You Know You're Running In 5 Degree Weather When...

...the sweat on your eyebrows and in your hair freezes and turns into icicles.

I looked like I was going skiing this morning vs. running. I wasn't able to get a picture of myself but I basically looked like this...

Today was my 3rd group run since the last time I posted anything. This was BY FAR the coldest day of any of our runs. When I got out of the car to start running the outside temperature said 3 degrees. It was even too cold to wear my iPod. The second I took it out of the car the wire to my headphones froze up and were so stiff that I couldn't even get them on.

At the end of the run our team coach told us that he almost thought about canceling the run after about a 1/2 mile but we stuck with it and all finished. I ended up running 14 miles today. By far the longest I've ever run.

Besides being very cold I'm am holding up and feeling well. I also received in the mail the Children's Hospital Running Bib that everyone will wear during the race. It looks like what the guy is wearing below. It's obviously very colorful so anyone that comes to watch me run should have no problem picking me out of a crowd.

I'm over the 1/2 way mark to 26 miles and getting pumped up for the Marathon. Thanks for everyone that has supported me throughout all my training...especially my wife and two girls that put up with me and are my biggest supporters.

First Group Run

This picture sums up my run yesterday.

Every Saturday the Miles For Miracles team meets for group runs. I was able to join the team this weekend for our 12 mile run. It was a great experience to meet all the other people running for Children's Hospital.

It was also great since it gave me a chance to run part of the Marathon Course as we ran from Wellesley, MA to Newton, MA. The hills were challenging but I was able to finish the 12 mile run in about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The toughest part about the run was avoiding the ice and snow as well as all the other people out training and running the marathon course. The cartoon above was literally how it was this Saturday since it was such a nice morning out as well. It was only about 35 degrees but the sun was out so that made everyone come out of their houses for a nice run.

Today I feel really good so I'm happy to be almost 1/2 way there and on track with my schedule. I'll keep everyone posted throughout the week on my training.

Treadmill Scare

This week I've been extremely busy with work and getting home late so it only allows me to run on the treadmill at the gym. Tonight is my night off but the past two days I've been doing 4 miles a day per my schedule.

Normally I wouldn't have much to write about in terms of how my treadmill run went but I did have an interesting scare while running on the treadmill last night.

I jumped on a treadmill like I normally do at the gym and started running. As I continue my run I try to speed up along the way. Around the 3rd mile I was going at around a 7 1/2 minute mile pace when all of a sudden...the treadmill blew a fuse and completely shut down.

I wish someone could have been filming me since it looked very funny as the treadmill came to a complete stop in two seconds as my legs continued to propel me forward running right into the treadmill.

I received some strange looks from the runners beside me on other treadmills since I don't think they saw that my treadmill had suddenly stopped. I preceded to jump on another treadmill and finish my last minute to hit my 4 mile goal.

I found the below clip that I thought was funny. It is a clip of a Muslim guy who has never been on a treadmill. His friend keeps turning up the speed and he tries to keep running as fast as he can while screaming the entire time. Too bad he didn't realize he could just hit a button to stop it instead of fearing for his life...

10 Down...16 to Go

Yesterday I ran my first double digit mile run (10 miles) in 20 degree weather. The windchill didn't help either but I still had a pretty decent run.

I was able to run it in a little less than 1 1/2 hours (approx. 9 minute mile). With the wind blowing like crazy and having to jump into snow to avoid cars, etc. I'm happy with the time.

Below is a video of how ridiculous I look when trying to run in 20 degree weather. The below clip will show me in one of my finest outfits with shorts put over long johns.



The next clip is my water bottle and cliff shots. Cliff Shots are basically Gatorade Gummy Bears to help keep your energy up while running long distances. You'll get to see the ice on my water bottle and my frozen cliff shots. The one good part about running in the cold is that at least I never have to worry about my water getting warms while running like it does in the summer...

2010 Is Here!!!

I can't believe we're already 1 week into the new year. My dream of running the 2010 Boston Marathon is closer than ever.


The past week has been a busy week. It started off last Monday and Tuesday traveling to Philadelphia for work and having to run on a treadmill for those two days. On New Years Day I missed my run for the day but I had a good excuse. I was able to get tickets to the Bruins Game at Fenway Park.

It was an unbelievable experience. It was tough to see the actual game but the experience of being there was well worth it.

Every Saturday there are team runs with the Children's Hospital Team. I wasn't able to make it down to Boston this past Saturday for the group run due to all the snow we got in the morning.

Since Saturday I've mainly been on the treadmill at the gym. I've been sticking with my schedule this week of anywhere from 3-5 miles depending on the day of the week. I'm gearing up for this Saturday which is my first double digit run since I ran my half marathon this past fall.
Our group run on Saturday will be 10 miles. I'll be meeting the rest of the Children's Hospital Team in Wellesley, MA. I'll continue to update everyone along the way.

Happy New Year to Zack and all my family and friends!!!