My Running Blog.

Less than a year ago, I got inspired. In July of 2013, I was 43 years old and I “got off the couch” and just started running. I have not stopped since. At my office, I had been working with younger guys in their 20’s and they were talking about doing this “ Tough Mudder ” race. The guys were all talking about it and they were inviting all the younger guys to join them but they never extended me an invitation nor discussed it around me. I was a bit taken back because I was always very athletic in my youth. In High School I was Varsity in Football, Wrestling and Lacrosse. I Surfed, Skydived, Bungee Jumped, etc…

But the years go by quickly and I have really not done any athletics since my early 30’s. And now I’m in my mid-40’s and I had let myself go. I stand at an even six foot tall and at my heaviest, I weighed 215 pounds. I know that I’m not terribly heavy but I was a mess. I had let nature and gravity take its course on my very sedentary body. Beer, video games and sitting on the couch every night had taken its toll on a once very strong and once ripped body.

Something in my head just clicked and I decided to go for a run. I was training for the “ Tough Mudder ” but I didn’t know it yet.

My first run was pitiful. I plotted out a mile or so on google maps around the block from my house and strapped on my gym shoes and went for it. I didn’t make it ¼ mile before I had to break pace. In fact, I had to stop and walk at least 4-5 times during that first mile run. It probably wasn’t even a mile run, it was just around the block, but it could have been a marathon to me because I was so out-of-shape. My short term goal was to try to make it all the way around without having to break my pace and walk. It took probably 2 weeks of effort of running every other day before I finally achieved my goal. I was very excited about it, but I still didn’t quite feel like a ‘runner’ yet.

My shoes were giving my feet blisters. My crotch was on fire from the constant rubbing of the un-toned fat. I started to wear my rash-guard shorts that I bought a few years ago for surfing, under my shorts instead of underwear. This helped out a lot and I no longer got rashes. I went out to the running store and bought an official pair of Brooks running shoes – for running only, not for kicking around town or going to the store. I was getting serious and now I was running for over a month. Still not a ‘runner’ though.

I started plotting the maps on google maps, saving them as a jpg image and now I had a collection of like 3 routes that I would run. I would time myself with the clock on the cable box (my old friend) as to how fast I could do them. I even started putting my time and photos of my runs on Facebook. One day a friend of mine suggested that I check out a website called “ MapMyRun.com ”. I was in heaven. Suddenly I had a wealth of information at my fingertips as to plotting out new routes and knowing the distances and keeping a running journal. I quickly abandoned my google maps approach and fully embraced mapmyrun.com

Now that I had been running for a month or so, I noticed that my right knee would swell up to the size of a softball after a longer run (2-3 miles). I had to ice it and elevate it for hours after a run. I posted it on FB and the same friend who introduced me to mapmyrun.com told me that I could have a case of “ Runner’s Knee ”. Oh great now what. So I went to the same knee doctor that had previously operated on my wife’s knee. He x-rayed it and quickly prescribed me something called Meloxicam which is a NSAID – Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug . He told me that 90% of his runner patients take it and it works great with very little side effects. I started taking the Meloxicam and my knee swelling and any joint pain I was experiencing went right away. I still take it daily although I have been searching for alternates. When I stopped taking it, I started with the pain and swelling again so I will continue.

I also was told that I should stretch more before and after runs, so I followed that advice as well and it has helped me out greatly. At first I could barely touch my fingers to the floor when I would bend over to stretch the hamstrings. Now I can practically put my palms down on the floor when I stretch. I have become much more limber as a result of all the stretching. My wife got me this stretch out strap which is great and I use it all the time.

Another friend told me that when you have sore muscles after running to try drinking Tonic water . Here’s the history that I learned about it. There is a drug called quinine that doctors used to prescribe all the time back in the 1700’s and 1800’s to soldiers whose legs hurt from all the marching in war. It was eventually labeled as a cure-all and was prescribed for many different ailments. In the 1900’s more modern medicine found that quinine was causing people to have heart attacks and other serious problems and was killing people so they stopped prescribing it. However, it did work to relieve tired and “dead” legs. The only way one can legally acquire quinine today is in Tonic water. It is what makes the tonic water have that bitter taste. Just drinking a little bit can help out with leg cramps. It affects different people differently but it’s worth a try if you have tired or dead legs or even cramps. It may work, or it may not, or it may kill you, who knows. It might be worth a try.

Going back to my initial running motivation, I found this game that you can put on your smart phone called Zombie Run . It is an interactive game that played in the background of your music tracks that simulates a world where zombies run free and run after you. As Runner #5, your job is to run all around a post-apocolyptic world collecting things like first-aid kits, clean underwear, and weapons and then return to the encampment. It is a pretty cool story and really puts you into the action. Well when I found out about this game I wanted to try it and this was one of the other reasons that I started to run. Later, I abandoned my headphones entirely when I run and so no more zombies as well. But if you want some motivation during your runs, check it out.

