Why am I known as "Froggie Ted"

I have had a few friends ask me where I came up with the name “Froggie Ted” for my blog. Well, it is actually quite simple. I am a Horned Frog. What is that you say? It is the official mascot for my alma mater – Texas Christian University. Yes, I know I am Jewish. That is actually another much longer story. So, I took the name as a way to differentiate myself from other Ted’s out there in the blogosphere.

I am even more proud of my new moniker now that the Mighty Horned Frog football team defeated the unbeaten Broncos of Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23, 2008. This should allow us to be ranked in the AP Poll Top 10 for the first time since 1959. We were ranked 7th. This is a far cry from the type of teams we put on the field when I was an undergrad from 1979-1983.

So, to give you a little bit of info about just what a Horned Frog is here are some facts from the admissions office at TCU:

The Horned Frog (actually a lizard) has been TCU's mascot longer than TCU has been the university's name. Four students helped make the decision in 1897, when AddRan Christian University (renamed TCU in 1902) was located in Waco.

Here are some other facts about the horned frog, one of the country's most distinctive mascots:

The scientific name for this Texas reptile is Phrynosoma cornutum; in Greek, phrynos means "a toad" and soma means "body"; in Latin, cornutus means "horned."

Their primary diet is red harvester ants; they'd like 80 to 100 a day. Unfortunately, red ants are falling victim to insecticides and to more aggressive fire ants in much of Texas.

The typical Horned Frog is three to five inches long.

Horned Frogs are cold-blooded animals and have an unusual pineal gland, resembling a "third eye" on the top of the head, which zoologists believe is part of their system of thermoregulation.

When angered or frightened, horned frogs can squirt a fine, four-foot stream of blood from their eyes.

The Horned Frog was named the State Reptile of Texas in 1992.

In stories of Native Americans in the Southwest, horned frogs are depicted as ancient, powerful and respected. Archaeologists find horned frogs on petroglyphs, pottery and other crafts painted hundreds of years before Columbus set sail for America. In some parts of Mexico, folklore persists that these creatures which weep tears of blood are sacred.

TCU and the horned frog first teamed up in 1896. Legend has it the unimproved field on which AddRan College's first football team practiced teemed with horned frogs. Someone intimated the players scampered about like the fierce-looking and sturdy creatures, and the players began referring to themselves as such. The name stuck. Others report a four-student committee chose the name in 1897 for their team and the first yearbook, which was to be published that year. There may be truth to both stories. Addison Clark Jr., who is credited with bringing about both the first yearbook and the first football team, was fascinated with horned frogs and likely influenced that decision. Today? The Horned Frog remains one of the most endearing college mascots, named the best in fact by ESPN at one time. And through the years, though it has changed forms many times, the horned frog remains an integral part of the TCU tradition and experience.

For my fellow runners who will be with me on the journey from Hopkinton to Boston, I promise that this horned frog will not squirt any blood from my eyes…at least that is not my plan.

On the road again...

I just returned from my trip to Texas to visit Bev’s family for the holidays. It was the first time we had all of Bev’s sisters, husbands and children all in one place. It was really fun to see them all together and having so much fun. We had a very nice Christmas lunch before some of the family had to leave to visit their other families. Later that night, we lit the Menorah for Hanukkah which was nice. Overall, it was a great visit.

I did get my runs in this week while on the road. There is a nice loop run I can do from my in-laws house. It is relatively flat. I was a little under the weather when I got to Mansfield as my long run on the 21st was in a light snow and only 17 degrees. My sinuses were draining and causing me to have trouble breathing. The good news is that after one 6 miler in the unseasonably warm weather in Texas, I was recovering nicely.

I will post another note later in the week with my running plans and goals for the New Year. I have noticed that no one has commented on any of my postings. Don’t be shy. Whether you like or dislike my rambling thoughts, your comments are welcome.

Here are my training totals for this week:
Dec. 21 – 8.00 miles (1:19:56, 9:59 pace)

Dec. 22 – 6.00 miles (58:44, 9:47 pace)

Dec. 23 – 3.10 miles (24:05, 7:46 pace) – Speed work
Dec. 24 – 6.01 miles (50:20, 8:22 pace) – Tempo Run
Dec. 25 – 6.20 miles (52:10, 8:25 pace)

Dec. 26 – 6.00 miles (52:12, 8:42 pace)

Total Miles: 35.31 miles

YTD Miles: 1,041.79 miles

1,000 miles and Counting

I did it! I passed 1,000 miles of running this year. I had a goal to hit 1,000 mile when I started running on January 1, 2008. Consistency is the key to meeting a goal like this one. I am planning the same goal in 2009.

We ended up with a little over 8” of snow so far from this storm. It is really hard to measure the actual snowfall. But, it was less than originally predicted. As expected, the footing on my run this morning was a little treacherous. I still went out there to get my training run in knowing the pace would be much slower than usual.

