Heart and Soles

My better half

I ditched the Virginia Beach race, but I was still in the middle of training for a half-marathon.  What to do? 

Duh, pick a BETTER one!  After a little bit of research, I found the Harrisburg Half - Sunday, Sept. 7, in Harrisburg, PA.  It's an out-and-back, but it's along a river, starting and ending on a tiny island on said river, mostly flat and only about three hours away from home.  Not only that, but a race is even more fun when I can make a weekend getaway out of it for Karen and me.  I booked a room at a nice hotel and made plans to go to Hershey Park (about 20 miles east of Harrisburg) after the race, and took Monday off from work for a leisurely travel day.

So here I am at the Hotel Carlisle and I'm excited.  Even though the outskirts of Tropical Storm Hanna is passing through and it's been raining all day, tomorrow is going to be cool and crisp in the morning and hot and sunny for our day at Hershey Park.

After tackling two marathons, you'd think a half-marathon wouldn't cause so much excitement and make me so nervous.  But I have to tell you, I've been training so hard on the hills surrounding my new neighborhood of Little Falls, NJ, working toward a goal of busting my one previous half-marathon time, I'm actually feeling those pre-race jitters!

Karen, who was nice enough to drive through the pouring rain to get here today and will be out there as a spectator tomorrow, is having no such problem.  Time to go back to the room and wake her from her nap so we can go get some dinner.  Gotta carb up!

What's a half-marathon worth?

With the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach a little to far from northern New Jersey to make the cost of the trip worth it, I started wondering what DOES make a half-marathon worth the trip. 

It's got to be relatively driveable; I'm thinking no more than three hours.  It should be at a place where a hotel stay won't break the bank; so forget popular tourist destinations.  The race course should have some unique and scenic qualities - I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of repetitive loops or out-and-back courses.  Finally, it should be part of an entire fun weekend; there's no fun in running a race and going home.

There really is a hierarchy with races.  I want to keep my 5Ks close to home; but the longer the distance of the race, the farther I'm willing to travel.

Reality check

Okay, maybe it isn't so worth it.

Here's a reality check of the cost of driving from New Jersey to Virginia for the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon:

Car rental (my hunk o' junk would never make it): $200

Gas to drive 720 miles: $75

Hotel stay for two nights: $350 (I'd be bringing Karen, so it wouldn't be right to book the kind of cheap place where I'd normally stay)

Registration for race: $105

That's already a total of $730 and we didn't even get to the food to satisfy my voracious appetite, let alone other fun things to do, which would probably bring the trip closer to a grand. 

Yes, I think I'll sit this one out.  But, darn it, I'm in the middle of training for a half-marathon now, and I want to run one!

Rock n' Roll

The brochure seduced me.

After surpassing my 5K speed goals, I thought it would be fun to re-visit the half-marathon. Since I'm a rock n' roll kind of guy, one look at the brochure for the Rock 'N' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., and I was reeled in.

Is it worth driving seven hours on Labor Day weekend to run for an hour and a half?  With rock bands at every mile marker, a boardwalk finish and a post-race concert by the B-52's, it very well might be!

Block Island fun running

Vacation time!

This year's little excursion with my girlfriend, Karen, was to Block Island, that beautiful, quaint, serene, tiny 13-square-mile island off the coasts of Long Island, and Rhode Island (and, governmentally, part of the latter). After the three previous times I'd been there - twice for the Block Island Music Festival with my old bands, My Pocket Zoo and Lloyd United, and once for the annual 15K race - I had wanted to return for an extended getaway for quite some time. With four days to stay, play and relax, I was excited to hit the hilly roads again, capture some of the memories of that 2006 race and explore new territory. Before heading out, I mapped out a couple of 5K courses and a five-miler. 

Karen and I took a Sunday afternoon ferry from Point Judith, R.I., and checked into the Harborside Inn. As soon as we got settled in, I set out for a long run. This one would have no plan, no mileage, no map, no set pace - just 75 minutes of enjoyable running. It was a clear evening, the air was cool, the roads were quiet (there aren't many cars on the island). It got darker as I ran. The only light came from a man with a lantern, the airport and the Southeast Lighthouse.  Occasionally, I'd have to hit a button on my iPod to provide some light. Had Karen's presence at the hotel not been a destination to which I looked forward, I would've never wanted it to end. It was that kind of run.

