Lull in the Action...

Well it's been a while since I've posted anything.  It's beginning to get brutally cold here in Southern New Jersey.  That is a real mood killer to the runner.  Plus I didn't rest adequately after the marathon.  I ran the marathon on a Sunday and by Thursday of the same week I was running again.

Any runner knows that beginning to run again too soon after a marathon is recipe for disaster.  For myself,  I have been having real problems with my knees since the marathon.  So I decided to take the experts' advice and try and take some time off.  My first attempt only lasted two days.  After two days I felt like I hadn't run in weeks so I picked it up again.  To my dismay, the knees were no better.

So I decided to try resting again.  Currently it has been three days and I'm still going strong.  I miss it like crazy it is a way for me to center myself and my energy and escape from the trials and tribulations of day to day life.  I am going to try to make it a whole week, but we'll see what happens.  The highest temperature predicted for this coming week is 39 with the rest of the days topping out in the high 20s and low 30s.

But as a little preview for what's to come.  I am signed up for a half marathon in New Orleans on Sunday, February 23, 2011.  I have yet to book my flight and hotel but I am looking to take off Friday and Monday and a long weekend of it.  I am currently planning on going down on a solo mission, but I have a couple of friends who have expressed interest in going with me, but you know how that goes...

I'm not worried about it.  I have read many things written by people who have traveled alone and it sounds like an exciting time to meet new people and make new discoveries about yourself.  Plus, I will have a race to focus on and I have already started making a list of places to see and places to eat.

Get busy living or get busy dying...

Marathon Sunday

It happened...  The 2010 Philadelphia Marathon.  The day I've awaited since last November.

The weekend started with the Runners' Expo Saturday at the Convention Center.  It was pretty standard.  Pick-up the race packet... Peruse the exhibits finding nothing of real interest... and finally heading out, knowing all the wonder the next morning will bestow.

The night before the marathon was a bit of a headache.  There was a bit of confusion with the friend with whom I was staying, so I wandered around the city for about three hours waiting for him to get back to his apartment.  While I was waiting, I went to a pasta dinner and made plans to meet up with an old friend later in the evening.  Anyway, after all was said and done I got to my friend's apartment around 11 o'clock, said a quick 'hello,' and went straight to bed.

Believe the hype.

I didn't sleep too well (I rarely do before races), but I awoke at 5:45 Sunday morning.  I showered, ate two pieces of bread and some peanut butter, and was out the door into the still dark, chilly November morning.  Despite the early hour the city was abuzz.  There were runners everywhere and quickly my grogginess turned into excitement and anticipation.  While I waited for the starting gun to sound the PA system played the theme song from Rocky and other inspirational music.  I have to admit I was getting a little emotional and tearing up a bit.  For the last four month I've risen at 6am everyday to run and devoted most of my Saturdays to long runs.  This day was to be the culmination of all my hard work.

The masses lined up before the race.

When the gun went off, I knew this was what I was meant to do at this point in time.  There was nothing more important, nothing that I would rather be doing.  The first stages of the race wound around center city then down to the river.  Then we headed up to the zoo and through University city past Drexel and UPenn.  Then we headed back to the Art Museum where the half-marathoner split off and finished their race.  For the marathoners it was only the beginning.  The most mentally trying part of the race was yet to come.  We swung around the Art Museum and ran straight up to Manyunk and back.  It only takes one sentence to type but running 6.5 miles straight out and 6.5 miles straight back is mentally tough.  Everything you pass on the way out, you know you will pass again on the way back.  Any downhill will turn into an uphill and vice-versa.

Around mile 20 I began to have a strange thought.  I actually began to question why I was submitting myself to such pain.  I really questioned my sanity.  Then around mile 22 my right hamstring started to cramp.  This is around the same point it cramped last year.  This year, however I realized the signs early and stopped to stretch it out before it was too late.  Miles 23, 24, 25 passed with nothing but pain.  But within the last mile, I tried (feebly) to step the pace up a little bit and finish strong.  In shorter races I've been able to sprint across the finish line, but there was no chance this time around.  As soon as the finish line came into view my calf and my hamstring of my right leg began to cramp.  I wasn't going to stop this close to the finish so I just kept running, but with a definite limp.

Limping towards the finish line.

The support staff.

