New York City Marathon Lottery

Well...I entered the lottery again(#225474) for the New York City Marathon. Hope I have better luck than last year. Struck Out. While planning the next 2 in the upcoming weeks, I decided to look back on previous successes and failures(so to speak).

size	pace	time	date	state	name
7727	11:45	5:05:10	1/7/2005	Florida	Disney Marathon
3537	10:00	4:26:34	11/12/2005	Virginia	Richmond Marathon
20934	10:04	4:23:58	10/29/2006	D.C.	Marine Corp Marathon
6956	9:02	3:56:30	1/14/2007	Arizona	Rock & Roll Arizona Marathon
3123	8:47	3:50:07	4/29/2007	California	Big Sur Marathon
2538	9:01	3:56:29	10/13/2007	Maryland	Baltimore Marathon
826	9:40	4:13:19	11/4/2007	North Carolina	City Of Oaks Marathon
1731	8:46	3:48:20	2/16/2008	South Carolina	Myrtle Beach Marathon

If I dont get into New York in November, Plan B would be to register for the Philadelphia Marathon which is run the same month.

As far as looking into the crystal ball for 2009, I haven't decided on any yet. I would like to get recommendations from my fellow runners. Anyone?

Status Quo....

It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, It's you and me.
And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
Say, If I only could, oh...

Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill.....

I heard that song over the weekend and thought it was appropriate for the situation. I need some divine intervention between now and Sunday. If not, I will have to deal with the realization on Sunday morning that we are just going to 'Go For the Bling' and ignore the time. Just get the medal and check Georgia off the list.....

So much for following directions..

Well....it lasted about 4 days and I couldn't take it...

I went to the Y yesterday and worked out.. I know! I know! I have a marathon in 12 days, but it was driving my insane.

Decided on a workout that minimized the stress on my Adductor muscle.

1. Took a 15 minutes ab/core strengthening class
2. Rode the stationary bike for 10 miles
3. Swimming drills for 45 minutes

At least I didnt run. The treadmills were calling my name, but I fought off the temptation. Tapering sucks...

Remain calm! All is well!

Ok....I am panicing!!!!

It's exactly 2 weeks until the Georgia Marathon and it is status quo with this leg issue. Of all the running injuries that I have faced, the Adductor muscle strain is the one that has stopped me dead in my tracks. It is day 7 of non-running and it is just as tender/sore as last Saturday after I attempted to run.

I solicited advice from fellow runners on how to handle this injury and the best way gut it out when I run the marathon in two weeks. The best advice I got was...
'Don't run at all between now and the 30th of March and if you can handle the pain of the first few miles which will feel like someone stabbed a knife into your hip. You should be alright until AFTER the marathon. The next few days , you will feel miserable. ''

The common answer on how to treat this injury was to give it complete rest by not running for 6 weeks.

Yeah right!! Like that is going to happen....

Come hell or high water, I am going to run on the 30th! There is too much invested to turn back now. I know that sounds stupid, but we will see...

I will leave you with these great quotes...

"Scientific testing can't determine how the mind will tolerate pain in a race. Sometimes, I say, 'Today I can die.'"---Gelindo Bordin

"There is no time to think about how much I hurt; there is only time to run." --Ben Logsdon

"Pain is weakness leaving the body." -- Tom Sobal

New Weapon Of Choice...

I have to share my impulse purchase....the new 2GB Ipod shuffle. It is a runners best friend!! 400 songs to choose from!!

As I was transfering the old playlist from my 1GB shuffle to the new shuffle, I was looking what I listened to the most.
Here is my top 10....
1) "Clocks" - Coldplay
2) "Mountain Song" - Janes Addiction
3) "Life is Short"-Butterfly Boucher
4)"Optimistic" - Radiohead
5) "Tropicalia" - Beck
6) "Rock & Roll Aint Noise Pollution" - AC/DC
7) "Pump It" -Black Eyed Peas
8) "Killer" - Seal
9) "James Bond Theme' - Moby
10)"Alive" - POD

I know as far as music tastes, I am all over the place.

Well, still battling the adductor(groin pull...insert joke here) muscle pull. I have decided to shut it down for a few days(no running, swimming or biking). 19 days until the Georgia Marathon and this injury is really bothering me. I ran over the weekend(5 miles) and that was a major mistake. Its that type A personality coming out. You know you shouldnt run, but that little voice tells you .."Its OK...its JUST 5 Miles...."

I thought this quote was appropriate for the situation.....

"For those that have done it before, you don't have to explain it. For those that have never, you can't explain why you do this to yourself."

Hey...Look at me..I am blogging!!!

I guess everybody and their brother is blogging, so I should join in the act.

Another reason would be to celebrate today(March 7th). Exactly 4 years ago today, I decided to start running. It was the ugliest 1/2 mile you have ever seen. I joked that I should have been smoking , so I would have an excuse. Its amazing how quickly the running drug takes over.
Now, 4 years later..I am in the best shape of my life. I am 37 and I have great abs(Ha Ha!!). I have ran 8 marathons and have taken the plunge into the world of triathlons. I guess you could say I have jumped into the deepend in with that one. Attempting my 1st half Ironman in September. Depending on how that one goes, shooting for a full Ironman in 2009.
It has been recently that I have decided to tackle running a marathon in all 50 states, plus DC. I thought what better way to chronicle my journey in writing my ups and downs in this blog.

People ask...So far, which marathon is your favorite out of the 8 you have done so far(Florida, California, Arizona, D.C., Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland)? Easiest question you can ever ask me. The Big Sur Marathon in Monterey, CA. Its a Zen experience, its a 'check off your list before you die' kind of marathon. Where else can you start off in the Redwood forest and run along the Pacific Coast Highway looking at the Pacific Ocean for 20+ miles. Unbelievable.

Hey...Look at me..I blogged...haha