Half Marathon

There I was, sitting alone under the shade of a large oak tree. My muscles were spent, my knees were throbbing and my back and shoulders unexpectedly ached. I wasn't sure how I was going to get back on my feet. I didn't even really want to try. I tried to stretch my legs out, loosen them up just enough for me to walk back to the car. My body was punishing me after I had I punished it for the last two and a half hours. As I hunched over, this nauseating feeling nearly overwhelmed me. I gasped, held back, and with no explanation, all I wanted to do was cry. Tears welled up in my eyes, my stomach churned and my body ached all over.

And I was so happy.

I laughed as my eyes pooled over and a tear streamed down my face. I can't fully explain the mix of emotions that swept over me. Exhaustion mixed with a subdued, delirious joy. In that all-too-brief moment, all the running, the pain, the injuries and the sacrifices made sense and seemed so completely worth it.

No, it wasn't a marathon. One year after I vowed to hit the streets at the New York City Marathon, I was 1,500 miles away in Dallas, Texas, running my first half marathon. The progress has been slower than I thought, but there has been progress. I questioned whether I was really ready for this race this weekend, but I'm so glad I did it.

There's a lot more work to be done, but for now I'm going to enjoy this little victory in my life.

DRC HALF MARATHON RESULTS
Gun Time: 2:30:28.00
Chip Time: 2:26:54.14
Overall Finish: 2459 out of 3285
Age Group (30-34): 207 out of 227

My Sister, The Dietitian

Apparently I have this untapped resource in my family tree.

She may not be an officially licensed dietitian yet, but my sister Olivia plans to make a career out of counting calories and fighting fat. Currently cramming through a nationally accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics, she's well on her way to making Thanksgiving the most guilt-filled holiday in the Zamora family calendar. Yes, even more guilt-filled than Mother's Day.

So today I was talking to her about my run this weekend. I expressed my concern about not being ready and how I may not live to see anything past mile 8. After some 'just do your best' and 'as long as you finish' nonsense, the real words of wisdom started flowing.

"Are you tapering your workouts and carb-loading?" she asked. It kind of caught me off guard. You see, I had asked my sister a while back about this whole carb-loading business. Apparently they hadn't gotten to that chapter yet, because she offered little help. Suddenly she was a wealth of information. I may butcher some of the stuff she said, but this is what I gathered from the conversation:

There is the old way of carb-loading, she explained, where you limit carbs during the week, then increasing your consumption to 90 percent of your caloric intake the day before the race. The new way involves balancing carbs at the beginning of the week, then consuming about 70 percent carbs the last three days before the race. By reducing your training at weeks end and resting the day before, you allow your muscles to become loaded with glycogen. Apparently you want to start the race with as much glycogen as possible.

She said to eat a more complex carbohydrate about three hours before the race, which will break down slowly during the run. About 15 minutes before the start, drink a little Gatorade or some other kind of sports drink to start you off at a good blood glucose level.

Now, this is all a little confusing to me. The nutritional aspect of running, unfortunately, has never really been a priority. That clearly needs to change. Fortunately I did follow my half-marathon training schedule for the last week, which had me running much shorter distances. Clearly, though, just hammering out these runs isn't going to get me to where I eventually want to be.

In the future, I may be leaning on my sister a little more for more nutritional insight. As for now, I'm three days out from the race, so let the carb-loading begin.

I Wish I Knew How To Quit You

It was a moment of weakness. I know better than to go back to that unhealthy relationship we had, but I was desperate. I needed it, and you were more than willing to give it to me.

Tonight I cheated on my outdoor running with that gym whore called the treadmill. The treadmill makes you weak, I say. It doesn't prepare you for the beating your body really takes running on the street. It gives you a false sense of your abilities. The impact is lower, the running is easier and the TV affixed to the front of the machine offers you a distraction you can't get when you are outside. Somehow, though, I convinced myself it was what I needed. My knee is still bothering me, so an easier run is better than no run at all, right? I had also tried to put it off until Sunday evening to get in a little more rest time. Time had gotten away from me, though, and I knew if I ran outside I would be out there until well after dark. When I read stories like THIS in my own paper, I try to avoid running late at night.

On a good note, I did the ten miles. All of them. Straight through. My knees felt like they were on fire by the end, but I finished. It may have been on a treadmill, but there was something satisfying about seeing the time on the screen have to reset when it went past 99:99 minutes. According to the running schedule, the week before the half marathon is supposed to be an easy week. It includes shorter distances and even a walk. Thank God. Once this week is over I'm definitely gonna need some recovery time before I sign up for my next big run.

Do (Do) You Got A First Aid Kit

Well, I spent yesterday morning trying to patch up a wound. Several wounds, actually. On my Thursday morning run I caused a little damage to my knee, my hand and my forearm when I took a tumble at the end of a sidewalk.

It was right there in the first mile, I was kind of distracted and thinking about work when I came up to an intersection. At the last minute I tried to quickly turn behind me to see if any cars were turning onto the road when BAM. It took just a second. My body was out of balance the instant my foot caught the end of the sidewalk, and all of a sudden I was down on the ground. Pain shot through my left arm and my right knee as my water bottle slid into the middle of the street. After screaming several obscenities and gathering myself off the ground, I continued on. At that point I was more embarrassed than anything. I had skinned a little bit of the palm of my left hand, but hadn't really got a good look at the rest of my wounds. I can't miss a run, I kept thinking. You're not hurt that bad. Keep going. When I finally finished I took a moment to check everything out. My forearm was actually skinned pretty bad, and by that point blood and sweat was kind of running down my elbow. My knee had some scratches, but didn't seem too bad until I started trying to stretch. My knee was not happy. It was stiff and painful and bruised. Damn it. This isn't what I need.

So this morning I had to run again. My training schedule requires I run four days a week, so the running days come back to back on Thursday and Friday. I tried to stretch out as best I could, but my knee was still giving me problems. That first mile was rough. My body really wanted me to stop, but I had to push through. The rest of the run went OK, but I probably didn't do myself any favors. Tonight my knee felt so sore. I had to shoot high school football tonight, and those trips up and down the bleachers were not fun. I really want to get in one long run this weekend. I need to. I have yet to run over 8 miles outside. They say if you can run 10 miles, you can run a half marathon. I'm not sure I believe that, but I need to try. Hopefully by Sunday I'll be able to run without pain.

