Betwixt

I find myself betwixt and between employers, having wrapped up my tenure with Sherman’s Travel on Thursday and poised to begin anew with Travelocity tomorrow.

When I started with Sherman’s Travel I was the fourth employee and we were squeezed into a tiny and dismal office with a view of a sweatshop, a brick wall and an alley. Three and a half years later it’s a multimillion dollar business with a huge online presence and a terrific magazine (the office has a nice view too).

It was a great experience being a part of a start up company, to be an active participant in its growth and its successes. But when a good opportunity comes a knocking… well you’ve got to answer the door.

So on this weekend I find myself betwixt and between employers - nervous, but also excited by the opportunities ahead.

“Know thine opportunity.”
-Pittacus

A Race Deferred

Entry to the The New York City Triathon opened at midnight on November 1st and sold out in 9 hours. I was one of the first people to enter and I have the t-shirt to prove it.

Turns out I've got a family function that very same weekend and will have to defer the race until 2009. Rather than be disappointed I'll revel in my 2009 guaranteed entry deferral status and the fact that I don't have to get up at 2am next time around.

I will nonetheless be engaging in fierce competition on the weekend of the NYC Tri. In lieu of swimming, biking and running I'll be partaking in a whole different set of multisport... Basketball, Hula-Hooping, Water Balloon toss and the the ever popular and hotly contested Jump Rope competition.

To get into shape for the Hula-Hoop and Jump Rope contests, I've recently signed up and begun training for a sprint triathlon on July 13th.

Hopefully this training will be enough to prepare for the cut-throat competition.

Hopefully.

“Action expresses priorities.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Father's Day

Some blog entries just don't need words...

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
-Mark Twain

Anti Monkey Butt

And now, the the second installment of WTF?

"Junk is the ultimate merchandise. The junk merchant does not sell his product to the consumer, he sells the consumer to the product. He does not improve and simplify his merchandise, he degrades and simplifies the client."
-William S. Burroughs

8 Great Reasons

A few reasons why this mornings bike workout rocked:

1. It was my first ride of the season (for shame!)
2. Averaged just shy of 20 MPH
3. The sound my bike shoes make when I clip in is hot (or is that haute, or perhaps hawt?)
4. Keeping pace with, and in several cases, passing vehicular traffic
5. Soaring heart rate pounding up Harlem Hill
6. My half grin / half grimace that comes only with hard effort on a bike
7. The wind roaring in my ears
8. Dropping guys on ludicrously expensive bicycles (“nice bike, you should learn how to ride it”)
9. Because 8 great reasons isn't enough, seeing my good friends Yvonne and Eddie running over the 59th Street Bridge
10. And one more for good measure... I found chain grease in my ear. Sweet!
    

"While the fates permit, live happily; life speeds on with hurried step, and with winged days the wheel of the headlong year is turned."
-Seneca

Slacker

I've been a complete slacker on the blogging front... The good news is that I've had several great runs this past week, I've been to the pool to get some laps in and I just got Billy* back from the shop.

Things are totally looking up!

There's also some big news on the horizon for me.... stay tuned.

Much, much more to come....

"Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones."
Seneca

*Billy is my bike

What's Your Sand Wish?

I often see unusual things in my day to day life. Sometimes the things I see are terribly funny.

I'd like to begin sharing some of these in a new series called "WTF?"

Behold... the first entry:

"A man occupied with public or other important business cannot, and need not, attend to spelling."
-Napoleon Buonaparte

Isaac Newton Was Wrong

In my last post I referenced Issac Newton's First Law of Motion. Issac, I'm afraid, is wrong.

Well sort of... Since the marathon I’ve done a bike work out, two swim work outs and managed to pepper in a few runs. For the past five days however life, or “unbalanced forces” in Newtonian vernacular, has conspired against me.

At least twice I’ve gotten up early, dressed for a run, stepped outside and then promptly returned to bed. I’ve brought gear to work thinking I’ll run the 10k home after work. I’ve begged myself, promised myself and loathed myself out the door for a run but:

It’s cold.

It’s raining.

I’m tired.

The baby’s crying.

I need a little extra push. I need a little inspiration. I need some cosmic force to strike a new balance and set me back in motion.

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."
Jack London

The New Jersey Marathon

I’ll spare you the suspense and cut right to the chase. I ran a new personal best of 3:27:42 an average pace of 7:55 per mile. I finished 169th out of 1700 finishers.

While absolutely delighted with this result this race was not about the numbers…

When my son was born in October I took a two-month, sleep-deprived, hiatus from running. So signing up for the New Jersey Marathon was my way of kicking myself in the pants. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t permanently regress into a non-runner. Obviously I had a time goal in mind, but, I did this particular race for the training regiment more so than the thrill of crossing the finish line.

I have only praise to heap onto The New Jersey Marathon. The race was well organized and well executed. The course was flat, fast and interesting. The community support and volunteers were abundant and enthusiastic. The one minor complaint I have is the race website... it’s amateurish, not very navigable and doesn’t do the race justice.

