Recap...Finally

Instead of doing a whole another recap, I'm going to post the email I sent to all of my supporters.

Dear all,

I apologize for the tardiness of this email. The marathon is now a full 3 weeks behind us, and I'm sure some of you are of course eager to hear how everything went. First, I am writing this email so that means I'm not dead, which is a good thing. Second, I finished the entire race on my own, which, just like being alive, is also a good thing. Third, to date I have raised $4,483.62 all due to the amazing generosity each and every one of you have shown me over the last 6 months.

While I may not have competed for the win, or even the fastest twenty-four year old Jew from Arizona (I should check to see if I can claim that), I did complete what is known as one of the hardest marathons out there in 4:44. When I first started this whole experience, I stated my goal time as under 5 hours. During training I felt confident to drop this down 30 minutes. I felt great going into race weekend and knew that if I stayed smart, I could perhaps even beat that time. Well, as they say, the best laid plans.

Just like my previous long runs, I had to get up incredibly early, waking up at 5 am. After some light breakfast of yogurt, a banana, and a granola bar, I took the first Orange line train to meet my teammates and take the buses to Hopkinton where my destiny awaited me. Although I can remember the last time I stayed up until 5 am and not the last time I woke up that early, I didn't feel sleepy, groggy, or any of the other seven dwarfs. Once on the bus, I spoke to a man from Spain, Jesus Corral. His English wasn't great but we were able to have a nice little conversation. He even took down my name so he could write about me in his blog. (Side note: if anyone speaks Spanish and could try to find his blog online, I'd greatly appreciate the link!)

By the time we arrived to Hopkinton it was close to 8 am, but we still had two and a half hours to kill before we would cross the starting line. I made my way along with a few other DFMC teammates to the parrish that is open only to DFMC runners. All other runners must wait outside with thousands of others. Once inside, I gathered everything, decided what to wear, mingled, said my hellos, pinned my number on, went to the bathroom, mingled some more, unsuccesfully tried to rest, repinned my number, went to the bathroom again, and before I knew it, it was approaching the hour.

Seeing the thousands of runners enter the corrals was amazing. I think that was the first time I truly understand the magnitude of this experience. I was excited and not a bit scared. The gun went off and we started, slowly walking at first, working our way up to running pace. Before I knew it, the first mile was over, but not before watching countless runners dart into the woods for quick bathroom breaks, even the ladies. Then the second mile, and the third. I stayed at a good pace and just tried to enjoy the experience. Once I felt comfortable in my stride I started giving high-fives to the people enthusiastically cheering all along the sidelines. This stayed pretty constant for the first 13 miles or so, and then we hit Wellesley. A half mile away, I could hear them. It sounded like the langoliers (Stephen King reference for those who don't know). Then I was there, and everyone wanted high fives and kisses so I proceeded to give them both (only on the cheek). Only later when my forearm started cramping did I realize holding my arm up during this was a bad idea.

At mile 16 I saw my parents and Leslie as well as Dana-Farber volunteers. My pace had started to slow and I knew the last 10 would be a struggle but I would get there. I had to walk part of heartbreak hill because at that point my left quad felt like it was ready to rip off the bone, not a pleasant feeling. Once that subsided I was able to run again but because of the intial walking, I was never able to get back to a good pace and had to walk on and off the rest of the way in pretty much until I saw the Citgo sign from Coolidge Corner and I knew I was only 2 miles away from getting there. I forced myself to run and the rest was sort of a daze. The turn onto Boylston was all that everyone said it would be and although I don't remember my friends who were there shouting at me, the crowd was unbelievable and crossing the finish line with thousands of people cheering was a remarkable experience.

I'm glad had the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization and effort with the DFMC. I'm glad I had the chance to run the Boston Marathon. Most of all, I'm more than happy to have been able to share this experience with you all. Through this, we have come together to raise thousands of dollars that will directly impact lives of cancer patients everywhere and that is something that is worth every bit of sweat, hard work, and above all, your generosity.

Sincerely,

Zach

Thank you all for following me and offering your words of support!

