Do what you can for philanthropy.

I saw this topic in the newspaper. Amy Fisher, who rose to infamy as the Long Island Lolita in the Mary Jo Buttafuco shooting, has decided to become a stripper (I guess her foray into "acting" didn't work out so well). She decided to donate the tips she receives during her local debut (she also seems to have her own gift matching program) to help with the Haiti Earthquake relief efforts.

This is not a review nor an advertisement for the stripping show so you'll have to look elsewhere for that. It is, though, more of a reminder for philanthropy and generally doing good. My wife and I believe in philanthropy. That's a simple sentence but I think that it says a lot. We try our best to help out when we can. Sometimes we can do better than other times but we try to try. I've been successful raising a lot of money for charities (one of the reasons that I've been able to do umpteen events with Team in Training). It doesn't always have to be about money (although that seems to always helps and is often the focus) and sometimes you run the risk that some may try to take advantage of you but the rewards out weighs the risks.

I haven't found the "perfect" charity yet but do have some favorite and unfavorites. Many of you may have favorites and unfavorites too. Leave a comment or send me a mail with your favorites and ones you think should be avoided and why. I'll try to summarize them in a later post even though this is completely unscientific assuming I get enough interest.

Does Amy believe in Haiti relief? I hope so. The Rockstar household will be donating something to help out with the recovery there but we haven't decided which organization could help best yet. It probably won't be an organization that gives stripping lessons though.

PS: Charity Navigator at http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1004 has summarized a list of their top reviewed charities that are targeting Haiti relief. Not an endorsement for Charity Navigator nor any of the charities themselves but more information can't hurt.

A potential waste of education.

I registered to take the USAT Level 1 coaching class scheduled for this April in Baltimore, MD. I hope this 2.5 day lecture based class will provide me with a foundation of knowledge so that I can understand the training process better.

This isn't an inexpensive class. In addition to the tuition and burning a weekend, I have to drive down to Baltimore (about a 4 hour drive) and stay in a local hotel. I have to get a background check done to make sure I am not an ax murderer or the like and after the class I have to complete the final exam and send it in.

In a past life I was one of the cycling coaches for the local Team in Training chapter. Besides learning how to ride slow and for a long time, I learned how to get newbies to the point where they could successfully complete a Century. I still occasionally ride with the team but I haven't coached officially in a while.

So, why take this class at all? Gunna to put your shingle out and become "Coach Rock Star Tri?" The short answer is most likely not.

I don't expect that I can dedicate the time necessary to become the type of coach I would be proud to be but I do expect that I will learn something that will help me in my own athletic adventures. If I could help others from time to time, great, but that isn't the focus. A little bit of knowledge could make me dangerous and I hope this doesn't turn into a complete waste of education (sort of like my MBA).

How much does blood weigh?

My friend Mindyruns decided to organize a blood drive to celebrate her 50th birthday. She thought it would be a great thing to get at least 50 people to donate a pint each and I can't agree with her more. Although I've had disagreements with the blood center policies in the past (that I won't go into here), I decided to help her meet her goal. MrsRockstar and I couldn't make the official donation window so went down to the blood center this morning instead.

While on the table watching the so called fluid of life drip out of me I wondered how much a pint of blood weighs. I realized then I had a scheduling fail as I weighed in earlier that day and should have weighed in AFTER donating blood rather than BEFORE. Next time I'll be smarter (won't be the last time I say this phrase).

Even so the number on the scale was 251.6. This is down 1.6 from last week and I'm thinking a good compass is having the BMI click down at least a tenth every week. This upcoming week will be a challenging one for me. My daughter Courtney's birthday is coincidentally today and the birthday celebrations (read: multiple) for her are already scheduled. Hitting the scheduled workouts might be tough but I need to stay the course to keep on track with training and weight loss (I'm guessing the blood will grow back before I weigh in next time so no help there).

Got to get ready for hosting 20 something tweens for the first of the Courtney celebrations tonight. Happy Birthday, Mindyruns. Happy Birthday, Courtney.