So I started my training for the “ Tough Mudder ” in July and the race was scheduled for October. Another friend of mine started to follow my progress and recommended that I try running a “ Spartan Race ” in September along with him and a few of his buddies. The race is only 4 miles compared with the 12 miles of Tough Mudder. So I figured I’d try this “easy” race in preparation for the Tough Mudder. I was thinking that this was more ‘training’ than anything else. It’s a good thing I wasn’t concerned about my time or anything – I was only training.

I could not have been more wrong about the Spartan Race. I thought it was going to be easy. It was probably one of the hardest things I had ever done physically in my life and I had only done the easiest version of the race! The 4 mile is called the Spartan Sprint . There’s also an 8 miler called the Spartan Super and a 12 miler called The Beast . Subsequently I found out that they also have an Ultra Beast which is 26 miles and they have these Death Races a few times a year (the website is www.youmaydie.com – I’m not kidding).

It was the night before the race and my friend Jacob and I shared a hotel room. He told me about these GU energy gels and he said that I would need them. He said about 45 minutes into the run I would start to run out of energy and I would need to eat these. He gave me 3 chocolate GU Energy packs. I used them on the course and boy was I thanking Jacob after that. I use them all the time now in my runs, like it says on the pack – 15 minutes before a run and then every 45 minutes. They work. Even though they are not organic and they are made in a factory, scientists came up with the right amount of carbs/protein, etc… that you need in a race and filtered it down to what’s in these GU Energy packs. I also drink about a liter of water with each one – if possible. Some runners get diarrhea and other not-so-fun stomach ailments from these, so use at your own risk and don’t use for the first time during a race.

When I was at the Spartan Race world championships in Mt. Killington VT with my friends, one of the guys ran The Beast (12 miles), while the rest of us ran the Sprint (4 miles). The guy that did the Beast was also planning on doing the Tough Mudder in October, so I was psyched that I had a potential team mate. This guy was ripped and in incredible shape. I was nowhere near his level of physical shape. When he finished the Beast he said that it just about killed him and it took him 8 hours to finish. He barely finished and this is a guy that I looked up to as I would eventually get to achieve his level of fitness (after 5 years of working out). After the Sprint just about killed me, I decided to postpone doing the Tough Mudder until the next year or two. I had a new found respect for this type of event and realized that I should not take these things too lightly. I ran the Spartan sprint at Mt. Killington in 2 hours 20 minutes and 8.3 seconds. He ended up doing the Tough Mudder in October and he said it was easier than the Beast, but it was more distance running and not as much mountain running.

When I got back home from Vermont, I had to seriously weigh not going to the Tough Mudder. One of the best ways to stay on target with a goal is to tell many close people about your objectives so that you have that feeling of dread should you not do it. Many programs that help people quit smoking use this strategy. Well, I had to sheepishly tell everyone I know that I was no longer doing the Tough Mudder that year and I would put it off until I was in better shape. Accepting this was difficult but I think it was a great decision because it helped me re-focus on training, training and more training.

I was running 4-5 days a week. I was not losing any weight. I was still 210 lbs. My legs were starting to look like the incredible hulk’s legs. I started having muscles pop out on top of muscles – muscles that I didn’t even know existed! I came to realize that if I was to run more efficiently I would have to lose weight and this meant focusing on my diet as well as the exercise. I finally had to accept that I had to really watch what I was eating and that food is only fuel to help me exercise more efficiently and nothing more. My ideal target weight is 178 lbs according to the doctor’s chart. I have not weighed 178 since my college days. But I had a new goal to achieve along with my running goals.

After the Spartan Sprint, I signed up for a lighter local race called “The Rugged Run for Respect” which benefited the Special Olympics. After the Spartan race I figured this would be easy. Once again I was wrong. I was a slow runner. My pace was between 11-12 minute miles during training and at the race this was also my pace. I truly believe that it was because I was carrying this extra weight and I simply wasn’t putting in enough long distance runs during my training. I finished the 4 mile run in a pretty respectable time. I ran it in 35:53 and came in 57 place out of 174 participants. Again, I realized that I’m not superman and I need to keep pushing myself harder to get the kind of results I want.

It started to get cold through October and November but I continued running on a regular basis. I bought long thermal pants and shirts. I ran with a hat and gloves. I even covered my face while I ran. I jumped over snow mounds and got my feet wet and cold. I didn’t care, I was on a mission and I was committed. I started thinking about road races and thought that it might be interesting to run a ½ marathon. I didn’t sign up for any in my town and I didn’t really know of any so I just decided to plot out 13.1 miles on mapmyrun.com and see if I could run that distance. I was going to do a solo ½ marathon!

