1 down, 3 to go. This past weekend I completed the first of my 4 scheduled 2013 marathons in Los Angeles. This was an important one for me mentally. I knew if I did poorly and felt terrible at the end I'd have to overcome a lot of self doubt for the 4 weeks leading up to Boston. Now the good news, I finished at a respectable 4:20 (second best marathon time) and felt very little soreness during and the days after. I went into the race with a different approach - relax and enjoy the course.
Last year I got a PR running the New Bedford half marathon without even trying. I decided it would be a nice training run and I'd tweet as I completed each mile, my first "tweetathon". By the time I got to mile 11 of the race I realized I was well on the way to a PR. It worked in 2012, so why not try it for double the distance a year later.
The night before I had the usual pre-race jitters, but luckily Jack and I were staying at a haunted hotel which was a bit of a distraction (Millennium Biltmore - check it out, it's really haunted). Being away from home had me a little thrown off with my usual pre-race prep. I forgot to bring old clothes to throw away at the starting line and forgot to get breakfast. I got to the starting line a little after 5AM at Dodger Stadium with nothing but a white t-shirt on over my singlet. When I arrived it was no problem, it was about 58 degrees, but while I waited the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. Luckily, as most runners know to be true, a good portion of the next two hours was spent in and out of port-a-potties, which tend to be a little on the warmer side (yup, disgusting). That took care of the clothing issue. And as far as breakfast goes, I have to say the LA Marathon was one of the most well organized races I've ever seen. There were tents set up with bagels, bananas, and water. They had LA style entertainment, an entire baseball stadium to explore, and hundreds of port-a-potties (yup, again with those).
By the time the race got underway I was relaxed and ready to kick butt. I started running with the 4:00 pacer, which went against everything I had planned to do, so I immediately scaled it back to the 4:15 pacer. By the time I got to mile 3 I realized I had completely abandoned my plan to take it easy and had yet to take one picture along the course. I turned a corner and saw the LA skyline, the first picture worth taking, and come to a stop. I had been smart all through training, taking it slow and being kind to my body, to ruin 4 months of training for one race would be stupid. The 4:15 pacer went off into the distance and my second official "tweetathon" had begun. I continued to stop and go for quite some time and even caught back up to the pacer all the way through mile 16, but then again scaled back to prepare for the worst part of any long race, "the Wall."
Every runner hits "the wall" at some point during the marathon. Some runners overcome it quickly, others struggle. In my past 3 marathons I'm the runner that struggles. It never fails, somewhere between mile 18-23 my body gets to a point where it's ready to give up and I've never gotten past it, always cursing my way to the finish line. This run would be different, it had to be.
At mile 18 the self doubt started, and I even began to think of excuses to get out of running Boston and Big Sur, but then I remembered all the supporters I had out there cheering for me and an e-mail one of my teammates, Bill had sent me about what it takes to overcome and to be mentally tough. I remembered the reasons why I was out there, for myself, but also why I was a part of Tedy's Team. There was no excuse in the world that was going to keep me from running Boston or Big Sur, and by mile 22 (yup, 4 miles of struggle) I finally broke through my first "wall". The last 3 miles of the race I was in a place I had never been before. I was confident and enjoying every step. The crowd was amazing, and to top it off the course ran all downhill. I broke into a stride that had me fist pumping across the finish line. It was the feeling I had always hoped to have at the end of 26.2 miles and I was finally able to enjoy the moment like never before. My legs weren't sore and I wasn't an emotional mess.
I ended up in LA because I was out there to run my friend Jack's first marathon with him, but unfortunately an injury kept him sidelined. As it turns out it was one of the best decisions I could have made. LA ended up being an incredible boost of confidence for me. I ended up running the 26.2 miles alone and overcome my mental hurdles on my own. It's given me the confidence I need to take on the familiar Boston course and the new challenges of one of the world's most difficult marathons in Big Sur. The good news is Tedy's Team will be there with me for the next two rounds.
Finally, looking back on the whole experience I can't thank the wife enough for pushing me every day. While others have often told me I'm crazy and going to get hurt, She's never once told me I couldn't do it, has only told me to keep it smart. I need that constant reminder. I also owe a lot to all of my friends and teammates. You guys were fantastic cheerleaders from across the country on facebook, through texts, and on twitter. It meant a lot to see someone wishing me luck and then see "42 other people like this" under that. Special thanks to Jack for the support out in LA. You should be a motivation speaker. I wouldn't have been there had it not been for you, and although you didn't get to run this time you have my word that I'll be there to get you through your first marathon, doesn't matter how long it takes.
