Short Entry

I think I will probably be spending more time on strands then I would on facebook.

It is highly addicting and I suggest everyone checks it out.

Here is another thing that you should check out.

http://marathonatrois.blogspot.com/

It is an amazingly funny blog.

Friends helping friends

There is nothing better then getting a mental slap in the face reminder to get yourself back in gear from a friend. I realized that the whole point of this blog was to write about the ups and downs of the journey that I was making back to competitive running. Although my training has been fairly strong over the last month. My focus on writing about all of this has drifted and I realized I haven't written in quite sometime. Today the writing starts again because a friend reminded me that I need to keep writing.

Another friend has helped me in a very important way. He told me to sign up for Strands.

I am very excited to have a really amazing way of tracking my training and having others track my training (there is no better tool to a comeback than public accountability).

This friend also ran a solid 14 miler with me this morning.

I am sorry for the gap in the blog.

Minor Setback

I am coming off of my first minor set back since beginning The Bay State Test. The setback being a crazy cold from hell. I went to work on Tuesday and left about halfway through the day. The cold kept me out of work yesterday and kept me off the roads for both days. I went to work today and struggled through the negative mood that had set in because of my weakened state. My only desires were to have my mom make me some soup and to watch another episode of the Price is Right. Today limped along just like I did after mile 22 of my first marathon. I did manage to get out for a run today. It was only an easy 3 miles and my lungs felt like they were working double time. However, my legs seemed to have the most spring that they have had in months.

So even a minor setback can somehow have very positive effects.

Starting the year off with good progress

The start of 2011 has been the strongest start to any New Year I have had in recent memory. Here are a few reasons why.

1. Some of you may have noticed that my postings had come to a halt on December 23rd. This was because I was starting my Winter Vacation. I used the vacation to get an abundant amount of rest and see a lot of friends and family in New York. I trained consistently and was able to run on old familiar routes with old familiar friends.

2. I made one significant change to the way I would celebrate the end of 2010 and the start of 2011. It was to be sleeping before mid-night. Some might consider this lame, but if you were aware of the awesome impromptu NYC burger tour ( a step away from the balanced diet I had been achieving recently) that I assembled the night before then you would not question my choice to sleep in on one night that is generally overrated. I spent the earlier part of the evening with my girlfriend and we took the time to actually reflect on all of the important things that happened in our lives during 2010. We then took the time to set some goals of things that we hoped to achieve for 2011. This felt like a more authentic celebration of what a New Year hopes to bring. I woke up New Year's day energized and ready to beat all possible traffic.

3. Another reason for the option of sleeping into the New Year was to get adequate rest for a 3k that I ran on the track this morning. It was going to be a test to see how much progress I had made since my season debut at BU on December 18 where I opened with a 10:06. Today I ran a 9:39, winning my heat, which gave me a strong boost of confidence in what I have been trying to do for myself physically, mentally, and spiritually over the last month.

This is why my 2011 appears to be off to a great start. I want to offer a suggestion to people who may have had a little bit too much fun on the night of New Years and have been suffering from the effects of New Years blues. Push through this week, then give yourself a true opportunity (over next weekend) to reflect on your 2010, and establish what an amazing 2011 will look like for yourself and those around you.

Happy 2011 to All!

Running during the Holidays

Keep up a good running routine during the holidays.

Schedule runs with friends and family.

This will give you extra time to do something fun with the people that you want to see.

If you are really daring run in a Christmas costume. If people driving by you see that you are having fun on your run, then it may make there Christmas better.

Enjoy your Christmas everybody!

Conquering Fears

I had been in a running rut since May of 2008. The rut began when I ran my 1st marathon. I went out way too fast and suffered the most excruciating pain I had ever felt across the last 6 miles of the race. My pace slowed down to what was almost a walk and my spirit knocked down. The next few months included a transition to the Bay State where I seemed to lose myself. My habits and routines that made me strive to do my best every day seemed to fade and I felt for a long time that I didn't quite know who I was.

In April of 2009 I took another crack at the marathon distance. The historic Boston Marathon provide a similar result and pain as my first marathon. I felt even more beaten up about this performance and thought that maybe running was only going to be a hobby, something I did because I enjoyed it, but I didn't have to stress the small stuff ,or get worked up on taking it too seriously, or two competitively.

I ran the Chicago Urbanathalon in October. During the months before the race my training became more focused as I began to approach running with an idea about using our Inner Power to drive us forward. After the race, I took a week off to rest and recover. After the week off, I realized that the flame was lit once again and that the energy needed to be shared and passed on. This was the birth of a test. I realized that for the last two and half years I was living in fear. I was afraid of challenging myself to be the best person I could possibly be.

I took a major step to conquer that fear on Saturday. I raced a 3k on the track. The time was not near my best, but a 10:06 3k was a starting point. It was every aspect of my being starting to fight back at the fear that had paralyzed me from being the person I want to become.

Don't be afraid to acknowledge your fears and then attack them with a hammer!

More Stretching

Begin a positive stretch routine. Add it into your life. A really amazing stretch routine can help your mind and muscles relax in ways that you couldn't even imagine.

I am ending this entry now to go stretch. I suggest you do the same.

Smile while stretching please! : -)