Tang Clan Running Club est. 2010

Providence Half Marathon

2022-05-01T15:39:00.002-05:00

13 years later and still adding bibs and medals to the shoebox chock-full of my race memorabilia.

Pre-Race

Training:

2022 has seen a lot of mileage (mostly injury-free!), albeit for stress relief due to my new job. Projected to be the highest annual total. However, haven't felt an extra gear yet save for a random week this year.

week of:

The bigger fish to fry this week was the Epic exam that I, in typical fashion, stressed myself out over to the point of an existential crisis, trying to plan alternative choices to my job. After completing that hurdle, my lack of sleep during the week hindered any hope for a 1:45 or under.

day before:

In my first escape from Boston this year, I hit up my Providence staple, Nick's on Broadway, for illy coffee, patê and black beans with my Barcelona compadre, Jiggy. With the rare 2 hour window afterwards to kill afforded me time to journal at Prospect Terrace, my old stomping grounds. Then, off to Rhode Runner for bib pick up to rendezvous with the Knapps. To say this was a slice of suburb life would be an understatement as I found out what a "yes day" is for kids, and the playground hierarchy as we met up with the O'Briens.

Pre-dinner activities included Guess Who and Uno. This was my tune-up for when Jonald can play, but noted: don't try to play to win when playing against a kid. I forgot you're not supposed to since I remember being a sore loser as a kid. So when a kid has one person left in Guess Who, and I have three, don't guess the correct one haha.

Crushed some tortellini and watched Mission: Impossible Fallout in Knapp's insane home theater and then, off to la la land before the race.

Race:

As Providence veteran runners (which, in college I don't think anyone would've said about Knapp and myself), we parked at the PVD mall, stripped down in the parking lot and donned my Tang Running Club vintage shirt. We walked in to the mall and used the bathrooms there instead of the portapotties which was clutch. We made our way to the corrals at 7:30, eyeing the other runners' shoes like some sort of niche car show. Saucony Endorphins were out in full force along with the typical $250 Nikes.

As 8:00 neared, we scurried in to the C corral and swam upstream. I paused slightly behind the 1:50 pacer, Knapp I think around the 1:30 pacer. I honestly just wanted sub 2, Knapp projected himself around the 1:25 range.

From the train station/ state house, we ran along the river and hit a tight bottleneck near Hemenway's and continued on and up to Gano, the first hill (that was announced by an overzealous runner near me who would yell, "this is the first hill"). Knapp and I agreed, the hills came often and were longer than we remembered in previous races.

Per usual, skipped the first water station (because I've forgotten how races work) and took all the other stations and saying "WATER?" to the volunteers since it sometimes wasn't said.

Since I was content with running 8:30 splits, that became the game for me. We hit India Point then (I think?) went up Blackstone, all places I had run over and over almost a decade ago. The nostalgia would ride all day, down to the pot holes in the road and construction.

There wasn't too much jostling or "racing". I would stay at pace with a Texas shorts runner or a bearded dude with a jacket, but it really felt like I was pacing for anyone who wanted to hover around 8:15-8:30 pace. At some point I passed the 1:50 pacer.

Speaking of hills, the steep downhills messed me up since I hate running down hills, I had to lean back on those and slow up.

Whenever there was crowd support (more on that later), I would inevitably speed up, then immediately slow back down.

With about two miles to go, I could hear some of the onlookers shout at the 1:50 pacer that I thought I had left in the dust...I turned around and saw the neon '1:50' sign. Even though I said to myself pre-race that sub 2 is my goal...sub 1:50 was my new goal.

I continued trying to keep myself tall, tried to keep myself consistent in my arm swings.

I kept calculating my time in my head and trying to figure if that is good enough for sub 1:50.

The hill right before the end was steep and as I made that left turn at the end, saw Knapp and Kevin on my right side and sped up at their request, and sped up to finish at 1:49:01.

Post-Race/thoughts:

-closest I've run to the course length, only an extra 0.06 miles.

-my right shoulder felt a little off, but the rest of my body felt...okay? The lifting helped but I definitely also added lb. which slowed me down. Continue lifting or cut back? decisions, decisions.

-crushed two IPAs, then cheered on the marathoners while waiting for Olga and Abby to finish. I still don't know why this is the go-to post-race reward, but here we are, eating free Oreos and bananas with them.

-listening to Godsmack on the car ride to the race....first experience with Godsmack, at the age of 36.

-Coming from cheering at the Boston Marathon to Providence, the big difference is a lot of people who were cheering were just cheering for their friends or family members today. When I came back around and cheered on the marathon finishers, I brought my Boston Marathon A game and tried to cheer everyone on and shout names on the shirts out with Josh, as we waited for Olga and Abby.

"what does your mouth taste like?"-Olga thoughts post-race, re: post-beer

-things to try out after this race: the big booty mix on Spotify, Saucony Endorphins, Tracksmith merino wool

-the half-marathon half-zip is pretty dope

Maine Marathon 2021: or I ran a marathon in Maine and all I had to show for it was Moxie

2021-10-07T10:54:00.001-05:00

I ran a marathon in Maine and all I had to show for it was Moxie

days leading up to the race:

I randomly requested months ago Wednesday through Friday off prior to the race and got some good rest in. I ran a 6 miler Wednesday as if that was somehow that'd mitigate the MIA miles since I didn't do the long runs on the back half of my training due to heat/humidity and mentally being tired from that pandemic thingy.

The weather daily check was left to Abby (maybe it's a new rule I have to run every marathon with a coworker). The weather was looking good leading up to the race, 50s and cloudy or rain in the afternoon. Other than the Philadelphia Marathon in 2012, this was the best weather heading in to a marathon.

Carb loaded Friday night, two days prior. Realizing more and more sleep and carb loading two days prior is super important.

Saturday morning, Abby picked me up and we met her sister Meri in Portland. Portland is so hip and, well, there's SPACE everywhere. The Adsits were incredible hosts as we got our bibs, hit up the Lighthouse and Eastern Promenade, and hit up Holy Donut as well to, carb load.

pre-race dinner meal?

Hot honey pizza from Otto and sour cream and onion ruffle potato chips with a little bit of Friday Night Lights for dessert. Texas Forever.

Slept from 11-5:30, I awoke every 30 minutes. I didn't want to influence the two new marathoners about this tradition so didn't mention this is a habit for me. Apparently they are impervious to this as they slept soundly. Ideally would be sleeping in wherever the race was for 2 nights in a row to get used to it. I ended up sleeping on the floor for a bit because the couch was just so soft and sunken, my back was off.

Weighing in the day of at...183.6 lbs. The covid weight came back with a vengeance and shocked me. I was probably 10 lbs lighter during the first half of training. Who knew going out and not running as much would mean a heavier me? weird

Per tradition, I chewed on peanut butter and banana sandwiches and felt like yakking, prerace? This was new to me. It might've been nerves from not having trained properly for the first time.

to quote the Little Giants, "death shrouds"

something old: my iPod shuffle, only one earbud was working.

something new: my Humarock hat for the rain was a last second decision, came in handy.

thankfully I reread race reports and remembered to stuff some TP in my pants for the portapotty

We were a fifteen minute walk away from the starting line and even though I took residency in Meri's bathroom in the morning, we hit the portapotty pre-race.

I decided that due to a lack of training, I'd treat this like a long run and go for 10 minute pace and stay with the new runners. My sister can attest to from our first half marathon, I'm not a good pacer and went up to 9:30-9:45s as I kept looking back, hoping they were behind me. The field was packed anyways so I sat and didn't bob and weave (too much) so I didn't add on extra mileage.

At about mile 2, the light rain started. and it would go on and off all day. Thanks a lot, weather report.

Around mile 5? a volunteer handed me water and said "looking good, Aaron". it's weird how much that means from a complete stranger. Unfortunately I would not be donning the A-A Ron moniker today otherwise I would've had more cheers.