I finally started to feel like a real runner. Not a Tough mudder, not a Spartan, but a real marathon runner (in training). I started following Hal’s training program and I signed up for a 10k that corresponded with his 8 week training program. I also signed up for my first official ½ marathon in May 2014. So on December 1, 2013 I ventured out alone and cold with no support from water stations or anything and I did just that. I ran 13.1 miles and I did it in 2:23:13 with an average pace of 11:01! This was with very limited knowledge of running and no real experience besides what I described above. I felt that if I had a coach or trainer I could do much better and even compete in a local ½ marathon. Right after this, I got an email from Runner’s World magazine and they offered me this book about training for a Marathon appropriately titled, “Marathon” by Hal Higdon . Of course I signed up for the magazine and the book. When I received it, I consumed it and carefully hung on Hal’s ever word.Not a Tough mudder, not a Spartan, but a real marathon runner (in training). I started following Hal’s training program and I signed up for a 10k that corresponded with his 8 week training program. I also signed up for my first official ½ marathon in May 2014.

I learned some things from running that 13.1 miles. In the first place, I had pretty bad chafing in my crotch. Even though I continued to wear the rash guard shorts, I was in pretty bad pain and I knew that I was going to have to do something else. At the running store they had something called “ Body Glide ” which I now use on my longer runs. It is a big help and I recommend it on your crotch and even on your nipples and maybe even under the arms – any place that chafe’s during a long run.

I also realized that if I was going to continue doing long runs on my own I was going to need to stay hydrated. Along with the other items, wifey bought me a camelback hydration pack and now I could carry things with me on my runs. I started using an app from mapmyrun.com that runs on my galaxy 3 smart phone and uses gps to track my runs. This lead me to research more things…

When I was on a particularly long run one day, a fellow runner caught up to me and told me that he was doing a triathlon called the “ Beach to the Battleship ” in North Carolina. Wow, what could be more hardcore than that! He was wearing a Garmin Forerunner 310xt and he said that I should get one if I ever want to do a triathlon. He said that it tracks his miles, his pace and lots more metrics. Once I started recording my running metrics with the phone and GPS, I worried that I may break my phone during a run. I also worried that I would have to take the camelback everytime so I could have something to put my phone in. The next thing that would help me with my running would be one of these Garmin watches. I found one used on ebay for $100 and so far I really enjoy running with it. It takes all the thought work out of the capturing of data.

I don’t want to mention it, but I will for prosperity sake. In January 2014, I found out about a race that was taking place in my town and it went right along the same path that I trained on every day. It was sponsored by the local brewery called “ The Blue Point Brewing Company ”. It is a 10 mile race. I tried to figure out how to sign up for it but the registration was closed. When I spoke with the race coordinator he told me that he could not stop me from running in the street, even if a race is going on. So I decided to just “Bandit” the race – run it without being an official participant. The brewing company race is a 10 miler and I kept a 10 minute/mile pace just about the entire time. I finished in 1:44:06 on January 28, 2014. Being a bandit and all, I decided not to partake in the beer after the race.

nd half. You speed up towards the end. I did just the opposite. But nonetheless I achieved my goal and finished in under an hour. I will try to beat my time in the next 10k I will be doing in July. I did the 10k that I signed up for on March 22, 2014. It was called the “ Spring Fling ” a part of the NYC runs club races. My goal was to beat 1 hour and I finished in 57:53 with an average pace of 9:20. This was my first real official road race and it gave me a good feel for what it’s like. I definitely ran a bit faster than I should have out of the gate. I kept a pretty good pace though the race, better than I thought. Hal says that the best racers have a negative-split time, which means that the first half you should run slower than the 2half. You speed up towards the end. I did just the opposite. But nonetheless I achieved my goal and finished in under an hour. I will try to beat my time in the next 10k I will be doing in July.

th in Atlanta called the After I did this race, my sister told me about another 10k on July 4in Atlanta called the Peachtree 10k , which is supposed to be the largest 10k in the country. I signed up for that race also because I will be celebrating the fourth of july with my parents and sister down in Atlanta this year.

