Sorry I’ve been slacking on my blog. The good news is that in addition to training for the Chicago Marathon (which is going swimmingly, or is that runningly, anyway, I digress), I’ve been doing a number of cool Pixelprojects that are only starting to reveal themselves here on the website. Meanwhile, check out my latest web creation, a brand spanking-new website for a really cool new company called Amerigrease. Additionally, you can check out a new 5 minute wedding highlight reel I shot and edited on behalf of Bella Pictures. Just click on “short films” and it will be (as of this writing) the first one that will play.
We’re also getting ready to launch video for 2 prominent legal websites where we shot and edited no less than 50, that’s right, 50 clips for use on their current websites. Pixeldust Films and Interactive will also be engaged in the redesign of all their web properties over time.
So, what else? Well, in short:
I’m in the nucleus of the Chicago Marathon training and am up to the 18 mile long runs
I am, for the first time in years, trying a new running shoe. I purchased a pair of Asics Gel Cumulus 10s and will give them their first spin tomorrow. Maybe a replacement for my go-to Mizuno Wave Rider 10s and 11s, but maybe not! Only time will tell.
This year, as a result of the marathon training, I have become an 8:40 average miler with a heart rate that hovers in the mid to high 150s, as opposed to last year, where such a pace would have put my heart well into the 170s...
As a result of how well the marathon training is going at this point, I’ve realigned my goal time to be 4:10 instead of 4:20 and actually believe I will achieve this.
Cancer killed my grandmother, Wild Bill’s wife, just before my 28th birthday. She never even got to see Band of Brothers. The Lance Armstrong Foundation unites people to fight cancer, believing that unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything. I have therefore chosen to enter the Livestrong Challenge 08 in Philadelphia, PA! I’ll be riding my new Cannondale bike for the 45 mile ride, which will mark the first time I tape on a number while riding a bike. I’m pretty pumped about it and it’s a great cause.
I’ve signed up by paying the entrance fee, but I’m also asking for donations to help fight cancer. Read on and help out the foundation! All donations go directly to the foundation.
Through the dollars and awareness that we raise, we can inspire and empower individuals, and we can make life better for the more than 10 million Americans affected by cancer.
$10 provides information packets to 16 cancer survivors to offer support, inspiration and hope.
$50 provides 35 people cancer survivorship information, worksheets to organize their fight against cancer and support, inspiration and hope from other cancer survivors.
$155 provides a cancer survivor one-on-one direct support through the LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare program.
$250 provides LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebooks to 27 cancer survivors.
Sorry I haven’t been around, folks! In fact, I was touched to hear that some of you were actually looking for my weekly dispatches only to find them missing from the website. Well, I can only say I’ve been a little busier than usual, but those are the signs of an industrious life! In addition to a heck of a lot of activity over at Pixeldust Films, I’m starting to enter into the core training for the Chicago Marathon. I’m pleased to mention that my good friend Frank will be with me in Chicago, and that means I get a training partner for the entire 18 weeks.
Just like last year, when I participated in the Philadelphia Marathon, I’m going to use Hal Higdon’s training plan to ready myself to run 26.2 in the Windy City. Last year, I tried to do Hal Higdon’s Intermediate Training Plan, but had a tough time adhering to the schedule all by myself. This year, not only have I picked up a training partner, but I’ve chosen a schedule that in fact is more attainable, and I believe I’ll be able to complete the weekly mileage much more happily, if training for a marathon could ever be such a thing.
The primary difference between the Novice and Intermediate programs is the amount of days you spend running. In the Novice plan, you run 4 days a week and cross train 1 while taking 2 off. In the Intermediate plan, you run 5 days a week, cross train 1 and take 1 off. In the end, it’s more realistic for me to do 5 solid days of activity than it is to do 6. I’m absolutely confident that I can hit my target of 4:20:00 by following the Novice schedule and actually hitting all the targets. Last year, I missed a lot of the weekly targets anyway, and in the end, wasn’t keeping to the schedule.