By mile 6 or 7, the crowd finally thinned out since the half marathoners had a separate course/chute.

My hip flexors felt tight all race despite all the hip flexor work I did this year. My outer right knee felt like it was gonna explode. However, there were only two ways of getting to the end: happy and easy or miserable and dead tired.

My barely tested fruit snacks paid off, I had em at mile 4.5, 9, 13, 17, 20 and could feel the hunger right before ripping in to a new bag and chewing on some gummies. It turned in to me looking forward to snack time every 4 or so miles.

Since it was an out and back course, I knew that at mile 10 I'd see Knapp pretty soon so kept staring down the runners hitting mile 16 going the oppo way. Eventually, I see this Incredible Hulk/Flash run past me and giving me a high five. It was Knapp, fully transformed and different than the picture at the top of this site.

The hills at mile 16 and 20 were not expected but thanks to training in Newton, didn't feel so bad.

After 20, it's a mental game of "ok 2 5ks left. I do this at home in my sleep all the time."

The last mile and a half was just a cocktail of a mashup song of Kanye and Tame Impala on repeat as I kept pumping myself up with Ted Lasso quotes and tricking myself in to thinking I had enough in the tank to do more than a marathon.

No gag reflex at the end, and even hammed it up with a "finishing kick". It was also nice to run negative splits/even and pass people a majority of the way, as I passed by the LL Bean boot truck b/c of course there is a LL Bean boot truck in case you didn't know you were in Maine.

4:10:22

I had chocolate milk and a space blanket as I waited for the others to finish.

Post-race thoughts:

I didn't learn my lesson from Boston, worked the day after. Head in a daze.

My back and all the leg work has helped though as my upper body feels ok post-race and my legs, while sore, don't feel as awful as in the past (maybe because I didn't go all out).

Knapp ran a 3:08. Wow. Enough said.

Volunteers were amazing, well organized. Never felt like a car was gonna hit me even though I was usually the last runner when crossing the road. I tried to thank as many spectators and volunteers as I could.

25 year old me would've blown up at this race a la Miami. 35 year old me knew better and took it easy. Call it self-preservation, or not gutting out a harder race, but I feel good about it. (and my body thanks me, as by Thursday, I'm running again)

had some random left glute pain momentarily on the ride back to Boston

I think the back half of the training plan suffered in the midst of a year plus of a pandemic solo.

ocean views for most of the race was pretty nice

Had half an Andy Bernard since I thought it wasn't gonna rain. Thankfully, I had on smartwool socks so I only got the one blister.

only with running could you meet someone new, and christen their bathroom pre-race.

This felt like an away game. You don't realize how diverse Boston is until you go to Maine.

They sell live lobsters at the restroom stop in Maine.

weight drop during the race:183.6-> 177.2 curiously I wanted to check pre to post race weight in an experiment of one.

As I continue to ramble, felt like I controlled what I could and everything that isn't under my control, let it go.

training with someone on a long run>training solo

Lifting consistently for my back and legs: nice that I was able to power through and hold up during and after the race, but definitely felt bulkier even if it's in my head

'Rona Running

2020-03-25T15:37:00.000-05:00

Quick blurb but to get out and get some exercise during this corona era, I ran the Newton Hills for a nice little half marathon distance. It was nothing special and as I hit a third of the way in downhill, I was coming up to an older runner who was saying something to me which was inaudible with my permanent headphones in. I took a bud out and heard her say "you ain't gettin past me!". I laughed and we spoke (at a 6 foot distance) about being runners. I told her as she mentioned she was older that she wasn't old because she was a runner. We both went on about going to work during this time as healthcare essential workers, wished each other safety and my run became that much better with a smirk on my face. While I have come to become a Bostonian I know all too well the social distancing that was happening prior to this corona virus but maybe we will be nicer to each other after the fact (who knows, must be the runner's high still coursing in my veins).

Side note, it's odd to run the course knowing it'll be delayed til September. I also am slowly getting my legs back, only took 4 months...old Man Tang.

Falmouth Road Race

2019-08-19T13:42:00.001-05:00

So what in my head was to be one of the least prepared races ever all time for myself (even worse than that time I forgot my running shoes...to a running race), we lucked out. With no housing plans, literally ran in to a coworker who just so happens to be vacationing on the Cape near the race (with the caveat being we were present for the new generation of teenagers...they're pretty funny).

After soaking up a little sand and beach, my prerace meal was IPAs, oysters, clam chowder, and a lobster roll (again, really prepared)
I woke up at 2,3,4,5 a.m. despite really not trying for this race.

Finally up and chowing down on some vintage pb and banana sandwiches and being across from a fellow runner, Sportscenter on a massive tv, and sleeping on a futon, throwback college style.

We finally took off before 7 to get to the buses to the starting line. As we waited at just one intersection for the cop directing traffic, Brian lowers his window to give them an earful for the ten minute wait to take a right...I looked at Brian, because I didn't know you could do that. Talk back to a cop.

The school bus line was super organized like Boston (even saw Tedy Bruschi for the third time this year NBD). We got to Wood's Hole and chilled for an hour, wading through the massive horde of 11,000+ runners in the dense fog by the water (too bad I didn't get a snap of the sailboats out there, super eerie).

Since we were ill-prepared, we moved back pace groups. We took it easy for the first three miles during the rolling hills and just kept weaving in and out (an extra 0.07 miles, not too bad). I figured there'd be an opening soon.

Wrong.

We'd be dodging all day which makes no sense if there were corrals...

an older runner was yelling at walkers to move to the right...aggressive but truthful.

I skipped the water stations and just straight up missed another one...so I started dry heaving at mile 5.5. I was told there'd be a hill at the end. There was one at 6.5. Then the actual hill. Then the huge American Flag that would signify not the finish line but right before. Super tricky.

I expected nothing out of this, yet I was still a little bit disheartened by the over on the hour time (1:00:35). Well, either your ready for a race or you aren't, so time to get back to hitting pavement.

Right shoulder and back hurting.

Seen:
one tree hill backpack and a riddler hat from Batman Forever.

Post-BM

2019-05-23T10:14:00.003-05:00

About a month and a half out from the BM, it still feels great and keeps getting better upon each retelling. The further away it is, the lesser details and negative aspects fall by the wayside. Yada yada yada, I have been coasting off that high and have not been really hitting pavement as much as I would like to. So naturally, we sign up for races for a good motivator.

Schedule:

July 21-Dana-Farber 5k
Aug 18 Falmouth 7 mile road race

Fall-marathon???

Boston Marathon Race Report 2019: Runnin' like a BOS

2019-04-16T14:52:00.001-05:00

The Pre-Race

I passed out at 10 pm and my sleep pre-race was (like clockwork) broken up by a 2:30 am wake up call with the usual "I missed the dang race" nightmare, followed by tossing and turning until 5 am. I got up and my right hip pain and quads were sore already. Eat a banana and P.B. sandwich, drink a liter of water, the same breakfast before every race.

For my official gallon Boston Marathon zip-lock bag, I packed what looked like an elementary school lunch:

2 peanut butter sandwiches, my pretzel nuggets that helped me during that 21 miler, and a bottle of water (complete with dry socks). My fanny pack was filled to the brim with 6 gus (4 chocolate, 2 raspberry), keys, a T pass, ID, credit card, and my waist was surrounded with the usual TP utility belt.

After 2 rounds on the porcelain throne (like clockwork), I boarded the B line train at 6 am with my Freddy Krueger/ trash bag get-up complete with Marathon Sports gloves and pajama pants, old Nike kicks and a makeshift necklace of dry New Balance Fresh Foams to ward off bad juju (and wet shoes for the race). The things we do for running. #noshameinmygame

As I had done before many a time coming home from a bar, I slept on the T with my head nudged on the window since I knew by feel what stop I'm at like a sixth sense, this was my home court advantage. Elite marathoners (looked like there was a Houston runner and Mexico runner across from me) filled out the rest of the train, perplexed by how much Gu and gear I had as they had packed 0% body fat and zero throwaway clothes. I gently woke up from my lean against the T as we reached the Arlington stop, and that's when the rain and lightning started and my trash bag fashion faux pas turned in to a vet move quickly.

