5 YEARS OF RUNNING: Part 2 - 'Tomorrow'

Leading up to Dec. 1 and my 5-year anniversary of trading Kools for Asics and becoming a runner, I am posting entries about things I have learned as a marathoner. I hope it might be helpful to others getting into running. Here is Part 2.

The hardest thing about marathoning for me over these five years was not building up to my first marathon or struggling to finish lines with plantar fasciitis or blisters, or running an ultramarathon from morning to sunset. It was not hitting the supposed "wall" out there or gasping for air in a post-race medical tent when asthma kicks in after a humid half. It was not juggling training time with real-life needs or solitary miles on ice.

The hardest thing about marathoning is tomorrow.

I don't mean the kind of "tomorrow" where your quads scream trying to descend stairs the day after a marathon. I mean the tomorrow that waits for you to own it. It's not yours yet. It's refocusing after that glorious finish and the ice bath and the victory chow. It's deciding on another scary, humongous goal and keeping a fresh and meaningful perspective that drives you to train hard. I dislike the word "motivation" so I am not really writing about that. I'm always motivated because I am alive. I am talking about that fear of what you just did slipping away into history, as if it was just you learning to ride a bike as a boy, or when you got your driver's license and got behind the wheel, or when you had a child. It was something that meant everything at that moment and you felt so great about yourself and wanted to hold onto it.

You can't. Tomorrow is right there. We graduate from high school and college and we move on, and it aches a little inside. Friends can "Like" your race-finish status a trillion times and it doesn't really matter tomorrow because it's a new day. It is your life you are living.

I once asked Derek Jeter what his favorite hit was, and the first thing out of his mouth as he stood in front of his locker was: "Your next one." I laughed and had to press him hard to finally get him to give me what I thought was an answer I wanted to hear. Now I am fully starting to realize what he meant. Some of the things I have taken for granted as cliche as a sports journalist over the years have a new effect on me as an endurance athlete, a term I use humbly and loosely. I see it so differently now. What Jeter is saying is this: The minute he basks in what he just did and loses that edge to keep busting his ass in the weight room and in the BP cage is the minute he walks away from his job and becomes a former player.

That is the edge that means everything to an athlete . . . at some point, anyway.

My hardest challenge, by far, is handling tomorrow. I have worked so hard over these five years to teach myself to become a finisher, in hopes it will transform my entire existence into one: Someone who finishes love, work and play. For me, it is important to always put big goals out there, and to always remind myself why I am running. For a long life, to have the most time possible with my family, to have an impact for as long as I can.

Advice: (1) Grow your community of supporters and those you support, and have fun; (2) Schedule scary races; (3) Pay close attention to those training for their first marathon, as a reminder of fundamentals; (4) Love; (5) Don't start eating like it's going out of style; (6) Ask questions, like the time I asked a Kenyan winner of one our NYRR races if he can share a tip. He told me as he walked away from the medal stand: "Practice hard and race easy. I don't have to think about anything on race day because I have already won."

Maybe along the way I will have an occasional PR and find unexpected bursts of greatness and surprise myself. I am going to mix it up and occasionally invent my own race and just do whatever it takes to keep it fun, and to embrace tomorrow without fear. I think I have done that by putting three big marathons on my 2012 schedule, by renewing my NY Road Runners membership, by committing to the future always. Here goes. Tomorrow awaits.

2012 Marathon Schedule

My 2012 marathon schedule is set: Miami, Paris and New York City!

Miami: January 29. It will commemorate my 5-year anniversary of my change into a runner for life. I was going to run this on the actual anniversary weekend in early December, but I want retribution for my Miami 2010 showing, when a large blister the last 14 miles sabotaged my run on what otherwise is a gorgeous course. 10th-anniversary medals are in store, too!

Paris: April 15. This will be my first trip to Europe. We look forward to seeing Lisa's relatives who live in England and staying with them a week. Then we will take a train south through France to Paris, where we are staying across from the Louvre. Then it's time to run through the cobblestone streets and past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, starting at L'Arc de Triomphe.

New York City: November 4. I finished this race in 2007 (my 1st) and 2008 (my best), and after a 3-year absence due to work or lottery luck, I'm back in 2012! I already have qualified by virtue of finishing the required minimum 9 scored qualifying races + 1 volunteer event for NY Road Runners in 2011. It will be my 10th marathon or ultramarathon!

