Production Update: Holiday Thoughts

Two months since Chicago.

While I look back on that event fondly, I find myself looking back on the not so monumental runs even more. I recently sent a holiday email to my crew:

"Hey gang,

Runs are alot lonelier these days. I definitely miss our shoot days... even the early, cold ones. I will always look back and smile at the roads we have run together.

FYI - as many of you know, we are still in digitizing mode and with over one hundred tapes... we are moving slow but steady. Presently, Michele and Wes are digitizing and I am guessing that we are about 1/3 captured. Recently, Eric, Wes, and Mike have braved the cold weather and confusing terrain of West Chester to get some MOS stuff at Brian's Run. Matt E. and his band has contributed a song that I think sounds badass and you could definitely light people on fire to it. Along with Matt's song, we are looking at other composer contributions. Lastly, the trailer should be on the website soon and soon after that hits it will be distributed on youtube and other websites. Derby is still a total mo.

Thanks for your continued commitment in 3:15.

Cheers to you and raise the glass a little higher for your families.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

z"

It is a cliche' in any business to say that "I had the best crew in the world!" and it is a bigger cliche' to state, "I know is sounds cliche' but I had the best crew in the world!" Guess what? I had the best f'n crew in the world and if anyone wants to throw down for the title? I have the belt... bring it. Never mind the incredibly early crew calls and sub-freezing temps - not one complaint or absence. Everyone showed with the A Game every chance they could. At times they believed in me more than I believed in myself... and they believed in me. I could never say it enough, "thanks, for coming out man." I picked these people because I believed in them and knew they had heart. Looking back, I think they joined in because they saw the same in me. Quite a gift.

While they are not part of the film crew, I need to say thanks to Matt (he keeps things looking "proper" at the 3:15 website and brilliant at www.algorithmdesign.com) and Mike D. (he kept me in the press and wrote the Main Line Today article... still my favorite to date. Check his written work and his recent novel Walden at www.conversari.com). These guys are as much of the crew as anyone . They have the shirts to prove it.

I also need to say thanks to some others as well...

Thanks to all the people that supported the fundraiser. Kildares (www.Kildarespub.com) in West Chester, PA hosted the event at no cost to me and I still am amazed at their generosity. Dane, the GM, stated simply, "It wouldn't be a fundraiser if it cost you money." Cheers, Dane.

Speaking of "the fundraiser", it would not have been the same without two groups of people. 1. the supporters that came out. Man, we had fun and, personally, it was an amazing experience. Thank you all. 2. Fooling April! Philadelphia's favorite sons (www.myspace/fa.com). Goddamn! These guys tore the roof off Kildare's! If you ever have a chance to see these guys... run. Don't walk. Thanks, fellahs.

The best "neighborhood" gym in the world is run by one of the nicest people in the world and it is reflected in her facility. Mitch's Market Street Gym (www.mitchsgym.com) is a great gym! I know most of you look at gyms as a place that muscle heads go to tell each how "small" the other guys looks and I have experienced that in the beginning of my training period cross training at Bailey's in KOP (shudder). I trained at Bailey's (shudder) because it was free (my family had purchased me a lifetime membership many, many years ago) so the price was right. But I hated it and looked to my old friend Donna Markley to see if she was interested in sponsoring me with a free gym membership. Long story a little less long, not only did Donna and her partner Joe offer a membership but they where the first to offer a site for the fundraiser (it was looking for alcohol sponsors that I met Dane). Did I say Mitch's is great? Not enough. Mitch's is great! I rehabbed my injury and brought my core fitness up to new levels. I can honestly say I walked into Chicago in the best shape in a long, long time and that is because of Donna and Joe!

Run brothers. Kenny, Mark, and I have been running together for three years and while they have been trying to sell me off for years ,"You need to train with someone faster... someone who will challenge you more..." It wouldn't be the same. I love these guys and I love running with them. Fast or slow - we will be running together for a long time. I also need to give a quick shout out to my new buddy Jim. After the Inquirer article, Jim contacted me and we became "fast" friends (get it fast... running... sorry). Thanks brothers.

To my wife Carol, who started this whole journey for me and has by far sacrificed the most. Times have been tough but we got through it, together. Thanks, Chill. I love you so much.

Lastly, thank you for checking in and spending some time with me.

Happy Holidays.
z

Production Update: 6 Miles Of Truth - The Chicago Marathon

I have some good news and bad news:

Bad news - I did not reach my goal. I ran a 3:33:10.