I crossed the finish line with my hands in the air 3:40:34 after beginning my journey.  I couldn't have asked for better results.  My original training goal had been to break the four hour mark.  Then my amended time to beat was 3:45.  I ran it in 3 hours and 40 minutes.  Every cold rainy morning that I drug myself out of my nice warm bed had paid off.  It was the greatest feeling.  It is a feeling that no one can give you.  To go out and work for something so hard and then to achieve your goal is the greatest reward of all.

The City of Brotherly Love...

Yesterday, I took a trip over to South Philadelphia to watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Indianapolis Colts.  It wasn’t the greatest of games, but it was close and the Eagles prevailed so I can’t complain.

After the game I was waiting for the rest of my party to get ready to leave, so I decided to make a call to a friend of mine to catch up.  I was leaning against a telephone pole for about a half-hour when these two guys walked up to me and offered me a hamburger. They thought I was waiting for a ride and needed something to eat…..  This is why I love Philadelphia.  These guys were looking out for one of their own.  I kindly declined and told them I was merely waiting for the rest of my troop to get ready to leave.  I thanked them over and over and told them that it was a nice gesture.

I know that Philadelphia sports fans have a bad reputation around the country, but when it comes to taking care of our own there is no greater loyalty.  This instance made me think that there are still decent people in this world that will go out of their way to help a stranger.  There is still hope for this world after all, I suppose.

Turning Amish...

This weekend I headed to the Amish country to take part in the Inaugural "Amish Country Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon."  It was an interesting experience from the beginning.  After picking up my race packet, I headed back to the hotel.  Once there I started laying out my race gear for the following morning.  I took my race bib out of the packet and went into my pocket to get the safety pins I picked up at the runners' expo.  They must have fallen out when I took my keys out of my pocket because the were no where to be found.  Then I had all of my clothes laid out on the bed and..... No shorts.  I had forgotten my shorts!  Luckily, I had a pair of sleeping shorts that would have to put in a little overtime.  

Yep, I forgot them....

Saturday morning, I awoke to 32 degree temperatures.... Not quite the 90 degrees it was in Florida last week.  But they say cold weather makes fast times.  Sadly, I forgot my gloves and my hands never really thawed from start to finish.

Pre-race.... Freezing...

It was a beautiful course.  Hills, horses, farms, more hills. Horse manure all over the road.  Some Amish men ran the race.  They wore their regular farm gear (black pants, suspenders, and a shirt).  At least they gave themselves the comfort of wearing sneakers.  All of the water stations were run completely by little Amish boys and girls.

The finish line in the middle of a field.  Complete with electric cattle fence.

I finished in 1:36:13.  Another 5 minutes better than my previous best.  I finished 58th place overall. 6th in the Male 20-24 Division.  The finish line was in the middle of a field and it was full of ditches.  I felt like I was going to break my ankle trying to finish.  But no harm, no foul.  All in all it was a great run, beautiful scenery, and a finishing time with which I was more than pleased.

Post-race... I guess running a personal best turns you into a tool.

Sunny Florida

This weekend I made the trip to Florida to visit my good friend Mike from Ramapo.  I took a flight out of Atlantic City Thursday night.  It had been raining in New Jersey all week, but the skies cleared to see me off.  When I landed in Florida, it seemed the rainy weather had followed me.  But it was not to last.

When most people go on a vacation they like to sleep in and relax.  This was not to be the case for me, however.  Friday morning I awoke at 7am to do my 20 mile training run.  I left before the sun came up, but once the sun burst through the clouds the temperature soared.  It turned out to be 92 degrees by noon.  The heat really took a lot out of me.  I only brought one bottle of water along and I could feel myself getting dehydrated.  Nonetheless, I completed my 20 miles in 2:46:15.  One of the best runs of my life.  I was very excited.

There were a couple things that struck my interest during my run.  I didn't have to worry about deer running in my path as I would in New Jersey.  Instead, 'panther crossing' signs donned the sides of the streets.  Also, I usually map my runs out using Google Maps.  This application does not tell you which roads are public and which roads are private.  Therefore, my route took me through some private, gated communities.  These were entertainingly filled with the common species of 'Elderly Floridians.'  One such woman tried to direct me from the street to the sidewalk while driving past.  I had to laugh out loud for that one.