Half (of Half) Way There

So over the weekend I ran in the Harbor Half. It was actually pretty fantastic. The 13-mile race starts out at Whataburger Field, travels over the Harbor Bridge and across the causeway to Indian Point Park and back. I had originally wanted to run the whole thing myself. A couple of missed, crucial runs, however, really set my training schedule back, so I opted for the relay. I ran the first part, and friend and coworker Denise ran the second part.
The last month or so I've been so worried about running over the Harbor Bridge. I mean, sometimes my car can barely make it over, how was I going to run across it? My biggest problem was that the majority of my training had been done inside. On a treadmill. Sure I ran 8 miles a few weeks ago in an air conditioned environment, but I quickly realized how that doesn't really translate well to the streets. The last couple of weeks I've been running strickly outside, trying to incorporate as many hills and inclines as possible. The result? That bridge was a piece of cake.
Yeah, I get excited about it until I think about how 6.5 or so miles is only half of half way there. Against my better judgment, I've been talked into doing a half marathon in a couple of weeks. I don't think I'll be ready. I just have to really try and stay focused (and not catch my roommates cold) the next two weeks.

OFFICIAL HARBOR HALF MARATHON RESULTS:
Chip Time: 1 hr, 08 min, 51.2 sec
Combined Time: 2 hr, 22 min, 49.5 sec
Mixed Relay Position: 24
Overall Relay Position: 88

I LOVE Running

Hello, my name is Michael, and I love running.

I really do. Despite what you may have heard, running is my new favorite thing to do. I love running anywhere, really. I love running on a treadmill. I love running outside. I love running into a strong head wind along the Corpus Christi bay, or in a steady rain in downtown Austin. I love running over hills and under bridges. I love running in straight lines. I love running in circles. I love running on that red dirt track down the street from my house as Catholic school boys and girls in red and plaid uniforms wave and giggle at me from the balcony of their second-floor classroom. Just because the hot sun has come out and I have pebbles in my shoes doesn't mean I'm going to stop. Why? Because I love running.

I can't run very far, but I'm working on that. I can't run very fast, but who cares? Give me my running shoes and a pair of too-short shorts and I'll go as fast as my legs will take me. I'll need my MP3 player too. What's better than running to this song or that song. I'll run to just about any song with a beat or soaring melody. I love when I get to the chorus of that one song. I mouth the words, throw my arms out like a child and run erratically with all the energy I have left.

I'm glad I'm running again, because I really do love it. I love it so much, I'm training for the half marathon in October. I'm 10 weeks out, so the 10-week training program started today. There was a bit of hesitation getting out of bed this morning, then I remembered one thing. I love running. No complaining about pain or tiredness or the heat and humidity. Its all minor when you get to do something you love. And from now on, I love running.

Misery Loves Company

So I've convinced the photo intern and another friend from work to run the Four on the Fourth, a four mile run on the Fourth of July.

I really don't want to do it. I'm not ready for it. I gave myself a week off from running after my vacation, but that week lasted longer than expected. It's also been so freakin' hot that I don't even want to go outside, much less run. Excuses, excuses.

So I signed up anyway, more out of guilt and obligation than anything else. At least I won't be alone. I figured If I'm going to be sweaty and miserable at 7 a.m. next Friday, I'm going to drag as many people with me as possible.

Run Down

It was sometime late in the afternoon.

A group of friends had gathered, eager to celebrate the day. The 5K we all raced had been over for hours. There were beer and brats, burgers, babies and stories of running glories and failures being passed around the room. I sat on the couch. Tired and full, I dozed in and out of consciousness, too much banana pudding for my own good. Somewhere between inflated high school track records and a speaker phone call to a distant friend, some advice was being handed out. The group, many of whom were newly ordained into the running world that morning by an exhaustive and hilly race around the Ballpark in Arlington, seemed eager to take it all in.

I struggled to keep my eyes opened, yet yearned to close them. My mind was cloudy, but the words rang clear.

"If you keep training the same way over and over, don't expect to get different results," a voice said.

I reflected on my time, how I ran, how I've been running. All routine. My times haven't been changing. It hasn't really gotten all that much easier. Last week's relay marathon made me think I was getting somewhere. A week of poor training and a tough run today made me feel like I was back at square one.

You can run 5K's every weekend, Michael, and maybe you'll get really good at that. Nothing else will change. Focus on the goal, the ultimate goal. The goal is not to squeak out a medal because there was less than three people in your age group.

This isn't about times, really. This isn't even just about running anymore. It about making a change in your life. About finally following through on something. It's about dedication. Self discipline. Principals you've marginally committed to but have yet to fully embrace. Are you really in this for the long haul?

Beach to Bay

I ran in my first marathon yesterday. Sort of.

Saturday was the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon, where teams of six runners complete a 26.2 mile course in 4 mile sections. The course goes from the beach on North Padre Island, across the causeway bridge to the mainland, through the naval base and up Ocean Drive to the Corpus Christi bayfront. I had the third leg. The leg nobody really wants to do. The bridge leg.

I totally conquered that bridge. Let's recap:

I was very apprehensive at first. I was a late addition to the team (one of about 5 teams from the Caller-Times), and I didn't expect to get much of a say in which leg I would run. I really didn't want the third leg, but as the date came closer I kept thinking how cool it would be run across the bridge. I lived on Padre Island for the first five or so months I lived in Corpus Christi, and I always looked forward to crossing that bridge. It was my time to focus, relax and take in the sights on the bay. It only lasted about 3 and a half minutes, but it was often my favorite part of the day. Why wouldn't I want to run across it?

Race day finally came and I was nervous. I was unsure how I was going to react to the incline of the bridge. My running has been fairly regular the last month, and I got a pretty good 4 mile run in Wednesday, making sure to include some steep hills into my route. I'm pretty bad with hills, and I was worried this would be the Capitol 10K all over again.

The logistics of the race also worried me. Even though I wouldn't run until about 8:30 a.m., I had to be up by 5:30 a.m. to make sure I at the parking lot in time to catch my shuttle.

With 1,705 teams, that meant 1,705 people at each hand off spot. At about 6:30 I boarded a packed bus that took us right across the bridge we would have to run over. The ride only added to the nerves and anticipation.

