The Long Trail

Well, I did it! 26.2 miles were completed on a gorgeous Sunday morning. I’m just starting to feel better and more coherent, so I’ll attempt to put my feelings into words for my last entry into this blog.

The Saturday night carb load dinner at the Rossi’s was a blast. Many thanks go out to Colleen for hosting this event for the runners and their families. Ira, Rossi, Rob and I traded stories and tactics over a delicious spaghetti dinner. Rob Rossi had to be considered the MVP of the evening for downing a McMillian’s cream doughnut in 4.6 seconds THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS TO RUN A MARATHON! Impressive work my friend! Sadly, my wife Patrice & daughter Faith weren’t able to join us as Faith was battling a stomach virus. After dinner, it was a quick exit back to Haddon Township and into bed early.
I awoke Sunday morning to perfect running conditions. The temperature at start time was in the low 40’s and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The first several miles went by pleasantly enough, as the four of us took turns trading stories and pointing out some of the freaks running along with us (the guy in his late 60’s in a full tuxedo, the guy juggling while running, barefoot runners, the guy running with his dog ect…) The Philadelphia Marathon made a wise decision to print the first name on the number bibs all the runners wore. This allowed the people along the route to cheer for us by name. This was never more helpful than when we hit University City, and Drexel’s campus. As we ran right though fraternity row, all of the brothers from the frat houses were out on the street, blaring music, tasting us with milk jugs full of beer (at 8:30 in the morning), and cheering us on. Next, came the hills of Fairmont Park. After getting to the top of an incredibly steep hill, we started our descent leading to this exchange between Rob Rossi and a petite female runner:
Rossi: "Boy, I hate going downhill. It kills my knees."
Female runner trying to be helpful: "You just need to relax, and let gravity pull you along."
Rossi: "Yeah, the only problem is my gravity and your gravity are two entirely different things."
After running along the Schuylkill River for several miles, we headed back towards The Philadelphia Art Museum, and our first of a few problems of the day. Rob Haney was feeling ill, and asked that we continue on without him. Ever the good solider, Rob Rossi decided to stay with Rob Haney to see him though this endeavor. It was a good move, as the half-marathon finish line was coming up, and it would have been tempting for Rob Haney to call it a day right then. Ira and I continued on passed the Art Museum, and it was difficult to see people pulling off and finishing their half-marathon. Seeing all the cheering families and well wishers while another 13.1 miles awaited me was a test of my commitment. After topping another incredibly steep hill, Ira and I made our way to Manayunk. I’m proud to say I was able to keep pace with Ira for several miles, before I came to the realization I was holding him back, and I told him to continue on without me. I ran from approximately mile 17 to 23 alone. I thought that running mile 18 (the point during the 2008 Phila Marathon that the Curley family made a surprise cheering section for Rob Rossi) would bring me some measure of relief or self satisfaction, but sadly it just brought more knee, toe and foot pain. Mile 20 was a test of self control as the Haddonfield Running Company had set up a tent, and was handing out Dixie Cups of beer to any runner that wanted it. I shielded my eyes from this Siren Song, but a few moments later, Rob Haney slurped one down and he claimed it helped him make it the last few miles. Shortly after the turn around in Manayunk, and the last turn towards the finish line, I spotted Rob Rossi and Rob Haney. I knew how tough it would be to make the last six miles alone, and decided to slow my pace and wait for them so we could finish together. During my two runs for The Philadelphia Distance Run, I remembered how bleak the last few miles of Kelly Drive can be, and I also knew that I’d need some good friends to kick my sorry and tired butt to the finish line. Rob Rossi put it apply when he said "I feel like I’m running on bloody stumps." The last few miles the three of us carried one another with words of encouragement and the promise that we were "almost there." After spotting the finish line, we stopped briefly to hug and kiss our friends and family. Sadly, but understandably Patrice and Faith weren’t able to make it do to Faith still being sick, but they were absolutely there in spirit. The three of us crossed the finish line in unison, and then collapsed euphorically into each others arms. After catching my breath, and regaining my composure, I was able to call Patrice to tell her I had finished a marathon. My dear friend Mike Goida then thrust the appropriately named Long Trail beers into our hand, and we allowed this magic nectar to release its healing powers.