I continued on the Hal Higdon, Intermediate ½ marathon training program . I continued using the things that helped me so far and purchased a new pair of running shoes. I was very choosy this time and ended up with a pair of Nike’s. With all the training, I started running into other problems. My right foot started hurting on the outside near the bone so I went to a podiatrist. We did an xray and an MRI and he said everything was normal. So I tried getting different shoes. My original (first) pair of running shoes were of minimalist design. I really liked them but I am a pronator , which means as I step, my foot rolls inwards so I needed a shoe with a little more support. These new Nike’s do just the trick and the first time I used them, I felt like I was running on pillows. They were great.

th and I am scared shitless. While I was beginning my training with Hal Higdon’s plan and reading his book “Marathon”, my wife an ex-marathon runner herself, told me that I should do the Chicago Marathon because it is flat. I researched it and found out that they have a lottery to get a running slot so I signed up without much more thought about it. I decided that if I get picked to run, I would take it as a sign and then I would train for the marathon. Wouldn’t you know it, I got picked!?! I was kinda panicking for a bit because I know that I am nowhere near ready for a full marathon but I decided to take advice from Joe De Sena , founder of the Spartan Race who said “If you’re not scared shitless by your goals, they’re probably too easy.” (Yes I’m reading his book right now). So I signed up for the full marathon and paid the $185 entry fee. Training starts on June 9and

I have a good training plan though. I will follow Hal Higdon’s novice 2 marathon training program . He guarantee’s success. I followed his plan and got through the Long Island Half-Marathon a few weeks ago. So let me tell you about my experience with this race. After the 10k and hearing all about negative splits and experiencing how tired I will be towards the end of the race, I decided to tone down my initial pace. I tried hard to keep my pace around 10:30 in the beginning and the first mile felt great. I found myself stuck behind a bunch of Korean runners who were all talking Korean with each other and farting a lot. I couldn’t stand being behind them any longer so I had to kick up my pace. No disrespect to Koreans but I couldn’t stand the smell of ethnic food smell (among other smells) oozing out of their pores. I ran the next 5-6 miles at around 9:30 pace. I used the GU Energy Packs, as I usually do and I followed Hals’ advice to walk through the hydration stations and take my time drinking. I felt great until about mile 10. I hit some kind of wall. My knee was beginning to buckle. I should have brought Aleve or Advil or something with me because my knee was in a lot of pain. My pace began to slow down. I was trying to run in the middle of the road, where I could so there was no camber to the road. I tend to run better on flatter surfaces. On a road race the road angles slightly to allow rain water to flow down. Repeated running on even a slight angle starts to upset my knee and ankles. So I tried to keep it directly in the middle yellow lines.

Mile 12-13.1 were probably the hardest running I have ever done. My legs were like cement. I could barely move them. Every movement was a major effort. Part of me was telling me that I should have walked for a bit, and part of me was saying that I should keep going and just finish. Funny because I did taper in the weeks prior to the race, but there was no denying that the muscles in my legs were pumped up with lactic acid and I was having great trouble moving them.

I sucked it up and kept pushing myself. My pace weakened, however. And what was a 9:30 pace started turning into an 11:30 pace in the last mile. My goal was to try to finish in under 2 hours. I finished in 2 hours 14 minutes and 53 seconds. Still better time than when I did the 13.1 alone back in December – by a good 8 minute improvement, but I thought Hal’s program would have gotten me a better time than that.

Oh on a final thought, I parked like 2 miles from the finish line. Not a good idea. I had difficulty finding my car and was limping all around like a lost puppy and I had to ask someone for directions. It was very embarrassing and I felt like hell. The party at the end of the race seemed like fun, but after that tough race all I wanted to do was go sit in my heated seats and drive with the sunroof open.

I need to put in more long runs into my training if I am ever going to finish that Marathon in October. Instead of daily 4-5 mile runs, my daily runs need to be 7-8 miles. My weekend runs need to be 10-15 miles and weekly I will need to be putting in 30-40 miles instead of 20-25.

My next race is in a few weeks. I’m doing the Spartan Sprint again. Only this time it is in Tuxedo Park NY. Not as difficult as up in Killington VT. Also I’m running along with my 13 year old son Ethan. I am super happy that we are going to run as father & son. I keep telling him to join me on runs and to train for the race, but he will find out his own inner strength when we do it. I hope that when he’s there and experiences the race that it has the same effect on him that it did to me. I originally had a goal to beat my other time of 2 hours 20 minutes 8 seconds. My new goal is to finish alongside my son. We do it together.

I guess all this running I’m doing is influencing the people around me. My sister even told me that she just purchased a bicycle and is going to get into shape that way and because I have helped get her motivated. There’s lots of side effects to all of this running. My wife has been trying to walk in between buildings at her office more frequently. She has MS so it has been difficult for her to walk but she’s really putting in the effort and it shows. As for me, I am down to 187 lbs now and I’m starting to see a V shape and oblique muscles return to my abs again. I have more energy than I can ever remember since I was in my 20’s. I sleep great at night and I genuinely look forward to my daily runs.





In summary here’s a few things I’ve learned: