13.1 Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'll tackle two loops of Central Park in the Manhattan Half Marathon.

This will be my longest race in quite some time and should be a decent indicator of my fitness for the Jersey Marathon in May.

I am not planning on racing this all out but rather I'm viewing it as a long training run at marathon pace (or slightly faster) just to make sure that I can go the distance.

We shall see.

"The test of any man lies in action."
-Pindar

A Very Good Week

When running, there are times when every step of every mile is a challenge.

There are workouts so uneventful and ordinary that even reviewing your running log sparks no memory.

And then there are the runs like I’ve had this week.

It started Tuesday evening, running home from the office in Herald Square across town to 1st Avenue - past the United Nations Building and over the Queensboro Bridge before turning north to Astoria.

It was cold. It was dark. And neither mattered.

Traffic lights seemed to sense my approach and turn green. Tourists gawked and locals stepped aside. My pace and perceived effort were spot on – that fine line between speed and sustainability.

I arrived home energized and in less time than if I’d taken if I’d taken the Subway.

Thursday morning I woke at 5:45am and was at the track before sunrise. One mile warm up at an easy pace. Then 3 x 1 mile intervals (6:15, 6:18, 6:17) and finally a mile cool down. All followed by some core strength training.

At 5:45am the alarm sounded again on Friday morning. Peering out the window into the darkness rain poured down. Augh! I don’t want to run in that mess…

Then I remembered that just because I haven’t used it in months, I do still have a gym membership. So off I went and knocked out a solid 10k while fantasizing about being a rock star as jam after jam came up on my iPod.

Today I’ll head out for an easy 5 miler and tomorrow I’ll go long – it’s supposed to be wicked cold.

Awesome.

"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.”
-Ayn Rand

Twitter…

You may have noticed the “I’m Twittering” headline over to the right and thought to yourself:

“What the hell is a Twitter?”

According to the Twitter website, it is a free “service for friends, family and co-workers to communicate…” and is used by the LA Fire Department as well as presidential hopefuls John Edwards and Barack Obama.

Like you, I was completely in the dark until The Ubster and The Crew introduced me on New Years Eve. After a couple glasses of fine red wine I finally got it and began following a few people, including The Geek of Everything (*except home pool maintenance) who incidentally provided the quote for this post.

Since, I've become somewhat addicted to Twittering - known as Tweetaholism.

In short, Twitter is good for:

• Micro-blogging
• Sending brief, concise and relevant text messages
• Sending quick inane or irrelevant text messages
• Communicating information to a group
• Wasting time
• Driving up your mobile phone bill with loads of SMS messaging
  

Twitter is not good for:

• Communicating complex thoughts or instructions
• Communicating directly with an individual
• Workplace productivity
• Participating in or following dialogue via a mobile device while driving or operating heavy machinery
  

“Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Shoes and Hotels

My training schedule called for a 10 miler on Sunday – my first “long” run.

I am pleased to report that I was able to knock off nearly 11 miles at an easy pace and felt strong the entire way. My iPod also turned out a great playlist which no doubt helped.

I did feel a little soreness in my knees but that is likely the result of too many miles on my current shoes coupled with hours of bouncing a new baby to sleep. I think it prudent to shell out the monies for a couple pair of new shoes. Does Asics make a pair of neutral-cushioned trainer/bouncers?

I also need to find a hotel near the start of the Jersey Marathon in Long Branch. Does anyone have any suggestions?

“Only the little people pay taxes.”
-Leona Helmsley

Happy New Year

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
-Mother Teresa of Calcutta

New Jersey Here I Come!

Today being New Year's Eve, it seems very fitting to commit to the New Jersey Marathon. I've just signed up and received confirmation.

I am doing it.

Today also marks Day 1 of my eighteen week training schedule. I am pleased to report that despite some extremely gluttonous holiday binging I am ahead of schedule...

10k on the treadmill.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
-Benjamin Franklin

Spring Marathon?

I am quite seriously contemplating a spring marathon for 2008.

On the one hand, signing up for a marathon is a great motivator. If I make the financial and emotional commitment I'll have no choice but to commit myself physically and put in the miles. It could also serve as a way to regain some of the fitness I've lost.

On the other hand training through the winter months isn't going to be any fun (case in point: today's raining, sleeting, snowstorm).

Decisions. Decisions.

"Indecision may or may not be my problem."
-Jimmy Buffett

TGIF

glumbert - Bad Day at the Office

"The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection."
-Thomas Paine

My First Thanksgiving

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
-Virginia Woolf

King of the World

There are some days when you wake up feeling like the king of the world. Well rested, loose and kink-free. Full of vim and vigor and destined to have an extraordinary day. Days when that nagging soreness in your heel seems to have vanished and your knees are in a cooperative mood. On these days you set off on your run with a positive outlook, certain that you can run forever.

Today was not one of those days.