5 YEARS OF RUNNING: Part 1 - Gear Care

Leading up to Dec. 1 and my 5-year anniversary of trading Kools for Asics and becoming a runner, I am posting entries about things I have learned as a marathoner. I hope it might be helpful to others getting into running. Here is Part 1.

On Dec. 1, 2006, I moved into a new home on New York City's Upper West Side and broke a box of KOOLs in half and bought a box of ASICS instead. I remember going on a shopping spree that same day at Paragon Sports in Manhattan, buying lots of running gear, including cold-weather attire. Five years later, I still have everything and it is in good condition.

I have to thank my Big Cats running team friend George, who gave me this advice via myspace in those first days: "You're supposed to wash your gear after you run in it." Yes, even my wife is dumbfounded that I was not aware of this fact. I figured that wicking material meant, cool, I don't have to wash it much. Dummy! So I learned early on to take care of my gear.

Pictured here you can see what is hanging in my basement right now. I have done this regularly for five years. The process has changed a little bit over that time.

In the beginning, I hand-washed ALL my gear. That lasted a couple of years. I think it mainly changed when we bought our house and you have your own washer and are comfortable that no strange machine is going to ruin your stuff. I wash on the delicate cycle with cold water. I also stopped using the "sport wash" detergent after the first couple of years. That is because the stuff STINKS forever and the more people I asked, the more people told me that it makes little difference, and that using regular detergent is good for your gear, as they are tested by the manufacturers to make sure they stand up to everyday detergent.

Do NOT use fabric softener. Running gear does not like that stuff.

I never use a dryer for my gear. As you can see from the picture here, I hang my items up on hangers to dry. That day or the next day I grab it all and put it into my drawers. It dries fast.

I try to never let my socks get into our regular house wash. It doesn't take much to ruin a good pair of Lin socks when they make it into a color cycle with warm water and get into the dryer. I learned this the hard way, too. I had a brand-new pair of expensive technical socks, and I used them for the Miami Marathon last year. They had been washed a time or two in the regular laundry. There was a small seam going across the underside of the toes, unbeknownst to me, and the washing roughed the seam. By Mile 12, the now-raised seam was rubbing the ball of my right foot, rubbing and rubbing, and I finished the last 14 miles with a massive blister on that spot and adding about 45 minutes to my finish time. I lay all my wet socks out just like shirts & shorts.

All my shoes are in my closet. They are pampered. They are babied. They are for the most part out of the reach of our English Bulldog, King Bingley, who did manage to bite a hunk out of the back of my best Sauconys. That was a blip. They are the most important things I have as a runner. They have the capability to injure me or make me fly. When I retire them, I stuff them into drawers in the basement. Once in a while I take them out for a spin, but 300-400 miles and they're in the Newman Running Hall of Fame.

I look forward to hearing how you care for your running gear!

Displaying the Medals

Finally got around to displaying my running medals today in my office at home, and it felt good to do that for personal inspiration. They have been shoved to the side the past year in new house, so it was time. I went to Lowe's and the closet/organizing aisle, where door/coat hooks are, and found these two great wood sections that were exactly what I wanted.

How do you display your running medals? Hopefully this might offer a tip. Most importantly, I just want to SEE them. We earn them, so let's show off that panoply!


















This shows some more detail, so let's introduce my colorful friends from left to right. 2008 St. Louis Marathon, first one I finished in front of my boys. 2009 MLB All-Star Game Charity Run in St. Louis. 2008 New York City Marathon, my PR and best race yet, 5:13. 2007 Nike NYC Half, remembered for running through Times Square. 2007 Oklahoma City Half, remembered for learning hard way about chafing. 2010 Miami Marathon. 2009 New Jersey Marathon, proposed to my wife at finish line. 2007 NYC Marathon, my first 26.2 and finished with plantar fasciitis. 2010 MLB All-Star Charity Run in Anaheim (bib #1), part of it around Angel Stadium.

In the top picture, you also can see the 2008 Knickerbocker 60K ultramarathon finisher crystal. So this accounts for six of my seven marathons, and if you read my blog about the 2008 Statues on Parade Marathon, you'll know that there was no medal for that one, which I invented. Half marathons typically do not offer medals so those were exceptions, as were the MLB events.

