Paul's Running For It!

#13 is in the books!

2011-04-19T10:12:00.003-04:00

Well, it may be an unlucky number, but I was fortunate to have a strong, steady tailwind for pretty much the entire Boston Marathon yesterday. I finished in 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 30 seconds....not my best performance by a far cry, but respectable, given the late start and minimal mileage logged training this past winter and early spring.

Many runners achieved personal bests in Boston this year. I wish I had been better prepared to do the same; but, I'm healthy and walking well today (well, except for the sore quads, a blister and a majorly painful planters wart that I can finally get taken care of!) so I'm holding my head high.

I look back at my "MapMyRun.com" stats (where I log my training info), and the log is kinda pathetic, actually. I did make time for the "long runs" and I think that's what (again) paid off, in light of truly building up my stamina with a more regular training program.

Final run tally looks like this:
Month - # of runs - Total Mileage - Longest run
FEBRUARY - 7 - 41 miles - 10.3 miles
MARCH - 6 - 65 mi. - 19.3 mi. (excludes a coupe mile of walking!)
APRIL - 7 - 65 mi. - 14.2 mi.

So a TOTAL of only 20 runs, 171 miles and long of 19.3....no wonder I was pooped at Heartbreak Hill!

Anyway, I'm feeling good and am getting closer to my fundraising goal for two worthy, local charities, so I'll file that 4:17 as a "success" and keep moving on.

Thanks again for your interest and support!

Countdown to Marathon Day -- this weekend!!

2011-04-14T09:11:00.002-04:00

OK. So I've been teased mercilessly that my "blog" hasn't been update in about a month.

Well, given how insanely busy I've been with local politics, work, and prepping for an upcoming business trip to Brazil, I haven't exactly been lighting up the open roads with training runs. I've managed to drop a couple (literally a couple) of pounds, and have felt pretty good when I have gone out to run.

I've done my share of moderate distances (3 14-milers a couple of weeks back, and another 10 miles over hills in Natick and Wellesley last Tuesday, but it's fair to say that this year's training has not been one for the record book - too erratic, not enough 'build up' - so am a bit nervous about my stamina this year. Legs feel good and will be fine until Newton...those hills and the 'final 5 miles' through the canyons of Beacon/Comm Ave and onto Boylston will be as challenging as ever.

The good news as of now is that they're calling for a tailwind for much of the day and partly sunny, upper 40s-low 60s -- good for most, but it will be a bit warm for me come 1:30-2is when I'm in Boston. Better than 90 degrees, though, so I'll take it!

I've been "light" on the fundraising so far, but hope to finish strong. Please consider a small donation if you haven't yet done so.

Thanks for checkin in!

35 days left

2011-03-13T19:11:00.002-04:00

Wow...just got back from a 19.3 mile run after being off for a week (yes. a week!) This "training" regimen isn't the healthiest way to go, but it seems to have worked for the last 5 years, so who am I to judge? I am clearly in worse shape than I've been for the past couple of years - nutrition and regular runs are way off this time around. But am hopeful that my commitment to a few more long runs and tempo runs will kick me into quick shape for another ~4 hour showing...no time records will be falling this spring, to be sure!

Heartbreak ahead of Valentine's Day

2011-02-12T20:52:00.000-05:00

So the weekend was a marginal training success - my friend, John, and I drove out to Boston College and ran the Newton Hills and some of Boston roads. The beauty of the Route 30 (Commonwealth Ave.) run is that there is a "carriage road" which parallels the main road, so there was little traffic to contend with (among the huge piles of snow). 9.6 miles of hilly terrain - not my finest hour and a sobering reminder about how many miles I have to go before I feel back in reasonable shape. Still, it was nice to be back out on the course, if only for a short while.

Will #13 be lucky??

2011-02-09T16:17:00.008-05:00

After about a year off from blogging about running (and, after a woeful decline in running overall since clocking just over 4:09 at the Baystate Marathon in Lowell last October), and about a month or so removed from any sense of 'regular' running, I'm at it again.

I was lucky enough to squeeze in a rain-soaked, 5k training run in Ithaca, NY last week, but I really need to step it up.

So, the GREAT news is that I've secured an official number for the 2011 Boston Marathon, now less than 10 weeks away. This will be my 6th Boston Marathon in a row, and my 13th overall marathon in just over 5 years. I'll be running for two, VERY worthy and local charities:

1) The Healthy Pantry Initiative at the Natick Service Council - this represents some of what I love best about Natick - a cooperation between our local Community Organic Farm and our local food pantry to bring farm fresh and locally grown produce to the food pantry for our neighbors most in need. This cause is consistent with my now 5-year mission to use my running to help end homelessness and hunger. I am thrilled to participate in this vital community partnership to help draw attention to the needs for healthy eating, community-based agriculture, and supporting those in the greatest need for healthy food options.

2) Natick will be the only New England stop for the Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial this summer (June 9-12); I will be raising funds in support of this important initiative focused on healing and education. I am proud of our local Veterans Servcie Council and my fellow Selectman, John Connolly for their hard work and dedication to bring this moving tribute to our community.

Two great causes! I hope you'll consider supporting my effort this year.

First major move - build an aggressive training plan. With all of the snow this winter, it's been very challenging to find space to run outside. I'll likely do more on the "dreadmill" and perhaps some inside laps on the track at Babson College.

Will update this site from time-to-time and welcome your feedback and support as I try to get back in the groove. I'm about 10 lbs heavier than I was last fall (and about 20 lbs heavier since my 2 marathons in 2 weeks shape of the Spring 2009!), so this will be an all out war on lethargy (and snacks).

I'm also pleased to announce that I'll be "biking for it" later this summer, as I join Lena in her "come back" cycling event - the 2011 Pan Mass Challenge... for me it's all about heels AND wheels this year!

Be well!

Less than a week?!

2010-04-13T10:46:00.003-04:00

Wow. About 2 months since my last update here. Lots of changes since then; although, improved conditioning for the race is not among the highlights!

I have been fortunate enough to endure my recent campaign for (and win election to) the Natick Board of Selectmen; survived a broken finger; and have kept the aforementioned bursitis and Achilles Tendonitis away (not running much made that a lot easier).

While sorely lacking a "routine" this year, I have tried to get in the "long" runs whenever possible. Recently, my long-run mileage included a 17-mile in Shanghai, China, and, what I'd consider a pathetic-but-persistent effort on a 23-turned-20 mile run out-and-back to BC from Natick a couple weeks ago. Hills will be, well, um, my 'Achilles heel' this year.

With 6 days to go, I can't turn-back-the-clock and get into much better shape, so will be out for a gradual run today, and phase in 4 more workouts before Marathon Monday on April 19th. Sleep, water, some music, and a whole lot of moral support along the route will get me through #11! I hope to see many faces out there.

9 Weeks 'til Boston

2010-02-14T23:43:00.003-05:00

As I get ready for bed tonight, I am grateful that (1) my 2 weeks off, nursing Achilles and bursitis seems to have paid off and (2) my broken finger won't (supposedly) be at risk during training.

I feel like I had been getting away with something, and my body has reminded me many times over that I'm just a guest in its house, and I better not run wrecklessly!

I'll be heading out in the early a.m. for a brief run; get the body moving again after too long off, and need to take care as I increase my mileage each week ahead.

Sleep. Run. Work. Campaign...repeat. My 'to do' list for the next several weeks is as clear as the night sky! :-)

Against the wind...and my better judgment

2009-12-29T14:26:00.004-05:00

After taking about 3 weeks off from running (not intentioanl, but circumstances of work and holidays taking their toll), I was pleased to get out for a 7.3 mile run with my friend and fellow Boston Marathoner, John. Weather was cooperative, and cool.

