It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Enjoy!

What Exactly Am I Doing?

I am deep in unchartered waters here with my double header of marathons. Ordinarily I am pretty confident on exactly where I am in the process, even the quiet freaking out in the weeks before the big run. This is different though.. I am not running almost at all to give my legs maximum time to mend from the last marathon. It might be heeding caution a little too heavy, but I am trying to err on the side of too rested than tired and injury prone. I can slug my way through 26.2 miles on heavy legs, but a blown ITB would make that pretty tough.

With all this down time though I keep getting that feeling that the big test is coming up and I have not studied. It's at least a new kind of quiet freak out. I am certain the boost of rested legs, adrenaline of New York and cheering spectators the entire way, more oxygen (thank you Denver training), and knowing I am representing the amazing no-kill center PAWS will carry me forward with ease.

Its Wednesday though. Too soon to really pack the bag so I remind myself of all of those point repeatedly and try not to magnify any aches I have right now.

A Picture vs 1000 Words

Seriously… I have this much fun doing this. :)

Missing Butterflies

I tried my first run yesterday with Tiff. It was a close and slow 2 miler. It felt pretty good too. I could still feel some of the deeper aches, so I will be playing it conservatively this week, but over all it was fantastic to get out there and run again! The usual anxiety I feel in the last weeks before a run seen to have been derailed a bit in the unusual nature of back to back marathons. ergo, I am not very nervous at all. I can tell it's pretty thorough too in that I don't feel the need to go buy any gear either. Consequently, I wonder if I am not focused enough? I know that's silly, but when the butterflies are as routine as Gatorade, you get curious when they aren't around as much. I also keep reminding myself that this is my first travel marathon in a long while and some my attention is focused on the logistics of getting there and around New York.

I am sure it will be good, but it feels all sorts of weird!

It's Been One Week Since...

Like déjà vu, I amine week out from my next marathon. I travel to New York next Friday night and am excited to not only run again but to do so in one of the greatest marathons in the world! I get a ton of energy from the folks that turn out to support. New York and Chicago have been my favorites so far for that. They were also my third and first respectively. This will be my eighth. With that knowledge I am hoping to truly savor this one , rspecially knowing I will be in for some good rest after.

The legs feel strong again and the aches are barely noticeable. Today's easy loop on a nearby park will truly let me know what I need to do this week. As always, I'll keep you posted. 

Simple

Hi.

Call to PAWS!!

My deadline for fundraising is officially the Sunday before the marathon I am running. That is this Sunday. As I was sitting chatting with my wife last night, I was struck by a surprising realization. I am tired! I mean, I am tired in a way I am unfamiliar with. The mental addition of fund raising and asking for help this entire marathon training has left an added weight as I draw towards the end of that particular stretch. To date, I have pulled in $1,565 for PAWS Chicago and feel confident they will be able to do a ton of good for their rescued dogs and cats. Who knows, that amount might have made the difference in life or death for some family's now treasured pet? I know I can't do what they can, ergo I am glad to raise money for them.

I know this is the weary before getting pumped back up over the course of the next week. This is the part where I let myself just know, "damn, I am really tired!" I have run almost everyday this year, been in fund raising since early July, and produced my 2 fastest marathon times (3:50:20 & 4:02:19). I am proud of that.

So here is one of my final pleas: If you have a chance to hit my site and donate, it would mean a lot. I am grateful, but more importantly it goes 100% to PAWS to do some real good! I am happy to add a company logo to my gear in New York as well if a sizable donation is possible. For those that have given so much, I am truly grateful!! I'd bring you all a cup of coffee and a doughnut this morning if I could. As sentimental as it sounds, you are all with me every step of the way on the course and off!

Thank you all!

Troy's PAWS page.

Needed Reminder

Enough said.