While others donned their uncouth trash bags on the stairs leading up to the Boston Garden, I was momentarily confused and walked the wrong way then remembered to walk towards the line of school buses across the pond. Volunteers were out in full force and helped direct us as the lightning and downpour started.

After flashing my bib and Dana-Farber bracelet (concert paper style) to security, I was able to grab a wave 2 bus at 7 am. The rain then smacked us sideways with thunder going off in the background a la Lord of The Rings, Helm's Deep style (or GoT if you prefer); damp but bad ass before boarding. I got on and saw another non-BQ DFMC teammate and hoped she would sit with me because I had no idea where to go once we got off the bus. She sat with me because I was rocking a Providence Ironman hat that I picked up at a race from another life time ago, I let her know I was in fact an Ironman fraud. The ride was an hour long out to Hopkinton on a long motorcade of school buses that felt like the Dark Knight's bank robbery opening scene. Some runners became anxious as the ride seemed to go on forever. We finally arrived at the Athlete's Village where the Wave 2 runners turned left into, the rest of us went towards our safe haven as I spotted the tallest DFMC runner and training partner extraordinaire, Brian Thomson.

Hopkinton

We got to the Dana-Farber sanctioned church (so clutch) and as any vet knows, hit the bathroom asap. While we waited in line, the flyover happened for the 1st wave as the bathroom stalls shook. During our stay at the church, we added on Sharpie tattoos to our arms for those who we were running for, lettered my singlet with "Tang", then last second Sharpie'd in "A-Aron" also on the singlet. We took group pictures as well while I began to snack on PB sandwiches and pretzel nuggets, and drank another liter of water. We crashed the inside bathrooms and portajohns for a grand total of 5 rounds of the porcelain throne all before 10:35, proceeded to donate our throwaway clothes and shoes and the crawl to the start began. As we waited for our roughly 11am start, Wave 3 people were sneaking by us and running to the starting line as they were late for their start. I looked around and thought, we got blessed with this pocket of no rain and was pumped. Earlier in the week, all we saw was rain showers all day. Before we started, Brian said that we'd get rain (0.07') around 1pm.

We got to the top of Hopkinton and fired up the GPS watch as we crossed our first tracking point. We definitely ran downhill for the first half (with hills at miles 4 and 8). At 0.9 mi, Brian had a fan base with a "25.3 mi" left sign as they cheered him on with a 'BT' shout for him. Brian spotted a Welcome to Brookline sign around here, I was unphased and delirious to know what that even meant early on.
Thankfully there honestly wasn't as much jostling for openings as we were mostly 0.1 mile off before each mile marker and finally, learned to let the race come to us. (Zig zagged a couple times to stay within range of each other of course). A couple of jackasses were swerving in and out, like left side to right side...these must be the Massholes that drive around these parts.

Ashland and Framingham flew by quick. We had to back off and run conservatively downhill. In a role reversal from our long runs, Brian had to tell me to dial it back a couple times which I am so thankful for later on in the race.

Early on, Brian and I knew one small thing may have made all the difference; writing "A-Aron" on my singlet from the now infamous Key and Peele skit. Every minute, a new sideline cheerleader would shout "A-Aron" after I passed by them, them chuckling to themselves, and me pointing at them after the fact and acknowledging the absurdity of it all, which started a longer wave of cheers. Brian said the difference between whoever would finish first would be because of this, and I can't say that he's wrong. To make it even more of a big deal, my "TANG" lettering was coming off, the G falling off and I did not want "TAN" shout outs.

Somewhere in this section I said aloud to Brian at least it wasn't raining and that turned in to a conversation with an older female runner who was going to run last year but decided to go to China with her husband instead, what a tough life. We also saw the usual Jesus-like shirtless runner, to which I said "was that Jesus?" to the delight of the crowd.

We finally got in to the rhythm of taking each mile's water stop after the mile sign, running to the back and left for water stations to sip and cool down. Nothing worse than sucking back Gu with a parched mouth.

Once we hit Natick (or was it Wellesley?) the sun came out and the clouds let up as we were slowly getting cooked without knowing it until it was too late. We needed to back off the 8:30-40 pace and rock 9s. We knew we'd hit every water station and pick up Gu and store it in my pockets. I looked back for Brian and couldn't find him so I had to run solo since Brian wanted to go at 9 pace. Felt bad but at the same time knew we spoke about this possibly happening. After that 5k where Knapp came through and torched me in the pic at the top of this blog, I thought Brian may do the same here, too (not that it really matters, right?).

Wellesley to Newton

There were drums? Stomping? Whatever it was near the Wellesley Marathon Sports store, where I had my first long run with the team, kept me going. The home court advantage started as we had run these spots a couple times which made all the difference.

Once I hit the Wellesley "tunnel", I realized wow, I am old af because these college girls offering kisses are kids haha. But back to the race, I thought to myself, I gotta plug away at 9:00 pace from miles 14-17. I saw my Bristol bro around this point and one of my fellow colleagues at work who apparently whacked me in the back...totally do not remember that happening. At the Newton fire station at mile 17, they were blasting Montell Jordan "This is How We Do It" and all was right again.

Heartbreak Hill

Miles 17-20 was now when the work started. A veteran told me mile 17 is the actual half way point of the marathon and after this experience, I totally agree. I've run these hills before backwards and forwards in the carriage road but would now navigate the 3 hills along the main road and plug away. I saw Greg around mile 20 with his family here which helped me move along. The hills were a slug fest but just kept grinding away having faced them before, passing walkers and spectators shouting "Go A-Aron!" I kept pointing back at them, thankfully I never smacked anyone with my left arm inevitably swinging by (I stayed on the left side per Brian's recommendation).

Home field advantage is legit; the hills are something I did multiple times, even at night when I needed to do medium runs, making Heartbreak Hill less heartbreak-y.

If conditions were right and I had energy, I would've opened up a "finishing kick" after Heartbreak Hill like the one I had for our 21 miler (with my good luck pretzel nuggets that I never went to, kept eating Gu upon Gu upon Gu). Unfortunately that wouldn't be the case but I had to keep telling myself I hadn't unleashed a big move yet and continue tricking my body and willing it forward as my calves started to cramp up as I hit BC. I hoped the cramps would be kept at bay til the finish.

I continued running through home court as I passed the reservoir then navigated a right turn and a left on to Cleveland Circle where I saw fellow DFCI 5k member Richie and then saw my newly-joined Brighton Bangers run club! And apparently some girls I've met in Brookline saw me around this point too. Rep precedes me haha.

10k To Go

The last 10k, while being downhill (save for that Mass Ave dip) was slow as molasses as the humidity was turning up. The "4 Jane" sharpie'd tattoos on the arms in honor of my spirit animal Jane Gunzelmann pulled me through the last 10k. I was constantly raising my arms and cheering up the spectators to cheer us on a la KOB.

Around the Washington Square stop, I saw my Mom cheering me on in a green DFMC shirt that Brian donated to me (what a team player).

The "A-aron" high fives, while propelling me forward at a faster clip, caused some semi-calf cramps around mile 23 or 24 when I veered towards some drunk college kids chanting A-Aron in unison...won't forget that. Had to shake my left leg as the cramps became more apparent.

I had nothing left in Brookline and couldn't make a move for a 3:45 finish time as I peeked at my watch and was around 3:22 at mile 23, meaning I'd need a 23 minute 5k so it wouldn't have been feasible. But I also knew sub 4 was fine so long as I ran 10s. I think either the 23 or 24 mile water stop, I walked for a quick second to gauge my cramps and knew I had to start running otherwise I'd walk the rest.

