A Running Life With Friends

Nike Air Max make a comeback: Trainers see huge growth in sales thanks to celebrity wearers and return of sportswear

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:09:47 -0400

Nike Air Max make a comeback: Trainers see huge growth in sales thanks to celebrity wearers and return of sportswear:

“Nike Air Max trainers are now being sported by a raft of celebrities, including singers Rita Ora and Lily Allen, Twilight actor Robert Pattison and even President Obama.”

Father’s Day 6/16/2013. For the miles we never had the...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:52:08 -0400

Father’s Day 6/16/2013. For the miles we never had the chance to share, for the races you were not there to be part of, for the gift of life.

Another Thursday night at the store.

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:39:28 -0400

Another Thursday night at the store.

A night with BridgeRunners on a exploration to Bed Stuy.

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:05:41 -0400

A night with BridgeRunners on a exploration to Bed Stuy.

Oakley Mini 10K

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:53:37 -0400

Oakley Mini 10K

9 days 9 runs.

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:06:06 -0400

9 days 9 runs.

Another night with Bridgerunners - celebrating National Running...

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:40:01 -0400

Another night with Bridgerunners - celebrating National Running Day.

@bridgerunners Celebrating National Running Day (at BRHQ)

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:52:25 -0400

@bridgerunners Celebrating National Running Day (at BRHQ)

@lucyledezma @tdev @eltigre1167 Visitors from Beijing came out...

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:38:50 -0400

@lucyledezma @tdev @eltigre1167 Visitors from Beijing came out to run with us. They were even nice enough to wait for me to come back to have the picture taken. Photo cred goes to @inmyrunningshoes. (at Niketown New York)

Red Hook Criterium 5K's Photos | Facebook

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:53:23 -0400

Red Hook Criterium 5K's Photos | Facebook:

My friend, Jerry, is looking to show everyone how fast he can really go! Watch out!

“By all accounts Jerry Faulkner seems to be very confident about his chances at the podium on June 8th, but he is going to have his hands full with the large contingent of Ethiopians that are also registered.”

Random draw is now open for the 10th anniversary of the Nike Women’s Marathon SF

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:44:43 -0400

Random draw is now open for the 10th anniversary of the Nike Women’s Marathon SF:

RACE DATE: OCTOBER 20, 2013

•

RACE TIME: 6:30AM*

RACE ENTRY FEE: MARATHON $200

•

HALF MARATHON $175

•

COLLEGE $150

Nike Unveil New Trail Shoes

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:18:28 -0400

Nike Unveil New Trail Shoes:

“…the Nike Zoom Wildhorse is designed for runners with a neutral gait, features Dynamic Fit technology for a supportive fit, while the Nike Zoom unit provides responsive cushioning. The outsole lugs are tapered for running uphill and downhill more efficiently. Meanwhile, the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger features the same technologies with what looks like a more rugged outsole – Nike says this is made from environmentally preferred rubber for “enhanced durability with a sticky rubber centre for wet surface traction”. Special attention was paid to the heel of this shoe whose edge is rounded to roll more naturally with the foot, ideal for trail running.”

Running a Sub-Three-Hour Marathon

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:27:51 -0400

Running a Sub-Three-Hour Marathon:

“But later, in the spate of editorials about what it meant for a politician to lie about a marathon time, one fact jumped out at me. Writing at RunnersWorld.com, Mark Remy pointed out that though thousands aim for it, only two percent of marathon finishers in 2011 ran under three hours. Two percent! “Running a marathon is hard,” Remy writes. “Doing it in less than 3 hours is really hard. No, I mean hard. Like really freaking hard.”

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2013/06/02/nike-lunarglide-5-ext-camo/

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:13:59 -0400

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2013/06/02/nike-lunarglide-5-ext-camo/:

“Packed with Nike innovations, the sneaker features the Flywire technology, dynamic support platform at the heel and also comes with the Lunarlon outer sole. ”

192 miles in May. This is the start. The next 3 months will make...

Fri, 31 May 2013 18:23:55 -0400

192 miles in May. This is the start. The next 3 months will make or break me. If life were easy, would we be content? In answer, I foray into the unknown with eyes wide open asking the questions hoping to discover the meaning.

What Is Wrong With People Who Race Across Death Valley?

