How Social Media Killed the ING NYC Marathon

By now it's old news - the New York City Marathon was canceled. After Hurricane Sandy tore through the Northeast,  it became clear foregoing the race was probably the right decision. The unfortunate part of this is that this decision came after days of assuring runners that the race would continue as planned - only 36 hours before the starting pistol was to go off in Staten Island.

So why did it play out this way?

Public outcry was cited as the reason for the cancellation on ESPN's Story:

"this weekend's New York City Marathon was canceled Friday when Mayor Michael Bloomberg reversed course and yielded to mounting criticism that this was no time to run a race."

Without a doubt - newspapers, television, public officials, sponsors pulling support and many other factors came into play to push the New York Road Runners and NYC to call off the race. But while the marathon's Facebook page did not spark the fire of public outcry, it did throw gasoline on a smoldering situation - here's how:

1. From a runner's perspective, people come from across the globe to participate in the NYC Marathon, so geographically, the participants are very spread out. Facebook became the default meeting place for everyone to look for answers and insight as to if and how the race was going to be conducted after the storm. As confusion set in, and concern that resources were perhaps going to be directed away from victims and towards the race, non-runners found the marathon Facebook page as their meeting spot as well. Taking a rough look at their posts before the storm, they averaged somewhere between 15-200 comments depending on the subject. After the storm - the discussion picked up- Tuesday's post had 372, Wednesday's had 645, Thursday's posts had 615, Friday's had 3000+, you get the picture, and this isn't even counting the comments on their wall. As more people came to the page, it was like a party that slowly got more crowded, louder and hotter as more guests showed up. It was only a matter of time before someone spilled a drink on someone else and hair was being pulled
2. The ING NYC Marathon did not communicate with the runners effectively. Their page sent out vague posts roughly once a day, with little information regarding the fluid situation. Posts offered little in terms of information, and their moderators did not engage legitimate logistical questions that were being asked such as if the hours for the expo were going to be altered, how transportation was going to be handled as the public transit system in the city had been massively impacted, or things as simple as, "should I get on my flight?". Unresponsiveness was interpreted as indifference.  To top things off, the official cancellation email came out 12 hours after the cancellation announcement.I was physically at the Expo when they cancelled, and the only reason I was tipped off just before I walked in the door was that I happened to check out twitter and saw the flurry of activity. 
3. Lastly, social media was leveraged to gather the movement against the race. To do this Facebook pages were created (with over 30k likes in less than 24 hours) and change.org petitions were circulated to implore the organizers and the city itself to not run the race as scheduled. The real salt in the wound for the marathon was that their own Facebook page, as noted in point 1, was used as the recruiting grounds for people to join the movement against the race.  

 It's unfortunate that things had to unfold the way they did. A lot of the same platforms that contributed to the cancellation of the race could have been used to save the reputation of the race if not the race itself. Showing empathy for those impacted by communicating with their community and providing information would have eased a lot of minds. It was noted that the race's television broadcast was going to be turned into more of a telethon for the victims - but in keeping with the rest of their communications, this was shared after the decision was made to cancel, clearly too late to change the conversation.While you can't control social media, it's critical that brands are engaged and committed to responding to it as it clearly is becoming a force to be reckoned with.


Drive Slow

Running through the Wreckage

 It's now a couple of days after the disaster that was Hurricane Sandy. We lucked out and never lost power, but roads are still blocked by trees, many people still are without electricity or water and some lost much more.

 I have some serious mixed feelings about this weekend. First, is it right to run a race through an area that has suffered immense damage? The flip side of that argument is, will the race bring a sense of normal and celebration to an area that sorely needs it? I think you could make a strong case for both, and if you take a look at the marathon's Facebook page - it's playing out in real time.

I've trained, and actually deferred my entry from last year after injuring myself. I have a lot of friends running with me, and for me, I've decided to take part in the race. If anything, it'll be an interesting weekend that I hope to bring back to all of you. I'll be live blogging my experience via my new Tumblr account Runner's Trots. I'll be taking pictures along the way, and sharing thoughts.

The adventure begins, as I try to get into the city to pick up my registration packet and then somehow make it to the starting line. As long as I can do those things, getting to the finish should be a breeze.

Drive Slow

"Taper" week - getting ready for race day

This past weekend was to be a taper week, but that also assumes I did 20 miles the week before. My birthday and my legs not feeling 100% translated into me only doing 9 miles 2 weeks ago. So, to get back  on it, my 13ish mile run on Sunday took a different route.

