The POLICE w/ Elvis Costello & the Imposters

Here are a few pics of The POLICE concert from Tuesday nite.
Great show, shame that this is the end.
We got in to see the last few songs from Elvis Costello, and where lucky enough to walk in to see Sting join Elvis onstage, singing "Allison".
The POLICE came on stage about 8:50, and went right into Message in a Bottle. From there on out, it was back to 1984, as they ripped thru a set heavy on the hits.
It was a quick show, over by 10:30pm.
Hopefully they'll reconsider, and continue on, but the way they played "Can't Stand Losing You", and their body language, you could say they were telling the story of the end of the band

It was a great nite, and if it is indeed the last time I will see them together on stage, I'm glad I was there!

Running and The Police!

Most criminals & people run from the police, I on the other hand run BEFORE The Police!

The wife and I have tickets to see my all-time favorite band, for the "last" time, The Police.

Sure many bands have said "last tour", but something tells me, this will be in fact the last tour they do together. Sting rules the roost, and what he has said, is this is it.
So, we'll be in Philly, 6th row in front of Andy, for the concert.

The above picture I took, when they played Citizen's Bank Park last July.
I've had the tickets since last November, when they were to play Philly, but Sting came down with a cold, and they cancelled.

Sooo, with a concert tonite, I need to run 6 miles this afternoon, before the concert.

What happened to the days of tailgating, drinking your ass off for hours beforehand, and heading in, all F'd up?

Hmm... maybe 2 boys, 2 homes and 2 mortgages?

Weekend Runs on the 6's & 7's.

Well, I got my runs in early both Saturday & Sunday. It was a busy but fun weekend.
Saturday started out with the alarm going off at 6:00am , so I could get out and do my scheduled 4 mile run. We needed to be on the road to Wildwood by 8:00am, and anyone with young kids, know how hard it is to keep on schedule.
I wanted to be down before our renters were leaving. More about that in a bit.
It was nice to actually feel a "chill in the air". It was 60deg at 6:00am, Saturday. I felt good, even after eating a bit to much Carvel ice cream cake the nite before. It was an easy run, 4.2 miles, in 35:48 (8:36/mile).
When I finished, I was telling my wife, it seemed like it was over really quick. I guess that the benefit of running longer distances.
We did get out of the house and on the road, a little after 8:00am. The family that was staying at our house, left around 9:30am, so we ended up missing them.
The traffic was heavy on the good ole Garden State Parkway, but in the end, we were on the beach, after the traffic & house cleaning by 1:00pm.
It was a nice to be on the beach with the wife & boys. The boys sure love the beach, but what kid doesn't? Dig a big hole, jump a few waves, and Ice Cream!
There was a 4 mile run that nite, in North Wildwood, the Sandblast Beach Run.
It started at 7:00pm, and ran from 16th St in North Wildwood, to the Fishing Pier in the Crest, and back, right along the ocean.
I watched some of the race,and maybe next year, I'll give it a go.



Sunday is my long run day. I had mapped out a 10 mile out and back run. My run took me back onto part of the Ocean Drive Marathon /10 miler course I did back in the end of March.
I got up at 6:30am , and was out the door before 7:00am.
Again, I sound like a broken record, but what great weather to run in! It was 65deg, with a south west breeze. A big difference from the nasty north eastern 20-25mph headwind I ran the entire time in the 10 miler back in March.
What was nice about the run today, was I worked in 2 hills. As you leave Lower Twp, you have to run over 2 bridges, to get to Cape May.
I am really not good at hills, so I have accepted the challenge, knowing that I need to run hills, in my marathon training.
I did pass by a few runners, but the cyclists where out in full force.
What I did notice that it was every type of person biking.
There was the competitive bikers, flying along Ocean Drive. The Russian kids, going to the fisheries, to work. Even the retirees, out for a Sunday bike ride into Cape May.
I stopped in a WaWa, on my way back, to grab a water. It was at about the 7 mile mark. The lines to check out where outta control, so I just handed the cashier a buck, and out the door I went.
There wasn't many people out and about in Wildwood Crest, when I left just before 7:00am, but what a difference an hour and a half make. The sleepy little shore town was waking up.
My run ended up at just over 10 miles, at 10.22. I felt good the entire run, and finished the 10.22 miles in 1:36:21 (9:26/mile).
Next Sunday, I need to add 2 miles to my run, and that will be the 1st time I've gone longer than 10 miles...... ever!
One week down, and 18 to go! Is it November yet?

