Sunday, June 22, 2008

Training Update!

Hello everyone!

As part of this marathon preparation/charity process, I swore I
would send out updates on a 1-2 weekly basis for all to read...
and probably snicker with delight at my insanity! So, here is
the first installation of "Brian's Training Log" aka "That Idiot
is Doing WHAT???"

Today I ran another half-marathon - my second in 2 months,
and that is not counting my 2 10-mile races in that same period
of time. This one course is a KILLER - it is in Fairfield,
Connecticut, and it was the first half marathon I had ever
attempted last year at this time. It is the hilliest race I have ever
done (until I do the NYC marathon, so I hear), and the hills do
NOT quit. From mile 2 up until mile 11, you are going up and
down hills the ENTIRE time. Whether they be gentle, rolling
ones or steep morale-killers, they are "challenging" (read as
soul-destroying) and they last literally about 9 miles.

So, I really haven't trained for this race particularly - I trained
properly for the LI half marathon, and had great results - but I
didn't have time to put in a proper training schedule again
for this one. I figured since I did the 10-mile race in Long Beach
a few weekends ago, and performed quite well, that I would be
up for the challenge of the Fairfield Half. Thus, I signed up,
and away I went.

I tried to tell myself before the start to just think of it as a long
training run, do not even TRY to set a time to finish it in. That
lasted about 30 seconds, as I told myself I wanted to at least
beat 2 hours. This morning we awoke, with the previous
evening's weather forecast fresh in our minds (calling for rain
and thunderstorms). It looked decent enough outside, so that
made us happy. Until we stepped outside. It was warm, yes,
but it was HUMID. Humidity = run killer. BIGTIME. The new
thought going through my mind? "SHIT" and "I hope I don't
end up in the hospital." Off we went to the race.

Usually before races, I get the pre-race jitters - a nervous
feeling in my belly accompanied by extreme jittery jumpiness.
I had none of it today, probably because I had resigned myself
to the fact that this was not going to be a personal-record
setting day. This became even more evident when I tried to rev
up my ipod and the memory was wiped clean. We postulated
that this was due to a jamming frequency set up by the race
coordinators due to the fact that they made headphones and
ipods outlawed for the race. Whatever. I wolfed down my Clif
bar, and headed to the start. We stood and chatted for a bit,
and then off we went.

I am going to condense this down, for the sake of everyone's time,
because it was 13.1 grueling miles... but basically, before the
start, I was hoping to maintain a nice 9 min/mile pace and finish a
shade under 2 hours. That lasted for about 6 miles. I am surprised
it lasted for more than 1/2 mile, considering I was hypoxic and
probably blue from 1/2 mile onwards, but I kept up the pace for a
while. Then, I could no longer take it, and my pace dwindled. When
I got to 10.5 miles, my hands went numb and my head started
throbbing - at this point, I thought it was probably a smart idea to
stop running to avoid that whole hospital thing, so I walked for a few
minutes to regain composure. From here on, everything REALLY
sucked. I had to stop at every water station to drink a cup, pour a
cup over my head and arms, then use another cup to swish around
in my mouth and spit out. Usually I would do this whilst running....but
the last 4 miles or so I took the opportunity to actually STOP and
consume fluids. I sputtered across the finish line in 2:04:04, which
was 3 minutes better than I did last year at this race, but is 12 minutes
slower than my time for the
Long Island half in May. Truly appalling...
but I managed to avoid the hospital, engorged myself with watermelon,
bagels and chocolate milk, and drove home. All in all a disappointing
day, but not surprising!

That's about all for now - for all those who have been donating to the
cause, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! For those who have been meaning to,
I include the link again, and appreciate all the good vibes you are
sending my way.

Until next time,

-Brian

To donate, please click the following link:

https://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/start.cgi/mar-programs/nyrrf/team/2008/donations.htm

My Entry Number is 211355 - you will need to put this number and
my last name in the appropriate boxes in order to donate.

And now...some pics!


Ella eating "fruit"


Ella and Mommy


"Helping" with the laundry


At Shea Stadium for the Mets vs Diamondbacks game 6/12/08. The new Citifield is in the background, will be the new home of the Mets starting next year.