I didn't change too much from what I normally do - not exactly the best idea a month or so away from race day. But what I did do was push myself a bit. I typically run 5:1 (run/walk) intervals, and this week I kicked it up to 7:1's. I knew I could do it as I did essentially 15:1's in Chicago a few weeks ago with little trouble. It was time to push myself a bit. To my surprise, it was no trouble at all and I improved my time by a fair margin while still not going all out. The real gauge of how you're doing is if you can run the 2nd half of your run faster than the first half - which is exactly what I did. I went from a 10:30/mile pace up to a 10:00/mile pace with some ease.

I'm feeling pretty good heading into this weekend's last true "long run" of 20 miles. Just hoping to keep a steady pace and finish strong.

Drive slow

A tale of two customer service experiences

It's getting to be that time again where I need to cycle in a new pair of running shoes, so that I have a fresh, but broken in pair of kicks ready for race day on November 4th. You don't want to break in new gear during the marathon, and at the same time, you don't really want to do it on a long run either. In my experience (which is limited and totally novice) I've found it best to wear new shoes during some mid-week runs, and then use them on a middle distance run before the race (10ish miles).

Police sketch of the suspect

I went to Runningwarehouse.com to pick out my shoes. I've bought the same pair probably a dozen or so times in a row now, just different models each year. Good pricing, free 2-day shipping, done. Or so I thought.

Delivery day rolls around, and my shoes are no where to be found. This is pretty strange because they have been extremely reliable in the past. Delays happen, no problem. Another 2 days pass and the shoes are no where to be found. It then became apparent that some low-life stole my running shoes from my doorstep.

First attempt to sort this out was to call UPS. In short - they said to call the shipper. Not a whole lot else there.

So then I called Running Warehouse and this is how the exchange went:

• 1 Ring. A friendly voice on the other end picks up and asks how she can help me.
• I explain the situation to her, she apologizes for the inconvenience, looks up my account, confirms the order I placed and without hesitation asks where they can send me a replacement pair. 
• She then goes on to explain that they will work with UPS to try to figure out what happened with the shipment, but in the meantime, I should expect my new pair of shoes in 2 days. 
• She asks if there is anything else she can do to help me, apologizes again for the inconvenience and wishes me a good day.
• I looked down at my phone. From dial to hang up - my shoe issue was resolved in 3 Minutes.

UPS customer service

UPS called the next day to start their investigation. During the exchange with their rep, their line of questioning made me feel like I was being interrogated for the crime of stealing my own shoes. Not cool, but whatever- I get it.

Yesterday, the shoes arrived (at my mother's, since I no longer trust my neighbors) around 5pm. At 7:30pm, I received a call from another friendly person at Running Warehouse who was ensuring I got my shoes. Pretty impressive.

This morning, I got another call from UPS, this time the person asked about 4 different ways if I got the initial package. All I could say was, "No, I never got it". I'm pretty sure UPS would have water boarded me given the opportunity.

In summary:

• Runningwarehouse.com is awesome - thank you for the excellent customer service - I will continue to shop at your site.
• UPS - bite me
• The Shoe Burgler - I hope you develop plantar fasciitis while wearing my shoes

Drive Slow

Getting Lost on a Long Run

 Last weekend, I was in Chicago visiting family. My cousin Jill is participating in her first marathon (The Chicago Marathon) in just two weeks and invited me to join her training group for their long run Saturday morning.

 I was scheduled to do 12 miles last weekend - but was feeling pretty worn out from a week of traveling. Jill was running a race the next day, so she was only doing the first part of the run. The stars had aligned for me to blow off the long run! Hey, it was a taper week, I'm supposed to be taking it easy! Plan for the day was to head out for half of the run and then turn back on my own.

 Saturday morning rolled around and we met up with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA). This group has all sorts of programs and trainings available for runners of all levels. I found the group that was going to be running a 10:30 pace, and after some inspirational words and tips from the group's leader - we were all off on our way.

 First, the trail we were on was part of the forest reserve system in Chicago (Cook Country, if we're being technical here). There are a bunch of these park areas that basically natural plots of land all around the city. There are multiple trails all marked with different colors that runners, walkers, bikers, etc can enjoy. (there is some foreshadowing in this paragraph)

The group I was with consisted of about 8 runners who had been training together for the Chicago Marathon, like my cousin. Some were first time runners, some had completed many races, but everyone was bound by a common goal. After a mile or two, I noticed one of the runners had a "2009 Chicago Marathon" shirt on. I asked him if he did that race, as that was the year I participated in the race. We got to talking and before I knew it, we were at the 5 mile mark. I had planned on turning around after about 3 miles, but lost track of time. I wished everyone good luck on their race in 2 weeks and turned around, making my way back to the start (sort of).

