The Non-Elite Runner's Blog

Vibram's - First Run - First Impressions

2010-12-07T20:55:00.003-05:00

Tonight I ran in my Vibram Bikila's for the very first time and it was an amazing experience. I ran 3.1 miles in 27:33, averaged an 8:54 pace and I think for the very first time ever, ran an 8:08 mile and I swear I wasn't even trying to.

When my Garmin beeped at three miles, I saw that I was well on pace to beat my best 5K time, 28:44, which I did at the 15th Annual Tour of the Gables back in May of this year. So I thought, what the heck, let me run this .1 of a mile and see how I finish. This last .1 was the only time in my run where I actually made a conscious effort to run fast.

It was incredible. Since it was my first time running in my Vibram's I didn't know how my body was going to react, so I just took what it gave me and went with it. I wasn't thinking about how I should be running in them, it just happened naturally. By the time I turned around to head back home at mile 1.5, I noticed that I was flying. I mean, I've never felt like this before. I knew I was going fast and it almost felt like I was running down hill. I've never felt that type of speed before and it just felt right and easy. I figured I was doing a 9:15 pace so I was ecstatic to see my numbers after I finished.

The Bikila's are super light, 5.7 ounces and it was immediately obvious. I'm used to lifting up 11 ounces of shoe and the Vibram's truly made me feel like I was barefoot. I felt no pain while I was running and considering how fast I was going, I didn't feel tired. It was an unusually cool evening, (55 degrees) so I'm sure that had something to do with it too. It'll be interesting to see how fatigued I feel when I run in hotter weather and for longer distances.

Since this trial run went so well, I'm going to continue running short distances in them for a few more weeks before I try a long run in them. If tonight's results were accomplished without putting much effort into it, I can't wait to see what the results will be when I really try to put forth an effort.

I know I may eat these words later on, but after just one short run in these Vibram Bikila's, I don't see myself going back to the standard running shoe again. After experiencing their speed and the effortlessness it made me feel, why would I?

Barefoot Running

2010-11-22T19:51:00.000-05:00

I recently finished reading the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall where he talks about the Tarahumara, an indigenous and reclusive tribe located throughout the Copper Canyons in Northern Mexico who are known for their ability to run long distances. As technologically superior as our running gear may appear to be, the Tarahumara people run in nothing but sandals called Huaraches and they are not known to suffer any of the injuries that our shoes are supposed to be preventing.

The author believes that the shoe industry is duping all of us into buying running shoes that we don't need and that are bad for us. Shoes with gels and support, motion control and stability, but all they are doing is hurting us while they make a pretty penny at the same time.

He believes we were born to run barefoot as we did millions of years ago and that doing so will improve our technique and lead to less injury or no injury at all. Today's modern running shoes are designed in a way that don't allow us to get feedback from the surface we're running on which is a crucial part of running and it's making our feet weaker because the shoes are so cushioned.

The book also tells a great story about the human will and just how much we can endure. Even if you're not an ultra runner or a runner, I think you will enjoy this book and I recommend it to all runners of any level.

As luck would have it, I found out that Chris was going to be at the Miami Book Fair and my wife and I went to see him. We got to hear him speak, he signed our book and was nice enough to pose with me for a picture. He even asked us if we were planning on going running the next day, but we had to work! What a great experience that would have been. Maybe next time Chris. Call me!

I was tempted to buy a pair of Vibram Five Finger shoes after reading Born to Run and after I heard Chris speak, I convinced myself to buy a pair. Below is me in my Vibram Bikila's. I'm assuming that these shoes were named after Abebe Bikila, a two time Olympic Marathon champion. He ran the 1960 Summer Olympics Marathon barefoot and won it in 2:15:16. Not bad.

I haven't run in my Vibrma's yet because I don't want to hurt myself. For now, I'm just getting used to walking around in them and I will slowly transition into running in them and hopefully see the results.

The Vibram's are minimalist running shoes designed to come as close to running barefoot as possible. They hardly have any support or cushion and they are super light weight. My Bikila's only weight 5.7 ounces whereas my Brooks Adrenaline GTS weigh a hefty 11 ounces. It also hardly has a heel, which prevents you from landing on your heel first. I'm sure if you did, it would hurt like heck.

Hopefully I will be able to run in these shoes in the near future and maybe bring my half marathon time down to two hours!

Stay tuned to see how it all unfolds.

Yabba, Dabba, BOO!

2010-11-07T18:36:00.001-05:00

I have a friend that is obsessed with dressing up. She now has twin daughters who’ve had more costume changes in their short one-year old lives than most of us have had our entire lives and even her new kitten has been subjected to wearing a cowboy hat and scarf.

So naturally, when we all decided to run the Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon, she was in charge of coming up with costume ideas. We were all on board to be the Smurfs until we imagined the blue paint running down our bodies and into our eyeballs during the race. When that idea fizzled, she came up with running as The Flinstones.

Of course, we waited until the very last minute to get our costumes and in the spirit of the economy, a few of us, including my wife and I, made our own costumes and I playfully named us Recession Barney and Betty Rubble. Fashioned from ungodly, non-dri-fit fabric, our friend and his mom helped with the sewing and below was the finished product.

While I was running the course, one spectator recognized my costume as Barney right away, while another thought I was a pirate. I can forgive him for his error because when I first put on my costume I thought I looked like a jester from the court of some mean, tasteless king. As a group, we had Fred & Wilma, two incarnations of Pebbles and of course, us as the Rubbles.