Loud Marathon Talk from NYC

The big race in New York is approaching and there has been considerably more hype than most of the races I have had a chance to do. Obviously it is the largest, bigger this year than ever before due to last year's cancelation. It also seems having lost the New York City Marathon last year and the tragedy in Boston this year, there is a strong sentiment to make this one great. It is being broadcast on ESPN 2 for the first time in 20 years. I am excited to be a part of it! It's a thrill to be able to run it. It is an honor to run it for a charity I believe in so strongly, PAWS. It is also a great feeling to run it and demonstrate to the world that runners, in particular the marathoners, are a tough bunch to keep down. We have laced up in countless races since Boston, but never before on such a stage as this. I am glad to be a part of it and grateful for the chance.

Recovering and Refocusing

I am happy to report I am up and moving at relatively normal speed. The pains are subsiding and I am refocusing on the next race in front of me. It was a thrill to be the sole representative of Team PAWS in the Denver Rock n Roll Marathon on Sunday, but on Nov. 3rd I will be joined by 9 other members. My deadline for fundraising is rapidly approaching and while I have achieved my agreed upon total, I am putting it out there that anything helps. If you are feeling generous, please hit the link below and donate. Even $5 helps keep this amazing no-kill shelter open.

I am proud to be able to put on my Team PAWS singlet a week from Sunday in one of the greatest marathons in the world. The support I receive here, on Facebook, and everywhere else has been amazing. I will not let you all down.

Troy's Team PAWS page

Marathon of Errors

I ran my 7th marathon yesterday here in Denver and the first of a two week double header. It was a new approach for me to recognize I needed to run this marathon differently than I had before. Of the few resources that I could find on what to do when running 2 marathons in 2 weeks (beyond, "are you nuts?!?!") was that for the first one, run easy and treat it like a training run. Ergo, I dropped my hope for a new PR and tried to ease back to see the bigger picture. It was a little refreshing honestly, but hard one the day itself. Luckily, the universe managed enough set backs to keep me from ever getting too competitive on my 26.2mi "training" run.

Here are the set backs I had on the Denver Rock n Roll yesterday, for your viewing amusement:

1. The start line was ridiculously close to my home allowing a near humane wake up time. That was foiled with a simple mistake on my alarm. I woke up with enough time to get ready and out the door on time, but it was far from the leisurely pace I thought I was in for.  Just started off my day a little off balance.
2. It got cold here in Denver with starting line temp's near 40 degrees. When the sun came up it was immediately behind clouds. Then the wind picked up a little. It actually was colder by mile 25 than it was for mile 5. Running clothes are not meant to stop wind usually slow the chill factor got your attention. I'd rather run cold than hot though.
3. iPod fail. My higher tempo playlist failed to upload on my aging iPod. Music isn't all that important to me, but it was disappointing to be at the mercy of shuffle again. I know have a band and a song nemesis for running that my iPod loves and I do not while running. Again, not a big deal.
4. Hydration belt fail. My hydration belt is on its best day a nascence. On it's worst, it is like a hangnail that you can't stop hitting. Yesterday was the later. Additionally, I was wearing my runner bib lower due to my PAWS singlet and it kept snagging it, my shirt, and my drawstring on my shorts. I was quite happy to drop it with my family at our first rendevoux. 
5. My sportswatch took a dive. I wasn't using it so much to watch pace, but distance. I am pretty regimented on my refueling so as to not crash later and once it stopped tracking where I was on the course, I couldn't keep up so much as to when I should be popping gels till I hit markers. Again, not a terrible problem, but I needed to time them with water stations that were not always before markers. Slight annoyance.
6. Lastly, my ITB started talking. Any runner fears that chatter. It means bad things are coming if you don't ease up. It might also mean no running by injury if you don't take heed. I began peppering my running with walking the last 8 miles to avoid it getting more aggravated. That worked out well with the plan of "training" run, but remember how I said it was getting colder?

