The dzl runner's blog

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2013-10-23T20:20:00.002-07:00

Can you really understand the runner's mindset? The dzlrunner's perspective...

2013-10-04T04:15:00.001-07:00

"Running... if you don't do it, you probably won't understand it."~ dzlrunner

I'm sure that there are other quotes that mean similar things and have a similar point. But, I came up with this one after having an uncomfortable day on this past Wednesday. I was inspired by the infamous Washington Post quote, "If you don't get it... you don't get it."

In my limited running experience, I've found that if a scheduled training run doesn't happen, there's a good chance that things won't go right. That's just the way it is for me and it might be the sentiment among other runners, as well.

This week, I planned to shoot for 30 total miles. I wanted to go into my second half marathon, at the Baltimore Running Festival, with my strongest training week. I started out with a very good 10k (6.2 miles) on Monday. I finished in 1:12:41 and a 11:43 pace.

Tuesday was a rest day and Wednesday, I was looking for another 6 miler.

Now, I'm a morning runner... But, I knew that I would have to run in the evening, because my wife had to get to work. I wouldn't have enough time to get 6 miles in and get my boys to school by the time they needed to be there. My oldest son is a safety patrol and he normally raises the flag on the flag post each morning. That's a very important job to him, so I try to get him there so that he can take care of his responsibility.

Anyway, I didn't run in the morning and my day just didn't seem to go right. It was a slow, tough, slog all day long... Similar to a slow, tough run. (I had one of these a couple of weeks ago... Took me 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete 8 miles. Yuck!! But, you'll have these from time to time... It's inevitable!)

Lunch is normally a time for me to decompress a little bit from the morning. Well, that didn't happen... No decompression at lunch. I knew what the problem was and I was looking forward to my nice, fulfilling run that evening. The rest of the day goes by and I'm finally able to clock out and go home.

Now, I get home the same time my wife gets home with the kids. I was ready to go for my long anticipated run... I knew my wife had to leave to handle some business, but I was still planning to get my run in. I figured, I could be back by the time she was ready to leave. She didn't like that plan. She was concerned about her ability to leave and do what she had to do in a timely manner.

So, I waited for a bit... And I waited... I was now quite frustrated. As the time steadily slipped away and evening was turning into night, my chance to run was diminishing.

This is part of why I like running in the morning... The run is already done and no one else is affected.

Running in the evening can create havoc when you have a family. It's dinner time, you have to help with homework, baths and putting the kids to bed. It's no longer summer time, so no long days and no daylight past 7:30pm. This is why I don't run in the evening... it puts a strain on the rest of the family. And that is not what I want my running to do. That creates problems that I'm just not prepared to deal with.

Well, I was pretty frustrated at this point and that's the point of this post...

My wife couldn't understand why I was so annoyed. I found it pretty difficult to explain my frustration. I felt like she wouldn't understand the significance of missing a training run, let alone missing a training run so close to a race.

Running is my sanctuary and that's where I can get my mind right, clear my head and settle myself down. After a run, I'm in what I like to call, a zen state of being... That's when nothing bothers me and I'm Mr. Happy. Running is my drug!!

When a scheduled run doesn't happen for me, I get antsy and anxious. Sort of like an addict who hasn't had their fix!

What makes running so important to me is, the discipline and routine that I can take pride in. I mentioned in a previous post about all the 'unfinished business' I have in my life. Well, having the ability to be consistent and disciplined enough to train regularly for goals that I have set, gives me a great sense of pride and accomplishment.

That's a part of what makes running attractive to me... But, that may not be as attractive for non-runners...

The choice and the mindset to punish the body many times over through exercise, doesn't sit well with some people. They can't understand it. The decision to pay for the aches and pains that come from running in an official race, is unfathomable. There's always the question of why we would put ourselves through that type of anguish. The DNF (Did Not Finish) can be three of the most dreaded letters to some runners... Non-runners won't understand that. They won't understand why someone is willing to crawl through a finish line in so much agony and decide not to quit, when the first set of cramps or sharp pains arise and your body won't do what you want it to do.

They can't understand why someone would wake up in the wee hours of the morning to run, instead of stay asleep. They can't understand why we love our "gear" and, as far as they're concerned, every time they turn around, it's something new being worn or used to run. (I'm laughing as I write this... I'm replaying, in my head, many of the jokes that I have heard from time to time about the purchase of new gear... Many of them told by my wife, my running partner's wife and others...hilarious!!)

If you don't run, can you really understand the runner's mindset? Let's put it this way... The running community has an open invitation to anyone who wants to join. That's what is so awesome about this group of people!! Overall, it's a very encouraging group who don't care whether you're fast, slow, fat, slim, black or white. We are brought together by the fact that we run!!

Until you run, you'll have a hard time understanding the runner's mindset. But once you run and do it for a while, you'll begin to see and know for yourself, what it's all about. Try it!!

My first 14 mile training run

2013-09-29T20:29:00.002-07:00

I was shooting for anything over 13 miles on this run. Thanks to my running partner, Mike, I've got a 2nd half marathon coming up in 2 weeks. We'll be running the Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon on October 12, 2013, for my birthday. I'm pretty psyched about this one and looking forward to a much better performance compared to my first half a few weeks ago.

I needed to get the taste of bad training runs outta my mouth... From the half marathon of two weeks ago, which was completed in 3 hours and 6 minutes, officially, to last Saturday's training run of 8 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Ugh!!

I had a good training week so far (4.53 miles on Monday and 5 miles on Wednesday) and wanted to end it with a strong long run. I was focused... From the time I woke up until I arrived at the beginning of my training route. I blended a protein shake and drank it around 5:45am. I wanted to start my run by 6:15, but that didn't happen and I finally left the house around 6:30. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the start location of my training route. I didn't start my run until 6:54am.

The run started with clarity, determination and hope. My mind was clear, my will was full of determination and I was hoping to reach my goal.

The first 3 miles breezed by... I have my Garmin set for a 12:30 minute pace and I was pretty consistent at this point. I took my first GU Energy gel as 45 minutes had passed at this point. I felt strong and worked my plan. I got to mile 4.5 and the water from the protein shake began to work within me. I had to go, but the urge wasn't that bad. I knew I would be coming up to a Burger King soon on my route and if I could hold it until then, I'd be fine. Success... I reached the Burger King at 5.39 miles and was pretty thankful that I didn't have to hold it any longer.

What I noticed throughout this run is that I used less water, than I normally would. I believe it has a lot to do with the cool weather and the fact that I hydrated well, all week long. I'll have to do further research on that and write an upcoming post about hydration.

A small suggestion when running is this: Always know where bathrooms are on your route and use the restroom before you start. Then, use it again.

I continued and the 6 mile mark was my turnaround for this portion of my training route. I felt fine throughout this point and was looking forward to continuing and seeing how long I could go before I started to fatigue.

At mile 6, I crossed the street and started back. I was making good time and my pace was pretty consistent. The next nutrition I would take is the margarita flavored Clif Shot Blocks. These work very well, when used properly. I took 3 shot blocks at the 1 hour 15 minute mark. This was just the second time I sipped water from my Camelbak. I was feeling ok, but I knew fatigue would be setting in soon.

I continued through miles 6.5 - 10 with no problems. At mile 10, I noticed my posture beginning to lean forward. I consciously corrected it and noticed that as I ran more erect, I felt renewed. I've read somewhere that runners should try to run more from their core, instead of just their legs. I don't know if that was what I was doing, but I remember feeling like i could run like that forever. My legs didn't feel that tired and I was keeping a slightly slower, but steady pace between miles 10 - 11.5.

By this time I had already run for over 2 hours, straight, non-stop (except for the Burger King bathroom). I was tired. I barely got to mile 12 and remembered thinking about how far I'd come on this run. I only had 1 more mile to go, in order to reach 13 and I began negotiating with myself.

I started saying that if I could get to mile 13 then I'd be that much closer to finishing. I was basically running on will at this point. No more smiles, no more thinking about the beautiful weather. I was interested in being done. The soreness of my legs and feet didn't stop me. I had to keep telling myself that "Pain is just weakness leaving my body". That was my mantra at mile 12.

I also remember thinking about the other races I did earlier in the year. The Charles Street 12 Mile Race was finished around 2 hours and 40 minutes; my first half marathon was finished in over 3 hours and last week's training run of 8 miles was done in over 2 hours. At this point, I had run close to 13 miles in less than 2 hours and 45 minutes. This was an encouraging sign, that this was a good run. And it confirmed my theory that my first half marathon was finished in over 3 hours mainly because it was not a road race. I can finish a half marathon around 2 hours and 30 minutes! Confirmed!

My watch died around mile 12.5 and at this point, I was using the Map My Run app on my phone. I normally use the app when I know I may not have charged the Garmin completely, as a backup. I had reached mile 13.1, finally. And at this point, I was not as far from my car as I was a few minutes ago. I had to figure this out. Would I call it a day, when I get to my car or will I push to reach my 14 mile goal.

I decided that since I had gone this far, I could go a little further. I went for the 14. As I pushed and pushed, it seemed the mileage was going nowhere. It felt like an eternity before the next tenth of a mile flipped over the screen.

I ran zig zag, up and down, side to side in the parking lot, in order to squeak out this mileage and finally, it was done. 14 miles is officially in the books!! Now, I know that I can do 14 and will be confident going into the Baltimore Running Festival. I'm contemplating on whether to shoot for another 14 miler for this Saturday, which is a week before the race, or if I should dial it back a bit. I'll pray for some guidance on this one and see how things shake out.

My First Half Marathon: The Abebe Bikila International Peace Race Recap

2013-09-22T18:15:00.001-07:00

I was expecting a road race, not a trail run... I was expecting to finish under 2 hours and 30 minutes, not over 3 hours. And I was expecting to have a great first half marathon race performance, not a tough, grind it out, push through the pain first half marathon race performance.

Yep... This race was nothing like I expected it to be. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?

I woke up, like I normally do on race day at 4:30 am. The race was scheduled to start at 8:00 am. This race was part of a celebration for my running partner's birthday. He was running his first half marathon and I was too!! We trained through the heat and humidity all summer long for this and we were going to have a great time.