The hand off spot was slightly chaotic for a while, and it seemed like no one was in charge. Exactly how and where this hand off would occur was a bit of a mystery until some race volunteers finally started getting things in order. The good news was the weather was fantastic. Cloudy and cool, the high for the day would only be about 82.

Obviously I brought my camera along with me. I knew I would have a little down time, and I really wanted to play with the awesome new Nikon D300 I bought a couple weeks ago.

My plan was to bring the camera with me, and get some pre-race and early hand-off photos. When my teammate arrived to hand me the relay baton, I would hand her my camera bag and run my leg. This was on top of our team's pre-race hand off plan. All of us had our cell phones with us, and we were all suppose to call the person two legs ahead of us once we completed our race. So when the first guy finished the first leg, we would call me and let me know the second leg runner had started. That's when I would put away the camera and start my stretching and 'other' final preparations for the race.

The plan was flawless, so of course it failed miserably.

The race started at 7 a.m. When I didn't get a call by 8 a.m. I started getting worried. The first three legs are all 4.37 miles long, and I was told our first leg guy was the best on the team. Surely he would be done by now. I tried calling the second leg runner, Allison, but it turned out the number I had for her was not her cell phone, but her office number. Balls. I don't know why I didn't just call the first leg guy, Thomas. I'm sure at the time I had a good reason, something about not wanting to call if he was still actually running or trying to catch his breathe of something. He'll call eventually, I thought. Give him a few minutes to recoup, get some water, whatever, he'll call.

Meanwhile, I started in on the 'other' pre-race preparations and got into the bathroom line. A lot of third leggers had already taken off by this point. The lines were still long, but not as bad as earlier. I was literally next in line when my cell phone started ringing. The conversation went something like this:

"Michael, where are you?" a female voice huffed and puffed. It was Allison. I freaked out.

"Are you here already?" I asked, panicked and praying she would say she just started her leg and that Thomas was mute and without the use of his thumbs.

"Yes, where are you!" Oh my dear lord. Not only did I really have to pee, but I hadn't done any stretching or warm up at all. She continued, "I'm in the chute, I'll come to you, where are you at?"

In the bathroom.

"No I'll come to you!" I said. "Meet me at the front of the chute. I'll head that way." The port-o-potty door opened, I dashed in and out and made me way to the exchange area.

It was packed, people were lined up all around the chute with runners going in and out. Several had batons in the air screaming for their teammate. It was madness. I tried calling her back, but there was no answer. Get back, one volunteer barked as I entered the chute on my phone. I'm looking for my teammate, I barked back. I called again and again getting only voice mail until I finally spotted her.

"Michael Zamora!" she was screaming into the air, scanning the faces in the crowd and looking exhausted and frustrated. I hung up the phone, bumped into a runner, and ran over to her.

"Give me your camera, have a good run!" And with that, I was on my way.


I couldn't find any specifics, but the JFK causeway bridge is about 3 and half miles long. The first part rises high above the water before coming back down, leveling out to about 9 feet above the water for the remainder of the bridge.

Despite my lack of warm up, I felt good. The nerves faded and the chaotic excitement of the hand off was pushing me forward. I made my way around the exit ramp and up the bridge. I definitely felt the incline, but it was gradual and didn't feel as steep as I expected. Maybe I was just more prepared then I thought. I kind of wish I had a camera with me, but it wouldn't have really mattered. No picture could do justice to the experience. As the ground got further and further away and the music swelled on my mp3 player, I couldn't think of any other place or any other thing I'd rather be doing. I smiled like an idiot, head turning left and right to look over the bridge until I finally reached the peak.

"Its all down hill from here!" yelled a runner from her car as she drove past in the one open lane. She was right. Before the race, I was worried about how climbing the bridge would affect the rest of my run. I told myself not to get frustrated if you have to stop and walk at some point in the 4.37 mile route. But when I got to the peak and realized the hard part was over, I knew there was no stopping me.

Me (at right), with relay team member Allison (second from left), and Caller-Times
employees Tom (right), Holly (center) and Libby, who all ran on other teams.

In the end, I finished my 4.37 mile leg in about 45 minutes. Setting my stop watch was obviously not a priority at the exchange, so I based my time on my cell phone. My last call to Allison was at 8:28 a.m., and my first call right after I made the exchange was at 9:14 a.m. That call also came after a brief post-race celebration. I was so excited when I was done. I had a fun little pop song blaring in my ears, and I just needed to dance. So I did, which I'm sure horrified the other runners. I'm surprised a medic wasn't called in to help the runner having seizures. Good times.

OFFICIAL BEACH TO BAY RESULTS:
Team: Better Off Deadline
Chip time: 4:37:10.80
Place: 1099 (out of 1,705)

By the way, the bridge has its own theme music. This song came on randomly in my car one day and seemed to fit, so now I play it every time I cross the bridge. For months I heard it at least twice a day as I went to and from work. It only seemed fitting I run to it across the bridge. For the first mile (including the bridge peak) this is what I was listening to. Its an instrumental track from Sufjan Stevens. I always referred to it as "Out of Egypt," but I looked up the full name and found it to be quite appropriate


Out Of Egypt, Into The Great Laugh Of Mankind, And I Shake The Dirt From My Sandals As I Run.mp3

Late Results

A co-worker and fellow runner sent me this photo yesterday from this weekend's Wind and Water Open 5K. I didn't even know they were taking pictures at the finish. I really don't like photos of me running, but this is definitely an exception.Look how awesome I look as I dash across the finish line. Before I get a big head I should share the picture taken just before I crossed the finish, revealing a little girl and a middle-aged woman leaving me in their dust. That kid totally passed me by during the last stretch in the sand. I swear those little kids just show up to these races to embarrass me. I should have knocked her down. Anyway, here are the late results:

OFFICIAL EPIC 5K RESULTS:
Chip Time: 32 mins, 25.4 secs
Overall Position: 117th
Male Finishers: 61st
Age Group(25-29): 6th

love/HATE

I'm in love with the New Balance "LOVE/hate" campaign they've got going. The commercials are fantastic. While running is more a love/HATE relationship for me, I can identify with the theme. This one is my favorite:



Their newest one is also great.


After looking at a few of the spots on YouTube, I ran into an old Adidas commercial I'd almost forgotten about. The commercial came out around the time I first started running a few years. I was mesmerized by the stunning visuals under the direction of Spike Jones and the great little song by Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O. Its still a fantastic video.


