Friday, December 26, 2008

My 2008 Runner's Highs

They always talk about a "runner's high" -- that feeling when endorphins are coursing through your body during or right after a long run. That is how I always feel about running. It is one high after another, the ability to set outrageous goals and then blow yourself away by doing things you never thought you could do, the discoveries along the way that teach you ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. I decided that to wrap up my year, I am going to list my Runner's Highs of 2008. Here goes:

1. Training run on the Great Wall of China.



August 17 at the BaDaLing stretch of the Great Wall. I was unable to maintain a high heart rate because of the size, slope and occasional absence of the 2-foot-tall ancient steps. It was a mix of running stairs at a high school gym with running and heaven-gazing. But there I was in my running gear in a place I never imagined I would be, during the Olympics. Good thing I got there when it opened after sunrise, because by noon all of Beijing was there and you couldn't move.

2. Finishing my first ultramarathon.

The Knickerbocker 60K (37 miles) is an annual event held two weeks after the New York City Marathon, for people who want to "keep it going" after that huge event. It was nine loops around Central Park, and this one was in the rain. I ran from 8:01 a.m. until 5:52 p.m., so my time was 9:51. I finished 80th. My girlfriend Lisa ran the last lap with me in the dark and helped motivate me on the last loop. The entire second loop was in a hard driving rain, so I spent the rest of the day grinding on waterlogged, tender feet. That was the hardest part, the soles of my feet. It was grueling but it was a test of the will and a new boundary reached in my life.

3. Statues on Parade Marathon.

I invented my own marathon on the Fourth of July. We created 42 replicas of the Statue of Liberty just for the All-Star Week in NYC, each one in a different MLB/team design. They were placed all over NYC, and I made it my mission to run to see them all. I did it, and make it 43 because I saw the real Statue of Liberty as well. I ran from morning to after 10 at night, approximately 26.2 miles by my math, and the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation management team stepped in to assist me in getting to Liberty and Ellis Islands as quickly as possible.

4. St. Louis Marathon.

This one was important because my boys were waiting for me at the finish line. That's all that mattered. I also knocked about 45 minutes off my first marathon finish time, and I ran the first 16 miles without stopping (thanks to 5:00 pace leader Molly), finally beaten up by the hilly final 10 miles and Delmar Blvd. It was a 5:21 finish and I was thrilled with it...mainly because my dudes were there at the end. They hand you a Budweiser during the final mile of this race, which goes past the Anheuser Busch home. Loved that.

5. Being healthy and finding the perfect shoe.

After enduring the usual first-year overuse injuries (ie shin splints, plantar fasciitis, back-wrenching dumbness), year two was appreciated for its good health. There were so many times when I finished a run and gave personal thanks for how good everything feels. I believe that has much to do with finding the right shoe. Back in St. Louis last February, a woman at the Fleet Feet store told me I have a high arch, which no one else apparently had discovered before. She put me into a pair of green Brooks Glycerins, and I never had an issue after that. When it was time to retire them, I went over to Super Runner Shop on 89th and Lex and saw my running friend/mentor Carmen, and she came out with the same shoe in yellow and said, "This is what you want." Now all I have to do is change colors!

6. New York City Marathon.

This event had been my first marathon, and in 2007 I had liked everything except the part where you limp the final 14 miles trying to land on a different part of your foot to spread out the pain, on the way to a 6:08 debut. This time, I enjoyed it for the most part, improving my time all the way to 5:13. The crowds were so unbelievable, and I am 2-for-2 in getting to pet an English Bulldog during a NYC Marathon.