After downing a couple of beers, we made our way home for what promised to be a relaxing and much needed shower. Upon my return home, I was greeted by my wife Patrice and my daughter Faith as well as signs of congratulation written all over the front window of our house. After hugs and kisses from "my girls" I was able to gingerly make my way to the shower, then over to my parents for a celebratory downing of what my family calls "The Meal." Pork roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, apple sauce, corn, spinach and several more beers were downed with reckless abandon. Afterwards, I received an award platter from my parents for their favorite "Kenyan." I managed to just barely stay awake during dinner before heading home to a much needed bed.

It truly has been an incredible life changing journey. When I first started running a few years ago, I would leave my house and return about ten minuets later huffing and puffing. When my wife would ask me how far I got, between gasps for breath I’d spit out "Mary’s house and back." Mary’s house was only three blocks away, and I’d be shocked if the entire run was longer than a quarter of a mile. To think that from those humble beginnings, a marathoner was born is mind boggling.

As I said, this marathon and training involved was a journey (maybe my last…maybe not), and like all journeys required a lot of help from several different people.

I’d like to thank anyone who ever read this blog especially my good friends Mike Goida, Jon Martini and my sisters Molly and Mary Pat who passed this blog on and would brag about my running 26.2 miles to anyone who would listen.

Thank you to my running partners, Rick Haney, Rob Haney, Ira Krassen & Rob Rossi for keeping me motivated with words and e-mails of encouragement. Congratulations to you all! I would never have made the last few miles without the Rob’s pulling me along. It has been a tremendous ride my friends.

I’d like to thank fellow marathoners and friends from York College Lori Dawson and Scott Bergman. Thanks for your training tips, thoughts and words of motivation.

I must mention and give thanks to my dog Guinness who somehow instinctively knew each and every time I was headed out for a run, and would not bug me to take him along.

My thanks and love to my Mom for a lifetime of support in every athletic event I ever participated in. I guess every little boy thinks his mom is the best mom in the world. Well I’ve got some news for you: Unless you’re one of my sisters or one of my kids, you’re wrong! My Mom is the sweetest, most supportive women in heaven or earth, and I wouldn’t listen to anyone who said otherwise.

Thanks to my once, present and forever coach who taught me there is absolute and unending beauty in competition. I think you’re the best coach in the world…and you’re a much better Father than you ever were at coaching.

Lastly and most importantly, love and thanks to my family for being my number one support system. I can’t thank my wife Patrice and my kids Gavin and Faith enough for putting up with my aches, pains and mood swings over the last few months. Thank you so much for literally, being there every step of the way. Your love and understanding has been overwhelming. I couldn’t have done it without you. I love you all with all my heart.
PTC
12/09

Red and Andy

Tomorrow is the Philadelphia Marathon, and I believe I’m ready for it. I’m still nervous, but confident I can do this.
I’m off to the Rossi house tonight for a carb-loading dinner with my family. We’ll be joined by the Haney’s and Krassan’s for good food, joking and last minute tactics.
At the beginning of my training I quoted Red from The Shawshank Redemption. At the end, I’d like to paraphrase from Andy and Red:
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I hope I can run with my friends for 26.2 miles tomorrow. I hope to see my family at the finish line, hear their cheering and feel their warm embrace. I hope I can call my Father and tell him his son is a marathoner. I hope….

Championships aren't won on the field; they're only played there

My training is complete and my gear is in order. I have nothing to focus on now except rest, keeping healthy, and eating right.
I’m heading over to the Expo / packet pick up shortly. There is nothing real exciting about that other than there is a sense of finality that comes along with a free t shirt.

I am overwhelmed by the number of people wishing me luck this weekend, from friends, neighbors, coworkers, parents at my kids school, friends from college, most of the staff at Eastern Regional High School, my bowling league, my friends at SI Group, and of course my family.

Thank you all for your love and support.

Pat

Run Fat Boy Run

Gordon: Go on then, run!
Dennis: Isn't there some kind of like... special technique?
Gordon: Well...yeah...you put one leg in front of the other over and over again really really fast.

As the clock continues to dwindle down to zero hour, I think the boys and I are ready for Sunday. Most forecasts call for a mostly dry day with cool temperatures. I finally took Ira’s advice and went out yesterday to pick up a “Dry-Fit” running shirt. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the XL I’m normally used to buying didn’t come close to fitting me. Upon further review, twenty five pounds have fallen off my frame since training began in July. That’s welcoming news for my ever-fragile right knee.

Tomorrow is the last day of training under the Hal Higdon plan, and I couldn’t be more excited about running a scant two miles in the wee hours tomorrow. I should probably warn my neighbors (especially my friend Judy Rowland who’s house is at the two mile point of the Run For Tony course), that she may hear an emphatic “WAAHOOOO!” tomorrow morning prior to sunup.

Thanks for reading,
Pat

Immaculée Ilibagiza

If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll remember that over the summer I recommended a few books to read. The one I hoped people would read was Left To Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza. Immaculée’s life was transformed dramatically during the 1994 Rwandan genocide where she and seven other women spent 91 days huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor's house. Immaculée entered the bathroom a vibrant, 115-pound university student with a loving family - she emerged weighing just 65 pounds to find most of her family had been brutally murdered. Immaculée credits her salvage mostly to prayer and to a set of rosary beads given to her by her devout Catholic father prior to going into hiding. Anger and resentment about her situation were literally eating her alive and destroying her faith, but rather than succumbing to the rage that she felt, Immaculée instead turned to prayer. She began to pray the rosary as a way of drowning out the negativity that was building up inside her. Immaculée found solace and peace in prayer and began to pray from the time she opened her eyes in the morning to the time she closed her eyes at night. Through prayer, she eventually found it possible, and in fact imperative, to forgive her tormentors and her family's murderers. Immaculée's strength in her faith empowered her to stare down a man armed with a machete threatening to kill her during her escape. She also later came face to face with the killer of her mother and her brother and said the unthinkable, "I forgive you."

After reading all three of Immaculée’s books, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to see her tell her story in person when she came to St. Andrews church in Gibbsboro, New Jersey last night. I took my Mom with me and we both shared a truly inspirational evening. How does this tie in with running? While I’m running and it becomes difficult, tiresome or painful, I often think of Immaculée and say to myself: "Immaculee went 91 days without the gift of movement. She would have done just about anything to be able to run down this vast open peaceful road. You think this is hard…this is nothing. Enjoy your gift of God’s peace and movement." It always helps me put things in perspective and gets me through the next few miles. I intend on utilizing the gift of movement to it’s fullest extent on Sunday.
Just five days to go. Thanks for reading,
Pat

8 Miles

We’re really getting down to the wire now. I only have four training days left before the marathon. The eight miler I’m scheduled to run this Saturday will be the longest of my final tune up before the marathon. I was looking forward to running my first three miler in almost two months this morning, but dodging pre-dawn puddles in Haddonleigh made the run a bit less enjoyable. With the exception of two toes the color of a nice Pinot Nior, I’m feeling pretty good and I think I’m ready for November 22nd.
Only ten days left. Thanks for reading,
Pat

The Taper

Less than two weeks left until the marathon and at most times, I believe I’m ready for it. Now and again I’ll log onto the Philadelphia Marathon web site to see the race day countdown. When I see the ever decreasing numbers, I tend to get the same "pit in the stomach" feeling as I would when taking an exam I hadn’t studied for. I got that feeling a lot in the late 80’s by the way. The miles have begun to taper off (21 miles this week compared with 40 just two weeks ago) which has made my life a lot easier. I’m trying to concentrate on getting enough rest, continuing to eat healthy and avoid anybody that seems to be sick.

Congratulations have to go out to my niece (and sometimes running partner) Marie Mignogna on her verbal commitment to attend and play field hockey at Leigh University. Good work and best of luck to The Red Marie. Please assume that Matt, Gavin and I will be your roommates for the duration of Eagles Training Camp at Lehigh, and kindly plan accordingly.

Eleven days to go.

Thanks for reading,
Pat

The Four Horsemen

Outlined against a blue, gray October sky the Four Horsemen rode again.
In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Rossi, Haney, Krassan and Curley.

For several weeks I’ve been dreading the last day in October and the apex of training millage for a marathon….the 20 miler. It’s been hanging over my head like an unpaid bill that I knew I’d have to deal with it at some point. Weeks ago I made incredibly wise decision to trek down to Shamong, New Jersey on Halloween so I wouldn’t have to log the twenty miles alone. After a carb load and an early exit to bed the night before, I was up at 3:30 Saturday morning and out the door by 4:00. I met Rob Rossi, Rob Haney and Ira Krassan at the Rossi house a bit before 5:00, and we were on our way a few minuets later. Rossi had mapped out a 10 mile loop that we were to run around twice. Rossi was certainly right when he pointed out that it would be like running two completely different courses since the first lap would be done in absolute darkness, and the second lap shortly after the sun came up. Rossi also practiced the seven 7 P’s: “Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance” with cones set at every mile mark, water, Gatorade and oranges slices stashed at strategic spots throughout the loop.