The Citgo sign (and the accompanying hill it's on) were welcome signs (rim shot) as the end was near.

I tried to get the crowd involved in the end...it's amazing how I turn in to this different person while running. I was yelling, hollering while running, talking to myself aloud to keep going, all with my hand on my ear like I was 80s era Hulk Hogan.

As I took the right on to Hereford, left on to Boylston (along with others taking the turns tight), the rain finally started as we were about a quarter mile out from the finish line. I kept waving my arms and according to my race photos, I was smiling? I hit the finish line and in rare form, did NOT dry heave...even got an Uta Pippig shout out (she was a speaker for the team and has been with the team for a while).

3:53:24. Haven't got to say this in a while but that is a PR!

Received a congratulations from the team leader and photographer. They got another DFMC runner as we took a photo after congratulating each other. The photographer asked what A-Aron stood for. Very good question.

Got my medal put on me, got my coveted space blanket, and was led by a friendly DFMC volunteer in a pink shirt to help navigate back to the Marriott. Just as we headed towards the Hancock tower, a swirling dervish of trash came through and the rain picked up. When I slowly got up a couple stairs and on some escalators, I was able to change out in the make-shift locker room on the third floor and lament with fellow runners who didn't know they would get here due to injuries. I hopped in to my pre-hip Champion sweats and running shirts from almost a decade ago and called up Mama Tang to meet up on the fourth floor family waiting area.

After getting my mom back on the commuter rail back to PVD, the rainstorm bookended the race on both sides thankfully. Naturally the sun came out with a rainbow around Back Bay post-run.

Stats and facts:

-2 Nantucket Nectar Half and Halfs at the Marriott post-race, that's all I had, Gatorade for tonight #liquiddiet

-I took EVERY GU (Mocha and razz) available offered by the volunteers ... must've had 12 total since that seemed like the limiting factor during my 21 miler (whereas today, I was parched due to the heat and couldn't go to my pretzel nuggets that ignited a 4 mile kick for my 21 miler)., must've looked like that fat kid in Matilda with brown crap on my face and hands from squeezing every last bit of Gu out, toothpaste style

-Right foot was getting tight in my shoe (or I laced em wrong)

-Can't eat post-marathon per usual

-Brian gets credit for all the "A-Aron" chants, numerous and sped me up every time.

-he also went in to the portajohn with a popsicle stick with Vaseline on it...have I been skipping a step?

-Got a runner's tan on my back

-8 towns, 1 race

-Only ran an extra 0.23 miles per the GPS, not bad

-Group runs with Brian helped with my confidence to trust 8:30/9 pace whereas Marine Corps was all solo runs but I did not feel nearly as good as I did this training cycle

-Loved the strangers saying congrats per usual

DFMC team

-Organized as all hell, volunteers got us to the Marriott, no problem at all. Speaks volumes that a lot of my energy could go towards the race and not logistics. This team is the real deal.

-Rockin OOFOS and changed in to my pre-cool Champion sweats and medal for Jane

-Coach Jack Fultz, amazing work

-Customized DFMC jersey and kicks that were sharpie'd....should've done that

Sountrack on the course

"Road Runner" by the Modern Lovers early on in the race

"Midnight City" by M83

That "ole ole ole oleeee" song

A throwback Ja Rule song

"This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan at the Newton Fire House

The Aftermath Bullet Points

-My "4 Jane" tat left a "Jan" imprint on my right arm due to the sun coming out

-I'm smiling in almost all my pictures, do I finally cave and pay MarathonFoto for pics?

-A Boston Marathon jacket, I finally can wear it. Do I feel bad since I didn't BQ? No, because this is America, money talks. You can buy your way in to college. Right Aunt Becky? Speaking of school, it's like a varsity jacket for Boston...why I didn't wear it to run club that Wednesday at run club is beyond me.

-My mantra coming in was, crush mileage, outwork 'em, relax, turnover your legs, and blink? It worked I guess

-"A-Aron" echoing in my head kept me up, that's why I only slept for an hour. Listen, we are never going to be the NBA or NFL stars we dreamed of as kids. But that feeling of complete strangers cheering you on...man, can't shake that feeling!

-Flip it on its head, yes I could've hit 3:45 with no insomnia and better weather but lets look at 3:53 as what it is, a PR under rough and tough conditions

-never felt 100% to start, we got robbed. That 21 miler was my race...we need another shot at the marathon. Never hit the wall though thankfully.

-With 1 hr of sleep after the race, I can see why athletes love playing at home with people chanting your name as you raise your hands or acknowledge them cheering as you are pursuing your best effort. Nothing like it.

-Quads and right outside knee are shot, not back of the knees like in the past. Going Benjamin Button on my walking the whole week, hobbling to back to normal in a week.

-"walking around like Bambi." -Heather Tang

-despite not really working out, my upper body and core held up (but yes, I need to do yoga and lift again). My arms did look jacked in that one waving pic haha

-I didn't notice the usual funny signs or costumed runners (or any at all)...there's a different vibe to this marathon. The prestige and honor associated with it must have something to do with it

-not peeing apple juice but not exactly water

-reached for a package on the floor and my right shoulder cramped the hell out

-Ran with Pat Henderson way back during our URI days to help him train for Boston for a couple miles, now we here. What a crazy journey. He had some helpful words the day before the race to soak in all the love. Amazingly I did, Boston came up huge.

-Run your miles, work hard, but have no expectations. I read that, from one of my earlier entries in this blog. That's the way I need to approach running and life.

-sacrifice to the running gods: my space gray iPod shuffle is MIA. RIP. Bought a shiny new red one to replace it #midlifecrisis

-took longer for my legs to recover, about a week and a half. Getting older or am I just paying for not taking a day off after the race?

-Future goals: run another marathon? Feeling good, gotta keep up the fitness level or improve.

-hard to see, but the drop in elevation was very hard to fight off speeding up. So glad we did. That spike in pace at the end? The turn on the Boylston from Hereford.

Bonus highlight reel

Behind The Scenes

So this is where the petty part kicks in, end now if you don't want the 2Pac "Hit Em Up", Michael Jordan acceptance speech vibes below. I may delete this part later.

For those out of the loop, signing up for this race was done like many if not like all of my races; not by my choice. I have wanted to do Boston ever since Knapp and I conjured up all these wild dreams as new runners. This race would also be different since there was a large fundraising component as well.

At the beginning, the understandable stress of training and fundraising, along with a relationship that would sour after moving in together began to take its toll on my mental health.

I broke down. I cried. I cried like a little baby. While she was there to console me, apparently this was part of the many reasons why this relationship would ultimately end.

Within a 2 month period, everything went from all in to all out. Wasting my time and energy.

And within that time, my friends became my new support system and my long runs became therapy (along with actual therapy), a time to vent and expend energy in to something I loved and would end up fighting for on my own. Thankfully all the long runs went well.

This would all proceed in to a break up 2 weeks prior to the race after spending my time and energy in to helping the move. This became a detriment to my sleep and mood during a time when I would be tapering and had no outlet since my runs were being halved. For the first time, I have insomnia. Frustration hung like a black cloud over such a prestigious time.

On top of all this, to have the audacity to text after all that and say good luck the day before the race after trying very hard to move on from this relationship, which would momentarily rattle me. Thankfully I was at a pasta party and heard inspirational speech upon inspirational speech.

I remember that the only time I was faced with relationship adversity pre-race 7 years ago, I quit at mile 8 of a half marathon where I had a shot to PR. I had to dip deeper in to the well to find the courage and energy to continue.

For Boston, this race was a division, it was about who has your back and about those who would rather selfishly drag out a terrible time in my life to where I felt horribly during an already stressful time.

If someone told me that I would PR at Boston after a messy break up, I would've laughed in your face. The sheer willpower to get through and PR on a less than stellar day on a less than stellar year personally...this PR, this medal, this jacket is for me. It's for me and for those that were there to support me and be on my team. You know who you are. And you know who you are.

