Monthly Archives: December 2010

Christmas on Ice. and Snow.

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This Christmas I was invited to go to New Jersey to stay with my Aunt Marge, Uncle John, cousin Gillian and cousin Cat. My father is waiting to get a bone marrow transplant and can’t have any visitors due to his immune system, so I accepted.

They live on Lake Shawnee in a small town called Jefferson out in NW Jersey. I always have a blast whenever I hang out with them.

Friday night was spent at a neighbors holiday party socializing and making Christmas cheer.

On Christmas Day we followed normal protocol… presents, silliness and coffee, lots of coffee. Something you athletic types out there might get a kick out of is that my Aunt and Uncle’s household is a running household. That’s right, the whole family is obsessive about running! What better place for me to stay right? 50% of teh gifts exchanged were running gear or running related. Very cool.

After a fantastic breakfast dished up by Uncle John, Gillian, Cat and I headed out to do some trail running. We went to a place called Saffons Park. It was great! Gravel paths with occasional ice patches. We even had to double back one time as some hikers told us there was a growling bear ahead on the path!

Both my cousins run track so we were all cookin. We started the 6.5 mile run with 9:30’s and sped up consistently, finishing at a 7:30 pace. What a great way to spend Christmas Day!

Back at the house we made sandwiches with the fresh bread I baked the day before, hit the showers and got dressed for Christmas: Stage 2.

I mentioned that they live on a lake? Did I mention it was frozen solid? We laced up our skates and headed out the back door, jumping on the lake ready to rock. SIDENOTE: I LOVE ice skating, always have. During the winter I often go first thing in the morning at Wollman in Central Park to beat the tourists.

As we began to skate I have to admit I was nervous for our safety. Laughing at their oldest cousin and assuring me, “We grew up here and this is totally safe.” We also brought their favorite beverages, 4 Locos, out on the ice to sip on. I had never had one and they insisted I try it, especially after all the controversy surrounding it. It tasted like liquid Smartees to be honest, and it kinda grew on me.

The lake is pretty big so we cruised around exploring the different coves. By this point I was warmed up and flying all over! There are no walls to hold you in so you can really blast off! We headed in as the sun was going down and dinner was approaching. Back at the house my cousin Cat got in trouble as she left an empty can on a dock out on the lake. To solve the issue I volunteered to skate back out and find it! Adventure! It was actually pretty scary as it was nighttime now. I think I may have been going like 20 MPH too.

After retrieving the can we sat down to an amazing dinner. Some neighbors came over after for dessert and to join us as we wrapped up the night with a movie.

Our huge family party that was supposed to happen Sunday was postponed until Tuesday because of the impending blizzard. I, therefore, headed out on a train for the Mighty Manhattan. I leave you with some images of the snow! Enjoy! (some are before/after shots)


The infamous Cat Hill!


Only in New York? I think so.


3rd Avenue looking South from 83rd.


The block I live on.


My head shot from when I tried out for Empire Strikes Back.

2010 in a nutshell…

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Around this time of year I think all of us like to look back on what our year entailed, then look to see what may be in store for the future.

SIDENOTE: This may be long winded, sorry. It’s more of an exercise in reflection for me, to see it written out.

THE PAST

2010 was set off with a bang for me with the Disney Marathon (my second) on January 10th. My time was 3:13:13 which was a PR by 2 minutes but I was in no way happy with this time. My mom got to watch me run a race for the first time which made for an exciting day.

February was kind of a wash as far as racing went. I did participate in the Run for Haiti charity event but set up in the back and just ran with friends.

As March rolled around I was ready for some action. The Coogan’s 5K up in Washington Heights was the start. I set a new NYRR 5K PR by running a 5:53 per mile race. This was important to me (and yet trivial) as I wanted my time under the NYRR umbrella to reflect a sub 6 mile average. Like I said, trivial, but it’s these little details that excite me at times. I ran the NYRR 8000 and the Colon Cancer Challenge as well.

The New York City Half Marathon was a milestone race as I was able to PR by 5 minutes at 1:20:48! I also qualified for the NYC Marathon with this time. More memorable then that was just how many of my new running friends I saw before, during and after the race! Such a great group of people.

In April I ran the Scotland 10K, Run for the Parks and the Lincoln Tunnel 5K.

May hit hard with the New Jersey Marathon starting it off. It was the hottest marathon I had run in with temps in the high 80’s. It was a battle field. My time of 3:15:27 was worse then Disney but I didn’t come down on myself too hard based on the crazy weather. I hate making excuses, but when people were strewn out on the sidelines like wounded soldiers I made an exception. For those of you who aren’t aware, I was and had been going for a Boston Qualifier this whole time and missing my mark by 3-5 minutes overtime.

PR’d the Healthy Kidney 10K with a 37:11 and swam the Great Hudson River 1.3 mile race. I did not PR in the swim, in fact I think I was almost last place as usual in swim events.

June was monumental as I raced my first ever Half Ironman! I got to race with all the pro triathletes I admire and even brushed elbows with a personal hero, Natascha Badmann.

I ran the Wall Street 3 Miler which is always fun in a ‘utter chaos’ kinda way. How could I forget the Lavaman Sprint Triathlon? Jim, Ed (from ‘Dad Posse’) and I stayed up till 2AM drinking beer, woke up at 5AM on 3 hours of sleep and raced. I even won 3rd in my age group so Hmmf to you ‘sleep’.

July brought us the Aquathlon Swim/Run event followed by the NYC Triathlon which was awesome! If I thought the NYC Tri was hot I was definitely not ready for the sauna that was the Queens Half Marathon! It was brutal!