When all was said and done, I was certain I had just logged my slowest marathon ever. It was a jaw dropping shock to find out a actually hit my second fastest. It was fun for the most part, all the setbacks aside. My family was there and that makes any marathon an incredible experience.

By mid morning, I starting to move a little easier and am ready to do the unusual between marathon recovery. Thank you again to all those that have been sending support, both encouragement and donations to PAWS. There is one more week available to donate before the New York Marathon.

Denver 26.2 mi. Gratitude

I just got home from the Denver Rock n Roll marathon. This was my 7th time taking on the 26.2 mi. distance. As always I'm grateful to have finished and still have all my toe nails. I'm good, but just wanted to give as great a thank you as is possible to everyone that has offered support. From my amazing diners for Team PAWS to friends and family that endure my crazy activity. I am humble and grateful to have you in my life. For a guy that was once going no where fast, I am truly living a life beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you again!!

It's Almost Time

Tomorrow is The Denver Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. It's the first of my ambitious 2 marathon fall. I'm excited, rested, and ready. After months of preparation, it truly feels hard to believe that the day is finally here. I signed up in early May at the Furry Scurry. All the early morning runs and weeks of thinking about it, I am finally at the day where I do not do much of anything and just eat. I also have an early bed time to look forward to. With the start line only 5 blocks away, I have the opportunity to leave later than before, but am looking forward to having the extra time to get ready.

I am still shocked I get to do these marathons. It's a treat and one I am grateful to have. I am glad that I had the chance to raise a few bucks to help PAWS as well. They did give me a chance to pin my first number and run.

Till tomorrow...

Weather Forecast Compulsion

One of the other fun neurosies to the last days before a marathon is ridiculous checks on the weather forecast. After weeks of running in a season you won't see come race day, there is an overwhelming urge to know what the unknown variable will be. At 10 days out, I get to satisfy that compulsion on my Weather Channel app and have been amused/concerned to see snow for today this whole time. The concern was mostly from experience seeing how those storms don't often arrive when they say they will. This one was on time though and I am glad for it. Mind you, running in a sloppy, 45 degree snow storm would not be all that bad. It's just as I said, I have spent all summer in near heat stroke, logging my miles. Some of my cold weather gear barely received use in this training. Fortunately though, all my prep is familiar and I have no concerns.

It's just funny how those nerves manifest themselves.

Good

This is the year of Good. Remember that resolution? I have not chatted on it lately, but it has been on my mind, especially during my taper period where my focus is on eating well and sleeping well. My resolution for the 2013 was to live the year of Good in eating as well as I can, sleeping as well as I can, and adding as much good music as I can. The idea being that elevating all three of those areas will elevate the sense of happy all around. I was reminded of what great music I have collected last night. I began uploading artists on my iPod for Sunday and was struck by how many great albums I have in there. While I love no longer having a giant cabinet of CD's, it's easy to overlook some of the great music when you don't see it very often. It was fun breezing through and rediscovering a few. While music isn't as important as it used to be on marathons for me, it will be wonderful to have such great tunes if I do need that extra push.

Taper Jitters

The tried and true method of marathon training mandates a taper period before the big day. It is usually about 3 week prior and running is slashed to a minimum. Hell, some even say if you've been fighting an injury or a bug, don't run at all those last weeks. What is usually discovered (and rediscovered) the hard way, is that there is a ton of emotional stuff that lets loose when the endorphins subside after months. You are a junkie in withdrawals and get to just face it. On the upside, instead of running, the highest priority is rest and food. While your nerves and emotions may be running wild like a kid in candy land, you at least get to munch and nap.

One of my reoccurring and subtle foes in the taper is a strange need to get more gear. That is truly stupid since it is also a pretty dumb idea to introduce anything new now. All that flashy gear at bargain prices at the expo? Not for the race you are about to run! What's funny about this particular impulse is that I have all the gear I need and it usually takes me a few days to spot the fear underneath the, "I NEED THAT OR I WILL FAIL ON MARATHON DAY." I still ascribe highly to the Want Less, Do More philosophy and with running, I have already discovered how much unneeded gear stacks up. I have trimmed back and like my utilitarian supply. My dad also enjoys the benefits of my purging and rocks out former shoes (great for wringing, but not racing) and many old tech shirts.