Instead I woke feeling lethargic and heavy. Before my toes touched the floor my heel spur reminded me to tread lightly. When I stepped outside with the dog and a poop-bag at the ready I found it was dark and cold and raining. My disposition matched.

With the dog walked and dried off I headed out to run, grunting and puffing along. To avoid the temptation of cutting my workout short I did an out and back rather than my usual 1.25 mile loop. And when I came to the fork in the road where I often turn around and head back... I kept going, turning that 5 miler into a 10k.

And it felt good. Real good.

So did the 4 mile race I did on Sunday.

I’ve allowed myself time off these past few months to prepare for, and adjust to, my new roll as a father (which is awesome and will be the subject of many future posts). I’ve allowed myself to have second helpings at dinner and sometimes thirds (Salena’s eggplant lasagna is really, really good!). I’ve allowed myself to skip workouts (you don’t get much sleep as a new parent).

These excuses are no longer valid.

I will not allow myself to be sloth-like this holiday season. I will not allow myself to gain anymore weight. I will not allow any further deconditioning.

If I am to achieve my fitness and race goals for 2008 now is the time to lay the foundation.

It is go time and I love it.

"Absence lessens ordinary passions and augments great ones, as the wind blows out a candle and makes a fire blaze."
- La Rochefoucauld

Flying Trapeze!

I have been meaning to post this video for a couple of months as I said I would back in August... but I have a good excuse for failing to do so.

So this is me at the Trapeze School New York having an absolute blast! The experience was a tons of fun and the staff at TSNY are great - I highly recommend it!

Without further introduction, here goes (yes, I added the "old film" look in iMovie)!

“The essential is to excite the spectators. If that means playing Hamlet on a flying trapeze or in an aquarium,
you do it.”
-Orson Welles

Ok... Here's a photo!

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: It's loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness."
-Keats

It's a boy!

Jackson Conner Morphew
October 3, 2007
4:00pm
7lbs, 9 ounces
21.75 inches long

More to follow. Much more!

"Oh my God... He's perfect!"
-Josh Morphew, on witnessing the birth of his son

T minus 10

We're just 10 days out and dilated 3 of the obligatory 10 centimeters. Whoa!

I've gotta say that you women-folk are truly the superior of the species - anatomically speaking, anyway. It is amazing what the female body is capable of. It's a cliché, but a miracle nonetheless.

The sleek, powerful and sophisticated internal motherboard makes the male equivalent seem like an external hard drive plugged in almost as an afterthought.

Note that the image of a ruler to the right is, in fact, to scale...

While on the subject of male/female relations I would like to comment on chivalry. I am pleased to report that chivalry is not dead. It has however entirely abandoned the male sex. In an unscientific study, 21 people have given up their seats on the subway for Salena, who is obviously very pregnant. Only 5 of those people were men.

Come on fellas.

"It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding."
-Kahlil Gibran

Where Have You Been?

If you have asked yourself this question, well then, I thank you for caring enough to inquire.

If you've not wondered into my whereabouts... well, whatever.

The answer is that I have been wicked freakin' busy!

Work has blown up as we scramble to meet Q3 and Q4 goals while planning for 2008.

I've also been to South Beach for a bachelor party... (all good fun but I'll spare you the sordid details!)

I've taken a swing at the flying trapeze! Holy smokes that was awesome! I'll post on that soon -- and I have video of my daring feat!

The baby is due in just two weeks but there have been some "developments" that suggest our new arrival could come at any moment. As such there has been a mad dash to acquire, wash, assemble and install all the necessary baby gear. I've been to Babies "R" Us to demo strollers more times than I ever thought possible!

My life as a runner and triathlete has really slowed. I've all but given up on swimming for now and "Billy" (my bike) sits idle in what is fast becoming the nursery. I've gotten out for a couple of runs but mostly just easy 5-milers - amounting to a modest 15-20 miles a week (if that!).

My Google Reader currently has 154 unread posts and I look forward to getting caught up with you when time allows. Though I do have a sneaky suspicion that life is only going to gain momentum rather than slow down.

"The quality of a life is determined by its activities."
-Aristotle

Worthy of my icy ire

I hate you Mr. Stephen Colbert! Oh, do I hate, detest and loathe you, sir!

For many moons I have been a trusty and true viewing companion – faithfully watching as you shed your magnificent light on the worlds great challenges.

At first I was wooed by your classic handsomeness and fierce conservative politics but over time it was your demure charm and quiet self-confidence that drew me in night after night.

So naturally when I noticed “Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream” ice cream the container made its way into my shopping cart. Never mind that Ben & Jerry are granola socialists. After all, if you, Stephen Colbert, can let them print your name and likeness on their product I can certainly give it a little taste.

I have read the list of ingredients thoroughly but surely one vital component of this recipe has been omitted – heroin.

