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

Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start

Training officially started today. I was up at 5:00 & ready to go. The pouring rain told me to head back to bed though. An auspicious start to my training to say the least.

Luckily, the rain lifted by mid-morning & I was able to get in my three miles at lunch. I’m sure the running will become tedious over the next 18 weeks, but right now I’m fired up to be starting.

I’m looking forward to hitting the road tomorrow morning. Will I be able to complete the training over the next 123 days & finish the Philadelphia Marathon? I’m not sure, but I’ll give it my all, plus:
I have confidence in sunshine

I have confidence in rain

I have confidence that spring will come again

Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

Red

The 18 week plan I’m following for the Philadelphia Marathon starts on Tuesday. I think Red summed up my current feelings:

"I find I am so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain..."

Summer Reading

I was asked to put together a list of some of my favorite books for my niece & sometime running partner Marie.
I can’t remember the last time I read fiction, but if you like non-fiction & biographies, I feel very strongly in recommending the following for your summer reading:

Left To Tell, Immaculee Ilibagiza – Incredible story of a women surviving the Rwandan genocide in 1994. If you read one book off this list, make it this one.

Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah – Amazing story of a boy being forced to fight & flee the Sierra Leone civil war.

An Ordinary Man, Paul Rusesabagina – An autobiography of the man portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda.

The Game of My Life, Jason McElwain – The story of an autistic high school basketball manager who gets his chance to play in a game, and makes the most of it.

Outcasts United, Warren St. John – A Jordanian woman struggles to keep a youth soccer program in South Carolina comprised solely of refugees.

Led By Faith, Immaculee Ilibagiza – Immaculee’s continuing story after surviving the Rwandan genocide.

A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson – Humorous tale of a two buddies trying to walk the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

The Secret Man, Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein – The story of Mark Felt, Watergates Deep Throat.

Boots on the Ground Before Dusk, Mary Tillman – Mary Tillman’s story & tribute to her son, former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman after he was killed in action in Afghanistan.

28 Stories of Aids in Africa, Stephanie Nolen – 28 different stories of how AIDS effects people in Africa.

Lastly, as this is supposed to be a blog about runing, I'd recommend Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall.

Thanks for reading,
Pat

Voodoo Economics

One of the best things I like about running is that just about anybody can do it. Grab a pair of halfway decent sneakers, a pair of shorts, an old comfy t-shirt, a walkman & you’re ready to go. That’s it. It’s economically feasible for most people. If I had developed an interest in scuba diving, skiing, ice hockey or horse riding at a young age, I’m sure my parents would have wanted to encourage me to pursue these sports, but wouldn’t be able to due to the money required to participate. Even the learn to sail lessons at the Cooper River Yacht Club were out of the financial grasp of a full time football coach and part time guidance counselor with six kids. With running, there’s also no need to travel to a rink, court, course or what have you. Step out your front door, and you’re ready to go. All of the organized runs I do cost money to participate. However, since most are for a good cause (Run for Tony, Larc School Bridge Run, ect.) these fees are tax deductable at the end of the year. With time & money short on many peoples list, it’s no wonder that these runs are getting more participants and raising more money for good causes.

I’m off to Long Beach Island for a week of vacation. I’m hoping to run just about every morning, and looking forward to a change of scenery during these runs.

Thanks for reading,

Pat