It was the first time I had ever run a race in costume and I wasn't planning on shooting for a PR, but I at least wanted to post a respectable time. But, somewhere along the course, that competition bug bit me and I tuned in and started really running. I noticed that I was on pace to PR or at least tie my best time of 2:15. With one mile left, I gave it all I had and I was cruising nicely to a new personal best.

With not very far left to go, I was shocked to find a hill ahead of me that I had no idea was going to be there. After cursing at it, I began charging up the hill. I gassed out at the top and had to take a walk break. I ran down the hill to the last water stop, threw some water over my head and continued to soak my already wet shoes with more water. Good job.

I saw the sign for mile 13 up ahead and I told myself there was no stopping from here. I shifted from walking to a fast sprint until I crossed the finish line, but as it turns out, I missed PR-ing by a little over two minutes. Finish time: 2:17, my second best finish for a half.

The medal that we were given is my favorite so far. It's a casket that opens to reveal what looks like a Mrs. Dracula. It's very different and what sparked me to sign up for this race.

So, that's three halves for me this year. I'm happy with my running accomplishments for 2010. I've decided to take a week off from running to rest and relax and the next race will be the Turkey Trot 5K in Washington, DC. My wife and I will be starting and finishing it together which is a first for us.

Until the next post!

Banh Mi? Bummed Me.

2010-09-26T12:09:00.002-04:00

Ever since my wife and I started watching The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network, we've had the desire to try Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches. After running 10 miles on Saturday morning, we set out on a quest to find these delicious treats.

After doing some online research, we decided on a Vietnamese restaurant called Saigon Cuisine. Little did I know that it was in Margate, about a 45 minute to an hour drive away. But, that was fine because we don't mind traveling for good food. (Whale's Rib) We picked up her parents and one of our nieces, who had never tried these sandwiches either, and we were on our way. What followed next was a comedy of errors and classic irony.

First, my GPS took us to the correct address, but not the correct city. By this time, I really started feeling famished and I needed to eat soon. Banh Mi paradise was about six more miles north and it felt like an eternity trying to get there.

Now, before we even left the house, I called Saigon Cuisine to make sure they were open and my wife called them back a few minutes later to make sure that they were serving Banh Mi's. She only did this because she read some person's review on the internet who had gone there specifically to eat Banh Mi's and when he arrived, they told him they weren't serving it. We didn't want this to happen to us so we called to make sure we weren't going to make the trip for not. Thankfully, they were serving them up and we were hungry.

After being seated, served out waters and knowing exactly what we wanted to eat, the waiter comes up to us to take our order. Jeanette asks him, "Are you serving the Banh Mi sandwiches?" And what did he say? "No, no more Banh Mi." (Insert picture of me in shock and disgust here) "But, we called and specifically asked if you were serving them. We drove an hour to eat here," my wife told the waiter. "You called ahead of time? Hold on, let me see."

He goes off to the back and we hear him talking to a lady, surely the same one my wife spoke to, and when he comes back he asks, "Did you place the order ahead of time?" What? No! We called you guys, buddy and you said you had Banh Mi's, MY Banh Mi's! He told us that they ran out. Now mind you, we had called only an hour before and the restaurant looked empty. Was there a Banh Mi rush in that last hour? Did a bus full of Miami Dolphins all of sudden have the craving for these delicious sandwiches and ordered everyone they had in stock? I don't get it.

I was beyond frustrated, disappointed and hungry. My hunger had me irritated and I needed to eat soon before I lost it. We decided NOT to eat there because we felt duped and didn't want to give them our business after what had transpired. That was our way of getting back at them. Take that, Saigon Cuisine!

So, after all was said and done, we ended up eating at GG's, an Italian Restaurant. We drove an hour just to eat some pasta that we could have eaten in our neighborhood. It was good, but after you have in your mind to eat a specific meal, it just isn't the same. AND THEN...

As we're driving back home to my in-laws house, we pass this shopping center and my wife, with her eagle eyes, sees Pho 78 Vietnamese Restaurant and says, "OMG, how ironic would it be if they sold Banh Mi's there? I have to call them and find out!" Now, this place is literally five minutes away from her parents house. If we drove all the way to Margate when we could have walked across the street to eat Banh Mi's, I was going to laugh because, how could you not?

My wife calls them and asks if they sell Banh Mi's and...wait for it..they do!

Un. Be. Leave. Able.

Obviously, we weren't hungry because we had already ate, but we decided we would try one for dinner. We had to. Eating this sandwich was supposed to be the big highlight of our Saturday and after all we went through to try and taste one, we couldn't pass up the chance.

My wife got a pork Banh Mi which we all passed around to taste and her dad and I liked it so much that we ordered two more. Definitely worth the trouble. Until the next adventure...

Growing Pains

2010-09-19T19:53:00.001-04:00

I'm 6 weeks away from my third half marathon this year. I ran Miami in January, San Francisco in July and now the Miami Beach Halloween Half in October. This is the most races I've done in one year and my body feels it.

My last couple of runs have not gone well. My quads have been sore and my hamstrings tight and as of late, I've developed this pain in my left foot. I've also noticed I'm running about a minute slower than usual. This past Saturday I finally had a much better run, completing nine miles feeling pain free.

I'm getting a massage this Tuesday, my first one since before the San Francisco Half. I'm hoping it'll loosen me up and have my legs feeling fresh. There's still a lot of running to do before the next race and I need any edge I can get. I recommed massages to anyone who is active. They do wonders and I think it is an integral part of training just as diet and rest are.

In other news, my wife has come back for the second year in a row to coach a 3/1(run 3 minutes/walk 1 minute) running group for Miami Fit, a local running group that is part of the larger USA Fit family.