Since my first little spoonful I’ve not been able to shake the desire for more. In fact, my loving wife had to physically wrest the container away from me and forcibly remove the spoon from my frozen and drooling mouth.

Do you seek to destroy me with your icy-sweet caramel kryptonite? I am weakened and brought to my knees by your Americone Dream.

Alas, it is my nightmare.

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."
-Mae West

SBR Sprint Tri

4:45AM and the alarm clock began to beckon. It was time to wake up, pack up, and head out for the 4th race of the SBR Triathlon Series (you may recall I ran race #1).

The frequency and intensity of my workouts has not been... uhh, er, well, let's just say that my training has been less frequent and less intense.

The swim went about as well as I could have hoped for. I set off in the middle of the pack and quickly moved over so that I was swimming a direct line out - just along the line of buoys. It got crowded a few times and I was kicked lightly but what else is new.

Heading back to beach I lost my line and veered off slightly. I corrected and ended up swimming shoulder to shoulder with another guy all the way to the beach.

My official time for the half mile swim was 15:16, a pace of 1:44/100 meters.

My T1 transition time was a bit slow at 3 and a half minutes. No real reason... I moved efficiently through the change - I just wasn't fast.

About 3 miles into the race I was just spinning along on a flat section of the course. I looked down and was only going 15 MPH.

"WTF, Josh! This is a race! Quit with the lolly gagging ya' effin' Nancy!"

Finally I engaged with the race and began working the bike. I dropped a couple of riders as the course made it's way into a long, twisting section of rolling hills. After 2+ miles of hairpin turns around blind corners the race makes a tight 180 degree turn on this time the turn goes up a hill. A 1.5 mile hill. And it is ALL UP HILL! Augh!

I passed a couple of guys going up the hill but my lack of proper training was catching up. I didn't have much juice left for the few miles back to transition. With about 3 miles to go the guys I passed on the uphill retook their positions ahead of me.

I cursed to myself and debated the merits of pushing too hard up a hill. I was awaken from my inner dialogue by the lead woman positively blasting by me! Geez, nothing left but a vapor trail, my deflated ego and my dropped jaw.

I rolled into T2 in 52:57 averaging 18MPH over the 16 mile course.

I ran out of T2 in under a minute and was on the 4 mile trail run when I was hit with stomach cramping again! I had to stop to stretch out my abs while holding back the urge to show my guts to the rest of the field... literally.

I finished the 4 mile trail run in 32:22 a pace of 8:06 per mile. I'm a little disappointed with this showing because I've run the same course at a 7:01 pace. Alas, my innards were out of it.

All in all I finished the triathlon in 1:44:53 which was good enough for 35th place and 4th in my age group. Full results are here.

I raced pretty well, finished with a strong kick and most important, I enjoyed every minute of it (even the near barf was good fun). So I can't be too unhappy with what is likely my last multi-sport race of the season.

Now I'll be focused on my next "A" race. Does anyone know a good 6-week training plan for fatherhood?

"Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance."
-Anonymous

Back From Idaho

Idaho - or at least the Sun Valley area - is a remarkably picturesque corner of the world. The landscape is rugged, raw and varied. Plateaus give way to prairies. Mountains rise up from the flats and fall into quaint valley towns.

Idaho is also on fire at present. Huge tendrils of smoke from numerous wildfires can be seen for miles. In fact, one morning my run was made rather difficult due to the omnipresent haze of smoke. The 5,300 feet of elevation did not help this sea level dweller much either.

Special thanks to 13akbal for finding the Wood River Trail for me. As it turns out it went right behind our hotel!


"Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up."
-Ernest Hemingway

Idaho

I find myself on the verge of a trip to Sun Valley, Idaho. Packing my bag I realized...

"Where am I going to run?!?!?!?"

Egads, man! I don't know any good trails or routes in Idaho.

I looked for local running clubs online figuring they'd have some suggestions and found none.

Zip. Nada. Ziltch.

So, know any good running routes or trails?

"A traveller without knowledge is like a bird without wings."
-Sa'di

She's Awesome

My wife has a remarkable knack for giving the most incredible birthday presents a crazy fool like me could ever want.

And she’s done it again!

Many of you will recall my jumping out of an airplane last year. If you’ve not seen the video of me plummeting to the earth, I must say, it is absolutely worth a viewing.

If you have seen it… well, have another look! Can you spot the moment where my bravado disappears and my face turns a ghostly pale? (hint: it’s about 2:10 into the video).

This year I’ll be flying through the air once again! Only this time a little nearer the ground and with a safety net too... I know what you're thinking but I’ve got a baby on the way to think about.

For my 30th birthday Salena gave me Flying Trapeze lessons! How freaking cool is that!?!?!?!

Also, I’ll need an appropriate Flying Trapeze moniker and am open to all suggestions…

"He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease,
That daring young man on the flying trapeze."
-George Leybourne