Oh, and 2 other things...
So in addition to having a training partner, this year I’m adding two other variables to my training: I’m going to lose 10 pounds before October 12, 2008, and I’ve purchased a road bike and will be using it for the cross training. Last year, “cross training” meant “take the day off and drink beer.” This year, I’m going to be out riding hard for 20 + miles at a strong cadence. I truly believe that the only way to up the ante from my 2007 racing season, where I PR’d in every major race I entered over 2006, I’m going to have to lose the weight. I’m thinking of a way to post a “weight meter” on my website so we can all keep track of my progress. More on that as I figure it out.
So there it is, folks. I’ll be posting more on my new swan dive into the world of Road Cycling under a separate series of posts. There’s just too much to talk about on that one, and I’m just too new at it to know what I want to say (I bought the bike 2 weeks ago).
I recently had the honor of shooting photography for the Upper Dublin Senior Olympics running event, which took place on May 14th at Upper Dublin High School. Watching the senior citizens run was inspiring, and a good opportunity for me to do some shooting of moving objects before I undertake a shoot at the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon this June.
Naturally, my Father-in-Law was a participant in this event, which was the primary reason I was there. This was the first event he’s run where he was actually competing solely against other seniors, and he medaled 4 out of 4 events in his age group, which is a huge achievement. Considering he didn’t run the Broad Street Run this year, this was a great way to make up for it.
I was able to shoot over 800 pictures at this event. I’ve taken the best of the best and made them available in both color and black and white versions.
This year’s Broad Street Run, 2008 introduced some new surprises, and I have to say that it was certainly different than any other Broad Street (or any other race, for that matter) I’ve experienced. Culminating with a first-time runner beating me by several minutes, a late start (I was late, the race started on time), and the Garmin watch not finding a satellite in such a way that I could track my splits, let’s just say things weren’t exactly as I’d hoped. Coming off a Broad Street PR in 2007, I had high hopes, all of which were dashed in just 1:33:47.
For starters, I picked up my friend Frank at 6:45 AM in Gladwyne, which forced us to go into the city on I-76. There was race traffic everywhere, and somehow, my plan to meet a bunch of friends on Franklin field at 7:30 AM was rapidly disintegrating. In desperate need of a porta potty, I coaxed a parking lot “guard” to let me into a closed parking lot to use one of the many vacant porta potties situated at the far corner of the empty lot (this would prove to be a lifesaver later in the morning)...After using the porta potty, I pulled into Lincoln Financial Field to park the car and walk to the subway for the overly-crowded, sardine-can-esque ride up Broad Street to the starting line.
Let’s Ride the Subway
Getting on the Subway for the Broad Street Run is a singularly unique experience. While the subway is free on this particular morning, there are also non-runners who need to get where they’re going as well. All told, the subway literally has as many people riding it as can fit. You are smashed up against others for the entire duration of the 20 minute trek, and I can’t possibly imagine that this approach isn’t in some violation of the maximum allowable capacity...This is one of those moments where you realize you’re probably cheating death, and you (or at least I) talk incessantly to take my mind of the fact that there’s no way we should all be on the subway at the same time…
8:30 Start, and we’re 2 stops away
For the first time in my short-and-uneventful racing career, it occurred to me at 8:25 AM that we were not going to be off the train for the 8:30 start. I seemed to be the only one concerned about this, but my theory is that anyone on that particular train was probably not really worried about starting on time (the college girls in front of me were asking me when they were going to get their racing chip. I explained that it came with their race packet. They giggled and started fishing around for it at 8:27 AM).
At about 8:35 AM, the subway slowed to a stop and the doors opened. I had no idea what to expect when I reached the surface, but I knew that I had already missed the following opportunities:
Meeting my friends on the field. This year I was meeting up with more people than ever before.
Hearing the Star Spangled Banner, which for me is a defining moment and a reminder of why I love to race
Getting a chance to focus my energy on what I needed to do for the next 10 miles
Lining up in the appropriate corral, which is a big factor in allowing me to keep my race pace
Allowing my Garmin 305 GPS to find a satellite so I could track my splits. The subway isn’t a great place to grab a satellite signal.