Even though I have been blessed to get this chance to run a marathon a few times, each time it feels new right about now.  Despite the feeling though, I am glad to have the experience to draw on and realize that,  no, I don't need new sleeves or socks to run 26.2 miles this Sunday. I just need to turn the light off and go to bed.

Confused Pose

We went to yoga last night as is our usual on Monday nights. I was excited because my legs are getting restless with the rest before the race and I thought it would be a great chance to work them a little with a safe margin of time before race day. It's odd to me how I can run for hours, but ask me to hold a simple lunge like pose and I am shaking within a minute. Sure, I get the different muscle thing, but… RUN FOR HOURS… can't hold a lunge pose for longer than a minute without trembling like a leaf!

I digress though. Last night our regular instructor was out and we had a sub. He was ready to work the class and we flew through several poses in the same time it took our normal teacher to explain what we were going to focus on.

I soon found myself covered in sweat and trembling. Here's where I get a little confused. Yoga is all about breathing and settling into your body and poses. There's an odd relax sort of vibe. I am accustomed to attacking a workout, even if it's just a mental shift. I do that with running and going to the gym. I ease into the workouts, but my mind is set on tearing through the task in front of me. If it starts to hurt, I push myself harder to get through. I just naturally transfer pain to motivation.

That's where yoga seems confusing to me. I get to the hurt and want to attack it. "Oh, another fucking warrior two pose?!? Bring it on!" Not quite the zen that I think I am supposed to get. It is also tough to keep hearing the speech, whatever you can do that day is where you are supposed to be. If that were true, I'd be on my back on that mat in 20 minutes enjoying nap pose.

As frustrating as it is, I am intrigued by the challenge of it. I know at a few hard points in my last marathon, I used the breathing techniques. I was also focused on the thought I gained while trying to hold that damn warrior two pose for the hundredth time, "this is only temporary." Both got me through some tougher points. I know I can learn something here, it's just not fully known yet.

Week Countdown

It's 7 days till the first marathon. I'd be lying if I told you my ambition has not caused any apprehension. It's normal though and probably healthy. I am also pretty excited for the course here in Denver. I have never had so much training on the actual marathon course. Part of why I wanted to do the Rock n Roll Denver is that between miles 25 and 26, it actually goes by my home. Literally, I could see my porch easily from the course. that sort of familiarity will be a tremendous boost when exhaustion is waging full battle. It should be a ton of fun and I am ready to be conservative to an extent with my energy.

Seven Days till 26.2 Mile Round One

It's bit one week till the Rock n Roll marathon, the first of my double header this fall for Team PAWS. My long run was 7mi. today. It felt smooth and easy. I was relieved the reoccurring pains were absent and it would appear that despite the routine doubt, my taper period of less mileage and more rest is doing exactly what it is supposed to. There is a disbelief that "game time" is close to test my meddle and put all my training to work. In May I set a new best in my marathon time by 12 minutes by implementing my harder training regiment. I was highly focused. Over the summer I was also trying to find raise and am proud to report I have pulled in $1,565 thus far. I have however been distracted by this and hindered by my difficulty in heat. I have used the same training though and need to trust it has been as effective in building the base I will need next Sunday. I'm excited. 

High Country

I love my routines and a well laid plan. What I also enjoy are spur of the moment ideas. Tiff and I got a yen to head up to the mountains on the loosest of excuses and within an hour here we are in the crisp high country air. This is one of those perks living in Denver we enjoy. Our backyard holds amazing mountains and views like few other places. It's fun to have just picked up and done this. 

