New Year's Eve Day - nice starting long run (Seinfeld and bagels)

Had a really nice, scenic (shorter) long run. Ended up doing 10 miles at about 12 - a bit quicker than my recommended training. Some of those miles were in the low 11's on flats and then some really challenging hills that clocked me in the 12s. Anyway, felt really good - no stops, no walk breaks - and perhaps not so smartly, no hydration as there was no water to be had around Tibbetts or the trails so got by on 2 packs of gu at 45 minute intervals.

Anyway, was really glad to be out and starting the new year - or the day before on a very positive note and feeling good. For the Miami, I'm thinking of trying something of a hybrid particularly with this running streak. I may simply go for building long runs out by the hour so just go for three next week (should put me at 15) and then wrap at four the next and then taper from there.

Seinfeld Reference 3 - was originally going to post about pancakes as my wife was going to make them when I got back. Since she went shopping and was kind enough to come back with my favorite bagel - salt - had a nice breakfast. So, think back to the one known instance of Kramer's "career" at H&H Bagel - he'd been on strike for about 12 years before getting called back for the holiday. He was thrilled that he'd be getting $5.45 - as Elaine notes "Isn't that the minimum wage?". Here's a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=gyL_ZbaVGfc&NR=1

By the way, it also features a reference to two face, the Batman Character (if that helps you)

nice and easy - and still with the Seinfeld thing

started the day with a nice and easy 5 mile run on the tmill at a light 5 mph (or 12 minute) mile; this is actually quicker than than the 12:35 Runners World recommended as part of their suggested training to prepare. As I've written - I think - I'm targeting running in the Miami Marathon on 1/29 so have a bit over a month to prepare. I'm actually thinking of using the exact plan that i used to train from the AC Marathon to the Philly. While it's a wider gap of time, it was a good mix that left me with plenty left in my legs by the time of the marathon- have to look further into it

And since I was actually watching Seinfeld while running and no other particular theme is emerging, I'll share that I was watching one of my favorites - the one featuring Mel Torme and "The Jimmmy" (Don't touch Jimmy) - here's a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apa0nG1OfUc

Day 27 - cold - and something new with Seinfeld Stuff

hi - for those of you who are counting - and there are tons, I'm at day 27 towards running for 110 days straight. Today was fun and challenging as it was one of our first really cold days out there. The thermometer read 23 degrees when I started. Anyway, did 3 miles up Warburton in Yonkers and then back and finished up right along the pier. By the end, I felt warmed up but midway - mile 2 1/2 or so, my hands were just blisteringly cold. Anyway, felt great and was happy with my 11:00 easy pace throughout. If I do this Miami thing, to finally get under my 5 hour time, I'll have to do an 11:08 so that's what I'm working towards.

So, I decided that if only to Amuse myself, since I am since an avid Seinfeld fan, every day, I was going to try to think of a related joke, episode, or something that I thought of during or right after my run. And post it. Can't promise I'll do this every day - this is not a big goal of mine - but I'll give it a shot.

So for day 1 (of this part), since I went to renew my parking, I know there are a few episodes that have to do with parking. So here are a few great quotes from "The Parking Spot"

"I thought you said you were a good driver!"
"No no, I never said I was a good driver. I said I was a good parker."
- Jerry and George, in "The Parking Spot"

"All bald people look good in hats."
"You should have lived in the twenties and thirties, you know men wore hats all the time then."
"What a bald paradise that must have been. Nobody knew."
- George and Elaine, in "The Parking Spot"

Better late then never....

Not sure what happened here. Accidental delete or something. Anyway: in summary, brick workout including 2.30 miles of interval sprinting

a little treadmill and a movie never hurts

I've been trying to stay off the treadmill but felt like I've been proactive about getting outside so I treated myself. Also had been really eager to see "The Sheltering Sky" since we got home from Morocco - so it went. Actually utilized it well as today was sort of the first official or semi-official day of starting training to do the Miami Marathon. Have to be sure we can do that weekend (1/28 - 1/29) but pulled up a training schedule targeted to that date. That had me doing a 7 mile tempo run with the middle 5@11.08. Felt really good because I extended it to a warm up and cool down at 12 and then the middle six at 11.08. So, if I'm going to use it, at least i'm going to make it part of a true training schedule so at least it's more targeted use. The movie; however is really depressing - I knew this from reading the book. But I still enjoyed it since it's about Morocco and the desert.

day 24 (really this time)

nice breezy day - woke up to the wind howling and thought to myself what could be a better push than running against that wind. actually turned into a fun and nicely challenging run starting with van cortlandt in my neighborhood and then into Tibbetts Brook park through the back entrance. The challenge of the route is the few different terrains - street, pavement, grass, then some bumpy uphill trail and finally back in the street. That last bit is always a challenge but was able to make up some of the speed later once I was back on flat ground.

overall, did 5 in 57 minutes - some of that was working a ten minute mile while some of the trail stuff was much more stop and go

Day 23 - Christmas Day

First, a sincere apologies to the many of you following this as a member of the blog - that's exactly, 1,2, oh, actually zero at this point. Anyway, math was never my strong point and I decided I better double check my count. And I was wrong. This, Christmas Day, is day 23 of my ongoing focus of running for 110 days straight. So to those who have already reported out to the news services etc., I'm sorry if you're credibility has been shattered. Or something.