I have found that in training for a marathon I can take a day off here and there and not affect my overall fitness level. It is just hard for me to miss a day as I look forward to it. As I said yesterday, I love when the snow is falling and everything is so quiet out on the road. There was very little traffic this morning making it a safe run.

The snow will continue through today. My long run tomorrow will be a challenge if the roads and sidewalks are not cleared off. I will assess the conditions in the morning and decide what to do then. Until then, I think I will just sit in the living room and look out the windows at our winter wonderland.

Here are my training totals for this week:
Dec. 14 – 10.20 miles (1:29:40, 8:47 pace)

Dec. 15 – 6.00 miles (54:30, 9:05 pace)

Dec. 16 – 3.00 miles (23:25, 7:49 pace) – Speed work
Dec. 18 – 6.00 miles (53:16, 8:52 pace) – Tempo Run
Dec. 19 – 6.00 miles (53:51, 8:58 pace)

Dec. 20 – 6.00 miles (1:00:20, 10:03 pace)

Total Miles: 37.20 miles

YTD Miles: 1,006.48 miles

The Storm Approaches

Well, we sit and wait for the first huge snow storm of the season. Forecasts vary. The general consensus is that we should get between 1 & 2 inches per hour starting around 1:00 pm today. This coupled with winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of 45 mph should make the afternoon commute interesting to say the least.

I am not sure how I will get my 2 runs in this weekend depending on the snow accumulation. Sidewalks and streets will not be as clear as normal making my outdoor runs a little more trecherous. I have learned a lot about running in winter weather living here in New England. It is definitely different than running back in San Diego.

The first thing I found out is that running on snow and ice takes a heck of a lot more energy than running without snow. Therefore, I typically have to modify my pace. Even though my pace is less, I can tell you that the workout is certainly tough and it is a run that challenges my strength, balance and focus. Here are a couple of other pointers I have learned the hard way (meaning I have taken a few spills out there):

1. I like to run on fresh snow over ice or packed snow as the traction is better;
2. I learned to shorten my stride and to keep my feet lower to the ground;
3. I found that I am more sore at the end of my run than a normal day. Running on snow requires the stabilizing muscles on the inner and outer legs to work twice as hard;
4. I also learned that I need to be even more focused on the road ahead to avoid obstacles, snow plows, cars, etc.

Overall, I enjoy running in snowy conditions. It is so peaceful. It really allows me to be in the moment which is what makes running such a personal sport. I will post another message on my blog Sunday after my long run. Wish me luck with Mr. Snow Miser.

Running on the Course Part 2...

The winter storm has subsided. Although it is still cold out there, I was able to go down to Framingham and run the next 5 mile segment of the Boston Marathon route. My route today would take me to the 10 mile marker in Natick. I started at the same place I left off a couple of weeks ago at the Framingham Town Line. The next 5 mile segment would take me through Framingham and almost to Natick Center.

As I described in the first blog about the course, the first five miles are almost all down hill. The good news is that as you hit the Framingham Town Line, the course flattens out for the next five miles. Don't get me wrong...flat is a relative term (see elevation profile). But, overall it is a very easy five mile segment.

I ran along Route 135 towards Framingham Center. With a population of almost 67,000 , Framingham is the largest Town in Massachusetts and the hub of the Metro-West region where I live. One of the things Framingham is famous for during the Revolutionary Period is that this is the town where Crispus Attucks lived. If you don't remember your history, Attucks was the first to fall mortally wounded at what is know as the Boston Massacre. According to the historical society, Attucks lived on what is Route 9, not far from the State Police Academy. Route 9 is north of the marathon route.

There is one other connection to the Revolutionary War here in Framingham. Framingham was the town that Henry Knox dragged his "cannon train" to from Ft. Ticonderoga in January 1776. General Knox waited in Framingham for orders to bring the artillery to sites around Boston where they would force out the occupying British forces (Evacuation Day, March 17). Our Boy Scout Troop 100 of Westborough is part of the Knox Trail Council named for Gen. Henry Knox and has their headquarters in Framingham.

As I passed the center of Framingham, I ran past the train station and past one of my favorite wing joints -- The Chicken Bone. We sometimes go over there for lunch from work. As they say, "The Chicken Bone, on Rte. 135 Framingham, is the place to be for Bone-i-fied Fun!" It is definitely not on my training table right now. But, I will be visiting them some time after race day.

Not too much further up Route 135, I hit the Natick Town Line. Natick has a rich history as well. It started out as a farming town, but later, was more know for their shoe industry. Natick gradually became one of the largest producers of boots and shoes and by 1880 had 23 shoe manufacturers. Natick was famous for its brogan, a heavy ankle-high boot worn by soldiers in the Civil War. During the early part of this century the shoe industry suffered and the last shoe factory in Natick, the Winchell Shoe Co., closed in 1971. The wound core for a more resilient baseball and figure-eight stitching were devised in Natick. This new ball was manufactured by the firm of H. Harwood & Sons in their factory built in 1858 - the first plant in the world for the manufacture of baseballs. You can see some of the factory buildings along the route.

