Summertime Success

Grady's first plane ride

June has been a fun and successful month.  At the same time I've had some demons to fight off.  June 24th, 2011 my boys were born.  I had to celebrate their birthday, and at the same time I have flashbacks of losing Cullen.  What is the proper response to this type of situation?  There isn't any.  Not many people know how it feels or what thoughts you have running around your mind.  

Running in Pasadena, CA

We returned to California to visit family and had a blast.  The much needed vacation also helped me settle my mind.  While in Pasadena, I was able to run through some hilly areas and test out my capability of handling hills.    I had a blast running.  I am back up to over 9 miles on my long runs, even in hilly terrain.  I absolutely loved running there and didn't want to leave.  The scenery is beautiful and the weather was gorgeous.  There wasn't more a runner could ask for.  Well, besides multiple pairs of sneakers and running gear.  I was able to knock out 3 days of running while there, but wish I had more.

We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Disneyland/ California Adventure with the kids and Grandma while we were there.   I can't begin to imagine how many miles we covered on foot while inside the park.

I finished the summer on a great note. On August 25th, 2013, I competed in a huge race.  One that has been coming for quite awhile. My competition was fierce, but he put up a good race.  My competition was me.  My first race over a 5K.  I knew it was an instant PR, but I wanted to beat my self doubt.  I wanted to feel that pride in myself as I crossed the finish line to cheering family.  I wanted to do so good.  My family unfortunately couldn't make it.  We decided it would have been too much on the kids to be up and out of the house so early for a couple hour car ride so they could sit in the sun and wait for me.  We decided maybe next year they could join me.  My great friend (Thank you Jen H.) let me crash on her couch the night before so I could get my race packet the day before and not be driving at a crazy hour.

The 38th Annapolis 10 Mile Run- My first race over a 5K

     At about 6:55am we were in the starting line crowd waiting for the run to begin.  the weather couldn't have been more beautiful.  It was cool and there was a lack of humidity, my biggest fear. The pre-race jitters were at their max.  My stomach was churning like I had a butterfly garden in there. I was far enough back from the front so I couldn't hear the starting sounds.  There was just a mass movement forward and a slow jog towards the starting line, and that's when I knew we had begun.  I clicked my Garmin start button and jogged about 10 feet before everyone came to a halt.  The crowds were splitting and causing a jam up because of some puddles.  A few moments later I finally made it over the starting line.  I was on my way, down the driveway of the Naval Academy Stadium and on my way towards the finish.  I could feel the slow gradual increase in altitude as I ran along the city streets.  I knew I was pushing hard in the beginning because I was passing a ton of people.  I made a conscious effort to try to hold back and save energy for the end since thats where the hills were mainly going to be.  In what seemed like no time at all I was running towards downtown Annapolis and up to the first water stop.  It was mayhem.  There were tons of tables and volunteers were yelling "water" or "gatorade".  The volunteer handed me a cup, but it was empty.  She quickly apologized, grabbed another and had me on my way.  Into the beautiful downtown Annapolis we ran.  This large mass of people looking like a stampede running through historically rich streets.  The townspeople were awesome.  They were out on their porches cheering for us.  We had closed their streets down for a couple of hours on an early Sunday morning, but they were still happy to have us there.  I worked my way through the streets feeling the ups and downs of the road.  I felt great.  I rounded the corner and into view I could see the never ending bridge on Rt450.  It just seemed to keep climbing and the peek never seemed to arrive.  My friend told me that her running partner had stuck a crab sticker on a light pole in the middle of the bridge so I kept looking for it.  I must have missed it in the crowds because before I knew it I was coming back down the other side.  Oddly I was feeling great even after the huge bridge.  (Side note:  the winner passed us on the bridge which is about the half way point)

     I followed the pack up another great sized hill into a neighborhood of awesomeness.  People had sat outside in their driveways ringing cow bells for us.  Some played music as we ran by.  Others had even set up tables of water and Gatorade.  There were sprinklers set up to spray out onto the sidewalks and roadways for runners to partake in a mini cooling session.  It was great to see such great support from this community.  We continued out and up another hilly road.  Along the path there was a table set up by a gentleman and his family.  Apparently the cups of what I thought were Gatorade turned out to be beer.  I found out quickly why a lot people weren't really stopping at his house.  They were friendly and all, but beer in the middle of a 10 mile run isn't very good for keeping GU down.  I realized I was more than half way done.  The hills were starting to wear me down finally and the temperatures were also rising.  I made it to the final stretch where we passed a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were greeted by church goers who lined up to give high fives to the runners.  It was awesome.  Not much further up was a man playing the steel drum singing Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds".  And then the Rt 450 Monster returned.  Back across the bridge I had encountered earlier.  It was much, much harder now.  We were being cheered by people with signs.  Some read, "little hill, BIG PRIDE" or "last hill".  I powered up the bridge albeit much slower than coming over it. I beat it.  I was now coming down the bridge.  No more big hills.  I heard people yelling from the sides to encourage some walking down it, "Don't waste a hill".  