I woke the family up and they got ready... Throughout my training, my wife, Kim, has been great support. She regularly gets the kids ready, while I try to focus on getting myself together. She's taken the kids to school on days she doesn't have to work, while I'm out getting my training runs in. I'm very appreciative of her support because, there is no way that I could spend the amount of time I do, running, without her assistance. Not to mention, she's been at every race I've done this year including this one. Thank you dear!

So, I wanted to be at the start line by 7 am. I always try to get to a race early because I want to settle down, experience the sights all around, enjoy the smells in the air and get focused. I don't ever want to rush because I don't like running with a flustered mind. Running is a sanctuary for me, so I want to be as zen-like as possible.

Anyway, we arrived at the race around 7:15 which wasn't bad. My running partner, Mike and his wife, was already there and ready to go. We felt really good about this race!! We had come out here a couple of weeks before to run in the area and get a feel for how things would be on race day. We attempted to run the course, but got lost. A few days earlier, I downloaded the course map. It was an out and back on the C&O Canal in Washington, DC near Georgetown. Unfortunately, it didn't spell out whether it would be on pavement or on gravel and rocks. We ran the pavement route and it took us into Georgetown on K Street, by the Washington Harbor. I was guessing whether or not we were right about the direction of the course at this point...

We decided to forget about the course map and run our own route. We just wanted to get some good mileage in. We ran past the Kennedy Center, through Washington Harbor and crossed the Key Bridge into Crystal City, VA and took the path back to where we started. Our route totaled 12.3 miles.

Suffice it to say, we felt pretty good about the race...

There was no chip timing for this race. I asked and one of the volunteers said that our time would be tracked manually. There was a strip at the bottom of our bib that would be torn off and collected when we finished. There was one clock with the time on it and the director himself would input each runners finishing time into a database. Let’s just say that I was happy to have my Garmin with me.

As we got to the starting line, we noticed that there were actually two different paths: one was gravel, dirt and rocks and the other paved. The starting line was over the gravel path. I chuckled to myself and said that they probably want us to run out on gravel and come back on the paved path. Man, was I wrong!!

The national anthem was sung and not to be mean, but, you could tell that the singer didn't have hot tea or coffee before she sang. The 'frog was still in her throat' and those higher notes of our wonderful American theme song were a little too high to reach. She actually apologized after she missed the notes a couple of times. I didn't laugh at the time, but after thinking about it I laugh now. We pitifully began assisting in the singing to bring her on home. And we all clapped at the end of the unfortunate but genuine performance. I've had my embarrassing moments in front of people I didn't know, so I know what it feels like to bomb. But, just like a runner would, she got through the finish and that's what it's all about.

Well, I made a bathroom stop and all the runners moved into the starting area and waited for the gun to go off. We saw the pack slowly shuffle forward and off we went. I started my Garmin and was ready to go! This run already showed itself to be something that I was not accustomed to… Running on gravel, cobblestone and rocks is significantly different than running on pavement, asphalt and concrete. The way my foot was landing provided a much different sensation. My foot never landed evenly and this would be a problem as we got into higher mileage.

Miles 1-4 were pretty ok. Mike and I ran and talked about everything from the new couch Kim and I purchased to running the Philly half marathon to going to Miami and running my first full marathon. He might run it with me… We’ll see.

Anyway, the first aid station was around mile 3 or 3.5, they served water and lemon lime Gatorade. I didn’t need anything at that point. We were making good time. Our strategy before the race began was to take it slow for the first half and then around mile 8, we’d pick it up a bit and finish strong. The first half of the race went ok… I began feeling the effects of the terrain as we got closer to the 6.55 mile mark, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. I just felt like I was working a little harder than I normally would on a long training run of about 10-12 miles on a smooth surface.

Now, for the two weeks leading up to this race, I was in a slight funk and I wrote about it in an earlier post. I went to Winchester, VA to stay in a hotel with my family on Labor Day Weekend and I really feel like that was part of what took me out of my rhythm. I was in a good training groove and I intended on running a long run while in Winchester, but it didn’t happen and ever since that week, I’ve been struggling mentally and my motivation has not been there. I don’t know how and if Labor Day weekend had anything to do with it, but, I noticed a difference in my mentality. As of today, September 22, 2013, I’m happy to say that I feel fine… I’m still working to get a good training week in of 25+ miles, but I feel like my drive to achieve is back.

I’m looking forward to a good week of running.

We were moving pretty steadily and around mile 5 we began to see the leaders coming back towards us. That answered my question… We had to go out on the uneven trail and come back on the uneven trail. I felt major punishment going and coming… There was no rest for the weary. We were coming up on another aid station and I decided to take a Gatorade this time. My knees were already bothering me and I assumed that this is what happens when you take 2 weeks off, in the name of tapering. I was supposed to have gotten an 8 mile run in on the Sunday before the race… That didn’t happen. I was supposed to have completed an easy run of 3.5 on Tuesday and Wednesday, before the race… That didn’t happen. In my mind, I was resting my legs; but, the 12.3 mile training run that I ran with Mike, 2 weeks before the race was the last run I did of any notable distance. Huge mistake…

The weekend before, I ran the NFL Back to Football 5k at FedEx Field and used that as speed work. Frankly speaking, even that performance could’ve been better. There’s one thing about my journey toward taking my health back that I’m noticing, I’m learning more and more about myself and the things I need to improve to be a better me. This is a journey of self-discovery and I’m glad that you’ve decided to join me.

Well, we reached the half way mark… I felt ok at that point. I was happy to have reached 6.55 miles. We were halfway there… We were halfway home!

We kept trucking and around mile 8.25, I began to feel a slight twinge in my left knee. All throughout the first half, I could feel each rock and stone at various pressure points on my feet. That sensation travelled up my legs in a way that I’ve never felt before. I felt more pressure in my calves than I’d ever felt in any of my training runs. I felt pain in feet and leg muscles that I’d never felt before in any of my training runs. My ankles were on fire with soreness and we still had a little more than 4 miles to go!! Not good.

We had already slowed to a pace that we’d never run before in training runs. This uneven trail was wearing me out!! I was drinking water more frequently now, not because it was hot… It wasn’t. I was drinking more water, because I didn’t want to cramp up from dehydration. I was working so hard. Each time we came across an aid station, I took a Gatorade for the electrolytes.

It wasn’t working. I was beginning to feel like if I dug deeper to try to move faster, my legs would seize up with cramps. Too late… around mile 11, I started getting Charlie horses in the toes on my left foot. Those Charlie horses turned into cramps in the top of my calves. I then started to feel cramps in my hamstrings. My ankles were already sore. I had to walk. This was pretty disappointing… I’ve never walked at any point in a long training run, but I didn’t have a choice here.

I realized that this is where the mental battle is fought. When your body is being defiant and will not do what you want it to do, will you quit? Thankfully, Mike was there. After experiencing training runs of me pulling him through, this was his opportunity to return the favor and he did, like a champ!! Knowing that I was in pain he tried running on the grass, which would’ve been softer. But, I couldn’t even bear that for too long. I had to stop again and walk.

Mike was determined to finish and so was I. That wasn’t even a question… The question in my mind, was how long it would take to get there. I’m pretty sure that my pride was fueling the choice to run through the finish line. I kept telling Mike that there was no way I was going to walk through it, with our wives and other family watching. We were gonna run through the finish. Around mile 12, my cousin, who ran the race with us, passed us. We greeted each other, told him briefly what was going on and encouraged him to go ahead and not to wait for us, as he was running a very strong race.

We walked until we reached the 12.75 mark and got back to running. At this point, for me, it was more like a shuffle. As we got closer to the finish line, we could hear the spectators yelling and screaming in excitement. This was a great feeling. Seeing the finish line and all the people waiting there for us, took away the pain momentarily.

As we crossed the finish line, the person that gave us our finisher’s medals was none other than… my mother in law??? She came to watch us complete our first half marathon, but she had begun volunteering!! LOL… I got my finisher’s medal for my first half marathon from my mother in law. I’m smiling and laughing in my head as I’m writing this. I was happy to have finished my first half marathon and I don’t think anyone has ever had their mother in law give them their finisher’s medal. This one is definitely for the books.

On the surface, this would speak to the lack of organization on the race director’s part. But, looking past that, it enhances my personal experience in running this race.

As I sit here writing about the race and reminisce about all the events that happened, I would call this race a character building race. This race showed me things that I may have already known, but also some things that I may not have known. And the experience makes me better.

What did I learn from running my first half marathon?

I learned to finish something I started. My life is full of things that I’ve started but haven’t finished… School, businesses, jobs, etc. But, I was able to finish this. I was able to finish my first half marathon. It wasn’t pretty, but it was completed and that’s a huge step for me. This will be a tool in improving myself into the person I envision being.

I learned that pain and discomfort will always be a part of the journey of doing something worthwhile. Whether you’re running or working to achieve some other goal that you’ve set, there will be times when you will be tested mentally and physically. What will you do? How will you respond? Are you determined to succeed?

I could definitely say a lot more about my first half marathon experience, but, I will more than likely draw from it as I grow in the future.

Overall, I’m happy with the outcome. There’s nowhere to go, but up. There’s nothing else to do but build and improve on this experience. There’s no one to do it, but me.

NFL Back to Football 5k - Redskins Run Race Recap

2013-09-08T05:07:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning and it's race day. I'm always up early on race day... I'm talking 4:30am early. My family is still sleep and that's ok, because we have some time. I'm pretty excited because I'm running in the first NFL Back to Football 5k and my boys are getting their first experience running in the Fun Run. I never did anything like this when I was a kid and I was happy that my boys got to do something like this early in their lives.

Realizing and understanding the benefits of living healthy, has given me a strong desire to create and mold an atmosphere of health and positive activity into their upbringing. It's extremely important to me that they grasp this lifestyle sooner, rather than later, like I did.

Anyway, I was happy that my boys and I had the opportunity to create a positive memory in their childhood.

I went downstairs to get ready like I normally do before a race. Started putting my gear on and getting my thoughts together about how I would approach this race.

My goal was to race it. I thought about the 5k that I did earlier this year. I finished it in 30:18. Perfect conditions down in Ocean City, MD and that was what I call a flat course. I was shooting for a sub 30 finish on this one.