I went out to go buy a pair only to find they were priced well over $100. Who buys shoes over $100? Oh, yeah, apparently I do.

31:32 (or, Slow and Steady)

As I laced up my shoes this morning for the CASA 5K, I realized something. I have a race scheduled for every weekend this month.

I had the CASA 5K today, followed by the Wind and Water Open next weekend. The Wind and Water Open is the "official warm-up run" to the Beach to Bay relay Marathon the weekend after, where I'll be running the third leg (about 4.3 miles) on a six-person team. I'll cap off the month with the American Heroes 5K run on Memorial Day in Arlington, Texas. I actually planned my week-long vacation around that last race.

Who is this person? Certainly not me.

Today's race was a milestone. I ran the entire distance without walking. That's huge. I think the changes to my running routine are paying off. I can run 3.5 miles without walking at a 9.5 minute-mile pace on the treadmill, but that doesn't translate to the streets. I've been starting off too fast in my outdoor races, making my pace sporadic and forcing me to walk and catch my breath.

Over the last month I've consciously been trying to slow my running down. I've left the treadmill behind, and I've focused less on time and more on a steady, comfortable pace.

Something else happened today too. I'm not sure how too describe it. For the first mile or so, things were not so bad. I don't want to say fun, because running is so not fun, right? It was an odd feeling. I think I'll attribute it to the new music I tried out on my run today. My favorite of the bunch is this quasi marching-band style remix of Feist's "I Feel It All." It's fantastic.



OFFICIAL CASA 5K RESULTS:
Chip Time: 31 mins, 32.9 secs
Overall Position: 157th
Male Finishers: 87th
Age Group(25-29): 5th
Pace: 10.09

Frankenstein

I may have created a monster.

Back in November I practically had to beg my friend Bryan to run this Capitol 10K with me. So I was quite surprised to get a message from him this morning saying how he's checked out all these races online that we can do over the next several months. There is one this weekend in Dallas, he said. An awesome short run that takes you around the Cotton Bowl. We would definitely be back in Austin for the Texas Roundup 10K, he continued, as well as hitting several other runs in the Austin area. He'd even come down to Corpus Christi to run in some random beach 5K in May.

What? Who is this person? Bryan doesn't like to travel, he hates running, and sometimes I suspect he barely likes me. That shock, though, quickly turned into excitement. If I can keep him excited and continue running with him, maybe I can convince him to go after the big 26.2-mile prize with me. While I have absolutely no problems embarking on this crazy trek alone, it would be nice to have a close friend to compare notes with along the way. This weekend's run is out (I do have to work Saturday), but we'll definitely make some plans to hit up several runs in the next few months.

By the way, I went on my first post-10K run this morning. I thought I was rested enough to run again, but my legs had a different opinion. It was like they were made of concrete, heavy, solid and unwilling to bend. I was forcing them the first half mile before they loosened up and I could get into my normal stride. Now my legs hurt. I think I may be done running for this week. A little Aleve and some sleep is what I need now.

GO!

Wonder what it was like to run the Capitol 10K? Here's a visual representation:

Yes, Sunday was the big day. The day my friend Bryan and I were going to conquer the 6.2 mile race, and it had to go and rain on our parade.

Oh, but running in the rain and trying to navigate with my wet, fogged-up glasses was just one of the things I wasn't prepared to face Sunday. Little things such as the steep hills, other runners and the actual distance all kind of caught me off guard. This race totally dominated me, and I kind of liked it.

Read Full Post

Now, let's be honest here. I wasn't ready for this race. That became very clear to me somewhere in the second mile. I was in the shadow of the capitol. I had finally finished weaving through all the walkers that jammed up the field of thousands of fun run participants. I had lost sight of my running partner and was making my way up the first steep hill of the race. That's when I thought, 'what the hell am I doing? You can't do this. Who's stupid idea was this?'

Well, it was my stupid idea, and while it wasn't going as smoothly as I had hoped, I needed to push through. I knew I could get through this. I haven't been doing all this running to give up on my first big race.

Those hills though. Oh my god those kicked my ass. Most of my runs are on a treadmill. Even my outside runs happen on the mostly flat walkways on the bay of Corpus Christi. So you can imagine how difficult and discouraging it was to be drained of energy by those hills and realize I was only halfway through the race.

Thankfully there was Bryan. We lost each in the first couple of miles. He got ahead of me, but he waited for me at the 5K mark. Having him by my side for most of the second half kept me going. When I wanted to stop and walk, his drive kept me motivated. It was also a matter of pride. I knew Bryan had done very little running leading up to the race, so I wasn't going let this guy completely out run me without a fight.

Me loving the outfit (right). Bryan, not so much.

In the end, I ended up walking several pieces of the race, but I knew that was going to happen. And Bryan did finish about 3 minutes ahead of me, but that's not completely surprising (he's a high school basketball coach, plays a lot of the game in rec leagues in his hometown and is all around clearly more athletic than me). I finished with a time of about the 1 hour, 11 minutes. I clocked it, but when I got to the finish line I was more focused on crossing without passing out, not hitting the button on my stop watch.

It was an exhausting race, but I finished. And as hard as the race was for the two of us, Bryan and I were already talking about how next year, how we're not only going to do the timed run, but finish the race well under an hour. I had a great time this weekend, and its given me motivation to keep going.

I'll take a well deserved rest the next couple of days, but I'm not going to waste much time getting back on track. The running I've been doing has been OK, but its not enough. Its time to take this to the next level. Its odd, but running a marathon now seems so far beyond my current capabilities, but at the same time the goal feels so much more within reach.

Read, Set...

Just one more day, and I am super excited. A little nervous, but mostly excited.

Today I arrived in Austin and met up with my friend and race running partner Bryan. We got a hotel, picked up our race packet and headed downtown to check out the race course.

I checked the elevation chart they had online before hand, but I was still surprised how hilly the course was. We drove it this afternoon, and I can already see the first half of the race is going to be kind of rough.

It also seemed really long. It just might take me a little longer than I expect.

But not to worry. I got a little motivation while I was downtown. Before our big pasta dinner, we caught a showing of my new favorite movie:

And to top it all off, I picked up some super cool head bands at Academy for Bryan and I to wear with our matching "I Hate Running" T-shirts.


You can't tell me these aren't super sweet.