I have to say that when you run in towns here in Massachusetts you see things you would never see if you were driving through. As I ran along Route 135, I passed a little wooden building at 181 West Central St. (Rte 135). It was the original building that Henry Wilson worked in as a cobbler. You may ask who is Henry Wilson. He not only established a shoe factory in Natick but later went into politics and became Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. I have driven down Route 135 many times and never noticed the building. Look for it on the left hand side of the road as you approach Natick Center.

I finally reach the 10 mile marker and turned around to head back to my car. The run was enjoyable and I finished a 10.2 mile loop run in 1:29:40 (8:47 per mile). This was a little faster than I wanted to run. I guess the flat route and sunny morning made it easy for me. I am starting on my 4 month program on Monday. I am looking forward to my training and utltimately crossing the finish line in Boston.

Winter Storm Leaves Us in the Dark

Here is the headline in the Boston Globe today -- Ice storm paralyzes parts of New England -- Close to a million without power! Unfortunately, we were one of the people without power. There were about 2,000 homes affected here in Westborough. The good news is our power is back on as of 4:00 pm yesterday. That was a huge relief. We have two pets (Spiny the Bearded Dragon and Coco the Hedgehog) who need heat to survive. Thank G-d we had hand warmers to put under a towel to keep them warm while we waited for power to be restored.

At about 2:20 am early Friday morning, I was woken by all of our hard-wired smoke detectors going off at once when we lost power. I got up and turned on my watch alarm so I wouldn’t miss my morning run or be late to work. I could hear the heavy rains beating down on the roof. I never suspected how bad it really was in Worcester County.

My alarm went off at 5:00 am and I got up to get dressed for my run. The rain was still coming down in buckets and it was pretty windy. Our power was still out. The temperature was 34 when I jumped in the car to head over to the YMCA to run on the treadmill. The roads were wet but fine. A few trees had lost some limbs. But, the center of Westborough and most of the town was lit up normally. So, I suspected we would have power early in the day.

When I got home, I found out school had been cancelled due to one of the grade schools being without power. I took a shower and headed to the office. Still totally unaware of how bad things were around the county. It wasn’t until I got to the office and perused the news on the internet that I got a full picture of what was going on. Here is a brief description of the storm in today’s Globe from the Boston Globe writers David Abel and John R. Ellement:

Nearly a million homes and businesses in New England are facing a weekend without electricity after a rare combination of low pressure, moist air, and cold, powerful winds produced a punishing ice storm that swept through the region yesterday, felling countless power lines and trees and closing hundreds of roads.

The storm, which has caused tens of millions of dollars in damage across the region, led Governor Deval Patrick to declare a state of emergency, allowing him to mobilize 500 members of the National Guard to help clear roads and provide support. Patrick, who estimated the cost to the state at about $7 million, said he would seek a presidential disaster declaration to make federal money available for recovery efforts.

"I don't think anyone is expecting the power will be back in large numbers for a few days," Patrick said in a telephone interview last night. "I think it could be longer than Monday for certain parts of the Commonwealth. We'll know more after a lot of the debris is cleared in the next few days."

No deaths or serious injuries were reported, but the storm left utility companies grappling with unprecedented power outages.

I am hopeful that power will be restored quickly to all of the homes affected here in New England. It is getting down in the teens at night and even with fireplaces and fleece blankets it is too cold to be without heat. I know the power companies in the states affected are working overtime to fix the problem. I am thankful that we already have power.

Here are my training totals for this week:

Dec. 7 – 9.00 miles (1:20:50, 8:59 pace)

Dec. 8 – 6.00 miles (53:41, 8:57 pace)

Dec. 9 – 3.00 miles (24:03, 8:01 pace) – Speed work
Dec. 11 – 6.00 miles (52:55, 8:49 pace) – Tempo Run
Dec. 12 – 6.00 miles (53:15, 8:53 pace)

Dec. 13 – 6.20 miles (54:23, 8:46 pace)

Total Miles: 36.20 miles

YTD Miles: 969.28 miles

Running in Central Park

I was in New York on business the last 3 days. I had a speed work session scheduled for Tuesday morning. I had decided before I left Boston that I wanted to run outside in the city rather than indoors on a treadmill. Luckily enough, my hotel was only 2 blocks south of Central Park. So, I decided I would get up early Tuesday morning and do my work out in Central Park.

Monday morning’s run before I left for New York was brutally cold as it was only 14 o when I went out for my 6 miler. I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped out of the Wellington Hotel to a balmy 30o . I entered the park on the southern end taking Park Drive along the west side of the park up past Tavern on the Green. Tavern on the Green was originally the Sheepfold that housed the sheep that grazed Sheep Meadow built in 1870. It became a restaurant as part of a 1934 renovation of the park. Tavern on the Green is known for being frequented by prominent actors, musicians, politicians, and writers.