Running on a trail is great, because it's quiet and you don't have to watch for cars. What isn't so great is that it can all look alike. I came to a fork in the path and decided to make a right. Seemed reasonable. I thought the markings were for a path I was on. Onward! After a while, I found myself trying to convince myself that I was on the right trail and everything looked familiar. It didn't. The big tip off was when I came to a sign that said "end of trail". Uh, oh.

I was out on a train I had never been on, with no water, and no idea where I needed to go. I slowed down, and tried to sort out where I was. Luckily - not to far into my jog back from the dead-end, I found a map. I was able to confirm I went in the complete opposite direction from where I needed to be. After sorting out my path, still not 100% sure and still without water, I took it easy and made my way back onto the correct trail, eventually finding the water station which confirmed I was back on track. Right behind me arrived the group I was running with initially, and I was greeted with questions of "what happened?!" and "did you take a nap or something?". I told them to story of getting lost, and joined them for the last part of the run.

It ended up being a great run, and running with a group really pushed me to keep up my pace the whole time. It was like having runner peer pressure. There was no way I was going to be the guy who started walking! Now, if you're not feeling great - it's perfectly fine and advisable to slow down - but a lot of the time, it's laziness that slows me down. I did my first marathon training with a group from Team in Training, and after last Saturday's adventure in the woods, I remembered how much fun it was to run with a group and how a group can really push you to do your best.

Moral of the story - don't blow off long runs. 1. It's only going to hurt you on race day and 2. Karma will catch up with you and ensure you make a wrong turn.

Drive slow

Why 18 miles was easier than 16

 The long runs are getting seriously long, folks! This week, things were really ramping up with my training. The mid-week runs are now 6-milers, and I was able to throw in a spin class and some light weight lifting too. I was a bit nervous about the run after my 16 miler was less-than-fun, but I've been there, and know better than anyone that sometimes, it's not just your week. It happens. It's ok.

 Leading up to my Sunday morning run, I knew something had to change to make this week better than last. As faithful blog-readers know, I've been trying to drop some weight for the NYC marathon, and to do this, I've been tracking my food intake with the "Lose it" app. This has worked great for my beach body, but thinking about the 16 mile run last week - I felt I wasn't taking in enough calories.


On Friday and Saturday - I still tried to eat right, but I essentially threw out my calorie budget. I made a point to eat more, and drink more water. When you're prepping for a 3+ hour run - salads go out the window. You need calories. To put this in perspective, according to my Garmin watch, I burned 2700 calories this morning.

2700.

No one eats like Gaston. But you should try

That's more than a full day of eating for me, so to have the fuel to complete my run, I had to load up a bit. This doesn't mean eat crap to get the calories though. I snacked on pretzel chips last night, some whole grains, peanut butter, etc. If I'm being honest though, I also had a swiss roll. And it was good. #realtalk.

Anyhow, I definitely felt the difference in my legs this morning. I had a lot more energy and was able to keep a decent pace for the whole run. I skipped the music today and I actually enjoyed it. Running without music for over 3 hours sounds horrible, but I found it relaxing. I was able to focus on my pace and enjoy the surroundings on a very pleasant morning.

Time for a taper week now, and then in two weeks - the first of two 20 mile runs.

Drive Slow

Difficult Long Run in the Rain

 This past weekend, I completed a 16 mile run. The key word here is completed. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't a whole lot of fun, but I finished.

 When I do long runs, I like to do them on the trail that I live near. It goes for miles, but the section I frequent is about 4 miles long. This works out well because my water bottles typically only last for about 8 miles of running. I then refill when I get back to my car.

 Anyhow - I got out on the trail by 6:45am and for the first 8 miles, I felt pretty good! I was careful to keep my pace comfortable and not too fast, knowing I had a long road ahead. I started to ease into a groove and at the turn around mile 4 - I was thinking this would be a good run.

 By this point, the trail was filling up with runners and bikers. This is an easy distraction - so I was careful to not try to pace with anyone. A huge mistake one can make is to try to run at someone else's pace. Not an issues though, just sort of kept trotting along.

When I got back to my car, 8 miles and halfway done with my run - I felt decent and started filling my water bottles back up. It's at this point that the skies opened up and a pretty decently heavy rain started falling. Luckily I was already totally gross from running - so the rain didn't bother me. It actually felt pretty nice. What it did do though is scare off about 90% of the other runners on the trail. This made for a fairly quiet last 8 miles.