Why is this night different than other nights?

In honor of the last Crossroads run before the marathon, I present to you the 4 questions of Thursday night runs at Crossroads.

Why is it that on all other nights during training we eat either healthy or semi-healthy but on this night we eat pizza? Our benefactor and friend, JJ provides all who run (and even those who don't) with free pizza to replenish our bodies after a run of the hills, river, or the good old out and back. On other nights we must provide ourselves with nourishment, and do so knowing that we will feel guilty if we indulge ourselves too much. But on this night we know that it is only normal and beneficial to not insult our gracious host and eat/maul the pizza that is set before us.

Why is it that on all other nights we drink all sorts of alcohol, but on this night we drink beer? On other nights, you may say I wish to drink a martini or whiskey sour. On this night, however, it seems only fitting to order and a IPA, or Bud, or Stella. After a run, a calorie-less drink is no good to anyone. We must find energy from some source, and we must do so as we wait for the pizza to arrive.

Why is it that on all other nights we stand around clean and without perspiration, but on this night we drink and eat in sweat? On other nights you may wish to wipe the sweat from your brow and pits and even shower before presenting yourself to the world. On this night we delight in the ability to forget such worries and enjoy the company of others in the same condition.

Why is it on all other nights we schlep on a train and run the many hills of Newton? On other nights you may run where you live, but on this night we all come together to experience what many claim to be the hardest part of the Boston marathon so that we all know the hills that much better as to make them a little more bearable when we come upon them not at mile 1 as we do on this night, but at mile 15 when your body is tired and your mind flagging. To experience the hills on this night is truly a mitzvah to your body.

Happy Pesach and Easter to all! Only 10 days away...

All Good Things Come to an End

...or do they?

Last night was the last official track workout before the marathon. Instead of running at Tufts as we usually do, we ran at Belmont High School. A couple of notes about this:

1. Weather.com is never accurate. It was not 50 degrees when I got to the track and in fact, I'm not sure how much it got above 40.
2. Baseball talent just isn't the same in Boston. I got to the track a little early and watched the last half-inning of a high school baseball game. I don't want to sound arrogant, but simply put, there's a huge difference in how the game is played here as opposed to Arizona. I guess having an actual winter will do that.
3. Public transportation will get you everywhere. All I did was go to MBTA.com and found the bus that took me right there. Having no car=no problem.
4. I can only imagine Tuesday night workouts after the marathon. Some of the runners continue to get together over the summer for TNT (Tuesday Night Track), and judging from the stories that I pieced together from the inside jokes and comments, it seems like it will be a good time.
5. Having GPS on my iPhone is the best thing ever. Ever! Not sure if we would've found the bar afterwards without it.
   

Anyway, the workout was light, which I was very thankful for as I'm still recovering from 22 miles on Saturday. I have to say, however, that one of the main reasons I feel confident about running the marathon is because of these track workouts. Before starting them, I had been dealing with injuries to both IT bands and my achilles' tendon. These workouts somehow helped me get healthy as I now feel better than ever before, running-wise that is. Also, I think the dramatic change in my ability (I ran the 22 miles in 3 hours and 31 minutes; I ran 20 miles two weeks before in 3 hours and 27 minutes) is because of these workouts.

So thanks to the DFMC coach, Jack Fultz; thanks to all the runners; thanks to Tufts for use of their track; and of course thanks to all of you who have supported me over the last 6 months. It's been long and arduous, but the payoff is right around the corner. There's always the chance that this is the end of my running career...

but, then again, probably not. Sometimes, good things shouldn't come to an end.

The Best Laid Plans

When I started this blog so many months ago, I expected that I would update it once-a-week (give or take a day or two). The best laid plans, right?

Not only does this phrase sum up my blogging prowess (or lack thereof) and my ability to understand what my body could endure if put through the appropriate training, it also aptly describes much of my training over the past few months. See, before I ran the Sedona half all the way back in February, which seems like an eternity ago, I was running AND making it to the gym for cross-training. But something happened when I returned from vacation and to be honest with everyone, including myself, I think I have only made it to the gym 3 times since then. With that said, the runs have become longer-4 of the last 5 weekend runs have been "my longest"- and harder, especially the Tuesday night track workouts. Still, I know I've lost something in not going.