7. Training run through Beijing and Opening Ceremony.

There were so many harrowing tales of the black air in Beijing. Should I try to run? Would I kill my lungs? It was fine. I went on seven training runs there in August, and the first one was so memorable. I stopped over halfway at a park where 5-on-5 pickup basketball games were happening, and I thought, "Here's the guy from Indiana, where basketball is religion, to teach you all the fundamentals of the game." I was amazed by their general excellence, as if I were back home. Then a man came over toward me and motioned as if they would like me to join them. So I did. I was now communicating with China as a free person, with no governments, and they likewise with me and the West. It felt beautiful. We played and played, and then I went around and shook every man's hand. Then I resumed my run. My Beijing Birthday also was pretty special; I ran on an official Olympic venue and then worked the gold medal game.

8. Winning my second consecutive Scotland Run 10K postrace raffle.

I have no idea why. But for two years in a row, they have called my winning number among countless fans after the Scotland Run 10K at Central Park in early April. In 2007, it had been a prize of a very valuable Scottish garment for a woman, so I had given that to a running friend. In 2008, I won four admission gift cards to Playland in Rye, N.Y. Hey, maybe the next time will be a car.

9. Emerald Nuts Midnight Run on New Year's Eve.

I rang in 2008 by running this four-mile race at Central Park, with fireworks exploding overhead in a spectacular scene. At the two-mile mark on 102nd Street, there is a blue "CHAMPAGNE" sign after the "WATER" sign. I got both. The downside was that I ran it alone, but 2008 would bring someone special into my life.

10. Racing four of the five NYRR Half Marathon Grand Prix events in NYC.

As a build-up to the November New York City Marathon, the New York Road Runners club (which runs everything in NYC running) conducts five Halfs throughout the year, each in a different borough that the marathon will touch. I ran Manhattan (January), Bronx (February), Brooklyn (April) and Queens (September). I was unable to run Staten Island in October due to MLB postseason travel.

11. Running Florida beaches.

The day after the MLB Draft at Disney World in June, I continued a tradition by staying behind and running a Florida beach. The previous year it was Cocoa; this time I drove over near Sarasota and ran seven miles on the beautiful Siesta Key, followed by pool time and pina coladas at a Disney Marriott. During the World Series, I preceded two Phillies-Rays games by running on St. Pete Beach behind our resort hotel, then enjoying a hammock.

12. Central Park Bench Plaque run.

I packed my Canon A540 into my Nathan's fuel belt one day in May and set out to take as many photos as I could of those wonderful dedication plaques on the thousands of park benches at Central Park. I posted them all on my blogs and many people drew inspiration from them as I had hoped. My favorite one was a dedication for "Andy and Lisa" on 8/9/1999, and it read: "Races are run with legs, marathons are run with the heart." That one was right next to the finish line of the NYC Marathon by Tavern on the Green.

13. Eight Belles and Me.

On Sunday, May 4, I ran a PR of 2:15 at the Brooklyn Half, and then hurried home because that day would be the Kentucky Derby and I couldn't wait to see my girl Eight Belles! I had been telling people about this filly before most people ever heard of her. It wasn't only because I was looking forward to raking in winnings. I was Eight Belles all the way. Imagine the heartache, for me and for millions of viewers, when she pulled up lame after finishing second and had to be euthenized. That was so tragic. But I loved her.

14. Lake Michigan and Navy Pier.

During the National League Division Series in Chicago between the Cubs and Dodgers, I got in a NYC Marathon training run along Lake Michigan. It was a blast. It was out-and-back to Navy Pier, and I especially remember running all the way to the end of the pier and then doing crunches and pushups at the very end, then gazing out into the endless water.

15. United Nations Run.

There were various times that I ran completely around the island of Manhattan, getting familiar with the running path that is dedicated for us almost continuously the whole way (it disappears on the East Side north of about 40th Street). During a summer run, this took me past the U.N. building for the first time in my life. I was able to admire the beautiful structure and run past the fabled flagpoles, and just feel the presence of (what should be) diplomacy. Little things like that add meaning to your training runs; I am always seeing something new with running.