She has a lot more people this time around than last season, but she is feeling good and ready to take these folks across the finish line. She's ditched the music and headphones when she runs now and to her surprise, she's loving it. As a yoga practitioner, she's noticing the meditative side of running now that there's no music blasting through her ears.

In November, we plan on running a Turkey Trot (5K) in Washington, DC. It's the same one we did last year, but this time around we are going to run the 3.1 miles together, something we've never done before as we both run at different paces. It'll be nice to cross the finish line at the same time for once.

After that, I'm hoping I can take a little break from running and maybe get back on the tennis courts again, but I have a feeling that break will be very brief.

I'm not sure what races may be in store for 2011. Maybe my first full marathon?

Hobby Overload

2010-09-12T11:38:00.022-04:00

A long time ago, in what seems like another life, I used to be a saxophonist. I studied at a prestigious college, played many gigs and taught privately. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to make a living this way and little by little, I started playing less and less and eventually, I stopped playing altogether. My three saxophones were relegated to the bedroom closet where they stayed untouched for about 10 years. Until a few weeks ago.

Thanks to my old Berklee classmate and fellow saxophonist, Hermann, who I reconnected with during my San Francisco trip, I decided to revisit my past and take out my horn again. He said I should start playing, even if it was just for my own enjoyment. Hermann holds down a full-time job, family and still has time to practice, gig, teach and record. So I figured I could fit some time in too, even if it was just a little each day.

Of the three saxophones that I own, I reached for the tenor first, which wasn't my main horn in college and it's definitely not my nicest one, but I love its sound. I already knew that it needed a visit to the repairman, but I was still able to knock out a few notes and scales from it and it was nice to see that I still had some of my chops left after so many years.

Running has brought me a lot of fun times and it's helping me keep healthy and active, but it's exhausting and leaves little time for anything else. I haven't played tennis in months and it looks as though I'm adding another hobby to my already hobby-hectic schedule.

The good thing about picking up my saxophone again is that it's purely for fun. I'm not taking it too seriously and I'm just having fun playing again. If I have time, I'll play for a little while, but I'm not stressing myself out over it. It's not like Jamiroquai or DMB is going to be knocking on my door anytime soon, although that would be sweet.

When my wife met me, I had recently stopped playing, so she's never really heard me play before. I know! Well, she's hearing me now and I just hope I don't scare her away!

Rain Run

2010-09-05T10:34:00.022-04:00

The other day, when I got home from work, I knew I only had a small window of time to get my run in because it looked like some rain was coming. Hurricane Earl was brewing in the tropics causing some unusual weather.

Not long after I started, the sky began to look ominous and I knew I was going to get caught in the rain, but I didn't mind because I love running in it (one of my best long runs to date was during a rare cold and rainy day in Miami Beach).

The temperature was cool and there was a breeze, so it was a welcomed change from the heat and humidity. I was really moving along and my heart rate wasn't working overtime. It began to rain lightly, but I kept running, not having a clue that in just a few more minutes, some of Hurricane Earl's squalls were going to soak me.

This was some serious rain. Big drops began to fall and the wind picked up a bit more. I was beginning to get drenched. Even my nifty Bondiband headband that shields the sweat from my eyes couldn’t help me out. I was well in it and far from home!

Even though I was getting pounded by the rain, it was still an enjoyable experience and I was loving every step of it until I encountered puddles the size of kiddie pools.

My shoes and socks quickly filled up with water and I could hear the squish-squash coming from my shoes. I started to worry about getting blisters and I knew I had to get out of this storm quick.(Sorry 2Toms, but not even your Blister Shield was going to help me out).

I cut my run short and finally made it home. I took off my shoes and socks immediately and got the water out before going inside. When my wife opened the door, this is what she saw...Earl's squalls got me good.

If you haven't done a rain run before, you need to try it. Just watch out for puddles and make sure you don't trip and fall. You never know, it might turn out to be one of your best runs ever.

Lochness Monster

2010-08-29T10:41:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, with the sun still having a few more hours of shut eye left, I was ready to go out for a six mile run around my neighborhood. Because I wasn't too familiar with the route, I printed it out and slid it into a Ziploc bag so my sweat (or rain) wouldn't disintegrate it. I was running a route I had run before but I still needed my directions because I never know where I am. I get lost driving with a GPS.

The first mile and half or so was fine. I knew the route up to this point, but when I entered this particular neighborhood (Loch Lohmond) I had to consult my directions. It seemed like there were a lot of turns and I didn't want to end up getting lost and doing never ending loops in there.

It was dark and the street signs were difficult to read and I think I made a wrong turn as soon as I entered this place. The street I was looking for never appeared and when I saw my wife and her three friends running towards me, I knew I was lost. She told me what to do next to get me back on track - two lefts and a right and it would lead me out. Credit the darkness or my faulty internal compass, but I felt like I was running in circles.

Finally, I found the street that would lead me out and when I did, I saw my wife and her buddies taking a little water break. By this time, I should have been out of there, so to say they were surprised to see me again is an understatement. I ended up doing about four and a half miles in Loch Lohmond, when I should have only done a little over three.

Luckily, the sun was beginning to rise and I could see the streets better now. After all was said and done, I ended up running about a mile more than I had to because I got lost. I was worried I was going to have to call my wife to come pick me up in Loch Lohmond and that would have been a problem because I didn't have a phone.

Yesterday, I ran a very similar seven mile route and didn't get lost! So I conquered seven miles and the "Lochness Monster."

Trick or Treat

2010-08-21T20:07:00.002-04:00

I signed up for the Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon, my fourth half. I couldn’t resist signing up for this one because the medal is so different and cool looking.