Unfortunately, it now seems that this is ability to skip workouts has crept into my running. Three weekends ago, in an effort to fully recover from a good old-fashioned cold and from the 18 miles I ran the previous weekend, I didn't run at all. I did feel refreshed, but also slightly guilty. I did, however, feel amazing that week and went on to complete my first 20 mile run that Saturday, which helped relieve some of the guilt. Recovering from this run was a bit tougher than I thought it would be. Last week's runs did not feel good at all. My legs felt heavy and even when I tried to push myself, they did not respond well. Then, I missed this weekend's group run due to a roommate's birthday party on Friday night. I had planned to go running at some point over the weekend, but I let the party affect me a little longer than I had hoped.

So now I feel guilty. I haven't been doing the proper cross-training; I haven't been stretching or icing as much as I should; I've missed two of the last four weekend runs, but....

What I've found about running and training for a marathon is that there's always a time for redemption. You miss a run. Okay, so what? Run the next day. Miss that. There's tomorrow. I understand that this cylce couldn't go forever, but there's still 28 days left until April 20th. I have a 20 mile in the bank. I have another coming up. Other than a few aches and pains that seem pretty natural at this point, I'm healthy. I feel confident that I can do what I need to do over the next 4 weeks to get where I need to be.

It may not be the way I planned, but approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes after I cross the starting line in Hopkinton, I will cross that finish line and know that it doesn't matter what I planned, I made it to the end.

So Close and So Far

According to my Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge website (http://www.runDFMC.org/zacharyd2009), I am less than $30 away from $3,000! This is excellent news. But there's still over a month to go. If you've been waiting until it was closer to the marathon, give today! If you need any motivation, watch the video below. It truly is an inspirational story and gives everyone a fuller understanding of the impact that all of our efforts have.

My goal is still far off - $6,500 - but I know that we can do it. I expect this next month to be the big push. I have see the overwhelming response I've received so far, and this has given me the confidence that WE will reach the goal.

Thank you all for your support.

This is why we run

I've read every article and watched all the videos I've found, and it's still a great story.

I guess I just don't know...

First, the good news: I completed my longest run to date this past Saturday. I ran 18 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes, for a per-mile time of approximately 10:45.

Now, the bad news: I had to walk a little over a mile.

Others keep telling me that walking isn't that big of a deal and that I should be happy that I have 18 miles "in the bank". Yet, I can't escape a feeling of un-accomplishment. My last few runs had went so well that I was excited to test my body and push myself further than before. I'm not sure how some runners handle this feeling, but before the run I told myself that if I could run last week in X minutes then I should be able to do this run in Y. I mean it was only 2 extra miles. Sometimes, however, it's just not your day I guess.

Looking back on it now, a whole 2 days, 1 pub crawl, and 12 inches of snow later, I can see the successes of the run - no lasting injuries or pain outside the normal soreness, almost a neutral split in time between the first and second half of the run (pretty good considering the walking part), and I just ran 18 miles.

All in all, it's not as bad as I'm making it out to be. I've had worse runs before and I'm sure I'll have worse in the future. I was thinking of this as a setback but I realize that this is definitely not the way to look at it. I still have a month and a half to go before the marathon, and I'm still learning. I don't know what my perfect pace should be or if I need to eat better the day before or day after. I don't know my body will feel the day of, and I don't know if the crowd will give me the burst of energy and enthusiasm everyone says they get.

This is hard for someone like me to admit, but there's a lot of things I don't know. But that's kind of the fun in all of this. The not knowing is a challenge. I'm not sure what my body is fully capable of and trying to understand is exciting. It keeps me motivated. Between this, the patients, and the thrill of race day, I think my motivation level will remain high throughout the rest of training and beyond.