But today's story is quite different. I am about to embark on a 5k - 5 miler, running solo in a -1 windchill, 17 degrees with 20-40 mph gusts...not a walk in the park. But as I digest my (too) many holiday meals and (too) many holiday snacks, and think about what the heck I've signed up for, yet again, I can't help but think how grateful I am to not be homeless today, or any day for that matter.

I hope that these acts of questionable sanity are understood by my family, friends, and passers/driversby who might be looking at me with that "why the HECK are you running today?!" look. If you're reading this, take a moment to be glad that you're not homeless, and please remember that not everyone has that privilege.

Came up short, but the race to end homelessness is endless

2009-09-15T22:40:00.003-04:00

Wow - here it is September 15th and I'm less than 7 weeks away from my next marathon (NYC Marathon November 1st). It will be the 40th anniversary of the NYC Marathon. Not lost on me is the fact that I'm 40 y.o. and running for the Pine Street Inn this year on its 40th anniversary.

I'm not sure what that all adds up to (besides 120!), but a cool coincidence - and my 10th full marathon, as well! I hope to remain healthy for the next several weeks; most of my post-CO marathon "running" time has been spent nursing bursitis (inflammation) in my right heel ...thought it was a stress fracture or tendinitis, though, so I'm happy to say that after a relatively low-running summer, I feel pretty good this fall. Also, a cortisone shot in my arthritic right shoulder has me able to move that arm in full circles again, so I'm grateful for the quick fixes available to my (slowly?) breaking down chassis.

Results of my 2 marathons in 2 weeks were very good - just missing personal records in Boston and overall (ran the CO marathon in 3:42:43, missing a PR by 2 seconds!). Missed a Boston PR by less than a minute as well, so overall, I can't complain about the running last spring. It was the heel pain following all the running that made for an iffy summer of running. But between the 2 near-misses and coming up 10% short of my fundraising goal, I feel like 2009 was a series of "almosts." I'd like to finish NYC strong and begin the difficult and perpetual journey toward running a Boston qualifying pace of 3 hours 20 minutes one of these days...perhaps spring of 2010 will be my shot...maybe sooner? :-)

So as the weather has turned cooler, and the days are getting shorter, I recently went out for an 18 mile run and felt good - not great, but from a 14.1 mile long run last week to 18 was a big jump. Am happy to say that the feet are good, and the psyche is getting there...now I just have to get work off the brain and get out of my chair more often...you can't cheat the need for many runs and increasing miles as the big race approaches, and I've been slackin!

I am proud to say that many family and friends (Lena, among the many!) seem to have taken to running a bit more lately and I'd like to think my insanity has played a small, if not significant, role in it...as I type, I'm ready to hit the road, but I'll wait 'til morning...it's bedtime now, and I'm wide awake, thinking about too much work, too few hours in the day, and (hopefully) 10 good miles tomorrow...

Raffle to End Homelessness (has ended!)

2009-04-22T08:33:00.010-04:00

Through the kind donations and support of several local business owners and friends, I was pleased to offer the "Raffles to End Homelessness" in support of my 2 marathon runs for the Pine Street Inn.

Thanks to the following for their kind donations of tickets and services:

Frozen Ropes - Natick
Fitness Together - Natick/Sudbury
Donelan's Supermarkets - Wayland
Josh Ostroff

Please note: Raffle #1: Homerun to End Homelessness was drawn on Saturday, April 25, 12 noon

Congratulations to prize winners:

Dori Ross - (2) Bleacher tickets to Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, Sunday, 4/26
Anna Uliano - (2) RF Grandstand Tickets to Red Sox vs. New York Mets, Sunday, 5/24
Dave Pfahler - (3) Free Personal Training Sessions at FT Natick ($255 value) (http://www.ftnatick.net/)

Raffle #2: Marathon Maynia was drawn on Friday, May 15, 3 p.m.

Congratulations to prize winners:

Joel Haskell- (4) Bleacher Tickets to Red Sox vs. New York Mets, Sunday, May 24th

AND (2) Infield Grandstand Tickets to Red Sox vs. KC Royals, Thursday, July 9th (donated by Donelan's Supermarkets (http://www.donelans.com/)

Dave Margil - (2) U2: 360 Tour. General Admission (on the Floor/Field) tickets to see U2 at Gillette Stadium, Monday, September 21st.

Anne Porter- $100 Gift certificate and T-shirt from Frozen Ropes Natick (http://www.frozenropes.com/home/locations/natick-ma.aspx)

Halfway Home...

2009-04-22T07:11:00.003-04:00

With the Boston Marathon completed in 3 hours and 53+ minutes, I am pleased to feel like I might actually run the second marathon even faster! (OK, thruth be told, my feet are still tender from blister/calluses and my quads feel like they've been beaten with a hammer, but hey, I've got a whopping 11 days for that to fade!).

In fact, I was thrilled to see that with my time, I actually placed ahead of running legend Bill Rodgers (who, BTW, is 61 years old...I should be so lucky to finish under 4 hrs by the time I'm 61!).

The weather was fabulous on Marathon Monday in Boston -- a bit windy (15 mph headwind!) but between my sub-4 hour finish, the Sox trouncing the Orioles for a 4-game sweep and the Bruins and Celtics playing like teams possessed, all-in-all a great way to start the week!

Thanks to my family and friends for donating so generously so far to this cause, and for those that came out on Monday to watch. Clearly, it puts a little more fuel in my tank knowing that you're all out there with me.

Will update this blog as I test these tender feet and sore legs ahead of Colorado!

Almost there

2009-04-18T22:55:00.002-04:00

With a day and a half or so to go, I'm in that "anxious but not quite ready" state. With the amount of work that I have to do this weekend, coupled with our Albanian Orthodox Easter celebration (pasta for me, lamb for everyone else!) on Sunday, I feel like the Boston Marathon is becoming something on my "to do" list.

However, as I rode into Boston on the train today (going to the Marathon Number Pick Up and event at Hynes Convention Ctr), I sat next to a gentleman named David from Canada. He was also 40, and as we got to talking, it turns out he recently qualified for the Boston Marathon by running a 3 hour, 11 minute "Boston qualifying" race.

Talking to David was a great reminder for this local, "charity" runner that the Boston Marathon is a big deal and should be savored. The energy at the convention hall was high, and as I came home for my last "warm up/taper down" jog, I felt pretty calm about the inevitable 26.2 looming on the next cool, potentially wet, and head-windy Monday.

I am pleased to have passed the half-way point for my targeted fundraising, and I hope that the upcoming raffles of tickets will put me over the $5,240 goal. I am grateful to all of my donors and to those who have reached out with words of kindness and good luck. I am truly amazed and humbled once again...now if I can get some sleep over the next couple of days, I'll be firing on all cylinders on Monday!

One week (and a trip to Atlanta) until Boston Marathon

2009-04-13T22:22:00.003-04:00

With a week to go, I'm feeling pretty good, although a bit paranoid about anticipated lack of sleep in the days ahead. Ironically, I have "miles to go before I sleep".

Also, with the reality of logistics/bureaucracy settling in, turns out I will not be able to host the Home Run Derby as hoped, but will still move forward with raffles. Between permitting process and hang-ups securing commercial insurance for the event, I simply ran out of time to allow for a responsible level of promotion for my kind prize donors.