PS: The blood center said we counted as pint 57, 58, and 59 for Mindy. I counted as two, not because I am a rock star but because they hooked me up to a newish machine called Alyx that takes out double of some stuff while it puts other stuff back into you. Sorry for the technobabble.

I got tagged!? 10 things that make me happy.

Anne at Iron Dreams tagged me (Me? Yes, me) to post on 10 things that make me happy. First time I've ever been tagged so please forgive me for not following the proper protocol. So, without further ado, the ten:

1. My wife and girls -  I could probably spend more than 10 things just on this one but I know I wouldn't be the same person if I didn't have them. Something that makes me especially happy is celebrating their successes with them.
2. The feeling when I successfully finish a workout that I initially thought was completely insane and undoable.
3. My coach and the EagleCrew - The sage guide and the buddies who supported me through my first two HIM and continue to expect more out of me since they know I can do more than I know. 
4. The pride I feel during my continued quest for excellence (no, I am not channeling Bill and Ted) in whatever Dude (ok, maybe a little).
5. My friends and extended family. They knew me before I was a rock star and even so still put up with me.
6. Sarcasm and irony - stupid things just crack me up. Most are inappropriate in some context but that's ok, in fact it may be encouraged.
7. Workout toys. I have 4 bicycles (the only one I haven't ridden in the past week is in the shop) with most cycling toys known to man included on at least one of them. Swim toys ( fins, H20 audio, buoys) are taking over the endless pool room (could be considered another toy itself). My latest addition to the toy chest is the Perfect Pushup to help me on the 100 pushup challenge (I've completed the first two weeks twice and will, repeat will break through the 3 week threshold this time).
8. When I do something and later, months or even years, it turns out to be a really smart thing to have been done.
9. Seeing results from hard work. It could be on the scale, on the power meter, on the watch, or as simple as being able to step away from the cookie. And then step away again.
10. Inspiration from the blogerati (see 100 push ups and maybe even this blog post). Comments on posts that make me think and followers that lead as well as follow.

Now official protocol implies I'm supposed to call out 10 people to do also this too but I'm deciding to make this an opt-in activity. Part of this is due to the fact that this "tag" has spread faster than chicken pox in a 2nd grade class so dearest blogerati, followers, lurkers, and even lay people, please do this and publish as you wish. Let me know if you do and we'll see if we can make the opt-in protocol into a "thing." Soon everyone could be doing it and we'll all say it started here. That could make me happy (see number 8). Note if it isn't a "thing" I reserve the right to play it forward and tag the folks under blogs I follow (Look on the right side of the blog. No the other right. There. Got it? Good). Need more of a hint Jeanne, Jess, Scott, John, Mel, Lisa, Missy, Diane, Tom, Amanda, Alison, Mike, Danielle?

Thanks Anne.

Certification in First Aid, CPR, and AED.

Last night I completed a 7 hour, 2 night course in First Aid, CPR and AED offered by the local American Red Cross office. I've taken CPR classes in the past but it has been a long while. I, along with what seems most (there was only one person in the class who didn't take some flavor of this class before), did not go through the re-certification process so had to retake the whole course. I've never done the AED flavor before and the last time I reviewed first aid I was a boy scout. As hard as it may be to believe, I was a crappy boy scout.

Most of the people in the class were doing this to meet a requirement for work or some thing. I've never had this as a work requirement but took it this time (as well as in the past) to prepare for a "just in case" scenario. Of course it would be best for me (and it is all about me after all) if those around me took this class just in case I need help. The likelihood of me needing first aid could be considered low since I already got hit by a car while cycling but lightening (or something like it) could strike again.

This course is painless except for finding the time to take it. It would be best if I never need to use the knowledge in this course but I'm trained just in case.

9+1 = 26.2 ?