Fri, 31 May 2013 11:42:39 -0400

What Is Wrong With People Who Race Across Death Valley?:

“Jurek has a healthy ratio of confidence and humility. He says extreme running has made him a better human being. “I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I tackle tough situations,” he said. “When people look at it on paper, it doesn’t make sense: ‘Why do you put your body through all that and your mind?’ But I think because in the end, I come out a different person, and I look at life differently.”

Nike Terra Kiger - lightweight trailrunning | Run Ran Run

Fri, 31 May 2013 01:05:00 -0400

Nike Terra Kiger - lightweight trailrunning | Run Ran Run:

“The Nike Terra Kiger is both and sports fresh looking colorways. Time to hit the trails in style and comfort.”

The Birth of Trail Running | Running Times

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:26:44 -0400

The Birth of Trail Running | Running Times:

“But Dipsea was something new, appropriate to the American terrain. Like the fell races, it allows its runners to choose their own route, although its first running in 1905 basically followed what was called the Lone Tree Trail, and most of its route is still on trails — human-made, but very, very tough. Unlike the bleak sheep-country hilltops of Scotland, much of the route is forested, passing through Muir Woods. So Dipsea is in truth the mother of all trail runs. It keeps its importance because its terrain is so challenging, its scenery so spectacular, and the whole experience so unique. “

My first trail race - 25k at the Dirty German Endurance Fest,...

Tue, 28 May 2013 15:45:07 -0400

My first trail race - 25k at the Dirty German Endurance Fest, Pennypack Park, Philadelphia PA - 05.26.2013

Future positive?

Sun, 26 May 2013 04:35:36 -0400

Brooklyn Half. That was an interesting race for me. Learned a couple of lessons; one is that I definitely have the mileage part down and two is that I am not quite at race ready form. I am not complaining at all about my time which was a respectable 1:30. There were moments when I felt spectacularly good during the race, and then towards the end knowing that I couldn’t hold it.

The day was actually not bad for a May Saturday. The skies were overcast and the temps somewhere in the high 50’s low 60’s at the start. Over 25,000 had registered for this half making it probably the largest half marathon in the US, bigger than most marathons even. So large that NYRR had to break up the start into 2 waves. It was my good fortune to be placed in the 1st wave 2nd corral. Not a bad place to be where you don’t feel the jitters of the 1st corral and the endless wait to hit the mat the folks at the corrals toward the back must endure.

This year, my friends Wade, Mark, Josh, and Mike were in the corrals with me before the horn sounded. My goal was to get to something around 1:27 or 1:26, but I knew that would be a best case scenario. It had been awhile since I had really tried to race hard in a half or any distance shorter. NYC Half was more of steady as she goes than race for me. Boston was a marathon so racing is a bit different in terms of pace per mile. I knew I could hold sub 7’s for the half but what type. 13.1 miles is a long way to go to figure it out and it isn’t the first race that comes to mind to jump back into racing. Upon reflection, I should have done a 4 miler beforehand just to get muscle memory working on what exactly race pace is, not to mention the whole tactical approach.

I spent a good portion of the beginning just feeling it out, where was I comfortable and then realizing too late I was doing to much weaving therefore wasting time and energy. There were moments I thought I should have been more aggressive with pushing pace but I held discipline and tried to stay within the game plan of making it out of the park in good shape and trying to go for it on Ocean Parkway.

By the time route took us to onto the Parkway, I noticed Wade and I were running close to each other the whole time. Mark had come up on my side just before exiting the Park, so he was in the vicinity when we hit the long stretch of asphalt, nearly 6 miles of it.

I thought I was good from 7 to 10. The machine was chugging along until I felt that it was getting harder and harder to hold. But I was a mission to make it to at least mile 12 in decent shape. Mile 12 was roughly where my friend Jess said she was going to be cheering for me. Jess, god bless her, was combining cheering for me and getting in her long run all in one day. The reasoning for this was trying to prep for an ultra later in June.

I putting total concentration in getting there. Oh and there was sprinkle bread on the line too. Jess had promised to turn her kitchen into a baking mecca if I succeeded in getting a 1:26 time in the half, but I knew she would make for me in any case, as long as I gave it my all. I never wavered in that aspect even having a certainty that a pr was not in the cards on this day once I came up on mile 11. I had slowed down too much during 10 to make up the time for 11, 12, and 13. This is where track outs would have come in handy.