It was really cool to have 1982 Super Bowl MVP Mark Moseley literally kick off the race!! After the national anthem was sung, he stood in front of the racers and kicked a football similar to how he did when he was playing. Now obviously, it didn't go as far, but it was much further than I could've kicked it. That was a pretty nice touch to the overall nostalgia of being there as a Redskins fan and participating in the very first run of the series at FedEx field. I'm hoping that next year, more Redskins and former Redskins will show up!!

Well we started in waves and I'm a slower runner, so we started in the middle to back off the pack. The faster runners went first and then the slower runners. The countdown from 10 began and we were off!!

I hadn't run most of the week and I was scheduled for a long run of 8 miles on Sunday as I'm tapering for my first half marathon. I wanted to really race this one and remembering the description of the course to be flat, I figured this would be great race to PR.

It wasn't as flat as Ocean City. There were some inclines... nothing really to complain about but I'd have to work to get under 30 minutes. So I felt pretty good and the strategy was to stay around 10:30/mile and really push it at the end.

I looked at my Garmin for my first mile time... 9:33. Agh!! I laughed to myself and said, "well there goes the PR." There was no way I could hold on to that for 3 miles!! But I tried... mile 2 was finished in 10:21. I knew my PR was long gone.

So I said I would make the best of this race and keep pushing. I began thinking about the times that I wanted to shoot for. I wanted to get under 33 minutes and decided to commit to that goal. That would be better than 11 minute miles and I could be happy with that.

My final mile would be done at 10:15, according to my Garmin. I ran 3.23 miles in 32:48... a pace of 10:10/mile. That's not too bad for a dzlrunner.

After the 5k was completed, me and the family walked around FedEx a little. They allowed us to go inside the stadium and see the field. I noticed that the field wasn't even painted yet for the big game against the Eagles on Monday Night Football. I took a gaze around the entire stadium and said to myself, this place is gonna be electric in a couple of days!! I got excited just thinking about it.

They began to announce the winners of the 5k and we started looking for where the kids fun run was gonna be held.

It took us some time, because it didn't seem like anyone had any answers. So if I had to complain about anything, it would have been the circles we kept going around asking about the kids run.

We finally found where the kids were lining up. My boys Kamari and Kameron were participating in this half mile run and I was hoping they would do well.

The kids were split up in two groups, by age... 10 and up were in the first group and anyone under age 10 would be in the second group. My oldest son, Kamari, is 10 and he was lined up right in front. I said to myself, "well would you look at that!" I was happy to see some type of competitiveness from him, since he's pretty low key. My youngest son is 6 and he is naturally competitive. I couldn't see him, but I was sure he would make a good showing.

What was really cool was, the kids were able to run out of the big Redskins helmet!! This was the same one the players run out of at home games!! This was so awesome and every time my kids see the big helmet on the field at the start of a Redskins game they can say that they ran out of the big helmet too!

Well the starting horn went blew and the kids came running out of that tunnel like bats outta hell!! I saw my oldest son and he was going!! I expected to see my youngest son in the next group and my running partner told me that Kam had broke out with the older kids!! I didn't see him!!

I was recording it on my phone. I stopped recording and looked in the tunnel... I didn't see Kameron!! I was pretty bummed, but then I thought to look on my video.

Lol... as the video came to a close, I saw Kameron bringing up the rear!! His face was determined!! I guess he said he wasn't running with the little kids!! He could hang with the big kids. Me and my running partner laughed because that's who Kam is. He loves taking on a challenge!!

Overall the morning was quite enjoyable and I was happy to have my wife and kids there, supporting and being involved in something positive and something healthy. I continue to look back over the couple of years that I've been working towards a healthier lifestyle. I'm happy with the progress I've made and looking forward to continued improvement of myself and my family.

You can do it too!! Just decide to take the first step towards improvement each day, and you're on that journey of success. It's that simple.

This is probably the worst time to be in a funk, right?

2013-09-08T04:14:00.001-07:00

The first week of September has passed. I've been in a funk over the last week or so... My last training run was on Tuesday, the 3rd and it didn't go well. It was probably the worst run I've had in a long time... and it wasn't due to pace, 4 miles at a 11:07 pace. This is a pretty good pace for me. I just really felt like crap that day and it hasn't seemed to let up. Mentally, it was a struggle and has been a struggle to get out of the door and physically, it's been a struggle to feel as good as I've felt before. I've never felt like this before in my training and I'm trying to get answers on why this has come over me now... I've got my first half marathon in less than a week!! I should be feeling confident, excited, pumped, right?

What's even more crazy is, football season has started and I'm happy about that!! RGIII is starting for my Redskins on Monday Night Football, which is awesome!! My favorite season of the year, Autumn, will be here soon and I'm happy about that!! My 30th birthday is coming soon, which should be fun!! I feel fine and am happy in all the other phases of my life, but my recent running has been, well, blah. Weird.

I'm scheduled for an 8 miler today. I'm going to try to push through it. Right now, it's 7:06am and I'm currently waiting on my wife to get home from work, so I can try to get this run completed and have that out of the way. It will loom over my head if I don't get it done.

I think what I'm going to do after my half marathon on Saturday is make the next week's training very light and just try to refocus. The next race on schedule after my half marathon is my first full marathon... The ING Miami Marathon. So, I will prepare for that and make that the only goal over the winter.

I'm hoping that we'll have a mild winter, here in the DC Metro area. But, that may not happen, as the last couple of winters haven't been as bad. So, we'll see how long runs of 20 and 22 miles in the winter will go.

But, let me know... have you ever had periods like this in your training? I'm still a new runner and there are things that I am still learning. So, suggestions and thoughts on how to deal with it would be greatly appreciated!!

My First Training Run of Half Marathon Distance... 13.1 miles.

2013-08-27T02:24:00.002-07:00

The plan was to use the momentum from the last week's 12 mile race and go into this weekend's long run looking to reach 13 miles. The week started out with great short runs of: 2 miles, 6 miles and 4 miles. I knew that by Saturday, I was on track to have a high mileage week. In fact, it would become the highest mileage week I've ever had.

The plan worked. I woke up pretty jacked and ready to work towards my newest micro-goal. My first half marathon, which is the ultimate goal, was less than 4 weeks away and I want to go into that race knowing that I've covered the distance at least once. I decided to run my normal weekly route for the familiarity. But then I continued running a few miles further to reach my half way point of 6.55 miles. The furthest I'd ever run on this particular route was 3 miles out and then I'd turn around to come back. So, this was even more of a new experience.

My first mile is never a good mile and this is understandable, because I’m running pretty cold at this point. I do some light stretching of my hamstrings and quads, but other than that I don’t do any warm ups. Some may say that this is not the best way to go, but, I haven’t gotten injured yet and I pray that I don’t in the future. I’m all for whatever works for you.

After the first mile and a half, I began to settle down a bit and get in a good rhythm. I felt strong and just kept working and progressing through my run. Around mile 4, I was in an area that I’ve driven through many times before… But, I’ve never run through it. It’s amazing how much you see while running that you don’t see driving. I saw and took in so much more than I normally would, like the smell of the bacon from the neighborhood IHOP!! Yummm....

I passed a high school, a few shopping centers and other restaurants between miles 4 -6. As I got to mile 6, I came upon a pretty steep hill. In order to reach the 6.55 mark, I had to climb. I thought about changing directions or choosing a flatter option, but, it’s nothing like testing and pushing yourself in training runs. I mean, that is why we train, right?

Frankly, I’ve noticed that hills don’t tend to bother me much and I seem to be able to climb them pretty easily. So, I started trekking up the hill. While I'm thinking about this right now, I’d like to make a suggestion about hills… The suggestion is: never look more than 5-7 feet in front of you while climbing a hill. It provides the illusion of the road being flat and it changes the mental challenge of thinking you’re running up hill to a much easier challenge.

Now, back to the run...

I was able to get up the hill and I was reaching the halfway mark of my run. At this point, I felt fine and didn’t have any major issues. I had taken my nutrition at the proper times and was able to keep moving forward.

On my way back, I saw many runners who also had hydration vests/packs. I remember thinking this must be a long run day for them too. I actually had somewhat of a feeling of satisfaction, because they looked like they were beginning and I was more than half done. The sun was out at this point and I knew that it would get tougher the longer they were out there.

Miles 8-11 passed right on schedule. Nothing to report, outside of me trying the Margarita flavored Clif Shot Blocks. My buddy, who is running the half marathon with me in a few weeks told me about them and gave them raving reviews. These weren’t bad and came in handy, as I would tend to get little cramps around mile 10. I took them at mile 8, so that they would already be in my system by mile 10 and didn’t have one cramp at all. I kept sipping my water and continued my journey.

I didn’t forget to take my final energy gel to carry me through the end of my run. This was a good thing. Over the last few training distances of 10-12 miles and even the 12 mile race last week, I had forgotten to take my final energy gel and I always felt the effects of it too.

Just a gentle reminder... Always take your energy/nutrition at the proper times or it can throw your run off schedule. Extremely important!

I took my final energy gel at mile 10 and was good through my finish. I felt stronger than I ever have in a previous training run of 11+ miles.

I got back to my car and the distance was 13.01. I said to myself, there is no way I will have run this 13 miles and not complete that last tenth of a mile. I ran around the parking lot that my car was located in until I clicked over that 13.1 mile distance. I had actually covered half-marathon distance!!

I felt so grateful, thankful and humbled that I just did something I’d never done before in my life!! The feeling is fantastic!! I’ve never felt this specific feeling of accomplishment before!! I was confident, that I could definitely cover the distance of my first half marathon. Now, it’s just a matter of staying focused and getting stronger. I now need to incorporate some strength training in my schedule. So, gym… here I come!!

Charles Street 12 Race Recap

2013-08-12T05:28:00.001-07:00

My alarm goes off at 4:15 am. I pop out of bed. It's race day. My plan is to get to the start line by 6am. I go down to the basement and hop on the computer to post on Twitter (@dzlrunner) about my excitement and that I'm ready to go! I start to begin putting my gear on and I figured that I would allow my wife and daughter to sleep a little more. (This may have been a mistake... I started to hear my wife walk around upstairs at about 5:30am) No big deal. I figure a 45 minute drive to get to Towson from where we live wouldn't be too bad if we left between 6:00 and 6:10. I mean, we'd still get there before 7am, since the race starts at 7:30.

