Another Semester Down

        After having a tough time adjusting to my new commute and new campus last semester, I rebounded quite well this semester.  It takes me awhile to figure out how to balance everything in my crazy life, but once I do, everything becomes that much easier.  I wish I could say that I have it down so well that I'm able to fit in saving children from burning schools and spending all my free time at the local soup kitchen, but I'm not that good, yet.  I can proudly say, that I finished this semester with a 3.91 grade point average, reached my ten year anniversary at FedEX, helped coach some runners to new personal records, started my autobiography (don't expect this anytime soon), rehabilitated my ankle, beat plantar fasciitis, and overcame some life long fears, all while commuting at least 2 hours a day for school, working early mornings, staying a loving supporting husband, co-directing a Hot Diggity Dog race, planning another Looney Leprechaun race, and keeping the Bucks County Speedsters afloat.  

       I know this sounds like a guy that's bragging his pants off and if you know me, you know that in part I am, but also to again show that it is possible to overcome and balance life.  Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly said in a recent interview, that some times you're on top of the world and some times the world is on top of you.  We all know this all too well.  What I have learned is that nothing is going to be given to you in this world, that you need to go out and get it for yourself.  I can only hope that Allyson can continue to tolerate the craziness that is our life and that the officers and members of the Speedsters can maintain their support of the club.  I wouldn't be where I am today with out the love and support of Allyson and the amazing people of this club.  I can only hope that I can return the favor to others in the future.  

If all goes well I will finally graduate with a college degree In December 2015.  This has been a very long journey with many obstacles, and two years seems like an eternity to me right now, but I am a lot closer to that finish line today than I was in 1998, or even five years ago.  I keep telling myself, take it one semester at a time, just like I tell runners to take it one mile at a time.  

Till we run into each other again...

Another Try

     Yesterday I attempted to break 3 hours at the Philadelphia Marathon.  I started the race, but dropped out around mile 14 due to some bad GI issues.  It was the first time in my 20+ years of racing (swimming and running) that I have never finished a race I started.  I was upset and mad yesterday.  Months and weeks of training and race day comes and goes without achieving your goal.  Yes, I did have my own pity party. 

As the day went on (and even today), I had to remind myself to stop feeling sorry for myself.  There is nothing that can be done or changed.  And there’s always another race.  I also realized that this is not the end of the world and our life (Chris’ and I) is pretty good compared to others.

    We were watching the broadcast of the 2013 Hawaii Ironman and they highlight different age group athletes.  The stories vary from a father/daughter team trying to finish together, amputee athletes, Hines Ward finishing, and others.  There was one story this year that made me realize to suck up yesterday’s race and move on.  It was about a father and his family, which lost their little girl to the Sandy Hook Shootings.  He wanted to finish the Hawaii Ironman to show his family that life does go on and they have to try and move on too. 

I’ve put in too much training to just end my quest.  We found that the Northern Central Trail 

   Marathon in Maryland is on November 30^th and heading there in 2 weeks.  Hopefully I’ll have better luck. 

   Allyson

Bubbles or Bonkers...

“By trying we can easily endure adversity…” –Mark Twain

By trying we can also endure pain…. At the beginning of this year I went on a rant about this year being the year I was going to go hard.  I was going to push myself beyond anything I had ever experienced.  This was going to be my year! 

Three weeks later, I would step in a hole during a trail run and tear two tendons in my ankle.  Looking back at that moment its funny to think that everyone there knew I was done, but me.  It wasn’t like it didn’t hurt, because it hurt like hell.   I just thought I tweaked something. You would think since I’m in a position to guide runners I would lead by example.   Not me!  I just keep on keeping on.

The reason I have anyone reading this reliving my bullheadedness and annoying ankle injury, is because today was the day I had in mind for putting all my hard work to the test.  I ran or should I say participated in the Philadelphia Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon a race that I have run many times and is up there as one of my favorites.  My goal on January 1^st was to run today’s race in a time of one hour and twenty minutes, a personal best (PB) by three minutes.  I finished today in a 1:37, but getting there was the toughest thing I have ever had to do.