Injury Report

CORPUS CHRISTI - Injuries could force a Capitol 10K team member out of the race just days before the scheduled start of the six-mile trial in downtown Austin.

Team member Bryan Dibley suffered a pulled muscle Wednesday, limiting his mobility and jeopardizing his team's chances of finishing with a respectable time.

"Obviously this isn't what I wanted to hear," said team leader Michael Zamora. "We're hoping a few days rest will take care of it."

In a phone interview from his Dallas-suburb home of Mansfield, Texas, Dibley said he strained his chest and sternocleidomastoid muscles while lifting weights this week. Dibley claims the injury makes movement difficult, causing the impact of running to be painful. Despite the injury, Dibley said he hopes to make it through the race this weekend.

"I'll still be able to keep up with (Zamora)," he said.

Zamora is more cautious, however, and said Dibley needs to play it safe this weekend.

"I don't want him to get hurt," Zamora said. "I'll consult with Amory (Dibley's wife) this weekend, and we'll make this a race-time decision."

Dibley joined the running team back in November 2007. Despite Dibley's inconsistent training schedule, Zamora was optimistic Dibley would be ready in time for the race. Zamora called the latest set back "frustrating."

Zamora's running team already took a hit last week when Beth Francesco of Corpus Christi pulled out of the race siting work conflicts and conditioning concerns.

Zamora himself admitted to nagging shin splints which have limited the frequency of his runs in the last couple of weeks.

"I got in a final run today, and my legs didn't feel too bad," he said. "My outdoor run Monday really aggravated the pain, so I played it safe and ran on a treadmill today for a lower impact workout. I think I'll be good for Sunday's run."

Zamora said he is looking forward to a little rest time once the race is complete, but doesn't plan on taking off too much time.

"I'm already making plans for my next race, and its a big one," he said.

Though his registration could not be confirmed at post time, sources close to the runner claim Zamora has already agreed to run a half marathon in the fall. He has also put his name out among co-workers to take on a four-mile leg of the Beach to Bay team marathon in May.

I Hate Running

I knew this before I started this whole experiment, but for some reason that didn't deter me. I want to make sure everyone else knows how much I dislike their sport, so I threw together a little T-Shirt design over at UberPrints.com. This is what I will be proudly wearing as I run across the finish line at the Capitol 10K in about two weeks:



Don't worry, there's also actual running involved in my race preparation. I've been consistently running 3 to 3.5 miles over the last few weeks, but I decided it might be a good idea to actually complete 6.2 miles before the 10K event. At this point, running the whole thing is out of the question. My plan is to run at least half, then do a mix of running and walking to finish the race off.

I tried it out on Monday, and it didn't go so well. It wasn't the difficulty of the extra mileage, it was the time. I stopped after five miles and about an hour on the treadmill because I was just plain bored. Oh my God it was so boring. How am I going to handle my ultimate goal of running a full 26.2 mile marathon if I can't even focus for an hour?

Today I gave it another go. Fortunately I had an hour-long rerun of The Gilmore Girls to keep me distracted. I finished the distance in about 68 minutes. After cool down and everything I hopped off the treadmill, and, oddly enough, the machine told me I had completed 26.2 laps. Weird.

31:54

"Oh my God running sucks!" I huffed between irregular breathes as I trotted up a mild incline on Ocean Drive. Meanwhile packs of children and an older woman passed me by, seemingly unaware of how difficult and not fun running is. Losers. Freaks, all of them.

So today I ran my first race, a 5K. 3-point-whatever miles. And while its easy to think all I got out of it was twenty less dollars in my account and four hours less sleep, there was actually some greater good that came out of it. Let's recap:

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The Goodwill "Sun Run" wasn't my idea, but it was proposed to me far enough in advance that I thought, surely I'll be more than ready for it when the time comes. Well, the last few weeks have not be great running weeks for me. There was the shin splints and the crazy work schedule and the moving across town and a host of other excuses that kept disrupting my running schedule. Before I knew it, it was race week and I was questioning whether I should even participate. Not only have I yet to run that far outside, but it cost $20. Do you know how much crap I could buy at Goodwill for $20?

Anyway, I was extremely nervous last night and this morning, and I had a ton of answered questions. What should I eat the night before? Should I eat breakfast? What should I wear? Where do I pin my race number? What's the course like? Why do runners like to get up so damn early? I rolled out of bed at 6:30 a.m., ate half a balance bar and headed to my first race.

My friend had bailed on the whole thing, so it was just me. I think I may have preferred it that way any way, although it would have been fun to have some one there to mock all the running freaks. There was short-shorts guy, spandex women and a host of other colorful people. A community 5K hardly brings out the elite athletes, but there were still a few intimidating runners there. Just keep to your routine, I thought. I did a little warm up walking and my regular stretching and I was as ready as I could be.

I can't tell you how exciting it was. As they counted down the seconds and the pack slowly started to move I got this fantastic rush. The music on my mp3 player started to swell, runners jockeyed for position and I felt such a connection with the whole heard of running freaks.

That lasted only a few minutes. Mostly, the race was about me trying to not think. Stop thinking about running, stop thinking about how far you've gone, stop thinking about how far the turn around is, stop thinking about how much time has passed, stop thinking about not thinking about running. It was much more of a mind game then I realized. Combine that with the actual running (which sucks), and the bulk of the experience was about as unenjoyable as I imagined.

But what made it all worth it was that last dash, those glorious last few yards where you see the finish line and all the people and know you have done what you set out to do. I turned up my music, picked up my pace, and totally smoked that 10 year-old boy that kept wandering in front of and behind me in the last half of the race. I wanted to scream "eat it, Kid!" when I finished, but I refrained. It was fantastic.

I still think the time was wrong. That, or the length was shorter than advertised, because I finished with a time of 31 minutes and 54 seconds. That shouldn't have happened. Especially since I did briefly break and walked for a short bit. But now I have a time, a (sort of) official race time to beat, to use as my marker, to tell people so they know my approximate running ability.

31:54

My new ID and entry code into the world of running freaks.

The Joys Of Running

Maybe all this running stuff really is catching up with me.

I tried the ice MA-sage this morning. It seemed to help some, but I don't have time to ice myself down under every two hours. I have a life. Sort of.

I am going to try and get some arch supports for my regular shoes and see if that helps. Another trip to Fleet Feet. Yeah!