Good news - This Chicago Marathon time is a personal record previously beating a 3:33:41 at the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon.

Race Day - we were met with cold and windy weather, I was nervous as hell but ready to run. I have never run with so much crowd support and I have never run with such little no pain (thanks Nick, Lee, & Brad). I followed my plan of starting off at my marathon pace (a 7:27 mile) and the big question was - how long I could hold on? Well, I got to about mile 13 before my time started to slow and falter. During the last ten, my hips grew tight but I found pockets of energy and stayed strong. Crossing the Finish Line, I had nothing left but felt incredibly proud of my time even though it was not the 3:15 that I had hoped for.

I tell my kids,"Do your best and you will always be proud." I know this was the best I could do and I find the truth in my advice comforting. Boston is in my future and it will continue to make me work harder, faster, and longer.

Today I walk, or limp, away from this journey with pride in my pain and a deeper knowledge of who I am as a Runner, Father, Husband, and Friend. 3:15 has become more than just a qualifying time for Boston, it has taught the importance of goals (no matter how un-obtainable they may seem at the time) and life balance. I could go on and on... but the documentary will tell the story better.

This journey is only half over.

Let's see how long we can hold on.

Thanks to everyone who beiieved and supported me. I hope I didn't let you down.

Much love,
z

Production Update: 20 Miles Of Hope

20 miles today... in a row. Life is good.

Today was very reflective of this training period. The day started off raining. Dark and bleak but I continued on. At one point, the sun broke thru and it became a beautiful day. This is where I am at. The clouds are gone and my injury seems to be apart of the past. I feel strong and my confidence is building with each run. Don't get me wrong, I know Chicago isn't going to be a walk down the Miracle Mile... it is going to be a fight to reach my goal. It is going to be a dog fight.

Right now, I am enjoying the sun. But please know this...

I am ready to fight.

Production Update: Balance

There were times that I felt as though the window of opportunity was closing. The reason I was so focused on Delaware was because the balancing act of training, family, and work was becoming more difficult. I felt as though I was running out of time. With its flat course and small field, DE made me think that I could hit it and acheive a three hour and fifteen minute marathon completing my quest for Boston.

In training for DE, pushed too hard and became to focused on one thing - being fast. I didn't see my body tearing apart. My balancing act faultered because of a limited view.

As I recently walked into training for Chicago, I had felt as though I had learned my lessons well and I would get back on track... balanced. I didn't realize my life would shift off center so quickly... or maybe it had shifted so slowly that I failed to notice. In one moment, I suddenly found things spinning and falling apart.

I think now I have caught up with a better understanding...

a better view...

a better appreciation for what I have...

a better balance.

Production Update: Fear and Loathing in DE

It's been five days since the Delaware Marathon.

I feel good.

Content.

Maybe I should back up a bit...

I walked into DE mentally thinking that this would be a conservative race for me. My plan would be to run with Mark the first lap (9:00 minute mile pace) and then maybe, MAYBE, pick up the pace into the second, third and fourth laps. My fear was that my knee would begin to tighten around five to thirteen miles into the race and then what?! Slow and steady wins the race... right?

No. It only lasts two miles.

Into the second mile, Mark and I were running an 8:40 mile and it felt comfortable. I told Mark what we were doing and he agreed that the pace felt good. I knew that this was not what Mark wanted to run his miles at and I feared that I may be subtly altering his plan. Mark wanted to run a sub four hour marathon and I would hate to effect that negatively. As I was pondering this, I heard Kenny's voice in my head, "Run your race, Mikey. You never know what is going to happen." Then I thought of my favorite quote by Steve Prefontaine, "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." As I thought of Pre, we hit our first water station, Mark lagged to grab a cup and thought of one thing - What have you got to lose? RUN!

3:36:39 into the marathon, I crossed the Finish Line.

Totally depleted.

In pain.

Happy.

I didn't get a 3:15 and Mark didn't get his sub 4:00... at least not on this day.