As the ankle was on the mend (finally!) something else went wrong.  I was over the hump and almost through the woods with this ankle injury when I came down with a bad case of Plantar Fasciitis in my other foot.   This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.  The problem with Plantar is that most recommendations say to run through it.  You would think I would be a pro at this, but with the Plantar hurting on the left foot, I naturally started leaning on the right side, which is causing a lot of discomfort in the ankle.

When I got into my corral this morning (I was the first one!) I didn’t know what to expect, I was questioning me even being there.  I kept thinking, man this isn’t going to be easy.  How am I going to run 13.1 miles in pain?  I did man up (foolishly) and began to run (limp) my way to another finish.  I had this unfamiliar voice in my head almost the entire race telling me that it wasn’t going to happen, that I needed to pull out.  The sad thing is, my eyes started looking around for a pull of location. 

When I reached mile eleven, I was greeted by the most randomness thing.  This bubble came floating by me; I looked to the sidelines for a bubble maker or some kid with bubbles and a wand in hand, but none could be found.  I couldn’t explain where this bubble came from and even thought maybe I was hallucinating.  But, I shook it off and at that very moment I settled in to a race pace.  Now, I must have shook off that negative voice in my head too, because I was able to negative split the last two miles and finished strong.

Maybe Mark Twain was right, but I also think I was foolish to run today.  My ankle is healed up, but it’s still months away from being where it needs to be as far as strengthening.  I had no business being out there when my bad foot is better than the other.  I am thrilled I was able to work through the pain and the negative thoughts, but I’m disappointed that I let my pride get the better of me today.  I truly need to be setting good examples for the rest of you.  I know for a fact that if any of my athletes were in as much pain as I was feeling today, that I would tell them not to run.  As for that bubble, I got nothing.  Maybe it was a sign of some sort or maybe I’m going crazy.

Till we run into each other again…

Blue Moon and Back to School

Well, even with the Blue Moon we didn't reach that magic number.  I had predicted 30 participants last night and even with the return of the Schaal's and the Accardo's we did not reach that mark.  It will now have to happen on the Hills for me to see it or I just won't see it this season.  I head back to West Chester on Monday and my Tuesday schedule has me on campus till 6PM and with the commute I won't be able to make it to any more speed workouts this season (maybe my absence is what it will take...).  It's crazy to think about the season winding down, but you only have to look to the skies to see it.  It's getting darker by a minute each day now and before we know it, we will be running hills by headlamp light.  Another sign that the season is coming to a close is that we're now starting Yasso's. Yasso's usually finish out our last 6 weeks of speed work.

Coming out:

Allyson, CT, Anthony, Nick, Maria, Eric, Kevin, Bharminder, Kevin T, Melissa, Jay, Carol, Dan, Megan, Tereza, Joe G, Tom, Renee, Steve C, Lev, Denise, Jens (Our newest member!  Welcome!), Brian, Erik, Chris, Tim, Phil (First Timer! Welcome!), and in her final workout of the season because she is headed back to school, Chrissy Gaul.  Chrissy it was such a pleasure to have gotten to know you over the past couple of months.  You're such a sweetheart and will be missed by all.  Good luck this semester and remember when your studies get tough you can always DIG DEEP!

Workout:

1 mile warm-up
Timed 400 (400) (Last timed anything this season.)
Week 1 of Yasso's
4x800 (400)
1 mile cool down

Next up:

We will be meeting at Council Rock South at 6PM for the hill workout.

Track meet this Saturday also at Council Rock South at 9:30 AM.  All Volunteers and Participants should plan to be at the track by 8AM.  Season Ending Party after the completion of the Track Meet (see evite for details).

Till we run into each other again...

Say BUGS!

I wish I had taken pictures of some of the athletes after last night’s workout, because I don’t know if words could capture the collection of bugs covering the faces and necks.  It was nasty, but nothing a hot shower couldn’t fix.  As for the ones we inhaled, I’m just chalking those up as needed protein…

Many new faces last night, but not quite thirty, we came up two shy.  It’s going too happen, I can feel it.  Once some of the regulars get back from vacations we will reach the magical number of thirty. 

Coming out last night:

Allyson, CT, Eric, Christine, Tom, Rod, Sam Messenger (First timer! Welcome!), David Messenger (First Timer! Welcome!), Glenn, Alex, Neil, Tom, Chrissy, Scott Simon (First Timer and a runner who had been watching us from afar, but decided last night was the night he would see what we were all about.  Welcome!), Angela (Welcome Back!), Steve I, Jens Rosmus (First Timer and breaker of my band…Welcome I think…), Joe G, Steve C, Rob, Scott C, Joe H, Jay, Jimbo, Kevin, Tim, Denise, and Greg.