I knew in the back of my mind that that the miles would pass more quickly while running with friends, but since I was used to running alone, I didn’t realize how much the camaraderie would help pass the miles. While the four of us ran, we covered a number of topics: tattoos on runners, Fred “Ogre" Palowakski, Ira excelling at his job, Rob Haney’s patents, the need for more parental supervision in the Shamong area, the Phillies in the World Series, fantasy football and the amount of songs Rossi has on his ipod. Mrs. Colleen Rossi was the MVP of the day though. On the morning of her 41st birthday, Colleen headed out a little after 6:00am to find the four of us and deliver the best tasting oranges I’ve ever had. I think Rob Haney and one of the oranges are technically married now. After a quick photo-op for Colleen, we continued on through Medford Lakes, passing Camp Ockanickon where I had spent some of the most memorable days as a kid.

Beyond the physical training that comes with completing 20 miles, there is also a mental aspect to passing this literal milestone. I feel like another six miles is well within my grasp. Armed with that knowledge, I’m looking forward to November 22nd more and more.


At mile 16 I thought I was dead. At mile 17 I wished I was dead. At mile 18 I knew I was dead. At mile 20 I realized I had become too tough to kill.

Thanks for reading,

Curls

Serendipity Saturday

Well, the miles are really starting to pile up now. Forty miles have to be put in between now and Halloween. This past Saturday was a real test of commitment to completing the Hal Higdon marathon training. My Friday night consisted of a pasta dinner with two beers, followed by an early exit to bed. I awoke at 3:45am ready to hit the streets by 4:00. After a quick breakfast I headed out to run fourteen miles. Once I stepped outside and felt the rain, I bailed and quickly headed back to bed. For several hours I laid in bed and told myself, “I’m taking the day off, and I’m NOT going to feel guilty about it.” By about 8:30, that feeling passed, and I headed out to do several laps around the Cooper River at Camden County Park. A quick tangent here: One of the nuggets of advice Hal doles out is this: “To avoid getting in a rut, select a different course rather than simply running the same course you have been using for several weeks. Success in running is often as much mental as physical.” Good point Hal. After running in the Haddonleigh section of Haddon Township for the last few months, I decided to switch it up and started running over to the Cooper River to complete the required mileage. Beyond a change of scenery, the new course offered me the opportunity to run past my parent’s house and discard any additional layer of t-shirt that had become too hot or cumbersome to wear. The only cause for concern I had with running around “The Coop” was due to the fact that while in college, I had spent several summers working as a garbage man in the very same park, and the remembrance of stinking, hot summers from long ago would only add to the difficulty of the ever adding mileage. However, I was pleasantly surprised that laps around The Coop have been quite enjoyable. It’s flat, well lit (important for an early morning run), and there is no need to worry about car traffic. I’m planning on running around Cooper River for the bulk of my remaining training. Saturday was a different story. After running to South Park Drive in an annoying rain, I started my laps around Cooper River. Tired, cold and achy, I convinced myself that if I ran nine miles that’d be close enough, and I could call it a day. That’s when inspiration hit in the form of a nine and a half fingered friend. Once on North Park Drive, I spotted my buddy and fellow D.B.R.C. member Rick Haney banging out his required miles for the day. Rick and I ran together for several miles and were able to chat and catch up a bit before Rick’s shin splints made him slow up. Thanks to Rick’s camaraderie, I found some new energy, and was able to complete the fourteen miles.

This coming Saturday will be the longest run in preparation for the Philadelphia Marathon. I have serious doubts that I’d be able to run 20 miles alone. That’s why I’m excited about heading down to kick 20 miles of Shamong asphalt with Rossi, Rob, Ira & hopefully Rick.

Only 25 days to go. Thanks for reading,

Pat

Lion or Gazelle

Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.