Monday was cross-training day, and what better way to do so while spending quality time with Karen and enjoying the gorgeous weather than to rent bicycles and traverse the island, even stopping to hit the beach for a while. At the end of the day, we sat out on the harbor and watched the beautiful sunset.

Tuesday was speed day - a slow mile followed by a fast mile, three times.  Dirt roads, hills and scorching heat made it tough to pick up the pace, but the scenery was so beautiful along the course that it was nothing short of a great time.  Karen and I spent much of the rest of the day relaxing at the beautiful 1661 Inn. We took a walk to the nearby beach later on, which resulted in Karen daring me to jump in the freezing water.  I did, of course, jeans and all. 

Wednesday was a five-mile day. The rain put a damper on the fun of it, but we were heading home that afternoon anyway. We'd had a fantastic, peaceful getaway and I was reminded of the joys of running while on vacation.

Numbers

I hesitate to post my numbers here.  There, I've said it.

It's a dilemma with which I've been dealing since starting this blog.  I always wonder - if I include my race times here, does it look like I'm trying to show off?  If I don't, does it seem like I'm embarrassed?

I've enjoyed sharing each successive improvement with you, dear reader, but I don't want to lose you if you start thinking, "I can't relate to this guy."

That's why sometimes I'm vague about my results and sometimes I'm specific.  Breaking that 19-minute barrier last month was a huge deal to me and I didn't think that I could convey the full impact of doing so without actually stating it; especially since, two years ago, I didn't even dream of completing a 5K in less than 20 minutes, let alone nineteen!  I'm light years from an elite racer, but I think I've risen pretty high for a regular-guy runner.

One of the beautiful aspects of running is that you can reap all the benefits it offers whether you run for fun or competitively.  And if you do compete, you can choose to compete with others or with yourself.  Either way, I'd like to think that we can all relate to each other.  Making improvements in your running over a two-year arc has the same effect whether you're going from a 12-minute to a 10-minute pace or from eight to six.

So, thanks for reading.  I hope that we can continue to share our accomplishments.

Lawyers for Kids 5K 2008

The thing about an evening 5K is that you bring the baggage of the day with you.  With the early morning races, you're starting fresh (though maybe, a little groggy).  This is no small factor.

And so, after another hectic day at work, Tim and I left the office and headed to Morris Township for our third annual participation in the Lawyers for Kids 5K.  Time was short, so after a quick change of clothes in the car and a bit of a walk from the nearest place to park, there was just enough time to register, stretch and line up at the start.

Planting myself near the front of the pack, while Tim worked his way farther back, I asked some of the surrounding folks what their goal time was.  I don't want to keep making the mistake of starting too far back and trying to pass people, but on the other hand, I don't want to be in the way of the speedy guys.  I gave myself a loose goal this time.  No PR necessary, just somewhere in a 20-second vicinity of my previous record, set only weeks before.  I wanted this to be fun and, besides, having run this course twice before, I knew that hill in the second mile was going to hurt a little.

But then that horn blew and I started the mad dash.  Wound up from a long day's work, I uncoiled and zoomed along, with the front-of-packers in my sight for the first two miles.  There was a much better attitude at this race than at my previous one.  I passed a few people, some passed me.  The front-running woman (whom I later found out was Heather Gardiner, the wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable salesperson that helped me buy my first two pairs of Sauconys at The Running Company in Morristown!) was right behind me the whole time because as I passed spectators, I'd hear them say, "There's the first woman," and I knew they weren't referring to me.

Familiarity with a course is a good thing.  I knew enough to disregard the first mile clock because I remembered how, last year, it seemed way off (there was no way I was running a sub-6 mile), so I plowed along, feeling great until that dreaded hill in the second mile.  Remembering my rule for the evening, that the most important thing was to have fun, I decided that the most fun thing to do at that moment would be to tackle the hill head on and see if I could get to the top at my current pace and still be able to recover.  Passing a few guys on the uphill (only one of whom passed me on the downhill), I felt some fatigue after hitting the top, but I knew that it was, literally, all downhill from there.

Something just felt good at that point.  I was hurting a bit from that uphill, but I knew my pace was excellent and that I hadn't lost much (if any) time from it.  Third mile, time to push.  Why not?  Nothing to prove, but nothing to lose, either.