I passed the softball fields and headed up towards the lake. As I passed the lake and neared 81st St. it was time to turn around and head back to the start. I have to say for 6:00 am it was relatively crowded on the route. There were people of all fitness levels. Some were running with their dog. Some with friends. They were running at all different paces. I felt so comfortable with my own pace that I was able to just zone out and run. I walked a little bit after finishing my run just taking in the sites on the southern end of the park. It is quite an oasis there in the middle of Manhattan. I wished I had a longer run. With my taking over New York as the real estate dealmaker, I will probably get a few more chances to run in Central Park. I will have to try and make sure it is on days when I have a longer run scheduled so I can see more of the park.

There is one bit of trivia that interested me about Central Park. As most people know, it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. There is a connection with Boston because Olmstead also designed Boston's Emerald Necklace. The Boston Athletic Association’s Half Marathon route runs through part of the Emerald Necklace. So there is even a connection between the B.A.A. and Central Park. I am including a link to the Central Park Runner’s map. If you ever are in NYC and want to run in the park this is a great map to use for your run.

http://www.centralpark.com/usr/maps/CentralParkRunningMap.pdf

Training Update and Shameless Plug

I looked at the calendar today and realized that the marathon is only 4 ½ months away. The other sad realization I came to was that I am going to be training through some very cold winter months to get ready for Boston. This morning was a rude awakening when I checked the thermometer and it read 20 degrees. I bundled up and went out any way.

My base training is going really well. I am having no issues at all…knock wood. I am planning on a 16 week training plan which will officially kick off December 29th. My plan is to build up my long runs to 16-18 miles at the peak. I will taper back in late March to allow my body to recover prior to the race.

Nathan and I had to go to my local running store (PR Running) to get Nathan some racing flats for Indoor track season and to get him some new trainers. While I was in the store I met a guy who has run Boston several times. Based on our discussion, he is a sub 3 hour marathoner. He gave me some great tips on how to run the race. The most valuable in my opinion based on the five miles I covered last Sunday is to take it easy in the beginning and not get fooled by the downhill portion of the course. He did tell me that I will have a great time and that the crowds in Boston are like no other marathon crowd he has ever seen.

Rich Allen (PR Running’s owner) also has run Boston and told me that it would be a great idea to try and run at a comfortable pace in the beginning. He said the toughest part of the race is the later stages and that feeling strong with some gas left in the tank is the best place to be late in the race. Rick said if I felt good after the Newton Hills and Heartbreak Hill, there is no reason not to pick up the pace slightly and finish strong. Both gave me some great advice and previews of the race.

A brief plug for PR Running. They pride themselves on customer service. I have to admit I am constantly impressed with Rick’s knowledge of running and his attention to putting you in the right shoe. On top of that, he some how always remembers my size, the shoe I have been using and the races I have run or will be running. I cannot more highly recommend their store if you live out here in MetroWest Boston. I will put a link on this site if you want to know more about their store.

Here are my training totals for this week:

Nov. 30 – 10.00 miles (1:27:29, 8:44 pace)
Dec. 1 – 6.20 miles (56:22, 9:05 pace)
Dec. 2 – 3.00 miles (24:18, 8:06 pace) – Speed work
Dec. 4 – 6.00 miles (53:38, 8:56 pace) – Tempo Run
Dec. 5 – 6.41 miles (56:32, 8:49 pace)
Dec. 6 – 6.20 miles (55:39, 8:58 pace)

Total Miles: 37.81 miles
YTD Miles: 933.08 miles

Running on the course...

This past Sunday I decided to do my long run on the actual Boston Marathon Course. I live about 5 miles north of the starting line. So, I got up early Sunday morning and headed down to the corner of Main St. & Ash St. in the heart of Hopkinton. No matter when you visit the site, you will always find the starting line painted across Main St. Of course, it is quite faded now as it is 8 months since the last race. But, it is still there.

I planned to run a 5 mile out & back route. This would take me from Hopkinton through Ashland and finish in Framiningham before heading back to the starting line. I was actually a little bit excited about actually running on the course. I have lived so close to the start for 4 years but never thought about running down the marathon route. I toed the line, hit my Garmin and headed out.

The first 5 miles of the marathon course are mostly down hill (see elevation chart). The first 2 miles take you through a typical western suburb town with houses on either side. As I ran along I could still see the kilometer and mile marks painted on the street which made it easy for me to know where I was on the route. There are a couple of small rolling hills during the first 3 miles. But, nothing I couldn't handle.

As I neared the 4 mile mark, the route started to really flatten out and I found myself in central Ashland. There are several shopping centers along this portion of the route. I noticed a serious increase in traffic around me. So, I started to pay a little more attention to my surroundings. I also noted that the terrain was slowly going uphill. The uphill portion was gradual and nothing I hadn't run in training around Westborough.

As I came up the hill, I reached the split in the route where I had to go onto Waverly St. Waverly St. is the street that takes you into Framingham center. I finished the first 5 miles of the planned route at the Framingham Town sign on Waverly St. I turned and headed back to the start.