Even though I’m up & running well before sunrise, I can relate to this African proverb. Three months of training has had it’s ups & downs, but for the most part, it’s been a fun ride. I’ve got another week & a half of intense training before the miles start to taper off. I think I’m pretty much prepared for the marathon. We’ll see when the final test of 20 miles comes in the early morning of Halloween while I’m running with Rossi, Ira, Rick & Rob through the Pine Barrens. I think I’ll be ready for it, plus: It’s kinda like wrestling a gorilla….you don’t stop when you get tired, you stop when the gorilla gets tired.

One month to go.

Thanks for reading,
Curls

November 22

I believe I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention one of my main motivations for running the Philadelphia Marathon. After seeing my buddy Rob at mile 18 of the 2008 Philadelphia Marathon, I had a passing thought: "Could I join Rob next year & finish a marathon?" While Rob was passing his post-marathon days with Double Stuff Oreo’s & Family Guy re-runs, I was looking to see when the 2009 marathon would be held.
Quick tangent: Why do they continue to make single stuff Oreo’s? I mean who goes into the store, looks at the single stuff Oreo’s that are RIGHT NEXT TO AND THE SAME PRICE as the Double Stuff Oreo’s and says "Oh, those Double Stuff Oreo’s have too much stuff in them….Thank goodness for the single stuff Oreo’s." No idea.
Anyway, upon my discovery that the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon would be held on November 22, I knew that I HAD to try to complete this 26 mile & 385 yard course.
November 22 was the date that President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. Even though, I wasn’t born at the time, his death had a huge impact on my childhood. As children of Irish Catholic parents, my sisters and I felt the enormous sense of pride my parents had towards JFK & RFK long after their premature deaths. It went well beyond "having one of our own in the White House." At a young age, I can remember my Mom reading yellowed copies of the November 23, 1963 Philadelphia Inquirer and a copy of Life magazine to me, and telling me stories about what her, my Dad and my older sisters went through in the days after the assassination.

A little closer to home, November 22 also happens to mark a terribly tragic day in my own family. It’s the day my nephew Ryan Bolte passed away in 1996. Ryan was the type of kid an uncle loves to have: mischievous, silly, funny, but ultimately, not your responsibility. For the first six years of Ryan’s life, he was just a normal goofball of a kid with an infectious laugh and a surfer hair cut that he thought was too cool. My lasting image of Ryan was when his brother Erik was born. While my brother and sister in law Steve and Kathlynn were at the hospital, my wife and I went to Voorhees to watch Ryan & his older brother Richard. When word got to us that Erik was born, we decided to celebrate and allow Richard and Ryan to have a little red wine. While the older Richard cautiously poked at the wine with his finger and lips, the younger Ryan picked up the glass, drank it down, slammed the glass down and let out an emphatic "Ahhhhhhh!!"
At age six, it was discovered that Ryan had an inoperable brain tumor, and at age eight, he was gone. Both of my kids have the middle name Ryan in his honor.
While I’m struggling through the streets of Philadelphia on old and tired stems, I’m sure Ryan will be watching over me and will never be far from my thoughts.
39 days to go…thanks for reading,
Curls

Bad Sneakers and a Pina Colada My Friend

For a few weeks I’ve been having a bit of knee pain after I run. Thankfully, it hasn’t really effected me while running (maybe the last few miles), but afterwards is really when I would start to feel it. After longer runs, I’ve been walking around with a similar stride as my Mom….trust me; this is not a good thing. Also problematic, was the fact that I don’t have hours to sit around and ice my knee down. I’ve read that you should probably change sneakers every three hundred miles or so. I haven’t been keeping track, but I’m sure my present sneakers have well over five hundred miles on them. The cynic in me tends to be a little leery about taking the "replace your sneakers" advice since the people telling me I need to buy new sneakers, are the same people selling me the sneakers. Finally, I got off the wallet & took my boy Hal’s advice: "Practice makes perfect. Practice not only running, but everything else related to race day. That includes equipment. Do you know what shoes you'll wear on race day? Buy a new pair now!" Okay Hal. Message received. I hit The Haddonfield Running Company on Monday for a shiny new pair. Guess what…my knees feel remarkable better and my Mary Alice gait is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

The other item I must address is the Phillies taking the NL East Pennant last night and how I’ll be able to watch playoff baseball for the third year in a row. While I’m beyond thrilled at the prospect of watching the Phillies chase another World Series title, I’m a little concerned about how this will affect my training for the marathon. Late night baseball watching with family and friends while beers are never in short supply just happens to be in direct conflict with marathon training. Due to MLB trying to bleed every cent out of their advertising dollar, many of these games will not start until at least 8:30, while it’s not uncommon for the final out to be recorded well after midnight. In reviewing the first round schedule, it looks as I’m catching a break with relatively short runs or rest days following most Phillies games. We’ll see what happens if the Phils make it to the NLDS, but for now I’m please that I’ll be able to enjoy Phillies fall baseball while not interrupting my training too much.