The race began Underground
As the doors opened, it was a little scary, as everyone on the train felt a certain urgency to get off (including me). I literally started running underground, up the steps, and along the corridor street that leads to the start line. People were kind of shuffling along, but there was somehow a bunch of people standing on the sidelines, clearly unconcerned with the fact that the race was already underway...My heart rate was up to 145 before I even reached the racing area, and I was in such disarray that I had no idea where I was in relation to those in front of me.
Frank’s last words...
My friend Frank followed me to “the surface” and stated that he had to make a “quick stop, don’t lose me.” I said ok, turned around, and he was gone. I looked 360 degrees, looked into the street, looked around once again, and just ran out into the street to begin my haphazard event. I was sorry not to run with Frank, but, as it turned out, he wouldn’t be behind me for very long, a theme that seemed to play out for me over the next 10 miles with a number of other runners as well.
On the road with the Broad Street Gang
At mile 4, Frank caught up to me and tapped me on the shoulder. I was happy to rejoin my friend, and was glad that we were still on pace. As we rounded City Hall, I could see that Frank wasn’t satisfied with the pace I was keeping, and I told him we were about a minute behind schedule. I felt, however, that I was where I wanted to be (a decision I would regret at the end). I told Frank to put the hammer down and I’d see him at the finish. He did, and I wouldn’t see him again until I logged at least another 4 miles or so of pavement.
In the end, I came in about 4 minutes slower than last year. My FIL, who came down to support us, spoke to another friend of mine who he happened upon while leaving Philadelphia. He mentioned my time to the friend...This particular friend, who is always brutally honest, looked at my FIL and said, “...that’s a HORRIBLE time for him” in reference to my performance.
I believe he was right, and I plan on redeeming myself at another 10 miler as soon as I can find a local one. I’m going to get my Star Spangled Banner back, dammit, and my PR is going down in 2008.
The Valley Forge Revolutionary 5 Mile Run is a great trek through Valley Forge Park. With hills fore and aft, it’s not exactly my favorite course (that honor is reserved for The Broad Street Run, coming up in 2 weeks). Anyway, given the hills, I still ran a race I was happy with.
I clocked a 44:42 on the chip, and a 43:55 on my Garmin GPS. I’m never quite sure how there’s always such disparity between the two, but it seems my Garmin always makes me faster than the chip! Putting me under a 9 minute mile for 5 miles was a great tune-up for Broad Street, and my Broad Street time from last year was 1:29:37. Interestingly, my pace for both Valley Forge 2008 and and Broad Street 2007 according to the clock time was 9:07 pace per mile. With the hills removed, I’m confident that I might actually beat my Broad Street PR.
The Valley Forge race was also special because I ran it with my good friend Frank. This was his first race, and he actually beat me by a minute! I saw him pulling away a little at mile 3 and was pumped to see him doing so well his first time out. On the heels of that, we’ll both stride down Broad Street in 2 weeks with a few other folks that I’ve been running with for years. Should be an exciting time for all!
Stay tuned for my results from Broad Street in a couple of weeks!
Well, like I mentioned in my past post about running, I’m planning on running a marathon each year until I’m dead. That’s quite an ambitious tradition, and of course, many things can happen that can destroy this idea at any given moment. However, I think what I really mean is that I aspire to commit to a healthy lifestyle in such a way that a marathon each year is possible. Chicago looks like a great run: it’s flat, fast and a city that celebrates food. For all these reasons, it marks the destination of my second-ever marathon.