That said, details for the raffle will be released on Tuesday, April 14, and I'm looking forward to a couple of warm runs while in Atlanta on business this week.

Coming off of a great Easter weekend run in CT (10+ miles in sunny, but frigid, Southern CT), I'm feeling in about as good shape as I've ever been ahead of one of these races...hope the body steps up to it!

You win some, you lose some

2009-04-06T21:48:00.002-04:00

So I'm not sure where it ended up, but apparently, my latest entry (following a 23 mile run on Sunday) didn't post. Oh Well. Bottom line is this: 2 weeks to go for Boston and my legs are feeling (mercifully) pretty good. The key for me now is to get enough sleep, which is always a challenge. Teaching three classes, business travel, and my soon to be announced fundraiser - Home Run Derby to End Homelessness - will each take their toll on my energy in the upcoming weeks.

Funny, though, no one really gives a homeless person a break for being poorly rested, so who am I to complain?

I am grateful for the generosity of local businesses, friends, and even complete strangers that have stepped up to support me in countless ways.

With the Derby now in sight, and a likely raffle or auction to be held in parallel, I'd like to start by thanking the following contributors for making the event possible:

- Frozen Ropes (Natick)
- Fitness Together (Natick/Sudbury)
- Donelan's Supermarkets (Wayland)
- Josh Ostoff
- Natick Little League
- Natick Parks and Recreation and Natick High School for their help with securing the field

The list is growing, and the spirit of giving is empowering and humbling. Thank you!

Heartbreak, No More!

2009-03-28T09:48:00.002-04:00

After a 2-week excursion to/from China, it was great to get out and run for a serious distance - 22.1 miles - this a.m. Thanks to my loyal, long-run training partner John (who continues to out pace me! :-) - great inspiration. It's so great to live near the actual Boston Marathon route - going for an "out and back" to Heartbreak Hill in Newton from Natick gives us practice on what is considered by many to be the toughest part of the course.

I'm very pleased that my legs didn't feel like the consistency of all the noodles and dumplings I consumed while in China...perhaps the 1-hour foot massages there paid off. I'm not likely to get those again anytime soon so I'll just drop it altogether.

I got my BAA bib # today as well: 27144, for those watching me online that day. I can't believe we're just about 3 weeks away...time is flying faster than I am, but I'm please with my pace, and hoping to stay healthy as we get closer to "go" time.

Marathon Training in China

2009-03-20T09:46:00.002-04:00

So far, best workout has been at the buffets...school where I'm helping to facilitate has a great lunch buffet, which, of course, follows the hotel breakfast buffet-- you can't eat enough dumplings and other dim sum after a course of bran cereal, yogurt and fruit!

So today I treadmilled about 5-6 km...too close to my classtime to get outside; but will try to go for an outdoors long run on Sunday before heading home. Been doing some push-ups, situps, core stuff, but mostly just teaching, eating, and sleeping sporadically.

The weather's been cool in dawn/dusk hours, but very warm and a bit humid during midday. It was very nice to see the green grass and sunshine today between sessions; groups of students outside picnicking for lunch made me eager to get home to Springtime weather.

I am hoping that my sleep schedule can be shocked back to normal fairly quickly after my return home...the fatigue comes in waves, between the travel and the intensity of teaching to the group. So much fun, though. I am lucky to have this opportunity to see how business and education is so similar and yet so different between US and China.

I can't believe the Boston Marathon is just over 4 weeks away. Overall, am feeling pretty strong and very confident that the 2 weekswill go well. Hopefully will demonstrate some speed at at least one of the two races!

Coming up short

2009-03-14T12:36:00.002-04:00

So I left the house this a.m. at 6:15, ready to meet my friend, John, and to go for a 21+ mile run to the top of Heartbreak Hill and back.

John finished with no trouble, but we parted ways with about 5 miles to go...my stamina just didn't compare...and, I called in the cavalry at with about 3 miles to go. My net run was still a decent 18.8 miler, but it bugs me to not finish at my goal distance, especially with my trip to China next week and uncertain sleep/training time in next week or so...

John and I talk a lot about the mental aspects of running when we're out, and today was just one of those days; distraction and the threat of missing a 10:00 town meeting forced my head out of the tranquil rhythm of my shuffling feet and the musical sloshing of water in my "camel back" hydration backpack.

Oh well, overall, I'm feeling strong and no major aches and pains other than a few small blisters -- time to lose the thicker "cold weather" socks permanently! I can't believe the marathon is coming up so fast. 5 weeks and 2 days...I need a nap!

5 and 1/2 weeks...and 2 Olympic sites to go!!

2009-03-11T14:16:00.005-04:00

So I'm looking out a dreary grey sky, getting ready to log (hopefully) a double digit (12-13 mi.?) afternoon training run. As I plan my next "long" run (18-22 miles range) for Saturday, I'm looking even farther ahead...the Boston Marathon is in 5.5 weeks; CO Marathon in 7.5 weeks.

Between now and then, I'll have flown to China (specifically, Shanghai)and back; and to Atlanta and back...all the while tyring to eat, sleep, and train well...yikes. This is where I should insert a Tom Hanks-esque running version of "There's no crying in baseball"!

And as I look ahead to the next 1.5-2 months of running, fundraising, business building, teaching (oh yeah, and parenting, spousing, doing taxes, cleaning my office, etc!!), it's easy to get overwhelmed by it all.

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned from all of this running has been the need to get something done...Even if it's not at the pace I had intended...as usual, I have too much on my plate, but like the miles of all these training runs, step-by-step, task-by-task, dollar-by-dollar, the big, hairy, audacious goals seem manageable...just don't ask Lena about that office mess...it seems like there are some races I'm doomed to repeat :-)

Weather - I like it or not

2009-03-02T05:39:00.006-05:00

Running (OK, running and a bit of walking/stretching) 18 miles on Friday, it felt like spring. My pace was relaxed, the temps were in 40s and I was in shorts and a T-shirt. Yesterday, a little less relaxed,I raced to get a quick 7 miles in before the major snow storm hit (which it is, today!) bundled back up in pants, three layers on top, and winter hat, I'm reminded that March is certainly doing its part to come in like a lion.

But, there's nothing quite like running on a fresh, packed snow. A bit scary when the cars whizz by, but for the most part, the quiet country roads and trees absorb all but the sounds of my sneakers, literally crunching the snow. I try to keep my iPod to a reverent, low volume...sometimes I pause it altogether just to here the silence...it's pretty amazing.

As I watch the inches of heavy wet snow pile up today, I'm glad I snuck in that last 7-mile. With exactly 7 weeks to go before the Boston Marathon (OK, 7 weeks, 4 hours and 35 minutes, to be exact), I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be sporting the shorts and T-shirt look come April 20th...I'm all too happy to give up the 3-layered look at Mother Nature's earliest convenience!

Running to stand still?

2009-02-22T20:40:00.003-05:00

So, I'm writing my first entry since (1) finishing the Maine Marathon in personal record pace of 3 hours, 42 min and 41 seconds and (2) committing to running 2 marathons in 2 weeks (Boston and Colorado)

What's funny is that my previous post (from last fall) mentions a guy named Duffy...wouldn't ya know I was out for a grueling 18 mile training run yesterday and as I'm heading home (INTO a headwind, mind you, after stopping to walk for about 1/4 mile in the below 20 degree wind-chill), who should I see parked on the side of the road, but Duffy...he's since participated in 2 more triathelons, so I don't dare compare.