25 days until Boston. 36 days until Big Sur. 205 days until Chicago.
As promised for another good friend tonight's side note - Matt Wamback has made it his personally goal to beat Oprah or Whoopi in Boston. You can do it buddy!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
3 Quick Things
3 things I'd like to share about the last week.
1. I've now seen 3 Doors Down 33 times in concert. Yup, I know that's a lot, but I enjoy their music and to make it better they're some overall great guys. Show 33 was a fluke. I hadn't intended on going, especially after finding out the show was sold out, but I ended up getting into a twitter conversation with their base player, Todd. Before I knew it he left me two tickets at will call and I was their guest for the night. Show 32 was earlier in the week and I met the band pre-show at the soundcheck. I was able to take a moment and share this blog with their lead guitarist, Chris. I've been following him on twitter over the last year and a half and have seen him make some dramatic changes to his lifestyle. He's been inspirational and motivating with his workouts and the amount of weight he's been able to keep off. It's just nice to see that my favorite group is made up of individuals with some good character.
2. I nailed my 18 mile run. There had been a lot of self doubt over the past week. I keep fighting all the thoughts that folks keep putting in my head when they tell me there's no way I can run 3 marathons in such a short amount of time. I started to listen to the words and let them cloud my focus for a few days. On Saturday I got back on track. I knew the run would make or break me, and outside of a little toe pain I felt great! No aches or pains the day after and the toe is back to normal. I took today off to do some extra stretching, but I'm ready to hit the hills again tomorrow. Here's the plan going forward…. 3/17 - LA Marathon, it'll take the place of my normal 21 mile training run for Boston. Then I taper a little, and hit Boston on 4/15. After that I rest and get a few short runs in for Big Sur on 4/28. 4/28 is the only marathon I'm still nervous about. It's ranked the 13th most difficult in the world, but it's also one of the most beautiful, so the plan is to just take it slow and enjoy the scenery. It's been difficult holding back on the speed training. I tried so hard to break 4 hours last year and now I've held back to prevent injury and preserve my body for the multiple marathons. I'd love to say I'll let loose in Big Sur, but I don't want to give myself false hope…. That leads me to tomorrow, when I register for the Chicago Marathon…. to be continued.
3. On Saturday night I went to a 40th birthday party with the family (Happy Birthday Tracy). At the party I got to see my little shy Paige go out onto the dance floor all by herself and play amongst a group of very active kids anywhere from 3 - 10. Six months ago Paige would have been clinging to my side or to Kate's side, but Saturday she was out there on her own having fun. Of course half of the time she was pretending to be a "little kitty", but she was out there without fear. It's so important for me to see my little girl develop self confidence, especially at this age. Kate and I were always shy, and it often times prevented me from trying new things. Saturday made me realize that Kate and I are doing a good job fostering confidence and independence in Paige. It amazes me that this is the same little girl that wouldn't go into dance class back in September.
Finally, I want to thank everyone for reaching out to me after my last blog. I truly feel blessed to have so many supportive family and friends on board for my journey.
Dan
1. I've now seen 3 Doors Down 33 times in concert. Yup, I know that's a lot, but I enjoy their music and to make it better they're some overall great guys. Show 33 was a fluke. I hadn't intended on going, especially after finding out the show was sold out, but I ended up getting into a twitter conversation with their base player, Todd. Before I knew it he left me two tickets at will call and I was their guest for the night. Show 32 was earlier in the week and I met the band pre-show at the soundcheck. I was able to take a moment and share this blog with their lead guitarist, Chris. I've been following him on twitter over the last year and a half and have seen him make some dramatic changes to his lifestyle. He's been inspirational and motivating with his workouts and the amount of weight he's been able to keep off. It's just nice to see that my favorite group is made up of individuals with some good character.