     I made it to the final turn before the Navy Stadium and smacked right into a physical wall.  I was so close, yet physically drained.  I pushed myself to the point where I finally broke down and had to walk.  Then a woman how had already finished started yelling, "you got this".  She was cheering for me.  She saw the look of defeat on my face and just this little words, I was rejuvenated.   I could see the trail running into the grass that began the hilly driveway to the finish line.  I sprinted the best I could.  As I reached the finish Line I could see the gun time click off 1:50 mins.   I hit my Garmin stop button.  My time was 1:44 mins and 10.22 miles.  I was thrilled.  Sweating profusely and struggling to breathe, but happy.  My wife had been watching me on the My RoadID app so she could see where I was live.  She called me immediately to congratulate me and tell me how proud she is of me.  She then let me go because she could tell  I was not breathing too hot yet.  I was an emotional mess.  I was tearing up from the pride and the stripping of any self doubt I had at the beginning.  I did it. I went and collected my custom Timex Iron Man watch with the Annapolis 10 Mile Run Logo on it.  I look forward to doing it again next year.  And hopefully I will have a cheering section waiting for me near the finish.  

Courtesy of http://jeannelouwho.blogspot.com/.  Thank you!

Finish Line Pride. 

Miles- 76.82 (June)
           60.67 (July)
           58.36\(August)

Mid-Year is upon us!

 
















 
 

     This has been a crazy busy few months with work and life.  My running has taken a dip thanks to an achilles issue.  I was running more often and greatly improving times and distance, where I had reached slightly over 9 miles in a run.  The local running club started doing group runs on weeknights and weekends so I was able to run during daylight hours and my 8 year old Stella, was able to join me since it was in a safe area.   On the third group run we were doing a 3 mile run, easy, around the park when about 2 miles in I felt a stinging and burning sensation in my left calf .  I stopped, stretched, walked a little, and then slowly jogged backed to the car.  I elevated, iced, and rested for a couple of weeks to make sure I was ready for the Baltimore 5K with my family.

       On May 11th, 2013, we were picking up our packet for the Color Run in the parking lot of Camden Yards along with about 12,000 other people.  Stella and I were running it this year and my wife, Allison, was walking it with my son, Grady (almost 2) and Georgia (4).  I felt great, stretched and warmed up.  The weather was beautiful and the race organization was awesome too.  Stella and I took off at the start and she dragged her feet a little as we ran through Camden Yards.  It was beautiful and such an amazing experience.  I realized quickly in that Stella and I were passing loads of people in our wave and we were catching the previous wave.  I let her control the pace and I try to teach her about controlling her effort to save some for the entire run.  We hit the color stations and breezed through coming out bright, and sometimes hacking if someones inside the station got a little overzealous with the powder.  We were continually making our way through the crowds and I checked my phone and saw that we making great time.  I felt great and she kept making me pull harder.  (I am so proud of this little runner).  As we rounded the last curve and saw the finish line I told her she could run as fast as she wanted and cross before me, but she had to wait on the other side.  She started to sprint and I tried to keep up with her.  We were passing a couple of college aged girls with about 50 yards left and they started to run faster too.  Stella ran even faster, so they ran faster.  It became a foot race between an 8 year old and 20 something year olds.  They did finish slightly ahead of her, but I had to restrain myself from laughing out loud as an 8 year old gave them a run for their money.  Stella is a natural.  3.04 miles in 29:21.  I think it would have been a sub-30 5K.

     We were walking around waiting for Allison and the kids to finish , when Stella decided I wasn't colorful enough and used the color packet that some woman gave her to "spruce" me up a little.  I took a direct hit of neon red in the eyes, with my phone in hand.  After getting my vision back we caught up with Allison and hung out to relax and party.  After standing around my achilles started acting up again.  Thats when I knew it was time for new shoes.  I spent the next week in pain and discomfort, which means no running.

     I went to Annapolis for training for work and while there I went to a running store, Fleet Feet Sports.  The staff was awesome and listened to me about my injury history and looked at me feet, walking gait, form, showed me some tips for helping with my achilles and properly fit me for sneakers.  they didn't ask me what shoes I wanted they brought me a bunch of different shoes to try on and made me run in them.  I found the perfect pair and some inserts.  My new Mizuno Wave Rider 16's are the first pair of non-Asics I've ever owned.  My last pair, Asics Gel Nimbus 14's really turned me off after having owned and loved the three prior generations.  The changed for the worse.