Credit Where Credit is Due

I am a lucky guy. While that picture may make this statement seem a bit tongue in cheek, I assure you I meant it much more seriously. The picture was taken while we lived in Hollywood. Till would occasionally drag me out of the house on these horrible runs. I truly did not like them, especially how she would kinda sprint the last couple blocks leaving me in her dust panting and frustrated. "What a stupid exercise!"

Then I tried to quit smoking for the first time. Running was the only time I wasn't going nuts. Ergo, I ran… A LOT. I started to actually enjoy it. I had no idea what I was doing really. I ran in crappy tennis shoes with cotton shorts, no shirt (or sunscreen), and no water through the middle of the day in LA in the summertime. As though all that wasn't foolish enough, I later found out I should have been checking to see if the air was even safe enough to be outside most of that time. Ah, Los Angeles… city of dreams.

After a while, I began running races and marathons. I still run A LOT, but to train now. My wonderful Tiffany has encouraged me and supported me now through 6 marathons and on the verge of 7 & 8. It requires many hours out logging miles, hours of soreness, ice baths, and the truly worst part of all: me talking about it all the time! She does all this and more. She even manages to be interested periodically when I talk about a hill repeat workout or why a PB GU gel was amazing when chased with a grape NUUN. I know what I do is odd, at least among my immediate circle, but she makes me feel supported and encouraged.

THAT, is why I know I am a lucky guy!

I love you Tiff!

Simple Thursday Wish

Happy Thursday ya'll! Do something fun!

About PAWS Chicago

Monday Night Yoga

My wife and I have a great routine on Monday nights that involves hitting a yoga class and grabbing dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Denver. This routine evolved a bit naturally and I don't know exactly when it became a no brainer. I recall how our yoga teacher remarked that she loved seeing us every Monday, that our "date night" made her smile. We have hence adopted her term. We often duck into a fantastic shop on the same block, Pandora on the Hill to mostly window shop. We have such a rapport with the ladies that work on Monday nights that they were upset last night that we had not stopped in the previous week. They just enjoy seeing us. This little routine and pocket of good people in our neighborhood has rapidly become one of my favorite nights of the week.

Fostering and Fundraising

Tiff and I have fostered a few dogs now and we were just talking about it with a good friend that stopped by last night. He asked if we had any fosters coming up? We live downtown now and our lack of a yard coupled with busy streets and sidewalks made our last effort far more challenging than previous fosters. Don't get me wrong, our foster was a sweetheart, it was just a lot to manage.

Thus we have decided to pour our efforts into helping organizations that can help. Tiff has even lobbied at the capitol for legislation to help protect dogs and cats. I have opted to try fundraising for PAWS to give back. While I don't have the yard to help get a dog to his/her forever home, I can try and help a group that can. I can also run a really long time.

Thus I am doing what I have spoken so often about, Running for PAWS. I have joined Team PAWS New York City Marathon team and am also running the Denver Rock 'n' Roll marathon this fall. Running a marathon is an accomplishment, but trying two is a bit crazy. None the less, I am excited to give it a try for a good cause.

I am still looking to close the gap on my modified fundraising goal and the original. The amount needed is significant, but anything helps. A friend I worked with 3 years ago just donated $5 and that was wonderful! I have also had great people all over the country sharing my posts to get higher visibility. Also wonderful. I am no great fundraiser, although I humbly can claim $1,565 for the no kill shelter. All the help has been remarkable. If you can please drop a couple bucks or let me know if you work for a company that would be interested in a donation (I have forms). Aside from my Team PAWS singlet, I am offering company sponsorship in both races. It's not about me, really.

Here's the link and I am happy to answer any questions!
http://teampaws.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1052581&lis=1&kntae1052581=E8A44FBEC339431094A2863563EF4D0D&supId=296965664

14 & 28 Days

It's 14 days till the Denver Rock n Roll Marathon and 28 days till the New York Marathon. I am nuts but pretty excited for being so crazy.