2. I nailed my 18 mile run. There had been a lot of self doubt over the past week. I keep fighting all the thoughts that folks keep putting in my head when they tell me there's no way I can run 3 marathons in such a short amount of time. I started to listen to the words and let them cloud my focus for a few days. On Saturday I got back on track. I knew the run would make or break me, and outside of a little toe pain I felt great! No aches or pains the day after and the toe is back to normal. I took today off to do some extra stretching, but I'm ready to hit the hills again tomorrow. Here's the plan going forward…. 3/17 - LA Marathon, it'll take the place of my normal 21 mile training run for Boston. Then I taper a little, and hit Boston on 4/15. After that I rest and get a few short runs in for Big Sur on 4/28. 4/28 is the only marathon I'm still nervous about. It's ranked the 13th most difficult in the world, but it's also one of the most beautiful, so the plan is to just take it slow and enjoy the scenery. It's been difficult holding back on the speed training. I tried so hard to break 4 hours last year and now I've held back to prevent injury and preserve my body for the multiple marathons. I'd love to say I'll let loose in Big Sur, but I don't want to give myself false hope…. That leads me to tomorrow, when I register for the Chicago Marathon…. to be continued.
3. On Saturday night I went to a 40th birthday party with the family (Happy Birthday Tracy). At the party I got to see my little shy Paige go out onto the dance floor all by herself and play amongst a group of very active kids anywhere from 3 - 10. Six months ago Paige would have been clinging to my side or to Kate's side, but Saturday she was out there on her own having fun. Of course half of the time she was pretending to be a "little kitty", but she was out there without fear. It's so important for me to see my little girl develop self confidence, especially at this age. Kate and I were always shy, and it often times prevented me from trying new things. Saturday made me realize that Kate and I are doing a good job fostering confidence and independence in Paige. It amazes me that this is the same little girl that wouldn't go into dance class back in September.
Finally, I want to thank everyone for reaching out to me after my last blog. I truly feel blessed to have so many supportive family and friends on board for my journey.
Dan
Monday, January 28, 2013
Writer's Block
Warning, this is all over the place.
I keep sitting down trying to clear my mind, but over the last few weeks I haven't been able to get my thoughts down. A lot happened over the last month, especially in my Tedy's Team world. For starters a close family member (Amy's Dad and Kate's Uncle) ended up suffering a stroke. It was an eye opening experience for the entire family. First, despite all the work the family has done to raise awareness, we learned you can never do enough to spread the word and make people aware of the warning signs of stroke. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE! It put a new meaning behind this year's training and it inspired me to sign up for my 3rd Boston Marathon as part of Tedy's Team. I'm happy to say that I got to visit Uncle Dennis for the first time this past weekend and I was blown away at the progress he had made in a few short weeks. He's expected to make a full recovery and he's motivated to do it quickly.
I keep sitting down trying to clear my mind, but over the last few weeks I haven't been able to get my thoughts down. A lot happened over the last month, especially in my Tedy's Team world. For starters a close family member (Amy's Dad and Kate's Uncle) ended up suffering a stroke. It was an eye opening experience for the entire family. First, despite all the work the family has done to raise awareness, we learned you can never do enough to spread the word and make people aware of the warning signs of stroke. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE! It put a new meaning behind this year's training and it inspired me to sign up for my 3rd Boston Marathon as part of Tedy's Team. I'm happy to say that I got to visit Uncle Dennis for the first time this past weekend and I was blown away at the progress he had made in a few short weeks. He's expected to make a full recovery and he's motivated to do it quickly.
I was surprised by how much of an impact his stroke had on me personally. Last year when Amy, Katie and I all started running together I would get incredibly frustrated anytime I spoke with him about running. It's hard to explain, but I felt as though I wasn't good enough to share a spotlight with his family and no matter how hard I pushed myself I likely would never beat them in a race unless there was some kind of excuse that gave me an unfair advantage. I know this sounds ridiculous and it likely has a lot to do with me never playing organized sports and experiencing healthy competition, but I want my family to be proud and respect me for my efforts, and that includes my in-laws. I know these conversations was never meant to be degrading and I know he is overwhelming proud of his children, but what I didn't know and have just come to realize was how motivating these talks were for me. They pushed me to impress him, which is one of the reasons I signed up for Boston.
With my Boston entry complete I now have 3 marathons in the next 15 weeks (LA on March 17th, Boston on April 15th, and Big Sur on April 28th). It sounds a little crazy, but I want to show him and the rest of my family that I can accomplish even the most difficult goals and it'll mean so much more to be able to have them cheer me on in a least one of the races.
This brings me back to my busy January. I finally made a commitment to take another step at bettering myself. Last year I focused a lot on pushing myself to new limits physically by participating in events like Tough Mudder and trying to get a PR in every race I ran. This year I'm trying to be more balanced.