Thursday's uneventful last run as a 41yr old.

Well, after a busy day at work, followed by food shopping at the Acme, I had to get my 6 mile run in.

I'll tell you, running in the rain was fun yesterday, but today, running in low humidity & a light breeze, it was near perfect!

I had a route saved in my runner's world online training log, that I was thinking of running, but it was short of the 6 miles that is on my training plan for Thursday's. I decided to add a short loop at the end.

There was a bunch of runner's out and about tonite. I must have passed about 1/2 a dozen.

Now when I run past other runners, I usually give a nod, or at least acknowledge the other runner. Most times it'll be a quick hand wave, but today, I guess the runners I passed either where fighting with their boss or spouse, because not one reciprocated my acknowledgement of them. Oh well, their loss. I for one, always take the second to show a little brotherly love to my fellow runners.

Well, again, sounds old, but I felt great running. My wind is fine, legs are the 1st to feel the pain.

Guess that will improve the more training I do.

I did get acquainted with an old friend today. With the downpour I ran in yesterday, I gave my Kayano 14's the nite off, to continue to dry out, and dusted off my old Kayano 13's. I have read on the discussion board, at http://www.runnersworld.com/, that you should rotate your shoes, and shouldn't run in the same pair on consecutive days. I don't know how true that statement is, but I did want to make sure my 14's were completely dry.

Well, I added on almost a full mile to the end of my run. I ended up running 6.63 miles in 56:17 (8:30/mile).
I am looking forward to taking Friday off. Not only is it a scheduled day off of running, but a certain marathon trainee turns 42.

Merry Christmas in July!

I don't think the heavy stuff will come down for a while

"You better come in until this blows over.
So what do you think?
I'd keep playing. I don't think the heavy stuff will come down for a while.
You're right. Anyway, the good Lord would never disrupt... the greatest game of my life"

Ahh a quote from the classic movie Caddyshack, where Carl Spakler is caddying for The Bishop in a downpour.
I was heading out the door for my 8 mile run around 4:30pm, and asked my wife if she thought I would beat the rain. Well, her answer was close to Carl's.
Well, the run started out great. The humidity that has been hanging around for the past week, was gone. It was 75deg, when I headed out, and overcast.
The first 3 miles went by quickly. My legs felt good, even after putting in 6+ miles yesterday.
As I headed into the park, by the 4th mile, you could see it getting darker, and the thunder & lightning were all around me.
As I got around the marina, it started to sprinkle, and a few minutes later, all hell broke loose.
I was 1/2 way thru my run, in the middle of the park, in a hard downpour. Man, I haven't ran in weather like this, in I couldn't tell you how long. Not to mention, being in an open area like that, it was a bit unnerving, with the lighting seeming really close.
My shoes were so soaked, I could hear them squishing on the pavement.
I caught a break in the weather,as I left the park, it pretty much had stopped raining.
I had on one of my new running shirts, a Nike tank I had just picked up at Dick's earlier in the week. Let me give this shirt a big thumbs up! The tank was soaked to my body, so I took it off, wrung it out, and after that, it was as if I had put on a brand new "dry" shirt.
It started raining again for the last mile, but I was home free by then.
All in all, it was a really good run. It was nice to run without the humidity!
Here are the stats:
8.12 miles 1:14:25 (9:10/ mile)
Tomorrow I have to figure a way to get in a 6 mile run. I have a busy day, somehow I have to figure it out.

You know you're in training when...