So, back on the trail I go - feeling pretty good, but obviously starting to feel the effects of the workout.
10 miles in, feeling a little tired, but not bad.
11 miles, look at my watch - see i'm slowing down - uh oh - better pick it up
12 miles, at the turn, feeling pretty gassed. "this may be an interesting 4 miles back to the car..."
13 miles, Half marathon! Woo! Ok, time to walk.
14-16 miles, let's just say I looked less than athletic.

It wasn't a great run, but I finished it. I kept a positive outlook and tried to enjoy the great morning weather if nothing else. Hopefully my next one (18 miles) is a bit easier - but the main thing is to just keep after it. You have to listen to your body and slow down if you're not feeling it. Long runs are going to hurt a bit, but once it crosses the line to exhaustion or pain, you need to reel it in. Until that point though, keep positive thoughts in your head and know that you will finish.

Drive Slow

Odd Music, Odd Run

Hey all,
 Back after a week of training and traveling. Tried to get in a decent run last night as I missed my long run due to travels on Sunday and had a pretty goofy 7-miler. I started out strong, actually having to slow myself down as every time I looked down at my watch, I saw a pace that was roughly a minute to 1:30 faster than I wanted to be going. Foolishly, I thought to myself, "wow, I'm so athletic that I can run this fast pace and it feels normal!".

Wrong.

After about 2 or 3 miles, my aggressive pace gave way to me feeling like general crap ( did I mention I was operating on 3 hours of sleep?) Ugh. Not what I was hoping for. Making matters worse, I was running "down and back", so even if I stopped, I would still have the "back" leg of my run left.

I simply took my time, made sure to drink my fluids (Nuun - cola flavor was my choice yesterday, not bad) and focus on finding some good music.

"We dance to all the wrong songs"

There were two songs that stuck out in my run that really helped propel me towards finishing, and they are very different.

First, helping me find a groove was Air's "New Star in the Sky" off of their Moon Safari album. Sort of slow, ambient music - not the typical running jam. It just sounded right at the time though.

Then, as I was finishing the run and looking to end on a high note, The Refused's "New Noise" came on. This song holds a special place in my heart given that it was a song I used to play with my band in college. It was exactly what I needed to kick it in gear.

Should be a busy next two weeks, but hopefully I can get as many runs in as possible. No use getting worked up over missed runs - we can only do our best, and sometimes that's suboptimal. And that's ok.

Drive slow.

Longer Runs, Better Music

 Back after a blogging break! Things have been a bit hectic with work, school, and getting prepared to make a local move to a new place. That hasn't stopped me from training hard for NYC!

The miles are starting to get longer, and in turn, the runs are becoming more challenging and stressful on my body. As noted before, it's important to work gradually up to longer distances - or else you may end up injuring yourself.

I had a 10 mile run last week and followed that with a taper run this past Sunday of 8 miles. The 8 felt easy, so it seems I'm on track. This coming Sunday will be a 12 miler, so we'll see how fit I really am!

During my tempo run last week, I was thinking about what music goes best with pushing yourself. Typical upbeat rock and whatnot is generally a safe bet, but a song came on my iPod that seemed to work for me that was a bit unexpected. It was "Lazy Eye" by Silversun Pickups. I think it helped me zone out a bit and just focus on pushing my legs to go faster.

Next time you're working out, experiment with your music selection - try not using music at all too. Find what works best for you.

Drive slow

NYC Marathon Training Week 2

It is way to hot for this non-sense!

Last week, filled with 4th of July fun, family visits and the like made for a challenging week to stay with the training program, but I hung in there! I did spinning as my cross training once and did my long run on the treadmill (4 miles). Early on in the program, my long runs are a bit shorter, so I was able to avoid the 100 degree heat thankfully.

Nothing gets me moving like a good Amber and Gary fight

Training in the summer can be a real challenge, especially last week when the temperatures were legitimately dangerous to work out in. Ideally you get out early in the morning or late in the evening - but a) I was way too tired to get up early this Sunday (lame excuse, I know) and b) it was still scorching hot later in the evening. So I went to the gym. Running on the treadmill isn't the best for a number of reasons - but safety first. Here are some things I do to try to make my treadmill runs a bit more realistic.Completely unscientific, but seems to work for me.

1. Vary the speed. Not crazy, but pick up the pace from time to time, slow it down as well. Not moving is mind numbing enough - going the same pace for an extended period of time puts me to sleep.

2. Set a slight incline. I've been told this helps model wind resistance. I dunno, sure, why not?

3. Don't flip the channels on the TV if at all possible.Find something to watch and forget about it. I'm guilty of this, but it is more important to focus on your run than what is happening on Teen Mom. Let it go. I'll try too. Maybe. Unless Amber and Gary are fighting, then no promises.