There are so many other things that deserve to be mentioned, all the things that make up the awesome life of being a marathon runner. Like meeting running friends in person, such as my fellow Big Cats while I was in LA for the Dodger-Cubs series (great runs on the beach there, too!). Like the day I ran my own Half Marathon around one of the Olympic baseball fields, under the watchful eye of two Chinese security who brought me water and became friends. Like those typical summer days when you sweated profusely and felt great coming home from Central Park. Like that day I got up to about 250 crunches on my little familiar core-working spot on the grass next to the Met museum. Like discovering Sport-Wash for my clothes, even though it stinks. Like hundreds of GUs and Powergels. Like Poland Spring after Poland Spring. Like blogging and commenting on other blogs, getting to know new running friends.

Why I Love Running -- in case you missed it.

I love being a runner, and I am glad you are here to read what I'm posting about it. Here's to another great year in 2009 with even bigger goals!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Happy Holidays

Here's a pic taken on Cat Hill during last Sunday's Joe Kleinerman 10K at Central Park:



Next up: Hot Chocolate 4M Saturday morning at Central Park. Hopefully will set my 2009 race calendar soon -- still trying to figure out the holidays and STL.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Featured in Statue of Liberty Newsletter

I always tell people that the best thing about running is, you never know where it will take you. This just came in the mail this week. Thanks to my new friend Brendagael, who edits this newsletter sent to Statue of Liberty lovers all over the globe. The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation folks were so kind to go out of their way to help facilitate me when I ran a marathon last Fourth of July to see all 42 of our MLB All-Star Statues on Parade -- including the two that were on Liberty and Ellis Islands. The blog's here and below is the newsletter! Just click the images and it will show the full width.



My Running History

Sunday is the Joe Kleinerman 10K -- one full loop around Central Park. It is the first NY Road Runners event I ever entered after I changed my life on 12/1/06. My 10K PR is 57:11 in the 2007 Healthy Kidney 10K and I am going to destroy that now. Here's my NYRR history!



Race Name, Date

Dist.
(miles)

Gun
Time

Net
Time

Pace
per Mile
Overall Place/
Total
Finishers
Gender Place/
Total
Males
Age Place/
Total
in Age Grp.

Age-Grd.
Time

Perf.
%
Knickerbocker 60K
November 15, 2008
37.2 9:51:00 9:51:00 15:53 78 / 80 62 / 63 17 / 17

ING New York City Marathon
November 2, 2008
26.2 5:51:45 5:13:27 11:57 32063 / 38100 22241 / 25217 3426 / 3810 4:43:17 44.0%
NYRR Grand Prix: Queens Half
September 14, 2008
13.1 2:25:32 2:22:55 10:54 2406 / 3059 1591 / 1888 176 / 207 2:07:28 46.4%
Run for Central Park
July 19, 2008
4.0 0:43:27 38:13 9:33 2790 / 4613 1772 / 2325 192 / 253 33:58 49.6%
Hope & Possibility 5M
June 22, 2008
5.0 0:52:05 49:49 9:57 1015 / 2043 627 / 974 75 / 109 44:16 48.1%
WABC Fight/Prostate Cancer
June 15, 2008
5.0 0:54:13 49:45 9:57 3828 / 5515 2739 / 3462 327 / 402 44:13 48.2%
Healthy Kidney 10K
May 17, 2008
6.2 1:10:35 1:02:07 10:01 5019 / 6282 3075 / 3441 289 / 329 55:12 48.6%
NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon
May 3, 2008
13.1 2:20:24 2:15:46 10:21 4957 / 5839 2991 / 3294 282 / 320 2:02:07 48.4%
Scotland Run 10K
March 30, 2008
6.2 1:06:45 59:56 9:40 4811 / 6977 2967 / 3669 281 / 362 53:16 50.4%
Colon Cancer Challenge 15K
March 9, 2008
9.3 1:43:11 1:37:54 10:31 2888 / 3286 1628 / 1757 194 / 204 1:27:33 47.0%
NYRR Bronx Half-Marathon
February 10, 2008
13.1 2:21:00 2:20:32 10:43 2891 / 3265 1952 / 2113 235 / 254 2:06:24 46.8%
NYRR Gridiron Classic
February 3, 2008
4.0 0:47:37 41:26 10:21 3967 / 4940 2360 / 2669 284 / 325 36:49 45.7%
NYRR Manhattan Half-Marathon
January 27, 2008
13.1 2:26:00 2:18:58 10:36 4255 / 4997 2782 / 3116 345 / 391 2:05:00 47.3%
NYRR Fred Lebow Classic
January 12, 2008
5.0 0:56:54 53:21 10:40 3789 / 4425 2152 / 2351 272 / 295 47:25 44.9%
Volunteer Credit
January 2, 2008

