And They're Off

I got up at 3:30 am. Took a shower and put on the clothes that would see me through the day. It all seemed like an almost normal running day which I was hoping it would feel like. I made and ate a half of peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then decided to stretch a bit. My muscles were loose and I felt good.

Before I knew it we were all loading in the car and driving over to the start. Yes of course we were within walking distance but hey there was a long day ahead. Why waste the energy. We arrived and beheld the majesty of people, port-o-pots and of course the lights and music that is a race start. People scurrying everywhere. Testing headlamps. Relieving themselves (in the appropriate places of course.) Myself being kinda of oblivious to most of it walked with Michelle over to the table to check in with my bib number. Once that was done I took a quick trip to the john. How did it get that name? Then I waited.

It seemed like 15 to 20 minutes but I am sure it was simply a few. I made a small joke about being a Kenyan since everyone was looking at my own personal film crew with puzzled faces and then there was the countdown. I gave Michelle a kiss goodbye and then the horn went off. With a small cheer all 212 of us were off. It was surreal running out in the darkness, led by some unseen person or force. As the light of the starting line disappeared in the darkness we transformed it seemed into a barrelling freight train speeding headlong on a tiny track into the darkness of morning.

We could all feel the terrain change underneath us. Grass to rocks, rocks to dirt and then back again. From time to time as we had slowly been peeled by the thinning trail into a bouncing glowing snake you would hear a voice call out "root" or "creek" or "branch" and the whole line of us would hiccup as the obstacle was avoided. We seemed to run a circle at one point (this would of course be later confirmed) and we hit the first aid station. I slowed to a walk and drank most of the first bottle in my Fuel Belt. Before I knew it I was off again.

I had little conversations first with an Army medic who was telling me that this would be his last race for a while because he had to devote more time to his family and he was planning on moving from Virginia. Then I spoke briefly with an Army ranger who was telling me about some of his missions and that running was the only way to have a little bit of sanity. I of course told them about my illness and how I ended up here in the midst of a 50 mile race.

We all settled in and it became a silent uneventful jaunt in the darkness. It would not stay that way for long.

The 'Ol Up Down

is of course not to be confused with the "Ol In Out" from "A Clockwork Orange." Thank you Roddy McDowell. As is common throughout training hydration is important. I had been a 1.5-2 litre minimum of liquids daily throughout training. The day/night before the race since we were traveling and shopping and picking up the number and checking out the aid stations I really was not sure how much water I had consumed. I felt that I was lacking so...in an effort to make up the difference I decided to polish off a litre of water from the time we arrived back at the cottage to the bedtime.

This was smart in one sense since it was highly unlikely that I would be peeing much during the race because most of my moisture would sweat out and be evaporated off my skin. You really need to maintain a good level of fluids before during and after the race (during being most important). So while we filmed the interview etc. I was steadily drinking, and drinking and drinking.

When we finally retired preparing for the 3:30 alarms about 6 hours away I was prepared to get a so, so sleep. When you travel for races its rare to get a good night sleep the night right before the race. Most racers and race directors will tell you the night before the night is key. My night before the night was pretty good. The night before however was a series of trip back and forth to the bathroom, countless position changes and of course going from hot to cold and then to hot again. It was a long night for me, Michelle and I think even Alex and Elizabeth. I think I got about two ad a half hours of sleep and that may just be being generous. It was the shortest and longest nights sleeps I have had since the day my father died.

Thankfully I would not pay for it the next day.

Right About Now...

actually it should be right about then, with then being a week ago, right now. We Michelle, Alex, Elizabeth and myself were finishing up lunch and heading to the mall.

We had awoke at about 3:30 am Shit, shaved and showered (sorry I have always wanted to write that and its my blog so I can lump us all in together). I personally had breakfast. Some of my homemade bread with peanut butter and jelly. You don't mess with the Zohan and you also do not mess around with my breakfast. Its sacred. Following breakfast we began the game of Tetris which is packing the car for the trip. Big marine cooler full of food and goodies. Our bag, their bag, my personal gear bag, extra pillows and of course blankets. Oh yeah Alex's work/school bag.