Tonite was the run to swim class. The mileage from our house to swim is just about 5 miles.
I have added on mileage last week, to push it to 5.8 miles.
Well now that I'm into the start of the 18 week journey to Philly, I have to run 6 miles on Tuesdays. In order to do this, I mapped out a route that took me further away, kinda running north to go south, if you will.
This is something that I never would have thought to do. I mean really, who runs away from a destination? The quickest way to a point is how we live today. Gotta do everything on hyperdrive.
Well, I'm learning that slow & long is how I'll make it 26.2 miles in Nov. To get to that destination, I have to put in the mileage.
My oldest son asked me why I have to run all the time. I explained to him that this is my
practice, to be able to run a marathon, like when he has soccer or baseball practice, running is mine. He answered with "it's just like swim class is teaching me to swim ".
He's a cool 6yr old. It always amazes me some of the things he comes up with.
Well, he did great at his lesson, minus his brother, who's got a summer cold.
I did my run, it the 90deg, 90% humidity, as is becoming the norm.
I thought I might be running in the rain tonite, as it started to drizzle as soon as I left.
Well, that was all their was,as I hit the 1 mile mark, the sun was back out. What's nice about this run is the gradual uphill the last 2 miles.
I felt good and did the 6.55 miles in 57:26 (8:47/ mile).
As much as we need rain around here, I hope it holds out for my run tomorrow.

Weekend Runs

This is how my weekend started, on the Atlantic City Expressway, at 7:30am Saturday, in the fog, headed to Wildwood.

I arrived in Wildwood by 8:30am, and decided to run on the beach, and hit the boardwalk on the way back. The fog was also on the beach, as you couldn't see Morey's Piers.

It was nice to run on the beach. I haven't done that since last summer. Running on the beach, you can sure tell, that you are using your legs more so than just running on asphalt.

The temperature was perfect at the shore, unlike back home. It was 72, with a nice ocean breeze.

I ran 4.02 miles in 35:47 (8:55 mile).

Up next.. 10 miles.. maybe...

Well, I got the somewhat early start I need on Sunday. I was out of the house at 7:15am.

It was already 77degs, and humid as hell!

When I got up, I threw a water bottle in the freezer, for the run. I also packed one of my Hammer Nutrition sample gels, banana flavor.

I had a route all mapped out, that had me passing Mercer County Park, and running thru part of Robbinsville, and weaving my way back home.

Well, as luck in this heat would have it, I missed a right turn. With missing the turn, I was hoping that I wouldn't fall under 10 miles.

The heat and humidity the past week here is oppressive, and today,you could feel the heat coming off the road, and it's wasn't even 8:00am! It was a struggle from about the 1/2 point on. I was glad that I brought a bottle of water along.

I did pass a few runners & bikers out to torture themselves in the heat with me.

It was a tough run., and I was glad when it was over!

My mistake only cost me 1/10 of a mile. The original run was 10.3 miles & I ran 10.2 miles.

My time: 1:38:48 (9:43/mile).

FYI.. my son checked the temperature when I got home, and it was up to 86.

Well, Monday is an off day, and I am off into my 18 week training schedule.

3 H's at 3 O'Clock, for 5 !

It was Hazy,Hot & Humid, 90+ deg, at 3:00pm, so I decide this is a good time to run 5 miles!

Today, I made sure to drink plenty of fluids during the day, knowing that I was going to run sometime after 3:00pm. I had my usual lunch, no cheeseburger and fries today.

Let me tell ya, it's tough to run in the 3 H's! I went to Veteran's Park, and ran the Hamilton Hangover 5 mile course. I figured if I was going to run in this heat & humidity, I should run where I will have a bunch of shade. Portions of the course run thru woods. Nothing better than trail running.
Veteran's Park has an unusual portion in a wooded area. They have a "boardwalk". It runs through part of the woods that is swampy. It's pretty dry right now.
Last fall / early winter, a tree fell on part of the boardwalk, busting it up pretty good, so they had to take this part out of the race, and change the course up.
With heat, there wasn't many kids at the playground. There wasn't many people in the park, except the tennis courts at the Kuser Road entrance. They are always packed.
I felt good during the run. I didn't push it too hard, except for the one long uphill.
Today's run was 5 miles in 43:51 (8:47/mile).

Next up.. My Saturday run in Wildwood. I might mix it up, and run the boardwalk from the Crest to North Wildwood, and run the beach back.

I'll have a Cheesburger, Fries, Coke & a 5k !