VQ VQ VQ VQ





NYRR Hot Chocolate 15K
December 1, 2007
9.3 1:38:42 1:35:16 10:14 3880 / 4773 2059 / 2323 213 / 237 1:25:11 48.3%
Race To Deliver
November 18, 2007
4.0 0:42:37 37:35 9:23 3097 / 5213 1807 / 2486 177 / 233 33:24 50.4%
ING New York City Marathon
November 4, 2007
26.2 6:23:41 6:08:25 14:03 36986 / 38607 25255 / 26072 3814 / 3909 5:35:55 37.1%
NYC Half-Marathon
August 5, 2007
13.1 2:31:48 2:26:01 11:08 8671 / 9927 4789 / 5164 459 / 501 2:12:27 44.7%
Naples-New York Park to Park
July 14, 2007
6.2 1:03:45 58:55 9:30 2728 / 4566 1786 / 2392 173 / 234 52:46 50.8%
WABC Fight/Prostate Cancer
June 17, 2007
5.0 0:53:07 47:55 9:35 3297 / 5010 2508 / 3280 306 / 394 42:55 49.7%
Japan Day
June 3, 2007
4.0 0:39:58 37:01 9:15 2507 / 4599 1776 / 2558 176 / 257 33:09 50.8%
AHA Start! Wall Street Run
May 22, 2007
3.0 0:35:28 27:51 9:17 3631 / 6672 2506 / 3635 485 / 706

Healthy Kidney 10K
May 19, 2007
6.2 1:02:21 57:11 9:13 3576 / 5419 2450 / 3087 236 / 308 51:13 52.4%
NYJL Mother's Day 4M
May 13, 2007
4.0 0:38:09 36:54 9:13 1659 / 3194 1111 / 1581 98 / 144 33:03 50.9%
NYRR Brooklyn Half-Marathon
April 14, 2007
13.1 2:22:35 2:19:03 10:36 4125 / 4853 2588 / 2831 258 / 284 2:06:07 46.9%
Scotland Run 10K
April 1, 2007
6.2 1:05:57 1:01:17 9:53 4316 / 5721 2721 / 3178 271 / 320 54:53 48.9%
NYRR 8K Run
March 17, 2007
4.9 MQ
0:00




Colon Cancer Challenge 15K
March 11, 2007
9.3 1:38:31 1:36:15 10:20 2025 / 2403 1235 / 1341 135 / 143 1:26:46 47.4%
Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K
March 4, 2007
3.1 0:31:51 30:17 9:46 1902 / 2874 1244 / 1618 128 / 159 27:07 47.5%
NYRR Gridiron Classic
February 4, 2007
4.0 0:49:17 43:05 10:46 3837 / 4482 2267 / 2501 244 / 256 38:35 43.6%
NYRR Manhattan Half-Marathon
January 21, 2007
13.1 2:34:22 2:30:03 11:27 4108 / 4404 2649 / 2777 328 / 340 2:16:06 43.5%
NYRR Fred Lebow Classic
January 7, 2007
5.0 57:03 54:01 10:48 3636 / 4181 2177 / 2364 255 / 274 48:23 44.0%
NYRR Hot Chocolate 10M
December 16, 2006
10.0 2:10:55 2:07:07 12:42 3945 / 4034 1971 / 1996 207 / 210 1:54:44 38.6%
Joe Kleinerman 10K
December 10, 2006
6.2 1:21:13 1:18:40 12:41 4731 / 4910 2552 / 2610 300 / 305 1:10:28 38.1%