I decided to drive. It would really be my only opportunity until maybe Monday or Tuesday. It was a fun ride and we cruised along. Singing to a personally made iTunes mix as well as intermittent filming of the trip and the feelings and of course tomorrows looming challenge. We stopped briefly at my mom's house and after only a few minutes of being on camera she had had her fill. It was fun and funny as well as eye opening to me.

We continued on and found our way into the park and finally to our cottage. It was nice and spacious. By this time which was a little before noon we were all starving so we set off into the hinterland of Northern Virginia and ultimately found a shopping center that would be our best friend. We settled after much deliberation on a Cafe where we all seemed to get sandwiches or salads or both. Lunch was scrumptious and we then went on a roundabout mission of getting my number and swag bag from the Northface Store. Then of course off to both of the parks where there would be aid stations the following day (Great Falls and Difficult Run). Both names although named for the river and water would turn out to be quite appropriate. Checking out what we thought were the aid stations we were satisfied. Seeing the surrounding scenery we were blown away. It was stunning especially the river and the boulders.

I had had my fill and was ready for the last little bit of shopping and then it was time to settle in for the evening. We hit the store I think it was Winn Dixie (Michelle noted the uniforms were the same as Stop & Shop) got ice and a few other essentials. Back to the cottage we relaxed. Had a home cooked pasta dinner and then somehow delved into the entire story of the sickness and the race and the hospital and the training. It was quite eye opening since alot of me being sick I was so out of it...I didn't remember.

Then thankfully it was time for bed. It was/is a story unto itself.

OK I Lied, So Here's Thursday

I thought I could go cold turkey on the blogging and just leave the race and the event for film but I can't. I like to run my mouth and so bit by bit I will lay out the events of last weekend. As I mentioned last time there is so much to say that I couldn't wrap my head around it. So instead of chomping onto the whole thing lets take it piecemeal.

A week ago Thursday was in essence the moment of truth. The last day of reality before the surreal experiences began. The work day was average and non-descript as it should be before something like this. Michelle left work a bit early and got home. It was good to see her. Very reassuring in many respects. We finished up whatever we had to do and then went to Enterprise to pick up the SUV. Now maybe I am living in the past but what we got was not SUV like as I denote them. It was more like a lifted station wagon. I think it was a Nissan Rogue. Just enough space it would turn out.

Anyway, we got the car and Michelle finished up the Quinoa salad which was our dinner fare for the evening. Just about this time Mayo (Elizabeth Mayo CO-founder of Pareidolia Films LLC) arrived on the bus. She made the hike from Queens through the city and up the Hudson to Nyack. She had most of the gear as well as the bag for her and Alex. She's a trooper because the camera was not light and it was definitely muy expensive.

We got in she settled down. We bs'd a bit and then had dinner. Following dinner which was quite tasty and which I took more than my fair share, (kinda a pre pre race carb load session,) Liz and I drove across the river to the Tarrytown train station to pick up Sir Alex Chancey. (No he has not been knighted but I figure if I say it enough people will ultimately think it.)

Chancey ate and then there was bit of filming about the race and the feelings surrounding it. A little more filming of us packing up the gear and the food and then we were all a bit sleepy. This would be the last good night's sleep for a while. We all retired and after 20 or thirty minutes of running through a mental list of everything we were supposed to have packed and/or collected for the trip and the race I finally fell asleep ready for the 3:30 am wakeup.