I have to say running back towards the starting line was actually much tougher than running towards Boston (east). The hills are actually steeper than they appear when you are going down hill. But, I did make it back and felt I had a good preview of the first 1/5 of the marathon route. I think I will try to run 5 miles segments of the course over the next several months to get a feel for it. It will take some of the mystery out of the race and allow me to relax when I am running it for real.

Friends

I have been thinking about friends I have lost touch with over the years when I am out on the road getting in my base miles. I guess the holidays bring these memories back. As I think about high school, college and other friends I have not heard from in years I realize that even though we are not in touch, they still have had an impact on my life.

A Prayer
By Frank D. Sherman

It is my joy in life to find
At every turning of the road
The strong arm of a comrade kind
To help me onward with my load.

And since I have no gold to give,
And love alone must make amends,
My only prayer is while I live-
God make me worthy of my friends.

I hope that I am worthy of those who have been there for me over the years. Even though I may not speak to all of my past and present friends as often as I should, I still think of them often and smile at the memories. I know that when we get together again no matter how long it has been, it will seem as if time had not passed and we will begin again where we left off.

Here is my training totals for this week:

Nov. 23 – 8.10 miles (1:15:25, 9:19 pace)

Nov. 24 – 6.20 miles (57:19, 9:14 pace)

Nov. 25 – 6.00 miles (54:29, 9:05 pace) – Tempo Run
Nov. 27 – 3.10 miles (22:45, 7:21 pace) – Speedwork, 5K Race

Nov. 28 – 6.20 miles (53:50, 8:41 pace)

Nov. 21 – 6.20 miles (52:40, 8:29 pace)

Total Miles: 35.80 miles

YTD Miles: 895.27 miles

Turkey Day Race Report

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I started a tradition when I moved to New England by running a road race on Thanksgiving morning. I had two reasons for starting the tradition – 1) so I could eat more and not feel guilty about it and 2) there were so many races to choose from here in the Boston area.

I have run the Lowell Thanks-4-Giving 5K, the Feaster Five Road Race in Andover and most recently the Southborough 5k Gobble Wobble. The last one I have run twice. The main reason is that it is close to home and I can get my son Nathan to run it with me.

The Southborough 5k Gobble Wobble was started last year by NRG-BAR, Eat Healthy Live Healthy. It starts and ends at the Trottier School in Southborough, MA. The course is relatively flat and allows runners to try for PRs or just to run and have fun. Last year I ran a 24:06 (7:45 per mile) time. I felt that with my recent training, I could beat that time. I had run another 5K race in the fall in San Diego when I was there on business and had a time of 24:28.

When the gun went off, I was in the back of the pack where I prefer to start. I worked my way through the crowd during the 1st mile until I was able to get into a steady pace. I held my pace through mile 2 where I clocked in at 15:12. I knew I had to pick it up for the last 1.1 miles. I slowly increased my pace and made a game of passing my fellow runners as I made my way to the final turn and the ¾ lap of the track to the finish line. When I stepped on the track I increased my turnover and was able to cross the finish line at 22:45 (7:21 per mile). I was very happy with my time. I am not certain but I think this is a PR time for me at the 5K distance.

Nathan ran a normal race for him. He had been laying off training after finishing his Cross Country Season at Westborough High School. He was waiting for me at the finish area having clocked a time of 19:24 (6:16 per mile). He was somewhat unhappy with his time as he had clocked a 5K race for his team last month in 18:59. But, I was still amazed at his time. It is hard to believe that just 8 years ago, we ran together in his first 5k race where he finished in 29:14. He has definitely improved.

I finished 12th out of 41 in the 45-49 age group and Nathan finished 8th out of 34 in his 13-19 age group. Not bad for a couple of guys out for a fun morning before gorging ourselves on turkey and all the trimmings.

I would highly recommend to anyone who is a runner to start a similar tradition. It gets you off the couch and outside for a good workout before eating. It reduces guilt and allows you to do something with your family besides watching football and overeating. So, next year think about signing up for a Turkey Trot…you won’t regret it.

Jack Frost Nipping at My Nose

Jack Frost has definitely hit us here in New England. Starting Wednesday, the temperature during my morning runs was around 27 degrees Celsius. I can assure you it is difficult to get out on the road when it is that cold. Not to mention the wind every morning made it especially embracing. It is hard to believe a native Californian can brave these temperatures.

I did get all of my runs in this week. I was not able to take a day off until Saturday. The weekend was my son’s Boy Scout Troop’s Annual Turkey Feast. We host Webelos and their families from our town in hopes of having them cross over and join our Troop in April. We had a lot of them out this weekend. We roasted 3 big turkeys over a wood fire on a spit, baked a couple of hams in box ovens and served it all with the normal feast fixings. It was all topped off with fresh bakes apple pies from our Dutch Ovens.