After having seen Spirit of the Marathon with my father-in-law, I decided the Chicago Marathon was next on my list after having gotten my butt kicked at the Philadelphia Marathon in November, 2007. I knew it was important not to press my wife too much in allowing me to go to Chicago while we were still waiting for our daughter to arrive, but now that she’s here, today was the day to do the pressing! My secret weapon was to take my wife out for a full sushi lunch, a food she’s been craving the entire 9 months of her pregnancy, and we ordered piles of the fleshy delicacy today. While the food was coming out, I said, “...So, hey, ya know I really want to run the Chicago Marathon if that’s ok with you...” As she was pouring the soy sauce in her little dish, she said, “Ok, that sounds great...go ahead.” I didn’t hesitate.
Immediately after returning home to the house, I hit the Chicago Marathon website and dutifully signed up for another 26.2 in the Windy city. I’m planning on taking Kathi as well for moral support, and of course my FIL loves an adventure, so I’m guessing he’ll be along for the ride.
Last week I went to see the movie “Spirit of the Marathon” in King of Prussia, PA. I felt many things while watching it, both as a runner and as an aspiring filmmaker (which is different than straight-up event coverage, although I believe a good sense of composition is critical to both mediums). One of the things I believed is that I could have made this movie. Of course, I didn’t, so I tip my hat to the producers and athletes, all of whom are “real people,” and all runners. Not an actor anywhere in sight. This year, I plan on producing an original film, probably also on running, and I’ll announce more of the details on that as they shape up. The story is largely already in my head, and is a documentary-style film as well. It’s time to watch less and create more.
The second thing I realized while watching is that I believe I can run a way better marathon than I did in Philadephia on November 18th, 2007. For those who follow my blog, you’ll already know that I got my butt kicked through a series of miscalculations, inexperience with the distance, and horrible weather. Nonetheless, I felt a kinship while watching this movie with “regular runners,” who are featured as 3 of the 5 subjects they chose to spotlight. And in spite of the fact that I’m not one of them, you can still feel a kinship with the Elite athletes and that’s one of the beauties of running. Deena Kastor and Daniel Njenga are both astonishing athletes and human beings, and it was great to see them both featured in the film.
The third thing I learned is that Chicago looks like a great city to run in. The movie is basically the story of 5 runners, all of differing abilities training to run 26.2 miles at the Chicago Marathon, 2005. The movie does a great job of showing off the windy city, and as marathons go, Chicago is one of the flattest, fastest 26.2 mile courses in the world.
I decided as a result of all this momentum that I’ll be signing up for the Chicago Marathon this year, which takes place on 12. October, 2008. I have also decided on the following:
To run 1 marathon per year until I’m dead.
To run at least 1 race per year that takes place somewhere I’ve never been before.
The Chicago Marathon meets both requirements for 2008!
I’m pleased to announce that I have, for the third year in a row, signed up for the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia. I believe it’s my favorite run: 10 miles, totally flat, and great weather year after year. There are usually around 15,000 people involved, but the bottlenecks at the start break up pretty quickly and you can fall into your groove about a mile in.
I posted a blog entry on my results from last year’s race. I really ran the best race of my short career last year on Broad Street. I’m actually wondering if I’ll be able to do anything close to that this year. I think the conditions were superlative: the wind was at the runner’s back, the weather was perfect...just so many things went right on that day. I should know, as I am no stranger to what can happen when things don’t go right. If you also take into consideration that I was running Broad Street , 2007 one week after setting a new personal record in Nashville Country Music Half Marathon, it was even more of an anomalous performance.
I feel, however, that I’m the best shape of my life, and as the weather breaks, I’ll be starting to work on my Tempo runs in preparation to break my 2007 record. If I break it by 10 seconds, I’m happy.
I did a quick (well, not so quick, but that was the point) 4 miles today over at Betzwood with my father-in-law. Things felt good, nothing seemed tight, and best of all, it felt very liberating to be back to running for no reason. My FIL, on the other hand, seems to think has has developed a hernia, which became symptomatic after a recent Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning. We'll see what his doctor says.
In the meantime, I'm planing on Brian's Run in West Chester on 2. December, 2007. For those that have never done it, come on out! From a course standpoint, it's the hardest 5K in the world, with hills that just keep going. The upside, however, is the final 400 meters is through the West Chester University south campus stadium and some really hot soup and other good food awaits the hungry runners. Oh, yeah, it also starts at 11:30, which is just my kind of start. 25 bucks gets ya a ticket to line up.