Run Like a BOS week of

2019-04-15T17:20:00.002-05:00

Week of: man, every race report has life coming at me fast. Tapering and dealing with a break up, sleep being erratic at best/ consistently inconsistent, check. Brian and I watching the weather report hour by hour, shopping around the best option, seeing it go from rain to ... hot and humid like Marine Corps...We went from tights and buying rain gear to this...Nurses and the like coming to tell us they would never do this and that we must be so nervous...yeah I wasn't nervous until now haha

Friday: Thankfully Brian has been on top of planning as we went to grab our bibs at Hynes in what was the most organized expo I’ve been to, to date. We had our work clothes (corduroys and Osprey bags as if we were a couple haha) and grabbed our bibs and shirts. Per usual, my medium shirt was a bit too tight as we changed in the middle of a ballroom as a fellow team member came by to say hi to us. After taking our bib pics, we snaked our way around the expo and looked for our free OOFOS flip flops.

The adventure would take us to Newbury St, as Brian put it, the street we don’t belong on. The pop up shop for OOFOS was dope as we walked around as people tried on the newest recovery tools. We then hightailed it to the Marriott to check in with the DFMC team. Grabbed a beer at the stuffy crowd at Abe and Louie’s to see Tiger almost eat it at the Masters. I then naturally had to get Thai food days before a race because of course.

Saturday: Pop-up Record shop? Record Store Day. Still a hipster. Reading on top of Summit Ave. Chickem Shwarma? yup and a matcha latte and pretzel from Clear Flour, checking out Booksmith and the hipster honeytrap around there with the candles. Bonus? Getting a LUUUKKKA shout out with my Luka shirt in college country.

Sunday: Pasta Dinner and Mama Tang day. Uplifting stories throughout the night, the best from the race director said pre-heart surgery, he asked if he could run after. The doctor said it’s not a yes or no, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t. Go home, my mom’s chattin up an old friend from China. She’s got more friends in Brighton than me haha.

Longest Boston pre-run

2019-03-23T12:42:00.000-05:00

sleep? erratic.
nutrition? chili cheese fritos and bon chon fried chicken.
life? all over the map.

aka, the usual haha

Today would be the final long run for Boston, a little over 3 weeks out. Switching it up from gummies to the ol’ Gu. Brian and I would lace em up one more time, with us on the wake-up call on WCBV (me front and center haha) and very inspirational speeches from Team Matty. After christening the BC bathrooms, we headed out for 21.

We were dubbed the “fast runners” as we passed this one guy immediately after the BC gym we were at.

I wasn’t feeling too hot, trying to keep up with Brian as we chatted with a Bristol runner, Andy. The run was broken down in 2 mile increments for DFMC water stops (thanks to all the volunteers!). Gu time was at mile 5 and thanks to poor nutrition, I burned through my 4 quickly as I had my last at mile 14.

Brian pulled ahead around mile 6, I thought about slowing up but got a burst of energy to catch up and continue to go stride for stride. Just pull me to mile 20 and see what I have left in the tank.

We came in at the half mary mark at 1:53, well below 4 hour pace. We were definitely sub 9 pace and just let it ride despite multiple pump the brakes hand gestures. I felt like the only thing holding me back was lack of Gu (thank God for those pretzel nuggets that I squirreled in my cheeks). Trying to contain pace downhill was fruitless so by the time we hit Newton, I let it rip. I actually got a comment from Andy, apparently it looked like I was on a bike powering up those hills.

Heartbreak Hill at mile 20....ok now I get it haha. Definitely harder (the lululemon tunnel helped). the cheering, cars honking encouragement, the Sun peeking out...I don’t know what it was but I was on 8 minute pace for the last 4 miles.

Maybe it was the iPod playing Empire of the Sun to Grand National on a loop.

Right hip is still feeling off, hold on for three more weeks.

lessons learned:

6 gu packets/ pretzel nugs?
get to the top of mile 21, then let it rip with the finishing kick.

How Tang got His Groove Back (for the millionth time)

2019-03-08T09:18:00.000-06:00

Reflecting on a decade of running (time flies right?), I have found that basically every race report has been blemished with hurdles and obstacles, increasingly, with higher stakes as the years go on. The races paired with life in this way were just coincidental (life is always filled with bumps, just mixed in with running), but life just continues to get tougher (and hopefully more rewarding).

As I continue to try and improve myself, I realize now that my anxiety (and unfounded fears) were what may have held me back during previous races and previous life hurdles. (Learning, even a decade later, who says you can't teach an old dog?)

Last year, running started taking a backseat, the lbs started to pile on, so naturally I had joined the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team to run the prestigious Boston Marathon (albeit sans BQ).

In the following months, I had to relearn all over how to love running.

The hills. The mileage. The runner's high. The caloric furnace that reignited inside. The camaraderie. The pain. The prestige. The double chin eradicator.

I hope that this springboards me forward, and I am able to not only reignite my passion for writing but to also continue to run at my usual 9 minute pace (never faster, never slower than this) until the end of time.

So going forward, I need to take pride in this aspect of my life and continue challenging myself, sign up for races that I pick (at least one each six months). I forgot how much I miss training for a big race.

last 5k from the DFCI 5k in summer of 2018

2019-02-11T11:52:00.001-06:00

10 x 400 Wednesday prior (still a bit sore...old af)

Chips n salsa

9am escort in an Audi with Gia and suggestive GPS Richie after a Blac Rabbit concert, at DFCI (with pit stop for bathroom and water) on my day off

Marty Walsh cameo

10:30 start-misting, not too humid, 75 degrees.

less people up front, stroller too to boot.

(told Richie he'd hurt himself if he ran with me, he was nice enough to ask if I wanted someone to run with)

downhill pacing for 7 minute pace with a blonde runner (or two?) and hatted guy who I basically rode along with for their pretty even pacing after I calmed down from a 6:20 downhill pace. There were a bunch of switchbacks, high fived the team at the first turnaround, 2 mile hill that made me audibly yak (just me and hat guy at this point, blonde dropped back), that feeling coming early. That also hurt my finishing kick/ pacing for that matter. Hat guy passed me in the last 800, had nothing left, told him good race at the end. Stroller beat me too at the end, props to that guy.

Haven't run with people in a while so high fived and cheered, jesus top runner in the 20-29, listened to the awards to reinforce that yup, my division is one of the toughest. Messed around playing soccer goalie, had some Talisker and Whistlepig scotch from a Boston cop's stash with pizza and a daschund, Then, crashed all day, hungover, rallied by 10 pm.

flattering

-Colon inflatable that we walked through, a GI doc said to his family as he was leaving at the same time as Richie, "I've seen a lot of colons"

41st Marine Corps Marathon

2016-11-01T09:42:00.003-05:00

The second race this year was a race signed up for last year with the intention that Knapp and I would run it. In a reversal of the Chicago Marathon, I got in to this lottery system and deferred until this year. So here we are, in DC, running a marathon.

Trip down:
For whatever reason, I decided to go down to D.C. via train with Mama Tang on her birthday, passing the site of my last marathon, Philly. Despite spending 7 hours sitting down, it was a pretty cool view of the East Coast (8 states, 1 district, 9 total this week (MA, RI, CT,NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA, DC) ) and the foliage changing. Going to the race site days before, still recommended after the Miami time crunch. The people, the metro, the train station, the cleanliness...why didn't I move to DC?

After finagling and getting in to our Airbnb, we hightailed it to the new expo spot complete with a ferris wheel and boat loads of Marines. I thankfully bought GU there (even though I didn't train with it...running sin right there) and tried on my MCM shirt which apparently is deceiving; mediums always fit but this time I had to move up one size (probably from all that lifting haha).