We're all getting ready and I lose track of time! I get a text from one of my running buddies, who's running the race with me. The text asked if I was at the start line yet. This is at 6:16 and I haven't left my house yet! I responded that I just left the house. (Technically, I wasn't quite in the car yet... I had to run back in the house to finish getting the rest of my things. Oh, you've done it too. That time when you respond to someone about a future location of where you should be now or something that you should be doing now and you haven't quite gotten to doing it yet. You're close, but not fully there... lol)

Well she said, "Geez... I hope you live in Towson!" At this point, I knew I was in some trouble. I don't live anywhere close to Towson. I live in PG County, a good 30-35 miles from the start line. I plugged the start location into my GPS and it said 58 minutes to reach my destination!! WHAT?!?! At the rate I'm going, I'd get there in the middle of the National Anthem, if not after the race begins!!

I load my family in the car and we get going. My wife and daughter are still pretty tired, so I knew I had to make time. You can guess what I did... Once we got on the road and they were sleep, time had to be made up some way. It was after 6:30am when I finally left my house.

I pull up to the starting location at 7:10am and I know I'm in the right place, because of the sea of neon colors in the street. That's something I like about being a runner and running in races. So many different colors, different outfits... so many different people! Such a beautiful thing! I pull into a parking space, so my wife can switch to the driver's side. I kiss the wife, kiss the baby and set out to look for my running buddy. We haven't seen each other in a few years... So we catch up a little bit, talk about our training and shortly thereafter everyone's moving towards the starting line.

The National Anthem is sung, the starting gun sounds and we're off! I wave to my wife and daughter and cross the starting mat.

I was prepared for the first third of the race to be tough. The Course Information on the website stated that the course was downhill. But, the elevation map on the website showed the first 3.5 - 4 miles being hilly. I was mentally prepared for that. I had already set my Garmin to run 12:30 miles, so I wasn't going to push my pace at all in the first quarter to first third of the race. I was just going to keep steady and negotiate those hills as gently and as smoothly as possible. (You can see my Pre-Race Strategy here)

Now these hills were not as bad as the hills I trained on, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC. No where close. But, consistent rolling hills can take a toll on you. Within the first quarter of the race, we ran thru some residential areas of Towson and passed Towson University. The first aid station was around mile 1.5. I didn't stop, because I had my trusty Camelbak hydration vest and it wasn't a part of the strategy to drink this early. I felt fine through this portion of the race and it was just a matter of sticking to the plan. I have run 4 miles so many times before, this was no different.

The second third of the race, miles 4 - 8, was pretty tough. This wasn't because of the few minor pains I began to feel. I could deal with that. But, it was mainly because, I like many other runners were thinking "downhill". For some crazy reason, when I got to the bottom of a hill or the end of a flat portion of the course, I looked up and there was another incline. I kept thinking that maybe I read the information wrong... Maybe it said that this was not a "downhill course" and I wanted it to be. I don't know. It just steadily frustrated me to think downhill and I am continuously climbing hills. A pretty sick joke by the race directors, if I do say so myself.

Oh yeah... I didn't even mention the fact that my Garmin only had 2 bars. In all my excitement, I failed to charge my GPS watch!! Unbelievable!! At this point, I'm not as comfortable as I would've like to have been. The race course was not what I mentally thought it would be and constantly hoping my Garmin wouldn't die on me was more than I wanted to be concerned with. But, just like life, sometimes you've got to just roll with the punches and work through it the best way you can. Everything won't always be exactly the way we want it... That's a fact.

Around mile 8, I had came up to a runner and said good job. She was doing well and returned the pleasantries... We ran about the same pace, so we stuck together until about the 8.75 mile mark, when she said "Ok, you brought me through... I'm gonna walk a little bit." I bid her adieu and continued my trek.

The final third of the race was where the battle between mind and body began. I was coming up on territory that I wasn't as familiar with. Sure, I'd run several 10 mile runs up until this point in my training, but only one 12 miler. This is the place, where pace no longer mattered and I just wanted to finish. This is the portion of the race where all mantras that have ever been thought of, begin to flood the mind. Mantras like, "One foot in front of the other" and "a body in motion wants to stay in motion" and "trust your training" all begin coming to mind at once. These thoughts mixed with the desire to stop, but the desire to finish were becoming annoying. I remember thinking how much I wanted the finish line to just magically appear in front of me or right around the corner.

But, no... it wasn't going to be that easy. I'd have to work to get to the finish line. There were no shortcuts and no magic carpets to get me to the finish. All there was, was my desire to finish and the training I had put in. My Garmin, didn't even keep me company as it saved my run at mile 8.49 and showed a blank screen.

I resolved in my mind that I would, in fact, finish this race and I was finally able to quiet the unnecessarily loud noise of mind and body, when lyrics to "She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes" came to mind. Eventually, those lyrics turned to "He'll be coming 'round the harbor when he comes". The Baltimore Harbor was where the race ended and not a point sooner.

I was at about mile 9.5 and my new running buddy, that I met at mile 8 showed up again. She said something like "I told you I'd catch up with you." This was much needed company at the time. We ran a little further, talked about our training and at about mile 10.3 or so, she needed to walk again. I said my goodbyes and kept on trekking.

I knew that I was getting close to the finish. There were several winding turns between mile 10 and 11 and we were in downtown Baltimore. At this point, I was wondering why I didn't have much and I was running on fumes. It hit me... I forgot to take my energy gel at mile 9! That's why I felt like I was running on empty. I took the hot Gatorade that they gave at the aid station for electrolytes, but it didn't seem to help. I was already in a hole that I couldn't crawl out of. Once again, I had to roll with the punches and work through it the best way I could.

At about mile 10.9, I was feeling like I needed a second wind. So I decided that I would walk this last tenth of a mile to the 11 mile marker and I would run the rest of the way. This was slightly disappointing, because in all of my training runs, I've never even walked a hundredth of a mile. I usually run the entire distance. But, that's the funny thing about races. They make you do different things and feel different ways. It was time to recommit. I tapped mile marker 11 as I passed and got back on my horse. I made the choice that I would run from this point to the finish line. No stopping.

Finally, I could see the harbor. I had reached the harbor and all there was to do was to get down the boardwalk, past the Maryland World Trade Center Building, past the Phillips and Barnes & Nobles and hang that left into the finisher's shoot.

As I ran down the boardwalk and saw other runners who had already received their medals, a feeling of hope came over me. I was almost there! I ran past the Spirit of Baltimore, past Ripley's Believe It or Not, past the USS Constellation, in between the Cheesecake Factory and the Baltimore World Trade Center. I got to the finishing shoot and guess who's running towards me... My 2 year old daughter. I couldn't have asked for a better finish to this race. I picked her up and carried her through the finish line, with my family cheering me through!! All the pain and lack of energy I had subsided for that short period of time. It was one of the greatest feelings in the world!!

(Video of race route and footage of my personal finish, can be seen below...)

My official chip time was 2 hours 29 minutes and 19 seconds. Thank you Charm City Run for a great challenge in the Inaugural Charles Street 12. I will definitely come back to finish better and stronger next year!!

Pre-race Strategies and Goals for Inaugural Charles Street 12 Race

2013-08-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

It's Friday morning, that I'm writing this post and I'm pretty amped up right now. I've been thinking about this race all week. It's actually been longer than that, but the pit of my stomach has been pounding with nervousness and excitement for the last five days or so. It's my very first long distance race and I wanted to jot down my goals and strategies for the race.

Goals:

1) I want to finish in 2:30 or better. - They say you shouldn't put a time goal on your first race, just cover the distance. But, I'm always looking for a challenge or something to shoot for. My training run of 12 miles was completed in 2:36. I've had several 10 mile training runs that I was able to completed in less than 2 hours. Races push the pace, so I feel if I can finish between 2:25 and 2:30 I'll be happy. (Actually, I'll be happy when I cross the finish line... So, I'll be happy in any event.)

2) Finish with no injuries. - I'm thankful that I've been able to train up until this point with no significant injuries. I hope to continue that streak with the help of the good Lord. My first half marathon is planned for next month, so I've got to stay healthy in order to do well in that race.

3) Be in the moment at all times. - I want to experience this race fully, while running... Enjoy the people around me, the atmosphere, the scenery. This is the Inaugural running of the Charles Street 12 and I want to make sure that I'm not so focused on time and running strong that I don't take in the entire experience.

Strategies:

1) Start out slow. - I'm already going to be pumped and the juices are going to be flowing. So, I need to make sure that I stay disciplined and run this race with patience. I don't want to make the mistake of starting out too fast and burning myself out by mile 6. I set my Garmin Virtual Pacer and intend to run at a 12:30 pace over the first half and dependent upon how I feel I'll pick my pace up.

2) Don't over hydrate and take nutrition at the proper times. - I've been hydrating all week and I'll be making sure to hydrate all day today. I don't normally eat anything before my runs. I may eat a Honey Stinger Waffle 15 minutes before the race begins. Depending on the weather I normally don't start sipping water until about mile 3. If it's warmer, I'll drink sooner. I'll then take a gel or waffle around mile 6 and another around mile 9. I shouldn't need anything after that, but, that'll be determined in the race.

3) Just be steady. - I know my limitations, I know my abilities and my training has gotten me to this point. Stick with the plan and everything will be fine.

I'm just keeping it simple. Nothing outrageous. I don't want to do too much and I want to stay focused on just finishing the race.

I'll see you after!!

Running Rules: The Dzlrunner's Guide to Road Races

2013-08-09T03:50:00.001-07:00

I've run in a few shorter distance races to this point. A couple of 5ks and my longest, being the Crofton Kiwanis 10k in June of this year. I'm getting ready to embark on my longest race to date, The Charles Street 12, a 12 mile race down historic Charles Street in Baltimore, MD.

I've heard about there being certain rules to road racing that runners should follow. I never paid attention to this for the shorter races, but I figured that I should for this longer distance. So, I did a bit of research and here are some of the rules that I've found that will help me and possibly help you in your future road races.

1) You gotta pay to get in.
When it comes to racing longer distances, such as the half marathon or full marathon, there is a term used to describe someone running without an officially registering for a race. It's called "banditing". There are many with varying opinions on banditing a race.