Per my earlier post on the subject, I really got toasted at the Philadelphia Marathon. I admitted mental defeat and started focusing on the physical aspects, which are difficult to overcome once you've mentally "moved on." But this year was my year. I PR'd in every race I entered: The Nashville Country Music Half Marathon (2:09), only to be beaten by my performance at the Philadelphia Distance Run (2:03). Then there was Broad Street, down to 1:29 from 1:43 last year. Deena Kastor wrote me an email. I ran the Disney Half Marathon to help my father-in-law through the last 6 miles in January. As of this writing, I have logged 745 total miles for the year. I've gotten faster, I can actually race the half marathon, and I had the stamina/stupidity to go through with a full marathon in November. Yes, it was a good year. If I only had hit my target of 4:30 in the Marathon it would have been perfect.
But, nothing's perfect. My good friend at work, who is also a seasoned runner, told me to look at this first marathon experience as a "reconnaissance" mission, which is a great way to look at the experience. The things I learned about the course, about what needs to happen between miles 13-20, about having my family planted in the wrong place, as well as the importance of training with a group...it's all in my noodle, now. And I plan on applying it once again next year, when I enter the Philadelphia Marathon, 2008 and hit a 4:30 or better.
I got my butt kicked at my first-ever full marathon. Let's see, where do I start...Many things happened that got me a little unraveled mentally, so perhaps I should start there...None of this, by the way, is an apologia for my performance. I believe, per my earlier post on this, that I under trained.
My Garmin 305 GPS watch gave me a "low battery" warning as soon as I turned it on at the starting line. It died by mile 9 and I had no idea what my splits were after that. I was way under par by the half marathon checkpoint.
My Clif Bar pace team gal was all over the map at the beginning of the race. I was striving to hang at 10:18 per mile, and she was doing 10:40s then 9:30s just to try to find her groove. I fell off the pace team by mile 4. It was just too sporadic and had me running too fast.
Those that were there will attest to the blustery conditions, light rain, and chilly wind. It made it tougher than I had anticipated.
My longest training run was 17 miles. I think I was prepared to "mentally" surrender at mile 20, and that's essentially what I did.
I'd like to thank my wife and father-in-law, as well as my neighbors for hanging out in the rain in Manayunk awaiting my delayed arrival. Had they not been there, I'm not sure how things would have gone. I basically walked the last 6, pushing here and there to a light jog. The 5:30 pace team started to catch up to me on the way back, and I thought, "Jeez, I can't let these guys beat me," so I started to pace with them as far as I could. They were doing a combo of walking and running, and that was exactly what I needed at that moment.
My father in law ran/walked with me the entire last 6 miles. His participation as a "bandit" was probably the sole reason I made it to the end. My biggest thanks is to him.
I just ran the Philly Distance Run in 2:03. I think any runner will agree that a 5:33 is not an acceptable time given my accomplishments in the half marathon. There's no way I'm settling for my time. I couldn't walk last night, but I can walk today.
As soon as the registration opens up for the Philadelphia Marathon, 2008, I'll register again. Look for a 4:30 or below next year.
My son took some movies of my approach to mile 20 in Manayunk. He's 5, by the way, so the camera shake comes with the territory. Enjoy, and thanks to everyone for all their support. Keep your eyes peeled for my best running year ever. 2008 is my year.
I’ve decided that training for a marathon is easily more mental than physical, at least for me. My will to run long distance fades mentally long before it does physically. Here are the three things I think I did wrong during my training:
I trained almost completely alone, and ran all my longest distances totally alone
I did the Hal Higdon intermediate marathon training program, and fell short of the target miles every week except the first. I simply chose a program I couldn't fully commit to. I should have done the beginner's program, in spite of the fact I've run over a half dozen half marys.