Well, today I forgot to pack a lunch. I usually have a turkey & provolone on wheat, with fresh lettuce from our garden, for lunch.
NOT TODAY!
I was out seeing customers with a our lighting quote mgr., so with no lunch packed, we hit a Bennigan's for lunch.
I tried to be good, really I did. I had the best of intentions.. grilled chicken w/ salad was looking good, until I flipped the menu to the Burgers!
In a moment of weakness, I ordered the damn burger, and coke, knowing darn well, I was going to run later this afternoon!
Oh well, it was a decent burger, for a chain restaurant.
I will say that I think it things like this that could be tougher than some of the training runs I will do for the marathon.
I still am 2 weeks away from training, and since I don't usually run on Wednesday's, I decided to start. I ran the 5k course in Veteran's Park, the Fabulous Feet run.
I did it in 28:03 (9:02/mile).
I can guarantee tomorrow I won't have a burger & fries for lunch!

Run to Swim my new Tuesday tradition.

Tonite my 2 boys had their swim lessons, so I decided to Run to Swim again.
I made sure to leave early enough, so I would be waiting for them, when they arrived.
With my marathon training starting in a few weeks, I have started to add mileage to my runs.
I have this run up to 5.8 miles, and during my training, I'll have to get this Tuesday run over 6 miles. It shouldn't be a problem to add. I'll just add a bit at the start.
I felt really good running tonite. It was nice to not have to deal with the humidity!
According to all the weather reports, it'll be back on Thursday.
I made sure to eat an earlier dinner, and drank plenty of water during the day. I felt like I had the bladder of a 80yr old, with how much I went this afternoon.
Well, I ran the 5.8 miles in 48:56 (8:27/mile). It was a comfortable pace. I seem to feel it in the legs, but my wind is not a problem.
What I need to do, is get better at stretching before a run. I am bad, no make it terrible at that. It's usually, throw on the shoes, stretch the hamstrings out a bit, and take off. That is something I will have to improve on, or I'll probably end up hurting myself.

Phanatic, Fireworks, Wildwood & Sunday - Longday!

What a busy weekend.

My father in law got 4 tickets to the Phils vs Diamondbacks game for this past Friday nite, which was also FIREWORKS nite! So my wife & I took our 6yr old & Pop-Pop to the game.

I had to be up at 6:00am to head to Wildwood Saturday morning, & Pop-Pop was up at 5:30 to go fishing.

So, what time do you think we get home? A 7:05 game should be done between 9:30 - 10:00pm, figure another 1/2 hr for the fireworks, and we live about 45mins. from Philly, we should be home and in bed no later than, oh 11:30.

WRONG!

Don't you know the game goes 12 innings! Good thing the Phils won!

By the time the game & fireworks were over, we finally got home about 12:45am.

The Phils had 2 fireworks nites this past week, and I read that they spent $72,000.00 on fireworks that were to last 18mins each. They were some of the best fireworks I have seen in a long time.

I have to give my son major props, he lasted the entire time. I never would have thought he would have lasted 12 innings + fireworks. Nice job E !

Well, by the time I fell asleep, It had to be close to 1:30am. Alarm rings at 6:00am, and I rolled over.

I got up and on the road to Wildwood about 6:40.

Did I happen to mention that our female beagle, Samantha, wanted to go out at 4:30! She never gets up at nite, so figures it would be this nite.(reminds me of Shoreturtle's "alarmcat").

I was told around the time we bought our place in Wildwood, that you buy a shore home for everyone else but yourself. Sure does seem like that sometimes.

I hit the boards for a run by 9:00am. As tired as I felt, late nite, 2hr drive, nothing beats the shore to perk you up. It was either the salt air, or maybe the Amp I drank on the way down.

The boards were alive with the vacationers, biking, walking, running, and checking out the weekend craft show.
I felt really good running, and did the boardwalk, 3.77 miles in 30:40 (8:15/mile). Then it was off to clean the house, see the current renter's out, and get ready for the next ones.

On Sunday, I got a later start than I would have liked for my long run. I liked getting out of the house by 7:00am, the past few weeks, but considering my lack of sleep Friday nite, and busy Saturday, I didn't get out the door until almost 9:00am.

I wanted to run 9+ miles today, but I just didn't have the legs. I ran thru Mercer County Park, and the park was buzzing with a huge lacrosse tournament.

