The Next Step

Hello Everyone -

I'm sure you all have wondered what happened to me. After the Philly race, Mark and I went on vacation in Vancouver, Canada. We had an wonderful time, and Vancouver is a beautiful city. The rest away from work and life was just what we needed. No running during vacation. I thought about it, but with all the walking we did, I thought that was enough.

Of course this means now I have to start running again, and take the next step in my running. I have received the application to run for the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress for the 2011 Boston Marathon. I will be filling that out and sending it in this week.

This is so important to me. I have talked about what running Boston means to me. I have also talked about the importance of running with a purpose. Steve Runner and I are big advocates that our running can serve our communities and society.

My ties to the Down Syndrome community are pretty clear, my youngest niece is a sweet loveable child with Down Syndrome. I will talk more about her in the future, but I strongly believe that we need to what we can to make people with Down Syndrome have good, productive and happy lives. Groups like MDSC not only support Down Syndrome people and their loved ones, but they advocate on their behalf in government and society.

If my application is accepted I will be training like never before and fund raising like mad - be ready. :-)

Charlie

Race #25 - Rock n Roll Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon

I think any long distance race is a lesson in seeing what the body can endure. Yesterday's 1/2 marathon was one of those lessons. As I have made pretty clear, I had not trained as I would like for this one, and I am not in the best running shape, so my earlier plan of a PR were wiped out before the race started. Still I wanted a good showing.

The morning was sunny and warm. I would say it was in the 60s when the race began. The course starts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and heads into the heart of the city. From there you swing back to the museum, and then along Schuylkill River, then you loop back to the museum. This is my first visit to the City of Brotherly Love, and am enjoying it. The downtown portion of the race is ok, you do some of the historic areas, but not enough in my opinion. Once you are on the route long the river, this course becomes one of the most beautiful I have run on.

I started about 30 minutes after the initial gun went off, and trotted through the city. By the time I started, the temps were getting warmer. What I noticed right away is that a lot of people were not carrying water or sports drink with them. I had a bottle of water with me at the start. I was not comfortable running at the start. I felt it was really warm, and I was sweating at the beginning. This reminded me of 2007 Chicago. At mile 4 I felt like crap. I actually wanted to give up, but a quick phone call to Mark encouraged me. I met Mark at mile 5, he had my next bottle of water ready. From there, I headed along the river.

Miles 5-10 were challenging. At this point the weather was sunny and in the 80s. I made sure I ran in shade when I could. My body though was tired. At mile 6 I began power walking with occasional run breaks. I figured this would be what would get me through the race. I wish some of my fellow runners could have been a bit smarter. It was starting at mile 6 I saw ambulances along the course. People were passing out from lack of hydration and pushing themselves to hard in the sun and heat.

Mark was worried about me, because word at the finish area was that people were dropping like flies. I was not going to be one of those people. I had plenty of water and Gu, but there was no sports drink out on the course at this point. I figure all the previous runners had gotten it ahead of me. I didn't see sports drink until mile 10. I took 4 cups. I lost a lot of electrolytes out there.

At mile 9 my hamstrings were killing me, and I knew this was going to be tough to finish. I told myself a PR was not going to happen, and a sub 3 hour was not going to happen - just go with it.

I cranked up the iPod, and listened to the theme from Rocky and pushed ahead.

By the way - attention race organizers, I think it is great you have teens staffing the water stations. Could you make sure they are mature enough to handle it? I got tired of seeing guys have water fights at the stations. Throwing cups of water at each other is not cool.

At mile 10.5 I saw someone who looked like they were in serious trouble. An ambulance had them on a stretcher, and stationary. That looked serious and scared me a bit. At mile 11 I finished my water bottle, and from then on took whatever was offered. The sun was beating down and it was hot.

At mile 12 I knew I could do it, and pushed ahead, I even ran a bit. Mile 13? There's an incline!!! A corner with an incline to be specific. Good lord! I got up it, and headed to the finish where Mark was waiting for me. 3:21:34 - a slow day. With medal around my neck, Mark guided me to the ice foot bath. DANG that was cold.

So while I was out on the course, my thoughts turned to Boston. I have a ton of work to do with my body and my running to do that race (if it happens). Once vacation is over - look out. I will get down to business.

Charlie

After Philly

So what is after Philadelphia? I have been asked by some folks what I want to race next. I want to do some 5Ks and a 10K if I can find one. Of course my main goal, which may become my obsession is the Boston Marathon. I think I am close to getting an entry to help a charity. If it happens, I will let you all know about it.

I think for most of us who run marathons, Boston is the Holy Grail. Yes, I know it is hilly. Yes I know it will be the most physically demanding race I have done. Yes....I want to run this race more than any other.

For most people Boston is the marathon they hear about. It's the one they know. The prestige of the race is also a feather in any marathoners cap. Now for those out there who object to charity runners at Boston, I hear your arguments. I will be giving my all for this race. My training will be hard and long. I will do my best to make this a terrific showing for me. I will do myself proud if I get in.