On to Chicago

Production Update: The Yo-Yo Effect

Many years ago, I had an opportunity to work with the professional wrestler (now actor, motivational speaker, and all around cool guy) Diamond Dallas Page. I have followed wrestling since I was a kid so this was pretty damn exciting for me. Page cut a great commercial for us and later, through his manager Smokey, we tried to work on some other projects together. One project was a documentary and the other was trying to get Page's autobiography some exposure in the company that I was working for. While neither worked out, the experience for me was a good one. As a "thanks" Page and Smokey sent me a copy of the book and I read it in a couple of days - a huge feat for me since I am a very slow reader. In the book, Page refers to life being a yo-yo and I always took that with me. We all have highs and lows, the lows always feel as though the yo-yo is "sleeping" but by remaining positive you can snap back to the top.

If you have read some of my previous postings, you will know that I have hit a bit of a low but I have tried to remain positive. It hasn't been easy but with the additional support of friends and family, I have always had someone pick me up when I felt I could not.

This weekend the yo-yo snapped back to the top. I was scheduled to run 20 miles and I took the invitation to run with Mark and another runner Mike. We went to a new course at Valley Forge Park and decided to 10 miles out and 10 back.

Needless to say I was nervous.

All or nothing.

Either run the distance or take a long walk back to the truck.

I needed this run.

We all started out running together at roughly a 8:30/9:00 mile pace. I felt good and relaxed. It was great to be out with these guys and at a new location. At 12 miles, I started to pick up my pace and steadily ran faster until the end of the run.

20 miles - completed without stopping. 8:27 mile ave.

I felt strong and confident... positive.

Delaware seems more obtainable.

The yo-yo was a the top.

I hope I can hold on to it for a little while...

Thanks to my friends and family for getting me this far and thanks to Page for showing my that a yo-yo has a top and a bottom and that being positive will get you back to the top.

z

Production Update: Falling Down

The following is an email conversation between two of my running friends. Mark's goal is to break a four hour marathon, he had been running incredibly well and recently encountered some sort of virus that has cut short some of his recent training runs:

Could not run 2 miles this weekend. Virus or something still going on.
Seeing the Doc today. My window for the "under 4 hour marathon" training is closing. Pissed off. Hope everyone had a great weekend.
--- Mark



Calm down, soldier!!

You can't undo all the good training you've done over the past several
weeks by throwing in the towel now. You still have PLENTY of time to get
yourself ready for the challenge

Indulge me in an experience I had my senior year at West Chester. I had a
plan to get under 16:00 for 5K at the Penn Relays. I had the splits worked
out by the 800, 1000, 1600, 3K, etc. Then I felt something coming on the
week of the Relays and didn't waste time going to the doctor. He put me on
some drugs and told me to let my body rest for a couple of days. I did just
that and when the big race came around, I ran 16:02 and just missed winning
thing. I was expecting much worse because my head said my body wasn't at
100But I had done the training and I wasn't going to get some cold or
bug ruin my goals. My point is that you have plenty of time to get yourself
well. YOU HAVE A SUB 4:00-HOUR MARATHON IN YOU. You just gotta believe it.
--- Julie



Thank you, Drugs and a kick in the butt might just be what is needed.
Thanks
---Mark



Too often when you're engaged in marathon training it's easy to lose sight
of the overall goal. You'll kick this nagging virus and come back refreshed
from a little down time. But don't start thinking negatively just because
you've hit a little roadblock. Nobody has ever endured a marathon training
program without having some kind of physical breakdown at some point. It's
how you choose to overcome it. You can take this virus for what it's worth
and come back with a vengeance or let it get in your head and cause you to
doubt yourself. Whenever I've ever doubted myself over a race, I always
listen to the words my dad used to tell me to get me to snap out of it. He
said "Just run." That is the purest and best advice I can ever pass along
to someone.

You're my inspiration, bud.
---Julie



God damn Martha!

Mark, don't jump out the window yet. Julie is 100ight Just run!
Let me add the works of the philosopher and runner Ken Run your
race.

These hurdles hit us to see what we are made of and while we may falter in our faith, we know who we are... runners. Falling allows us perspective to see how far we have come and gives of the goal of moving forward.

Just run you race.
--- z



When I read the start of these emails, I realized that Mark is going through the same frustrations that I am. As much as I was giving him advice, I was also trying to remind myself of who I am.

Recently, I attempted a twenty mile training run. It was a beautiful spring day and while I was nervous about my knee I was excited to see where I was.

At five miles, I had settled into my pace. I felt great and had no signs of pain. My confidence started to grow but I reminded myself that I had a long way to go.

At ten miles, I still felt great and started pushing myself to run a little faster.