The Miami Marathon medal is a double-spinner, which makes it a lot of fun to play with. Which of those means the most to me? It's hard to say, but I have to go with 2007 NYC because it was my first 26.2 and because of the quote on the back, which I got engraved the morning after:

"...a triumph of the will over all limits." - Alberto Salazar

New Shoes, New Socks, New GU, New Start

Since the Miami Marathon on Jan. 31, I have gotten married, gone on a honeymoon with Lisa to Curacao, worked around the clock with Spring Training under way, enjoyed my slippers and coffee each morning while watching blue jays and cardinals and squirrels take over our back deck, and I have taken the longest break from running since I became a runner on Dec. 1, 2006.

Rededication time is here. I wasn't going to write this because I believe in "Just Do It," but I thought some of this might be helpful to other runners who I know are in my shoes, so to speak. Here are some ways I am rededicating myself.

1. Drink water.

It always starts there. In a perfect world I will drink a gallon a day according to my son Matt. I am just grabbing a Poland Spring here and an Aquafina there. Just. Drink. Water.

2. Buy new running shoes.

Today I went to Super Runners Shop at Grand Central Station and bought a new pair of my trusty Brooks Glycerines -- pictured above, along with new WrightSocks and some GUs. It is my fourth pair of Brooks -- they are "neutral" and are good for above-average arches like mine and they keep me injury free. I have learned in my running career that the ONLY thing that matters about running shoes is that you are healthy. Color, style -- it means zero, so much zero that you can't even see it. After 2 runs they are dirty and you never will think about the color and style after that. The only thing that matters is that you don't have shin splints, plantar fasciitis, knee trouble and more. If you find a pair of shoes that work for you, never ever leave that model unless the shoemaker moves on. If you ever listen to anything I say, listen to that. Unless you like a hundred little sword-like jabs in your shins during your run.



I had to get used to the design on the latest Glycerine look, and I liked it more when I read what is inside the shoe itself. The pictures tell the story above.

3. Schedule some races.

I know this but I had to be reminded -- thanks, Roxy and Traci! I signed up for the NYRR8000 race this Saturday morning at Central Park. I won't be fast but I will be back amongst thousands of other runners and moving my legs one step at a time, and that is the road to a marathon. I don't have anything else on the docket. Too much has happened in my life recently. I will get there.

4. Have a Purpose.

You need a purpose for everything in life. Why am I running? It is good to ask yourself often. I once learned from Tony Robbins that if you want a better answer, ask a better question. Why am I running? I decided to become a runner because I wanted to live a long life for my three boys, rather than smoking and coming up with excuses why not to work out. It makes me feel free. It gives me more energy to be great at what I do for a living. It makes me a happier person, and that makes me a better husband. It increases my creative thought process, which opens new doors in my life and in my job. And because I am pretty good at it when I train. It helps me meet more friends, which is always a good thing, and I cherish friendships I have made through running, as we all like to support each other through thick and thin. Most of all: Running makes me a finisher in life. I finish things. I dance across the finish line.

Who were you dedicating your first races to? To my Dad. To my boys. Who did you raise money for in your first marathon? Team for Kids, to help fight childhood obesity. How many people have you helped with their fundraising? Countless runners. What was it all about? Having a purpose. Inspiring yourself and inspiring others. Running with meaning.

5. Nutrition. Eat smaller portions, and more often. Work in some green stuff, some nuts, some fruit. Stop being a regular at the cupcake place downstairs at work. I know what I need to do. The all-inclusive resort food binge is over. Do I remember fish?

6. Enjoy warmer weather. I know this will be a natural help for me. The days of the 2-foot snowfalls, I think, are over. At my best I am able to train no matter what the conditions year-round, but nothing beats running in shorts and sweating. I much prefer running outdoor to running on a treadmill, and I also like when the running path is not covered with snow, meaning less chance of stepping badly on rocks and turning an ankle.

7. Write this. Hey everyone, do some things that commit yourself. I am never embarrassed about finishing in the back of a pack during a race, but I would be embarrassed if I follow up on this blog post by sitting around and gaining another five pounds. I am going to try. Thanks for reading this far.

8. Keep a log. I need to get back to doing this. I really only was diligent about it my first year of running. I saw one of my marathon times go way down after I had stopped logging my runs, so I just kept running without logging. It is important to do it, though. For one thing, you know how many miles are on your shoes and when to retire them -- one reason I ran with a horrible blister for 14 miles in Miami. More importantly, you guard yourself from increasing mileage too fast from week to week, and you have a better idea where you in your training. This is the one thing I cannot say with total confidence I will do. I am talking to myself right now.

