DFMC 2010 - because I can.

This is the first entry of the 2010 season – the stream of consciousness - here goes.

A couple of weeks ago my hot water heater crapped out on me. Being totally overwhelmed I did what I always do – called my sister. She listened, offered her advice and of course pitied my bad luck. At the end of my bitching we chatted about family stuff. She informed me that she had spoken to my mother and that Mary’s (my cousin’s wife) sister Gina wasn’t doing well. Lung cancer. All of a sudden my hot water heater didn’t seem like such a big deal.
The next day I dealt with my water heater.
That same day Gina died.
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I’ve run once since the Maine Marathon in October, not because I don’t want to – but because I really don’t think I can. Acetabular issues.
So last week I went to see my girl Lynn (http://mulrenanpt.com) the best PT in the biz. She created me a program, to work the small muscles in and around the hip (of course not the “big” macho ones).
Example:
Hip abduction http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/HipAbductor/CBHipAbduction.html
Sans cable (because apparently I’m not so tough)
And something she calls “sexy curve.” Unfortunately (or fortunately) there is no video clip, but it’s a small movement that starts standing with one foot on top of the other then you kick out your hip and straighten up. I’d make the video but it is so far from sexy when I do it.

I feel lame.
I feel pressure.
But more important, I feel like I’d better get my ass going on this remedial workout, because I trust Lynn will get me to the Hopkinton in 4 months and 17 days.

I don’t have to remind my DFMC teammates that the start line is only the beginning - Gina was only 50.

Keep running, even when you think you can’t.
Because you can.
RUN

PS – thank you Lynn for adding in squats, if for nothing else, my ego. I love you!

Be nervous, be very very nervous!

as some of you may recall, last blog season we had several "guest writers" who gave us insight on apparel & music, injury reports, and words of inspiration and hope. although the following entry was emailed to only a few of us, i know it applies to the hundreds and hundreds (okay 8) of twentysixpointtoomanymiles followers.
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I know what you are thinking:

Did I do enough training
What will the weather be
Wind is ok as long as it is a tail wind
Will my stomach be good to me
Will my hair look good when I am covered in sweat
Will people laugh at my pale legs
Will Monday be my day
How will I feel at mile 1,2,3,4...
Will my singlet show off my eyes appropriately and match my shoes

You are not really nervous about these things at all. You are nervous because you care, because the journey you are about to finish is important to you. You are nervous because you are about to accomplish something that only a small percentage of the people on the planet will accomplish. You are nervous because you are pushing yourself to your physical limit. You are nervous because it matters. You are nervous because you are special.

Be nervous, be very very nervous!

Love,
John

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Papa John, an 8 year member of our DFMC team, is one of this year’s injured soldiers. As you can see, instead of feeling angry, jealous, spiteful, etc. of the fact that he is unable to run this year, he passes along his love and inspiration to all of us - the true and absolute definition of a TEAMMATE.
THANK YOU PJ! WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH!

back by popular demand - To Do's and To Don'ts

so here goes - in an effort not to be lazy and just cut & paste last years entry i have re-written some of the thoughts below, added some things i forgot last year, and of course made some additional editorial comments. ENJOY or be very scared!

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ladies and gents.... with just 9 days to go, i, as an 11 year vet of this crazy game of marathoning, want to impart some wisdom (baaahaaahaaa) on what to do and what not to do during these last few days before your 26.2 mile jaunt from Hopkinton to Boston. they are in no particular order, so here goes....

ladies, if you haven't gotten a pedicure, go NOW and go DARK, do not wait another day. if you're thinking "it can wait 'till after" think again. trust me, you will not want anyone touching those tootsies the week after. not to mention, you don't want to see whats going on under that polish nor does the person who has to go to work on them - there's no tip large enough to put another human through that.

suggestion -

drink water - pretty obvious, right? but here's the deal, if you aren't in the habit of drinking a lot of H2O, pounding it sunday afternoon will shock your system -BAD news!

don't over carb early in the week, not only is it not necessary, it'll just make you feel like crap

continuing that same idea, don't do anything drastically different to your diet or supplement intake. like, um, taking iron pills or going vegan. with that said, you might want to stay away from the fried food, excess sugar and big macs - then again ....