At thirteen miles, I felt it my left knee started to tighten. I knew the feeling and also knew it was not going away. I started to run towards home.

Arriving at home, Carol (my wife) saw my face and knew what had happened. As I wrapped my knees in ice, I made a comment about forgetting qualifying for Boston. It was like I had slapped Carol in the face. She looked me dead in the eye and reminded me how important goals are and how important this was to the whole family and me. Carols eyes had begun to well and I knew she was right. Goals are important and to let them go would be a tremendous waste.

When we fall and feel as though we do not have the strength to get up, our friends and family gather around us and show us how strong we are.

Oh yeah, I made a doctors appointment.

Production Update: LA / WC

Two weeks ago, I had a business trip to LA. I am not a big fan of the City of Angels but I did become one. In the past, LA has only reminded me of traffic, drinking with OJ, and smog. But this trip was different, in resuming a fairly normal trianing schedule I was yeilded an opportunity to see the city in a way that I never had before... early, early in the morning, one block at a time. All cities have there own beauty but I had never really seen that in LA - traffic and smog really ruins it. But this trip was different. The city was really beautiful and I enjoyed my runs out on Wilsher Blvd. very much. It seems as though my knees enjoyed the runs too.

Back in WC the knees are still feeling good. Yesterday, I completed a 12 mile run feeling strong and as if I could have ran some more. During this run I felt relaxed and actually pushed myself towards the end of the run. "Pushing myself" hasn't been apart of my vocabulary in some time. It felt great. Let me say that again... it felt great.
I never saw my Sports Med Doc and I rehabed everything myself. I don't know why I never went to see them- probably because I was a little afraid of what I would hear.

Production Update: Crap-tacular

I wish things were going better. Like anyone else, I am having good days and bad... in this case subsitute "days" with "runs." Last Saturday, I ran seven miles and felt great - no pain in my legs and relaxed. It was fun.

Wednesday was a different story.

The last two miles of an eight mile run was spent trying to manage the pain of an ever tightening right knee and some funk going on in my left shin. Crap-tacular.

So I have jumped back on wrapping my knees but doing a contrast (cold then hot) at least twice a day with a 400mg Motrin chaser.

I have faced the fact that I am going to have to see the Sports Med. doc and try to fit rehab in somewhere. I am trying to stay positive but these injuries seem to my effect spirit as much as my body... I guess it is time to face the music and heal both.

Production Update: On The Road Again

In third grade, my teacher had a large styrofoam elf that was running with a large pocket watch. Mrs. Aul told us that when we didn't focus on our task this elf will run away with our time. Lost time forces you to rush and possibly make mistakes. I can still see that smiling elf looking at me - ready to run at the first opportunity that my focus should drift.

Being hurt sucks.

While I am running again, my left knee is still feeling pain as the milage increases. Yesterday (Wednesday), I spent the last few miles in a seven mile run trying to find "the sweet spot" in my left leg's stride to avoid the pain. I remind myself not to run hurt because favoring a leg may cause more problems. If this continues, I will go see a sports med. doc... and that will be followed up with PT.

Now that elf from Mrs. Aul's third grade class is running away from me and I feel like I may not be able to catch him. God damn, the elf is fast. z

Production Update: Ouch, My Knees

This past Sunday, I was half way through a fourteen mile training run when I started to feel a pulling in both knees. Damn, I thought, this is bad. I rarely stop during training runs but I knew that this could be bad... I hated doing it but at the top of a small hill I stopped. It was 16 degrees and I quickly felt the cold rush in (both physically and mentally), slowly walking I could see the film crew unsure what to do. As I approached a production car, Michele approached and told me to get in the car. In a car window, I saw my reflection - ice hung onto my goatee - I just looked beaten and tired. I hated the way I looked and felt.

It has been almost a week since this occurred. I haven't run once. Twice a day, I wrap my knees with ice and take 400mgs of Motrin. Right now, the knees feel OK but I will not know until my next run this Tuesday.

Lessons learned - Listen to my body... it is telling me everything that I need to know. I hindsight I had been over training and not allowing anytime for recovery. Every run for me was a sub eight minute mile if not faster. So, over the past five weeks I have been tearing myself apart and not allowing my body to rebuild. In marathon terms - I came out of the gate way too fast.

z

2005 Lake Placid Marathon : 3:51:28

2005 Marine Corps Marathon : 3:33:41

2006 Icicle Ten Mile Run : 1:16:16