The first step is getting my anxiety under control. I focus on the little things way too much. I may even have a little OCD. The table needs to be cleaned off, the laundry needs to be folded and out of sight, the dishes can't wait… My mind tends to focus on these little things and prevents me from relaxing with Katie or spending more time playing with Paige. It's odd because when something big is going on I'm in complete control, but when I should be living and enjoying life I fall apart. I recently started taking a prescription medication to help me with the anxiety and will be supplementing that with some counseling. I debated putting this in here because it's really nobody's business, and I was a little ashamed of it. Then I started talking to a few people about this and how there is such a taboo around mental health. Is it any different from blood pressure medication? I suppose that's up for debate. Right now I'm going to use it to get things under control and help me to understand my triggers so one day it won't consume me. Hopefully one day running will be all I need, but for now I'm okay with this.
My second step is my nutrition. I finally met with a nutritionist and learned I don't eat nearly enough. I fail to see how this will be a problem I have a hard time fixing, but with their assistance I'm hoping I can learn to fuel my body and help me get past the 20-22 mile wall I hit in every marathon. Now it's about finding the proper balance of carbs, protein and fats. I'm hoping this is an easy fix.
If writer's block continues this may be the only blog I write before my 3 marathons or I could write 50 more. So for those of you that see my frequently here's what I need you to remind me of this year… I'm not running these marathons to break 4 hours - this year it's about endurance. This year it's about running some of the biggest marathons in the country and enjoying it every step of the way. And if this is the last blog I write before March 17th I also want to thank Katie. Last summer Katie gave me the idea to run multiple marathons, but more importantly she is giving me the support to do it. I have an incredible wife that pushes me to be the best father and husband I can be. She supports me in everything I do and encourages me to do more. Before I ran the Marine Corp Marathon this past October she sent me with a card to open before the start. I keep the card in my gym bag and on days I have no motivation I take it out and read it. It reminds me that I always have someone at home that loves me no matter what, but that wants me to keep believing in myself. I love you, wife.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Try again.
It's been over six months since my last post and a lot has changed. I've fallen off the wagon, gotten back on, fallen off, gotten back on, and then fell hard. I ran the Marine Corp Marathon back on October 28th. I had set a goal of 4 hours, I came in at 4 hours and 4 minutes. Since then I've run less than 10 times total. I completely lost my motivation.
First the excuses: I hurt my foot - 3 weeks gone. Work got busy - 2 weeks gone. Holidays - 2 weeks gone. I got the flu - another 2 weeks gone…. That brings me to today.
I'm ready to get motivated, not just because it's a new year, but because running is what keeps me going. The last few months have been mentally tough and physically draining. I've gained weight back and have just become tired. I'm not as happy as I once was and I haven't been as good of a father, husband, son, brother, or friend. This isn't me.
This week I plan on returning to Boston to train with my team. I may not be as fast as I usually am or run without as many breaks, but it's a start and that's the important thing. On top of that planning for my 2013 Bowling Tournament is getting underway. This is the week I finally sit down and send out my letters soliciting donations and prizes. It's also the week I finally live up to being a mentor to my teammate Bill.
In 2013 I plan on running 5 marathons, starting in March. My time is limited and this year I want to take a new approach. I don't want to focus on a time I want to focus on endurance and completing these marathons without injury. My first step is towards better nutrition. For those of you that know me I'm a sweet tooth, but this year my New Years resolution is to give up all those things that drag me down. I'll continue 2012's resolution of no soda as well. This year my goal is to eat fish at least once a week and limit red meat to almost nothing. I also want to eat one full vegetarian meal a week.
Finally, I need to learn to focus on the things in life that matter to me most: Paige, Katie, my friends, my family, Tedy's Team… as simple as walking my dog more and less on the clutter in my garage, the laundry that didn't get done, and the dirty dish in the sink. The little things in life cause me so much anxiety that take so much of my energy away from the things that are important. I know it's not going to be easy, but recognizing and acknowledging the stupid little things is a start.
Next week I hope to blog about my first week of cold winter training and how much I missed running. I'm hoping that getting this out there again makes me accountable and pushes me to be the athlete I was on the road to becoming in 2012.
First the excuses: I hurt my foot - 3 weeks gone. Work got busy - 2 weeks gone. Holidays - 2 weeks gone. I got the flu - another 2 weeks gone…. That brings me to today.
I'm ready to get motivated, not just because it's a new year, but because running is what keeps me going. The last few months have been mentally tough and physically draining. I've gained weight back and have just become tired. I'm not as happy as I once was and I haven't been as good of a father, husband, son, brother, or friend. This isn't me.