What I will say is this - inspiration takes interesting forms and arrives at interesting moments...just as my mind was saying "pack it in", I pass this bald, cut, drill-sargeant of a guy who encouraged me, congratulated me and with a simple smile, a handshake and sincere recollection of our shared run last fall, inspired me to leg out my last mile.

I am in the process of training for these 2 marathons... a pretty serious endeavor for a guy like me (family, self-employed, traveling, marginally fit...you get the idea). I hope to get back to the sporadic blogging and will be interested to see whether/how much Facebook impacts my writing here...if you're reading, I'll keep writing.

Keep me in your thoughts, and spread the word that ESPECIALLY in a bad economy, the homeless and the hungry need our help.

Thanks, Paul

Perspective

2008-09-22T23:16:00.003-04:00

So... to make a LONG absence of posting and story short....

1) I finished the Boston Marathon last spring in 4 hrs 0 min and 58 seconds (though, stopped for a Pine Street photo op and hugs for the family, so I'll live with that 58 seconds knowing I coulda run in under 4 hrs! ;-)

2) As I train for the Maine Marathon in 2 weeks (Sunday Oct 5th), I was out running over a week ago...doing one of my final 'long' runs before tapering for Maine, and I ran for a while with a 42 yr old father of a teenager with inoperable brain cancer. He was training for an Iron Man triatholon, and was kind enough to share with me some fueling and training techniques for my 26.2 miles in Maine.

I share this story because I am constantly amazed by the running community, the kindness of strangers, but mostly the inspriation of folks like "Duffy" -- I can't imagine what he and his son and his family have had to bear over the past couple of years, yet this father and combat veteren was out there talking to me like I was a hero...inspiring and encouraging me as we shared the road for about 7-8 miles. I wish him well and I admire his courage and ability to teach his dying son two important lessons -- about appreciating what he has had in this life and about setting a goal and working harder than you'd ever thought possible to achieve it (or, survive it).

As I get ready for my next 26.2, I remain in awe of New England autumns and everyday heroes whose names we haven't yet learned. I am also humbled by my family, friends, and acquaintances who've so readily supported my charitable runs over the past few years. Thank you, and I hope to post more as I get ready to 'hit the road' in a couple of weeks.

Happy Marathon Eve!

2008-04-20T22:24:00.002-04:00

It's about 10:30 p.m. and I should be in bed, but forgot I had to update a few folks on location-specific ETA's for the marathon tomorrow. I leave the Start Line between 10:30 and 10:40, depending on the crowd at the start of the race -- that pansy, Lance Armstrong, needs a headstart with the rest of the so-called 'Elite' runners, so they'll be leaving at 10:00 a.m.

I'm hoping for a PR of under 3:52:00, so, I need to maintain well under a 9 min/mile pace for the first half of marathon, as I inevitably get slower throughout the race (if you track my 'split' times, this is painfully obvious!) So, ETAs are as follows:

Speen St. and Rte. 135: Between 11:30 and 11:50

Downtown Natick: Between 11:50 and 12:10

Wellesley College (yeah, the girls go wild for us wheezy, balding, late thirtysomething fellas!): Between 12:10 and 12:25

Downtown Wellesley: Between 12:15 and 12:35

Wellesley Lower Falls: Between 12:40 and 12:55

Rte 16 and Rte 30 (Firehouse, near Deploy/Kronos): Between 12:50 and 1:10

Heartbreak Hill: God only knows! seriously, about 1:20 - 1:40

Pine Street Team cheering section (1043-45 Beacon St): About 2:00-2:15

Wish me luck!! The way the Bruins and Sox have been rallying all weekend, I'm getting excited!

Thanks again, Paul

3 days and 2 hours to go (but who's counting?!)

2008-04-18T08:36:00.002-04:00

I "toe the line" in a few more days, and am excited about the fact that, despite possibility of rain showers, there's no 'wrath of God' type of weather in the forecast like last year! Also, I'm breathing a bit more clearly today, so the trend is a good sign. Hope the congestion is completely gone by Monday, but I'll settle for an ugly, drippy nose over the chest tightness I've had over past few days!

A quick update for those watching at home:

1) if you'd like to get an e-mail or SMS/text message during my run, please send me an e-mail no later than by 6 p.m. Sunday night. I'm re-forming the e-mail list "wherespaulnow@googlegroups.com" and can add you to the list if you'd like 'event time' updates on Monday morning (if the little blip on the radar screen stops moving, I've either passed out or ditched my tracking chip and jumped on a train!) just kidding...no 'blips', just text and e-mail updates available.

2) My bib # is 23498 if you want to go to BAA.org to figure out how to follow me from there.

3) IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING LIVE, on the route -- PLEASE e-mail me to let me know where you'll be standing...will do best to see you and wave/wheeze in your general direction :-) I'll post one more update here with my projected arrival times at key milestones so you can watch for me on race day -- I'll be in navy shorts, white (or dark blue, still TBD) short sleeve shirt with golden (almost orange) tank top with Team Pine Street printed on it -- will add my name in bold black lettering -- will also go with my 'lucky' red Red Sox hat which I wore in DC Marathon the day the Sox clinched the World Series last fall.

Finally, and I can't stress this enough, THANK YOU. Thanks to Lena, Noah, and Ali for your ongoing patience, love and support (including all the 'rescue' rides!!). And thanks to my donors and morale boosters -- this winter/spring has been CRAZY with schedule and erratic ability to train, so I am grateful for the good vibes I've received from my family and friends.

For all of you thinking about doing this...DO it! It is impossible to explain how this great energy arrives from the whole experience, but each year I have become even more humbled and thrilled by the Boston Marathon in particular, and the crazy notion that what started for me as a 'way to lose weight and keep myself honest about running' has also generated more than $15,000 to fight hunger and homelessness over the past 3 years. Wow.

So, take a minute on Monday to say a prayer/think good thoughts for me -- tailwind, healthy run, etc. but then take 2 minutes to be mindful and grateful for what you've got and remember those many of our neighbors and other people that might be struggling to hold on to what they have or that may be fighting to survive every single day with little to no support at all.

Gotta run! Thanks, Paul

Less than a week... and me with a hacking cough!

2008-04-14T22:40:00.002-04:00

So, as the fates would have it, there IS payback for the Red Sox taking 2 out of 3 games against the Yankees this weekend! I've been up half the night (last night) with a horrible cough, and am feeling pretty run-down today. Am hopeful that some timely, time release cough medicine will keep this at bay (and hoping it's only allergies, not a real cold!!)

Anyway, overall, been a good weekend for running. Got a decent 7 miler in on Sunday and another, 8.5 min/mile paced 7.5 miler on Friday. So, pace seems OK, now, just need another 10-12 miler 'tune-up' on Wed or Thursday and, of course, sleep and good lung capacity between now and next Monday! Weather is a wildcard at this stage, but temperature predictions seem perfect, so keep fingers crossed (at least there's no Nor'Easter this year!)

I hope to connect with a few folks to reinvigorate the donations in this 'stretch run' leading up to the Marathon. I'm over $3500 now, and doing pretty well on the fundraising front.

Will next send out e-mail to see whether anyone wants to track me with 'live' unpdates via e-mail on raceday. If you're interested, send me an e-mail and I'll add you to the list. My bib # is 23498 and you can reach me at: paul.joseph@babson.edu.

Thanks, Paul

14 days, 75 miles and $1200 to go

2008-04-07T09:54:00.004-04:00

It's Monday April 7th, and I cannot believe that I'll be toeing the line in exactly 2 weeks. Well, with Bib #23498, I won't exactly be lining up with the Elite, Lance Armstrong, or even those Red Sox wives that somehow seem to have the time and money to compete each year...hmmm. Go figure.