Mission Impossible

Maybe it was something I ate today.
Maybe it was all that annoying water I drank.
Maybe all this running is finally catching up with me.

Whatever the reason, today I felt like I had a break through. It was a three-and-a-half mile, 34 minute, non stop romp. And while I was tired at the end, I chose to stop, not forced to stop because I was gasping for air.

The last week or so my runs have just been terrible, leaving me wondering if this was ever going to get easier. Even more concerning was if I could possibly be ready to attempt a 10K by the end of March. Until about two hours ago I thought I was in serious trouble. I know I still have a long, hard road ahead, but today's run made me feel like this is not impossible.

$53 Run

Michael's Tips For Running Through The Neighborhood:

1-Dress Appropriately
2-Bring A Spare Key
3-Bring An ID
4-Make Sure You Are Hydrated
5-Use The Bathroom BEFORE You Run

I didn't quite adhere to my own list Saturday, and it cost me about $53.

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I've only been running outside on Saturday mornings for a few weeks, but I thought I already had the routine down. Today, however, it was cold, but I figured I'd be all nice and warm once I started running and got the blood flowing. So I picked out a pair of shorts and a thin long sleeve shirt and felt I was weather appropriate.

I've also read it is important to bring some form of an ID when you run. I was never really sure why. A just in case sort of thing I'm assuming. I guess if you get hit by a car or fall in a ditch or something it makes it easier to identify your body. Whatever, I brought it. I fetched a spare key, did a quick stretch and I was out the door.

It only took a few minutes to realize I should have worn more clothing. The wind was stiff and my lungs were burning from the cold air. It did eventually get bearable, but I would have been way more comfortable if I had some running pants or something. Whatever, I wasn't that far from home, I thought. Its not like I was going to stand outside and freeze to death.

Until I got home, when I realized the spare key I brought was actually my spare car key. I was locked out of the house, and with my cell phone inside I couldn't call anyone I know who could help. I eventually used a phone at the gas station down the street and called the local Pop-A-Lock people. So I sat outside my house, freezing, trying to get my post run stretch in and really needing to use the bathroom. It sucked.

But at least I had my ID, which ended up being the only handy thing I brought in my run. I'm not sure the lock guy would have let me in if I hadn't had it.

In conclusion, running outside still kinda sucks. I'm really hoping I start enjoying these more soon.

Last Call For Alcohol

Over the weekend I broke one of my self-imposed training rules. I got drunk.

The last month and a half or so, I cut out the drinking. It just didn't fit into my new, run-focused life style. Sure there was the occasional drink here and there: a glass (or two) of champagne at New Years, or a beer with a friend while watching the end of football game. The goal was more about moderating than abstaining I suppose, but in most cases it was pretty easy to not drink at all. I've never really been a big drinker. I like more the idea of drinking, the social aspect of it, than the actual act itself. Sure I was the loser in the group ordering Diet Cokes while everyone else downed $2 tall Lone Stars, but that's OK. I suspect I'm usually the loser of the group any way.

Saturday, however, I really just wanted to get trashed. It was the end of a long day at work, I had been out of my comfort zone all week shooting a video project that was quickly taking a nose dive, and I knew my free time would soon be occupied with nothing but packing and preparing myself to move into a new apartment. The bars were definitely calling.

Like most things I do, however, I half-assed it. A tall glass of wine and a few beers later and I was far from trashed. The after effects, however, were still the same. Forgot about the extra calories, its the slowing of the metabolism, the inevitable late-night food run, and the sluggishness the next morning leading to a missed work out that really wreaks havoc on my training. I just don't need it.

So I'm back on the wagon, I suppose. I prefer Diet Coke to Bud Select anyway.

Pounding the Pavement

So this little item came across my desk at work the other day. I was intrigued:



My first thought was, yes! How awesome! Then I realized a couple of things. One, its next Saturday, as in just days from now. And two, I have yet to run outside since I started my little training a few weeks ago. Yes, I can run on a treadmill a little ways, but running outside on the hard, stationary pavement is a little different.

My plan has always been to start running outside Saturday mornings beginning in the New Year, but I would hate to have my first outside running experience be at an official race, especially one where I would be flanked by my co-workers.

So today I got up early, laced up The Beasts, and headed for the great outdoors on my first street experience. A little trial run to see if I am up to the task.

It didn't go so well.

OK, it didn't go terrible, I guess. I ran for a good 12 minutes before I had to stop and walk for a bit. The impact is a little greater, but I think my sweet new running shoes really helped out. The increased difficulty aside, it is also very weird running through a neighborhood I've driven through before. It seemed like the scenery should have been moving by a little faster than it was. I felt like I was running in slow motion. That stiff ocean head wind didn't make my return run any easier either.

In conclusion, running outside is kinda hard. At this point I'm not quite sure I'm fun run ready.

My Father, The Runner

He wasn't a track star. He never ran marathons. But for a good portion of my childhood, my father was a runner.

He ran around the neighborhood. He ran in local fun runs. He ran in circles at the high school track while his children whined and complained about being bored. He's trying to push down that tree again, we'd joke as he stretched.

He also encouraged us to run. Not that it helped. Rounding the far end of the track often marked my stopping point, if I even bothered running at all.

My younger brother would eventually take on the task. Memories of late-night marching band rehearsals still linger, me trying to avoid eye contact from the field as my brother and father looped by every few minutes. Your brother looks just like you, someone would say. The qualifying phrase, only smaller, was inevitable.

As much as my father ran, I never saw him cross a finish line. Heading out to the Great Texas Mosquito Festival early on a Saturday morning for the annual 5K Mosquito Chase was apparently too much to ask of his family.

I bet that first time he finished a race he was so happy. I wish I had that memory.

Today he shuffles around when he walks; a slight limp and dragging of his feet as he steadily goes.

Wait for your dad. Where's dad? He's back there somewhere.

He struggles against his own body daily. His left arm shakes. His face contorts as he tries to force his hands to grip and pull and lift. Physically unable to do the carpentry work that once supported a family of six, he spends his days trying to keep busy around the house and helping out on the occasional odd job with my uncle.

My father and I were never that close. That was more than obvious over the weekend. Only a handful of sentences were exchanged between us each time we were sent out to complete errands around town. The physical distance has dramatically decreased now that I have moved back to Texas, but I fear time will soon be against us.