Weather was a major concern for me going into this race. The conditions the night prior were cold and very windy. The forecast called for thunderstorms on race day. Thankfully conditions were much friendlier when the starting gun went off – cool, overcast and dry with the exception of fog.

The starting chute was as humane as I’ve experienced and I was able to line up toward the front along side runners of comparable ability.

I clicked off mile one in 8:20 (inclusive of a quick biologically necessary pit stop). Mile two fell in 7:30. Knowing I was setting myself up for an Icarian fall I eased up for mile three and settled into a more sustainable pace of about 7:50/mile.

Normally, I’d have kept better track of my splits but my watch battery died on race day morning. My trustworthy Timex training partner exhausted its last electrons while sounding my 4:00am wake up call. Literally, the watch flat-lined to wake me up.

It was around Mile 18 that I began to fatigue. I was okay from a cardiovascular point of view but was waning mentally and my legs were feeling some pain. I was also carrying a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders (personal note: incorporate upper body strength training moving forward). My poor mood was exacerbated when a group of three runners I’d passed at mile sixteen caught up to and then passed me at mile twenty-one.

At this point I connected with a runner doing his last leg of a relay (The NJ Marathon consists of a marathon, a half-marathon and a multi person marathon relay). His fresh legs and positive conversation helped lift me from despondency and carry me to mile twenty-five and a big finishing kick.

Ultimately the New Jersey Marathon was a giganterrifenormous reaffirmation of my commitment to running and a healthy lifestyle.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jared, LuAnn, Jessica, Eamonn, Susie, Joe and Sharon. Thank you all for coming to the race and cheering me on. Your being there helped me pull me through to the finish line.

A big sweaty hug to Salena for her support, tolerance and love.

Early in the race and feeling good.

Hitting my stride

The three I passed at 16

The big finish

“An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
Sir Isaac Newton

Zoiks... It's Almost Go Time

The New Jersey Marathon is almost here! You're going to do great!!!

The New Jersey Marathon is almost here! You're going to fall apart!

You've trained so well -- almost 600 miles since you signed up for the marathon on December 31st!

You didn't do much speed work... Did you???

Four long runs of over 20 miles. Now that is dedication!

It would have been a good idea to do a test run at marathon goal pace.

You've lost over 10 lbs and have rediscovered you abdominal muscles! You'll run a personal best for sure!

Abs, huh? Last I heard you needed legs to run a marathon and yours are wicked sore.

Just a few easy runs this week. You'll toe the line feeling fit, fresh and fast!

Weather.com is calling for heavy rain.

Accuweather.com is predicting cool weather with overcast skies -- perfect marathon weather!!!

"Man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe"
-Euripides

Over Golden Gate

At the suggestion of 13akbal, I headed out for my first run in San Francisco along Market Street, to the Embarcadero and the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was a great run through San Francisco, along the Embarcadaro, the Piers, Fisherman's Wharf and to the Golden Gate Bridge approach. 8 miles out was a little more than I had anticipated and there was no way I was doing a 16 mile out-and-back. But I couldn't stop.

Something compelled me over that bridge... At one point I actually said aloud to myself:

"Oh to hell with it. You'll figure out how to get back to the hotel. Just go for it."

The views were amazing. I'm very glad I kept going.

Here's my route. I ran over the bridge and back but then took a taxi back to the hotel.

These photos don't do it justice but...

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire."
-Aristotle

San Francisco Treat

Rudyard Kipling once said that the only drawback to San Francisco is that "Tis hard to leave."

I shall soon have the opportunity to see for myself. And I am rather looking forward to it.

I'll be in 49er country on business for the better part of next week. While there I am hoping to take in a few of the sites, a few good meals and explore the city by running through it.

Any suggestions on running routes and tasty restaurants?

"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Bible, Daniel 12:4

A Run through New York City in Photos

Inspired by Phil, I decided to document a run in photos. The course takes me from Midtown Manhattan, across 34th Street, up 1st Avenue, Over the 59th Street Bridge and finally ending at the Triborough Bridge.

It was more of an exercise in exercise than an exercise in creativity so please forgive the poor composition and quality of the photos - they were taken with my Blackberry.

I enjoyed doing this... Hope you do as well!

The Empire State Building as seen from 34th Street.

A taxi goes by...

Looking up Park Avenue at the Met Life Building.

$5.00 to go to Queens... A great deal at any price!

The United Nations Building.

Looking up 1st Avenue from the 59th Street Bridge.

Queens in all it's glorious splendor!

View of Midtown Manhattan from under the 59th Street Bridge.

Looking back on Manhattan from across the East River in Astoria.

A tired Josh under the Triborough Bridge.

"To the complaint, 'There are no people in these photographs,' I respond, 'There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer."
Ansel Adams

None of That Mattered

I had a blog post half written about how hard my 22 miler was last Sunday. About how I fatigued physically and mentally 19 miles into it. About how frustrating it was getting caught behind slower, more casual runners for those last few miles.

I had a blog post half written about how difficult it is to strike a sustainable balance between family, work and training (not to mention blogging). About how little sleep you get with a 6-month old baby in the house...