I Came, I Ran, I Hurt

There are a million things I could say about what happened last Saturday. All the training all the hype all the zen calm and eerily lack of fear. The race was everything I thought it would be and yet so, so, so much more. To try and describe it here I would be remiss in so many things. I will say simply this. It is the hardest physical feat I have ever performed in my life. My words alone cannot do it justice. Luckily I was graced to have a vast portion of Thursday through Sunday captured on film. When its ready I will do my final post. Until then I would like to simply thank everyone who took part in my mini adventure...my wife Michelle, Mom L, Mom P, Dad P, Michael, Kathleen, Bruce, Donald, Aliana, Darius, Little Joe, Evelyn, Aunt Maria, Susie, Dr. Gurniak, Dr. Okiri, Dr Strauss, Cory, Stacey, Miguel, Joe and a super big shout out to Elizabeth the Great and Sir Chancey and most importantly once again my beautiful wife Michelle. She not only put up with a horribly cranky patient who realized his own mortality suddenly at age 37 but then helped drag his tired ass across the finish line after running the last 14.8 miles with him (ad some stragglers he picked up along the way).

For now that is it. You have hopefully read the blog and like me anxiously await the movie which of course is coming via the skillful hands of Alex and Elizabeth. Oh yes one final thought...never, never, never try this at home kids. Let the adults be crazy.

Michael Buffer Where Are You?

Its almost game time and I have been noticing that life has gotten surreal. I know the race is coming. I have all the gear ready. The support team is on their way here. It will eliminate some time in the early morning heading to Queens. The food is ready my bag is almost packed. I/we're ready to go and yet it seems like its not really happening. Bizarre.

Oh well, I am in hurry and wait mode.

Michael, Michael He's Our Man...

If He Can't Do It, Izzard Can?!? It has been brought to my attention (thank you Michelle) that should I run into trouble in my endeavor, the hilarious Eddie Izzard is readily to pick up the gauntlet. He has recently been running the equivalent of a marathon-a-day for over forty days. He has traveled all over his native England raising money for charity.

Is this guy challenging me to a fund raising? Don't make me kick your behind Eddie...only kidding. Its quite admirable what he has done and how he's doing it.

My Arch Enemy Sends A Salvo Over the Bow

My nemesis (not really) the rain is supposedly rearing its head Thursday and Friday around the area of the race and of course there are chances for thunderstorms Saturday. Bring it on rain.

Sleep It Does the Body Good

I read somewhere once (wow that's narrowing it down right) that you need to increase your sleep by 15 minutes for each mile you add in your running. Now I must admit I have not been doing that all along during these past few months. I think what I did is the norm. Run, steadily increasing miles, and get as much sleep as possible. As much sleep as possible in reality means the same amount you have been getting. We all have to work and take care of kids and go shopping and simply take care of life's little things. I also think that one of the great benefits of the taper is to catch up on all the missed sleep. I have been quite proficient in it and it has been wonderful.

By my calculations I have six more days of blissful sleep before the blessed event.

The First Step

Last night, following our Deep Water Running Class, we (Michelle and I) met up with Elizabeth and Alex. Not only are they coming down to help and support but being filmmakers they will be documenting the whole shebang. As my wife predicted I loved it...being filmed and talking about the entire adventure. Its nice to simply talk although there is still much to discuss on film as well as off.

When we were done playing around with the camera we got down to a bit of the technical aspects of what will need to happen the day before, and the day of. As what usually takes precedence on trips, expeditions and adventures of all lots we got to food and it sucked us in. It seems like we all have very particular tastes or dietary needs. It will be quite a tasty trip even if it isn't memorable (and who would believe this isn't going to be memorable.)

The Clock Is Ticking

The Summer is over. Labor Day has passed. Now the clock has begun counting down to the race. At time it seems a bit daunting but most of the time it provides me wit a sense of peace. All the training is finally coming to an end. The training in itself is/was a journey of epic proportions. More miles, more weight carried, more trial and error with shoes and supplements and sports drinks than ever before. Quite an interesting time period.

Now I taper and wait and pray.

If At First You Don't Succeed

My plan this week as I documented was to run 12/17/12/20 (those are miles people) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Monday was fine was Wednesday morning and afternoon. The mornings I was running ten and then having a quick two mile jaunt around lunchtime. Wednesday evening we were supposed to once again have our Deep Water Running class. The previous week, as I said, the pool was closed and we had been trying since then to reach the instructor just to find out if we were having class this week. We had no luck reaching her until of course yesterday late morning. So we rearranged our days in our head and I prepared to head into the city. Michelle told me her swim bag was in the hallway and asked me to bring it. "No problem," I said.