After taking a few weeks to recover from the San Francisco Half Marathon, I recently started running again. I’m happy to have a new race to train for because I was beginning to get used to relaxing and kicking my feet back. I’ve read that for every mile you’ve run after a race, you should rest that many days. I took an extra eight days, but sometimes you need the mental rest as well as the physical rest.

Since this race is on Halloween, a lot of people run in costumes and my friends want to also. As Smurfs. Yes, the little blue munchkins with the white hats.

I’ve never run in a costume before and I’m not sure how it's going to feel, but I hope it’s DryFit because this Smurf is gonna sweat! Does that mean I have to paint my skin blue? I can just picture this now.

How can I take this race seriously running as a Smurf? This should be a fun, easy run, but knowing me, I’ll probably try to beat my time of 2:15 instead of just enjoying what should be quite an entertaining run. With the majority of participants in costumes, this race will definitely be the strangest one I’ve done.

Last year, my friend Omar ran it as Mr. Incredible, but he may just outdo himself this year if he goes blue.

It’s been nice to rest and relax these past couple of weeks after training for so long, but it's time to get back to business. My new schedule is on the door and my registration is complete, so it’s official. I just wish the weather could be as nice as it was in San Francisco. And that I could be, say, a Jedi instead of a Smurf. Hmmmm, a Jedi Smurf?

San Francisco Vacation Part 2

2010-08-17T09:58:00.001-04:00

SONOMA

NAPA VALLEY

MUIR WOODS

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

MONTEREY

SAN FRAN

San Fran 1/2 Marathon & Vacation-Part 1

2010-08-09T20:58:00.001-04:00

I’m back! The SF Half Marathon was an amazing race – my favorite so far. My finish time was 2:20:39 and although I didn’t PR, considering this was my first course with hills, I am very happy with my results. It was also my best run in terms of how I felt during the race and after I crossed the finish line. Unlike the Miami ING where I was hot, felt miserable and had to walk several times, I ran straight through this one and I felt solid throughout. I definitely credit this to my preparation, but also the temperature.

I knew it was going to be in the 50’s at the start, so at the expo I bought these pants and a jacket called Sheddable Shells. They help keep you warm while you’re waiting for the race to begin and they’re made to be easily torn off before you start. I planned on ripping them off once I started running and felt a bit warmer and it turns out I ran with them the entire time. I may have been the only participant that finished the race in his Sheddable Shells (Jeanette ripped hers off around mile 3).

Looking tough in my Sheddable Shell

Our pre-race ritual: Port-o-Potty line

Running across the Golden Gate Bridge was spectacular even though it was covered in a dense fog. We ran the entire bridge and on my way back, I encountered the mother of all hills. This was probably around mile 9 or so. It was so steep that I felt like I was climbing, not running it. To help me get through it, I yelled, “Now THIS is a f-ing hill!”

I heard a few people laugh and one guy said, “Watch your language.” I couldn’t believe it, but I didn’t care because he was behind me, right where he belonged.

The last couple of miles had about three tough hills in succession that I had to get through before the very end. As soon as I finished one, another one appeared. This slowed me down considerably, but after those hills it was the home stretch. There were volunteers yelling out, “half marathon this way, full marathon this way” indicating the direction with their hands. I was a bit perplexed or delusional because I stopped and yelled, “which way is the half?” The guy pointed to the left and when I looked up, the finish banner was just a few hundred feet in front of me. I kicked it into overdrive and still sporting my Sheddable Shells, I picked off a few people and crossed the finish line triumphantly.

The race went by quickly and it was a beautiful course to run, even with the hills. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to do a new half.

Now that the race was over, it was time for our vacation to begin! To be continued....

Fired Up and Ready to Go!

2010-07-23T21:00:00.016-04:00

The day that I’ve been training for these past 12 weeks is finally here – The San Francisco Half Marathon! All the training made the time fly by quickly and soon we’ll be boarding our plane, pinning on our bib numbers, lacing up our d-tags and heading to the starting line for a race that the Wall Street Journal recently said was a “race even marathoners fear” and “this course is not for the casual runner.”

Casual runner? What have I got myself into? This will only be my third half marathon so maybe they were talking about me. I’m just a little bit worried because I haven’t run since this past Tuesday due to my right leg and foot hurting me. I opted to not run the remainder of the week and rested instead. I can only hope that decision pays off. I also decided to cut my hair differently just for this race. What do you think? P.S. It's a mohawk.

Ready or not, there’s nothing I can do about it now. The training is officially done and it’s time to conquer this monster. I’ve run over several different bridges, logged hundreds of miles in hot, humid weather and gotten up to run at 4:00am more times than I’d like to remember. If I’m not ready by now, then my investment in my Road ID will certainly come in handy, but hopefully no one will be scraping me off the side of a giant San Francisco hill. Instead, I’m hoping I’ll be charging up those hills with reckless abandon and with each step getting closer to finishing another half.

Besides the finisher’s medal, I just learned today that I’ll also be receiving a fresh, hot cup of Irish coffee at the finish line. I’m liking this race already. And if that wasn’t enough motivation to finish, a company that shall remain nameless said they would be willing to talk sponsorship with me if I PR (personal record). Me? Sponsorship? That would mean finishing in less than 2:15:31. Gasp!

You won’t scare me, Wall Street Journal article! I’ll show ya. I’ll show ya what this casual runner can do. A new PR you say? Well, I’m confident, but also realistic. It probably won’t happen with all those hills, but I’ll give it my best shot. Maybe I won’t PR or get a cool sponsorship, but finishing strong and in under 2:30 will be a great achievement. Ok, 2:15. I’d really like to do it in 2:14. That would be just fine.