It's amazing how many activities go on there each weekend.

My goal was long and slow, needing to build up my base for my upcoming marathon training.

I felt pretty good, until about the 6 or 7th miles.

It was starting to warm up quickly & you could feel the humidity building.

I ended the run at 8.39 miles 1:18:20 (9:21/mile).

While I was disappointed in myself for cutting the run a bit short, I have to look at the positives of the run.

It was my longest run so far, and I was around the pace I want to run.

Next Sunday I'll make up for my lost mile, and hit double digits!

RWJ Strides for Strokes 5K

Last nite was the RWJ Strides for Strokes 5k, or as my oldest son calls it, the "Pizza Run". One of our local pizza joints has been a sponsor of the run for years, and drops off pizza, my best guess maybe 100 plain, after the race for the runners & their families.
It was a decent nite, and the humidity that has been with us for the better part of a week, subsided. I've run this race in the past in oppressive July heat & humidity.
I finally broke thru the 24min mark! I've run 3 other 5k's this season, and hovered just over the 24min.
I was surprised at my 1st mile time, as I was stuck back in foot traffic for about a 1/2 mile. When I hit the 1st mile mark, I was 7:09. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with a nice downhill. I thought that I had taken it easy for the start, because I have the tendency to start fast, and pay for it at the end. I stayed true to form!
The 2nd mile included a nice uphill (the same one I had the cop behind me last week). At the 2nd mile, I was at 15:09 (8:00/mile). I knew that would be slower, though I tried my best to attack the hill portion. I felt I did better on this stretch than in the past. I have faded big time on the hill, getting passed by numerous runners, but this time it was me doing the passing! That is a great feeling. Nice to be the hunter, instead of the hunted.
The last 1.1 miles included a large downhill and an immediate uphill along the lake. I have as much trouble with steep downhills, as I do going uphill. I ran the final 1.1 miles in 8:13, for my best time in a 5k at 23:22.
I was telling my wife when we got home, and I checked the site for my exact time, that I am running better today, weeks shy of 42, than I did in my mid 30's.
I finally met Shoreturtle (Charlie) http://www.shoreturtle.com/blog/ .What a great guy. He had offered to pace me to break the 24min barrier. I didn't take him up on the offer, but I knew if I kept him in my sights during the run, I would accomplish that goal. Charlie finish a minute and change ahead of me at 22:10.
Charlie also introduce me to a running buddy of his, Bill & a blogger called Traveling Belgian http://thetravelingbelgian.blogspot.com/, I believe her name was Ann.
Bill, I found out, lives in the neighborhood across from me.
It's great to meet new people at these runs, and very accomplished runners, who you can push you to improve. That's one thing I've noticed, running alone, in a group atmosphere, you tend to push yourself more, than just doing it alone. I will definitely be taking Charlie up on his offer to do some long training runs together, when I get into my marathon training.
After the race, man my oldest son put away 3 slices of pizza, on top of eating a good dinner. Anyone who has kids, knows how picky they can be about eating, or not eating. He plowed thru the pizza, and wanted to stop at Carvel for ice cream on the way home!
It was great to have the wife & boys at this run. They are great at cheering myself and the other runners on.
If you live close by, I highly recommend you add this run to your to do list. It's a great time, with great pizza, and for a great cause!

Secrets of WILDWOOD !

In today's edition of the Philadelphia Daily News, they have a special pullout section, "Secrets of Wildwood".
For those who don't know about Wildwood, it's was voted the #1 beach in NJ. It's biggest claim to fame are the huge FREE beaches, the 2 mile long boardwalk, and the Doo-Wop architecture.
If you have kids, it's the Six flags or Disney of beach resorts.

Here is a link to the articles:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/hot_topics/24174084.html

In the fall of 2005, I took a line from Tom Cruise in the classic movie RISKY BUSINESS, and said "What the "F", and go for it". We bought a place in Wildwood. We rent it on a weekly basis during the summer, and you can check it out in my links.
Our place reminds us of the kind of shore house our parents rented for us, when we were kids. It has some of the modern qualities we enjoy today, but it has that old school shorehouse feel. Very warm and cozy, unlike the modern townhouses that are going up everywhere.
We love it, and most importantly our boys LOVE IT!
So, my advice, take a trip downashore to WILDWOOD, you won't regret it!