9. Powerjams! Some of my friends may remember when I started the Athletes & iPods Group on myspace at the start of my running days. Sadly, my iTunes library is still mostly composed of that same music. I want to start back but I want to have some new music. I use Pandora heavily on my iPhone. I rarely listen to the iPod app on my iPhone. I take the old iPod with me when I run and the music is old. It is time to work on this section of the list, no question about it.

10. JUST DO IT

Miami Marathon

On Sunday, Jan. 31, I ran the 2010 ING Miami Marathon. It was my seventh marathon or ultramarathon event that I finished, and my first since hitting the big 5-0. It meant a lot to me because it was back where I started my professional career and life in the Real World, and Mile 11 even passed right by my former Miami Herald office. It was also important because it was exactly two weeks before I marry Lisa, and I wanted to get to the altar in style, since my previous marathon ended with me proposing to her at the finish line.

Lisa, Rachel and I flew JetBlue down to Fort Lauderale for a long weekend to stay at Lisa's father's (spectacular) condo on the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and it was just fabulous. I enjoyed oysters and conch fritters at Aruba next to the same Pompano Pier where I used to spend all-nighters fishing for snook, and I fell asleep on the beach for a while on that Friday. I did aquacize in the condo's pool two straight mornings with a bunch of ladies. It was (mostly) a blast, a perfect long getaway weekend as a runner.

Saturday was an outstanding ING Miami Marathon Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It was one of the best Expos I've seen. Lisa and I hung out at the ING Runners Nation area and watched Olympian Ryan Hall address runners with advice. We bought some gear, and I got my next day's race shirt, a red sleeveless Adidas. We loaded up on samples and supplies. I love Expos just to be amidst other runners who are all loaded up with anticipation.


While at the Expo, I also became aware of a Next Revolution product called Enlyten. I am going to be talking more about these strips, which are double-sided tongue melters like you routinely see with breathmint strips. If you are into athletic performance (or if you are an entrepreneur), you are going to want these. Lisa and I were given starter cassettes, and I took about 5 Electrolyte strips on Saturday and then a few Energy strips before the start of the marathon. Long story short, you will find these useful as a way to bypass your digestive system, especially good if you get tired of sucking down GUs on the course, and they do a lot more than GU. They also complement GU. Go to enlyten.com and you will see more information.


After the Expo we chilled on the beautiful Lincoln Road in the middle of Miami Beach, watching all the people go by, eating Paillasson Forestier and soaking it in.


There wasn't much time to sleep that Saturday night, because wakeup was 3:45. Lisa and I drove down I-95 to Miami in the dark and then, following the crowd, parked in a garage that would prove problematic later. We walked 2 blocks to Biscayne Blvd and followed the masses to American Airlines Arena, which is magnificently alit before sunrise. A quick portapotty stop and it was time for the coolest start I've experienced as a runner. Fireworks, smoke blasting out of the starting chute, and then about 18,000 of us sardines were released for 26.2 miles in paradise.


I had worried about rain, but that wasn't an issue. What was an issue, however, was the humidity. It was about 73%. Even though the temp was mild there in the 60s, I knew the humidity was going to eat me up. That started to happen within the first 3 miles. We had a stunning stretch over the MacArthur Causeway where we viewed the blue-lit cruise ships at Port of Miami in the dark, but after 2 miles my head felt like it was about 750 degrees and I thought I was going to become a human torch any second. I tried to replicate the conditions by training mostly in a warm gym the 1 1/2 months prior to the marathon, didn't help much.

At about 8 a.m. I ran past Joe's Stone Crab, where I used to drop so much change on the best stone crabs ever. I remember my Dad visiting us once when I lived there, and with his bib on he would tell the waiter to just "keep it coming." Then we saw the South Beach club revelers sauntering out onto the streets at sunrise watching us crazy runners go by, and at around Mile 5 or 6, in the Art Deco District, I carried on my marathon tradition by somehow petting an English Bulldog. That is my superstition. I was starting to feel OK at this point as we continued on Ocean Drive, looking at the Super Bowl band stages that were being built for the next weekend. Fluid stations were great -- the race organizers are so on top of their game in Miami.


On Miami Beach, around Mile 8, I saw one of the best sports sponsorship event promotions I've ever witnessed. It began with signs that would say "Publix Mile". Anyone who has been around South Florida knows that Publix is the main place for groceries. Anyway, you would keep seeing these signs. I'm thinking: What is the Publix Mile? Then at the end of that mile it hits you, as you run right alongside...Publix. The cashiers and other supermarket workers have spilled outside and are cheering you on as you run past them. Perfect marketing/branding.