Maybe all I'll end up doing is running around the neighborhood. Maybe all I'll ever be able to finish is a local 5K. Maybe no one will be there to cheer me on as I cross the finish line. What is certain is I will not be a failure. I will be just like my dad.

What I Love About The Gym

Running isn't easy. I already knew this, but over the past few weeks I expected it to get just a little bit easier. Maybe run a little further or at least have the short distance I do run not feel like a race towards death.

The past two weeks seemed particularly challenging. I had a lot going on at work, I wasn't sleeping as much I as I know I need to be and the workouts were kicking my butt. Going to the gym should be something I look forward to, so to keep me motivated I compiled a list of things I love about the gym. Maybe you'll find something that encourages you.

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For Less Than A Dollar A Day
My membership is only $10 a month. How insane is that? If I break it down to the five days a week I go over four weeks, that's only $0.50 a day. I can't park downtown for that little. Price is a big deal to me. I'm pretty cheap, so if I feel like I'm getting a steal I will take advantage of it as much as I can. It was also motivating when I was paying significantly more for a membership. I'll be damned if I'm going to spend that much and not use it all the time, I would think.

TV Land
There's this room called the theater room, which is full of treadmills and TVs. For a man without cable, having 12 or so TVs blaring different cable channels is a like heaven. They also have little consoles on each treadmill so you can plug in your headphones and listen to whichever TV you want. And the best part, no one knows exactly what I'm watching. Am I watching the Patriot's game? Maybe rolling my eyes at Greta Van Susteren? Or am I catching up on the latest escapades between LC and Speidi on The Hills. Probably all of the above. But mostly The Hills.

Don't Stop The Music
I really love listening to music. It's blaring in my car where ever I drive, and there's almost always some tune stuck in my head. So for the hour or so that I am at the gym, I get to listen to all the music I want. Everybody has different things they listen to to keep them motivated when they run. On my playlist? A little remixed Killers music, a horribly wonderful Bloc Party mashup, and a little of The Patrick HatTrick. There may be some Britney throw in there too. Don't judge.

Easy On The Eyes
A large number of people in the gym look like, well, me. Somewhat frumpy and disheveled people who really shouldn't be wearing shorts that short. And that's fine. Working out with unfit, unattractive people takes the pressure off and makes me less embarrassed that I can only bench 60 pounds. In the right situation, though, the beautiful people can be extremely motivating. Put some hottie bouncing on the treadmill in front of me, and I just might run an extra lap or two.

Its a Planet Fitness
Which means, I don't have to work out with people like this. They have a big alarm at the back of the gym that I have yet to see go off.

All Grown Up
Most days I still feel like a kid. In fact, I think my mind stopped comprehending time somewhere around 2002. In some ways I've still got that not quite mature, looking to make his way in the world mindset. But each day I head to the gym. I get a glimpse of something different. I carry a gym bag in my car and head straight there after work (if I go home first I'll think of 101 reason why I shouldn't go work out). There is this huge wall length mirror that I see myself walking in towards the locker room. Everyday I see myself, wearing my work khakis and either a tucked in polo or a button up shirt. My ID usually still dangles from my neck as I carry my gym bag ready to do what I got to do. I don't know. Every time I see that, I feel like an adult. And it feels kind of good.

Project RunDay
Some of the treadmills have their own individual TV attached, which comes in handy on Wednesdays. Wednesday nights are all about Project Runway, the fantastic Bravo TV show I've become addicted to over the last few years. Wednesdays are also run days. So I combine the two, running during the show and taking a walking break during commercials. I'm actually able to watch all but the last 15 minutes of the show like that. I can't wait until the day I can skip the walking and run right through the commercials. That little goal is oddly motivating. When I first started running a few years ago, I would take off right at the climax of a song. That first time, I didn't make it to the end of the song before stopping to catch my breath. I remember the first time I made it through an entire song. I was so happy. A minor accomplishment, but to me it meant so much. As my goals get longer and longer, I know that feeling of accomplishment will only get sweeter.

Get Loose
There are actually several of the weight training exercises I like, but my favorite thing to do happens at the very end. The stretching. I've never been a big fan of stretching. I go through the motions a little before a run or some heavy lifting, but mostly I didn't much see the benefit in it. Until I read that stretching can be a runners best friend. In fact, getting a nice long stretch after a run helps fight off the soreness and stiff muscles that I would always get from a challenging workout. The day after a hard run used to leave me hobbling around. Now I actually feel good and refreshed the day after a good run. How great is that.

Being Fit Just Might Come In Handy
Last week Friday I covered a high school football playoff game at the Alamodome. Good times, except that the game ran late, putting me in a deadline squeeze. So when it was all over and I had my sad, we-just-lost-the-game shots, I had to turn around my photos fast. So I ran. I ran from the center of the field, through the tunnel behind the end zone, wrapped around the under the concourse and back to the center to make my way up into the press box. It kind of sucked, but when I made it upstairs, I didn't want to die. I've ran in similar situations, but usually I stop and walk some when I'm out of sight (or breath), but this time I kept running. It kind of sucked and I was obviously winded, but I didn't feel like I was going to die. It was an oddly practical use for running I'm sure I'll need again sometime.

New Shoes

What's the most exciting part of my week so far? It just might be the acquisition of my brand-new running shoes. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the Beast:
Why are they called the Beast, you may ask? Is it because they are clunky and painful like a beast? Maybe. Actually, these nifty pair of Brooks running shoes are pretty comfortable, but they will take some getting used to. They have additional padding for the heel-striking inward-rolling strider such as myself. Sounds great, but it makes them a little weightier than I'm used to. Also, since I'm not used to running in the correct position that these shoes force me into, they leave random running muscles a little soar.

I was warned that would happen by the incredibly helpful saleswoman at the Fleet Feet running store where I picked these up. I'll be honest, I was very hesitant to set foot into the Fleet Feet. It was a little intimidating, and I was afraid they would kind of laugh at me or dismiss me when I walked in. It turned out to be quite an experience. I haven't had anyone put a shoe on me and lace me up since I was a kid. I'd sit down and take off a pair, and there she was slipping a new pair on my feet. I still had to do a little work, though. She had me run up and down the front of the store with each shoe so she could watch my stride and I could get a good feel. About five pair of shoes and several laps in front of the strip mall later, I had the ones. I had the Beast.