It was definitely very cool to see all these Marines volunteering their time; they were all so young (a decade plus younger than me). All of them were super helpful and nice. After exchanging shirts, getting my MCM patch, we took the shuttle back home on the fun bus with DC's alternative radio station on. We also got to chat with a Cubbies fan, who just ran Chicago weeks before. Good luck, random runner.

Little sis came down to show support, too on Saturday as 3/4th of the fam were together. I walked a bit around DC but wisely sat out most of the tourist-y spots and went home early. (Skipping the 2 mile run because of said walking). The rest of the time was spent cursing the running gods for having a random 75+ degree day on the forecast when EVERY OTHER DAY that week was picture perfect for a long run.

Pre-Race:
Per usual, woke up around 2:30 then again 3:50 the day of. I covered the nips with US band aids, had a zip lock bag with GU (chocolate mint and tri-berry) bought at the expo,scavenged-for mustard and salt packets in case of cramps, credit card and my metro card.

We were actually 2 miles out from the starting line so we Uber-ed as close as possible (sorry driver, this was your last drop-off, and it had to be heading IN to the race). We walked the rest, around 7am, passing the Pentagon. I remember from my high school trip out that you weren't supposed to snap pics of the Pentagon and saw signs saying so to confirm my foggy memory. Of course, an Asian runner walks by and snaps pics...

While waiting at the portapotties, we chatted up an older female runner and I just love how freely runners can speak about their bowels.

Race:
Due to the weather and an e-mail stating to slow down and hydrate, I parked myself in a lower corral (4:30) to run conservatively. I stood there trying to soak it all in, the leaves changing, the already warm weather, Marines everywhere, choppers flying overhead, the Howitzer that I didn't hear or see.
I zoned out to Tame Impala's "Nangs", picturing Yellowstone Park and tried to calm myself.

7:55 and the race starts.

Then, the crawl. 8:10ish, that's when my race starts.

Per usual, the beginning is slow as molasses, sidewalk riding was my hobby throughout the race, and the highway splits in half in the beginning. I followed a yellow-shirted runner to the higher half, then we both had the same thought; is this for the same race? So we jumped a divider and ran down to the lower bridge...already making rookie mistakes haha.

Most of this race was a blur and will probably slowly come back to me, like a running black out. What I do remember early on is seeing Georgetown, water steaming and a band playing by the water. That would've been the time to snap a pic if I had my phone. Oh and ALL the memorials you see along the way. I tried to just look around whenever we would cross a bridge, it was really picturesque.

Around mile 9, there was a group of Marines playing music, and my family cheering me on. Definitely meant a lot to have seen them. The ridiculousness of running a marathon, but I had at least 2 cheerleaders.

This is advertised as a great beginner's marathon. What I had not anticipated was the amount of selfies and walls of walkers.

For the first ten miles.

I slugged through and couldn't get out of the crowd until around mile 10 and then got stuck again in a slower group because after I was done with a portapotty (2 poops at mile 6 and 13) I had to merge in to traffic which obviously was slower than when I jumped in line to wait for a portapotty.

Half way, I had run around a quarter mile extra according to my watch. I still felt pretty good up to that point. Knowing today was not a PR day but a survival day, I was content riding 10 minute pace.

When we got to mile 16-17 in the National Mall, I was feeling good and told myself, okay three more 5ks to go, not bad. There was an air of familiarity with the area since I was here last year and the crowd support was pretty great here. I also knew a couple things; the last 10k was highway and the last .2 was a hill.

On the headphones to keep me going: Justice (reminded me of destroying a sushi buffet with Fisher), Daft Punk ("One More Time" used at the wedding the week before this race), Empire of the Sun-"Walking on a Dream" and M83 "Midnight City" on repeat.

Around mile 20, the highway showed up.

Now I had run an extra 0.4 miles, my watch would buzz then I'd have to look forward to the mile marker 0.4 miles ahead.

Running uber-conservatively, I had a lot left in the last two 5ks and saw a lot of walkers at this point. I wasn't crushing it but just kept plugging away, covering more real estate. The mistakes made early on magnify here and the heat was not forgiving.

I had to just keep telling myself, I have way more in my tank than I need. At mile 19, I actually thought I was at mile 18 (the wall hits your brain, too). From mile 24 on, when we get back to the Pentagon, the time slowed down and it took forever. The good news? That hill at mile 26...was a speed bump since I took the other 26 miles easy. Oh and that gag reflex...why every time?

"ran" the whole thing,
4:21. Somewhere in between Philadelphia and Miami (har har) with my times.

Post-race:
No recovery jacket :(
Medal put on me by a Marine :) so bad ass.
Walked to the family meet up spot about a mile away from the finish line and during the walk, crafted a dad joke...I was gonna make a joke about our last name being so far away and when I get there...no family to be found. I beat my family to the meet up spot. Eventually we found each other and walked to the Arlington Cemetery stop.

Spoke to an 8-time runner and said it was such a great organized race. The camaraderie with complete strangers...not to get too kumbaya, but man, sometimes it's just sharing this common experience that brings us as humans together (end of runner's high).

How's the body holding up:
Upper right back tweak
The muscles around my knees are a bit sore (more the day after) but overall, my body feels pretty good. Working out overall definitely helped (file this under 'common sense') core, legs (no hamstring problems :knock on wood:).

What we learned:
100% solo training may not have been the best but I did it.
I want another crack at a PR. I am relieved I got through this unscathed, but yeah I want a better PR.
D.C. is beautiful.
As always, these long races are just a great metaphor for life; you train for 18 weeks, get told the scenario you trained for isn't the most opportune. You have to change your frame of mind, push through, and be grateful you got the chance to participate in another race.
Gambled on Gu (at mile 6,13,18, 23ish) and it paid off; the wall kept crawling in to my stomach slowly and the Gu held it at bay long enough.

What we saw:
Kiss n Ride sign-instead of the cell phone lot. Kinda cool, I like the little differences in the same country.
Times at every 5k
Trump and Hillary jokes (apparently I only run marathons in election years...see you in 4 years, Mary).
Marines and pictures of fallen Marines...very emotional run for sure. This wasn't meant to be the last point but I wanted to just cement it home that no matter where you stand, be grateful these men and women are here so that we can pursue such things as a marathon. Despite the craziness of this election, the location of this race, I never felt in danger.

Heather's Half Mary

2016-11-01T08:08:00.003-05:00

The week before my marathon, my sis crushed it in NYC with a half marathon time of 1:49:44 (1:47:31 on the watch). You guys are all motivating me to get back in shape!

Hurricane Andrew

2016-10-02T21:35:00.001-05:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'd like to take a second, game recognize game, Andrew Knapp posting a 1:38:46 today. Proud and now motivated to join the sub 140 club.

Aaron tries for run group #3 (or 4?) in Boston

2016-05-03T22:02:00.001-05:00

After trying out a handful of run clubs, I went solo for 100% of my runs for the past year. After some time off, it was time to get back with running with people who know I am running with them and not racing them on the path.

First and foremost, I just want to say how much I forgot being new, for a lack of better words, sucks. I get it, the "group" you try to break in to doesn't know you at all. Nonchalant me waltzes in, expecting the fact I have been running for a while to be enough. Or the fact that during the high-five tunnel, I was pretty far up in the totem pole since I have never run the route we did tonight so I tried to stay with people's paces so I wouldn't get lost without my phone.

And as per usual, once the jitters went away, people are nice (shocking). Now, to see if I can stick with this run group as Aaron Tang and commitments in Boston, well, there's a 3 month expiration usually.

Race for Resistance 5k?

2016-04-10T17:51:00.001-05:00

Controversy? check.
Personal issues? check.
Concert the night before? check.
Battling hamstring issues? check.

About a week before the 2nd annual race for Northeastern U's Pharmacy program, I was told by my doppelganger/ "son" that I'd be running in his place for this 5k. The previous 5k run in Cambridge about a month ago was not at full strength so I knew I'd be in the ballpark of mid 22:xx's. After some aggressive leg days, I was ready to test my hamstrings out.