Sweet 16

I figure it's a good time for an entry because A) I just had (another) longest run yesterday, B) it's not nice outside, and C) I just watched "Taken" with Liam Neeson and need to make myself think now.

I'm going to start with C. There are two things that I learned from watching this movie. The first is that the American authorities and for that matter, the French, don't care about traveling American girls who get kidnapped and sold into prostitution. Second, meeting a pop star and getting singing lessons from her is much more important than going to counseling and dealing with an excruciatingly horrible experience and death of your best friend.

By now, you're probably wondering why this post is titled "Sweet 16." No, well, I'm going to tell you anyway. I've come up with a terrific idea for a new reality show. On a girl's 16th birthday, instead of getting a party, they make her run 16 miles. I would definitely watch as she complains for the whole two and a half hours about how all she wanted was a new Saab, and Beyonce at her party.

Wow, talk about digression. The above paragraph is neither fully accurate or interesting whatsoever. I'm not sure why I'm keeping it. I'll just say it's because of the economy.

The real reason for this entry's title is that yesterday I ran 16 miles, making this the third weekend in a row that I can say, "I just finished my longest run ever." And even better news is that I completed the run in the same amount of time it took me to run 15 miles the previous week, and it was on a much harder course, full of fun hills. All the work must be paying off.

I'm aiming to run 18 miles next weekend so watch out for that update.

Weekly Update #4 - Midterms

I know it may be a little early for midterms but I wanted to report on my first and only of the semester - the Sedona Half-Marathon. Not only was this my first half-marathon but also my longest run ever. Despite these intimidating words - first, longest - I went into the race very confident that I'd 1)finish and 2)post a decent time. I'm glad to report that I was correct in both respects.

I drove up last Friday to spend a night in Sedona and get acclimated to the increased elevation. If memory serves, the average elevation of the course is 4000 feet, quite a bit higher than I'm used to in Boston. I woke up around 6 the next morning, had a light breakfast and made my way to the start. Because you have to get there early to get a parking spot, I then spent the next hour or so hydrating myself while I watched the sun rise. All I can say is that I wish I had brought my camera with me.

Fortunately, the forecast of rain and temperatures hovering around 40 didn't hold and it ended up a beautiful morning. It was funny seeing other runners in fleeces, gloves, and hats when it was about 50 degrees out. It felt like summer to me.

The race couldn't start soon enough as I was anxious to test myself. Finally, 5 minutes after eight the half-marathon started. The first half-mile was brutal for 2 reasons 1) it is completely down hill, probably 25% or so, and 2) I felt some tightness on the outside of my knee. After the ground leveled out, however, and once I warmed up, it wasn't a problem.

I paced myself as best as I could for the first 6.5 miles, trying to take it easy on the downhills and saving my energy for the uphill climbs. I actually felt really good doing this. There was one woman who passed me on every downhill stretch but who I would then pass whenever we had to go uphill. It was like doing an indian run with a complete stranger.

At the halfway point I clocked in at 1:04, a little faster than my training pace but I didn't feel too tired and was ready for the second leg (here comes the but), but around mile 9 (my previous longest run), my legs and body started rebelling. Fatigue started and even with frequent water stops and energy bars/gels, it wasn't enough to keep me going. I probably ended up walking for a total of .75 miles or so, most of which was uphill. I was able to regain some composure around mile 10 and get a nice stretch of running in. All the while I was walking, the only thing I could think of was my time. I thought I wouldn't even make it in 2:30 minutes. So, you can imagine my elation when approaching the finish line and seeing myself finishing at a much faster clip than I had calculated. I guess that just shows you that you shouldn't try doing math while running.

My final time: 2:18:10. For the midterm, I'd say that's a B+.

Weekly Update #3

For all those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the next post in my award-winning "Weekly Update" (I hope SNL doesn't sue me for trademark infringement) series, I apologize for the delay, but worry not, I am back and better than before. Maybe. Probably not. Most likely the same, but back nevertheless.

"What's happened in the past 3 weeks?" you ask. "Well," I begin my reply, "I'm glad you ask."