5.21miles after dinner

After dinner tonite, our boys had their 1st swim lessons of the season. I knew the mileage was 5.21 miles to the class (thank you Runner's World online training log), so should I run to the class or afterwards?
Well, I decided to run to the class. I don't know what I was thinking, as I only left 1/2hour ahead of the wife & boys. For some reason I was thinking it was only 4 miles, but I knew it was 5+. Guess I was having a "senior moment". Well, I was a bit late. I realized my mistake about 3 miles into the run, as I realized how much further I had to go.
All in all, it was a bit of a struggle, as I should have run after the class. It was too soon after eating to run, especially in the humid weather.
The boys did great in their class, and I did the 5.21 miles in 44:50 (8:37/mile).
One thing I noticed about my runs, they are consistently between 8:30 - 8:45/ mile pace.
I'll throw this question out there to the seasoned marathon runners:
Is this a good thing? Should I start to add tempo runs? I'm still a few weeks away from starting my 18 week journey to Philly.
I have decided on a marathon training plan, and will post it in soon.

7.9 on the 5th

Hope everyone had a great 4th. Our township had our local fireworks on the 3rd, so we lucked out with the weather.
When I got up on Saturday, I checked my emails, and missed a chance to run with Shoreturtle (Charlie) & his buds from the Trenton Runs Club. They where to meet at Washington Crossings Park, around 7:30am, hope they had a good run.
I went out and did a 7.9 mile run from our house to Mercer County Park, and back.
MCP, was getting ready for their big "Freedom Fest" activities. They had a great lineup of bands, and of course FIREWORKS! One of the bands that where scheduled to play, where The NERDS. If you ever get the chance to see them, do it! They put on a heck of a show. Our neighbor was having a party, otherwise, we would have taken the boys to see them.
Anyway.. I ran the 7.9 miles in 1:09:26 (8:48/mile). It was a good morning run, with only a few sprinkles.
Today, the 6th, I got up and did an early run before the wife & boys got up. I ran 5.76miles in 48:29 (8:26/mile).
That's back to back early morning runs. Maybe I am becoming a morning runner??!!

Get off the Soapbox!

I went to Veteran's Park to do the Hamilton Hangover 5 mile course.

The park was loaded with workers getting it ready for the concert & fireworks scheduled for the 3rd.

Well, it was a pretty uneventful run, that was until I hit the 4mile mark ,and headed into the woods. This is the same woods, that I ran in the Fab Feat 5k, on Sunday.

Now for those who have never been to the park, I'll try and explain this short, say 1/4 mile wooded, hilly path. It's about 10 feet wide, paved asphalt. Wide enough for runners, walkers & bikers to share and pass comfortably. It can fit a car/truck, alone. I know the township plows & sands this path during the winter.

Well, I guess I was about 1/2 way thru this part, and I heard a car coming up from behind. Very odd for a park, but I just figured it was the township workers. WRONG! It was the POLICE.

The cop couldn't wait another minute, for me to finish the woods, get to the top, where the area opens up, and connects with another path to the lake. Nope this cop had to lay on his horn, making me to stop running, get off the path into the woods a bit, and allow him to pass. He took off like he was driving a NASCAR road course. He wasn't headed to any "emergency". His lights weren't on, he was just in a rush, using his "power", to get from point A to point B quicker.

A township pick-up also had to move for this guy. I think his actions where unacceptable. He could have allowed me to get to the top, where he would have had plenty of room to pass me, I had maybe 20 seconds until the hill was over. I had a biker pass me the opposite way, after the cop went by, and he just shook his head at me, because he also had to move.

OK, since I'm on my soapbox.. people who walk their dogs, need to keep their dogs a bit closer to them, when other people are around. Whenever I walk my dogs, if I am passing folks out for a stroll, I will shorten their leash, until they pass. Not the owners of the dogs out for a walk today in the park.

I'm a dog lover, but I don't need dogs nipping at my ankles, as I run by.

Alright enough of the complaining.. I ran the 5miles in 42:50 (8:34/mile). I felt good, and that's the most important part.