Three years ago yesterday, November 29, 2009 I strapped on a new pair of running shoes and started running to train for the 2010 ING Miami Half Marathon. Since then, I have never stopped running and training and I have even added triathlon to the mix along the way. Running and triathlon (endurance racing I guess would be the collective noun) have become my fun time, my outlet, my therapy, my health plan, my me time, my meditation, and along with all that it has become a never ending quest to find out what this mind and body working together are capable of - and then surpassing it. I have been chronicling this quest on Facebook and I figured it was time to start a new online place where I could go into more detail than you can or even should on a general platform like Facebook.
So here is where I can discuss racing, goals, PR's, shoes, training, stretching, triathlons, cross training, yoga, nutrition, and all that fun stuff, for myself and anyone else who may be interested.
The title comes from what my two sons said when they saw me finishing my first half marathon, the 2010 ING Miami Half Marathon -- "Daddy running!" They are still big fans and I love to set this example for them.
After conquering the half marathon in January 2010, I kept running road races at the 5K, 10K and half marathon distances, and went on to do my first marathon (the same race as my first Half Marathon, the ING Miami Marathon) in January 2011. I've now done three full marathons, ten half marathons, six 10Ks and nineteen 5Ks for a total of thirty-eight running races.
In the spring of 2011, just after my birthday, I bought a road bike and started training for triathlons. In 2011 I raced six triathlons, beginning with my first sprint triathlon in June 2011, my first International (Olympic) triathlon in August 2011, and my first Half Iron (70.3 miles) in November. In 2012, I did nine more - six Olympics and three Half Ironman triathlons.
This month, I signed up for my first full Ironman Triathlon - Ironman Florida on November 2, 2013. Thus beginning my "Iron Year" and the next major challenge I've set for myself in this quest of self discovery by means of pushing the limits of my endurance. I will publish a separate post about this Iron Year. That year is now well underway - it is now 336 days until the big day. Between now and then I will train up for and race the ING Miami Marathon for the third time in January 2013, and then take on the heat and hills of Ironman 70.3 Florida again in May. Then, come summer, it's Ironman training through November.
Running and triathlon have gotten me in the best shape of my life, helped me handle and manage my stressful job, has introduced me to some great friends who share a positive and healthy pastime with me, and most importantly, it has taught me how much toughness I have inside and how I can accomplish anything I set out to do if I commit to a goal, carefully plan how to accomplish it, and put in the work.
After conquering the half marathon in January 2010, I kept running road races at the 5K, 10K and half marathon distances, and went on to do my first marathon (the same race as my first Half Marathon, the ING Miami Marathon) in January 2011. I've now done three full marathons, ten half marathons, six 10Ks and nineteen 5Ks for a total of thirty-eight running races.
In the spring of 2011, just after my birthday, I bought a road bike and started training for triathlons. In 2011 I raced six triathlons, beginning with my first sprint triathlon in June 2011, my first International (Olympic) triathlon in August 2011, and my first Half Iron (70.3 miles) in November. In 2012, I did nine more - six Olympics and three Half Ironman triathlons.
This month, I signed up for my first full Ironman Triathlon - Ironman Florida on November 2, 2013. Thus beginning my "Iron Year" and the next major challenge I've set for myself in this quest of self discovery by means of pushing the limits of my endurance. I will publish a separate post about this Iron Year. That year is now well underway - it is now 336 days until the big day. Between now and then I will train up for and race the ING Miami Marathon for the third time in January 2013, and then take on the heat and hills of Ironman 70.3 Florida again in May. Then, come summer, it's Ironman training through November.
Running and triathlon have gotten me in the best shape of my life, helped me handle and manage my stressful job, has introduced me to some great friends who share a positive and healthy pastime with me, and most importantly, it has taught me how much toughness I have inside and how I can accomplish anything I set out to do if I commit to a goal, carefully plan how to accomplish it, and put in the work.