I remembered one other thing - last year, I started my sprint to the finish too late.  The finish line comes right after two turns, so if you wait to see it, you miss out on the full opportunity for one last bit of gusto.  This year, as soon as I saw the first of those turns, I hustled.  I gave it everything I had, because at this point (as crazy as it sounds) the hurt felt good.  Those last 30 seconds of a 5K, no matter how much agony I'm in, are the most fun.  It's my chance to really push my body's limits.

The "minutes" number I'd been chasing for so long - "18" - was displayed on the clock and within my reach.  Holy moly, not only am I going to get a PR, but I'm going to break that 19-minute barrier for the FIRST TIME.

Maybe it was because I put less pressure on myself, maybe it was because my girfriend, Karen, was there at the finish line, or maybe all that speed training was still paying off - maybe all three - but somehow I beat my previous time by eight seconds, with a final result of 18:53.  I was shocked, amazed and utterly exhausted.  I hugged Karen and exclaimed, "I did it!  I beat it!!!" over and over as Andrew Mills, from the Star-Ledger, took our picture.

When the results were posted, another huge surprise came my way: first place in my age group!  My "Summer of Speed" has been a rousing success.  I don't plan on running any more 5K's this summer as there's nothing else I feel the need to accomplish.  I'd rather bask in the glow.

...and maybe run a half-marathon.

---

Looking for some longer August races in New Jersey?  How about these...

August 24 - 20th Annual Stone Harbor Lions 5K and 10K Runs - Stone Harbor is a beautiful shore borough in Cape May County.  If scenery is key to your races, this one's for you.

August 25 - Three Bridges 1st Annual 5 Mile Road Race, Readington Township - "First Annual" races are great because they generally have a lower turnout than long-established races.  This means that you don't have to worry about a large crowd of runners AND you're more likely to score a medal in your age group!

August 31 - 13th Annual Woodbridge Crossroads of New Jersey 10K Race, 5K Race, Mayor's Fun Run - If you're coming from one of the more northern New Jersey counties, Middlesex is far enough for a change of scenery, but not so far that it isn't worth driving to for a 10K.

Tradition

Once again, my co-worker/running buddy, Tim, and I signed up for the Lawyers for Kids 5K in Morris Township (July 10th).  This would be the first race that I've run three years in a row!

The big dilemma was how to approach it after my exciting PR just 17 days prior. It would have been silly to try to outdo myself so soon, so I'd try out a new attitude - go for it, but don't hang my hopes on it.  On one hand, I'd been speed training like crazy, doing 400 and 800 meter repeats on the local high school track.  I was getting faster and I knew it.  On the other hand, there was no need to try to break the particular minute barrier that has continued to elude me.  What was so important about that stupid number anyway? 

The solution: This one would be for fun - whether the fun of running fast or the fun of familiarity.  I'd run it hard, do my best, and hit the finish line in the beautiful Ginty Field complex for the third time because the pleasure of running and the excitement of racing would provide all the gratification I needed.  And now, it's tradition.

Here are two August 5K's in Morris and Sussex Counties:

August 7, Christmas in August 5K, Newton, 7 p.m.

August 12, Morris County Striders Summer Series, Boonton Twp, 7 p.m.

Battle for Business 5K

I am extremely proud of my accomplishments as a runner during these past three years and my races have shown consistent improvement.  Even when I thought I'd reached my 5K speed plateau last year, I outdid myself at my last race.

On June 23, amsidst the turmoil of packing up to move to a new apartment, after a night of very little sleep and a considerably short-staffed and stressful day at work, I started to wonder if breaking my 5K record would be at all possible at the Battle for Business 5K.

High-tailing it out of the office in West Paterson at 6 p.m., I only had until 7:30 to get to Florham Park.  When I got to the site (the ADP complex), there was only enough time to stretch for a few minutes and hit the starting line.

Maybe it was all that pent-up stress energy, maybe it was the confidence from my recent speed training, but when the race started, I bolted.  I mean, FAST. 

I'd recently read about the benefits of blasting out of the gate in a short race.  In long races, it's important to conserve; but 3.1 miles is a relatively short distance, so a fast first mile can't hurt because, by then, you're already a third of the way done.  Even if you slow down in the second mile, the amount of time you lose won't be as much as the amount of time you'd gained (if you trained properly). Before long, you're almost home and probably willing to push, even if it hurts. This was precisely the arc of my race.