Running over the Venetian Causeway and back into Miami, going past my old Herald building, suddenly it was teeming with large crowds, and that pulls you through any doldrums. I approached Mile 13, and that's always one of my favorite -- if daunting -- moments when the road splits in half and the masses of runners veer off to the left to finish their Half Marathon while you veer to the right, practically all alone, off to the hinterlands of pain and pursuit, boldly.

Meanwhile, the elite runners were finishing. Lisa got a bunch of pics like this:


I was into a long stretch on Miami Avenue and Tigertail Avenue that seemed like a longer straightaway than I-10 to the Pacific. It wound into a few neighborhoods, some areas where fun homeowners would have their sofas and recliners out and watching/cheering us, but mostly a long and difficult stretch to get into Coconut Grove, my old hangout. I was starting to suffer. Here is where The Blister began to get noticeable. Starting around the halfway mark, I noticed an issue with the ball of my right foot, the landing pad. I figured it was the shoe, and one of those things that would go away. After a while I gave in and bailed off to the curb and took off my shoe and sock for inspection. The socks were very expensive, made for this, but I probably had thrown them in the regular wash a few times, a no-no. You always want to watch running gear on delicate with sport detergent and never dry it, just hang it. The seam that runs across the bottom of the foot was slightly ridged, and when my foot was wet it was slipping back and I was rubbing it raw. It got worse.

Through Coconut Grove, I had major flashbacks as I passed Monty's -- the bayside bar where we played Quarters for hours on end in my wild days out of college. It was half a lifetime ago. Pop, back to reality, thinking about the pain under my right foot on each step, and now suddenly the routine bonkage of the quads. Running, rubbing them out, running, rubbing them out, getting through that, a little lightheaded one or two spots, sick of GU and Gatorade already, eager to throw water all over myself at fluid stations, trying to keep myself company. Vizcaya Museum, one of a kind, approaching Mile 22. The scenic beauty of this course is one of a kind, and I've run New York City and other places, even ran over the Golden Gate Bridge and ran the Great Wall of China. You have to run the Miami Marathon if you are a marathoner. Have to.

In the 23rd mile, you hit your third causeway -- the same Rickenbacker Causeway that takes you out to Key Biscayne, where I used to play tennis and wade out forever into the ocean. You are met by a wild and crazy bunch of Parrothead fans, who are Jimmy Buffet's true people, enjoying their drinks and wearing leis and having a good old time. I have to honestly say that when I saw their crowd up ahead I was psyched because I needed water or orange slices so badly...and when I got up even with them and saw that they were just being funny and raucous, I had more of a mad reaction. I was really suffering at that point and only wanted some kind of nutritional aid...nothing was funny or cutesie at that point, sorry guys. Back to Margaritaville for you next year, please -- it was not helpful to me. Fortunately there was a station at the turning point on that causeway, and even better, they had icy sponges; I took several, put one underneath my running cap for a half-mile.

I was worried about my finish time at this point, struggling to land on my right foot in massive pain, my quads still barking, too many walk stretches. My PR was 5:13. I had been hoping for 5:20 to 5:40 range. At this point I was calculating to see if I could make it within six hours. I would make myself do that no matter what. The beautiful Brickell skyline surely would do that.

Lisa is amazing. She was there to meet me with a shout of "Mark!" at Mile 25.5, and she busted out of the crowd and actually ran alongside me as far as they would let her, to try to help me. I was mostly saying unprintable things at that point, in huge pain. I thought I could break 6:00 but then the 26-mile sign took too long to show up, and once it did, I knew that was kaput. I crossed the finish line in 6:02. I had to get over that eventually, which I did.

I am happy to say that I maintained my tradition of dancing across the finish line, regardless of the giant blister and searing pain. In that moment, nothing else matters but finishing. I was given the coolest medal you could imagine, the signature double-spinner marathon medal, and then I collapsed over to the grass on the side, as Lisa helped me recover. I bought a Miami Marathon sweatshirt and we thought that was it, time to head up to Fort Lauderdale for an icebath.