My friend Jim and his bro Bill, the Biggest Losers from Season 4.


Throwing out the first pitch!


The starting pitcher = the $140 million dollar man, Johan Santana!


The pitch...


One of Johan's 10 strikeouts on the day!


Ah Willie, we hardly knew ya....


Today's race - pre-torture.


Family photo...pre-torture.

The 3 lunatics...pre-torture.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Please Help!


Most (if not all) of you have known me for a VERY long time, and remember well the time in my life when I wouldn't pass up a quart of italian ices or even consider a walk around the block. When I would have to buy XXXL clothes, which I would have to special order online because no store carried such large sizes. The time in my life where I would literally start sweating with the effort of bending over to examine a dog at the office. To say I was overweight would be a drastic understatement - I was most certainly morbidly obese.
It is a proven fact that the majority of children who are obese become overweight adults. Obesity can lead to many health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems, certain types of cancer and diabetes, to name a few. I was overweight for my entire life - until I was fortunate enough to have a switch flipped inside my head, and I was able to remedy my problem before it became irreversible. I feel very lucky and proud to have accomplished this feat with love and support from all of you.
You all probably also know of how I spend most of my time outside of work and home - I have become a runner. If you would have told me that I would have uttered those five words 4 years ago, I would have told you to either see a psychologist or get help for a drinking problem. I have run numerous races to this point, the longest being the half marathon (I have done 4 of these in the past year). My ultimate goal is to run a full marathon, specifically the New York City Marathon this November.
The NYC Marathon is the most popular marathon in the world, with over 40,000 runners participating. The crowd support is unparalleled. I have been told that running this particular race has been one of the best moments of a runner's life. This is the feeling I want to get from my first marathon, no matter how hilly or difficult the terrain.
It is for these reasons that I decided to kill two birds with one stone - run my "dream race" while trying to help educate a new generation of children on how to live a healthy lifestyle. I am going to run the NYC Marathon in support of Team for Kids.
Team for Kids members support acclaimed youth running programs that improve health, combat obesity and enhance personal development of children from low-income communities. Since 2002,Team for Kids members have raised more than $8 million to fund NYRR Foundation programs now uplifting almost 50,000 children a week in more than 200 schools and community
centers. Programs are transforming kid's lives in New York City and throughout the United States as well as the Cape Town region of South Africa.
Team for Kids plays a decisive role in responding to the devastating human and economic toll of childhood obesity, a deadly scourge whose long term consequences will diminish tens of millions of lives and cost of hundreds of billions of dollars if left un-reversed. With primary support from Team for Kids, NYRR Foundation's model programs teach children the fundamentals of lifetime fitness, while building their fortitude and focus and increasing their
self-discipline and self-esteem.
Please help me fulfill my 2 goals: 1) To run a previously unthinkable distance in the best venue in the world, and 2) Support a charity which will help our future youth live healthier, happier, longer lives. If you can donate any amount, it will get me that much closer to accomplishing 2 amazing feats that I would never have imagined I could do. When I cross
that finish line, I will have all of you in my thoughts...as well as being thankful that I have made
it alive!!!

I have pledged to raise $2500 - To donate, please click here.

My Entry Number is 211355 - you will need to put this number and my last name in the appropriate boxes in order to donate.

Thank you in advance, I will keep you all posted on my training progress!

Sunday, June 08, 2008

HOT

As I sit here and sweat my cojones off in the 90 degree heat, and as I continue to ponder what marathon I shall commit myself to, I figured...why not post some photos?


Movie starlet in her latest role.


Nice stems!


"CHEEEEEEEEESE!" again...


"Mess? What mess?" *innocently bats eyelashes*


Ella and Poppy!

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Bummed

I didn't get a number for the NYC Marathon this November. I am majorly bummed out right now. I will, therefore, have to look into signing up for a charity to get a number, but most of them require $2500 to be raised for the cause, and I am not sure I will be able to get that much together. So we'll see what happens. I am bummed.