This week I plan on returning to Boston to train with my team. I may not be as fast as I usually am or run without as many breaks, but it's a start and that's the important thing. On top of that planning for my 2013 Bowling Tournament is getting underway. This is the week I finally sit down and send out my letters soliciting donations and prizes. It's also the week I finally live up to being a mentor to my teammate Bill.
In 2013 I plan on running 5 marathons, starting in March. My time is limited and this year I want to take a new approach. I don't want to focus on a time I want to focus on endurance and completing these marathons without injury. My first step is towards better nutrition. For those of you that know me I'm a sweet tooth, but this year my New Years resolution is to give up all those things that drag me down. I'll continue 2012's resolution of no soda as well. This year my goal is to eat fish at least once a week and limit red meat to almost nothing. I also want to eat one full vegetarian meal a week.
Finally, I need to learn to focus on the things in life that matter to me most: Paige, Katie, my friends, my family, Tedy's Team… as simple as walking my dog more and less on the clutter in my garage, the laundry that didn't get done, and the dirty dish in the sink. The little things in life cause me so much anxiety that take so much of my energy away from the things that are important. I know it's not going to be easy, but recognizing and acknowledging the stupid little things is a start.
Next week I hope to blog about my first week of cold winter training and how much I missed running. I'm hoping that getting this out there again makes me accountable and pushes me to be the athlete I was on the road to becoming in 2012.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Running Essentials
It's been a while since I've blogged and I've been one moody son of a bitch. I figure getting some thoughts out here might help clear that up. I really don't have much in particular to blog about, so I was going to take a minute to write about some of the things I have on me when I run and why they're important (I'm not talking about body glide, sports beans, or compressions shorts - but yes, they are essential as well).
One thing I've learned about myself is that I can often lose motivation rather quickly and so it's important that I remind myself why I do what I do. As a way to remind myself of why I'm out there pushing my body I've got 4 very important things on me at all times.
1. My wedding band. Above all I need to remember it's not just about me. Katie is my rock. She is the one woman, person, friend I can always rely on no matter what. She will be there cheering me on as I get a personal record or there to pick me up when I don't come anywhere close. She's the one that got me into running in the first place. She's the one that gives me the freedom to run whenever I want and the one that'll drive out into snow storms or out of her way to give me a bottle of water when I need it most. Most importantly it helps to remind me that her and I are a team and I cannot look at any of this as "Operation Me", when it really has to be about "Operation Us." Katie and I are going to run every half marathon together until she breaks her goal of under two hours. We try again this coming Sunday!
2. My red "Relentless" Leukemia and Lymphoma bracelet. This bracelet was given to me by my good friend Meghan. She had originally given me one that her mother wore during her battle with L&L, but unfortunately it was stolen with Kate's jewelry box this past December. This bracelet reminds me why I started running in the first place. It was a way to show someone I cared about how much I cared and a way to express how much I wanted to help them through a difficult time without knowing what to say or how to do it. Although it all started with Mr. and Mrs. McCann the bracelet helps me remember many of the people I run for, like my dad. It reminds me that no matter how hard it is to get out and run some of my longer runs that things could be much worse. It means more than that though, it also reminds me that I have others looking out for me and supporting me from numerous directions.
3. My black One With Them bracelet. This bracelet's meaning is something entirely different to me than it's intent. This was given to me by my friend Jack before he moved back home. It's also got a few meanings to me. First, it reminds me to keep faith in God. Things happen for a reason and some recent events in my life have shown me just how true this statement is. Second, it reminds me that I have more of an influence and an impact on people than I ever realized and that I need to stay confident in myself. Since the beginning of this year I have had so many of my family and friends reach out to me and tell me how much I've inspired and influenced them. Jack went from someone that hated running to someone that's now going to be training for a marathon. My brother has lost almost 50 pounds and is training hard to run in this years Falmouth Road Race. My sister has also reached out to me for fitness advice and is going to start training with me in the next few weeks. It's been really incredible and I'm so thankful to know that I can make a difference in someone's life.
4. My Paige 2-25-10 bracelet. Paige is always on my mind. I'm always pushing to set a good example and always trying my hardest to make sure she's proud of me, but I didn't carry anything on me while I ran that reminded solely of her. I recently purchased a bracelet with her name and birthday on it, and I've been wearing it every day. It's a way for me to always remember that no matter what happens to me during a run, or throughout the day there is someone that depends on me more than anything. It just so happens that that little someone can also brighten my day and make me do things I never thought possible. Paige has a new found love for motorcycles. I recently told Kate that if she keeps up this love for motorcycles I'm going to have to learn to ride one and then buy one, because there is no way int his world I'm going to disappoint my little girl. If she thinks they're cool, then her dad is going to be cool! She continues to help me reevaluate all the choices I make. Would it set the right example? Is this something I want her to do one day? Sometimes it'd difficult, but I know being a role model, especially for her isn't always going to be easy. I need her in my life and I always want to carry something with me that reminds me of how much love I have for my baby girl.
