Once More Around the Sun

Here it is January 2015 and we have all survived another trip around the sun.  It is also happens to be the end of my 7th year of writing about running and other subjects here on my blog.  As I reflect on this past year, I see that I had some real highs and lows as a runner.  I realize now how happy I am to have experienced the lows because they have not only made me a better runner but a stronger person.  The thought of becoming stronger through tribulations reminds me of the great Oscar Wilde quote, "Experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes."  Experiencing a setback and overcoming it this year gave me an attitude of resilience and determination in my running and has flowed over into all aspects of my life. I know that through this understanding and new attitude, I can stand up to anything at all and still get out on the road the next day to run.

Let's review how my year of running unfolded.  My running year started off with the early stages of my marathon training program.  I was signed up to run in the 118th Boston Marathon for my favorite charity - the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  This was also going to be the year that I would break 4 hours again.  My early training was going great.  My weight was back down to just about the same level as 2009 when I broke 4 hours in Boston.  I had high hopes for the race.  More importantly, I wanted to exceed my fundraising efforts above my normal $15,000 this year.  As a Rabbi once told me, "Man makes plans and G-d laughs".  Little did I know how much G-d would be laughing at me this year.

The first running event I had planned for 2014 was the Ragnar Del Sol adventure relay right here in my backyard.  I have run several of these types of relays in the past and wanted to get a team together from work.  I was so proud to have been able to encourage 23 other runners to run their first adventure relay race with me.  We truly embodied the company's philosophy of healthy living.  I get so energized when I can share my passion for running with others who may not run or who don't have a passion for it.   I try to get people to see that life truly begins at the end of your comfort zone.  What better way to find that out than in a 200 mile 12 person relay race across the desert of Arizona. 

You can read about my experience as part of the Sprouts Wasted Away in Wickenburg team in my March 3rd post.  All I can say is that the race was a blast.  I was deep into my marathon training and I was feeling strong.  My three legs totaled 21.6 miles over the 31 hours we ran and included a first leg of 13.6 miles.  I absolutely crushed my legs averaging 8:40 per mile overall.  I was so happy with my personal effort but even happier about how well our teams did overall.  We were able to complete the 203 mile course in just over 31 hours which is not bad for teams made up of distance runners and non-distance runners.  What is really exciting is that Sprouts has two teams entered in this year's race as well.  A tradition has started.

My next race came up the following weekend.  I know...what was I thinking.  I ran in the 1/2 marathon that is part of the Phoenix Marathon.  I wasn't sure this was the best idea.  But I wanted to go out and get an idea of how well my training was going.  Much to my surprise, I went out on a perfect weather day and ran my best 1/2 marathon ever.  I set a new PR of 1:50:48 (8:26 per mile).  Based on this race, I should have been able to run a 3:51:42 marathon which would be an 8:50 per mile pace.  This was great news since I wanted to break 4 hours.  Based on my results, I felt confident that I could go out and average 9 minute miles which would bring me in at 3:55:58.  All I had to do was complete my training and get to the starting line injury free.

I made it to Boston excited to be back after moving away in December 2012.  I had been feeling twinges of pain in my hamstring during the final weeks of training but figured some good rest prior to race day would allow me to hit the starting line ready to reach my goal.  If you want to read the full explanation of my race you can read my May 3 blog entry.  As I look back on the race, I don't really think too much about the pain I went through to cross that finish line.  Instead I feel blessed to have been able to be part of that wave of emotion the City of Boston felt as the runners took back the road from the hate mongers who tried to ruin this event through their terrorist activities.  On race day, I was part of the second largest field at Boston; ran by over 1 million marathon fans; and was part of a record $38.4 million raised by all of the charity runners.  In fact, my teammates and I raised over $8.2 million for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute this year.  Despite the disappointing finish and pain I suffered, I would not trade one moment of the experience I had on April 21st.

The hamstring injury in Boston did slow me down quite a bit.  It took a long time to recover fully.  I vowed not to run any races until I was fully recovered.  By June I was feeling back to normal and decided to run the Chargers Bolt to the Q 5K race while I was vacationing in San Diego.  My daughter Mara wanted to run it which gave me even more incentive to sign up for it.  Plus I could run at her pace which would make it fun.  Being a lifelong runner, I'd always hoped that my kids would choose to run as well.   Here was a chance to encourage her to be a runner.  Over the years, I just tried to set an example and it seems to have worked.  Both of my kids enjoy running and actually like to go out and run local races with me.