I finished up work and headed out the door. The Palisades was clear and so was the GWB and also the West Side Highway. I headed to the parking garage and parked. I'm a regular now so the guys know me. I grabbed my bag and headed down 50th street. Doh!!!!!! I forgot Michelle's bag. No bag, no class.

So I ran six miles today. Stinky. This was going to be such a wonderful 12 mile day with Friday to rest. Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Its September... Bye Summer

As excited as I am to jump into race month I always have to stop and pour a little out for my hommie Summer. Summer always has and probably always will provide plenty of fun and adventure. It may seem like you didn't do jack squat but stop a minute. I think the same thing all the time but when I actually review the past three months I can start running off a litany of things I have seen and done. Not that I am going to do that but of course I can and I bet you can do.

There was a time when we all got out of school for close to three months that was magical. It always seemed like perfection. We might think that since we don't get that anymore its not so much fun. Did you ever think that during the summer unless you were leaving town with your parents you really spent most of the time just hanging out with your friends doing a whole lotta nothing but being stupid. Now I ask you is there anything that stopped you from doing the same thing this summer?

Yeah thought so. Stop a moment and pour some out for your hommie Summer and get ready for Fall (you can do the exact same thing only with more clothes on).

Curses Foiled Again

My goal last week was 50 miles. I came up about 14 miles short. Why you may ask...my nemesis reared its ugly head again. I thought I had rid myself of him but alas it was not so.

Saturday morning I got up around 4:30 and was out the door around 5 I believe. I made my way through the streets of Nyack to Nyack Beach State Park and Hook Mountain. Its where I have been doing my long run training training. As I entered the park I was surprised to see the deer that are usually up and about all sitting down sleeping or at least resting. I should have taken this as a sign. I grew up in the country. I know what this means. Anyway I continued into the park through the parking lots to the trail head.

Entering the trail head I switched on my headlamp and proceed to jump and hop and dodge the puddles from the previous evenings downpour. As the trail began to climb into the think woods, I got sinking feeling. I knew that it was basically because my headlamp just wasn't cutting it on the trail. It was dark, Really dark. I could barely see three feet in front of me. Of course it didn't hurt that it was foggy from the storm.

I decided discretion is the better part of valor. I turned around and headed back. As much as I wanted to put in the "last" long run I wanted even more to not end up hurt by running blind in the forests. I made it out of the park and was heading home when Michelle who was driving to the park to put in 10 miles and pick me up came along. I hoped in and we headed home. Mere moments after getting back the sky opened up with a dark deluge that lasted about three hours. It would have made the run so unfun and possibly could have made the darkness even more of a pitfall.

So the rain got me. But I will have the last laugh. This week is my new last long run week.

Sabado Gigante

OK that mighty day of reckoning has come. A true test for me and Michelle. I'm doing 20 miles to round out my week of 50 and Michelle is doing ten which will take her to some mileage but I have no idea what. As masochistic as it may sound I am really looking forward to it. The weather here right is less than desirable. Its rained all day. Its gonna make it very challenging.

I am looking to do it in 3 hours which is a good pace, starting out in pitch blackness on the trail (a muddy trail at that). I will let you know how it goes for both of us.

Flipped Script

The best laid plans ...blah, blah, blah. You know the rest. We all know the rest. I had every intention as did Michelle yesterday to head to our deep water running class. I stopped work a bit early, fed Mr. Torre and Zim and hopped in the car. There was no traffic heading towards the GWB. The bridge flew by and so did the trip down the west side highway. Headed down 50th street and parked the car. Walked down 50th toward 6th Ave and called Michelle. She didn't answer so I left a message on her work phone and the another on the cell. I waited at our usual meeting place until Michelle showed up and we continued walk until we got to St. Bartholomew's where our class takes place. We go through the "security" and then downstairs to the lockerooms. She goes in and then I head into the men's room. In a matter of minutes there is a knock on the door. Michelle says the door to the door through the women's lockerroom is locked. I said, "hold on a moment." I walked through the lockerroom and checked. Locked on this end too.