Now, just because I know Matt usually has some smart ass comment I'll also throw out there that I always have 3 Doors Down on my IPod. Surprise! I recently just saw them for the 30th time, and it was a blast. Keep on rocking! I'll keep on going!
One thing I've learned about myself is that I can often lose motivation rather quickly and so it's important that I remind myself why I do what I do. As a way to remind myself of why I'm out there pushing my body I've got 4 very important things on me at all times.
1. My wedding band. Above all I need to remember it's not just about me. Katie is my rock. She is the one woman, person, friend I can always rely on no matter what. She will be there cheering me on as I get a personal record or there to pick me up when I don't come anywhere close. She's the one that got me into running in the first place. She's the one that gives me the freedom to run whenever I want and the one that'll drive out into snow storms or out of her way to give me a bottle of water when I need it most. Most importantly it helps to remind me that her and I are a team and I cannot look at any of this as "Operation Me", when it really has to be about "Operation Us." Katie and I are going to run every half marathon together until she breaks her goal of under two hours. We try again this coming Sunday!
2. My red "Relentless" Leukemia and Lymphoma bracelet. This bracelet was given to me by my good friend Meghan. She had originally given me one that her mother wore during her battle with L&L, but unfortunately it was stolen with Kate's jewelry box this past December. This bracelet reminds me why I started running in the first place. It was a way to show someone I cared about how much I cared and a way to express how much I wanted to help them through a difficult time without knowing what to say or how to do it. Although it all started with Mr. and Mrs. McCann the bracelet helps me remember many of the people I run for, like my dad. It reminds me that no matter how hard it is to get out and run some of my longer runs that things could be much worse. It means more than that though, it also reminds me that I have others looking out for me and supporting me from numerous directions.
3. My black One With Them bracelet. This bracelet's meaning is something entirely different to me than it's intent. This was given to me by my friend Jack before he moved back home. It's also got a few meanings to me. First, it reminds me to keep faith in God. Things happen for a reason and some recent events in my life have shown me just how true this statement is. Second, it reminds me that I have more of an influence and an impact on people than I ever realized and that I need to stay confident in myself. Since the beginning of this year I have had so many of my family and friends reach out to me and tell me how much I've inspired and influenced them. Jack went from someone that hated running to someone that's now going to be training for a marathon. My brother has lost almost 50 pounds and is training hard to run in this years Falmouth Road Race. My sister has also reached out to me for fitness advice and is going to start training with me in the next few weeks. It's been really incredible and I'm so thankful to know that I can make a difference in someone's life.
4. My Paige 2-25-10 bracelet. Paige is always on my mind. I'm always pushing to set a good example and always trying my hardest to make sure she's proud of me, but I didn't carry anything on me while I ran that reminded solely of her. I recently purchased a bracelet with her name and birthday on it, and I've been wearing it every day. It's a way for me to always remember that no matter what happens to me during a run, or throughout the day there is someone that depends on me more than anything. It just so happens that that little someone can also brighten my day and make me do things I never thought possible. Paige has a new found love for motorcycles. I recently told Kate that if she keeps up this love for motorcycles I'm going to have to learn to ride one and then buy one, because there is no way int his world I'm going to disappoint my little girl. If she thinks they're cool, then her dad is going to be cool! She continues to help me reevaluate all the choices I make. Would it set the right example? Is this something I want her to do one day? Sometimes it'd difficult, but I know being a role model, especially for her isn't always going to be easy. I need her in my life and I always want to carry something with me that reminds me of how much love I have for my baby girl.
Now, just because I know Matt usually has some smart ass comment I'll also throw out there that I always have 3 Doors Down on my IPod. Surprise! I recently just saw them for the 30th time, and it was a blast. Keep on rocking! I'll keep on going!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
One Mudder of a Blog
This past weekend was pretty incredible. I took part in a 10 and a half mile military style obstacle course known as Tough Mudder. I first heard about Tough Mudder from Amy's husband Jay last August while we were down the Cape preparing to run the Falmouth Road Race. At the time I was nursing a knee injury and hadn't run in almost a month. Jay showed me the website and I laughed at how insane the challenge seemed. Never would I ever consider doing it....