But the good news is that I have gotten in one (if not 2) more long run, having completed 18.6 of my planned 22 miles on Saturday, before yielding to a migraine that I had masked with Advil before heading out the door. The body feels capable, now it's mostly up to the brain (and, well, the body on race day, among other factors). I maintained a respectable 9.2 minute per mile pace last weekend, going from my house out to Heartbreak Hill and almost back. That keeps me in the running (get it?!) to achieve my target personal record of less than 3 hrs 52 min (an 8.85 min per mile pace on race day)-- adrenaline and weather, don't fail me!

Thanks, once again, to my "rescue crew" and continuing support - Lena -- who continues to be a rock for me, despite (I'm sure) her urge to just throw rocks at me for not getting to other things on my omnipresent 'to do' list. I really do value her digs at me -- "did you run today?" when she comes home to see me hunched over the PC and clearly not having moved much since she left for work hours before. I'll take it as tough love and leave it at that. :-)

I'm sure I won't be seeing much of her this spring and summer as she trains for the "Pan-Mass Challenge" bike race in support of raising money for cancer research. Maybe she'll include me on a couple of training rides, but my guess is that we'll just hear here 'burning rubber' in the driveway beginning the day after the Marathon! Go Lena!!

So, it's down to 2 weeks...about 75 mile worth of tune-up runs and 'tapering'... and hopefully raising another $1,200 in my support of the Pine Street Inn. Thanks again to all of you that have already contributed generously to the cause, and if you haven't yet done so and are able to do so, any contribution is most appreciated. (www.firstgiving.com/pjoseph2008) Thank you. Sincerely, Paul

It's a sprint, not a marathon

2008-03-26T04:29:00.002-04:00

As I type this at 4:30 a.m., my body is screaming "go back to bed" and my brain is screaming "get some work done." It's a miracle that I can concentrate and type with all that screaming going on!

So I'm back from China, can't say I'm fully adjusted yet to east coast time, but will do my best to shock myself back into a running routine for the remaining few weeks. As I look ahead, there's the need to accomplish 2 short-term ("sprint") goals: (1) stamina and (2) strength.

Now, you'd think I'd have both of those under my belt by now, but given the travel to China and my recent work in local town political effort (that's another story altogether), I'm probably 6 weeks behind a 'real' training schedule. The benefit of having done this marathon thing a few times now is that I do honestly believe that I can make up for some of this lost time; however, I'm also smart enough to know that the body will only take so much abuse at once. So, I'll be back targeting 4-5 runs per week from here on out, with a long run of about 22 miles planned for sometime in the next couple of weeks...will likely 'taper' with 2 weeks to go rather than the traditional 3, and will likely do some 'stairs' at the local high school stadium to get the legs a bit stronger in the short-term.

As of yesterday, I cleared a big fundraising hurdle for the Pine Street Inn, surpassing the $3,000 mark. Thanks to all of you who've contributed to date. I'm still about $1,500 short of my goal, but am hopeful to cross this important 'finish line' in April, as well. Thank you again to my family and friends for your support. Sincerely, Paul

Greetings from Shanghai!

2008-03-20T09:31:00.003-04:00

So, I never thought I'd be in China just a few weeks away from the Marathon, but life has a funny way of mirroring the running experience that way...sometimes it's more fun to take a new road and enjoy the change of scenery! Anyway, my first run in the PRC was on a treadmill (not exactly my favorite way to go), but am hopeful to get an evening run in (outside, pollution and weather permitting) on Friday night. The funny part about running on the treadmill was the ambiguous label on the speed/distance numbers -- here I am thinking that somehow flying for 20 hours and getting erratic sleep and consuming new foods turned me into this supercharged, running dynamo stud...turns out, the distance and speed metrics were km, not miles and so, not so ironically, my speed was about exactly where I left off in Natick (slow, giving way to partly slower over time)! Oh well, in my mind, I could hear that funny noise from the Six Million Dollar Man. BTW, Shanghai is a great city. Am enjoying the experience so far, and look forward to working with some colleagues here over the Easter weekend...hey, it's still Communist China (don't let the huge church outside my hotel window fool ya!)

Heading to Shanghai!

2008-03-16T01:44:00.003-04:00

So, as if my erratic training hasn't already got me wound-up (I've been embracing the 1-2x per week extreme training runs...18 mile, 14, 13, 17, you get the idea), I'm also about to fly to Shanghai for a week! Nothing says "disrupted training regimen" like a trip half way around the world!. More about China some other time, this blog's about running (well, lately it's been about my utter lack of running)

So over the past few weeks, as I train for Boston, I've run at long distances, followed by long periods of NOT running...don't try this at home!!! I'm quietly starting to freak out about the Marathon and my ability to actually finish this one. What's funny is the reaction I get from real runners about how illogical it is that I can actually run like this...here's my secret...I stop when I'm too tired or in too much pain, and I listen to the aches and pains and, above all, I respect the course...hopefully that will be enough to get me through on April 21st!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2008-02-01T04:59:00.000-05:00

Greetings from the wee-hours of February 1, 2008! Yikes. February 1st!

I'm happy to report "all systems go" for the 2008 Boston Marathon! My application was officially confirmed by the BAA yesterday and I'm a proud member of a small band of runners playing for the Pine Street Inn (3 of us, to date).

What better way to remind me of why fighting homelessness is important than by taking a run on a dark, lonely and bitter 22 degree morning!...I hope the groundhog has some good news for us tomorrow a.m.! I'm also hopeful that my focus and determination to improve on past performance will help the great people working at Pine Street Inn and especially their guests by raising critical funds and awareness about the challenges faced by a (sadly) increasing number of people in Boston and around the country.

So, I'm about to get out and get moving again. A brief 7 mile run to shake the rust from the pipes and step away from the virus that has plagued our household for the past few days :-(

Re-starting is never easy, especially with only 81 days to go (thanks to Leap Year!). Between starting up on an interesting new career journey (since November) and stepping knee-deep into our town's political happenings to help save our kids' school from closing (since December), getting through the holidays, and general “malais-iness,” I've been neglecting the basics...moving and breathing! Only a few sporadic runs in January, including a great 10 miler with my neighbor, John (thanks!), but now it's time to get serious...again.

In the weeks ahead, I'll be blogging to keep me honest about jogging. And as the rhythm, health, and joy of the process will inevitably return to me (hopefully soon!)...I'm sure I'll be wondering what took me so long to get back into this!

Thanks for checking in...gotta run!

Marine Marathon and World Series wins!

2007-11-03T17:22:00.000-04:00

OK, so I am very jazzed about the Red Sox winning their 2nd World Series in 4 years last week. But I was even more psyched about finishing the Marine Corps Marathon in a near PR time of 3 hours, 52 min and 51 sec. )about 30 seconds off my 2006 Boston Marathon pace).

It serves as a reminder to me that if the weather is perfect, and if I eat lots of spaghetti and meatballs the night before, and if I watch the Red Sox win Game 3 of a World Series until midnight the night before my 4 a.m. wake-up call, then anything is possible! Seriously, man, I slept 4 hours, 'prepped and commuted' for 4 hours, then ran for 4 hours. Yikes.

BUT, I was well-hydrated, well-fed, and ran at a blistering (literally) pace. All-in-all, it was a fabulous run, I felt great and am looking forward to possibly returning to Austin in Feb, ahead of the 2008 Boston Marathon...perhaps actually qualifying for Boston before I turn 65!