Alas. We spent the next 3 hours walking and struggling around downtown looking for her Dad's car. It turns out there are two 2nd Streets near the start/finish area, and they both have a CVS on the same corner by Biscayne Blvd. That was the start of our confusion, and it led to this arduous and -- considering the condition -- incredibly painful endeavor. We have to credit an Angel from Haiti who literally saved us. This man in a taxi drove us all over the downtown area, helping us check every Park garage (there are so many). It had been dark, and we could not recognize it. We didn't have the ticket. Imagine. Finally, finally, just when we were ready to go to the Miami Police, we tried out another garage and I recognized the crappy old elevator, took it to the third floor and found the car. We took down his name/info and I am reporting the taxi driver's incredible heroism -- which no other driver I know would do -- to the Miami/Dade government office in hopes he will receive a commendation, also to his taxi company. I sort of felt like I had just done an ultra when you include the parking thing.

An icebath followed, so did much beer and burger action, and I am happy to say that the seventh marathon in my running career is in the books. Next stop wedding. This guy we met on the Pompano Pier is invited but probably will not make it up north.

Miami Marathon, Marriage and Magic

Before reading on, help my friend Alyssa Milano get over the $25,000 hump with her very worthy initiative that you can find here. I guzzle perfectly clear Poland Spring water every day -- even started a water-guzzling challenge for myself -- and you cannot take that for granted as a human on this Earth. No more filthy drinking water for anyone...help Alyssa.

Big events coming up in life, as I am training for the Jan. 31 Miami Marathon and then will marry Lisa two weeks after that. I am looking forward to 2010!

Today I celebrated my third anniversary of quitting smoking cold turkey and replacing it with water and marathons. My first race in that bold, uncharted territory back in December 2006 was the Joe Kleinerman 10K. I remember that feeling of making it all the way around Central Park with limited stopping. I remember how good my body felt later that day, and how much it made me want to run more -- which puts me here on the verge of my seventh marathon.

I remember those start-line words that day from Mary Wittenberg, head of the New York Road Runners and ING NYC Marathon. She told us runners in that Joe Kleinerman 10K field: "Start easy and finish hard!"

That is what I did today. Mary started us again, the morning after a wet snowfall. She noted that we were blessed with "great weather" and I agreed. It could have been one of those fun-run mornings, but they were able to clean the Central Park perimeter road and it was sunny and felt like high 20s.

I am starting to get my fitness back little by little and this finished off a good training week for me. I still would like to lose 10 or 15 pounds by Miami. Today I called upon something I learned from my Team for Kids coach when I was training for the 2007 ING NYC Marathon. We were training on hills and he taught us to count backwards from 100 whenever we came upon a big incline -- and to never look ahead at the ascent of the hill but to look slightly down. I did that most of this race. I literally counted backwards from 100 seven times, and each time there was a slight gradient in the oval I would resume counting. Whatever it takes!

Training on your own makes it easy to occasionally have walk breaks. Running in an NYRR pack pulls you like a magnet as you stay with other runners naturally, without thinking about it. It was a great day. My time was nowhere near my 10K best, but it was 1:06:51, with a 10:46 pace (9:13 is my PR pace). My first Kleinerman was 1:18:40. Today as I ran I also thought about that first race and how it felt, how much I didn't know (like that you are supposed to wash your running gear), and what feels best to me is not only knowing what I am doing to help my own life but how many people I know have been inspired along the way to run because of my own reports through blogs or whatever. If you can inspire one other person to run, congrats.

I really have to thank Mary and the NY Road Runners organization. Not only for this particular race (and being able to squeeze in), but for making my life better. I haven't blogged in quite a while but I want to say how wonderful NYRR is and urge anyone around here to be part of it. What a life-changer it has been.

I also liked the protein shakes after the finish line today, up on the 102nd Street Transverse. And I especially want to thank the two English Bulldogs who let me pet them on the walk back to my car, just before leaving the park. For some reason, every time I have a great run, I see an English Bulldog. I love them.

Big times are up ahead. After today's race, we just decorated our first Christmas tree in our new home in the NYC suburbs.



We are figuring out how to get everyone here for the Valentine's Day wedding and we are figuring out where to go for our honeymoon. I am also trying to figure out how to train up here and then make it through that Miami 26.2 miles with no breathing/asthmatic issues, as I've been known to encounter when going from snow to South Florida humidity. In 1997, I worked the World Series and was sitting in snow in Cleveland for Game 5 and then was in the humidity of Miami for Game 6, and during that game I had to go to ER and get on a breathing treatment. Hoping that goes smoothly, will carry inhaler.

Let's go with this adventure. Smoking days are so forgotten. I'm a runner.