     While I was in Annapolis and falling in love with the area AGAIN, just as every other time i'm there, I ran with my friend Jen.  She mentioned the Annapolis 10 Mile Run (A-10).  It's a historical race that challengingly takes you through beautiful Annapolis with a lot of hills during the crazy Chesapeake August weather.  I signed up with the nervous excitement of a kid at Christmas.    (http://annapolisstriders.org/2013/a10/a102013InfoA.htm). I am a little nervous for having a race that goes beyond 5K, and about the hills since I live in an area where we have "A" hill and it's not much of one.  I know I'll be ok.

     I came home on a Friday night from the 3 days in Annapolis and met the Sunday morning running group for a 5 mile run.  It was my first run after a few weeks off.  The group I ran with are awesome, but I was not aware of their pace. They are fast.  I was dying with being off so much, but they pushed me to an average pace of 10:26 min/mi.  I felt great running, but bad because they kept coming back for me since I was dragging and had to walk some.  I came home cleaned up and went to run some errands and sprained my foot getting out of my car wearing flip flops.  Figures.  So another week of no running and still keep getting a lingering  pain in my foot.  I started doing Yoga again to help loosen myself up, but it isn't any replacement for running.

     I am hoping to be back up and running again shortly and started adding my mileage back, even though I know i's going to have to be doe slowly.  Thank you for reading!  If you have any suggestions or tips for the 10 miler for me shoot me a message.  I'll take all the help I can get.



Miles- 17.51




   

The Amusement Park of Life!

                                                              My life (Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Seay Photography)

     It's been a few months since I last wrote. Life has been crazy with family and work.  My life has been a complete roller coaster of emotions, except I feel like I can't get off.  There is always a new climb to the top and then a steep drop to the bottom to start climbing again.  I have been fairly consistent with my running and exercise, but sleep has been far and few between.  Almost every night I am awaken by a child, or shoulder pain, or some sort of sleeplessness.  I know that soon enough they will be little grown ups and I will look back and miss these days.

     The Boston Marathon, the Superbowl for runners, came again this year.  There were tons of apps, websites, and television shows dedicated to giving up to the minute updates on the race.  I was crazy busy at work so I didn't get to check on anything.  Before I left the next shift arrived at work and told me about an explosion at the Boston Marathon.  She had heard it was a gas line explosion, but I guess working in my field I was very skeptical of that report.  By the time I got home the news had been plastered with information saying it was confirmed two bombs had gone off at the marathon and 3 people were dead and over a hundred injured.  Who the hell bombs a running event?  An event full of people who cheer for everyone.  There is no race, religion, gender, or age differences.  We are all runners.  We cheer for complete strangers and help them push themselves to the finish line.  We are family, bound together  by the ties of running.  We all know what running is, and the feelings invoked by  it.  We know the extreme challenges required to just get to toe the the line in Boston.  And to see such a tragic thing happen is heartbreaking and sickening.  I am still in shock about the whole thing and I'm waiting to be woken up and told it was a bad dream.  Now when I run I reflect about this who were injured and killed in Boston.  Some evil that took away their lives and permanently scarred Boston.  But runners survive.  We find a way.  From the elite group to the casual joggers, we sink ourselves into the physical and spiritual side of life through running.  We will survive.

The Track Star

     My little track start, Stella, did her Race for Education at her school and for the 3rd year in the row she outran all of the other girls in her grade (and from what I understand the boys too) and took first place. This was friday April 19th.  On April 20th, we ran the Salisbury Zoo Stampede 5K.  I was concerned because of how much she ran at her school  Friday about her legs.  She did great.  We clicked off a 32:12 and she managed to pull a 2nd place in the girls 12 and under group at 8 years old.  She wasn't much behind the girl who had first.  I was amazed about her pace.  The start was a mess because the group was merging together into the small opening for the zoo we ran through so there was quite a bit of walking to get started.  Then once inside the zoo she was more interested in checking out the flamingos that had gathered at the fence to yell at runners and the llamas.  I had to explain to her that when you run in a race you can pass people and don't have to stay in line behind them.  There were different rules for running in races.  We almost stopped at the baby goslings but I urged her on with the promise to return later.  I had so much fun running with her.  I miss the old days when we lived in a neighborhood with sidewalks where I felt safe for her to run with me.  Now my runs are in the crazy early hours and on streets I don't feel safe bringing her on.  The best feeling is when I heard her name called for 2nd place and the pride and joy was so overwhelming.  And then the thoughts of Boston arise again.  How safe is it for me to bring her to an event?  My conflicted self just trying to get over Boston and not let that deprive my child of her natural talent.  The talent that her innocence keeps her from realizing.  The light in her eyes and beauty in her soul helped me get over the ugly feelings of Boston.    I have to hold onto that to move on.