For those who aren't aware, one of the ways to get guaranteed entry into the NYC marathon is to, as a New York Road Runner member in good standing, run and finish 9 qualifying races and volunteer for another. This is not for the current year but for the subsequent year. This means if you meet this requirement during 2010, you could be toeing the line of the marathon in 2011.

I did this in 2008 for my entry in 2009 and I was doing this in 2009 to get my entry into 2010 until I got hit by a car. I had 7+1 done but since I couldn't race the marathon in 2009 I was able to defer my 2009 entry to cover the 2010 event.

I can't run now due to my hip injury but I've decided to try to do the 9 this year anyway (maybe I'm insane but I'm still hoping for a quick recovery). I don't expect to be running the marathon in 2011 but plans could change so I want to have an option. I still expect to be doing something of the iron flavor in 2011 but having the 9+1 could give me a choice to do the marathon instead. After I earn entry into the marathon in 2011, I would have a choice to defer to 2012 if I want. This flexibility is good.

Most of these races I use as "C" type of races which are more like supported training runs rather than races. They are timed, of course, and they do provide opportunities to set PRs and the like. They range in distance from 1 mile to beyond a marathon in distance. Some of these are really fun to run too.

I signed up for the first of these races even though I can't run but mainly because it is a fun race. It is on Superbowl Sunday morning and my daughter Amanda wanted to run it. Before the race is a football throwing contest and I fully expect to toss the pig skin before I walk the 4 mile course. Many people (thousands?) will be walking it with me. This race limits out at 5000 participants and it should sell out.

Walking it will still count as one of the nine as long as I finish since there isn't a time limit. No matter how good I may feel I will not run nor jog it. I'll probably be pouting over my weak showing in the football toss but we'll head home to celebrate the football game styling in our Gridiron classic race shirts (unless the Jets pull another rabbit out of their hat and in that case I'll be wearing green and white).

Game on! Literally.

Do the work, then it will be time to show off.

My children are both excellent musicians. This weekend was the Nassau County Music Educators All-County Music Festival. In order to be selected to perform, there is a whole audition process involving the students preparing some psychotic piece to play (and be graded by an independent judge), nomination by their teacher and ultimately selection across all of the schools in the county. Both of my children were selected to the orchestra but in different age groups.

After a week that they had multiple nights of 4 hour rehearsals, two 3 hour concerts (including orchestra, band, jazz band, and chorus) were on the agenda this weekend. Each concert included school administrators getting up to pontificate about how funding for the arts is in jeopardy due to the economy, blah, blah, blah, how music education is important, blah, blah, blah, what a pleasure it was to see the children learn and grow, blah, blah, blah.

What does this have to do with running, racing, and triathlons besides showing that I'm a proud Daddy?

One of the administrators, after his initial words that sounded like every other administrator, broke the speech template and actually said something interesting. He said that the musicians have put in the hard work and now it was time for them to show off.

I plan on using this statement as my mantra for my next race (whenever it may be). That's much better than thinking a race as an exam. Do the work, then it will be time to show off.

Got to hop on the trainer now while I watch the Jets tease the faithful again. Doing the work.

Suck it up.

Thank you for all of the comments on my blog, emails, and phone calls. It means a lot to me.


The other night I was explaining my hip issue to my daughter Courtney. Courtney will turn 12 next week and I wondered how she would handle it. I've tried to instill a desire in my children to always try their best. Others may be better than them at whatever but as long as they try their best, I'd be proud. I'd be proud of them anyway but that's a different slant on this.

So I explained what the doctor said. I explained what the impact will be on my training and my events on the calendar. I tried not to paint a bleak picture but to state the facts as I knew it.

She thought about what I said, waited a moment and then said "Dad, suck it up. That's what you've been doing for the last few years so what has changed? Just do your best." Then she laughed.

I went into this conversation hoping to explain the impact of my injury to her but I think she explained it better to me.

Not the best news.

