has already approached Elaine, Pam and me about doing the race again this year. I have mixed emotions about it…but after all…

“It’s only five more miles.”

MARATHON MAN

2011-02-09T20:49:00.004-05:00

After more than ten years of competitive running, it was finally time to put on my “big boy” pants and start training for a marathon. It was something that I dreaded, but at the same time, it was something I needed to do.

I will tell you up front that I hate running marathons. They are long, grueling and more physically demanding than you could ever imagine. Then why do I keep torturing myself like this? Because I can! Seriously…any athlete will tell you that they always wonder how they would compete at the next level. I needed to know how I could handle 26.2 miles, even if I only competed one time. I registered for the A1A Marathon , which takes place on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The starting line is in front of the Museum of Discovery and Science on Las Olas Blvd, but the race is mostly an out and back on A1A.

The training for this race was very difficult. I was running distances I’ve never attempted before, and besides the physical toll it was taking on my body, I was concerned that I wasn’t embracing the challenge. I was seeing this as something I “had” to do, rather than something I “wanted” to do.

The race had around 4,000 entrants; most of which were only doing the half marathon. I only had to wait about three minutes after the gun sounded until I was officially “on the clock.” We ran east on Las Olas Blvd. over the intercostal, and then straight down the beach on A1A. There were very few people out cheering, but it still had the feel of a big time race. I was feeling good early on, but I was totally unprepared for what was about to happen.

Around the 13 mile mark, for reasons I still cannot explain, I suddenly “hit the wall.” 13 miles was a distance I could figuratively do in my sleep; how could I be totally out of gas? I started to walk, with the hope of catching a “second wind”; sadly, it never happened. I finished the race totally beaten down and demoralized; I did some serious soul searching on the drive home.

I would wait almost one year later to attempt my next marathon. I felt more prepared both physically and emotionally for the Five Points of Life Marathon up in Gainesville. Pam had already committed to participating in another marathon later in the month, but she said that she would run the half to help keep me company. Of the 1,000 participants, only 125 runners were doing the full marathon. After Pam and I parted ways at the half way point, I literally saw only three runners during the last 13.1 miles. As scenic and picturesque as the first part of the race was, the last half was pretty much out and back on Williston Road. As I crossed the finish line, I was surprised to find that they had already packed up the finish line! Talk about low budget! On a positive note, my time was a little better, but still not even in the ballpark of where I wanted to be.

Everything turned around last year, as I attempted to tackle the A1A Marathon once again. I had increased my training to a new level (thanks to Pam) and I felt totally prepared for this race. When I crossed the finish line, not only did I set a personal best …I shattered my old record! If I were to never run another marathon again, I could sleep at night knowing that I accomplished something special.

But alas…Pam was not going to let me off the hook that easily.

THE MARATHON IS ALWAYS "HALF" FULL

2011-02-09T20:47:00.007-05:00

Before working at FIU, I worked for over ten years at Miami Dade College. I taught television production, and I was the Production Supervisor for MDC-TV (the network that originates from the school). During one of the tapings taking place in the television studio, we had a guest on the show to promote the Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon. We started talking about running; 20 minutes later, I had a free registration into the event. The director of our department had participated in several marathons in the past, and offered to run with me.

The race started in front of the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami. It was raining pretty hard when we got there, so we ran for cover inside the arena to stay dry before the race began. The rain subsided about ten minutes before race time and we made our way to the starting line. I learned a very valuable lesson that morning: when you run in a race with over 12,000 participants, you don’t just meander to the starting line at the last minute. Getting our place in line was like trying to cut over to the entrance ramp of the Palmetto Expressway at the last possible minute. Not gonna happen! When you register for a marathon/half marathon, they ask you what you think your finishing time will be. This way, they can place the faster runners up front (not me) and the slower runners towards the back (that would be me). This is done by grouping the runners together by their average time per mile.

