The First of Many

Today was the day.

Going into my first half marathon, I was worried. I've been running this entire year, minus a few times, but have gradually increased my amount of miles each couple of weeks. So I don't really think it was the distance that shook me. I think it was going into my first huge race. I've done a few 5Ks and those are nothing in comparison. It really freaked me out that I might be in over my head. Was I? Probably. It's tough for a man who, just in the past few years, use to weigh seventy pounds more than he does now. I never thought it'd ever go well. I kind of knocked myself down before I actually started.

Then this happened.

Yup. I finished. In record time, too. 1:59:25. Let me put that in perspective for you.

8/23/2013 -> 12 miles in 2 hours
8/30/2013 -> 12 miles in 1 hour, 54 minutes
9/06/2013 -> 12 miles in 1 hour, 52 minutes

Looking at those numbers, I should have finished my 13.1 miles in a little after 2 hours. But I really pushed it. I really wanted to have this race be something I would remember for the rest of my life. I guess I did that. I also found my love for Epson salt.

In two weeks, I have Rock N Roll Providence. I don't plan on making this one faster than Surftown. I plan on going at my own pace. Lots of hills on this one. But I plan on still dominating (ie. finishing).

Zombie Charge (and then some)

Today was the first ever Zombie Charge race. Ever. I wanted to do this race months ago but completely forgot to register for the event. Then Groupon had a deal and I was like now is the chance. I have never registered for a race so close to the actual event taking place. I think it was like last week or something when I registered. But it was definitely worth it.

So the premise of the whole thing this doctor created Nectar, which is the cure for zombies. But you can only take it up to thirty minutes after you've been infected (had all your flags taken from your belt). If you didn't, you became fully infected and had to go through decontamination to make it through the rest of your life. It was really cool. The place was this rock quarry/tree farm/regular farm in North Stonington, CT. There were zombies every where. In the woods right at the start, in the quarry, hiding in trees and in the mud. It was crazy. A lot of people lost all their lives right near the start. Quarry zombies are fast. Little kid zombies were slow. And the prize for making it through all three miles of this crazy obstacle course?

Yup. Bling.

Oh wait. I didn't mention it was an obstacle course as well? There were plenty of obstacles to get your hear racing through this event. Cargo nets, rock walls, wood walls, monkey bars, water slides. All things you'd expect in a zombie apocalypse. They even had a sniper on the roof of this barn. After 10am, three US military parachuters came right above everyone and landed to greet all the runners. It was quite the show. I was really pleased with the entire event. There were plenty of food vendors, free samples from Monster energy drinks, raffles and photo opportunities. They even brought in actress Addy Miller, who you would know as "Summer"/Little Girl Walker from the first episode of season one of The Walking Dead. I got my bluray of season one signed by her. Overall, I'm really glad this event took place. I'm really enjoying these races. I never thought I would enjoy obstacle course races but they are very fun.

I realized today that I'm quite addicted to getting medals for races. The next five events that I go to, four of them give me a medal. Color Me Rad is the only event that I don't get a medal for competing, instead the reward is getting doused in colors. So I'm quite excited that I will be getting/making a medal holder soon. I definitely need one.

Rest and Relaxation...for now

Yesterday was my big fundraiser that I was having at my church. It was the second Magic: the Gathering tournament that I have ever held on my own. And I felt like I really did a great job on the whole thing. I mean, last year was a much bigger turnout than this year but I'm not faulting it on me. I think the people who did show up are amazing people with fantastic hearts.

We raised over $3300 for LLS and Cyril van der Haegen. I'm going to split the money between the two of them.

So now that my fundraiser is over, I can focus on my races. Which, by my calendar, starts this coming Saturday. So, without further ado!

September 7

This one was a last minute addition to my racing docket. I was planning on doing this one a while ago but the price just got too high until they had a Groupon for it. My friend Hannah and I will be chased by zombies through a farm in North Stonington, CT that has woods, obstacles and a corn maze. I probably won't sleep for a week. But I'm OK with that. I'm quite excited for this one. I love zombies and have always wanted to know what it was like to get chased by them. I'm super freaking scared at the same time. I know it's not real but just the thought of someone chasing after you, wanting your flesh. Exhilarating.

September 15

I first saw this one when I was registering for my race in October (I'll get to that one) and I was like, it's so close to me. So after reading a bit more about it and talking to some friends online about it, I decided to bite and do it. The medal you get really excited me a lot too. So it was sort of a "last minute" thing since I wasn't really expecting to do more than one half marathon this year. But why not. I'll rock it. Plus, the course is flat. Very flat. And there is a huge fall festival after the race I get to go to!

September 21

Was I ever going to get the memo that obstacle races aren't really for me? Probably not. After doing the Pineapple Challenge earlier this year and the 5K Foam Fest a few months ago, I figured I was done with these obstacle challenges. I can't climb walls for shit. Like, I'm bad at it. Really bad. I know there are ones next weekend and I do hope to conquer them but this one is going to be the real challenge. I plan on finishing it, though. And, the best part? I'm going to have a mohawk and huge freaking sideburns that go to my mustache. Sort of like a certain Major General from the Civil War. That should be a treat!

September 28

Just a short one about this. I'm running this with my mom and I'm not really planning on actually running it. It'll be a nice walking event where I can just get colored and enjoy the morning. Then I'm going to a running expo in Providence, RI immediately afterward that is for my next race.
















September 29

This is definitely last minute. A friend of mine had some coupons for this event and it got me some money off. I love the medal (which is a pair of amps!) and I'm really excited for this one. I watched the video of the path for this and you go throughout Providence. There is like one huge hill that I'm scared of but I think the rest of it will be easy, especially the way I'm now doing my long runs. I think I can really blow this one out of the park completely. Plus, there is going to be a runDisney meetup too! I'm excited.

October 12

This was going to be my first half marathon ever but I clearly changed that. This is the reason I'm fundraising. I'll be joining the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for this event and I couldn't be happier. This will be the most fun race this year and running through Hartford, CT just sounds really fun. Then, once it's all said and done, I can finally take a rest and a week off from training. Then, my eyes are all set for January and for this bad boy...