I went back to the doctor today since the ITB pain in my knee was not getting better with physical therapy and, in fact, was getting worse. My hope was to get some real drugs and potentially a MRI to confirm the diagnosis for the outside of my knee. While I was there I figured that I would have them take a look at my hip and interior knee pain that started up a couple of weeks ago (prehalf marathon) but also seems to be getting worse. There was a screw up with the appointment and the doctor I initially saw wasn't in. I asked if I could see his partner (I don't have any sort of life commitment to a doctor I've seen only once). They hooked me up.

They took xrays of my hip and then he moved my leg into many positions that it wasn't meant to be in. After looking at the xray he said "your running career is closer to the end than the beginning." He didn't seem to care too much about my knee (ITB is ITB) but it was all about the hip. The xray shows I've got arthritis, bone spurs and hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement). He gave me drugs, an exercise routine, and said stop running. Completely.

Gentle bike riding should be OK (he said don't do anything crazy like a spin class or something that is hard). Anything in the pool should be OK. If the drugs work, I can try walking on a flat surface (no hills at all). If not cured, come back in 6 weeks and we'll talk next steps (most likely MRI with contrast and/or pain injections). He said don't plan on running multiple marathons or the like pretty much forever.

As you can imagine, this didn't make me happy.

I moped around for a while but then started thinking (which is always dangerous). I decided to give this no running thing a chance to cure me. I'm going to bump up my weekly swimming sessions and will ride only gently for a few weeks. If that doesn't work, stopping exercise and gaining back the weight aren't options. I've got to figure out what I can do and then do it.

The journey just got a little harder. Time to earn the rock star status. Somebody has to do it so it might as well be me.

Disney Half Marathon Recap.

Almost any recap of last weekend's Disney races has to have the weather as the leading character. Going in I knew that it was supposed to be cold and I thought I packed OK race wear but realized (too late) that I always somehow disregard the impact of rain. Mother Nature released both rain and cold at us in the land formerly known as the sunshine state.

I expected the leading character of this weekend to be my knee pain coupled with my lack of recent training. My last real run was before Thanksgiving meaning that I really haven't had a significant run in over 6 weeks. I thought that my fitness wasn't totally shot but my knee was getting worse. To add insult to injury (pun intended) my hip was starting to hurt too and I thought that was due to the PT making me stretch where no stretch has gone before.  I did find some old magic anti-inflamatories in the back of the medicine cabinet and started taking them a few days beforehand. I also bought a, hopefully magic, ITB strap to help lessen the ITB tension. I would have bought a voodoo doll if it was available as well so, why did I attempt this race at all? One word sums it up: stupidhead.

I originally signed up for the full Disney Marathon via Team in Training. I've done a bunch of events with them. I wanted to do a marathon to prove to myself that I could and my 2009 NYC26.2 dreams had to get deferred once I got hit by a car while riding. To make Disney extra special I figured I could do another event with the Team even though I was training more on my own. They actually wound up hooking me up as they, as the primary charity for this race, were able to switch me from the full to the half. Otherwise I would have been locked into the full and that would have impossible even for a crazy person in my physical state. There was little difference on my doing this race on my own vs. doing it with the team as I didn't partake in any of the TNT festivities and even stayed at my Florida house instead of with the team. (Note we rent this house out for vacations and such so check out the website here if you are interested).

We arrived in central Florida on Friday afternoon and the rain started shortly after our arrival. The weather report called for temps in the thirties and rain throughout the half. Then it was going to dry up and get cold for the full. Oh goody.

After getting hooked up with the right race number at the expo we decided to get an early dinner at a local Olive Garden. What a novel idea as there was a line out the door with marathoners at 5PM. I normally freak out the night before real events so I decided to have a glass of wine to mellow me out and it worked (!) so this has been added to all future prerace rituals. We went to bed early with the clocks set for 2:45 (race directors suggested being onsite before 4AM due to road closures, etc).