...stay tuned!

3 Days until marathon in DC, info for tracking Paul

2007-10-25T06:12:00.000-04:00

Down to the wire...I ran a comfortable 5 miler yesterday and am feeling pretty good about the weekend - weather forecast is perfect...sunny, relatively dry and temps in low 50s to low 60s. I'll take it!

For those who'd like to track my progress online, info can be found at:

http://www.doitsports.com/results/MSG-signup.tcl?sub_event_id=2941

Directions are pretty self-explanatory, but you'll need my name and possibly my "bib" number (4549).

Anyway, am flying to DC tonight, hopefully landing before the Red Sox score 13 more runs :-) and then enjoying a great weekend getting psyched up for race and visting with great friends.

thanks for your ongoing support, and especially to Lena, Noah and Ali. You'll be with me with every step, and I PROMISE that I won't call you for a ride home on Sunday!

17 Days until Marine Corps Marathon...Hooah! (Oorah)!

2007-10-11T02:35:00.000-04:00

So it's 2:40 a.m. and I can't sleep...I'm all fired up about the upcoming marathon (either that or the pint of Ben and Jerry's I inhaled as "fuel" last night just isn't agreeing with me!) <--probably the latter.

Anyway, I finally looked at the topographical map of the marathon route and the hilliness for miles 1-8 looks daunting. The fact that the last 1.2 miles are also straight uphill ain't helping my psyche, but I guess when you're running a route designed by U.S. Marines, flat and 'cushy' just isn't an option :-)

So I am "tapering" my training, which means working down from the long runs (which peaked at 20.6 miles, not my hope of 23), but am feeling pretty good about my pacing on the runs this time (averaging between 8 and 9.5 minute miles, depending on distance), so, bring on DC! My goal is to get back to the sub-4 hour time, but given the horrible events in the Chicago Marathon this past weekend (1 death, 10,000 no-shows, and an official early ending to the 88 degree race), I realize that finishing and staying alive (not in that order) are my 2 top priorities!

I am grateful to those of you who have been so supportive as I've tried to balance training with work and life and general, most notably Lena, Noah and Ali -- I know the "free" time I take for my runs isn't always 'free', and their love and support has truly been more consistent than my running! (including all the no-questions-asked rescue missions, which have consisted of Paul calling from his cell phone at random times on a weekend to beg for a ride home from an over-ambitious run). I am also grateful to my DC hosts, Angie and Luis, who've graciously allowed me to crash at their place for the weekend of the marathon.

As the cool fall weather hits and the winter weather will inevitably soon follow, I am hopeful to continue the running in the months ahead. I welcome your comments, and hope that reading about an everyday guy like me running marathons is entertaining, if not inspirational, for you!

Happy Thursday! Paul

The hills are alive (with the sound of gasping)

2007-08-27T23:11:00.001-04:00

So I'm back from several days in Maine, and following a cruise to Bermuda in early August...great to getaway, but difficult to maintain regular training schedule...a few sporadic runs, including an interesting one on a treadmill on the ship's 11th deck (while docked in St. George, Bermuda) and another CLIMB on some hilly roads in Maine - an exhausting 4-miler last Friday.

Today, back at work, I tackled "Grossman's Hill" in Wellesley on my lunch break -- it's on the Boston Marathon route, but in the reverse direction. A short (5-mile) run with some great hills. It was sunny and hot -- as it should be in August -- and reminded me that I should really try to get out earlier in the day!!

More to come in the weeks ahead...less than 9 weeks to go before Marine Corps run! I expect to hit Heartbreak and Hopkinton with increasing frequency as my long runs should climb from 15 miles to 22 over the next 5 weeks.

Corps competence?

2007-08-16T21:07:00.000-04:00

It's been 4 months since my last blog update. For those of you receiving e-mail updates..."hi!"

In fact, after my mediocre performance in the Boston Marathon last April, I was quick to apply for my next marathon -- although my application for the NY Marathon was rejected, I will be running in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC on Sunday October 28th. Let me know if you'll be there with a big ol' sign and shouts of encouragement!

Training, yet again, has been sporadic, but now that I'm within 10.5 weeks, I'll be stepping it up, so to speak. I have been pretty consistently running at a 8.5-9 minute mile pace, and have taken a couple of 10+ milers up Heartbreak Hill and back from work. But I haven't been logging many miles yet on a consistent basis, and look forward to getting back into a groove in the coming weeks.

My goal for DC is to finish below 4 hours, so check back often, let me know you're checking back often, and keep me honest - especially as the weather gets colder!

Oh, and, by the way, I'll be running my 3rd consecutive Boston Marathon next year, and look forward to continuing to raise awareness and funds to fight homelessness and hunger. I will be re-joining the Pine Street Inn team in 2008, so please consider joining the fight by contributing to my 2008 Boston Marathon effort at http://www.firstgiving.com/pjoseph2008

Or, if you’d prefer to make a donation to support the Greater Boston food Bank, please go to: http://www.gbfb.org/marathon/ and select my name from the ‘drop-down’ list of team members, when prompted for "Designation."

Be well, and thanks for your interest and support.

Paul
PS – Congratulations to my cousin, Elaine C., winner of the pair of tickets to see Wicked in October. And thank you to her for generously re-donating them to another pair of my donors!

My goose (duck) was cooked, but healthy and happy today

2007-04-17T12:55:00.000-04:00

So, I'm back at the office today...legs are very tight in major muscle areas, but overall am doing fine.

The marathon yesterday was not as horrible weather-wise as they were predicting; however, there were a couple of good, dousing rains and a few sustained blasts of wind (especially in the city itself). Despite finishing 40+ minutes slower than last year, I did have fun. Unfortunately, my legs tightened up and I started blistering a bit on my left foot even before the half-way point, so my pace declined quite rapidly over the 2nd (hilly) half. I spent a few water stops along the way massaging my quads and basically punching the muscles to loosen them up, so my final 10 miles or so was pretty much a battle of mind over matter (and given where my mind was wandering, "matter" proved to be a worthy adversary).

I CAN say that I finished the entire marathon wearing an inflatable duck around my waist (see pic on the blog page) ; and the optimist and quasi-superstitious guy in me thinks that the duck played a role in keeping the horrible weather at bay. And, once I realized that I wouldn't be setting any time records, having the duck proved to be a lot of fun for the brave souls lining the streets ("Hey, Duckman!" "Rubber Ducky, You're The One!" "Go Paul. Get the duck going!" these are a few examples of the gems I heard...kept me smiling, and that helped to conceal my wincing). Also, it was fun 'high-fiving' kids that were smiling at the duck as I waddled by.

Anyway, the competitor in me feels lame (lame duck?) for not doing better time-wise, but I gave what I could, when I could, this spring for training and throughout the race, and I did finish, so I'll take that.

As I told Lena, I felt more like the rodeo clown than the cowboy at this show, but I guess everyone plays their role and in the end 'the show' comes together. I'm just glad to have played some part and am happy to have been able to do this again...participating in the Boston Marathon is truly a wonderful and energizing experience. It's also especially rewarding to know that my kids have learned a little bit more about how deeply fortunate we are as a family, and how important it is to do what you can, when you can, to help another in need. Raising awareness and funds for the Food Bank, Pine Street (last year) and having them share in the experience, were/are my greatest motivators.

Thanks for your interest and your support.