Fast forward a few months. Damien brought up Tough Mudder and was determined to get as many family and friends to join him as possible. By this point I was signed up for the Boston Marathon and told him I'd consider it. Fast forward another few months, early January. I was hanging out with some Hanover folks at the Texas Roadhouse and was a few Killian Irish Red's in when another co-worker brought up the Mudder. Beer balls! BAM, I was in. The next day at work I proved I wasn't all talk, paid the entry fee and soon we had formed team Phat Kids.
From January to May a lot happened, but most of the time I was focused on training for the Marathon. I started a daily push up challenge with my buddy Jack to keep me somewhat focused on upper body strength and got stronger than I have ever been. Then the Marathon came and went. Emotionally it was an unbelievable experience, but the day was physically exhausting and I lost a lot of my motivation to focus on the Mudder, but that wouldn't stop it from coming.
Saturday morning I picked up Jack at the airport and we headed to Vermont with most of the team (Nick, Joe, Ian, Mike, and Damien). Saturday night came and went and it was time for the event. When we arrived at the mountain we could see the first wave of people had already started. Looking as high as you could on Mount Snow you could see the deserted ski trails littered with people. One thing was certain, Heartbreak Hill looked simple. As we waited to start the anxiety was overwhelming for me, so much so that a few of my teammates started to comment that I was making them nervous. It only built when I saw that we had to climb over an eight foot wall just to get to the starting line. Then it was time. As a team we made it over the wall and to the start, and as soon as I was within the anxiety turned to excitement. It was one of the first times in my life that I stood there with a group of people and knew that it didn't matter what obstacles I could complete it was enough that all of us had signed up and were there ready to start as a team.
After the start line it was straight up the mountain ankle deep in mud. Then, straight down the mountain, ankle deep in mud. Jack was the first to wipe out, Damien quickly followed, and by mile 3 we were all a blur of muddy shirts. There were 28 obstacles along the way. We jumped into a dumpster filled with ice and water, climbed up and down hills of mud for 2 miles, crawled under barbed wire (and yes, it was real), crawled through pitch black underground tunnels, climbed cargo nets, jumped off planks into freezing cold water, crawled through water while electrical wires dangled from above, walked across balance beams with freezing water below, attempted monkey bars, slid down ice mounds, scaled a cliff (more or less), ran up a half pipe, got sprayed by a fire house, ran through a trail lined with burning hail bails, and climbed through logs wrapped in barbed wire. Some of us were stronger than others during some of the obstacles, but we all stuck together and finished as the Phat Kids.
The months of hill training and long distance running definitely prepared me well for the mountain. I had little to no pain in my calfs and legs the next day, but I learned my upper body still needs some work. I was definitely able to do more than I would have ever been able to do in the past, and I'm proud of what I was able to do. My only disappointment is that I choose to walk around one of the obstacles toward the end. Rather than going over the 12 foot berlin wall, I helped my team get up and over and then met them on the other side. I'm truly pissed at myself for this - there was no reason for me not to go over. It wasn't an individual event, everyone needed their team to get over, and there were hundred's of strangers that were there willing to lift me. This was the challenge that had me nervous from the moment I saw it. I envisioned myself coming off of the wall and breaking my ankle and putting an end to all the running I have planned over the next few months. I let my fear get the best of me. It's like my mind is always looking for an out. I'm always looking for something that can turn an incredible moment into a disappointment. Well, props buddy, you did it again! I dwelled on this a lot on Monday and Tuesday, but I'm ready to let it go now and just be proud of ever taking part in Tough Mudder.
To the 8 other Phat Kids - Damien, Jack, Joe, Nick, Meghan, Sarah, Ian, and Mike - thank you for an unbelievable experience. Damien, thank you for planting the seed in my head and always giving me confidence to try new things and to be myself. Jack, thanks for coming back to New England to be part of it all! I hope the two of you are ready for some serious running once you've recovered.
One final thought now that the Marathon and the Mudder are behind me. I'm in a complete post-event depression. I have a sort of emptiness and I'm not sure how to fill the void. I know it sounds insane, but I almost feel like I need my next challenge. I still have the goal of a sub 4 hour marathon and I'm signed up for the Marine Corp, but right now it doesn't seem like enough. I'm hoping as I get further from these events the feeling will go away, but right now it's not welcomed!
