14 is in the rear view mirror!

There is no other way to say it....I was nervous about this one. 16 miles. Nearly 3 hours. After my miserable 14 in Orlando, I was concerned about winning the mental game on this one, especially because they (whoever "they" are) say that once you accomplish 16, you can accomplish 26.2. Well...I did it and I did it well. Didn't even have to debate whether or not to take a walk break. 16 strong, running from first step to last. 16 miles, 2:56:52,11:02/mile, 2708 calories. 33 miles for the week. New Personal Bests all around! On the day of the Men's Marathon in Beijing no less. Slower than I wanted, but run was steady and consistent....Annette's lesson in Friday's spin class.

The morning started right...at 4:38am, I got the txt message from the Obama campaign naming Joe Biden as his running mate. Don't mean to get political, but I called this ticket at least 10 months ago, albeit the other way around. Regardless, I was stoked as I believe that Biden has the best plan to get us out of Iraq without leaving a mess behind and I think together, they will restore first, our faith in the government and then the world's faith in us. It is a great day!

It was a humid morning. Mother Nature trying to decide whether to make the weather reports truth or fiction. Temp was in the low 70's and it was overcast. I knew in the first mile that it was going to be a good day. Often times, the first mile can be the hardest. Today, it wasn't. The trail was relatively quite, but with a few characters more interesting than the wildlife of last weekend. A running club that I assume is training for 10.12 too was out. See them every weekend. A few cyclists, a few runners, a family fishing for tonight's dinner in the Fox river, a white haired couple with yellow highlights in their hair and mustache from the nicotine of the smoke hanging out of their mouths, 2 housewives sneaking a forbidden kiss on their morning walk, a kid with his hat cocked and baggie pants pulling up in Mom and Dad's car and talking to the dealers near the Elgin train station, Asian twins on an easy run, Casino workers preparing for a long Saturday and the oddest thing....more squished toads than I've seen in my life, almost as if the Toad Jim Jones formed a cult and asked them to sacrifice themselves yesterday. It was, to quote my buddy Brianna, random.

Every once in a while, the 14 mile run crept into my head, but I was able to squash the thought pretty easily. It was an interesting run emotionally. Right around 7 miles, I came upon the South Elgin train station where, some many times, after a long day of work and related entertaining, I drop Roderick (aka The Mayor) off at his car, both of us debating whether or not the light would be on when we get home. I thought of The Mayor and what his reaction will be when I tell him that I ran beyond that station, only to reach my 1/2 way point. I thought of he and his wife Mimi and how strong they are in raising Cassie, their daughter living with a form of epilepsy, and wondered if I could be that strong. A chill came over me and I suddenly became very emotional when I thought of Cassie and how strong that little girl is to live with this condition and love life as much as anyone I know. She is truly a beautiful and happy child who's love for life is contagious. If I can be 1/2 as strong as her, this marathon will be in the bag. I am lucky to have them in my life, but like so many other friends, we have let life get in the way of getting the families together. That will change.

On the back half of the run, the weather shifted and the skies began to clear. The humidity dropped and a cool breeze picked-up. Thanks Lorraine! In Orlando, she tried to help by blowing a breeze on my back during the final miles, but even she couldn't beat those conditions. As I approached the 14 mile mark, my head was spinning. I was going to do it. The perfect song came on to get me past the memory of that awful run. "All My Life" by Foo Fighters. As I took my first step farther than I had ever run, Dave Grohl screamed "Dead, dead, on to the next one!" in my ear and it was behind me. The Orlando run was dead to me suddenly and I was on to the next new goal. I was angry and elated. Screw you 14, I'm better than you. Oh boy....I am admittedly losing it as I sit here recalling it....the last 2 miles were easy. Usually, the longest miles,but not today. As my nike plus told me I had 1 mile left, I was trying to contain my emotion when Lorraine snapped be back to reality by dropping my ipod out of it's pouch to the ground. "Finish the run Pat, Jared's soccer game is starting" she was telling me.

Can't begin to put into words how amazing it feels to run 16 miles for the first time. Only 2 more long runs between now and 10.12. I can't believe it. Long post today, but lots going on up top here, so sorry and thanks for stopping by my blog. I appreciate your support more than ever. 50 days until the race. Wow. Mind boggling.