As we are in the city, we Uber'ed to the Northeastern campus, near the Fens (the site of the race), as I and the students that I've worked with came to and realized who I was without scrubs on and more importantly, the students sans scrubs and dressed as, well, students.

My doppelganger would definitely not run today as the cat at the place he stayed at last night had caused everyone to question if someone had possibly farted on his face at night (oh, sophomoric humor, how I miss you). Discussing it with my doppelganger, we may have jinxed my running without throwing up streak by talking about it pre-race. Idiot son.

Under the impression the race was to start at 1pm (gotta love the late races) I was warming up earlier than what was the actual start since the course was still being mapped out at that time. I donned my bib and ran around to warm up as the day wasn't bad for a race (40s and sunny) save for the wind at times.

My coach of a "son" told me to sprint the whole race and to not lose to the dude vaping before the race in a man bun (because this is a college student race, of course). I was a bit intimidated as this was a small race made up of mostly kids a decade younger. As a small race, you can get exposed quickly and lost as well.

As we lined up, we were told right before that we were too far ahead of the starting line and that we actually had to stand in the dirt right before the path to not block any citizens walking around. The #5 finisher and I laughed at the fact we were just told to take a 90 degree left turn to start and to run two figure 8's through the Fens and a little more for the race. Even funnier? We were told if we wanna sprint this race, to head towards the front (which I was already there by accident).

Over a bullhorn: 5...4...3...2...1...

And we were off, jostling for position as the kids sporting cross country gear sped past me, friendly elbows aside. The first mile was spent making sure I stuck to a group since the path was new to me. The students that doubled as support and directions along the way were oddly great for motivation despite the peculiar pharmacy posters about antibiotics, I wasn't sure who was going to read them.

There was a group of three that I ran with then decided to make a move with #8 in all black as we would trade the lead for the better portion of mile 1 and 2. I took a left turn right in to #8 and we exchanged sorry's and kept the pace up some more. A majority of the race was spent viewing #5-#8 in the race as we ran in a long line. I tried to draft off people (mostly #8) as it was quite windy.

I started the race pretty quick and hoped the people in front of me would fade what with experience on my side.

At mile 2, I edged past #8 and the water stop around that time would help as I skipped it altogether as #8 fell back and #6 in the gray shirt fell to my pace. Without a watch, I had no real idea about pacing or distance as I just sat on #6's pace, mimicking bursts of speed and just maintaining. As we passed a building, there was probably 100 meters left as the path veered off the main sidewalk and a bullhorn and a chute of cheering students (and my doppelganger) as I held back throwing up. No finishing kick.

Initially, I was told I was in 5th place. I was just happy with the even race (and came in as the first Asian/ ahead of vape bro). Officially, 7th place at 19:55.

And gotta love the running community, #6 and #8, we all sought out each other after the race to congratulate each other and for pushing us further. Such an underrated aspect of it all, understanding what each other had to go through.

Here's the controversy...uh 19:55? no way. Felt short and without a GPS watch, I had to find out later it was really 2.9 miles. If it was actually a 5k, I'm guessing I would of been right under 21:30. Heeeee's baaaaaack. Let's hope the running gods keep me (and my hamstrings) going until October.

Notes:

I was hesitant to buy a GPS watch as most of the end of last year was spent running with hamstring issues or at the very least, a fear of re-aggravating the injury. I think I feel confident enough now to go ahead.

Hands down, the nerdiest running shirt I now have as it lists antibiotic no-no's on the back.

IG framed picture of my "son" and I will be posted shortly.

pacing...without a trusty GPS watch, I relied on the two runners that kept me in the crosshairs. The pacing was great (at least as far as I can tell without splits)

Like parties, races are more fun when I'm on the verge of up chucking apparently.

#SmallRaces4life toeing the line and starting the race as soon as possible instead of waiting, so much better

Craicfest 5k

2016-03-13T13:10:00.000-05:00

Am I back in shape or just back?

Excuses first: busy life, cut back on the 30 mile weeks the past 3 weeks. Left hammy and neck are off aka I'm getting older.

Packet pickup for myself and Channel and Liz Saturday at my portapotty of choice, Cambridgeside Mall. Finish Saturday with pizza and a vintage market because

Sunday: an hour thrust to the future, I gotta essentially wake up at 5 am to get ready. Hammy still on the fritz. 2 train rides on the green later and I am back in the Mall, ready to go easy/80% on my leg.

The usual bathroom line, check. The usual warm up of running down an empty Cambridge road, check. No announcement of what time it was was detrimental what without my trusty GPS watch (it is on its last legs) And with a shot we were off, plodding along as I chose to not be at the front of the pack. Dumb idea as always as the first half mile was molasses.

The route was different than the freedom run for sure as we criss crossed all near the Zakim bridge up and down hills. I, without watch and peak form, ran as evenly as I could at around a 7:30 pace. There was some jostling in the beginning mile with some skinny dude in a yellow rain jacket bumping in to me. Without my legs, I couldn't just burn this dude and had to let this guy trot along ahead.

With the effort lacking the usual (as close to) 100%, I never had the involuntary gag reflex hit me until thirty minutes after the race. At the chute, I got passed multiple times as I never hit the afterburners knowing full well I need my hamstring for the (hopeful) marathon in October.

23:13, 22:48 officially.

Chilled in the mall til the rest of the gang finished then entered the Top Notch drinking tent/ team photo/5 beers and pretzel buns/ dance party full of backpack moves.

Without a doubt, best swag ever: a Top Notch glass, Craicfest glass, Craicfest shirt which, correctly pointed out by Channel, has about everything that I love: Wu-Tang Clan, iPod, basketball, shoes, skateboarding, graffiti, and drinking. I would've bought this shirt outside of the race.

On the ride back from the race, it hit me that the B versus the C line was a generational gap in 3D. I rode the C line, as the youngest and most inebriated (at noon) as most had bought groceries and had probably grandchildren. If I was on the B line, I would be the oldest and least drunk. It was like VIP status at festivals all over again.

beat last year's 4 beer max; 5 beers, thanks Top Notch.

Friendly Rivalry

2016-01-18T15:17:00.001-06:00

The original rivalry that started it all has re-commenced. The start of my born-again running life began when a foot race to the old elementary school and back left me gassed and last to my sister. So it begins again. As baby sister gets ready to run a marathon, I too need to get back in to marathon shape. Let's see what 30-year old Tang can do.

Trot Off Your Turkey 5k

2015-11-28T12:26:00.000-06:00

This was to be my first race since ... May? Dang. Naturally, I was volun-told to run (how many races have I voluntarily signed up for?) Due to a step back in mileage this year from hamstring issues, going in to this drizzly race initiated my bowels to grumble out of sheer nerves. My mindset flip-flopped between just going out easy and testing what I had left. Earlier in the week, I tested the wheels out and was around a 7 minute mile pace on the treadmill for half-mile bursts. I think 7:15-7:30 was my goal. With no fan fare, there was one guy going King Leonidas on everyone to pump up the 5k group. We had chilled around the starting line with ten other runners for most of the beginning, thinking this would be a much larger race. Then the hoard of runners came ten minutes before the race, everyone saying hi to everyone since it's Rhode Island and everyone is related.

With no gun or a countdown, a horn honked and we all hit our watches on the official chip reader. Of course the beginning was a bunch of jostling for position until the inevitable sidewalk sprinting happened to get free.

Split down the middle in terms of either going easy or pushing it, I ran the first mile around 7:15 feeling decent. At least this wasn't a half marathon kept running through my mind to relax myself.

There were a bunch of little kids I used to pace myself; those kids are fast, man.

The course wasn't hilly at all with only a couple turns to maneuver through. There was one water station mid way but I figured it's just a 5k, keep turning.