Some are more tolerant than others. Some feel that it's harmless, others feel that it's one of the worse possible crimes that can be committed in the running world. I tend to go with the moral side of things... If you didn't pay for it, you shouldn't partake. But, if I happened to see one, I'm not going to call the authorities... I'm focused on my race.

2) Fast runners in the front, slow runners in the back
I've been thinking about this logic for a while and it makes complete sense. I always seem to picture myself in the front of a sea full of runners (knowing I don't belong there at ALL), right under the starting line. And when the gun goes off, I start out, but all the fast runners are blazing past me on my left and right, bumping me, shouting "Move out the way!" Once they pass me, they turn and look at me with disgust.

I do not want to be that guy. So, instead of starting in the front, its best for the slower runners like myself to start closer to the rear of the pack. I mean it's the truth, right? If I'm only running 10:30 miles at my fastest pace, why in the world would I start with the 5, 6 and 7 minute/mile runners. That's crazy!!

3) Most bodily functions should be kept to the side of the course
Let's face it, bodily functions are a part of running. But, many of them don't have to be done on the race course. Sure, you may break wind or pass gas... That's inevitable. But, spitting, snot rockets, vomiting or needing to relieve yourself would need to be taken to the side of the course.

The last thing you want is to spit or blow a snot rocket and it land on another runners leg or shoe. Be courteous and ease over to the side of the race course. As far as relieving yourself goes, use the port-o-potties, seek an open business on the route, or if you must, look for a group of bushes that will allow some sort of privacy.

4) Make your presence known and be aware of other runners around you
When approaching a runner in front of you, it is best to say "Excuse me" or "On your right/left". If they don't hear you, gently tap them on their elbow or arm to get their attention, as you don't want to spook them.

Being aware of your surroundings is just as important. Whether you're wearing headphones or just enjoying the scenery around you, you must be sure to keep alert and listen for those around you.

5) Be careful around water/aid stations
There can be a lot of disorganization and bottle-necking at aid stations. It can even be slick at times. I remember running a race earlier this year and there were so many dropped water cups and spilled drinks on the ground that as I moved through the area, I felt my steps begin to slide a bit. So it may be better to walk through the water station and move as close to the side as possible. This way you don't obstruct the path of other runners passing through.

6) Show your appreciation
Just having manners and putting them to use, goes a long way. Volunteers are exactly that... Volunteers and they give of their time to make our experience as runners a good one. So, as you get your water and nutrition throughout the race, say "Thank you". It's nice to know that you're appreciated.

It doesn't hurt to say thank you to any spectators you may come in contact with. They, like volunteers, come out to make our experience as runners that much better. They may be coming out to support their runner, but if you get a chance, take some time to let them know you appreciate them coming out.

These are just a few guidelines to help in making your race experience a good one. I'll be keeping them in mind this weekend as I run the Inaugural Charles Street 12 Race and hopefully you will too, in your next race.

My last training run before my first long distance race, The Charles Street 12

2013-08-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

My cousin had responded via Facebook, to a training run I posted. He stated that he wanted to run with me before my 12 mile race this weekend. Another cousin of mine, who is also a runner, who ran Boston this year, and who is an inspiration to my running, suggested it to be a good idea. So, we scheduled for Wednesday morning at 5am. He stated he would come and run my route and we settled on 5 miles.

When we were stretching, he asked me what pace I wanted to run at, 10:30 or 11 minutes. I said let's do an 11 min/mile pace. Now, my cousin is already much faster than I am.... I mean, he's doing around 8 min to 8:30 miles!! My fastest average pace was 10:18 in a 5k race, back in April, and I was pushing HARD! So, I had to keep my effort up, simply because I didn't want him to think I wasn't working hard and holding him back from a good training run.

I normally train on my own and this is where it can be good to run with someone else from time to time. Just so that you can get that extra push, mentally and physically. Continuously training at the same pace doesn't necessarily allow you to challenge yourself the way you need to be challenged, sometimes. Not to mention, I didn't want to look like I've been loafing for all this time, so it was important that I produce a good showing and effort.

We set our Garmin Forerunner 10s (we both have the exact same watch, color and everything) and got started. We haven't seen each other in a long time, so we began the run catching up. I normally take the first mile to warm up and that's usually a 12 -12:30 pace. But, after mile 1, I checked my Garmin and we completed that mile in 11:09. I was already at the pace I thought I would build up to. I felt fine and the weather was alright. I figured I would hold on and see how long I could hold on to this pace.

Miles 2 through 5 went great! From time to time, my cousin would ask me how I felt and surprisingly I felt fine.

Now, depending on how I feel at the end of my run, I'll push my pace and finish strong. On this run, I just took off! I was hoping my cousin would try to catch up with me... Just a little challenge to get some of the competitive juices flowing. He did! I heard his footsteps behind me and I pushed more!! Surprisingly, I had another gear!! I was shocked!! After running 5 miles at an uptempo pace, I still had a strong burst at the end.

What's funny is that, I don't think my cousin appreciated being surprised like that... but that's the fun of it. He's already faster than me, so I had to get him when I could. He posted on Facebook that I should not have tried to out sprint him at the end and now he's gonna have something under his sleeve for the next time we run. We decided that we would get together and run once a week, so I'll be training harder to be ready for unexpected surprises he may try.

It was a fun run and I'm ready for my race on Saturday!! Thanks cuz!!

Diet Decision for August 2013

2013-08-01T05:15:00.001-07:00

After much research and contemplating on whether to do the Paleo diet, I have concluded that... I won't be doing it for the month of August.

Considering the upcoming races I have in such a short period of time, The Charles Street 12 on August 10, 2013 and the Abebe Bikila International Peace Half Marathon on September 14, 2013, I feel that I would be sabotaging my experience of my first long distance races. I have not trained for them with the Paleo diet and it would not be smart to start within 10 days of one race and less than a month from another race, including a taper week.

What i will be doing for the month of August is re-committing to eating in a much healthier manner. The goal is to lose 10 lbs by increasing fruit and vegetable intake and lessening my carb intake. I plan to reach a goal weight of 235 lbs by August 30, 2013.

I will use video throughout to bring you along the journey. Now, this is my first time doing anything like this, so bear with me as i learn on the go.

Feel free to join me on this journey and post your commitments and improvements as well. We are all in this together!

Well... let the commitment begin!

Inspired by @Sarah_dietitian "You Can't Outrun Your Fork!"

2013-07-24T04:54:00.001-07:00

I've been seriously struggling with my nutrition lately and I don't know what it is. I just feel myself slipping back into the abyss of quick eats. I'm becoming unfocused on what I take in to fuel my body versus just eating because I may be hungry and taking for granted the fact that I'll just run it off. Now, before we get too deep into this post, I take full responsibility for my actions. There's no passing the buck here and no denial of bad judgment like A-Rod and Ryan Braun (don't get me started on these guys... Agh the arrogance).

Anyway, I have a problem and I'm looking for a solution. My problem is: What do I need to do to get my nutrition back on track? A few weeks ago, a buddy of mine challenged me to go on a no sugar diet... No sugar, no carbs, etc. He told me it's serious and will push me to my limits, in so many words. This challenge has been rolling around in my head ever since he mentioned it and I have been noncommittal about trying it during the month of August. (I'm still deciding)

I heard about the Paleo diet and how beneficial it was for weight loss. So, I decided to take action and do some further research.

I just finished reading a blog post by Sarah Danaher "To Paleo Or Not To Paleo... That is the Question". It explained what the Paleo diet is and it's Pros and Cons. But, there was a specific thought in the article that just hit me like a ton of bricks... "You Can't Outrun Your Fork".

When I read this, so much clarity came to my mind. It hit me how important diet is to my running and weight loss. It reminded me of something an ultrarunner, who runs five 100 mile races a year, told me about a month ago. He said that fruits and vegetables are the key to running well. This is truth.

I ran easier and so much more efficient, before I fell off the wagon. My times were better and it didn't seem that I was working as hard as I've been working more recently. (It could also be the heat o_O... I'm just saying)

So with this information and more information to come, this is how I plan to proceed...

I'll continue to do research on the Paleo diet and by July 31st, I will make a decision on whether I will make an attempt at the Paleo diet for the month of August or some other approach to getting back on track. Whatever my decision is, I will post my progress throughout the month of August so that you can benefit from my experiences.

If you've fallen off the wagon too, maybe we can help each other to get back on.

Camelbak Dart 1.5 Liter Pack review

2013-07-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

I've run with my new hydration vest three times. The first was 3.25 miles in the heat and humidity; the second was 5.38 miles, a much better day weather-wise; and yesterday I ran 10.56 miles. This is my first hydration vest, so I really have nothing else to compare it against outside of having nothing at all.

Running has become exponentially better now and I can focus more on my running, instead of worrying about finding the next gas station to purchase a bottle of water. Then after purchasing the water, running with it in my hands. (I don't know about you, but i can't stand running with anything in my hands)

Another plus is how i now have a place for my keys, my nutrition, my phone and my iPod, outside of the two pockets in my shorts. I can now run without anything weighing me down or creating an awkward bulge in my shorts.

So let's get into the more technical stuff...

(See pictures below for illustration purposes.)

This hydration pack is lightweight and has a 50 oz (1.5L) bladder that is tucked inside of the inner pouch.

The straps are made of a breathable air mesh which does not soak up and hold moisture.

The pack has two main pockets. One is a little larger than the other, on the outside of the pack that will hold items, like keys, wallet, energy gels, etc.

There is also a pocket on the left strap which can hold a phone. (I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 and the pocket holds this phone very tight. It'll also hold the iPhone if you have one)

My experience with this hydration vest has been a good one so far. On my shorter runs of 3.25 miles and 5.38 miles, I put cold water in the bladder and it stayed cold throughout the entire run. My longer run of 10.55 miles, I decided to put ice in it. This was smart as it kept my water cold until there was no more left.

Now I am heavy runner and a heavy sweater. So I'm always looking to quench my thirst on longer runs. I don't sip water, I siiiiip. I say that because, my bladder was empty around mile 9.5. This was ok as I was almost done with my run anyway. It would've been nice if it lasted me through the entire run, but I'll make adjustments from this point forward.

My Conclusion:

I've come to the conclusion that, this hydration vest can carry a heavy runner like myself thru a half marathon, if the proper adjustments are made on my end. The Camelbak Dart 1.5L is a solid hydration vest and I would recommend it as a beginner's vest. It is less expensive than other hydration vests and works well for newer runners like myself.