And then there was 5....

I'm amazed every day by this sport. On Saturday, 10 was a breeze. On Monday, 5 was a bitch, crazy, but none the less, got to my north side point and enjoyed my favorite view. I am learning now that the right nutrition is a full time job during this process, not a Friday night exception.....great meal tonight in advance of 7.5 in the am. Looking forward to the south loop. Hope there is another swimsuit photo shoot going on!!!!!

The day 10 was just another run...

I am so disappointed that I couldn't blog immediately following my 10 mile run yesterday. It was amazing and I know that blogging 36 hours later will not be the same, but making the wedding in Grand Rapids was way more important.

It was a perfect morning.....6:15am, mid-50's, perfectly blue sky, the dew waking up and becoming fog hovering over the prairie. I am not making up the fact that during my run, I chased a chipmunk, a bunny and a doe off the path, AND...for the first time, 10 miles didn't intimidate me. I was relieved to have such an easy run....crazy right??? I had an amazing run and had awesome thoughts during it. And yes, I read a really incredible "First Marathon" story on Friday night!. The Mental game. I have to admit, (and i've only told one person this up to this moment...) during my difficult 14 mile run in Orlando, for the first time,I had a vision of quitting the marathon. It was as clear as an HD movie, me ducking under the rope, crushed, at 14 mile marker. Tragic, but it inspired me to keep going that day. On Saturday, the opposite. In addition to repeating Phelps ridiculous win in the 100 butterfly over and over in my head, , I saw Josey in Lincoln Park, Kari and Jillian on the west side, the Piaskowy;s and Console's in Chinatown, my family (incl Kim, Liesl, Kieran) near the finish and Pete and Hillary celebrating the run! Wow....This was a great day and a great run. I loved every second of it. LOVE/hate. That's what it's all about. yesterday was a LOVE day. Why not, Meg and Biddy tied the knot and we celebrated together with family, friends and made new friends. What a day!!!

The greatest.

What a night! Michael Phelps won that race because he wanted it more than anybody else. If you didn't see it, find it and watch. What an inspiration. Set a goal and achieve it. I'm in awe and inspired.

Costas just finished interviewing Mark Spitz and Michael together. Mark told Michael that when people ask him why he did it, he tells them for the mystery, magic, wonder and surprise of doing something you've never done before....how cool is that? I am scheduled to run further than I have ever run every other week for the next 8 weeks. I cherish the mystery, magic, wonder and surprise of each of those milestones. I will only run 16 miles for the first time once. I will only run 26.2 miles for the first time once. I get chills thinking about it.

I had the best run I've had in a long time on Thursday. The morning was magestic. That's the word that came to mind when I hit the lakefront. 7 miles. Nice and easy. Not my best time, but it was a great run and I could have gone on for a while. Too bad that darn work thing came into play. Enjoyed my first Butt Cramp...right cheek. Interesting working that out while running. Did the south route around the museums. Beautiful (and the swimsuit photo shoot happening on the east side for the Adler was an added bonus.) Today a good 5, north. Unfortunately, the point where I like to make my turn was closed for the Air and Water show, so didn't get my favorite view. It'll be there next week!

Getting late, 10 miles in the am than off to celebrate Biddy and Meg tying the knot. Thanks for checkin in on me.

59 days.......

59 days until 26 miles 365 yards.....scary.
As I continue to reflect on Saturday's tough run, i realize how mental this game is. In my last blog, i talked about how physically prepared i was for 14....reflecting back, i see a lot of things that prevented me from being mentally prepared and a lot of gut instincts that I ignored. 1) I am reading a book called "First Marathons". A collection of essays from first timers. I read a story each night before a long run. Friday, the story I read was from a man who was miserable during his marathon and has never run one since. It was a humorous story, but tragic and depressing. Instinct told me that in needed a more inspirational story to sleep on, but after a page of a new story, I closed the book and slept. 2) When i woke up, it was storming. I got up, knowing the storm would pass, which it did. Instinct told me to forget the trail as I didn't know anything about it and figured rain may have compromised it if a dirt trail and just run the neighborhood. I ignored it and drove around for over an hour trying to run the trail. This was a very frustrating experience and after a few f-bombs and steering wheel thumps, I talked myself down and drove home. 3) Instinct told me to just run 4.5 on Sat and get out earlier for 14 on Sunday. I ignored that too. 4) Finally, as i started running, i realized that my water bottle belt was upside down, tried to flip while running, but failed and had to stop. Somehow un-hooked the water bottle and as i started to run, it fell out. FRUSTRATED.

