this week. oh boy.

This week is going to be the longest week. I have so much stuff to do. I even forgot to do some of it today. Tomorrow will be just as busy. I can't wait for this fundraiser week to be over with. I'm not upset about the fundraiser. Just a lot of work to do and I wish I started it all last week.

training away the days

I'm like getting the itch.

Not that kind of itch. I mean, there are times after I run but that's for another blog post/doctor visit. No! I have the running itch! Like, I am ready to start planning 2014 out already. It's not too soon, is it? I don't think it is. I mean, I can't register for most of the races since they don't have any registration dates up. I keep looking and nothing shows up. But I am so ready for 2014. And it starts out with the most magical race ever!

ERMEGERD! You can't believe how excited I am about this. I like keep hoping that Disney is like tomorrow. I wish that I got to do the other runDisney events that are happening this year (I almost signed up for the Wine & Dine race but got yelled at by a certain someone). I want my 2014 racing season to start. I already have a bunch of races that I really want to do this year.

*Tough Mudder 2014
*Spartan Race (Spartan Sprint to start)
*ING Hartford Half or Full marathon (probably the half)
*O'Niantic 2014

That's just what I can think of off the top of my head. As it gets closer, I'm sure I'll start coming up with my actual race schedule.

In other news, this Friday officially starts the home stretch of my training. I've come so far since January 4th and I can see my results to this day. I mean, I've fluctuated between 238 pounds down to 228 and back up to 234 and back down to 229. It's been a tough year but seeing that I was pushing 290 a few years ago, I see this as a huge, huge improvement. September 15th is my first ever half marathon in the Surftown Half Marathon, which I am super stoked for. For one, it'll be my first official half marathon medal (a freaking surfboard!!). Second, it's in beautiful Westerly, RI. I love Westerly. And C, I get to go to the FallFest in Westerly right after the race! Followed by this is Warrior Dash and Color Me Rad.

After those is Rock N Roll Providence. I'm super excited for this one cause the medal is a pair of amps! So freaking awesome. After my girl's birthday, it's the ING Hartford Half Marathon. So, as you can see, I'm really excited for 2014. The closer I get, the more happier I seem to be.

The other part about the end of this year? Possibly hitting 1000 miles in one year. Can I do it? We weil see. I'm not too positive on it but I'm gonna try my hardest.

intangible virtue

I really haven't had any thoughts on my mind as of late. I don't know why, really. I sit at my computer for most of the day and I just stare at my screen and do so much randomness that any ideas that I possibly had are now completely gone. Like, as I write this right now, I find so much other stuff to do that I just stop writing. I just feel so absent minded.

Much better than The Nutty Professor. Cause it's Disney
All I have been thinking about lately is September. September is going to be the busiest month for me this year. As soon as my charity tournament ends, I have no life for the entire month. I mean, it's stuff that I want to do so it's not a big deal that I'm busy. And I'm really excited for it. More than I thought I would be. First ever half marathons times three! Four freaking races that I can't wait to cross the finish line with. All this training that I have been doing will finally prove to my mind and body and maybe soul that I can actually do this. I know that I can do it because I've been doing it anyway. Next Friday I start my "Week 11" training for the Hartford Half Marathon. "Week 12" is going to have to get edited hardcore.

But I think I'm really excited for my new look. Take a look at my most recent picture over there on the left. I haven't cut my hair in a few months and I haven't shaved in probably just as long. I really want to do something outrageous for the Warrior Dash on September 21st. I've already decided that I'm going to go all mohawk for it. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it for the rest of the races I have until October is over. I do want hair when I go to Disney in January for the Half Marathon. That's for my own personal reasons. I don't think I want to be bald in the most magical place on earth, especially in January since it will be freezing up here in Connecticut and probably warm as hell down in Florida. Or it might be cold down there too. Who knows. But back to Warrior Dash. Yea. Mohawk. No clue what I want to do with the beard but I have a few more weeks to figure that out. Thoughts?

This Thursday I'm going to New York City with the girlfriend. She's going to be looking at a college for her masters degree. Should be a fun time with her in the big city. I get to go to Midtown Comics so I'm pretty happy. Then on Saturday I'm playing in an awesome EDH tournament in Norwich, CT. I'm excited to try out my deck. I want to make one or two more small changes to it before I go into it.