Kwab with his voice. I heard him before I saw him and Justin and little over mile 11. They were standing side by side booming out encouragement. .Justin always calls me T-Hawk during races. I think it has something to do with my hair snapping in the wind when I run. When I passed them, I heard them call out Mark’s name. Yes Mark was still around me. I had to laugh a bit when I heard Justin call out Mark’s name and then say. “Wow, what are you doing here”, apparently not expecting to see Mark so close to me. I’m sure Mark appreciated that!

After leaving Kwab and Justin, it was trying to get to Jess that proved to be my primary motivation to keep moving those arms and legs. Get this done, I kept telling myself. Although I had thought she was going to be a mile 12, I perked up to the sound of my name from a familiar voice. There were a couple of runners around me so I couldn’t tell where it was from only that it was to the right of me.

And then I saw her. Jess had on a white cap and white shirt, the only spectator cheering on this side of Ocean Parkway. And that pretty much made my half. So what it was not going to be a pr day. Didn’t matter, Jess who had said she was going to be there cheering for me was right in front of me with her big smile just like in Boston. I made my way from the center of the road to the right where I extended my arm to greet her. She said, “Looking strong. Keep going.” and ran with me for about 3 yards. That was the extent of Jess pacing me at the Brooklyn Half. We have an ongoing back and forth about how fast I go and how slow she goes. Jess believes there is no way she can keep up with me on a regular run and I always beg to differ. At this particular point, I would have conceded that she would not be able to go more than a quarter mile at the pace I was running.

With that emotional lift I did not let my sorry ass give up the pace I had locked onto to get me through the last 2 miles. Wade was still about I would say 20 seconds ahead. I could make him out ahead with his BPTC singlet on. And Mark too was somewhere around me. Just bring it home was all I wanted to do.

Leo, in all his splendor, was waiting with a few choice words for me just after mile 12. “Come on Tony, you got this,” rang through my head. Sure easier said than done, Leo.

Surf Avenue was a grind for me. Similar to last year, that final stretch looked long after the right turn off Ocean Parkway. A few runners were making their final surge to the finish line. I chose not to follow until I got past the ramp to the boardwalk. No use in dying so close to the finish.

I was almost sure that there were a few runners around me when we made the left from Surf to the ramp. But in the pictures, I was by myself for the most part. Separation speed, really? Maybe I just hallucinated having company.

Wooden planks makes for a very different road surface, especially when you are trying to gas it. Over the years, the city has spent money on trying to replace the rotting planks and install new ones. The boardwalk is bettter now than in years past but still not exactly without its moments of “what was that.”

Fortunately, the planks were in decent shape and I crossed without incident. I felt good. Nothing hurt and I wasn’t in the state of near puking. I thought, not pr but very positive nonetheless. With a more focused training along the lines of speed, I would be in race shape soon enough. So nothing to worry about, I told myself.

As runners made their way to the medal area, I reunited with Mark and Wade. We took a picture together on the boardwalk. Mark competed in a Sprint Tri the next day and Wade is off to do an Ironman this weekend. I have a very driven company of friends

In the days that followed, I put in 15 the next day, and 10 after that, nearly including the half. The exciting part for me is knowing that I am holding up well in this phase before the real training starts for a September marathon. All systems go.

PS Better than the Brooklyn Half medal, my reward of

sprinkle bread!

A Running Life With Friends

Nike Air Max make a comeback: Trainers see huge growth in sales thanks to celebrity wearers and return of sportswear

Father’s Day 6/16/2013. For the miles we never had the...

Another Thursday night at the store.

A night with BridgeRunners on a exploration to Bed Stuy.

Oakley Mini 10K

9 days 9 runs.

Another night with Bridgerunners - celebrating National Running...

@bridgerunners Celebrating National Running Day (at BRHQ)

@lucyledezma @tdev @eltigre1167 Visitors from Beijing came out...

Red Hook Criterium 5K's Photos | Facebook

Random draw is now open for the 10th anniversary of the Nike Women’s Marathon SF

RACE DATE: OCTOBER 20, 2013

RACE TIME: 6:30AM*

RACE ENTRY FEE: MARATHON $200

HALF MARATHON $175

COLLEGE $150

Nike Unveil New Trail Shoes

Running a Sub-Three-Hour Marathon

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2013/06/02/nike-lunarglide-5-ext-camo/

192 miles in May. This is the start. The next 3 months will make...

What Is Wrong With People Who Race Across Death Valley?

Nike Terra Kiger - lightweight trailrunning | Run Ran Run

The Birth of Trail Running | Running Times

My first trail race - 25k at the Dirty German Endurance Fest,...

Future positive?