Sincerely, Paul

PS: For those asking "what's next?" My hope is the 2007 NYC Marathon in November, if I'm accepted (I've entered the lottery and will learn by June whether/not I'm 'in'.) If not NYC, then I'm considering the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC or The Hartford Marathon in Hartford, CT as other options for my "fall marathon").

it's "go" time

2007-04-15T21:15:00.000-04:00

OK - for those of you tracking me in 'real time', you should have received a 'test' e-mail today from BAA.

For those who want to log on to track progress, go to http://www.baa.org/ and my bib # is: 20618.

For any brave souls lining the route, my bib # will be pinned to my left thigh.

I will be wearing my black knit/fleece hat or hood (if wind allows, will have a red, Red Sox visor wrapped around my winter headgear), black pants, blue jacket, but with a white T-shirt over it (I've ironed a small GBFB logo and "Can Do. Attitude is a Decision" on the shirt); but, if you still can't see me, I'm also going to be wearing a yellow, inflatable duck (wrapped around my waist), b/c, it will indeed be a good day for...well, you get the idea. Be warned...if the wind proves to be too much, I'm ditching the duck along the way, so headgear and/or my bib # is best way to spot me.

So, as I prepare for bed, I wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who's been so supportive so far, and please keep me (and a tailwind) in your thoughts and prayers for Monday.

Also, please remember as you think about how crazy this is...there is someone homeless that deals with far worse conditions for more than 4 +/- hours per year, and there are people in your neighborhood that are struggling to find the resources to feed themselves and their families... thank you for doing what you can to help wherever and whenever you can.

Much like last year, I am filled with the positive energy, gratitude, and humility that this experience brings to bear. (yellow duck not-withstanding) :-)

Be well, Paul

Follow Me! (on Marathon Day)

2007-04-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Since many of you have asked:

If you'd like to receive an e-mail update or text message as I progress through the route on Marathon Day (Monday 4/16 from about 10:30-2:30 ET), please send me an email at: paul.r.joseph@comcast.net and I'll add you to the notification list called: wherespaulnow@googlegroups.com

Include the e-mail address or the text message address where you'd like to receive the notifications (something like 5555555555@yourmobileprovider.net). Check with your mobile service provider if you require additional information

Thanks, Paul

Running...out of time!

2007-04-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

So I'm working late and NOT getting my planned 10-mile run in today...I was hoping to run Heartbreak Hill one more time, in the rain, to simulate the conditions predicted for Monday. Oh well. Stayed dry and was able to blast one last "Hail Mary" pass of an e-mail to many of you.

it's been a VERY interesting 'final' week before the big day. Total miles logged since Sunday = 0

One way or another, I'll get those last few miles in on Friday a.m. and probably Sunday (they say that it's best to rest and not run at all on Saturday and to do a light, loosening jog on Sunday...what they don't say is "why not just take the whole week before the race off!" :-0

So, let's run down the list:

Scary weather: check
Lame preparation: check
Poor sleep: check
Marginally regular and nutritious meals: check
Butterflies in stomach: ironically, not so much
overconfidence (or, perhaps, just good old fashioned optimism): check

...If I set a personal record this year I'll be insufferable!

(p.s. - don't worry, Mom, for the most part, I'd been sleeping, eating, and training right up until the last week)

Weather looks grim!

2007-04-11T05:47:00.000-04:00

OK...so "weather.com" isn't showing me the love for Marathon Monday: Hi of 49 degrees, Low of 36, 20 m.p.h. winds, and RAIN (70% chance and getting worse every time I check back).

So, to those of you who said they'd be out there cheering me on...bring an umbrella and a LOUD voice...I've done the 'slogging through 26 miles in the cold rain' run once before (Victoria, BC last October was wet and drizzly) and it's about as pleasant as, well, jogging in the cold rain for 4 hours...some metaphors kinda write themselves. (<--this comment holds true for similes as well, for my English major friends and family). Your encouragement would be most welcome, although your decision to stay indoors and shoot me an e-mail would be completely understandable!

Hope to see a few diehards out there on the course; and for those of you cheering from afar, please keep the following thoughts in your head come 10:30 a.m. Monday:

- warm, but not too warm,
- dry, and
- TAIL wind (one of the few ways that my superior surface area would give me a competitive advantage).

Gotta run! Paul

Radical pre-marathon diet...Opening Day at Fenway

2007-04-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

So I have been completely thrown off my game with less than a week to go before Marathon :-0

Monday...went out to lunch with team from work yesterday and celebrated a colleague's birthday with a BBQ burger at Friendly's (broccoli, no fries, so I could live with myself)...and then today at the office, we celebrated Opening Day at Fenway with hot dogs, popcorn, and a fire drill, thanks to the popcorn maker under the smoke/heat detector (it's funny b/c the landlord waived the fine!). I 'chased' the 2 hot dogs down with too many handfuls of peanuts and some Twizzlers over the course of the game which we had 'livecast' with a Jimmy Fund fundraiser at the office...yes, I DO work at a "Best Place" to work, after all!

I share this all with you b/c, well, I pride myself on being somewhat of a 'nontraditional' runner, so I wanted to provide an insider's view to both my rigorous training and my ridiculously human lapses in judgement. :-)

I'm guessing that you won't hear about the Kenyans' new training regimen of burgers, dogs, licorice, and peanuts anytime soon, and that's fine with me; let them win the race. I'll take the 'warm fuzzies' of a 14-3 Sox victory and the 5 billion extra calories and channel that energy in just 6 short days. (either that or I'll hurl tomorrow at dawn somewhere out on a local street...will keep you posted either way)

Happy Easter, Happy Passover

2007-04-06T07:50:00.000-04:00

to everyone celebrating this week/weekend, I wish you and your families a happy celebration.

I will be running in Fairfield, CT as we'll be celebrating Easter with Lena's family. Will likely do a couple of 6 milers while there ...trying to wind down the distance running and increase my speed (as much as possible in 10 days' time).

The long-term forecast is looking like perfect running conditions on Marathon Monday -- I hope that holds true!

Dime, A Dozen

2007-04-04T17:59:00.000-04:00

Less than 2 weeks to go, and I ran what was probably my 2nd to last training run up Heartbreak Hill and back...it's times like this when I'm glad I work in Newton and not in Hopkinton!!

Anyway, the 'dime' refers to my 10 mile run, the 'dozen' is the number of days left before the Marathon. Can't believe how fast the time is flying.

Thanks to those of you checking in and to those who have contributed to GBFB on my behalf, thus far. Please spread the word and come out to the course on Patriot's Day if you can -- it's quite a spectacle.

Half Marathon sans iPod

2007-04-01T17:54:00.000-04:00

So I ran my first significant distance (13.1 miles) without the ol' iPod to keep me company -- kind of like giving up the 'binky' but less traumatic thanks to having a running buddy for the first half of my run.

Doing a training run while talking to my neighbor, John, who will also be out there on Marathon Day, was a welcome change of pace for me...not unlike 'walking and chewing gum', the ability to 'run and hold a conversation' and still stay at my targeted pace was a welcome surprise.

I'm actually contemplating leaving the iPod home on the 16th...but then again, I still might sneak 'the binky' in with my gear...old habits die hard.

Back outside, back against the wall

2007-03-30T09:13:00.000-04:00

So I finally made it outside for an early a.m. run again. It feels like it's been a long time since I've been out and about pre-sunrise. Nothing beats the serenity of dawn, crisp air, and quiet roads...until, of course, the school buses, crazy commuters, and domesticated wolves and rodents (= big and little dogs on leashes) join me for miles #5-7 of my 7 mile run.