San Francisco, here I come.

Good Intentions

2010-07-19T21:15:00.000-04:00

11 weeks ago when I began training for the San Francisco Half Marathon, I had grandiose aspirations. I was going to prepare like never before so I could feel good and strong at the finish and have my best race ever.

What you plan on doing and what you actually end up doing can be completely different. I had wanted to strength train twice a week, but after my finger jamming fiasco I stopped to let it heal and I never started again. I also was determined to do core exercises after every one of my runs, but this too did not last.

My weights have been buried in the "Hobbies Forgotten" corner...

stuck between a guitar and a vacuum.

What I was able to keep up with was my four times per week running schedule. I was running Monday and Wednesday after work and running in the mornings on Friday and Saturday. But that Friday morning running before work got old quick. So, I decided to run Thursday’s after work so I would only have to wake up at the crack of dawn once a week.

Running after work was probably not the smartest thing to do as it is extremely hot and humid, but I guess I was willing to feel some more discomfort in exchange for “sleeping in.” It also meant that my nights got pushed back further. Jeanette and I typically don’t sit down to eat until 8:00-8:30 and that’s with her running after work too. She comes back from a run and immediately starts cooking and while she’s doing that, I’m out on my run asking myself why I just didn’t get up in the morning.

I usually have KP duty which can be daunting and takes me forever and by the time we’re done cleaning up the kitchen and showering, we only have a few hours to relax before our eyes start closing on us. It’s go, go, go when you’re training for a race and it feels like we only have time to train, eat and sleep. If I hadn’t stopped doing the other part of my training, I’m sure life would be even crazier.

I always forget the pots.

Even though I didn’t stick with the strength training and core exercises, I feel like my body took to the training very well, but when we started doing hill work, that’s when the ice packs came out of the freezer. Adding hills to our long runs and then doing more hill work on Monday’s began to take a toll on my legs, but it was imperative to include.

Since tapering (reducing the amount of miles you run) has officially begun, I hope I have prepared my body enough to get through the race and as ferocious as I hear the hills in San Francisco are, I might need to ask my body to give it everything its got. With only a few days left until race day, I went and got a massage in the hopes of rubbing out all the soreness so I could be fresh come July 25th. I think it helped, but I could sure use another one right now.

12 miles

2010-07-12T21:49:00.003-04:00

4 a.m.: Breakfast of Champions

Trying out 2Toms Blister SportShield.

Post run treat: Oranges. They were frozen solid!

Celebration swim. 12 miles completed.

Ft. Lauderdale beach
San Fran 6:
Omar, Michelle, Eddy, Katrina, Jeanette and me, Alex

Fa! A long, long, way to run!

2010-07-04T12:53:00.002-04:00

Once a week, when training for a half/full marathon, it's necessary to do a "long run." A long run is any amount of mileage longer than what you've previously run. It might be 4 miles, 13 miles or even more. These runs are usually on Saturday mornings (that's right folks, no sleeping in) and can be quite exhausting.

For me, the preparation begins the day before. In addition to hydrating during the run, you need to have hydrated and eaten enough carbs the day before to help you get through the distance. If you lack in either of these areas, it could spell disaster. I have a 27 ounce stainless steel water bottle from Klean Kanteen that I fill up three or four times a day to ensure that I don't get dehydrated and my dinner of choice on Fridays is chicken and pasta. A perfect blend of protein/carbs to fuel me.

After dinner, I begin my preparations for the next day. I have to get my fuel belt ready with gels and Shot Bloks and anything else I might be able to stuff in my pouch that will keep me alive. My water bottles need to be filled (or in my case, frozen) with water and/or Gatorade.

I lay out my clothes and all my other running gear (see Gear-ology) so I won't be fumbling around in the morning trying to find something and it also allows me to sleep in just a wee bit longer. After that, it's off to bed early (usually before 10pm. I know, its pathetic) so I'm not dragging ass in the morning.

And the morning starts early! Since I live in Florida and the temps are usually hovering around 100 degrees with 99% humidity, we aim to start our runs before 6am. After shaking off the cob webs and getting dressed, I eat a small, quick snack for breakfast. Lately, it's been a slice of toast with peanut butter (however, my wife advises everyone to stay away from double Fiber Wheat Bread. Can you guess why?). I don't eat too much to avoid feeling sick, but that's where the gels and Shot Bloks come in handy. They provide you with the electrolytes and burst of energy you need to help you through the run.

After eating, it's off to the staging area to meet the rest of the running group so we can caravan to wherever it is we're taking our crazy selves to run so early in the morning.

Who in their right mind would want to get up so early on a Saturday morning to put themselves through this, not even the rooster that's on the loose in my apartment complex is up this early!

We drive at least 30 minutes to our destinations to be able to run over bridges that we hope will mimic San Francisco's hills. After braving the elements and completing our run, I await all the crazies, I mean, runners, to come back and after a good stretch of the muscles, the best part of the long run comes next: Breakfast!

There's nothing better than stuffing your face with good food after logging in so many miles and you can eat plenty because you've burned so many calories. Meeting up for breakfast after our long runs has become a standard practice and if it wasn't for that, some of us would probably not get up to run.

This is the Saturday of a Non-Elite Runner.

Elite vs. Non-Elite

2010-06-26T11:48:00.008-04:00

I recently started reading, Ultra Marathon Man by Dean Karnazes and I have been so amazed by what this guy's body is capable of doing. For those of you who don't know him, he recently ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days. Just to name a few of his other accolades: ESPN ESPY Award winner, “Best Outdoor Athlete,” (2007), Winner, Vermont Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run (2006) , 148 miles 24 hours on a treadmill (2004), swimming across the San Francisco Bay.

