Goofy's race and a half challenge .......today's training run

Hello friends,

 Its been a few weeks since I last blooooged. Any who today being the last day of good ol' 2011 i figured I would do a yearly recap of sorts.

 January started out with my first marathon at WDW. I will just say that I learned a lot at that race. I know first hand what hitting the wall means. I had a brick pattern on my forehead for a few days after that experience.

 You would think that coming home from running my first marathon would be the hardest thing I did in January and you would be completely wrong. January 18th was a dark day full of jockstraps and an ungodly amount of swelling. This then led to an unbearably long recovery period that only ended when I had the swollen area drained by the doc inserting 3 needles in to drain the offending fluid. Whatever you are visualizing is no where near as bad as it was.

 As spring approached things got better running events occurred, clients got motivated, the kids grew and matured. Awesome time of the year.

 Summer time and the livings easy. Once again we overreached, Working on the house and trying to renovate the camper all while watching Lucia and Thira. The summer flew by and we swore to never overbook our summers again. Once June arrived I began my Goofy training, I started doing back to backs on the weekend. Whatever i did on sat. I doubled on sunday plus additional miles during the week.

 Autumn and the highlight was Thira entering kindergarten. It was a battle starting in March to get her into the school she's in now. Up until a week before school started we still didn't know where she was going. Super stressful! Goofy training really kicked up here with November being the biggest month. Lots of back to backs equalling 30 miles or more plus the additional weekly miles.

 The other milestone, I turned 40 in September. I really don't care about that except i'm now in the masters class when I enter a local race. That seems odd......

 As you know once you hit Thanksgiving the rest of the year is on overdrive. December 10th was the trail running festival at the Greenbelt, it was my first 25k and besides a minor mishap at the beginning it was my favorite race of the year. I ran into someone I hadn't seen over 15 years, amazing.

  Christmas got here faster than I ever remembered. I saw someone else who is very dear to me that I hadn't seen in 11 yrs. all due to me having to go a store to get poor Lucia some baby advil.

 That leads us to now. December 31st the last day of the year. Being a saturday I did what I have been doing most saturdays meeting up with fellow runners especially from S.I.A.C. my new running home and hitting the trails. There is no better way to start the day for me than a trail run. I don't care if its a 5k or 50k I love being on the trails.

 With that 2011 is just about wrapped up. I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and amazing 2012. Especially my wife Danielle, Thira, and baby Lucia along with all of my friends the ones and family.

Goofy race and a half....When it all comes together

 I took my client and friend larry out on the trails yesterday for his first run into double digits. The day was sunny but cold. Nice trail running weather in my opinion.

 We looped around most of the 25k course I had run previously but with the days getting colder the muddy
spots shrunk up and the leaves that had covered most of the trail in the fall have started to disappear. This creates a faster path to run on and we noticed right away that this run was exceptionally enjoyable from the start.

 I noticed something else as were started popping up and down the many hills along the greenbelt. My form felt different, it felt natural. Everything kept clipping together correctly.

 Every time I hit an incline my body leaned in from my ankles and I started popping up the hill landing on my forefoot and shooting fwd. it felt like i wasn't doing hardly anything at all yet I kept moving fwd.

 At the end of the run which was 11 miles by the way I was tired and my legs were a little fatigued but If  I had to turn around and do the route again I would've with out thinking twice.

Some thoughts on yesterdays 25k trail race.

  First of all, yesterday was a stunningly beautiful day. Weather was perfect and the trails besides the obvious muddy patches were outstanding.

  So yes I did twist the right ankle a bit but as I was resting last night I noticed something else. I feel terrific.
My energy was and still is this morning through the roof. Body feels great, besides obvious ankle.

  Heres some things I am attributing to me feeling so good.
1, The group runs led by Pete Priolo of S.I.A.C. of which I am proud to be a member of.

2, My good old Brooks Cascadia. I think though that  will be switching to the Brooks Pure Grit next spring.

3. Body Glide, This stuff works. I am chafe free since using it.

4. Compression socks, I have found that when running over 10 miles while wearing compression socks  I dont fatigue like I used to. Of course this could be because I am simply running further more consistently but I dont care I like wearing them. I am certain that wearing them after I long run has helped in recovery.

Foam rolling, god I love foam rolling. I roll for just a few minutes every other day along with some assisted stretches. It feels fantastic to roll it out. Of course I have documented how to make the ultimate foam roller. heres a pic.

 Anyway what a terrific day yesterday was. Thanks again to the Greenbelt Conservancy and NYARA especially Matt Lebow for his vision.

Goofy's race and a half challenge &staten island trail extravaganza

 Soon as in two days Staten Island will be hosting its first ever Ultra trail event. 5k, 10k, 25k, and the big daddy 50k.

 This is being brought to us by The Greenbelt Conservancy and NYARA
http://www.nyara.org/template.php?Add-a-Page=8

 Its going to be a terrific event, the course will at times be extremely muddy. Other parts of the course I already know are very steep and narrow. I'm curious as to how I will do. On one hand I want to push really hard and finish btw. 2:15 and 2:30. With the mud I think a time of 2:30 for me will be satisfactory.

 On the other hand I'm a month away from Disney and to twist an ankle now would be extremely frustrating. So, what will I do? Reality is that I have been on these trails running with the siXac crew for a while now and I really want to crush this event.

 A cold, muddy, trail event......it sounds like a disaster, right up my alley.

Again, either you are going to change or you won't

 A bit of a rant. How many times do you want to hear from people that now is the time that I want to change my life. Im ready lets go.You say that to me and I am ready to give you 100% of my focus. I will create a program for you that will help guide you to your goals.

 Don't do this, do not call me the night before a session with a need to reschedule. Then never reschedule. I will begin calling you back because I have invested my time and my time is money. Eventually you will do 2 things you will decide that you had enough and stop making excuses or you will disappear and stay where you are even though you hate how you look and how you feel you are used to it, its comfortable.

 I can and will help you but first you have to be ready.