Mara and I had a great day to race as the temperature was perfect and it was overcast.  We went out at a comfortable pace for Mara.  We ran it in just over 30 minutes.  The best part was that we got to run into Qualcomm Stadium and finish at the 50 yard line of the Chargers field.  What a thrill to be on the football field and have our picture shown on the Jumbtron.  I loved seeing how excited Mara was to cross that finish line and high five Ryan Matthews of the Chargers.  I was equally thrilled because my hamstring gave me no trouble at all.  I was back to normal finally.

I had the chance to run with Mara again when I visited her for TCU Parents Weekend in Fort Worth.  We ran the Theta 5K.  The race was established to raise money for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) the sorority's official charity.  In recent years the chapter has been able to raise over $60,000 for CASA of Tarrant County.  CASA volunteers are trained community volunteers who speak on behalf of abused and neglected children in the court system. Advocates provide valuable information to the judges as to what is best for the child and also help expedite the legal process so these children will still have a chance at childhood. We had a great time and ran for a worthy cause.

On Thanksgiving, I had the chance to run with both of my kids in the Arlington Turkey Trot.  I cannot begin to express how great it was to have a chance to run with both of them for the first time.  I think back to the first time Nathan and I ran a 5K race when he was 8 years old.  Now 15 years later, we were able to lace up our shoes as a family and go out on a very cold Thanksgiving morning and run for the sheer joy of it.  Our finish time was slower than Nathan might have wanted but the smiles on our faces at t

he end made it all worthwhile.

I wrapped up my racing year with one final 5K run.  I participated in the Super Bowl Host Committee's 4.9K Fun run with some friends from Sprouts.  What I realized in the last few years is that running is more than just a way to remain fit as I get older.  It is much more about freedom and fun. I find that I actually get more satisfaction from mentoring new runners to bring them into the cult of  healthy living than achieving a new PR.  It is more exciting to see my friends set a new PR or reach a goal distance than reaching my own personal goals.  My friend Dana was able to run one of her best 5K times with me that day.  It was a wonderful way to end my year of racing.

So many things happened in the rest of my life that I won't bore you with.  All in all it was a really good year.  I started writing this blog back in Oct. 2008.  Since that first entry, I have logged 11,408.6 miles which equates to a little under half way around Earth's equator.  I am back to 100% with no lingering injuries.  But most importantly, I can honestly say have never finished a run this year sad.  I always feel happier when I reach the end of my run for the day.  Running has been my primary stress reliever.  Finally, running brings me inner peace. 

I am going to close this entry with one of my favorite New Year's quotes and I wish this for you as well: 

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever. ― Neil Gaiman 

Nov. 24 – 5.50 miles (52:18, 9:30 pace)

Nov. 27 – 3.20 miles (29:47, 9:18 pace) - Arlington 5th Annual Turkey Trot 5K

Nov. 28 – 6.20 miles (54:21, 8:46 pace)

Nov. 29 – 8.10 miles (1:12:56, 9:00 pace)

Dec. 1 – 6.20 miles (56:41, 9:09 pace)

Dec. 2 – 6.20 miles (57:12, 9:14 pace)

Dec. 4 – 6.50 miles (1:01:22, 9:26 pace)

Dec. 5 – 7.10 miles (1:06:07, 9:19 pace)

Dec. 6 – 8.20 miles (1:17:27, 9:26 pace)

Dec. 11 – 6.50 miles (1:01:16, 9:26 pace)

Dec. 12 – 6.10 miles (56:57, 9:20 pace)

Dec. 13 – 3.10 miles (28:09, 9:05 pace) - Super Bowl Host Committee's 4.9K Fun Run

Dec. 14 – 7.20 miles (1:08:17, 9:29 pace)

Dec. 15 – 6.10 miles (57:52, 9:29 pace)

Dec. 16 – 6.20 miles (57:06, 9:12 pace)

Dec. 18 – 6.50 miles (1:01:23, 9:26 pace)

Dec. 19 – 5.60 miles (51:28, 9:12 pace)

Dec. 20 – 9.10 miles (1:24:47, 9:19 pace)

Dec. 21 – 7.30 miles (1:08:48, 9:25 pace)

Dec. 22 – 6.20 miles (1:00:14, 9:43 pace)

Dec. 23 – 6.20 miles (56:12, 9:04 pace)

Dec. 25 – 6.50 miles (59:32, 9:10 pace)

Dec. 26 – 7.20 miles (1:07:42, 9:24 pace)

Dec. 27 – 10.10 miles (1:31:08, 9:01 pace)

Dec. 28 – 6.30 miles (59:28, 9:26 pace)

Dec. 29 – 6.20 miles (58:31, 9:26 pace)

Dec. 30 – 6.50 miles (59:18, 9:07 pace)

Total Miles:  176.1 miles

2014 Total Miles:  1,885.6 miles