I've was trying to figure out what my race strategy should be and figured that I would start and see how it was going. I would "jog" the first 10 minutes, walk a minute of every ten and continue that as long as there was no significant pain beyond the usual. If there was discomfort, I would walk. If there was pain, I would stop. My hope was to run at least a 5k of the half and not get picked up by the sweep vehicle (Disney has a bus that follows the race at 16 minute/mile pace and if it catches you your race is over). I wanted to finish it to get the medal and to "earn" the shirt.

My wife wasn't trying to talk me out of my plan (which was weird). I guess she knew I knew I was a stupidhead and there was nothing that she was going to say to convince me otherwise. When I woke up I had a text from my coach of "you're not going to do anything crazy, riiiiiiigggggggttttt" but doubt was creeping into my head.

We left for the race start and the weather was horrible. The car thermometer said 33 degrees and it was raining. The wind was blowing. We were able to park at Epcot right near the start and decided to stay in the car with the heat on until 4:45AM. That was one of the wisest moves we made all day.

We spent a few minutes in the TNT tent to get out of the rain and now the snow and sleet started. It felt like jellyfish stings on my face. The fashion statement of the day was wearing a black leaf bag as a coat and I was one of the few that could make it look good. The race announcements said that it would take 20 minutes to walk to the race start and I got there just in time for the corral to start moving. They had me in corral "C" which should have been for sub 2:20 runners but somehow I was able to convince them at registration that this was my place too. This was part of my "don't get on the bus" strategy.

The race started in the dark and the crowd started moving. Then everyone started stripping off layers and the wind was blowing the garbage bags around. They were incredibly slippery and I'm surprised that I didn't see anyone go down. I ran my 10 minutes and then stripped off the garbage bag. Some of the race course was narrow and with almost 20,000 runners it got tight. I ran another 9 and then stripped off a fleece that I expected to throw away anyway (note that Disney said they were collecting the clothes discarded and would donate them to some charity). I then got into somewhat of a rhythm but I kept going too fast. I wanted to run about 12:00/mile to make sure I was jogging but the Garmin kept showing me as sub11:00 during the run portions (once I even saw sub 10:00). Normally I would be looking for a quicker pace but I didn't want to blow myself up with a quick pace.

But overall I felt OK. I started getting tired after about an hour and I was then coming up to the Magic Kingdom. The excitement of the crowds got me to run through  the park and just past the 10K mark my body started aching so I decided to walk a bit. I was happy. I exceeded my expectations. I was in no danger of being picked up by the bus but now I had to get back to Epcot. The sun was just coming up.

After walking about 5 minutes I decided to give a walk one, jog four minute deal a try. I would break it up at every water or nutrition stop (note that frozen gels have the consistency of a tootsie roll) and was feeling better.

Then stupidhead hit again. I did this race 2 years ago and did a 2:53 with a lot of walking. If I could beat that time it would be great. I started picking up the pace. Then I figured if I really pushed it I might break 2:40. I didn't, finishing just under 2:43, but my last 5k was my fastest split. Go figure. I finished strong.

Then reality hit. I went right to the medical tent to get ice for my knee. I found my wife and gave her a kiss. I wasn't feeling excess pain but my muscles did know that they did something. Overall I was in better shape than I hoped for beforehand.

Sunday I cheered on some friends doing the full. It was even colder (mid 20s) and the wind kept up. They had a hard day but got it done. Good job guys. It gave me an appreciation for how this is and my wife does it a lot.

I had a few post race thoughts:

• My wife is very smart. She knew I was a stupidhead and she knew I knew she knew. Even so, she did everything she could to help me get over my insanity.
• My fitness over the past few years has improved dramatically. I almost set a PR for a half marathon without adequate training. Imagine what I could do when healthy and properly trained?
• I used to think that people doing the Goofy were nuts. Now I started thinking about when I could schedule it. Maybe I'm nuts but it looks like it won't be for a while (2013?)
• My Garmin got screwed up and I couldn't download the data. I spent 2 hours on the phone with tech support before we gave up and had to reset it, losing the data forever. I got my spilts from the official race result website.
• It is past time to get my physically fixed. Enough is enough. Next big race is early April.