Recently he tweeted a link to his blog on Runner's World, which was a Q&A from some of his curious fans. I thought it would be interesting to answer the same questions he did to see how his compared to mine.

For the sake of brevity, some of Dean's answers have been shortened. For the entire Q&A, click here.

The Whale's Rib

2010-06-19T15:36:00.004-04:00

I love good food and not even breaking a personal record tastes better than enjoying a well crafted, expertly seasoned, meticulously cooked, succulent meal. As much as we enjoy running, my wife and I also like kicking back in front of the tube. We’re constantly watching The Food Network and we even subscribe to their magazine and when we travel, we make it a point to try and visit some of the restaurants they’ve featured.

This past weekend, relaxing in front of the television after our 6 miler, we were watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and we were instantly sold on going to this seafood place that Guy Fieri visited. So the next day we hopped in the car, picked up her parents and drove 45 minutes to Deerfield Beach, FL to a dive called, The Whale’s Rib. We wanted to taste first hand what we had seen on the show.

Just a short walk from the beach, The Whale’s Rib “feeds the beach” as some of the staff t-shirts say. The walls are covered with photos of proud fishermen showing off their catches and although there are signs telling you not to write on the walls, it’s covered with scribbles and doodles. It’s a small place offering a variety of fresh seafood and after waiting over half an hour for a table, we were finally seated. (It didn’t look like the BP oil spill deterred anyone from eating seafood because the place was packed).

I didn’t need a menu as I already knew from watching the show what I was going to order. First up, Oysters Rockefeller. These rock shaped delicacies were topped with cheese, spinach, a slice of tomato and then tossed in the oven for all the tasty ingredients to blend together. Get these if you visit. They will not disappoint.

Then came the main course, the reason for the drive – the Key West Dolphin sandwich. This was featured on the show as well as the Whale Fries with their special Whale Sauce (a homemade honey mustard). The sandwich was ginormous, but we all agreed it was very flavorful with its coleslaw topping and melted cheese. Cheese on seafood? Yup, and it worked.

The Whale Fries, which resembled potato chips, was the perfect complement. They were thin and crispy and when dunked in the Whale Sauce, it was a party in my mouth. We all agreed that the order of onion rings was superfluous but we ate it anyway.

We passed on dessert and instead, headed to the fishing pier to walk off our overstuffed stomachs. The Whale’s Rib was worth the long trek and it was a great way to finish an active week and weekend. After a long drive back home, it was time to get some rest and get ready for the sixth week of training.

Mt. Trashmore

2010-06-12T16:34:00.001-04:00

They call it The Hills or Mt. Trashmore. The name alone is enough to strike fear into a newbie runner’s heart. Located off the I-75, this massive site of land used to be a landfill until it was shut down in 1987. After a makeover that included grass and asphalt, it was turned into a 160 acre park and opened to the public in 2003. For a mere $1.50 per person, you can easily enjoy a picnic, its long trails and play basketball and other sports all while inhaling the fumes still buried from the past.

When it comes to doing hill work, there isn’t that many choices in Miami and this place is as good as you’re going to find. In the year 2000, even though it was still closed and No Trespassing signs adorned the fences, it didn’t stop some runners (like my friend, Katrina) from squeezing underneath them to do suicide runs. That’s what I call commitment! And so this is the place where I began my preparation for the hills of San Francisco.

Rushing straight from work to get to the hills, I quickly had to change from Office Guy into Non-Elite Runner. My wife and two of our other San Francisco cohorts were already waiting for me and we only had an hour to get our run in. We ran through the Horse Trail, great if you want to bust your ass or twist an ankle. Better suited for hooves than sneakers, this trail is made up of rocks, grass and dirt and if you’re not careful you could easily take a fall and go for a roll down hill. After a few near misses, we got back on solid ground and finished off our run.

Apparently, the smell of buried methane pipes and other garbage doesn’t bother rabbits because I saw two of them during the 4 mile run. Maybe they were mutant bunnies. We were also surrounded by dragonflies, one of which flew right into my forehead. I was thinking they were our running angels, flying beside us to make sure we got through our run ok, but I think they were just hoping to fly into someone’s mouth.

Didn't want to get too close to Bionic Bunny.

Other random wildlife: Red-Winged Blackbird.

The hills seemed steep but I don’t know how they compare to those of San Francisco. I know the highest elevation we’ll have to run is about 150 feet and to do that we’ll need to do a lot more running on The Hills. It’s a different experience from doing Tempo Runs but hill work can be grueling as well. The good thing is, they both improve your speed and who wouldn’t mind being a faster runner?

With just about six weeks left until race day, we’ll become regular visitors of The Hills and running as many bridges as we can find, most likely in very hot weather. (The temperature for last week’s long run felt like 105 degrees and that doesn’t make the task any easier.)

Hopefully Mt. Trashmore will have prepared our legs and lungs for race day. Only time will tell if us Miamians will be able to meet the challenge. Bring it on.

BLISTER-ing Heat

2010-06-05T17:20:00.001-04:00

This is what was waiting for me underneath my sock when I got done with my 7 mile run last Saturday. I knew it was going to be bad because I felt it as soon as I started running, but I really wasn't expecting it to be THAT bad!

The day before, I had noticed a small blister forming in that same area and the long run just aggravated it even more. I was feeling that blister with every step. Despite the pain and discomfort, I had a great run but I knew my current shoes had to be benched.