Fifty one days to go….thanks for reading,
Pat

Verbal

One other thing.
Remember in The Usual Suspects when Verbal Kint leaves the police station at the end of the movie? After limping along for several yards, his leg starts to straighten out and he’s able to walk normally. It just occurred to me….with my sore knee, that’s EXACTLY how I’m walking now. When I stand up, my knee is stiff and painful, but after a few strides, I’m okay. Thankfully, this doesn’t bother me too much while running or I'd be looking for Kobayashi to drag my sorry butt into the Jaguar.
Still fifty eight days to go.
Pat

One Step Beyond

With the onslaught of fall, a few things start to occur around the South Jersey area that I truly love: Cooler weather (although this mornings run was made more difficult due to heat and oppressive humidity), playoff baseball, fall foliage, outside fires, football at any level, comfort food….I could go on & on. The other this that will occur is the training miles required for the Philadelphia Marathon will begin a serious spike up. This Saturday’s training under the Hal Higdon plan will require me to complete 15 miles.
Shouldn’t be a problem, right? After all, I completed 13 miles just a few weeks ago & felt pretty good afterwards. The only cause for concern is one indisputable fact: I’ve never run more than 13 miles in my life.
I’m hoping that every stride after 13.1 miles will carry with it less knee pain & more a sense of accomplishment. Fifty eight days to go.
Thanks for reading,
Pat

PDR or PBR?

Sunday morning one of my favorite runs, The Philadelphia Distance Run will take place. A few of my friends will be running, but I’m going to sit this one out this year. The PRD coincides with my daughter Faith’s birthday, and it’s always difficult to pull of and organizing a children’s birthday party with ice bags strapped to both knees.
It’s supposed to be beautiful weather Sunday morning, so I’ll be thinking of you guys as you make your way through Old City, past The Art Museum & transverse both sides of the Schuylkill River. Before you know it, you’ll be at Boat House Row, and then just up the "hill of pain" to the finish back at The Art Museum.
Good luck to everyone & thanks for reading,
Curls

Lone Wolf

One of several of my motivations for running the Philadelphia Marathon was I knew how fun it would be to toe the line, joke during the many miles & the share the thrill of crossing the finish line again with Rossi, Ron, Kate, Rick, Harry The Hat, Ira & Rob Haney. While my training has been progressing nicely, the camaraderie I was hoping for on November 22 is in serious jeopardy. Registration for The Philadelphia Marathon was topped out at 18,000 & closed last week before many of my friends were able to register. While some of my friends are going to take less than honest methods in order to get on the course, others have decided to sit this one out. Undeterred, and since I signed up in April, I’m pressing forward with my training.
Week 8 is behind me. Thirteen fun filled miles were completed in the early hours Saturday morning. In years past running a half marathon would have put me in the Lay-Z-Boy for several days. However, this time I felt surprisingly good afterwards. The Hal Higdon training schedule really does work. Runs of 3, 7 & 4 miles await me this week, and a fall-back run of 10 miles is coming up this Saturday. After that, things get kinda intense as I’ll be averaging over 30 miles a week cumulating with a 40 mile week right before Halloween. Talk about scary.
Thanks for reading,
Pat

You Talkin' To Me?

Ahh, the cool weather of September has arrived right on schedule. I was able to completely enjoy running three miles this morning while temperatures hovered in the high 50’s. When I made the decision to run The Philadelphia Marathon, one of my main concerns was training in the heat of late July & August. A slight measure of relief is upon me as I know (for the most part) cool runs await me for the remainder of my training.

The mileage is starting to pile up now as I’ll be running 24 miles this week. The Hal Higdon training schedule I’m following offers this nugget of advice for week seven:
"You'll be able to accomplish tomorrow's long run much more successfully if you are rested and ready. This means getting a good night's sleep tonight too. Social considerations aside, you probably don't want to hang out all night at the bars, then be forced to get up the next morning and train hard. What's important in life to you? Make that decision and follow up on it."