This past week was perhaps my most successful running week to date. It started with a run on Tuesday from my apartment through the North End, into Cambridge then Somerville, and finishing back at home. It was pretty cold and some of the sidewalks were not cleared very well so some of the run was spent like Rocky in Rocky IV where he runs in the snow and then ends the Cold War. Worse than running in the snow, however, was the wonderful mixture of ice and water that graced the area between sidewalks. At one point my feet became immersed in 4 inches of a slush puddle, but thankfully (yes, there's always a silver lining) I was only a mile away from finishing my run so my feet didn't have enough time to freeze completely. That was run 1.

On Thursday I went to Crossroads like I usually do and decided to run "the hills" for the first time. For those unfamiliar with this run, this is where you take the T to the Woodland stop and then run the marathon course from there back to the bar. It's a little less than 9 miles and includes Heartbreak Hill. It was actually quite nice out and fortunately not windy so the run was pleasant. The hills didn't seem that bad but then again I'm sure it's much different when you've done 17 miles before even reaching the area. And due to my magnificent sense of direction I did deviate from the route for about a half a mile. Instead of going right onto Beacon after the reservoir, I went left onto Commonwealth. But I had my phone, and was able to look at the map and find a way back to Beacon, making my run just a bit longer and according to mapmyrun.com, about 9.02 miles, making it my longest run yet.

The third and final run of the week came yesterday in Newton. Instead of running today the reasons being the weather - extremely cold - and the fact that my roommates had an afterparty last night where people didn't leave until 4 am making the early start sort of an impossibility, I met up with a few runners to run a route organized by Shifter who is one of the veterans of the DFMC team and just an overall great guy. I got to the starting spot at around 9:30 and then we ran from Newton to Commonwealth where we ran part of the course again. I was initially a little sore due to the previous run but after a few miles my muscles started feeling better. Shifter had also dropped some water and gatorade off at strategic points because some of the runners were doing longer runs. The toughest part about this is that when I would stop my muscles would become tight very quickly so getting going again was somewhat tough but I made it through unscathed and finished the full 7 miles I had set out to do.

I know I'm not at the mileage I should be at now but I take comfort in the fact that my body is bouncing back from these runs rather well and that I've been able to finish every run that I've started. Depending on the weather, I will be doing "the hills" again this week before heading back to Arizona for the FBR Open, the Super Bowl, and the Sedona Half-Marathon on Feb. 7. I hope to get an one longer one before the race, preferabbly in the double-digits. I'm excited to run a half and am looking forward to running in some nice weather and not worrying whether or not the next step I take is going to cause my feet to freeze.

On the fundraising front, my efforts are continuing and with some checks to be deposited, am around the $1,800 mark. Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far, and I am looking forward to raising even more money!

REVIEW: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: a memoir by Haruki Murakami

First, a disclosure. Haruki Murakami is my favorite contemporary author. While I haven't read all of his books, I have had a chance to read many of them (I think the number currently stands at 8). Going into his new book I had no idea what to expect. As a beginning runner I was intrigued to hear his story about how and why he started running, especially since he connects his running with his career as a writer, an occupation to which I still aspire. But as a fan and reader of only his fiction so far, I was unsure of what it would be like to read a non-fiction piece.

In the forewood, Murakami tells us what the book means for him.

"...this is a book in which I've gathered my thoughts about what running has meant to me as a person."

I'm not sure if running could mean something to him other than "as a person" but this remains a noble endeavor indeed. We all should have the opportunity to look at the things we do and try to come to an understanding of what it means for us. What follows, however, doesn't feel like true introspection.

The book is broken down into various "journal" entries that takes the reader along the training and running of a marathon, an ultra-marathon, and triathlons. I say "journal" because I'm not sure if they are meant to be read as if written at the time or if they were written in retrospect, or possibly written at the time but taken and edited for the purposes of this book. To be clear, they are journal entries but since there doesn't seem to be a story thread that runs throughout them, it feels more like a literary device than anything else. It is interesting, although sometimes boring as well, to travel with Murakami as he prepares himself for these gruelling events. You begin to see the allure of running for him. He describes himself as someone who likes to be alone and running accomplishes just that. There's no need for equipment and for someone who seems to move around a lot, this is great. But these are just facts of running and there has to be more...right?