We built a monkey bridge during the day and had the Webelos climb across it. All in all and despite the frigid temperatures, we had a great time. My son and I look forward to this event every year. The fun part this year was my daughter joined us and camped with me this weekend. It had been a long time since she went camping with me. I really loved it.

Other than some minimal dull aches, my shoulder injury is basically healed. I will baby it a bit for a few more days. I was pleased with my training this week. My long run was longer than expected as I felt better and made a wrong turn on my way back to the start of the route. No worries. It was a nice run none the less.


Nov. 16 – 10.00 miles (1:23:33, 8:21 pace)
Nov. 17 – 6.00 miles (54:54, 9:09 pace)
Nov. 18 – 3.00 miles (24:37, 8:13 pace) -- Speedwork
Nov. 19 – 6.00 miles (54:22, 9:03 pace)
Nov. 20 – 6.00 miles (53:14, 8:52 pace)
Nov. 21 – 6.00 miles (54:05, 9:01 pace)

Total Miles: 37.00 miles
YTD Miles: 859.47 miles

Unknown Injury

I woke up on Tuesday with some light soreness in my right shoulder. I headed over to the gym to do a treadmill run and to take a steam to clear my sinuses. I was going to Connecticut and Westchester County, New York to look at real estate. This comprised about 8 hours in a car. By the time I got home from the day trip, my shoulder was very sore and stiff.

When I went to bed that night, it was really bothering me and I couldn’t lift my arm without a sharp pain. It kept me up most of the night. I was taking Wednesday off as part of my usual routine. So, I thought another day of rest would get me over the pain and I could get back to a normal routine.

Well, it didn’t work out that way. I went to the chiropractor to see if he could relieve the pain. In the end, he helped me a little but suggested I go see my primary care physician. My primary care physician wasn’t sure what the cause is as I did not injure it in any way. He ordered x-rays which I am waiting for the results. But, he did suggest I try acupuncture to see if it could relieve the pain. I have never had acupuncture. But, I was willing to try anything at this point.

I went to see an acupuncturist on Friday. I was a bit surprised that my primary MD recommended it until I read a little about acupuncture. “Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin, to various depths at strategic points on your body. Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago, but over the past two decades its popularity has grown significantly within the United States. Although scientists don't fully understand how or why acupuncture works, some studies indicate that it may provide a number of medical benefits — from reducing pain to helping with chemotherapy-induced nausea” (from http://www.mayoclinic.com/). I wasn’t sure what to expect or if it would even help. But, I went any way.

I have to say that after the session (about 45 minutes); I could immediately move my arm with a broader range of motion. The ache and pain was significantly reduced. I was amazed. I am going to go back again on Monday for a second session in hopes that it will continue to have a positive impact on my healing process. It will allow me to continue running and perhaps shorten the 5-6 week healing time frame my primary care physician estimated.

I should say here that I am generally a person who wants to find alternative ways to healing that don’t include drugs and/or surgery. I believe strongly that we can heal ourselves through other methods like acupuncture and herbal medicines. I have been able to reduce my cholesterol significantly through a change in my diet and taking fish and flax seed oil tablets along with niacin (a B vitamin). Of course, if drugs or surgery are necessary, I am all for it. I just like to exhaust other methods before resorting to those cures. I guess that is why I like my primary care physician. He too is open to alternative methods if they can be effective.

Obviously, my training was a bit affected by the shoulder injury. But, I still had a good week overall.

Nov. 9 – 10.00 miles (1:27:50, 8:47 pace)
Nov. 10 – 6.06 miles (54:19, 8:58 pace)
Nov. 11 – 3.00 miles (24:34, 8:11 pace) -- Speedwork
Nov. 13 – 6.20 miles (53:56, 8:41 pace)
Nov. 14 – 6.20 miles (55:45, 8:58 pace)
Nov. 15 – 6.00 miles (54:09, 9:01 pace)

Total Miles: 37.46 miles
YTD Miles: 822.47 miles

Why Eighteen?

I am excited to report that I have just past the half way point towards my fundraising goal. I really appreciate the support of my family and friends. I know this is a tough economic time and you have all gone above and beyond my expectations. I just hope I don’t let you down when I run the race.

I titled this blog “Why Eighteen?” because I noticed that many of my donations have been in multiples of the number 18. I think most of you know that I am Jewish. In Judaism, the number 18 has a significant meaning. The Hebrew word for "life" is חי (chai), which has a numerical value of 18. Consequently, the custom has arisen in Jewish circles to give donations and monetary gifts in multiples of 18 as an expression of blessing for long life. How appropriate to give a gift that expresses a blessing for long life especially to those who are fighting cancer.

I want to expand a little on what we as Jews learn from the number 18, or Chai.

From the website http://www.inner.org/responsa/responsa.htm

“Kabbalah teaches that 18 corresponds to the power of ratzon, ("will"), in the soul. This is the third and lowest head of the keter. The commandments of the Torah are the will of G-d. When a person performs a commandment, he gives
G-d, as it were, nachat ruach, "pleasure," in that he performed G-d's will. Ratzon ("will") corresponds to Arich, which is also Arichut Yamim, ("long life"). This of course, corresponds to chai, 18. The long life alluded to here is in the merit of the commandments that the person performs.”