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Knickerbocker 60K Photo



Thank you to Laura and my friends at the New York Road Runners for sending this photo from the Knickerbocker 60K. It's the only one I have of myself running an ultramarathon!

- This was at the end of our first out-and-back from Runner's Gate to 102nd Street and back. That accounted for the first 1.25 miles, and then right after this photo was the first of nine consecutive four-mile loops, all totaling 37.2 miles.

- Hence the smile on my face and the high cadence.

- Legs are lookin' strong! Rippin' around the quads, I can see how my tendons are offloading the joints and helping me avoid injury...like it's supposed to work.

- The woman in the background played cat and mouse with me on the other side of the reservoir, and eventually she destroyed me. But who knows, she might not have finished.

- In about one hour from this photo, the skies opened and it was the hardest and steadiest rain in which I have run. That would mean soaked shoes and tender feet to grind on all day.

- Look how beautiful the falling leaves are. This is right on the East edge of the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, at approximately 93rd Street.

- It was the beginning of a long day. But we got r done.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Happy Anniversary To Me!

Dear Me:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! It was two years ago today -- Dec. 1, 2006 -- that you broke a box of KOOLS in half and bought a box of ASICS (below) instead, joined the NY Road Runners, and set out to become an ultramarathon runner. You are free.

Addiction to cigarettes is a self-imposed prison sentence, lots of tiny escapes from life that all add up. You smoked for over 5 years, for silly reasons. You always wanted to run, but you would wake up and smoke and then ask yourself: "What's the use?" You would freeze standing outside your office with other smokers. You were dying rather than living, literally.

You decided to run a marathon within one year of quitting, and you started with 5Ks and 10Ks and Halfs (pictured above is you trundling through your first race in December 2006), and you drank water constantly and you finished the NYC Marathon on Nov. 4, 2007. You dedicated yourself to living a long life for your boys, and you dedicated yourself to being a FINISHER in life for the first real time. You knew that if you could finish marathons, you could finish anything.

You ate oatmeal. Lots of oatmeal, almost every day, with lots of fruit and nuts and vegetables. You were better at everything. Your lungs were clearing up by all accounts and you were breathing stronger and stronger. You were happier, more creative. You endured the first year of overuse running injuries -- shinsplints, plantar fasciitis, lower back pain, etc. You learned the importance of perfect footwear -- the No. 1 need. You had more and more friends than before.

In Year 2, you poured it on. You never thought about smoking anymore, it was so in the past. You ran your second marathon in April 2008, and you lowered your time to 5:21 at the St. Louis Marathon. You lowered it further to 5:13 in the NYC Marathon on Nov. 2, 2008, and two weeks later you finished the Knickerbocker 60K ultramarathon -- completing 37.2 miles in 9 hours 51 minutes.

In Year 3, it is your goal to be stronger and stronger than ever in every way, to be better than ever in your eighth year with Major League Baseball, to help others and make an impact on the world more than you ever have, to be a better father, to be better at your relationship, to be a bestselling author through doing rather than hoping, to be better with your finances, to run at least three more marathons and one more ultra, to discover more about yourself, to be a leader by example, to be awesome with a heart of a champion.

"Constant and Never-ending Improvement," or "CANI", is what Tony Robbins taught you and what you always will keep in mind. You will always surround yourself with positive vibrations and the pursuit of excellence and happiness.

Anything is possible. Keep going for it. Work your ass off because it feels so good to dance across those finish lines!!! Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Me