Now off to bed. Gotta go run in the morning.

Mr. 500

I didn't realize that the image flashed. That's pretty cool.
It's August 9th and I didn't actually see myself hitting this sort of "milestone" in my life. I have officially ran my 500th mile (currently have ran 508.10 miles to date this year) and part of me was very disappointed with the results. I mean, I can't really complain. This time last year I was struggling to hit 2 or 3 miles on a consistent basis. So actually getting to 500 miles makes me so freaking proud. But I'm still a tad bit disappointed with myself.

Normally, my long runs consist of me eating half a bagel with jelly before I go and then having a GU energy gel pack when I reach my halfway mark for my run. I forgot both because today I tried EnergyBits for the very first time. I was given a sample by the company to review and I figured the best time to do it was when I had a long run. And a crazy long run it was. It rained consistently the entire time. I think I had maybe a five minute mark where there was nothing coming down but other than that, it was wet out. I think I ran into at least 4 puddles. Today was the perfect time to try it.

I'm a little upset that I didn't eat part of a bagel like I always do or that I forgot my gel. I honestly can say, though, that the bits really helped me out...when I was running my first five miles. After that, I honestly felt sluggish. I went from running 8:40/mile to 11:00/mile. I'm not blaming the EnergyBits on this one at all. I blaming myself for not following the routine that I've been having for months now. I think that if I was able to have some constant energy through the entire run, I would have stayed around 9:30/mile. So I don't know if it was because I used all the energy up in the first half of my run. I really enjoyed them and they were really easy to take. I just swallowed the entire canister of bits, drowned them with water and did my stretches. As soon as I began to run, it was amazing. But then I hit a sort of road block afterward.

Like I said, I don't think it's the EnergyBits fault on this one. I really feel that my body was waiting for that extra energy that it knows it gets at the halfway point and all it got was water. I could tell after miles eight, nine and ten that my body just wanted to give up. I would try to run four minutes and then walk thirty seconds to just try and get the run over with. I hate feeling that way, especially considering earlier this week I had the best runs of the year. So it was definitely a shot in the gut today.

I'm going to blame the rain on it. Sounds good, right? Yea.

Would I recommend the EnergyBits to someone? Absolutely. The first five miles were the best on a long run that I have ever had. I didn't feel any pain and I really loved those miles. I just think with how I personally am and how my body needs the extra energy, I could have used more later in the run. It was my fault for having it not work out properly, which will be something I make sure doesn't happen again.

after the week of hell

I. Am. Back.

After last week, and the agonizing pain that my back was in, I never thought that things were to get back to how they were. I mean, deep down, I knew I'd at least be at a pace that I was at a few weeks ago. I wasn't too pleased with the past few weeks of running. Pace just seemed really off. I understand that a lot of it had to do with the horrible heat that we had for what seemed like a month. So I was a little weary going into this week, thinking that I was going to be well below par on my running.

That was until I finished my run on Monday. 3.10 miles in 26:42. Granted, it's not the fastest time that I've done this year (26:05 one month ago) but it's still about 2 minutes faster than I was last year. And, after getting injured, I really didn't think that I would be busting out of the gates so well. Then today came. I think it's my fastest 5 mile run that I've ever done. 44:57. I'm just really blown away by the numbers that I put up in just two days. I'm not trying to jinx myself at all. I'm just so freaking pleased with what seems to be brand new legs.

I think taking that week of from running really helped me center myself. Focus. I could definitely tell for a week that I needed it. My mind was just lost. Running is definitely something that I have needed in my life for a very long time and I'm glad that it's back, stronger than ever.

Now I'm really excited for my month and a half of races coming up. First one is September 15th. Surftown Half Marathon in Westerly, RI. My first ever half marathon. I honestly can't wait. Then the next week is Warrior Dash up in Thompson, CT. The week after that is Color Me Rad as well as the Rock 'n' Roll Providence (the medal is a pair of sub woofers!!!). After that, I have the Hartford Half Marathon and the most exciting month and a half of running will be complete. I'm really excited about it. So many races. So many medals. So many miles. And speaking of miles. Six more til I reach 500 for the year. 500!