I plan to continue running with it and adjusting my strategy for long runs.

I'm happy to answer any questions or comments in the comment box below!

Celebrate the small victories... Re-Inspiring Yourself

2013-07-14T06:29:00.001-07:00

Me at 287 lbs 2 yrs ago

Me at 287 lbs 2 years ago

My weight loss has slowed down considerably. I've set a goal and it doesn't look like I'll make it. (If I were honest with myself, I'm not as far away from my goal as I used to be.) But that very same goal feels like it's further away than it's ever been before. Giving up seems like a viable option. I begin asking myself why I even tried to do this in the first place... It's too hard. What's the point?

Are you thinking some of these thoughts? Good... You're still human.

These same feelings and thoughts have crossed my mind too. Many times, this journey of weight loss and healthier living seemed like a good idea. But, it has also seemed like a crazy idea that same number of times. Maybe more... There were times when frustration set in and the progress I thought I should see, just wasn't showing up on the scale or even in the mirror.

I've even felt light at times and said to myself "Yeah, I've lost a significant amount of weight." Only to realize that I'm where I was last week. It's funny how the mind and body can play tricks on us.

But, instead of allowing these negative thoughts to cloud our mind and fog up our vision of how we should see ourselves and want to become, we should look back on where we've come from and see the progress we've made. Not just once, but as many times as it is needed.

See, if this weight loss thing were easy, so many more people would be doing it. This is win number one!! We're already doing a lot more than those people who aren't doing anything at all.

Number 2: You are already successful... As long as you continue to work towards your goal!! Once you've quit, you are no longer successful. So don't quit!! Earl Nightingale, the accomplished author and great philosopher defined success in "The Strangest Secret". (If you haven't heard of this audiobook, stop reading this now and go get the mp3 here!!) He said that success is defined as the steady progression to a worthy goal. Keep plugging away and don't stop! It's just like running a race!! You continue to put one foot in front of the other, in order to get to the finish line.

In this weight loss journey there are times when we have to encourage ourselves. Everyone is not going to acknowledge our journey to self improvement, all the time. It's just the reality of the situation. In my opinion, that's a good thing. It keeps us grounded and allows us to learn to inspire ourselves or light our own fire. People can say what they want, good or bad, but until we find out our own "WHY?", we'll become unfocused and distracted.

So, take a moment to look back on some old pictures or videos. Take some time to think about what you used to do and compare it to what you do now. Celebrate the small victories and re-inspire yourself. Enjoy the fact that some changes have been made and if none have been made, you still have an opportunity to make those changes. Obviously, if you're reading this now, you have a desire to become better. So... become better. One step at a time. :-)

Me at 244 lbs now

First Marathon Nightmare

2013-07-11T03:14:00.001-07:00

I just woke up abruptly, to the sound of my alarm on my phone... Its 4:30 am. This is the time I normally wake up to get ready for my runs, as i'm a morning runner. I go to use the bathroom (sorry) and I look in the mirror. I was dreaming!!

I posted on twitter that I just woke up from a marathon nightmare and began writing this post about it.
I was running in the Rock 'n' Roll USA marathon in Washington,DC, my hometown marathon (which is a race that's on my bucket list). I'm at the start line with all the other runners and for some reasons the race director and coordinators have given out brown bag lunches, with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in them. (Now, I don't know whether this had anything to do with the fact that i've had PB&J for lunch most of this week or what...)

But, everyone has a brown bag lunch. This is odd, because normally post race food is given, well, after the race. But, this is a dream or nightmare, so anything goes I guess... Whatever.

The gun fires and everyone starts the race. But, in my hand, I've got 3 brown bag lunches!! I don't know how I got them or if the other racers just "left me holding the bag", but I've got them.

I begin to run, but I've gotta put these bags down, so I decide to put them under an overpass and figure I will come back for them after the race. (Please don't ask me why, this is a dream/nightmare)

Now, this particular overpass looks like one of the overpasses at Hains Point, under I-395. But, in real life, I don't even know if the race course goes anywhere near that particular overpass at Hains Point.

Anyway, I'm already in the back of the pack. We're talking dead last. I'm so far in the back, I'm having conversations with the driver of the van that picks you up if you don't look like you're gonna finish. That's how far to the back of the pack I am.

I decide to start running... A light bulb comes on and says, "you can't leave those brown bags there". So I go back to pick up the brown bags and put them on a table. (I don't know where the table came from, this is a dream/nightmare... Stuff just happens and appears, you know?)

After putting the brown bags with the PB&J sandwiches in them on the table, I can begin my run. There's a man that directs me which way to go. By this time, an hour or so has gone by and I'm the only one running. Doubt begins to creep into my head and the negative thoughts about not finishing are getting louder and louder. I begin to think about the 26.2 miles that I still have to run and how long it will take, with no one else around to keep me company... My discouraged trot becomes a walk and I quit.

(ALL OVER SOME PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES IN SOME BROWN PAPER BAGS?!?! - you might ask)

I'll chuckle and say, no. I doubt that's the real reason. There maybe something deeper that I need to figure out about myself, on my journey back to health through running.

And that's what so great about running and becoming an endurance athlete. It allows me to dig deeper into who I am as a person and what I'm all about. The competition is not against other runners... The competition is within me. My mind versus my own body.

I was talking to my dad the other day and he complimented me on my weight loss so far. He asked me about my running and I told him that I was preparing for a few upcoming races. I told him about how I enjoy the experience and my strategy of running races and he jumped in said "... And then you speed up at the end to try to win, right?" I laughed and explained that running and racing is not about winning "the race you're running in", its about winning the race YOU are in. Whether, you're running for weight loss, running to get fit, running for you're mind's sake or running to find out who you are... Running is about winning the race YOU are in.

I hope you enjoyed this... It's about 6am and it's time to begin my day. My wife stepped out of the house, so I'm here while the kids are still sleep. No run this morning. But, I'll get mine in and I hope you get yours in too.

Feel free to leave a comment in the comment box and provide your thoughts on why you run? I look forward to reading them and hopefully we can encourage one another in winning the race WE are in.

Brooks Addiction 10 Review

2013-07-05T19:24:00.001-07:00

I purchased some new shoes last week... The Brooks Addiction 10s. These shoes are part of the Brooks collection for over-pronators. Another shoe that works well for over-pronators is the Brooks Beast.

I normally wear a size 12, but I believe Brooks running shoes are cut smaller. So, I purchased a size 13 and these were perfect.

I've been wearing these Brooks Addictions over my last few runs and before providing an official review, I wanted to put at least 25 miles on them. It also helps that I have a 90 return policy at my running store. :)

As of yesterday, I have logged 27 miles on them and they have officially been broken in. I believe in giving my gear that I wear a full and fair review.

Test Run #1:
Distance: 9 miles
I could tell that I was running in new shoes as the shoe was somewhat stiff all around. There wasn't much give initially. As I ran further, the shoe provided more flexibility. Another observation is that this is a heavier shoe, so that's something to consider when looking to purchase motion control shoes. Around mile 8, I felt a little pressure around the top part of my ankle. I attributed this to the fact that they were new and I had previously been running in shoes that did not provide the type of all around support the Brooks Addiction provides.

Test Run #2:
Distance: 4 miles
No problems at all. This was a much shorter run, compared to the 9 mile maiden voyage. I felt no pain, there was no rubbing or friction anywhere. Great run.

Test Run #3:
Distance: 3 miles
This run went well too.

Final Test Run
Distance: 11 miles
This is an overall good shoe. The arch support, cushioning, and shock absorption were impressive. I ran on asphalt and concrete throughout this run and I didn't really feel a thing during my run. This was the longest distance I'd ever run to date and it seemed like the longer I ran the better the shoes performed.

The Brooks Addiction may not be the coolest looking shoe, but it's functionality is exactly where should be. Check out a more technical review by Brooks Running, here:

Go slow to go far - My first 11 mile training run.

2013-07-05T04:22:00.002-07:00

It's the 4th of July and I decided to do my weekly long run on this day, mainly because my weekend was pretty full. My wife's work schedule would not have allowed me to do a long run, especially since I'd be watching the kids all day. I just wouldn't be able to fit it in.

My mind was already set to do 10 miles, but 11 kept flashing in my head. I said to myself that I've already done several 10 mile runs and I need to see if I can push past that, as I'm continuing to build mileage. So, I started out and figured I would just see how I felt as I got into it.

I knew I would need to run at a slower pace, if I wanted to have energy for the latter part of this training run. Of course the heat and humidity already had that taken care of, as I couldn't run much faster even if I wanted to.

My first mile was 13:43 and I figured that was a good pace. It wasn't too hot at this point and there was a light breeze blowing... I was comfortable.

Fueling for this training run was also very important. I figured I would fuel early and often to keep my body supplemented with the necessary nutrition to be strong throughout.

Around mile 3, I ate my Pure Protein protein bar. I didn't want it to get soft and begin melting in the heat, since it was chocolate. This would have been a complete mess. So, that was the first to go.

I felt pretty good. I was moving along pretty steadily and around mile 4.5, I started to think about what I would do for water. I really need to purchase a hydration vest for my long runs. It has now become evident that I can't go without it. I took a couple of dollars with me to stop at a gas station and pick up a water during the run. I didn't think about how much I hate running with water bottles in my hands. It's not fun and becomes somewhat of a distraction to me.

I get to mile 5 and I decide that I'm going to go for the 11 today. So at the 5.5 mile mark I'll turn around and head on back. Now, I like to do out and back training runs for the psychology of it. I've seen the course already and I won't be finished until I get back to my car. So, there's no need to get anxious and continuing to wonder "are we there yet"...

At about the halfway point (5.63 miles to be exact), there was a Shell gas station. This was perfect, because I could get water, get A/C and get somewhat of a rest while waiting in line. I stepped in the door and it was wonderful. It felt like a refrigerator in there!! The A/C felt so good on my legs!! This was great... AND they had a little line that was formed, so I could enjoy this wonderful goodness for a few seconds more.

I bought my water, drank some and began my trek back to my car. I felt OK at this point, but, my body knew that it had run 5.5 miles in the heat.