I never got to the 20 mile run. The furthest I have gone has been 17 miles. I felt great at the end, but I think I may have "rounded off" and thought, "well if I can do 17, I can do 20. If I can do 20, I can do 26." That same approach got me in trouble in my first-ever half marathon. Of course, I'm in way better shape than I was then.
I have run at a way faster pace than my marathon target pace. I'm not sure if that's gonna hurt or help, but I'm used to running sub 10's all the time, when my target is a 10:18 pace.
So, having said all this, I'm actually changing my entire race strategy. The way I figure it, I'm gonna be toast by mile 20 no matter what. Given that, I'm actually shooting for getting to mile 18 in less than 3 hours. Basically, I'm going to go as far and as briskly as I can, figuring that I'd rather be toast at mile 20 in 3 hours, 18 minutes rather than be toast at mile 20 in 3 hours, 40 minutes. I'm planning to go as far as "fresh" legs can take me. In actuality, even if I did my 20 milers (2 of them in the Higdon program), I'd still have no idea what to expect after Manayunk.
I have some family coming down, a number of friends, and 2 buddies who I believe are planning to ride their bikes ahead, giving me fuel all along the course. I hope that works out, because I'm gonna need it.
New Mizunos came this Friday and have a total of 6 miles on them. This has been the best running year yet, and I've destroyed every PR by several minutes, Broad Street by 14 minutes. Deena Kastor wrote me this year, I've logged over 700 miles, and I'm on the verge of doing something I could've sworn I'd never do. I guess I've already succeeded in some respects.
Notwithstanding anything unusual happening, look for the update on 19. November, 2007.
But I’m back...after a long business trip followed by the changing Philadelphia weather harnessed to one heckuva cold, I went out today for a brisk 3 miles, keeping the heart pumping the whole way. I missed out on my final 20 mile run yesterday, so I had to remind myself that I’m a runner today.
Looks like I’m gonna have to do something drastic and run something close to a 20 miler this weekend. It wasn’t exactly the way I would have had it, but then again, neither are most things in life…
I might have to pony up for a new pair of Mizunos (Mizuni?) before the big day. I beat sneakers to a pulp. High arch, high instep, wide feet...do the math. Shooting for over 30 miles this week and then the mighty taper. Let’s all ask for runner’s weather from here on out.
Well, I can’t say I’m ready for this Marathon. I also can’t really say I’ve enjoyed the training very much. Can I run 26.2 miles? I’m really not sure! Have I prepared myself fully to run 26.2 miles? I’m not sure. I’ve had the best running year of my life, knocking over PR’s at every race I’ve entered, in some cases by over 14 minutes. The simple fact is I don’t wanna run for 4 1/2 hours straight. It occurred to me that it doesn’t really matter if I can. I run because I enjoy it, but this may be more than I bargained for. More on that when it’s all over...I WILL TOUGH IT OUT.
I haven’t written here for awhile, as I can’t seem to buy into this whole “write about yourself” thing (I’d rather just talk about myself I’m at a Learning Conference in Orlando and everyone in sight has a blog, a wiki, a podcast, a MySpace or Facebook account, an Iphone, or something they’ve just placed on You Tube. This town went from being the happiest place on earth to the most web-connected place on earth. Having said that, I figured I’d drink the kool aid as well.
I’ll be back with more in a bit. In the meantime, I think I’ll reskin my blog.
This year’s 
Well, like I mentioned in my 
Last week I went to see the movie 
The second thing I realized while watching is that I believe I can run a way better marathon than I did in 
I’m pleased to announce that I have, for the third year in a row, signed up for the 
I'd like to thank my wife and father-in-law, as well as my neighbors for hanging out in the rain in Manayunk awaiting my delayed arrival. Had they not been there, I'm not sure how things would have gone. I basically walked the last 6, pushing here and there to a light jog. The 5:30 pace team started to catch up to me on the way back, and I thought, "Jeez, I can't let these guys beat me," so I started to pace with them as far as I could. They were doing a combo of walking and running, and that was exactly what I needed at that moment.
I’m at a 