Well, for Murakami, there doesn't seem to be much more. There's never any tension in this work. Even when he describes the training for a race, the buildup beforehand and the challenges he faced while competing, I never once was wondering if he would make it or not, and I almost didn't care. That is one of the biggest failures of the book - I just didn't care. Even in memoirs there are characters to be liked and disliked. This book gives nothing of the sort. There's Murakami and really no one else. Every now and then he mentions his wife waiting for him at the end of races or at the middle as was the case for the ultra-marathon, but the reader never sees or hears her (I don't think he even quoted her in the entire book, although there might be a paraphrase). What does she think about the running? Is she happy, sad, mad, angry....there's nothing but the words "my wife".

For fans of his writing style, you won't be disappointed. The book at times reads just like his novels and in a few scenes (probably the best ones) you feel like you're back in one of his novels. He occasionally stumbles upon a witty or profound phrase but most of the time, his insights seem forced, as if every one he's had over the years deserved to be published and this was the only place he could jam all of them in.

The most difficult job for a writer is writing about himself. To look at oneself and attempt to come to an understanding of one's motives and actions is a daunting task that most people aren't able to accomplish. I get the sense that Murakami understands this and so instead of giving a full memoir, replete with childhood memories, fights with lovers, and meaningful friendships, he focuses on the one area he knows can be easily dissected, run by run, stride by stride. In doing so, he isn't able to give the reader more than that, basically a running log written by someone who happens to be a novelist.

This book won't blow you away but it also won't leave you feeling like you wasted your time. It's quick, simple, and sometimes fun. If you're a runner and enjoy hearing other runners' stories, this book is for you. If you a fan of Murakami's novels and enjoy the emotions that he's able to breath into his characters, this book will probably disappoint. For aspiring writers who want to know the secret to becoming a best-selling, internationally-acclaimed author, keep searching.

It's Official!

It's tough to read, but it says I'm officially entered to run the 113th Boston Marathon.

Weekly Update #2 - The New Years Edition

I hope everyone enjoyed themselves ringing in 2009. I spent the night (and weekend) with some friends in DC. While I didn't do any running outside, I definitely think it would be a great city to run in. Everywhere you go there's something, and when you have something to look out and think about, it makes running a whole lot easier.

Before I left town I did go out for a run and it just so happened to be my first run outside since the Jingle Bell 5K a few weeks ago and my first time running while it snowed. I was a little worried that my legs weren't ready for it yet, but it went smoothly. I've run a couple of times since then and still, the legs seem to be fine. While I remain a bit cautious, I'm a lot more optimistic now than I was just a week ago.

With that in mind I have decided what my resolution for the new year is: stop talking about injuries and/or any pain. (I understand that this constitutes talking about it, but once this paragraph is finished, there'll be no more). I realized that training for the marathon and actually running one isn't going to make your body feel great most days. In fact, I'll probably wake up every day for the next 3 months with some type of soreness. It's just a fact of life, and I have to accept that. Pain will come, pain will go (hopefully), and all the same I'll have to go running.

Moving on. I've just started reading What I Talk About When I talk about Running by Haruki Murakami. For those who haven't heard of him, he's a Japanese author and also one of my top 3 favorite novelists. His books are, to put it simply, totally engrossing. This one is a memoir and really describes his life as a runner, which he didn't really start until he was around 30, the same time he became a writer. It's an interesting read for 2 reasons: 1) As a beginning runner, him talking of his reasons and motivations and philosophy of running I find to be very insightful and helpful. 2) I like to write myself and here is my favorite author writing about the relationship between running and writing.

I'll probably have a more complete post on the book when I'm finished, but so far so good, which is just about the way I would describe the first half (time-wise) of my training, so far so good.