In August I ran the fun, but also sweltering hot, Fire Island 5K and tried to uphold my 1st Place ranking. I failed and came in 2nd but still had a hell of a time! Then ‘Dad Posse’ and I raced in the Harriman Sprint Triathlon, always a fun event.


As Autumn arrived there was excitement in the air as marathon season was upon us! I ran the NYCM Tune-up 18 Miler and was able to maintain the marathon pace I had set. One goal I had set for myself all year was to run a Sub5 Mile in the 5th Avenue Mile race. I accomplished this by 1 second at 4:59. This was a big goal for me.

In October I ran a trifecta of 5K’s! The Montgomery River Run 5K where I took 1st Place overall, The Hoboken 5K where I PR’d at 17:37 and took 3rd overall and the Little Silver 5K where I took 11th overall.

My favorite race is and has been the NYC Marathon. This year I ran a 3:01:59 which qualifies me for Boston, another goal I had set!

The exclamation point on the year was running the Tough Mudder obstacle course with ‘Dad Posse’ and Ronny. It was hard, scary, grueling and totally awesome!

Looking back I’m very happy with my racing. Although I am very competitive, I’m still having fun out there.

What stands out most to me, as I evolve deeper into the sport, is all the friends have made! You all know who you are, from my Tuesday Night Speed Group, to the ‘Dad Posse’, random speedsters, competitors I have met during races, bikers on the road to Nyack and many others. This running/triathlon community continues to amazing me and I am very thankful to be a part of it.

THE FUTURE

Im registered for a number of races already, The Goofy Challenge, NYC Half Marathon, Alcatraz Shark Swim, NYC Tri, Rev3 Half Ironman South Carolina and Ironman Arizona. I really need to get my swimming up to par this year and try and get a bit faster. There is work to be done!

How was your year? What races will you race in 2011?

Cycle for Survival

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A few weeks ago Jess from ‘Fitchickinthecity’ asked if I wanted to join her Cycle for Survival Team this February. Hmmm… was this some sort of obstacle course we would be riding on our bikes? Tough Mudder but on wheels? Rings of fire, narrow bridges, oil slicks? All of this would be right up my alley!

After some research I found out that it was not a crazy bike ride at all, but an all day Spin event to raise money for Cancer research! Each Team is slotted a 4 hour position and has to ride during that period, switching riders in and out like a relay race.

Seeing as how my mother is a 20 year Cancer survivor and my father is currently preparing for a bone marrow transplant to possibly cure his Lymphoma, this kind of event hits home. I immediately joined her team along with 4 others.

Below is a link to my donations page, feel free to send me as much research money as you like, there is no limit!

Baker’s Page

I really enjoy racing, riding, swimming or even just walking around to raise money for various causes.
If any of you readers out there ever have a cause worth fighting for and need a team member, send me a message!

Making Leg Jello

Posted on by Posted in All, Fitness, Training: Cycling, Training: Running 1 Comment

One of the things I have learned about runners and triathletes in the last 2 years is that they are crazy, myself included. Why is it that after waking up and having some coffee on a 35 degree Saturday that I have the need to go run? I mean, my apartment is awesome! I have tons of coffee, music is playing, it’s got lots of light and guess what, it doesn’t have a wind chill factor.

Without delay I threw on shorts, Zenah calf sleeves, a dry fit top and a zip up top to take off were it to get ‘hot’. I decided on a Saturday run as I wasn’t able to sign up for the Joe Kleinerman 10K on Sunday as it sold out. Once again, 4,000 crazy runners paying for this stuff.

Once I was moving it wasn’t too cold. I was really surprised at how warm the Zensah sleeves kept my legs. I’m a really big fan now.

Entering the Park at 84th Street I switched on my Garmin and took off, my goal to run 12 miles. I also decided I WOULD NOT look at my Garmin until my run was over to see if my internal mechanisms would keep me in check.

At the top of the Park I ran by my friend Kevin Masse (who was running but in the opposite direction). It was a pretty good day for a run after all and I started to get hot, taking off my zip up. I didn’t know what my pace was, but I was having fun.

As I rounded the loop and arrived where I had started I decided to call that the end of my run. I wasn’t feeling the distance at that moment.

Total Miles: 6.03
Time: 37:35
Pace: 6:14

The following morning I happened to be crossing the Park right as the Kleinerman 10K had started! Exciting! I was able to catch the leaders as they hit Mile 5.

They were flying! In fact the two lead guys pictured had a 1 minute lead on the rest of the pack.

Above in white is my friend Sebastian. He was really confused as I cheered at him because I don’t think he has ever seen me in ‘pedestrian garments.’ He was crushing it.

Once home I couldn’t sit still. After watching all my fellow local runners I needed to do something exercisy. (yes, that’s a new word.) My new favorite toy is my Kurt Kinetic Fluid Trainer. It essentially turns your Tri Bike (or Road Bike or whatever bike) into a stationary spin bike.

I know some of you are saying “Man, I hate the bike trainer, it’s not the same, etc. etc.” True, all very true, but one of the plus sides to the trainer is sweating. SIDENOTE: I love to sweat. Seriously, I hate biking in the winter and not even sweating. I don’t feel like I’ve put in any work. The same goes for running, although it’s pretty easy to get hot during just about any run.

I rigged up the trainer and did around 35 minutes of intensity intervals. It was awesome and 10 minutes in I was drenched.

I don’t know if you can really tell with that picture. Any of you that run with me in the warmer months know that I get really red faced.

For the rest of the weekend (which was spent at Dave and Buster’s in Times Square for Erika’s birthday… awesome!) my legs were totally jello.