And then I went out for a 8.5 mile tempo run and none of that mattered.

It was an awesome run - right at sunset, as the tide was rushing in along the East River, the city lights were coming on and the air was cool and fresh.

Amazing what an endorphin high can do for your state of mind.

"Happiness depends upon ourselves"
-Aristotle

Pure rapture

On Sunday night I had the supreme, life altering joy of consuming Marc's vegetarian lasagna. Pure rapture.

The deaf hear! The mute speak! The blind see!

So it was for me as I gluttonously masticated on mound after glorious mound of his messy, hot, cheesy, saucy brilliance.

I stand in awe of your culinary greatness.

Thanks for cooking.

“It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it.”
-Julia Child

Slacking (sort of)

I openly admit to slacking off on my blogging. My thanks to the handful of you that continue to visit despite my lack of new posts.

I've found myself with some time this morning and will attempt to get myself caught up on my favorite blogs. I may even muster up a post of more than 5 sentences.

My running is going well and I'll be doing a 22 miler tomorrow (thus the "sort of") inclusive of the NYRR Scotland Run.

"If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write."
-Epictetus

Chronology of a Missed Workout

8:00pm - Decide to go to gym in morning for stretching, core work and a few easy miles on treadmill.

10:00pm - Pack gym bag and set out workout clothes. All is set for a no brainer, grab n' go morning.

12:00am - baby wakes up and starts to cry.

3:30am - Baby wakes up and starts to cry. Again.

6:00am - Alarm goes off. Hit snooze.

6:09am - Alarm goes off again. Hit snooze.

6:18am - Alarm goes off again. Hit snooze.

6:27am - Alarm goes off again. Punch snooze. Alarm experiences short flight across room.

6:45am - At elevator, running behind. Feeling guilty for not walking dog. Realize I only have an hour to get to gym, exercise and get home in time to go to work.

6:46am - Elevator arrives as I turn and walk back to apartment. I'll just run near the house.

6:50am - Back at elevator with happy dog.

6:52am - Outside picking up dog poop. It's really cold out.

7:07am - Fumble around in the dark for cold-weather gear.

7:10am - Give up and go back to bed.

8:06am - Wake up (again) and still manage to be late to work.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again. Then give up. There's no use being a damned fool about it."
-W.C. Fields

Going Long

I have to admit that I've occasionally complained about the two block walk to the mailbox nearest my house. Ironic considering I was actually excited about doing a 20 mile training run this past Sunday.

Ahhh, the mind of the long distance runner.

Sunday was also the NYRR's Colon Cancer Challenge - a 15k road race in Central Park. So, I plotted a course of about 10.5 miles to the start and then raced the 15k (9.3 miles).

I figured that I'd be inspired to pick up the pace for the second half of this workout by the race environment.

However, I was a bit pressed for time when I left the house (read: groggy and lethargic) so I had to nudge up the tempo to ensure I'd get to the start on time.

I arrived at the starting queue just as the final race instructions were being announced. I arrived timely but pooped. The race itself was pretty rote for me. I did find a little extra umph as a result of the competitive nature of races and I ran well. A big shout out to NYFlyGirl and the Ladies of Hellgate for whoopin' it up on the course.

The good news came later and was two-fold:

First, when I woke up on Monday I wasn't destroyed physically by delayed onset soreness - a sure sign of heightened fitness.

Second was my pace.... When I combined the times of the pre-race run with the race itself my pace was on target to deliver an 8 minute PR for the marathon.

Now I just have to keep up my training and not to obsess with peaking too soon.

"Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt."
-José Ortega y Gasset

Honors

I think back on my Half Ironman experience from time to time and am completely stunned that I was able to accomplish something of that magnitude. It really must have been a fools blend of ignorance and divine intervention.

Granted, I put in a lot of long hours training but those hours were forgotten almost as soon as I crossed the finish starting line.

This is why I was so honored that the Hellgate Road Runners chose me as the recipient of the Special Athletic Achievement Award for 2007. To me, this award isn't about crossing the finish line. It's about doing the work necessary to get to the starting line.

I'd also like to congratulate the other award winners on a fantastic year of running. Kudos!

"Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat."
-Ann Landers

Awards Night

Each year the Hellgate Road Runners hosts an awards banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of the club and acknowledge a few select individuals for their achievements. We eat, drink, celebrate, dance and take pleasure in seeing each other in something other then sweaty technical gear.

I am once again editing a video montage of photos taken over the past year. It’s a fun project but time consuming and a bit stressful. Taking more than a 1,200 photos and whittling them down to 50 or 60 so they fit into a three minute song - while mindful to use only the best and most flattering pictures but also to include at least one shot of each person. I’m also trying to sequence them logically, politically and with the ebb, flow and crescendo of the music.

Did I mention I have a fulltime job? Am in the middle of training for a marathon? Have a wife and a 4 month old baby at home?

Yeah all true. But, it’s a great party and people seem to enjoy the photos. The big mystery is what song will I use this year…

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
-Bob Marley