I consider that my running of the Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana-Farber team as performing a mitzvah. But, all of you who have given generously to this cause are also performing a mitzvah. I am hoping that this community effort will give G-d nachat ruach. I know that I will enjoy every step of the route thanks to you.

The other interesting number in this effort is the number 26. According to the website http://kabbalahcode.com/, the number 26 is a fundamental number of the universe. Here is what they had to say:

“Kabbalah is in agreement with science. Take the numbers, 26 and 137, which are said to be the fundamental numbers of the universe. Richard Feynman, recognized as our foremost authority on the subject of creation, a brilliant physicist, and Nobel Laureate, is quoted as saying that physicists ought to remind themselves of how much they don’t know by putting a sign on the walls of their offices with the number, 137. Feynman stated, "It is one of the greatest mysteries of physics, a magic number that comes to us with no understanding by man. You might say the "hand of God" wrote that number and we don’t know how He pushed the pencil." Werner Heisenberg, another giant in the world of physics said that all the problems of quantum theory would disappear only when 137 was explained. The book of Genesis says God told Moses that He has revealed Himself under other names but that His true essence is the number of the four letters YHVH which translates into English as Yahweh or Jehovah. It is used by many Christian sects as the name of God. The number of YHVH is 26. Yud = 10, Hay = 5, and a Vav = 6, for a total of 26. In English, G is the seventh letter of the alphabet, O is fifteenth, and D is fourth. 7 + 15 + 4 equals 26. Kabbalah teaches God is 26. Neils Bohr, discovered that when electrons absorbed energy they jumped to higher orbits and that these jumps occur at very specific distances from the nucleus. He created a chart showing the maximum number of electrons possible in each orbit was 2, 8, 18, 32, and 50. On his death bed he confessed that he derived these numbers from the number 26. And physicists using Dimensional Analysis have shown that the minimum number of dimensions in our universe is 26.”

Think about it. The fact that the marathon course is 26 miles (I am of course ignoring the 0.2 of a mile) is a way to connect at a higher level. In a sense, we are running G-d’s route. We are linking ourselves to G-d and our greater community through running a marathon. I know most of us run in solitude. When I am out on the road in the early morning, I sometimes think of it as a meditative experience. It is a time where in that quiet you can hear G-d’s voice and you are at one with the universe. This must be why I enjoy the training for and running a marathon. I hope you too will see the greater connection between the marathon distance and G-d.

Here is how my training went this week:

Nov. 2 – 8.27 miles (1:13:03, 8:50 pace)

Nov. 3 -- 6.00 miles (55:36, 9:15 pace)

Nov. 4 -- 3.00 miles (25:10, 8:23 pace) -- Speedwork

Nov. 6 -- 6.00 miles (56:57, 9:29 pace)

Nov. 7 -- 6.00 miles (53:19, 8:53 pace)

Nov. 8 -- 6.20 miles (54:57, 8:52 pace)

Total Miles: 35.47 miles

YTD Miles: 785.01 miles

Training Update

I was on the road this week in Texas. I started in Houston and went to Austin and San Antonio. I was able to get a run in while in Houston and two really nice runs through downtown San Antonio. I ran by the Alamo which looks really cool in the pre-dawn light.

Oct. 26 -- 9.09 miles (1:21:53, 9:01 pace)
Oct. 27 -- 6.15 miles (56:47, 9:13 pace)
Oct. 28 -- 3.00 miles (26:47, 8:56 pace) -- Speedwork in Houston
Oct. 30 -- 6.00 miles (51:09, 8:31 pace)-- San Antonio
Oct. 31 -- 6.00 miles (53:19, 8:53 pace)-- San Antonio
Nov. 1 -- 6.21 miles (54:54, 8:50 pace)

Total Miles: 36.45 miles
YTD Miles: 749.54 miles

I enjoy running in the fall. The weather is cool and brisk. I don't have to bundle up too much for a run. It was a little strange running in Texas this week as it was unusually warm there. But, it was a nice change of pace for me. I am a little suprised by my times. I really was not pushing the pace. In fact, I was just running without paying any attention to my Garmin. It will be interesting to see how I feel at the end of next week's training.

Training Update

For those of you who know me, I have been consistently running 4 to 6 days a week for as long as I can remember. This new moderate consistent plan that I am on is a bit different. But, I think it is going to get me well prepared for Boston. I thought I would post my weekly running stats for those who want to follow my progress.

Oct. 19 -- 8.06 miles (1:12:28, 8:59 pace)
Oct. 20 -- 6.00 miles (56:06, 9:21 pace)
Oct. 21 -- 3.00 miles (24:41, 8:14 pace) -- Speedwork
Oct. 23 -- 6.00 miles (57:34, 9:36 pace)
Oct. 24 -- 6.00 miles (56:17, 9:04 pace)
Oct. 25 -- 6.02 miles (54:56, 9:07 pace)

Total Miles: 35.06 miles

My training is going well and I am feeling good.