I went to the store that same day and bought myself a pair of Brooks Adrenaline's. I used to run in them and they never gave me blisters on my feet before. Two days ago, I cut open that nasty piece of skin on my foot and made sure I put a Blist-O-Ban on to protect it. After today's grueling, 105 degree, 8 mile run, it held up pretty well but even with my Injinji toe socks on and a nice dosing of Glide lubrication, I still developed them.

I'm really at a loss with these toe blisters and not sure what to do. Although I have to admit that they are not as bad as they were last year, I'm still having problems with them. I think the toe socks have helped somewhat but since I only have two pairs, I only wear them on my longs runs and not during the week. What's really weird is that I only have blisters on the second and third toes of my right foot. My left one is golden. Someone explain that to me.

I hope to find the winning combination soon because these toe blisters are a real nuisance and I'm sure you guys are getting sick of seeing my nasty looking feet.

These are the toes of a non-elite runner.

Road Rage

2010-05-31T18:52:00.000-04:00

On a recent run, a motorist became very angry that I was running on the side of the road. As he was approaching, I could see his red, irate face clearly, as if time slowed down – Matrix style. He was honking and yelling something inaudible at me and he kept waving his hand, suggesting that I get off his road and run on the sidewalk because that’s where I belong. I kept my cool and instead of giving him the bird, I smiled and gave him a thumbs up, hoping that would irritate him even more.

What is it with these angry drivers? Am I really in your way when I’m running five miles per hour on the very edge of the road or is it that you’re so fearful you’ll run me over that upsets you so much? You can simply change lanes or slow down if you’re worried, but I assure you, I am no threat to you Mr. Motorist. So please, just share the road because I can run on it if I want to.

At least this guy didn’t try to intentionally hit me. I’ve come across others who aim right at you. They want to scare you and have some fun at the same time. Seriously? I try not to get too upset with these people because obviously, they can’t relate. If they were runners or cyclists I think they would be more compassionate.

Why do I run on the road and not the sidewalk? Isn’t it safer? It probably is safer and I do run on the sidewalk a lot, more than I care to. But the reason I prefer the road is because it’s more forgiving on your body and it’s much flatter and stable than sidewalks, which are very difficult to run on and you can really injure yourself.

Don’t get me wrong, as a runner we have a responsibility to make sure we do everything we can to be seen if we’re going to share the roads. We can:

• Wear reflective clothing
• Wear a safety light
• Wave at approaching drivers if we think they don’t see us
• Stay as close to the edge of the road as possible
• Run in single file if we’re running with another person or a group

Not all drivers react this way (maybe they’re runners) but for those out there that do, I hope this sheds some light on why you see runner’s on the road and maybe next time you see us, you’ll be more forgiving and give us the thumbs up instead of the car horn.

WEIGH-IN: Do you think runner's should stay off the road?

Tempo Runs

2010-05-30T19:15:00.000-04:00

Part of my training for the San Francisco Half Marathon has me doing tempo runs. Tempo runs are best described as running at a comfortably hard pace... but it feels more like uncomfortably hard. These runs are tough and exhausting, but over time it’ll help you run farther and faster. Just don’t expect to run like a Kenyan anytime soon, if ever.

So I laced up my shoes, popped a Lemon Lime Shot Block in my mouth (my new favorite electrolyte supplement-thanks Katrina!) and headed out the door with trepidation. I warmed up for five minutes and then started my 35 minute masochistic tempo run. I averaged an 8:58 pace and I was surprised that I ended up running 3.1 miles faster than I did the week before at the 5K race. Was it working already?

The last five minutes of my run were the toughest and longest. I just wanted to finish so I could stop the pain and suffering. I told myself to keep reaching and stretching out with my legs and that I just had five more minutes to go. The only thing I could think about was how truly amazing these elite runners are. They can run anywhere from a 5:00 to 5:30 mile pace over a span of 26.2 miles like it’s nothing. I only ran close to four miles and was elated to be done! I’ll never come close to running that fast for that long. Such are the realities of a non-elite.

Tempo runs are definitely hard work, but I'm slowly seeing the results. What I do like about them is that they make me fall asleep faster than a Kenyan can run a mile.

Breaking Digits

2010-05-24T20:08:00.000-04:00

This weekend I managed to set a new PR for a 5K and nearly break my finger trying to dispel of a moth. This was my non-elite weekend:

SATURDAY
My wife and I ran the 15th Annual Tour of the Gables 5K. I finished in 28:44, beating my old record of 29:09. I averaged a 9:15 pace and came in a non-elite 43rd out of 56 in my age group. Although I only managed to shave a few seconds off of my time, I was happy to PR. Maybe if the race organizers would have used the standard gun to get the race started instead of a cannon, I would have done better. That scared the crap out of me and my heart rate only went up from there.

There's nothing like a 5K to remind me how slow I am. The overall winner (a mere 17 year old) ran it in 16:03 and the winner in my age group in 18:41. The winner in the 70-99 age group even beat me! He ran it in 27:44 and he is 71 years old! At the other end of the spectrum, there were nine year olds who posted a faster time.

SUNDAY
Early morning we were on our way to the beach to officially congratulate and celebrate a friend’s great achievement - his first 100-mile ultra-marathon, which he completed last weekend. Alexis is far from non-elite and closer to extraordinary! He ran from Key West to Miami over the course of an entire day. Is that sick or what?