Needless to say we quickly realized there would be no class tonight. So instead of 15+ miles this coming Saturday its going to be veinte. It is what it is.

Healthy, Wealthy & Wise

If the name doesn't say it all (which I'm sure it doesn't) allow me to explain. For me, when I am focused on a physical goal I am hyper aware of how I'm feeling. Every bone, every muscle, every ligament seems to have a Batphone to my brain. Last week..the tired overtaxed week, my muscles in my upper glutes were acting up. Of course if you follow the old adage and song connecting the "knee bone" to the "leg bone" it goes without saying that with my aching butt I soon had an aching back. That being said all is right in the world. My muscles feel loose and limber.

I am not one to really worry about things which means mentally I am very even keeled. No stress is how I roll. This makes me feel wealthy. It seems that so many people suffer from problems that arise in their head. They could in reality have no "real" problems but they end up inventing some level of angst. (Our business is going well too. That doesn't hurt. The design has slowed a bit but of course writing and editing side with Michelle has picked up.)

Yesterday Michelle sent me a little article about another person's (a nutritionists) first ultramarathon. The information was not new for the most part but its always nice to be reminded of certain things. Its refreshing to read something that verifies things that you know or believe. It makes me feel wise.

And Now We're Gettin' Down To The Nitty Gritty

After last week, where both I and Michelle took it easy, it was time to get back into it. And when I say into it I mean into it. When training for any of my previous races there would be points in the training where either injury, monotony or even just sheer exhaustion would force a low mileage recupe week. That was last week. It was pure exhaustion and it was a well deserved break in my opinion. I even took a break from the blog. Now with a little less than a month left to go the time has come for the final push. What the hell does that mean you may ask? Basically it means its time for the fifty mile weeks.

As hard as it may seem its such a mental boost to do it. Nothing takes the sting out of say running fifty miles than running fifty miles. This morning was 10 miles with of course the the usual free weight workout, core work and yoga. It was wonderful and its only the beginning...of the end.

The Door to the Home Stretch

Today is August 17th. Sorry I have been remiss in my postings recently. I have been sleep deprived for the past five to seven days which has cut into my writing capabilities. Anyway, albeit a bit inconsistent with my days I have been compiling the miles and prepping the body for the ensuing event. Speaking of which, that event is just a little bit more than 30 days away. The time has flown.

I am getting excited about it while at the same time trying to temper my enthusiasm. I have always been a person that gravitated toward adventure and events that tested me in one way or another. I believe any of us would be hard pressed to think of a more formidable opponent than mother nature. If you add in personal pressure well you have an adventure. People keep asking me how long do I think it will take me to run 50 miles. I have been very conservative with the numbers I am giving. For the most part I hate, hate, hate that question. It normally comes from people who don't run. I take it in stride and usually give a polite answer. I have been taking my best marathon time...adding an hour doubling it and then adding two hours to that. I won't say the number here just to not jinx myself but it is a double digit which will make for a very lengthy day.

A Light Hangover

Last week I must admit was quite nice but tough. I dropped down a bit below 40 miles just to give my body a rest (this week will be again 40 plus). My long run increased though right below 15 miles. After the run I had a bit of a hangover. Feeling a bit loopy from the miles. It was an interesting run as it was definitely dark when I began. This of course will be good practice for the actual race which begins in the dark. It would have helped to of course have had a headlamp as required for the race but whatever. I generally knew the route having done it a few times and the first mile-and-a-half is right along the water and thus illuminated by the moon and the rising sun.

From after the run through Saturday and even into Sunday morning I felt loopy and tired in feetsy area. It only made me think. The coming Saturday in September is going to truly, truly be an adventure.