Back On Track

We are going to forget all about last week.

From the sickness to the missed workouts to the annual debauchery that is Thanksgiving. I came out with my game face on, but was quickly defeated. My sister put chorizo in the stuffing and made about a zillion different deserts. I'm only human, man. I couldn't resist.

But that was last week. One thing I've learned is that as soon as you let one or two bad meals or a missed workout get you down, it becomes very easy to throw your hands up and say 'forget it.' I could just have easily decided last week was shot, so why not have some pizza at the office the next day and just restart my plan Monday? Well, it's not a plan or a diet or a temporary state of healthy I'm going for.

If I'm going to run this marathon, it has to be a lifestyle change. It has to be about making the right choices everyday, and not getting discouraged when I slip up now and then. Keep you eye on the prize Zamora. The Capitol 10K is only 125 days away.

Damn it, I'm Sick

This definitely puts a snag in my plans. Now what do I do? I know, rest and fluids and such, but can I go to the gym? Should I? There isn't anything on my Men's Health personal trainer that tells me what to do. Ugh.

I slept til about noon today, and after a quick breakfast went back to bed for another three hours or so. When I stood up out of bed I felt dizzy and feverish. Maybe I shouldn't be on a treadmill right now.

Michael 1, Thanksgiving 0

Some friends from work invited me to a pre-Thanksgiving meal tonight, and I thought it was a good early challenge to my new healthy eating routine.

I did pretty well. I skipped over some of the high-fat, cheesy concoctions and stuck to the salad, mashed potatoes (sans gravy) and a nice portion of turkey. I small slice of pie and some coffee completed the meal. And it was fine. I didn't feel like I was really missing out. Hopefully I can continue when I get to the Thanksgiving table at my parents house.

One problem with the evening. When I left, I started feeling sick. Not from the food, but sick as in I may be catching a cold. Damn it. That's what I get for leaving the house and socializing I suppose. Well, that won't happen again.

Watch Out Austin

I've found my first race. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the Capitol 10K.



And I got the most commitment I could ask for at this point from Bryan, when he sent me a one-sentence email saying "I will have to check my track schedule, but if I can it looks good."

Hooray! This is so going to be us in Capitol 10K next year:

My apologies to Tony Barron, Carl Stones and Statesman photog Laura Skelding for this aberration of a photo.

Baby Steps

So I've learned that I should probably not have a full marathon be my first race, so says the copy of "Marathon Training For Dummies" I started reading at the CVS pharmacy down the street from my house.

The book was actually pretty helpful. I might even buy it, or at least check it out at my local library. I also learned that I'm a heal striker, and that I should buy running shoes with a high arch to support the outward role of my feet when I run. Or something.

I also think I need to drag someone into this with me. That's where Bryan Dibley comes in. Bryan is a friend of mine from college who now teaches English and coaches high school basketball. I informed him of my decision tonight, and I think he may have doubts. Our phone conversation went something like this:

ME: So I need to tell you something, mostly because I want you to hold me accountable when this time comes around next year. And I might need your help.
BRYAN: (with a mix of concern and boredom) What?
ME: I have decided I'm going to run in the New York City Marathon!
BRYAN: (with a mix of disbelief and disgust) WHAT!
ME: And I have decided that you should run it with me.
BRYAN: That's not gonna happen. You're not running anything.

I guess I understand his skepticism. There was that time when I told him I was going to drop journalism and start training to be a speed skater in order to qualify for the 2006 winter Olympics. I've told him I'm emigrating to Australia. I've told him I was going to get us on "The Amazing Race." And he's still waiting for me to go after that masters degree I keep talking about (the plan involves living on the second floor of his house while attending school and stringing for the Star-Telegram, so he may or may not be looking forward to that one actually happening).

So what's different this time? Honestly I don't know. The good news is he kind of agreed that maybe he will run a 10K with me if I find one in late March or April of next year. And if that works out, maybe, possibly he would be willing to think about considering something more later. Its hard to get Bryan to do anything he doesn't want to do (you should see our horrible "Amazing Race" audition tape), so the fact that he's willing to consider this first step is good news.

Not So Fast, Fatty

So a couple of early snags.

First of all, who knew you had to apply for the New York City Marathon? Obviously not me. Apparently they get more than 90,000 applicants and only have about 38,000 people accepted. Luckily its not like applying for a job or college or anything. They don't really evaluate your abilities. They have certain groups of people that automatically qualify (big-time winners, long-time participants, people rejected three years in a row, Lance Armstrong), but for the most part people are selected in a random lottery. That's slightly encouraging I suppose.

And second, lets address the elephant in the room right now. If you've ever met me, you know I'm not in the best shape. So before I do any serious running, I need to drop a few (by few I mean about 50) pounds or so. This may sound hard to believe, but I know how to lose weight. Commitment has always been my issue. Using a plan approved by the trainers at Men's Health, I once managed to lose about 40 pounds. I got really heavy in college, ballooning to nearly 240 pounds. At 5'5ish, that is so unhealthy. I moved to Wyoming for a job, and by the end of my run there I managed to drop to just over 200. When I moved for my next job in Arkansas, I had trouble maintaining the routine. I got down to below 190 at one point, but my chaotic schedule and lack of discipline finally caught up with me. I stopped going to the gym regularly and looked for any excuse to eat out.

When I dropped below the 200lb mark, I told myself I would never go that high again. Yet here I am, just over the 200lb mark today. I need to make this commitment. Even if this whole thing fails and I never run a marathon, I need to make a commitment to myself to live better.

Just Do It

I've made a decision. I want to run a marathon.

I know it sounds crazy, especially since I still get winded climbing the stairs up to my third floor office. In fact, the furthest I've run at one time was a little over 3 miles. Inside. On a treadmill. About two years ago. I didn't say this was going to be easy.

I don't know where the compulsion came from. Maybe I just need some sort of hobby or goal in my life. Maybe it's because I turn 30 next year and want to enter the next decade of my life in better shape than the current one. Maybe it was seeing that glib Katie Holmes crossing the New York Marathon finish line without breaking a sweat. Maybe I just need that feeling of accomplishment in my life.

Whatever the reason, there it is. I've said it. It's out there. I plan to run in next year's New York City Marathon, and with this blog as my witness, you'll see me in the Big Apple next year. For now though, I need some running shoes.