Bob, a runner in training

I know I don't write here enough, but really who reads this anyway. Well I know a couple people that do, but not many.

Anyway I actually banged out an 8 mile run this morning. 1.5 miles to go meet my occasional running partner (she is seeing someone so no one read in to this) and then 5 miles with her at her 9 or so minute per mile pace) and then 1.5 miles back home after dropping her off. That's 8 miles.

I also ran Friday through Sunday, Sunday with her again. So it's a start. Oh I'm meeting another running partner on Thursday. She's got a much slower pace, but I'm hoping I can help her get a love for running and maybe help her get better and stronger. We'll see.

Well this weekend saw me doing two training runs, looks like I'm back on the training circuit. 9 miles on Saturday and a rough 3 on Sunday.

Monday's off, and switching to morning runs Tuesday through Thursday as I've not got a running friend. So we'll see how this all goes.

Well the NYC Half Marathon was yesterday and I can say it was probably the hardest thing I have ever done. In the last 3 months I've done training runs in 2 different states and 6 different countries (including the USA) and doing the opening 7 miles in Central Park, here in NYC, was the hardest run I've had yet.

Central Park, for those of you who have never been here or don't run in the park, is nothing but hill after hill after hill. I made the mistake of taking that lightly and not doing any hill training in the last month and a half. The only hill training I had done was in New Hampshire in June for 4 days. Not a smart training approach.

By the time I'd hit maybe 5 miles in to Central Park I could feel my calves locking up and then on the down hills accelerating to make up the time and trying to let the burn out of my calves. Once we left the park I was happy again, knowing I was past the half way point and not having any more hills to deal with I thought I would be OK to hit my 1 hour and 45 minute goal, but then I hit the West Side highway and mile 10.

I know the West Side like the back of my hand, I run it every day. It's an easy run, but I'd hit the wall (figuratively speaking), the hills earlier had done me in. I had to slow right down and my splits dropped badly and then the last mile I started to be able to pick it up again. I got really choked up at mile 12, started tearing up and then hyperventilating because I knew I was going to be able to finish, not at the pace I wanted but I was going to cross the finish line running, and that I did.

Once the 400 meter mark hit I started my sprint to cross the finish line at a respectable 1 hour 52 minutes and 52 seconds. 8 minutes and 37 seconds per mile. I can not complain since it was my first half-marathon and I've been injured and had to cut my training mile distances in half for the last 2 months.

Next year I will prepare for those hills and not hit a wall. See you then!

Well it's about 4:30 in the morning and I'm getting ready to head up to Central park in about 30 minutes to get this run started. I need to be in my corral by 6:15 am for a 7 am start.

Wish me luck!

For all of those supporting me, thank you. I think I may actually be ready to do this Half Marathon. I can say it's been a real challenge. I'm not that frequently challenged in life at least not to this degree. With the injuries, the work schedule (travel specifically, as work is very good to me letting me come in very early and leave early), getting sick etc, this has been a rough road, trying to prepare to run 13.1 miles very early this Sunday morning. For a worthy cause though, I can say I'm very proud of what I've accomplished.

Of course my goal is to run it in under 1 hour and 40 minutes, I've done around that in training runs, so it's possible, but it's been a long while since I've been able to run that distance at all.

Anyway the point of this update is, for any of those who will be watching on the side lines or on TV my race number is 3786 I will be wearing a bright orange t-shirt (it's my Fred's Team racing shirt which as you all know by now is the fund raising team I'm on for Sloan Kettering's Cancer Foundation) as well as an orange bandanna and my Black Oakley Thump Pro MP3 sunglasses (as for shorts, I have not decided if I'm going to buy new ones so I don't know the color yet). So if you are on the sidelines I'm pretty sure you'll be able to spot me (even if there are 13,000 runners) and just maybe I'll be spotted on TV as well for those of you who can't make it!

I'll tell you all, I am nervous, or maybe it's excitement, I went and picked up my race kit yesterday afternoon, 13,000 people is one heck of a lot of feet hitting the pavement it's going to be like nothing else I've ever done.

Hey Sideline people, bring cameras if you can! Thanks and wish me luck!