Unfortunately, there was this woman near me who exuded the most awful attitude.  She was extremely fit and came off as ultra-serious and competitive.  At the starting line, she never once smiled or said a word.  I wanted to tell her to lighten up.  After we took off, she jockeyed for position; in the first few turns, I surmised that she was intentionally trying to keep people from passing her, weaving to and fro.  As I approached her on the left, she turned her head slightly, saw me, and moved to the left.  So I moved to the right and - wouldn't you know? - she glanced back and moved to the right.  Are you kidding me? I'm not competing with you!  I'm trying to beat MY record and you're getting in the way!

At this point, I decided just to plow ahead, despite the closing gap between her and the traffic cones.  As her swinging arm collided with me, she made a sound of disapproval, and I yelled at her, "What side do you want to be on?"

In the second mile, when I did my predicted slow-down, she passed me.  I'm sure she felt all proud of herself, too, but I wasn't concerned with her standing.  I knew what I was here for.  At the turnaround point of the out-and-back course, I kept her in my sights.  I had no intention of trying to catch up to her, at least not to try to beat her.  I knew one thing - that lady was FAST, and if I stayed close, I'd beat my goal. 

There were no mile clocks at this race.  I'd gotten used to relying on my mile splits to know whether I needed to pick up the pace or pull back.  This time, I had to rely on instinct.  And my instinct told me to run fast and keep running fast.

The third mile included a slight uphill (which, when going down, must have helped my fast first mile greatly) and, as expected, I was started to feel fatigued from the speed.  But the last mile is no time to slow down.  Instead, I began to push.  Making my way back into the ADP campus, it definitely started to hurt, but I soldiered on.  I had absolutely no idea how I was doing, I just knew that I was giving it everything I had...and trailing that woman!

When the clock was in sight, I knew my hard work had paid off: the "minutes" showed a number which I'd never before seen at the finish line.  I knew I'd get my PR because when the clock rolled over, I'd have plenty of time.  But, why coast through it?  Maybe, just maybe, I could finish before it rolls over. 

With every last bit of energy, I gunned it, watching every second tick, 54, 55, 56...I can do it!!  I can make it!!!...57, 58, 59...Sooooo close!!!!!...00...

01..and NO COMPLAINTS here!  I busted my record by 24 seconds!  That whole thing about finishing under that minute was an afterthought anyway.  I'd not lost sight of my goal.  I'd attained it.  I felt GOOD!

And what a spread of food!  There were sandwiches from Subway, complete with a little fixins table, yummy treats from a Rita's Ice truck, the requisite bananas, energy bars, and other assorted snack.  I had a little of everything.  I got a PR, so I'm going to indulge, I thought as I stood in line for an icy treat.

To top it off, the results showed that I'd placed second in my age group (technically, third, but the first was one of the top three overall), receiving a plaque at the awards ceremony. 

Naturally, I sent a text message to all my running friends and family, sharing my excitement, and drove home happy, triumphant and with a full belly.

Summer of speed

At some point in the middle of May, it became clear that my focus for the summer should be on shorter, speedier races.  My second marathon was mentally and physically draining, so training for another one right away seemed like a daunting task.  Lining up some 5K's and, perhaps, a half-marathon, will help keep training fresh and exciting.

First on the list: the Battle for Business 5K in Florham Park on June 23.  That gave me seven post-marathon weeks to train and it would involve the same speed work I used in December between the Philly Marathon and the 1st Day 5K that resulted in a personal record.  This time, though, I'd do more of it, because I was determined to break that record.

Everything about training has been different since my recent strange and unexpected marathon experience.  Six months ago, I dreaded the Wednesday speed training.  This time around, I was very much into it; psyched, even.  Heading to the local high school tracks (the one in Weehawken is not only wonderfully new, but sports a great view of the Manhattan skyline), I was up and out in the dawn hours, every Wednesday, blasting my way through three speedy miles (each followed by two-lap jogs).

The final Wednesday before the race, I calculated that even if I ran the 5K at my slowest one-mile training speed, I'd beat my PR by 12 seconds.  Now that's a confidence booster.  Ready to rock.

Want to do a summer 5K, but need a little more time to train?  Try the August 12 Morris County Striders Summer Series 5K, Morris Township, 7 p.m.