At mile 6, I took some orange flavored Clif Shot Blocks. I normally take some more fuel around mile 7, but I needed some fuel already in my system at mile 7, so early and often.

Now, I don't know what got into me at this point, but during these long runs your mind tends to go places. For whatever reason, I began to chant the words of
Sherman Klump, "Yes. I. Can. Yes I Can" in my mind. I don't know where it came from, but this was my mantra for a good part of the way back.

At mile 8, I was moving pretty steady. I was feeling the effects of the heat and my water had already begun to lose it's coolness. In fact it was almost luke warm by this point. I decided to take another Shot Block.

Around mile 9.75, a cyclist who I had seen on my way out was coming up behind me. He shouted, "Good Job!! Great Way to Work!!" and passed me. This was the encouragement I needed. It came at the right place and at the right time. I had a second wind!! Where did that come from?!?! That encouragement was provided in such a perfect moment that I literally got goose bumps!! I was thankful, because my mind was in the middle of fighting a battle at this point. My body wanted to quit, but my mind provided the determination to keep going.

That's a part of what I enjoy about this sport. No one else can do it for you. It's you vs. you. Even in races, as runners, we're not really competing with others, we're competing against ourselves. And if you're not mentally strong, you will lose that battle every time.

At this point, I had a renewed mindset. I was ready to be done, but I was also ready to keep putting one foot in front of the other until I reached my goal. Mile 10 came and went and I had officially run farther than I had ever run before. I could've stopped at that point, but I set a goal and I was going to achieve it. Not to mention, my car was still about a mile away.

I looked at my phone and Map My Run said 10.89 miles. I was way too close to stop now. All my water was gone by this point and it was just a matter of staying steady and continuing to move forward. Before I knew it, I heard a voice say "Total distance 11 miles, time 2:30:14." I smiled. I did it. I said Thank You and I began to walk to my car.

Running to me is like love was to Alfred Lord Tennyson...

2013-07-01T18:00:00.001-07:00

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

I was talking to my running buddy yesterday and expressed to him, how I was coming off a terrible week of training. No injuries, no excuses... In fact, looking back on the week, I really could have fit my scheduled training runs in if I stayed disciplined. Frankly, I should be up to about 25 miles per week and this particular week I only ran 13 (extremely disappointing). What was more disappointing, was that the majority of my mileage for the week, came from my long run of 9 miles!

After talking with him further, we came to the conclusion that it could've been a whole lot worse. Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem came to mind and I modified it a bit. I concluded that it's better to have run, than not to have run at all. Perspective began to set in. If I ran 2 miles, it would've been better than sitting on the couch and not running at all. That's about 24 minutes of exercise for me and 24 minutes of exercise is better than no exercise at all. Right?

Sure, the initial disappointment still hasn't left completely; but, I'm dealing with it. It's not so much the lower mileage, but the lack of discipline on my part that I'm most upset about. So, what are you gonna do?? Instead of dwelling on it, we will move into a new week. A week that we can make a positive change, a week of improvement, a week that I'll be able (with the good Lord's help of course) to reach my goal.

That's the good thing about life's journey and running. We can always improve...

Upcoming Runners of Inspiration Series...

2013-06-29T18:15:00.001-07:00

During the day, I enjoy listening to various podcasts and a few days ago, I was listening to Dirt Dawg's Running Diatribe Podcast. This show is about Mike Croy, a father, husband and teacher who also happens to run and has covered distances from 5k to Ultra-Marathons (any distance over 26.2 miles).... Pretty entertaining, I must say. Anyway, the topic for this particular episode had to deal with his personal Mt. Rushmore of running.

After listening to the episode (click here to listen), a light bulb went off in my head... I thought about who would be on my Mt. Rushmore of running... I couldn't really come up with anyone. Frankly, I haven't been in the sport long enough to really know about many notable distance runners. So, it only made sense to educate myself further about this sport that has helped me to drop 45 lbs and become healthier... I figured I'd bring you along my journey and we can learn together!!

I contacted @Dirtdawg50k on Twitter and asked him, if he would have a problem with me giving him credit in my post for the idea and naturally, he said yes. So I'm proceeding with my new series: Runners of Inspiration. You can find it under the GO Plugs tab. I'll post a short blurp about a new Runner of Inspiration and why they are inspirational to me, once a month and we'll see how it goes. Until next time, get out there and GO!!

Is this running thing a choice?

2013-06-26T17:53:00.003-07:00

I finished my 4 mile run this morning and did as I normally do, which is post my workout thru my twitter feed @dzlrunner. One of my Facebook friends saw my post and responded with encouragement, but she then said something that was quite profound to me. She stated that "...working out is not a choice. #keeprunning4yourlife"

I thought about this and I have to say, I agree.

Sure, you have a choice to exercise or not to exercise, initially. But what happens when you make the choice to do this on a consistent basis? What happens when you begin to see positive results in your weight loss, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and your waist line?!?!

The positive benefits of us: interacting with our families and coworkers in a calm and positive manner; of a routine checkup at the doctors office, being just that... a routine checkup; and being more productive in all phases of our lives, make our decision to exercise no longer a choice, but a must. It becomes a part of us and something we just have to do. The pros significantly outweigh the cons, if there are any cons at all.

In order to keep the positive results appearing and reappearing, we must decide that this is a lifestyle change. We must make a conscious decision to make our lives better. And this isn't just in leading a healthier life, this applies to living life in general. Don't you think?

They tell me I'm an over-pronator... I say thank you... Wait, what's an over-pronator?

2013-06-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I went to get my gait measured at a running store in Columbia, MD. This was my first experience doing something like this. For the past couple of years, I've been going to my local Modells to purchase my running shoes. I figured that I needed running shoes and well, the local box store sells... running shoes.

But, the more knowledge I seemed to get on a daily basis about running, the more I realized how counterproductive I was being by keeping the right shoes in the running store and not on my feet. I learned some valuable information on the day I walked into this running store. I began to understand that many injuries can be caused or prevented by the shoes we wear. It's even more imperative that heavier runners, like myself, respect and care for our bodies by wearing the proper shoes.

I stepped into the store and surprisingly not many people were in the store at the time. I must admit that I was initially hesitant and apprehensive to go in, because, I had a particular image in my mind of what a runner looks like, and well, that image was not me... for sure. But, I went in and caught the eye of one of the associates there. I explained that I had been running for about 2 years, had lost some weight and needed him to measure my gait (the rhyming was not intended here). He was nice enough to make me feel welcome. He asked me to step onto this machine that showed a colorful image of the imprint of my feet on a screen in front of me.

There was quite an assortment of colors, mainly red, green and yellow. He explained that the machine shows the distribution of my weight on my feet. I remember seeing a lot of red where my arches were supposed to be. He told me, that I'm an over-pronator, which generally means... I'm flat footed.

He went on to tell me that as an over-pronator, when I run, my arches fall, and illustrated this point by placing both of his hands flatly in the air, palms facing down and began tilting the inner side of his hands downward. He assured me, that I need a shoe that provides the much needed arch support every time my foot lands on the pavement. He also stated that in some cases of over-pronation, running without proper support of the arches can cause knee pain and pressure in and around the knee joints.

The associate then asked me what size shoe I wore, went into the stock room an brought out three pairs of shoes... All size 13s! I told him I wore a size 12!! These were a full size bigger!! This may have been a little exaggerated, but my mind immediately went to an image of my 2 y/o daughter, sticking her feet in my shoes and trying to walk in them. Little did I know, I would learn something else in a few moments.

The associate proceeded to explain that the reason he got me a size 13 is due to the fact that as we run, especially longer distances like 10 miles or more our feet spread. They spread while we run anyway, but a continuous pounding on pavement for a long period of time can cause our feet to swell. Thus, the reason for getting a larger size. He also mentioned that a reason some runners get black toenails, blisters, etc. can be due to not having the proper sized shoe, as well.

This was all news to me and after having him explain a little more about over-pronation and the mechanical process of running, I couldn't have been more grateful. I had learned so much... I almost felt like I had taken a class on running. My professor was so knowledgeable, smooth and procedural in his lesson... I couldn't have asked for anything more.

That day, I walked out of the store with a new mindset. I walked out of the store with a new confidence and a determination, not to cheat on my feet.

Crofton Kiwanis 10k Challenge Race Recap

2013-06-21T03:55:00.001-07:00

Its Friday night, June 7 and I'm in the bed looking forward to a good night's rest. The TV is on and Gladiator is playing on TNT. It automatically catches my eye and I'm up watching it. I know that I should be sleep, and I figured I would fall asleep by the end of the movie. But, Gladiator doesn't let you do that. I consciously have to turn the TV off, in order to focus on going to sleep. Have you ever experienced that? Well, I ended up going to be later than I initially decided to when I woke up that morning (11:00pm).

Anyway, it's Saturday morning and I wake up to the sound of my alarm at 4:30 am. Because this was my first ever, 10k, and first time ever going to the Crofton Country Club, I wanted to be there early and avoid any potential problems. So, I left my house at 5:15am to start my 20 minute journey to a race that started at 8am that morning.

It wasn't extremely hot, but I remember noticing the warmth as I stepped out of the front door... 67 degrees. I preferred a much lower temp, but you've gotta play the hand that you're dealt with regard to the weather, right?

My stomach felt a little weird and I couldn't quite shake it. I then thought about the 4 hot dogs I had eaten the night before, around 9pm, in the name of "fueling" and attributed the pain I may feel in the next few hours to that decision. It's true what they say, you know... one bad decision can be consequential to your future happiness.

So, I got in the car, shaken stomach and everything and drove to the location of the race, Crofton Country Club. I arrived around 5;45 and as I expected, no one was there. I drove around the neighborhood and parked my car a short distance away from the Country Club. This race was sponsored by the Crofton Kiwanis Club and Surlis Re/Max Real Estate Team and that peaked my interest in running this race as I needed a 10k to do and I have a background in real estate... But, I digress. My stomach settled down a little, but I was not 100% and I didn't go into the race feeling as good as I would've liked. I figured, I would just have to make the best of it.

While at work, I enjoy listening to podcasts about running, as they inspire, inform and increase my knowledge about this incredible sport that does so much for so many. I had been listening to The Extra Mile podcast over the past two weeks. This podcast is built around the audience and their experiences in training and races. The host, Kevin, does a wonderful job facilitating such an organic program and helps to bring a fresh approach to podcasting about this sport.