Think any of these mental hurdles got in my way from a better run?? I do. This is a mental and physical test. I need to be stronger in both areas and believe whole heartedly that where I was mentally Saturday hurt me as much, if not more, than the weather conditions.

Another lesson learned.

I promised to talk about how why I'm doing this is becoming clearer to me and I will. Just too late tonight and I've said enough already. Soon....

We went over $1000 in donations today. Extremely proud, but on Team LUNGevity, we're 4th in total dollars. Not good enough for me. How 'bout you? Is 4th good enough? Get the word out and let's make a statement. A big statement. Thanks. P

If you want it, you have to train for it.....

This was the message Annette (Drill sergeant instructor) delivered in Spin on Wednesday and on Saturday, I understood exactly what she meant...I took a week off after my 12 mile run on the 26th.It was a light week on my training schedule and a heavy week at work. I was exhausted mentally and physically and needed the break. My "break" continued and I only logged 9 miles this week before my long run on Sat. The training plan called for 14 miles. I wanted 15. 15 sounds sexier than 14, doesn't it? So, I'm in Orlando at the in-laws and do everything right on Friday. Good meals, no beer while poolside, found a trail to run and to bed early. Up at 5am, out the door at 6:30. Should beat the heat. Wind up driving around for an hour looking for the trail and once found, looking for parking...there was none to be found as the park district locks up the parks, I assume to keep teenage kids from hanging out. Thank God they didn't lock up the parks in Arlington, Tx back in the day, hell, I got to second base at one of Arlington's fine parks (Just kidding Mom)...at any rate, drove back to the Stever's and hit the road at 7:45. Sun was up and the temp was close to 80 already. Rainstorms overnight caused the humidity to be close to 90%.

I decided to break my run into 3- 5 mile "sets". First set felt good. It's a hilly neighborhood (small hills according to my m-i-l,but hills are hills) and I managed the hills pretty well (Luckily, Annette was at the top (in my head) making sure I didn't walk one of them!). Due to the heat and humidity, I figured I should be safe and take a 1 minute break between sets. Found the flat part of the neighborhood for the second set and was getting through, Sun was now beating down on me (no clouds, no shade) and the temp was approaching 90. I was struggling, but getting through. Finished the second 5 and knew that the last set was going to be a struggle. I was low on water and had to start rationing. A half mile in, my "road crew" found me and delivered water. I grabbed a bottle and downed it...mistake...and then filled my water bottle with a second. 4.5 miles to go...c'mon Pat! I had nothing in me and wound up taking several walk breaks over the next few miles, sucking down my water too much too fast. I sought out shade where ever i could find it, even just shade from the prarie grass that only reached my calves. Tree and the kids found me again with 1.5 to go, again, I downed a bottle of water and tried to get my legs moving again. I decided at this point to stop at 14, hit the training plan. After another break, i dug down and finished the last 1/4 mile to get to 14. Tried to start 1 more mile and my body said NO! 14 was it and while disappointed in my time, number of breaks and not getting that last mile, 14 is a new personal best and I am proud of it.

On a side note, I am the new Curt Shilling. Check out the shoe...yes, a little irritation on the left heel drew blood and left a reminder to me of this painful run.



I made several mistakes today. The first, no way I should have gone out as late as I did. I knew that, but decided another day poolside without a beer wasn't an option, so I had to do it...is that wrong? Sucking down the water when delivered was also a mistake. I had a good re-fuel plan during the run and it was working. Downing so much so fast hurt me and I gave it all back to mother earth when I was done. And most importantly, I didn't train properly for this run. If you want it, you have to train for it...lesson learned. I will be ready for 16 in 2 weeks and I will have better results.