After finally fighting for our place in line, the gun sounded and we were off…ten minutes later! That’s how long it took for all of the runners ahead of us to get going before we crossed the starting line. Since we had our timing chip in our shoes, it wasn’t really an issue, except for the anticipation of finally running in a big time event.

It was a really scenic and fun race. There were crowds everywhere cheering the runners on, as well as music and dancers. The race took us over Biscayne Bay and through South Beach. With about two miles left, I started getting cramps in my calves. Yes, this was the first time it had happened to me during a run, so it was a bit of a struggle to finish. I really felt a sense of accomplishment when I hobbled across the finish line. I couldn’t imagine going for another 13.1 miles, but I knew that I would have to train even harder if I wanted to compete in more half marathons on any kind of a regular basis.

From big time event to local race, my next “half” was in Weston. Since I live around 15 minutes from the starting line, this was a no brainer. Only 1,000 or so people entered this race, which was a dramatic difference from the one I had just completed in Miami. The Weston Half Marathon was very boring, with no crowd support at all. It was pretty much a straight out and back on a major road, and the finish of the race was a lap around the track at Cypress Bay High School. If nothing else, I got my favorite race photo during this event.

The PAL Half Marathon takes place in Boca Raton and starts in Spanish River Park. This is a very pretty race, as you run through the neighborhoods of Boca Raton right on the beach. The homes are very old and very expensive. The race itself is very flat, with a good opportunity to set a personal best.

The Ocala Marathon and Half Marathon is a great race, but very different from the one in Boca. In Ocala, you run through horse country and it is very hilly. It was really cold and nasty (around 40 degrees) the first time I did this race, but I ran with my running buddies Pam and Elaine, which made it way fun.

My favorite half marathon, hands down, is the Five Points of Life Marathon & Half Marathon, which takes place in Gainesville. You get to run through downtown Gainesville, as well as the University of Florida. A major highlight for me is running through "The Swamp" towards the end of the race. They pump in Gators football highlights over the public address system…talk about a rush! This race has even more hills than Ocala, and not one you should be expecting to break any personal records. Last year, it was 28 degrees at race time, but not a cloud in the sky. I ran the race with Jennifer, Allison and Pam; afterwards, we celebrated by having breakfast with my daughter (who is currently attending UF). She thought we were dorks sitting in the IHOP with our race medals on.

MEET ME "HALF" WAY

2011-02-09T20:41:00.003-05:00

My first attempt at any new race (in terms of length) has always tuned out disastrous. In fact, my first shot at a half marathon (13.1 miles) was over before it ever started…literally!

Since I had increased the distance of my Saturday runs to around 13 miles, I now felt comfortable to enter my first half marathon. My friend and running “role model” Pam (to be discussed in a future blog) suggested I dive in “feet first” and enter the Disney Half-Marathon.

Typically, a marathon and a half marathon are run at the same time. Because of the popularity of the Disney event, the half marathon was to take place on Saturday; the full marathon was scheduled for Sunday. If you were insane enough (as Pam is) to enter both races, it is affectionately known as the “Goofy Challenge.”

The family and I left Friday afternoon for the frozen tundra of Orlando. The temperature in the Magic Kingdom was around 35 degrees, and it was expected to be in the high 20’s for the start of the race. Many of the runners purchase inexpensive sweatshirts and sweatpants to throw to the side of the road once they have warmed up. This way, if they didn’t go back to pick their “Wal-Mart Special” after the race was over, it would be nisht gefloygen.

There is an expo that takes place the day before each marathon. This is where you go to pick up your bib (race number), your race shirt, your timing chip and other assorted swag. They also have vendors selling and demonstrating all the latest and greatest running products including shoes (we don’t call them sneakers), apparel, accessories and nutritional supplements. The expo took place at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex; I was like a kid in a candy store. The adrenaline rush was overwhelming, but ultimately… it would come to a crashing halt.

While at Pizzeria Uno later that evening, my wife Glenda got a phone call from her mother. Glenda’s father had been sick for a very long time; it did not look like he would make it through the weekend. After an extremely brief discussion, we decided it would be best to skip the race and drive right home. This way, Glenda would have a chance to say goodbye to her dad for the final time.