S-M-R-T... Smart!

I've been doing my best as of late to offer insights to why I am running for PAWS and what PAWS does to help keep the donation ball rolling. Today, I am just going to lay it out as plain smart. Estes here  has offered to help with a visual aid, although I suspect my with had more to do with this picture than Estes did. None the less, I offer you a shameless plea to doing something smart like donating to a good cause like PAWS. Having fostered a few rescues now, the tremendous difference in effort required in taking in an animal in need and donating to an organization that will is immense! I am all for helping out (to the tune of 2 marathons in 2 weeks), I appreciate that I can offer financial help and do as much good! Plus I don't have to clean up accidents all over my house when I do that.

Smart, isn't it?

http://teampaws.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1052581&lis=1&kntae1052581=E8A44FBEC339431094A2863563EF4D0D&supId=296965664

Coffee With a Friend

I know there are a few things I just love in this world. The feelings have never wavered. I love a stormy day, the kind where it gets so dark street lights come on in the middle of the day. I love an underdog win. I also love coffee with someone I care about. Some of my friendships have been forged this way. A cup of coffee at just the right time. I am a friend for life. My shortened list may not sound that exciting to most people but I do bring it up for a reason and it is not that I believe I am in anyway that interesting. I bring it up because there are times when I need to know a few go to "loves" to pull me through a tough patch. Perhaps it's an hour of uncertainty, perhaps its a week of turmoil. What ever it is, just remembering how those loves change my perspective and feelings helps.

If you are having a tough one, I hope you can think of a can not fail happy to help pull you through. They don't fix me, but they sure as hell give me reason to believe this too shall pass.

Tried Some Stuff

In reflecting on this fund raising effort, I am slightly amused at some of the stunts I have tried. Most of which only succeeded in making me more comfortable talking to people about raising money for PAWS. Mind you, running and fundraising in Colorado for an organization in Chicago to run a race in New York City was not my easiest of paths, but it seems to have worked out well. All of my generous donors love the cause and don't seem to mind where the dogs and cats are being saved, just that they are.

I have attained my personal goal for running my two marathons for this fall, but am still hoping to raise a bit more. Every donation helps and goes 100% to PAWS. I  get to run and that is my sole reward for this effort. No t-shirt, cooler, or otherwise odd gift used to bait fundraisers. Personally, I would rather just see that extra money go to the cause.

I am on the look out for anyone that works for an organization that might be interested in a donation. My amazing friends and family have given beyond my wildest hopes, but I would like to see if a company with deeper resources may be interested in helping this runner. Let me know, I have tons of info I can send out

http://teampaws.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1052581&lis=1&kntae1052581=E8A44FBEC339431094A2863563EF4D0D&supId=296965664

24 at a time

There are days where up is down and left is right. Today is one of those days already. I am reminded that countless hours wasted to try and think my way out of these spots has never worked and to stay in the moment. I ask simply to have the fear that drives the chaos engine in my brain to be quieted and focus on doing what is before me. I try and stay mindful of being helpful as an ass-backward approach (that works) to getting out of my own funk. Today focusing on what is in front of me is my best approach and yes that included drinking my OJ. For what it's worth, I am grateful.

Stupid, stupid government

I am doing my best to avoid checking the news or worse, Facebook today. The events in Washington are tough to stomach, regardless of sides. What pisses me off is the reality that there are thousands of hard working folks that are not being paid to work today. That is just not right and it frustrates me when people get caught in the crossfire. I am not attempting to launch into the politics of our government's shut down today, that is just not a subject I want to attempt. When I read that services like prison guards, boarder patrol, and air traffic control are required to work today without pay, it caused a considerable irritation. I find myself more often than not just seeing a disconnect between our leaders and the people. It's a raging need to be right at all costs. It's school yard and it's embarrassing. I hope a resolution is found, but why it had to come to this is nothing shy of stupid.

Ok, I'm done.