Out With The Old, In With The New - A Year in Review

I was contemplating for a while whether or not to write a year in review blog post. After all, it seems like everyone is doing it, so isn't it a cliche? However, considering that this year was a year of many first I figured why not. Let's do this.

In The End, It’s All About The Results

For many, running will always be just that – running; for health, for personal enjoyment, for fun. However, in our crazy money driven society, running will also always be about the results. It starts at an early age with track and x-country meets. It keeps on through high school and college and beyond. In those early days, there is no money involved, but there is that yearning for the result, for the need to be first, for the trophy, for the win.

Perfect Finish to 2013 - Rocky Run 50K

"Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in" - Michael Corleone (The Godfather III)

I was looking forward to some rest. I was looking forward to few running free weeks following my foot injury and 2 marathons this fall. All for naught! In comes Ms. Schaefer and blows my dreams out of the water with the Rocky Fat Ass 50K Run, 3 weeks after the Philadelphia Marathon.

Another One Down - Philadelphia Marathon

Philadelphia!!!!

Last time I left you off, I wasn't sure if I would be running the Philadelphia Marathon due to my foot problem (see here). I wanted to give it some time. Since I was not able to get a refund, I decided to make a race time decision on whether I would give it a go. Amazingly, my foot did not feel that horrible at all, even after running 26.2. It actually felt better then it did after the Runner's World races. No complaints from this guy. I went on a healthy dose of home remedies, relaxation and NSAIDs. On Friday after the NYC I did 3 miles and felt pretty good. I could feel something in my foot but not bad. Amy and I decided to do a run together that Sunday with the stroller and kids. It was going to be a nice 6 miler, last "long" run before the Philly. I felt really good. While again I could feel something in my foot, it was not bothering me too much, and I actually ran pretty fast even while pushing two kids in the stroller. I knew that I would start the marathon that week.

Why I Want To Be Altra Ambassador

Hi Altra! I hope you like my application, and if you select me I will represent you anywhere I go!

NYC Marathon - Tough, But Proud

This was not the race I had in mind when I signed up for ING New York City Marathon earlier this year. I had many opinions and thoughts about the race that ranged from negativity to excitement, to getting a marathon PR, but things do not always play out the way you want them to go, especially in racing.

Runner's World Half and Festival - A Tale of Decent 5K, PR 10K and DNS Half

SteelStacks

Runner's World magazine held their second annual Runner's World Half and Festival from October 18-20, 2013. Marathon mom and I had so much fun doing this last year that we signed up as soon as the registration was open. Last year we did the hattrick which is 5K and 10K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. Of course we did that again. This would be our last real long run tune up as we start the taper for the NYC Marathon in few weeks. We were super excited to get back to Bethlehem, PA for some racing, seminars and great company. Again this year the main sponsor was Altra Zero Drop shoe company, and they surely put on a great show.

Blues Cruise 50K

Who is ready to race? This guy!

You know what would be a good idea? Oh you don't. A good idea would be running a 50K while preparing to run 2 marathons in November. Even better idea, you say? Running 20 miles back to back weekends, followed by a 50K. Well, that is precisely what Amy and I did yesterday, October 6th, we ran the Blues Cruise 50K, put together by an awesome group, the Pagoda Pacers out of Reading, PA.

Back in Training

Well I am back in training. After taking several weeks off to rest and recover post Plitvice Marathon, I am back in training. What am I training for? Glad you asked. I or we (marathonmom) are training for the NYC Marathon in November and than the Philadelphia Marathon 2 weeks later.
But that is not all, we just signed up for the Bluise Cruise 50K as a training run on October 6th. Needless to say, there will be a lot of long runs in the next few weeks and months.

Rest and relaxing

Not only am I looking forward to finishing this racing year strong, I cannot wait for the next year. We are already scheduled to run the Roanoke Blue Ridge marathon again. However, this year we will be doing the unofficial double marathon. Meaning, we need to start and finish a full marathon before 7:30am so we can run the official marathon. Sounds like fun, right? As we are also celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary next April, we've decided to fly out to California and do Born To Run ultra marathon. At first it was going to be the 50K, but that is silly, so we will be doing the 100K for the first time.

Plitvice Marathon (Plitvicki Maraton) - Croatia

Is there a better way to kick off the summer vacation than to run a marathon in a foreign country? For us it was a must. It was an opportunity that we did not want to miss. This marathon would mark the end of our spring races and lead us into a much needed break, before ramping up for a pretty busy fall racing season.

First 50K!

May 4th, 2013 finally arrived and with it our "A" race of the year, The North Face Bear Mountain 50K Endurance Challenge. MarathonMom and I picked this race as our anniversary celebration gateway/mini-cation. Pretty romantic.

We arrived at Bear Mountain on Thursday to some R&R prior to the race. Bear Mountain Inn, where we stayed is great. Nice and clean rooms, beautiful surroundings, and best of all, right next to the start line. Thursday and Friday we spend exploring the surrounding area including the local watering holes. You got to fuel up, right?

The America's Toughest Road Marathon

Wow! What a race. When they say the America's toughest road marathon, they weren't kidding. Over 7400 feet of elevation change and 3 mountains to climb. Wow.

Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, VA was just another "training" run on the road to the Bear Mountain in few weeks time.  This journey all started with me winning a free entry from RunnerDude's Blog. Of course, my lovely wife wanted to run it as well, so a late April weekend gateway was planned. Roanoke is about 6 hour drive from Philadelphia, so we went down on Friday. Our Friday was spent driving, checking into the hotel, getting our race package and having a very nice dinner at Blue 5 in Roanoke. The race expo/registration was very small, but at the same time nice. We were not looking to browse and shop anyway. Very nice touch was the bracelets and stickers supporting Boston. We wore those during the race.

OD Marathon...PR time

My very first marathon was the OD Marathon in 2012. I have trained very hard for it and was very excited to run it. And than I got sick that very week. A day before the marathon I did my 2 mile shakeout run while running a fever, and I thought I was going to pass out. Not looking good. So I medicated, hydrated and the next morning I felt OK. I took some extra medicine and the first 10-12 miles went well. I was running at a good pace. That is when the nightmare scenario occurred. Around mile 13 I think my fever returned and I was bonking hard. Around mile 15 my IT band flamed up with sharp pains shooting through my knee. I still finished with the combination of walking/running but it was awful, painful and not pleasant at all.

Umm what is a Japod?

I would imagine the first question someone might ask is, "What is a Japod?" It is pronounced yaapod and it comes from greek word "Ιάποδες". Really if you want to read all about it head over here to this wiki.