The last kilometer. Like usual, I tried to push the gas pedal but the body wasn't willing. I made a "move" around the last quarter mile, died in the stretch without the extra gear to go on.

Overall, pretty pleased with a smart race as I ran around the 7:15-7:30 range. When I saw my watch dipping towards 7:00, backed off knowing that would not happen. Today.

First race in the new age bracket:

30-39...woah. Looks weird, doesn't it?

Corn chowder. Donuts. Pizza.

There are three things you can count on; death, taxes, and Chris Magill at a 5k race in Rhode Island.

Consistent weight lifting, a loose term for what I do in the gym, definitely helped pull me forward towards the end of the race.

Leg days definitely helped, too.

Have you seen Aaron Tang (running)?

2015-08-13T21:08:00.001-05:00

Well, I have fallen off the face of the running Earth for the past month and have irregularly run. With that and a hamstring problem, Marine Corp has been deferred. Today, I ran outside for the first time in a while. What have I learned? DON'T TAKE AN EXTENDED BREAK. Plodding through mud, having one gear. It's like starting all over. Time to get back to work.

Freedom Run 5k

2015-06-07T12:53:00.000-05:00

Post-Tang's own version of what I'd assume was the plot of "Eat, Pray, Love", what they (theoretically) don't tell you is that upon return to reality, running again will be tough. After the half marathon that I half-assed, (side note about that "race": high fives all around from cops and kids in super hero costumes, ran on the second wave like an idiot, playlist chalk full of Boston Calling acts because, I ran it in between the festival: run the jewels, st. vincent, beck, tame impala's "elephant" on repeat for the last mile), the 5k was another gauge to see how far off I had fallen since my two month Epicurean sabbatical.

Still following me?

Of course an 8 day stretch from Hell appeared before this race and personally something came up the night before at the Sox game; par for the course at this point.

So for the first time I would pick my bib up on race day like a rookie at the Cambridge Mall which would be critical in the fact there was a water fountain and bathrooms of the non-portapotty variety. Friends were met up with, time to warm up for a mile. With 10 minutes to go, the announcer let us know that massive American flag was the split between, I kid you not, "fast runners", and "slow runners". I naturally sat in the middle. It actually worked better than corrals.

With the anthem, all of us shadowed by the flag looked up with our hands over our hearts. The first mile, with people actually obeying the fast versus slow pace, went smoothly. All I can remember is this runner making a wide curve around someone to just get ahead by one person. I made it a point to not lose to him and with my veteran savvy, know that the first mile and a half is fool's gold. Hang on and the runners fade.

How do I know this? Like always, at mile 2 I faded. Maybe if I tell myself to run hard for four miles, I wouldn't have this issue. I also started the dry heaves way earlier than usual at the beginning of mile 2 so I slowed a bit. Like always, I sped up at the last tenth of a mile and passed three people.

21:55.

Pasta from CPK and 4 beers later, ran a 4 miler home and here we are as I type.

It was definitely nice to know my race course ahead of time from previous excursions and to know how to get there with the T (even directing a kid how to use it)...slowly turning in to a Bostonian?

Freedom Run 5k

2015-06-07T12:40:00.000-05:00

After Tang's own version of "Eat, Pray, Love" (or what I assume was the plot of the movie) through Brussels, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Portland, NYC, Baltimore, DC, and a Boston Music Festival (which a half marathon that was half assed was wedged in the middle, stuck in second wave of runners hell, full of high fives from Boston's finest, kids in super hero costumes, a playlist full of Run the Jewels, St. Vincent, Beck, Tame Impala's "Elephant" for the last mile"), the movie poster (theoretically) failed to mention a two month Epicurean sabbatical would result in slower run times.

Still with me?

So a chance to redeem myself of course would happen after an 8 day roll out of a new system at work that was SAVAGE. Thank God the race as at 9:30, so I could mosey to the T

Jetlagged, cold/flu like symptoms, feeling great

2015-04-05T19:12:00.000-05:00

With Europe and sickness swiss-cheesing my lofty forty miles a week pipe dream, I headed home to Barrington to visit Pops. Originally planning on a 7 miler and 8 miler to get up to thirty miles for the week, I still felt the effects of it all and passed out. Slumbered hard until noon the next day and finally went for a run. A little over two miles in to it, I felt better, loose, and with headphones blaring I ran in the direction of an older lady with sunglasses and a big overcoat on talking to me. I removed my headphones and she just repeats "you make it look so easy! (pause) but it isn't".

That made my week.

I felt sluggish but after that, picked it up and just kept chugging along, seeing strangers waving and smiling (this isn't Boston) and again, it is all the perspective and mind set that you set out the door with. I originally was going to feel out the run and see how far I could get. With that encouraging sentence from a complete stranger, I felt I was on the hook for ten miles, smiling the whole way, feeling energetic.

Running abroad

2015-03-28T11:43:00.001-05:00

After a week in Europe, I noticed some runner-related things:
1) cambered roads=ITB problems. If I ran there for more than a week, I'd need a foam roller
2) runners here seemed slower, probably due to observation 1.

And I accidentally signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon...numero three, three years later.

Aaron's First Track Meet

2015-02-08T10:59:00.001-06:00

While I had attended a handful (a small hand) of cross country meets for my sister, I had never gone to a track meet before. Enter the 20th New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on the wrong side of the tracks. In tow was a Rhode Island track kid to explain the intricacies of track itself. To let us know we were on the wrong side, a car full of kids screaming 'penis!' and that will always be funny to me.

The heir apparent to Kara Goucher as my runner crush is Katie Hoaldridge (UT product) who I saw walking by, unsure it was her since I am conditioned through the major 4 sports that athletes have an entourage surrounding them at all times.

We got to the track real early and as a small venue in comparison to TD Bank, there wasn't a bad seat in the house. Athletes were warming up, going through the motions, and doing every plyometric known to man. The pole vaulters either exaggerated their movements or flowed as if it were ballet, then went stiff as a board at the apex of the pole vaulting. The high jumpers ran at odd angles up to the bar.

The racing was totally worth attending. There were 5 meet records and 2 world records (2k and masters 3k). Notables were La Salle Academy winning their relay on a furious last 400 by my friend's running buddy and Brenda Martinez with a hell of a finish to win the distance medley. What was great was the commentary by my friend, what the runners needed for each lap to break records, when runners were gonna go and try to win, back stories (Will Leer being the only sub 4 miler in Rhode Island and a bro for signing and selfie-ing with the fans), and personal asides as these were guys running collegiately at the same time.

Best reaction: after a heat for the 60m dash, one of the dashers walks back, stops, pukes near the track, then shrugs his shoulders.

Worst reaction to the best reaction: that happened at 5, we left at 8 and no one cleaned it up. Gross.

Cool idea: Jenny Simpson, Brenda Martinez, and Emma Coburn heads on a stick to cheer em on. No Meb? That's sexist

2015

2015-01-01T10:49:00.000-06:00

Welcome to 2015, and year 6 of the running club. As we wave good bye to 2014, I am looking forward to a great year. How do I get on the right foot? Break in my Nike Flyknit Lunars going the other way on the Charles River, trying my darndest to get these northerners to wave back. Along the way, I notice that I am chugging along at a decent clip that can be explained by actually sleeping on New Year's Eve and shoes that have cushion after running in mostly minimalist shoes. I do not know why I don't go this way more often since there are woods and trail like areas. At this rate, I would have 4,781.5 miles for 2015.

There is an indoor meet coming up with elites in Boston, decent tickets are $44 and cheap seats are $22 at one of the fastest tracks in the world. It's in my backyard, why not go? It's February 7th, www.nbindoorgrandprix.com.

Finally, I have joined a couple of run groups up here. I have to say I should've stepped my efforts up to keep more of you motivated; their leader gave out Marathon Sports gift cards, I got a sweet Saucony water bottle, and we had pizza and beer. Mea culpa, dudes.