Rainy Roadie: Empire State Games, Day 2

As the view from the start of the 100m dash shows, its was MUCH sunnier
(though more humid, too) for Day 2!
This morning my son accompanied me to my second consecutive day (and the last of competition) to the University at Buffalo to watch a student-athlete of mine run in the 100m Dash scholastic men's finals.

This morning;'s results were even more pleasing than yesterday's (where he finished second earning a silver medal in the scholastic men's 200m dash). This morning he placed first in the 100m dash!

A pretty good run with little competition--but we'll take the gold!
Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Rainy Roadie: Empire State Games, Day 1

No, it is not an evening event, it was actually only about 9:00 a.m.,
but REALLY cloudy and drizzly!
This morning I took a short road trip down the thruway to Amherst, New York, just outside Buffalo where the Empire State Games (New York State's Olympic-style competition--back after a one year "hiatus due to budget concerns) scholastic and open Track & Field completion was being held. Thanks to my Garmin, and a little cell phone help from my wife, I made it on time to watch one of the lads I coach during the school year compete in the scholastic 200m dash finals.

While the facilities were beautiful, and the parking very accessible, the weather (or at least lack of inters?) resulted in very few spectators--hopefully more will come tomorrow.

As hard work would have it, the student-athlete
I had come to watch placed second overall in his event!
Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Here We Go Again...

Yesterday afternoon, as Anne and I were relaxing and I was still mid-runner's "high" following my morning run, I suggested that maybe I really did want to run the 2008 Nissan Buffalo Marathon. Anne and I had traveled to this race twice: in 2005 for the half and 2006 for the full, both "firsts" for us during our most recent adventures in running. For two months now, I have been toying with a few different possibilities for a "tent pole" Spring run and having felt confident with my last few training runs, a good 26.2 seemed to be in order. We booked a hotel within a few miles of the start and the reality of our decision began to sink in. As the day proceeded my confidence waned, but I remain committed.

Of course, plans for Buffalo naturally leads to thoughts of Boston... this is normal, right?

A quick look at the qualifying times for the Boston Marathon show that I (as a, then, 39-year-old male) would need to run a sub-3:15 marathon in 90+ days at the 2008 Nissan Buffalo Marathon over Memorial Day weekend in late May to qualify for 2009. Considering that my previous PR at the distance is only 3:49:23, and Buffalo in 2006 was the last marathon I finished (see finish pic to the right!) almost two years ago, this goal seems more a dream.

Despite some sporadic training of late, I still feel pretty confident that I have a strong base from which to prepare and though most training plans are layed out for longer than the thirteen weeks I have remaining to prepare, I will find a plan which fits into my schedule to best prepare me for success. Though I would like to set the goal of 3:15, I think a fair (and more realistic) comprimised personal goal would be to come in at 3:30. This time, were I to achieve it, would still represent a significant improvement of 19:23, an achievable goal.

So, despite aches, committments, family, students, coaching and school, we have a date, a race, and are seeking a plan... and so it begins again...

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!