After the beach we had to rush home to get ready to host a Lost finale party. Not long after it started, a moth, (apparently a fan of the show) landed on our TV for a front row seat. I volunteered to be the Candidate to kill the evil moth and sacrifice myself for the greater good. I opted for the kitchen towel as my weapon of choice and in one brilliant, smooth strike I was able to heave it off the TV and onto the floor. Before he could make his escape, I swatted him again and my finger hit the ground with such force I thought I heard it snap and surely thought it was broken. I scooped up the moth and threw him outside but my finger paid the price. Today, it's swollen and bruised. Most likely a jam and not a break.

Luckily, I don’t need my finger to run.

Gear-ology

2010-05-19T10:28:00.001-04:00

Sure, running can be as simple as lacing up a pair of sneakers and going out for a run, but as your distances increase, chances are you'll end up having more gear on than an NFL quarterback.

This picture is a good representation of what I wear on a typical run. Starting from the top:

#1 New Balance Dry Fit & UV reflecting hat: This protects my semi- bare head from the sun, but it doesn't keep the sweat from burning my eyes.

#2 Safety Light: I only use this if I'm running in the dark or working in a coal mine.

#3 Garmin Heart Rate Monitor: Let’s me know what my heart rate is and if and when my heart is going to explode.

#4 Garmin Forerunner 305: Keeps all my stats like pace, distance, heart rate, time and calories burned and it reminds me how non-elite I really am.

#5 Road ID: My newest addition. If something happens to me during a run, this has contact numbers and medical info. Hopefully someone will find me before it's too late.

#6 Power Balance Bracelet: I bought this at the Miami ING Expo and it's supposed to improve your balance, therefore improving your running experience. It's so good I can walk a tightrope with it.

#7 Amphipod fuel belt: I only wear this if I'm going out for a real long run. It has room for four eight ounce bottles and a center pouch for gels, keys or whatever else you want to stuff in there, like Ryan Seacrest.

#8 Nike Dry Fit Running shorts: Probably my favorite pair of shorts. It has a small back pocket for a key or a tiny pet.

#9 Dry Fit socks: This particular pair are Asics but I’m really liking my new Injinji toe socks. With the toe socks and the Power Balance, I could definitely get a job at the circus.

#10 Saucony running shoes: I switched to these shoes earlier this year to try and solve my blister problems but I'm not sure it's working.

How much gear is too much gear? It depends on how long you're going to be running and the weather. Use your best judgment but make sure you're prepared.

This is the gear of a non-elite runner.

Live, Travel, Run!

2010-05-14T19:05:00.000-04:00

My wife and I love to travel and we love to run, so combining these two hobbies is a great way to see the world and stay fit. The San Francisco Half Marathon will be our first time to California and the first race I've done outside of Florida. As I reflect on what will be the third half marathon of my short running life, I can't help but feel butterflies for our upcoming trip.

When I think about this city, I think cable cars, fog, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. I don't know much about this city and I know even less about the course. What I do know is affixed to the back of our front door with a magnet - the map of the 13.1 mile route.

Since I live in Miami, I can't scope out the course beforehand. I'm at a disadvantage compared to the locals but this is just another part of the marathon challenge. It'll be exciting to run in a new city and take in the sights.

I think San Francisco will be a beautiful and scenic race and I imagine running the Golden Gate Bridge will be the highlight for me. Built in 1937 and with towers soaring 746 feet above the water, this will definitely be one landmark I'll stop at during the race to take a picture with.

As a non-elite runner you can't expect to win races and take the prize money home or wear the laurel wreath on your head. The best prize we can expect (besides the satisfaction of finishing) are those medals you get when you finally cross the finish line and I'm looking forward to adding one more to my small collection.

For a lot of people, (like my wife, Jeanette) this is the best part of the marathon experience, receiving that medal after months of hard training. For her, this will be her 16th medal.

For me, the best part of finishing this race will be having a week to discover and explore San Francisco with my wife and four friends and adding another tack on our world map.

No (Blood) Pressure

2010-05-12T19:49:00.001-04:00

As I write this, I have a 24 hour blood pressure (BP) monitor strapped to my body.

Oh, wait a second! My cuff is inflating. Think nice, relaxing thoughts. Let me explain this. I went to the doctor today for a follow up visit and she told me that as far as my blood pressure was concerned, everything was pointing in the right direction. My heart is strong and healthy, my blood work is fine, I'm eating right and exercising and so on and so forth. So to try and find out why my BP is somewhat high, she puts me on this 24 hour BP monitor.

I strapped it on at 12:30 this afternoon and I have to sleep with this thing and return it tomorrow so they can download the data. She knows I'm a runner and that I'm training for San Francisco so I asked her, "I can't run with this thing, right? Because I have to run tonight." I have my training schedule and must follow it.

It's my scripture. She tells me I can take it off for the run but it can't be off for more than an hour. Crickets....

So tonight I had to do my first tempo run and it was thirty minutes of hell. I ran shirtless because it was 84 degrees outside and then it became windy and then my water belt chafed the right side of my waist. I came home glistening with sweat and with ten minutes to spare. I took the quickest shower ever and resumed my 24 hour BP monitoring. After the dust settled, these were my split times:

Mile 1: 8:44.89
Mile 2: 8:50.72
Mile 3: 10:15.94
Total: 27:51

I wanted to gauge my speed for an upcoming 5K race. On Monday, I registered for my third - the 15th Annual Tour of the Gables on May 22nd.

Jeanette (my wife and Editor-in-Chief)

and I are both running it and I would like to try and PR (personal record). My best time for a 5K is 29:09 (very non-elite) which I did in Maryland and it had a huge downhill slope at the end of the race that really helped my time.

I've still got time to prepare but running that fast is not fun. I wanted to push myself tonight and I'm glad I did. It's incredible how much the human body can endure even when you think you got nothing else left.

It's inflating again...gotta "run".