Cross fingers.

Charlie

Looking Ahead

This week I get ready for the Rock n Roll Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon. To say I am getting ready is an overstatement. I am not in great form for the race, but I am looking forward to seeing the City of Brotherly Love. I have looked over the course map, and it takes runners through the more historic parts of the city, and along the river. I imagine it will be a great and fun race.

Not sure where I will meet up with Mark along the route. Since we don't know the city and we won't have a car, I will try to get him to meet me at areas close to the start/finish area.

This race, if my stats are correct, will be my 25th race since I started running. While I wish I were in better shape, that will come, and I will PR at some point. My goal for this one - finishing in under 3 hours. I think I can do it.

From Philadelphia we go on vacation on Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Really looking forward to the time away, and of course seeing what it is like to run in Vancouver. Quite a week ahead. Race day is a week from today.

Charlie

Sometimes We Just Need Someone to Encourage

Yesterday I had the pleasure of helping a woman training for her first marathon. She was very nervous - very nervous. She has never attempted a marathon, and she was getting her shoes for the race. She needed more than the shoes though. During our conversation she told me she was afraid. I asked her what she was afraid of? "I'm afraid I won't be able to do it."

I told her about my first marathon. I told her how hard I had trained and difficult it was for me to try to do it with blisters on my heels those last 10 miles. I talked about the struggle I had, and how hard it was mentally for me to do it, but I did.

She listened attentively to what I said, and then she asked me what would happen if she couldn't do it? I told her the point is that you have to make the race manageable. Training is harder. What you do is break up the race into pieces that you can manage. It's a battle with your mind.

She told me that as a senior, she finds this all a challenge. I told her it is a challenge, but if she can do the training, she can do the race. She began to get what I was saying and at the end of our talk, she told me she was meant to come to the store to get her shoes and talk to me. She asked if she could come back and talk to me some more before her marathon. I told her I would be happy to talk to her any time.

Sometimes we just need someone to encourage us.

Charlie

Keeping it Simple

In line with my last post, today's run was simple - run for 35 minutes. I actually ran for 35:09. I wanted to finish my lap at the track. I did, and I ran 3 miles in that time frame.

So what went better today, other than not having a dog with me? My mental state was busy. I told myself over and over again to just take it easy, relax. It was the first run in a long time, where I was able to just be loose as I ran. It felt good.

Sometimes I notice I clench my fists. I opened my hands a bit, and worked at lowering my shoulders. My breathing after the first few laps was pretty easy.

All in all a good first step...er run.

Charlie

Getting to Basics

Yesterday I had a bad run. Well, at least I thought it was a bad one. I had it in my head to take Friday on a run. We have done this before, and it went well. This one - not so much. She was not wanting to run, so she was dragging a bit. Before PETA calls me...she was not being dragged. She just was trotting and being behind me, wanting to sniff at everything.

During the run though, I had a lot of negative thoughts about my running. As a result I was very down on myself. Through the run of self pity, I came to a realization. I need to get to some basics with my running. I feel I need a mulligan, or do-over.

I think about the longer distances, but I am not thinking about just running. So I am going to put my head in a more basic frame of mind. Today I am going to go to the gym with the purposes of running for a certain amount of time. This is the training that one of my bosses espouses, and it is time to put it to work.

What did I like about my run yesterday? I liked the fact it was a rolling route I took. I ran along a major road near our new home. Very rolling, and I liked the challenge of it.

So if I can just think basics....I think I can begin to turn some things around in my running.

Charlie

Aches/Pain/Move

The last few days have been physically demanding. Over the weekend we moved into a new place - yes I know this is the third time in a year we have moved. I promise it is the last time for a long while. We did not do the packing, but I have been doing a lot of unpacking and moving things around.

In addition to the move, my store had it's annual sale, so there was lots and lots of stair climbing, lifting, moving, constant motion. Lots of aches and pains. My shoulders are killing me, but so are my toes. My toes?

I have been wearing new shoes, and it looks like they made the shoe longer than previous versions. My toes have been gripping hard, because my feet must have felt like they were slipping forward. The pain was horrible. Each night I felt like my toes were broken.

One of my co-workers found me a pair that fit better, and I noticed it immediately. I am still a bit sore, so no running for a couple a days, but my toes are on their way to recovery.

Charlie

Mixing it Up

Last night at the gym I ran on the treadmill and on the track. On the treadmill I alternated between a .5 and a 1.0 incline. I want to slowly integrate some "hills" into my running, and want to get a base for it using the treadmill. I slow my running when I do this, or I walk. When the time comes, I want to be strong enough that hills won't be a major slow down for me. I want to be able to have minimal effort in attacking them.

My track work was more of a shake out from the treadmill. I was pretty intense on the treadmill. There was a guy on the track who had that gazelle like style that I will never have. I typically am not envious of runners, but I love seeing a good running form, and I know with my body type and the issues I have, I will never have that stride.

A guy can dream though.

Charlie