With just over 2 weeks to go, I'm feeling pretty good about where I am today. I'm probably at a similar level as where I was this time last year, but I feel like I cheated the system this time around! Hopefully the 'been there, done that' factor pulls me through the event slightly faster this year.

I'm hoping to join a couple of neighbors for a 12-13 miler this weekend. They, too, will be out on the course 2 weeks from Monday, so will be fun to become a bit more social and relaxed before 'go' time.

Be well, Paul

running on a "dreadmill"

2007-03-28T17:06:00.000-04:00

So I have now run on the treadmill twice this week -- in fact, my first 2 times since training for Boston this year...and now I remember why only twice...boring!

While the workout is good (really keeps me honest about pace, although I have my suspicions about the calibration of the treadmills in our office's gym facility!), there's nothing better that being outside and running with real air (yes, and the real cold/rain/snow/sand-on-the-street/mud/etc. that goes with it!).

As I wind down the distance aspect of training and try to get a few, shorter/'faster' runs in to build quickness, I will be shackled to the "dreadmill" for another couple of weeks...I hope it pays off, b/c the irony of it all is that it's been sunny and beautiful, spring weather just as I started to run inside!

Running as a team sport

2007-03-26T05:18:00.000-04:00

So my Saturday run of "22" miles turned out to be more like 17...taken down by a blister in Framingham on my return. Foot is now OK and won't pose a long-term problem; however, I've had a heart-to-heart talk with that pair of socks and they will NOT be joining me on Marathon Day!

I saw many of the other charity runners out on the course, taking their last 'long' runs in advance of the big day (3 weeks to go!). For serious runners, there is a 2-3 week 'taper' period when they ratchet down the distance training to allow their bodies to rest. I, of course, left from my house in Natick and ran in the opposite direction of most of the others (I was planning to run out to Hopkinton and back), so most of the time I was getting funny looks from the masses as if I missed a memo about which way I was 'supposed to' go! It is something amazing to be out on the Marathon course, seeing all these people working towards the same (yet, different for each individual) goal -- a connection to both the 'cause' and to the history of the race...I can't do it justice in words.

My training (and style) is much less strict --- I run in one of 2 modes: 'on' or 'off'. Had I put in more time and had the discipline, I would have done more work to improve my speed -- things like going to a track to work out, and adding some funny things called fartleks (it's a real word...look it up!) into my routine.

I have found that my energy and pace do pick up quite a bit when others are running (although I'm still a pretty anti-social runner b/c I have a hard time running and talking at the same time). BTW -thanks again to the folks at Apple for creating the iPod...not only can I ignore the person next to me on a plane if I so choose, but I can also now run several marathons without hauling my hundreds of cassettes with me in a clunky Walkman.

Anyway, one reason I think I like running is because it reminds me of baseball in some ways -- you have to play your best as a team, but then there are those moments (e.g., in the batter's box, or lining up under a fly ball) that you have to execute as an individual...do it, or don't do it, but it's all on your own shoulders at any given moment.

Although I felt like a maverick running against the tide of those hundreds of other runners, I was certainly reminded during that one, humbling phone call to my team (Lena and the kids) that distance running really is a team sport for me. Thanks again to them for allowing me to take all this time to train, and for their unwavering support as I disrupted their weekend chores and playtime to scramble the minivan for another 'rescue Dad' mission!

24, 10.16, and 20618

2007-03-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

Wow. I'm sorry I didn't log stuff sooner. You could have really heard some interesting stories (griping) about the sub-zero runs and my general 'malaiziness' this winter! Anyway, feeling more energized these days, and hope you're enjoying the periodic updates.

So, a quick look at the calendar, clock, and BAA.org website tells me:

24 days to go...I'm starting to get excited about the Marathon and hope many of you locals can sneak away from work for a bit to watch the race. I was energized by all the friends and family lining the route last year...someone to potentially see every 5-7 miles or so -- I'll post my ETA for specific route locations in a couple of weeks, once I gauge my likely pace and timing of crossing the Start Line.

10.16 refers to my run mileage today (up over the top of Heartbreak and a bit farther, since I 'didn't get around to' my 8-miler yesterday -- I slack off, but then I feel guilty). It was a great spring day for a run, though the clouds looked more threatening by the end of my run. Given my "summit" of Heartbreak Hill today, I'll likely replace the charity 21-miler tomorrow with an 'out and back' from my house to the Start Line (~22 miles, but no big hill at the end). Saturday marks 'moving furniture out' day, as we are about to undergo some major renovation at the house. I wonder how stable my legs will feel hauling our sofas, side table and other furniture out after running 22 miles in the a.m. ...hmmm...can't wait to read Sunday's log, myself! Thanks to Gary O. for taking time out on his birthday to help me move that furniture (if not join me for the run).

Finally, I found out yesterday that my official 'bib' number for the race will be: 20618 (a demotion from last year's 19348, but once again, I'm just happy to have been nominated). For those of you tracking my progress on race day, take note.

In the meantime, have a great weekend. Paul

Formal Apology to Jimmy Buffett and his Parrotheads

2007-03-22T11:33:00.000-04:00

To any and all Jimmy Buffett fans, I have been ridiculed for mis-spelling his name (hey, I'm running for a food bank, any wonder I called him Jimmy 'Buffet'??).

In any case: Jimmy, Parrotheads.. consider this my formal, public apology.

Twenty-five days and counting! :-0

2007-03-22T08:15:00.000-04:00

It’s Thursday, March 22nd and as of 10:30ish a.m. today, there are exactly 25 days left until I “toe the line” (well, more like get herded like on of the 10,000 foot-shuffling masses across the modest start-line) in Hopkinton, MA. I will be in the "2nd wave" of 10,000 -- the 1st wave leaves at 10 a.m. this year, rather than noon. Another slight change in format from last year.

It's getting perilously close to 'go' time -- one last charity team 'practice' run this Saturday (21-miler from the start line in Hopkinton to the top of "Heartbreak Hill" in Brookline).

The few times I've run the hills in Newton this year have been much smoother than last year; but, working only a couple of miles from the 3-tiered “hill” makes it much more manageable as “miles #2-4” as opposed to “miles #19-21” of the run.

Today I will aim for a modest 8 miler, tackling some, but not all, of Heartbreak.

Have a great day! Paul

Forty-One Days To Go!

2007-03-06T06:16:00.000-05:00

So, as the weather finally 'warms' up to the low 30s today, I have been staring out into the dark window since about 3:30 a.m. Recovering from 4 days of flu has been a hassle, but knowing that both of my children have been battling the same flu (one with fever for 7 days, the other down for 5 days this week)reminds me how little I have to complain about.

It was only 1 week ago that I joined hundreds of other charity-sponsoring marathoners for a "16 miler" (actually a 17.1 mile!) run from Natick, MA into downtown Boston... I haven't run a step since, and am a bit concerned about getting my stamina back with only about 8 weeks to go.

Overall, I've not been training as diligently as I had by this time last year; but, in my defense, I was out there almost every day the week before last -- braving wind chills of 7 below zero and wearing a ski mask and hood to keep my head warm and my line of sight clear! Those were some brutal runs...ranging from the 3-mile "get-out-and-move" run to the several 7-mile loops and even a 16.7 miler two weeks ago today.

I often think about the homeless on the brutally cold mornings -- running last year's Marathon in support of the Pine Street Inn (http://www.pinestreetinn.org/) still humbles and motivates me. I remain grateful to those many of you who supported me last year, as I encourage you to keep up the effort, either for Pine Street Inn or for your local homeless agnecy.

thanks for checking in! Paul