cool the boozin' monday, tuesday, wednesday, friday & saturday. sunday night on the other hand, you may need a glass of wine to help you sleep. HA! you could drink the bottle, you're still not going to be able to sleep

go for a good, hard 10 mile run on thursday - KIDDING.... just wanted to see if you were paying attention

rub it down - get a massage or 2 or as many as you can fit in. it'll rock the muscles and help to relax you for sure. just one thought - if you're thinking you could really use a good hard one, i mean who couldn't, go before wednesday, because if it's any good - Michaela or Gordon style - you'll be feeling it the next day

don't go food shopping in flip flops - you can't control someone else carriage - exhibit A - i almost ran over my sister's foot today post pedicure - not cool

rid your world of people who suck this week - i mean it. surround yourself with people who will pump you up, help calm you down, and who make you feel not just good but great, because you are

if you haven't already, start a journal - not a blog - a personal journal for you and you alone. it'll allow you to look back and laugh at how freakin' nervous, excited, anxious, etc. you were. you can't get these feeling and emotions back but writing them down will allow you to visit them whenever you want

listen to the JACKISM's - less is more - the hay's in the barn - the pennies are in the bank! if you do not run another step between now and the 20th, you're going to be fine. the objective is to "roll up to the starting line {insert jack hands here} feeling loose"

take a trip to the JFC if you can, there a a lot of kids there you won't see at mile 25. if you need any inspiration at all you will certainly get it there.

gals (and some of you dudes) - don't wait until monday AM to shave, and if you wax - go soon - but go (another event that it awkwardly awful post-marathon). in either case, tight clothes, sweat, rubbing, UGH!

guys - last year i reminded you pack your jock. some people may have found it obnoxious, but i'm not apologizing. pack your damn jock - hang it on the door knob - sleep in it, just make sure you have it. from what i'm told, that's not something you guys "pack an extra just in case," not to mention guys wouldn't share that stuff, would they? GROSS!

Gel/GU/Hammer/Blocks/Beans & Gatorade - if you haven't trained with them, don't go grabbing one at mile 17. it might help - but then again it might NOT and who knows how long the line at the fire station will be when it wants out - fast and furiously

(i can't believe i'm going to write this one) jack says stay away from chocolate (well what he actually says is keep the sugar intake low) but what does he know ;-), chocolate makes me happy

stay close to the ground... your shoes... stay off the stiletto's - no question they are hot especially since it is finally skirt weather (not today of course), but this will be the week you fall off of them

get yourself a red hot DFMC training shirt at the pasta party - all the cool kids are doing it

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ - get them! try to get as much good quality sleep as you can this week

wash it twice - if you are going to wear new ANYTHING - socks, shorts, sports bra, shorts - whatever wash it first, and twice if necessary

don't freak if out of the blue you have a joint or muscle pain, it's called phantom pains, they are in your head, you are fine. but if not, there is always the contrast bath, from heat to ice. heat (hot shower or light cardio), stretch, rub/roll/stick, then plop yourself into an ice bath.... just ask matt how small, i mean good it is for you

for crying out loud, send out your damn fundraising letter (yup that one's for me)

and "Oh Evan, thank you for bringing that lube" (Super Bad, you know the scene i'm sure) on monday you're gonna need it EVERYWHERE! your nipples (boys) & sports bra (girls), belly button, crotchal region, armpits, toes, thighs, you name it, just vas the crap out of yourself, and for goodness sake, don't be modest. but if you are, just yell out "no one look over here i'm lubing!" that'll definitely keep people from peeking

hug as many people as you can, actually just hug fast people, it'll make you faster by osmosis

and last but seriously not least, if you are not feeling "right" physically or mentally... reach out to jack (but remember you will be 1 out of over the 140 emails he receives daily). i've leaned on him for 11 years now. it doesn't matter how experienced you think you are, he can talk you off the ledge and he'll give you the necessary & magical information that will make monday, april 20th one of the best days of your life. i promise. we love ya jack!

9 days.... GULP....

taper on friends