I decided to call The Extra Mile and inform them of my upcoming race. After a few re-recordings, I submitted and saw that it was around 6:15am. Registration started at 6:30, so I proceeded to walk to the registration tables. I was 2nd in line to register and everything was well organized. This was a smaller race and after looking at the results and everything, there were only 250 participants. The website stated that there would be about 400 runners and as 7:51 am, there didn't seem to be 100 runners there. But, it filled out as we moved towards the starting line.

The gun went off and the race started on time. I decided to start from the back of the pack and wanted to do 12 minute miles. That wasn't happening... My first mile was completed at a 10:55 pace and I was still falling behind. This was a pretty fast field. So, there was no choice but to try to hold on. It normally takes me a mile to a mile and a half to warm up and after that I was in a pretty good groove.

A friend of mine on Daily Mile was doing the race too and she stated that this course had a few rolling hills. Now, the website stated that it was a flat course... Thanks to my friend on Daily Mile, I was prepared. There were some hills in this race. I took a GU around mile 3.5, but I didn't feel any kick or jolt. I just felt like I could continue the pace I was running.

Around mile 4, I was looking to pick my pace up a little. The race was getting short. I needed to make some moves. I noticed that I was steadily in a mental battle. I wanted to stop running and walk, but my mind kept saying that I've done 6.2 miles many times before. I'm learning that these races really test what we're made of. The easy option is always to stop, but the test comes in pushing one's self past what they think is their limitations.

I kept going and it seemed like the course would never end as it winded through this quiet middle class neighborhood. I came up on the final aid station and one of the volunteers I saw at a previous aid station was chanting "Come on green! Come on Green!" I was wearing a lime green shirt in the race. This support seemed to put me back in check, mentally and my determination to finish rose. There was a guy in a blue shirt in front of me and I said to myself, "You can get him, you can get him". Slowly but surely I gained on him.

After finally catching up with him, it seemed like forever before I could pass him. We were running about the same pace and I was trying to push ahead. I finally get past him on a turn, but I can hear him not far behind me. His cadence was in my head and I couldn't get it out. I decided to focus on the woman in front of me, who had been about 50 yards ahead of me all race long. I remember noticing her odd running form earlier in the race... Well, I wanted to pick her off too.

My mind was telling my legs to go faster, but it seemed like my legs were moving at their own pace. I tried pumping my arms but, that didn't work either. I don't know what was going on. Eventually, the distance between us began to dwindle down and I don't know whether she was getting tired or I was in a full press forward... What I do know is that the finish line just seemed to pop up out of nowhere.

This was it!! The final stretch of this race!! All the folks who had finished before me, were waiting at the finish line. This was an awesome feeling. As I'm getting closer, I feel strong all of a sudden. A wave of energy just comes over me and there's new life in my legs. My lungs are burning, my legs are burning, my arms are tired, but none of that seems to have an effect.

I finally got past the lady with the odd running form and its all downhill from there (figuratively speaking). The finish line is getting closer, the race is almost over and I hear someone chant "Push! Push! Push!" That's all I needed. I was already saying that word in my head and the person in the crowd just vocalized it. I'm coming through, I'm almost done... FINISH!!

I crossed the finish line. I wanted to check my time on the race clock, but totally forgot to do it while I was crossing. I went over to get my after race snacks and there was a great assortment of foods and treats.

Smoothie King, Chik-Fil-A (I will do this race again next year, just for this!), Brusters Ice Cream, bagels, orange slices, and more!! This race did not disappoint on the post-race food. After eating, I went to check my time and I finished in 1:07:38. This is my first 10k, but the fastest time I've ever run this distance. So, I was pretty happy about that. I was number 198 out of 239 total runners, which I'm ok with. I got what I wanted to get out of it, which was the experience and a documented 10k race time.

As I enjoyed my meal, I enjoyed the atmosphere. Pictures, laughs and memories were all around me. I decided at that moment, that I would come back and do this race again.

As we were waiting for the awards ceremony to start, I overheard an older guy telling a story about his neighbor. He was saying how runners tend to look like they're in pain, when they are running. I chuckled to myself, because I know exactly what he meant.

He continued to say that his neighbor had been running for about 20 years. One day, he saw him running while driving past him in his car. He said that his neighbor looked like he was in so much agony, he asked him if he wanted a ride. The neighbor yelled NO! The older guy said that he didn't know whether he offended him by asking him if he wanted a ride, but he looked like he was in so much pain...

I love this sport, but sometimes, I consciously think about the faces I've made while running. If someone who doesn't run or wants to start running and saw me at times, they'd probably say "...forget it. I'm not doing that."

If you look at some runners, while they are running, their demeanor may not sell you on how wonderful running can be. But, talk to some of us after a good run and you may not be able to get us to shut up about the joy of running.

Well, after watching the awards ceremony, I walked back to my car to head home. Overall, this was a great race!! I enjoyed this experience immensely and look forward to doing it again. I'll tell others about it and hope to bring them with me next year. Great job Crofton Kiwanis/Team Surlis Team!! Keep up the great work!! See you next year!!

Ocean City 5k Race Recap

2013-06-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

The Ocean City Tri-Running Island 2 Island Half Marathon/5k was my first race of 2013 and my goal was to just run the 5k hard and shoot for a PR of 31 minutes... My stretch goal was to be under 30 minutes.
I hadn't run all week since Tuesday and I found myself getting pretty anxious by Saturday. (I now know that as I prepare for longer races, I'll probably drive myself crazy during taper weeks) I weight trained Wednesday and Thursday and didn't do anything Friday, as I was trying to figure out a routine for race prep. I was also adding mileage each week up to this point and decided to rest my legs a little.
So, as I arrived to the packet pickup, the energy was definitely high. I heard motorcycles roaring all around and this was due to it being bikers weekend in Ocean City. There were people all over, cars blocking the entrance to the hotel, dogs and bikers. But the overall atmosphere was friendly.
I stayed at the Bonita Beach hotel, which was surprisingly not that bad of a hotel to stay in. The hotel employees were accommodating and pleasant. After checking into the hotel, the kids were getting pretty restless and were ready for something to eat, so we stopped at The Dough Roller for dinner. I normally do pizza the day before a long run and so I decided to keep the routine going even though the next day was just 3.1 miles.
We went back to the hotel and I started getting everything ready for my race.
My racing shirt was pretty cool. It was a black tech short with the logo on the chest and back. I pinned my racing bib to the front along with my Boston tribute bib. I was dedicating this race along with all my races of 2013 to all those connected with Boston.
I finally got in the bed and the pure excitement kept me from getting a good night's sleep. I kept waking up every hour on the hour.
It was finally time to get up officially and I was stoked. My family was there, it was my first race of 2013 and I had a goal of running it as hard as I could.
We drove to the start of the race and both the half marathoners and the 5k runners started at the same point. So I arrived extra early to make sure I saw the half marathoners start their race. In that moment, I vowed that I would run the half next year.
As the half marathoners continued, I knew it was almost time for the 5k to begin.
I started to get nervous and I got goosebumps. Excitement overwhelmed me!! We lined up by the DJ and the mayor of Ocean City's daughter gave us the directions.
The gun went off and we were off. I ran the outer border of the course in the beginning so I wouldn't have to worry about dodging around other runners. We ran around the Ocean City Inlet parking lot and onto the boardwalk. The boardwalk was an out and back.
I didn't run with music, as I have not done so for a while. So, I was able to hear all that went on around me. There wasn't much talking, just the sound of feet pounding the boardwalk in a continuous rhythm.
As I got halfway down the boardwalk, we began to see the leaders on their way back. The overall leader was a tiny guy... About 155 lbs, 5 foot 7. I thought to myself how extremely fast he was. He finished in 17 mins and some change. They tell me he actually ran the course twice...
Well, I continued on and decided that I would keep up with a woman who had a Boston dedicated bib similar to mine (which I obtained from Facebook, c/o Marathon Training Academy page). She was ahead of me the entire race and I knew she was running at a good pace that would allow me to run a good race and push myself.
I was surprised at how good I felt throughout the race, considering my legs felt like noodles when we started and I was running a faster pace than I ever had before.
As we continued on, a runner a few yards ahead of me shouted, ".2 miles guys, only .2 miles to go!!" I decided to see what I had. I always remembered someone telling me that pumping my arms will make you run faster... So I tried it. And wow!! My stride opened up!! It felt awesome!! I was running!! I was able to keep this pace up through the finish line. It was like an epiphany!! It was like I found a super power that I could put in my arsenal whenever I battle a particular distance and fight for the finish.
Everything was great!! My wife and kids were at the finish waiting for me, I finished my first race of the season and I hoped to have a good chip time. Interesting enough, as I got a few yards past the finish, I was still breathing hard and with each breath, I felt like I would throw up. I didn't, but I guess those are the effects of pushing yourself.
There was water, chocolate milk, pretzels and other snacks in brown paper bags. I got a water and looked for the family so we could go get some breakfast.
There were other activities for runners after the race and the half marathoners were still running. But the family and I decided to go back to the hotel and enjoy the rest if the day in Ocean City.
Next year, I'll definitely be running the half. Really looking forward to it!!

Excited!!! 3 days out from my first 10k!!!

2013-06-05T15:00:00.001-07:00

Its Wednesday, and Saturday can't get here fast enough. I'll be running my very first 10k race in Crofton, MD... The Crofton Kiwanis 10k Challenge.

From what i'm told, its a small race and I decided to do it because it's close and I needed something on my calendar for this month. Plus more races give you more experience, right? So this race is number 2 of 4 for the year 2013.

I'm counting each day down and it seems as though the weekend is laughing at me, as time passes so slowly. Even lunch went slow!!

I can barely concentrate on my work, because i'm thinking about my splits, if i'm ready, what similar training runs i've done and how I felt during those runs. I actually found myself reassuring myself that I would be fine and that i've run this distance plenty of times before... By this time i've even got 2 ten milers in the books... But nothing can calm me down.

Even while writing this post, my brain is going 100 mph. Nervousness, anxiety, excitement, almost even to the point of frustration. All appropriate to describe what i'm feeling at this time.

I'm just gonna stop here...

Check back after the race for my race report and I'll tell you how I did...