Workout:

1 mile warm-up

Timed 800 (400)

200 (400)

400 (200)

200 (400)

400 (200)

2-3 Sets

1 mile cool down

Next Workout:

We will be meeting at Council Rock North at 6PM for our daily dose of hills.

Track Recap By: Allyson

With Chris under the weather, I guess you could say I was in charge, even though he had to find someone (Harris) to lead the group stretches and get people to help me set up.  So, thanks to everyone that came out early and stayed later to help me unload the car and set things up/break everything down.  Tuesday’s on the track either mean rain or extreme heat.  This week was no different and the weather gods left us with another hot and humid night.  I thought the afternoon storms would have cooled things off, but it just made things stickier and buggier.  But if you were able to keep the sweat out of your eyes, there was a rainbow that appeared over the school. 

Anyway, I may be an auditor by day but my calculating miles are a bit to be desired.  If you did the whole workout, it was definitely longer than what we’ve been doing.  Great job to anyone that did the whole workout, I know that I didn’t, my legs were pretty dead after racing the weekend. 

Thanks to everyone that came out tonight:  NOT CHRIS(!!), Jay, Pete, Rob, Glenn, Alex, Jim, Hilda, Matt, Brian, Rod, Eric, Tereza, Harris, Maria, Christine, Carol, Chrissy, Nick, Anthony, Melissa, Angela, Bharminder, Joe G, Kevin, Denise, and first timers Jen and Stew Conard, and Dawn Brenner who has done hills, but not the track. 

Workout:  Do the following 2-3 times through, try to descend your times each round

400(400)

800(400)

400(400)

Sink or Swim

This must be the summer for me to face my fears.  First, I faced my fear of plummeting, by jumping off the Cape May Ferry, and then today I swam without my Linus blanket (wetsuit), in open water.  I had done this one other time and was kicked in the face knocking my goggles off my face and causing my anxiety to send me into a panic.  After that I promised myself that I wouldn’t open water swim without a wetsuit.

If it were possible I would have us all squeeze into Dr. Emmett Brown’s DeLorean and go back to the year 1985.  Which by the way may have been the year “Back to the Future” took place, if so that’s just a coincidence.   I don’t want go back in time to save a clock tower, but rather to show you where my fear of the open water began.  We would end up at Penn Warner Lake, summer of 1985.

When I was only a mere five years old, my family was living out of a pop up camper down at Penn Warner Lake in Tullytown, Pennsylvania.  My father was a drunken monster that we all feared.  Most of you can’t imagine fearing much when you’re five, let alone your own father.  But, my father wasn’t nominated father of the year any year, especially not in 1985.

 In a drunken stupor, my father grabbed me and took me down to the edge of the dock.   The whole time he kept repeating that it was time for me to learn how to swim.  I can remember him repeatedly saying “its sink or swim time.”  Again, I was only five years old and though I didn’t completely understand what it was he was saying, I knew something terrible was about to happen to me. 

Once we reached the foot of the dock, my father started swinging me from my tiny wrist like a pendulum, swinging me higher and faster, all the while I’m red faced and hysterically crying out for help.  I’m assuming I was yelling for my mother, but anyone would do.  In one swoop he let go and I went flying into the dark, murky waters of the lake.  I COULD NOT SWIM!

I remember trading off and on with the darkness of the water and the bright, blue skies as I fought to keep my head above the water.  The darkness was winning and I wasn’t learning how to swim, I started to sink, when all of a sudden two arms gathered me up and pulled me to safety.  My older brother Shawn, either heard my cries for help or it was one of those in the right place at the right time scenarios. 

I don’t remember much right after, either I blacked out or I blocked the rest out.  I do remember my parents fighting and pulling at me as my mother was trying to get us all in the car.  I also remember as we drove away, a brown Michelob bottle smashing on the trunk of the car.  My mother stayed away for a while after this, but like she always did she was manipulated into reuniting with him.  I didn’t swim any more that summer.  I didn’t swim without my Linus blanket until today.

Till we run or swim into each other again…