Watch out for the panthers.... apparently.

The next day Mike and I took the trip to Orlando to see the sights.  The first night we were there we went to Downtown Disney which was conveniently located a short five minute walk from our hotel.  We went to two different bars and each produced an interesting set of stories.  The first we sat right next to a couple from New Jersey.  The woman knew people that Mike knew from high school.  The saying "small world" comes to mind.  The second bar was an imitation Irish pub.  Within we met an interesting group of authentic Irish girls that worked in the Ireland section of Epcot.  While standing at the bar a man drunkenly fell behind us spilling his full beer all over myself, Mike, and one of the Irish girls.  His friend felt badly for his drunken actions, so he slipped us a twenty dollar bill and told us to have a drink on him.

The Florida sun shining the the window of our hotel room.

Saturday morning we headed over to Universal Islands of Adventure.  Our day began with a ride on the 3D Spiderman ride.  After a night in Downtown Disney, 3D rides were probably not the best thing early in the morning.  Mike and I both left feeling a bit of nausea.  Then we headed to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I am not a devoted Harry Potter fan, but let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy world.  It was so intricately designed with every detail meticulously crafted.  It reminded me of a 19th century European city.  We had Butterbeer, which is apparently a favorite drink of the students of Hogwarts.  I think its just a really frothy, cream soda, but we can pretend.

The castle at Hogwarts.

 We went to Ollivander's Wand Shop and Mike was chosen to "be chosen by a wand" because "a wizard doesn't choose his wand, a wand chooses his wizard."  It was quite a funny demonstration and everyone in the audience had fun.  Afterward, they tried to sell Mike the wand that had chosen him but he kindly declined.

It is amazing to think that the entire world of Harry Potter was, at one point, just an idea in a single mother's mind and is now replicated in one of the biggest attractions at one of the most popular theme parks in the world.

All in all, I had a great time on my weekend getaway to Florida.  Thanks to Mike for being a great host and friend.  Until next time....

Thanks

What Started It All....

In the fall of 2008, I spent the semester studying in Paris.  This is really where all of my love for travelling and running began.  I had never left the United States before, nor had I had any interest in running.

Before leaving my college roommate suggested that we both start running in hopes that we could run a half marathon together upon my return to the states.  I agreed without much serious thought.  When I arrived in Paris, however, the student activities coordinator at my school mentioned something that was far too coincidental for me to overlook.  She was listing activities that students could possibly participate in over the course of the semester.  The group was taking a trip to Versaille one weekend and it just so happened that the same day there was a race starting at the Eiffel Tower and concluding at Versaille.  I took this as a sign and started training immediately.

A picture, with my classmate Elizabeth, taken immediately
following my initiation into the world of running. 

The race took place on Sunday, September 28, 2008.  The course was absolutely gorgeous, taking us through forests and small French towns.  I ran almost effortlessly.  It was the most fun  I had had abroad up to that point.  From that race on, I was hooked.

Upon my return to the United States, my roommate and I decided that a half marathon wasn't going to cut it.  So we took the plunge and decided that we would run the Philadelphia Marathon in 2009.  Training for this endeavor was one of the best experiences I can remember.  We would save our long runs for Saturday mornings.  We had many stories to tell, like getting lost and running so far we had to take the train back to school, among others.


The crew after finishing the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon.

 Since then I have run numerous races, but that was just a brief history of how I became addicted to such a rewarding activity.  This weekend I am taking a trip to visit a friend in Florida.  While there I will be doing a 20 mile training run in preparation for this year's Philadelphia Marathon.

I will be sure to post about the beauty of Florida.  So make sure to check back after the weekend.

Thanks

Reasoning...

Well, there has to be a reason behind everything we in life.  So for my first post I guess I will try to justify to you (and myself) why I'm deciding to enter the world of blogging.  The short answer is I enjoy sharing what is important to me.  The next answer is that I think this blog could be an excuse or an inspiration to do what I like.

So far in my life, I've realized that there are two things that I truly enjoy doing: travelling and running.  This blog is designed to share both.  I've found running races in different locations is a convenient excuse to travel.  So this blog will feature a little bit of both and whatever else I feel is relevant to put out into cyberspace.

I hope you enjoy the adventure as I anticipate I will.

Thanks.