So anyway, woke up nice and early and just did 1/2 hour plus of speed work on the tmill to get my daily dose before our family settles down to a day of munching good stuff, listening to all those Christmas songs (at least once more) and of course exchanging gifts.

Wishing everyone that celebrates Christmas and/or Chanukah a great day and one filled with happiness, togetherness and all good stuff

Happy Christmas eve day (to those that celebrate). Or just day 24

Celebrating Christmas in my 2nd favorite city (after NY of course), Philadelphia. I love running here, maybe it's the nostalgia since i few up here, Maybe that rocky spirit that just takes over when you hit the streets
Or maybe cause its really flat. Anyway since I couldn't sleep and was up at 6, I was out in the nice crisp 30' degrees by about 7-just in time to see the sun coming up. Definitely a bit inspiring. The first 2 miles were kind of a drag but not sure why. Then I was able to go through it and ended up doing 7.5 miles in around 1:20-nice good pace. Did a bit of the philly marathon rote then headed up to university city where I used to live. Again nice bit of nostalgia and really nice to be out nice and early.

Happy Christmas eve to those that celebrate and happy holidays in general to those otherwise.

day 23 ---

after a multiple run day yesterday, nice to go out for a very light and slower run in my very hilly neighborhood. So I ran the hills of Park Hill and did 4 miles at about a 11:30 pace and felt so good to be outside just doing something positive. It was one of those days where it was raining last night, the wind was blowing outside and it was still drizzling. It would have been very easy to just say - well, maybe I'll just hit the treadmill again. Or maybe I'll wait till 11:00 or 12:00 when it said it was supposed to be sunny. But I didn't. At 8:30, just threw on a pair of shorts, put a shirt over the one I slept in for some layering and hit it. Felt great.

I was also really inspired by thinking about the progress of Teens Run Yonkers. I was so happy to meet with the wonderful attorney that has been helping us yesterday. He's been great about pushing me to think broadly about the program, what it can look like, how we can raise funds - really have a game plan. And after several sort of iterative months of thinking, revising and experience what works, he is starting the incorporation process. Following that we'll be moving towards getting tax exempt status. Also, yesterday morning, had a meeting with a principal at one of our other high schools who seems to embrace what we're doing. SO, between starting the legal process, running with the fantastic students and - I have to say a huge THANK YOU to Derrick Burke who has got it all going at the High School and my morning meeting, starting to see some real traction.

More tomorrow...

and a bit more with Teens Run Yonkers

still day 20 but had two additional runs --- had an awesome first run with our Teens Run Yonkers Track team with Yonkers High School--these students are awesome! Looking forward to a great season with them. Also did some speed intervals on my own. All in all, about another five miles. And so it goes

day 20

so just finished day 20 - pretty nice workout and a good energizer for starting our first day of Teens Run Yonkers Winter Training with Yonkers High School. So there's no ambiguity whatsoever, most of my morning runs - which are typically at 4:15 AM - are done on a treadmill - my well kept or not so well kept secret. I'm OK with this because when we start TRY training that's all outside so I get them both in. I don't find the tmill as boring as many do because I am running a continual loop of Seinfeld episodes when I do it to the point where I know way too much of this by heart. Sometimes a little change up to Curb Your Enthusiasm or something else but it keeps me going. Anyway, this morning did a good and somewhat challenging series of incline intervals up to 5 at about a 10.50 per mile pace. Did a total of 6 miles worth in 65 minutes

Day 19 - the first day, sort of ...

Hi anyone-

I've decided to create this blog for a few simple reasons:

1) Last year, I challenged myself to run consecutively for 100 days. Why? No particular reason. Actually, I think I saw the suggestion in one of the running magazines and thought it would be kind of cool. And it was. I would have actually gone longer but I had to have some minor surgery which made continuing impossible. Anyway, 100 days was fun and exciting. Right now, I'm kind of interim between choosing and then training for my next (ninth) marathon.

So, figured I had to have something to keep my going. I figured if I could hit 110 days, it would by 10% better than last year. It sounds simple but imagine if we could do everything we do - the roles we play with our family, friends, our passions - just 10% better every year. How much further would we all go. How much better would the world be. So, that's my idea. See if I can hit 110 days consecutive running.

By the way, for those who care or are counting, a "day of running" or a day where I can legitimately say I've run, must include at minimum of 1 mile of running at least a 12 minute mile. Lame? Well, how many other people are doing this. If they contact me and want me to make it tougher, I'll look forward to it.

Each day, I'll report whatever I've reported on logarun where I keep my on-going running log

2) I'd also like to get a bit more fluid in my blogging through multiple sites so I'll be challenging myself to connect this blog with the other communities that I tend to be on i.e. teens run yonkers, facebook, cardiac athletes, and weight watchers. Maybe twitter too. Anyway, the other part of this challenge is to develop consistency and fluency in blogging.

Finally, as the title indicates, I've already been running for eighteen days straight and today is day 19. So to start things off, I did a TMB (Three Magic Bullets) run on the treadmill - total of 5.5 miles in one hour (5.5 / one hour)