The drive home was quiet, and we were both disappointed on many levels. Although Glenda’s dad did not pass away until Sunday, it was still the right decision to make. There would be many races to run, but only one father to say goodbye to.

5Ks, 10Ks..I KNOW I’VE HAD MY SHARE

2011-02-09T20:33:00.006-05:00

For the next six years or so, my training was mostly on my own. I would run about five miles twice a week on the weekdays, and do about a 10 mile run on the weekend. I joined the Gold Coast Runners Club, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners Club and subscribed to Runner’s World magazine to help supplement my training. I entered as many 5K races as I could, but I was starting to get bored of races that were so short in length. If a race were a combined 5K and a 10K, I would opt for the longer distance. However, there were way more 5K race opportunities than any other distance; I knew that half marathons would have to be the next goal in sight. This would be a quality vs. quantity decision.

When you enter a race, they give a medal to the top three finishers in each age group. Typically, 17 to 22 minutes as a finishing time will garner the gold. I was finishing around 27 minutes, and did not foresee very much chance in shaving that time down significantly. However, I have finished third in my age group on two separate occasions.

The great thing about running is that it is one of the few sports where age does not matter in terms of your performance. If you look at the results of any race, the finishing times usually do not drop off substantially until you hit your 60s or 70s (especially in a marathon). If you check out the age of the participants in the Ocala Marathon (my most recent race), you can see that the majority of the runners are over the age of 30. Athletes who run track or cross-country in high school will enter a 5K, but they are not trained for much longer distances; the preparation is very different. Training for a longer race can put you on an “even playing field” with a younger runner.

HISTORY OF THE RUN (Part 1)

2011-02-09T20:29:00.001-05:00

I started to run competitively in 1996. Prior to that, I truly disliked running. I gave it a try several times; I just couldn’t embrace it. I found it boring and time consuming, and since I was in great shape (in a cardiovascular sense), I didn’t see the point.

I’ve played sports my whole life and there has never been a point in time where I have been out of shape. I began playing basketball when I was 14, and immediately became a “legend in my own mind.” I picked up tennis when I was 16, and played a good bit with my father, my brother and our next door neighbor (she was number two on the high school tennis team). After I graduated college, I joined several softball leagues. I was a terrific pitcher, but I was target practice as a fielder. It was around 1985 that I joined a gym with the fellas at work, and I began to “hang and bang” at least three times a week.

It was around 1990 when I started to phase out the organized sports and commit myself exclusively to the gym. Cardio became a big part of my workout routine, since I was no longer playing hoops, tennis or softball on a regular basis. I couldn’t handle the treadmill, so I turned my attention to the elliptical machine. I started out doing 30 minutes; then one hour. Eventually, I was able to complete two full hours, and that was after a complete workout!

During my time at the Bally’s close to my house, I became friends with Doug Hinsey. He was a runner and did his best to convince me to run with him. I resisted at first, but the pressure eventually wore me down. He had entered a 5K race (3.1 miles) and asked me to run with him. Since I was doing two hours of cardio in the gym, I wasn’t that intimidated and accepted his invitation.

The race was the Turkey Trot, which takes place every year on Thanksgiving Day. Unbeknownst to me at the time, races take place über early in the morning; Doug was at my doorstep to pick me up at 6:15 am. When we arrived, I was shocked how many people were there to torture themselves before the sun came up.

I don’t really remember too much about the race itself, except it was way harder than I could have ever imagined. I might have been in great shape, but I was not in race shape. I loved the experience and wanted to try it again. Doug and I entered a 5K the very next weekend (The Jingle Bell Jog), and I was now hooked. I began to visit the gym less frequently, and started to pound the pavement on a regular basis. When my membership at Bally’s expired, I decided not to renew it, and thus I made a total commitment to the sport of running.

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME

2011-02-09T20:25:00.004-05:00

This is a documentary created by one of my former Electronic Field Production Students.