In memory of Boston

The Zoo Stampede 5K

So proud

March of Dimes walk- 5.43 miles.

     On April 21st, we walked the March of Dimes walk for babies.  We did 5.43 miles in honor of my son, Grady, and in memory of his twin brother, Cullen.  The March of Dimes has been very supportive of my family and me since the boys were born.  We are trying to raise $2000 this year, a higher goal than last year. I will attach a link to my teams site for donations, please help us to help them.  We will keep walking to support them.  Even a dollar helps.

Here is the link:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/Jveals2002

Miles- 79.3
Time- 15.02 hours
Calories- 16,487

February 2013: The Journey

I have been very busy the last few months, but I'm getting my running in. We have had sick kids, snow, and training for work, but I am usually up by 4:30 and out the door within minutes. I have reached the 4 mile mark. I'm trying to take my time increasing mileage so I don't hurt myself.

I ran my second Heart and Sole 5K last weekend and had a blast. I manage to hit a 30:39 time with an average pace of 9:38 minute mile. per Garmin anyhow. I forgot to hit my stop button right away so I know I was slightly faster. The next few days afterwards I felt it. The ache was in my back, hamstrings, quads, and shoulders. I physically pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I liked it. I had a blast there and met some great people.  Last years heart and Sole I netted a 31:53.  I managed to shave a minute plus off.  Yea me!

I am going to keep pursuing my goal of getting myself into a healthy place. It is amazing how much life tries to knock you down. We just have to get back up, brush off the dirt, and keep trucking. The obstacles we face are just that, obstacles. they aren't meant to stop us, rather to make us figure out a way to get over them. They slow us down, but we keep moving.

Heart and Sole 2013

I write this blog to empty some of my mind, heart, and soul so people can understand why I'm the way I am. I also hope to let people know it's okay to feel down, we just have to keep our heads up and push forward. I came from a point where I could run, but didn't and if I had to run I hated. I took advantage of an ability that so many don't have.  After my accident medical doctors didn't know if I would be able to run ever again. Now I get upset if I can't get a run in for the day. Anything is possible. We can't let someone tell us we can't do anything and we shouldn't limit ourselves on someone else's say so.

Heart and Sole 2012

I am excited to say that today, 2/16/13 I ran 4.61 miles.  This is my longest run this year and I haven't seen this distance in quite some time.



Here are my stats for the last 30 days:

Miles: 35.68 miles

Time: 7.5 hours

Calories: 6,240

2013: New Beginnings

     January 2013: a new year, a new me. I'm making some changes in my life. It's time to take care of me. I need to be healthier, happier, and myself. I've come to realize that having grown up with so  much tragedy in my life that  I've built a prison around myself. I've locked myself in and even though i can see out, i can't get out. I've become a professional griever. Life has thrown so many obstacles at me that I've become desensitized to tragedy.

     I spent 7 years as a police officer, a career I loved. I wanted to do good and make a difference in my community. I know, that's an answer a lot of people regurgitate about wanting to help people. I am by my very nature very altruistic. During my careers in law enforcement and now the judicial system I have been thrust into the pits of evil, sadness, and despair. I can't but help be dragged down into it. Then I come home to my family.  The light at the end of my tunnel each day.  I talk to them and appear happy for a few moments then my angry side starts to show. The fatigue wears away at my persona and my family suffers. I don't want that.  They don't deserve an angry me.  I've taking a big step to change me.

     I am getting back to basics. I'm running 3-4 days a week and trying to watch what I'm eating. I've lost weight, and am trying to keep up with my responsibilities at home. But I don't know where to begin to learn how to deal with my internal issues. I want to be the best man, husband, and father I can be. My goals are consistency in my running, healthier eating, and unwinding. I must remember to breathe. I have to remember myself.  a little over a year ago I was celebrating the fact that I had lost over a hundred pounds.  I want to be back there and being comfortable with myself.  I need to lose about 50 more pounds to get there.  I's going to be a tough road, but I know I'm capable of doing it.  New me, here I come.  Back to the beginning and back to basics.  2013 is a new year and I'm GOING to be a new me.  Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.

The old me

Me feeling my best

Trying to get back

     Here's to a happier, healthier, and new New Year. Welcome 2013!