Below are some of my favorite pictures from the event:
Fast forward a few months. Damien brought up Tough Mudder and was determined to get as many family and friends to join him as possible. By this point I was signed up for the Boston Marathon and told him I'd consider it. Fast forward another few months, early January. I was hanging out with some Hanover folks at the Texas Roadhouse and was a few Killian Irish Red's in when another co-worker brought up the Mudder. Beer balls! BAM, I was in. The next day at work I proved I wasn't all talk, paid the entry fee and soon we had formed team Phat Kids.
From January to May a lot happened, but most of the time I was focused on training for the Marathon. I started a daily push up challenge with my buddy Jack to keep me somewhat focused on upper body strength and got stronger than I have ever been. Then the Marathon came and went. Emotionally it was an unbelievable experience, but the day was physically exhausting and I lost a lot of my motivation to focus on the Mudder, but that wouldn't stop it from coming.
Saturday morning I picked up Jack at the airport and we headed to Vermont with most of the team (Nick, Joe, Ian, Mike, and Damien). Saturday night came and went and it was time for the event. When we arrived at the mountain we could see the first wave of people had already started. Looking as high as you could on Mount Snow you could see the deserted ski trails littered with people. One thing was certain, Heartbreak Hill looked simple. As we waited to start the anxiety was overwhelming for me, so much so that a few of my teammates started to comment that I was making them nervous. It only built when I saw that we had to climb over an eight foot wall just to get to the starting line. Then it was time. As a team we made it over the wall and to the start, and as soon as I was within the anxiety turned to excitement. It was one of the first times in my life that I stood there with a group of people and knew that it didn't matter what obstacles I could complete it was enough that all of us had signed up and were there ready to start as a team.
After the start line it was straight up the mountain ankle deep in mud. Then, straight down the mountain, ankle deep in mud. Jack was the first to wipe out, Damien quickly followed, and by mile 3 we were all a blur of muddy shirts. There were 28 obstacles along the way. We jumped into a dumpster filled with ice and water, climbed up and down hills of mud for 2 miles, crawled under barbed wire (and yes, it was real), crawled through pitch black underground tunnels, climbed cargo nets, jumped off planks into freezing cold water, crawled through water while electrical wires dangled from above, walked across balance beams with freezing water below, attempted monkey bars, slid down ice mounds, scaled a cliff (more or less), ran up a half pipe, got sprayed by a fire house, ran through a trail lined with burning hail bails, and climbed through logs wrapped in barbed wire. Some of us were stronger than others during some of the obstacles, but we all stuck together and finished as the Phat Kids.
The months of hill training and long distance running definitely prepared me well for the mountain. I had little to no pain in my calfs and legs the next day, but I learned my upper body still needs some work. I was definitely able to do more than I would have ever been able to do in the past, and I'm proud of what I was able to do. My only disappointment is that I choose to walk around one of the obstacles toward the end. Rather than going over the 12 foot berlin wall, I helped my team get up and over and then met them on the other side. I'm truly pissed at myself for this - there was no reason for me not to go over. It wasn't an individual event, everyone needed their team to get over, and there were hundred's of strangers that were there willing to lift me. This was the challenge that had me nervous from the moment I saw it. I envisioned myself coming off of the wall and breaking my ankle and putting an end to all the running I have planned over the next few months. I let my fear get the best of me. It's like my mind is always looking for an out. I'm always looking for something that can turn an incredible moment into a disappointment. Well, props buddy, you did it again! I dwelled on this a lot on Monday and Tuesday, but I'm ready to let it go now and just be proud of ever taking part in Tough Mudder.
To the 8 other Phat Kids - Damien, Jack, Joe, Nick, Meghan, Sarah, Ian, and Mike - thank you for an unbelievable experience. Damien, thank you for planting the seed in my head and always giving me confidence to try new things and to be myself. Jack, thanks for coming back to New England to be part of it all! I hope the two of you are ready for some serious running once you've recovered.
One final thought now that the Marathon and the Mudder are behind me. I'm in a complete post-event depression. I have a sort of emptiness and I'm not sure how to fill the void. I know it sounds insane, but I almost feel like I need my next challenge. I still have the goal of a sub 4 hour marathon and I'm signed up for the Marine Corp, but right now it doesn't seem like enough. I'm hoping as I get further from these events the feeling will go away, but right now it's not welcomed!
Below are some of my favorite pictures from the event:
Friday, April 20, 2012
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