It looks like the old boy Hal was may have had Rob Haney, Ira Krassan, Rossi, Ricky Haney, Ron Rossi, Harry "the hat" and me in mind when he penned that paragraph. With football season upon us, I have to make more of a concerted effort to pass up one last beer and the forth quarter of the Tulsa / Tulane game in lieu of a good nights rest.

Thanks for reading,
Pat

The Run For Tony

Today I’m running probably my favorite run of the year, The Run For Tony.
It has all the elements I look for in an organized run: It’s close to home (within three blocks of my house), it’s an easy distance (5K), there’s a post run party & it benefits a good cause. I’m thinking back to the first time I ran this race six years ago & how difficult I thought that running three miles would be, and it was. Now, in my mid-forties, I run this course at least three times a week. If I need to put in six miles, I’ll run it, turn around at Van Sciver School, and run it backwards. Some may find this boring, but for the most part, I enjoy the familiarity of running a course I know by heart. Also, since I’m often up and running before sunrise, I know where just about every divot, pot hole & bump on the road is.
Since I have to pound out five miles today, I’ll have to finish, then turn around & run two miles backwards. I’ll hear the inevitable "You’re going the wrong way!" from my neighbors, which will be fun to hear. My son Gavin is also running with a few of his buddies. I’m hoping his broken wrist & cast won’t slow him down too much. It’s supposed to be around 86 degrees at race time, so I can say with a fair degree of certainty that the post-run beer on the front lawn with my family will be most welcoming.
Thanks for reading,
Pat

Are you ready for some football?!?!

Well, I must take a detour from blogging about running today to "tackle" another topic.
Anybody that knows me is well aware of my fascination (perhaps obsession) with football. I come from a football family. My Dad was a high school football coach and complied a .728 winning percentage on his way to becoming a member of the Haddon Twp High School Hall of Fame, the South Jersey Coaches Football Hall of Fame and New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. For better or worse, my Dad’s games were the centerpiece of each fall for my sisters, my Mom and I. I had the absolute privilege and honor to play football for my Dad’s team at Haddon Twp. in the early 80’s. My son Gavin has played in the Haddon Twp. Hawks youth football program for the last five years while one of his teams went undefeated. To say that Haddon Twp. football and the Curley family have been intertwined since the mid 70’s may be a bit of an understatement. The day my daughter Faith was born, my son Gavin and I had spent the morning watching a Haddon Twp football game. Well, today a new chapter begins between Hawks football and the Curley family as my daughter Faith becomes the first girl to play football for Haddon Twp. Faith (on her own account) has decided she wants to play on the 60 lb. and under team. This is not a flag football or touch league. Faith will be in full helmet and pads on a 100 yard field. My wife Patrice and I have always told our kids that they can do and try anything they want. When Faith approached us to request to play football, her argument was "girls can do anything boys can do." If you know my wife even a little bit, you know this is basically the Gospel According to Patrice. Faith’s team will be compiled of five and six year kids and her coaches (who put the emphasis on having fun) are thrilled to have her on the team. Faith will most likely face a number of challenges this year, but for the most part, I’m sure she’ll enjoy the experience.
Faith, your parents and brother couldn’t love you more or be more proud of you.

Where do I take this pain of mine? I run but it stays right by my side.

Well, I’m through four weeks of my 18 week training program for the Philadelphia Marathon. 96 days to go.
So far, things have been going pretty well. I’ve been up at 5:00 on most running days to avoid running in the mid-day heat. I’ve enjoyed most of my runs, but running in the heat & humidity of an August in South Jersey is starting to get a bit old. Every morning that I’m out running, I notice more & more fallen leaves & I’m counting the days until I’m running on a nice crisp fall day. Most of my runs so far have been between three & seven miles, which is right in my wheelhouse. This past Friday was supposed to be a rest day for me. I didn't run, but I took my kids Gavin & Faith canoing in the Pine Barrens. It was fun, but paddling two kids around Atsion Lake is not what I consider restful. Still, I was up Saturday morning to complete nine sweaty miles & still had enough energy to go canoing again.

This weekend, we'll up the miles to 10, which I will complete at the Livestrong Challenge Philly.

Good luck to Team Margaritaville or Bust runners, riders & walkers.

Thanks for reading,

Pat