on the shore of the ultimate sea

We’re gettin’ down to the nitty-gritty, ladies and gents.

8/25: Hills! The final installment of our torturous hill workouts. 1/4 full, 1/4 half, 1/2 recover x 6. Untimed. Ugly.

Ugh, glad to see these hill exercises go. Yuck.

8/29: 8.5 miles, into Manhattan, summer streets, ~10 min/mi, AM

This was a good, fun, nice run. Into Manhattan, across the Brooklyn Bridge, up the street they had closed off for the Summer Streets program, cab back home. Perfect.

9/1: 5k, 22′18″, improved from 23′09″ on 7/7

This was another 5k test to determine pacing and tempo runs for the remainder of our training. I improved slightly, which is surprising, considering my lack of training. Most improved award goes to Angela, who shaved a whole 4.5 minutes off her last time. What a difference a few months’ dedication makes, eh?

Inputting my time into the McMillan Running Calculator says I should run 7′50″ miles and finish a 13.1 mile event in 1:43:05. I kind of doubt this–all my long runs have been pretty slow. Who knows. I’m not sure if you have to buy Mr. McMillan’s training philosophy or not to get those results. But maybe I can still break the 2-hour barrier out in the Hamptons.

9/3 4.44 miles, 40:51min, 9′09″ miles, AM

I felt shitty this entire morning run. Like I was wearing a suit of my skin that wasn’t quite fitting right. I hoped to slough it off after a mile or two but it stayed on for an entire abbreviated loop of Prospect Park. iPod/headphones steadily pumping out the jams didn’t help. I don’t know.

9/5 9 miles, 96 minutes, 10′40″ miles, AM

Nine miles along the Upper New York Bay, following the greenway under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, through Bay Ridge and towards Coney Island on a beautiful sunny morning. We ran part of the route today along 4th Avenue, a stretch that the NYC Marathon covers in just a few months. Locals accustomed to runners cheered us on, as if this was somehow more meaningful than a run-of-the-mill Saturday training session.

I checked in with Jack to see how his mom was doing, and got good news. (Remember Jane Zhang?)

I’ll let Jack give the news: “We’re done with chemo and about one and a half weeks into a 3-week radiation plan. Spirits are high, her white blood cell counts are back to normal and we’re enjoying the temperate Michigan weather!”

Absolutely fantastic! There’s nothing like a Michigan fall to give you some comfort after a tough round of chemo. Don’t forget, the advanced treatments that cure cancer come about because laboratories receive funding and are able to research new cures. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society works to provide scientists and doctors with grants and education to help the front-line battle blood cancers.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:

Lots of big stars this week as each runner with our team met their $2,800 in minimum fundraising. Thanks to everyone who came out to our bar nights and fundraisers, all the Crain folks who chipped in to the team effort, the Crain Foundation for pumping up each of us in a major way, and, last but not least, Elliot, Jessica and Peter. Thanks so much guys, for your kind words and awesome donations.

We’re in the homestretch, so now’s the time to dig in and hook me up with some dough. Three more weeks. Let’s do it.

Want to help? You should sponsor me here!

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