YTD Miles: 713.09 miles

I am a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team

Well, I made it as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team for the Boston Marathon 2009! Here is some information on DFMC:

“The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team is a diverse group, ranging from young to young at heart, from novice runner to experienced marathoner, from New England states to faraway continents, from college students to homemakers to CEOs to retirees. It encompasses DFMC's "invitational" marathon roster of runner-fundraisers who are not time-qualified for the Boston Marathon® as well as a sizeable contingent of Boston qualifiers. Virtually every teammate has been touched in some way by cancer. These dedicated individuals are united by their tremendous personal commitment to fighting cancer through the fundraising and training components of DFMC.

The Marathon Challenge directs 100 percent of funds raised to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, which enables researchers at the leading edge of scientific sleuth work to achieve better cure rates and to enhance patients' quality of life. DFMC took its first steps in 1990 as one of the inaugural organizations in the official B.A.A. Boston Marathon® Charity Program. The team aims to celebrate DFMC 2009, its 20th year, by raising $4.85 million for the Barr Program.

Now for the fun facts!

While Dana-Farber's mission couldn't be more serious and intense, DFMC team members have a fantastic and unforgettable experience while supporting a superb, pioneering institution:

• Fundraising made easy and fun
• The best training program around
• The DFMC Patient and In-Memory Partner Program™
• Marathon weekend festivities
• Exclusive amenities and commemorative items
• Unsurpassed camaraderie and volunteer support”
  

Check back with me and I will have a link to my fundraising page where you can join me and Dana Farber in reaching “the ultimate finish line — a world without cancer”. I hope you will be a part of this very noble cause.

Training Methods

As I say in my profile, I am a middle of the pack runner. I have moments of greatness (mostly in my mind) and have run some good 5K and 10K times in my past. But, when it comes to Marathons, my best is 4:25:03 at the Inaugural Arizona Rock & Roll Marathon. So, I am just your average runner out there just trying to get to the finish line.

I thought I would write a little something about my training methods. The first program I used when I ran my first marathon in 2000 was Dave Kuehls - 4 Months to A 4 Hour Marathon Book. It did what I needed it to do and that was teach me about distance training. In that program I ran 3 long runs of 20 miles including one 23 miler. It worked out well and I was able to reach my goal of finishing a marathon.

I read more and more about marathoning in various running magazines and websites. I wanted to find a way to train for a marathon that would allow me to improve my times. I ran another marathon using the Dave Kuehls method. I trained harder and did speedwork for the first time. However, my results were the same. I was within 5 minutes of my first marathon.

Then I decided I really wanted to run a marathon in under 4:30:00. I found a website (http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm) of someone I had read about in Runner's World -- Hal Higdon. I chose the Advanced Plan and did all of the workouts per the instructions on the website. I felt great when I got to Phoenix to run my sub 4:30:00 PR. It worked for me.

Since running the Arizona Rock & Roll Marathon, I have run 2 more (Suzuki Rock & Roll Marathon and the Marine Corps. Marathon). In both cases, my times were slower and I did not PR. I was using the same training method. But, I was not breaking through. I was not disocuraged though. I decided to look for a new training program that would not require as many 20 milers. I have found through reading other runner's blogs, websites, and listening to podcasts (Phedippidations is my personal fav) that you don't have to run 20 milers in your training to improve your time.

So, for my next marathon in Boston, I have decided to try the Hanson Brooks Moderate Consistent plan. I have been running the work outs from this plan for 3 weeks now. I am enjoying the challenge as I am running 6 miles 4 times during the week, a 3 mile run at an 8:30 per mile pace and then a long run of 8 - 10 miles. This is my base building period before I start the official 4 month program.

What I have found is that any number of programs will work for you. But, the key is that they have to fit into your personal life schedule. I have two kids (17 & 14), a beautiful wife and a full time job that puts me on the road several days each month. Therefore, I need a training program that is flexible. All of the programs I used in the past and the Hanson Brooks plans give me flexibility. This means that I will stick with them.

The real answer to the question of what is the best marathon training plan is simple...there isn't one. Whichever program you choose remember to stay healthy, build slowly, take days off, try to run at least one of your workouts at your goal pace and finally taper. If you can get to the starting line healthy and rested, the greater your chance of a marathon success.

Welcome to my new Blog

I am new to blogging. But, I felt very strongly that if I am going to raise money to help find a cure for cancer, I should use every avenue available to me. I was just accepted onto the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team for the 2009 Boston Marathon. I am planning to write about my training and various thoughts that come to me while I am out on the roads getting ready to run an American Classic Marathon.

Hopefully, you will join me on this journey and when I get my website set up for donations to Dana Farber you will donate to this very worthy cause. Perhaps we will find a cure for cancer in the very near future.

See you out on the road.