Tonight is an easy 4 mile run and this weekend's run goes to 6 miles. Gotta get after it!

Drive Slow

NYC marathon training: Week 1

Welcome back all! I hope everyone has been doing well in spite of some pretty nasty heat as of late.

Enjoying a sunny Friday in NYC

In the last week, I've begun my official training for the NYC marathon. If I'm going to be honest, it's been a slow start. Between a busy week at work, finishing a course and starting a new one at NYU and having family visit, getting in my runs has been a challenge. I was short on time this weekend, but I was able to get out and run a few miles before we had to get going. What I've been able to control (eating right, exercising when I can, taking the stairs, walking more), I've done well. It's all about changing your mindset to focus on healthy living.

On Friday, I was in New York with my sister and her husband for a fun day in the city. We just cruised around and enjoyed a day off. Getting in a run wasn't an option, but I was able to do the next best thing - walk a ton. When it was time for me to meet up with the Mrs in midtown, I walked from Soho to see her (this is not close FYI). By the end of the day, I had walked over 10 miles according to my Fit Bit.

Tracking everything with the Fit Bit and "Lose it" has worked out great in my pre-training period. I dropped 9 lbs since mid-May, and feel strong as I begin to ramp up. Almost half way to my "fighting weight" goal.

This weekend I'll do a 5 and 6 mile run, and with some time off at the end of the week, I'll be getting in my mid week workouts with no trouble. The key is to not ramp up too fast though - so be sure to listen to your body.

Drive Slow

What does a dollar buy anymore?

The typical answer is, "not much" - but I'd like to change that to, "you never know".

On July 12, 1997 - I went to a baseball game with my dad. I was 13 years old and was just excited to spend a summer evening watching my favorite team.

We went to games fairly often together - starting out when we lived in Harrisburg going to Senators games. The Senators are a AA team and it was minor league baseball at its best. Guys smoking cigars in the bleachers, goofy promotions and may flies raining down from the sky. People actually brought umbrellas to combat the falling insects. This is horrific as I'm looking back on it - but I didn't seem to mind when I was 6 or 7.

We moved to Pittsburgh in 1995, which for 12 year old Matt, meant I would be able to see my favorite teams (the Pirates, Penguins and Steelers) more often. This was tremendously exciting. Up until then, we'd get to about 1 Pirates game a year while visiting family.

In the summer of 1997, the Pirates were dubbed the "Freak Show". They had been struggling ever since losing to the Braves in game 7 of the NLCS in '92. This year was different though. their payroll was approximately 38 dollars, and they had a team of youngsters and cast-offs. Somehow though, they were competing!

There was a festival going on that day downtown; I believe it was the Three Rivers Regatta, so we decided to check it out (it was Free - so this automatically seemed like a great idea). They were going to have members of the Pirates to sign baseballs and as we soon found out - tickets to that night's game against the Houston Astros for a dollar. We stood in the various lines and had my baseball signed by 12 or so of the Pirates. After milling around the festival for a bit, my dad and I made our way to the baseball game.

In those days, I would insist on getting to the ball game when the gates opened - 2 hours before the first pitch - because 1) We got to watch batting practice and 2) the cheap seats were general admission in Three Rivers Stadium, so the earlier you got there, the better your seat. Luckily my dad tolerated this non-sense and we ended up in the front row in right field.

The game started out slow - not much action, but the crowd was huge this night! Cheap tickets, fireworks and a competitive club are the perfect storm in Pittsburgh.

Inning after inning, no action. This was terribly boring for the first 5 or so innings, but slowly, one by one the crowd began to notice that there wasn't just no action, there were no hits either.

It's considered bad luck to talk about a no-hitter, so no one really said much, but you could feel the tension rise after each inning, each out, each pitch! If a member of the Astros made contact, 50,000 people held their breath and collectively exhaled as the ball was fielded to complete the out.

Francisco Cordova was on the hill for the Pirates that night with maybe a year of MLB experience under his belt. He had a short career as it turned out, but he was absolutely dealing on this night. The tension rose as we entered the 9th inning, and one by one, the Astros were sat down. 9 innings! 0 hits! 1 Problem! The Pirates hadn't scored yet either. It was 0-0 after the Pirates went down in the 9th inning, heading into extras.

Cordova was out of gas at this point and was replaced with Ricardo Rincon. Talk about an uneasy feeling. The guy who threw 9 no-hit innings just got replaced with a relief pitcher. Luckily for all involved, Rincon was able to preserve the no-hitter and we headed into the bottom of the 10th.

We had to score here, enough was enough! The first two batters were able to draw walks. Men on 1st and 2nd and the crowd was absolutely ready to erupt with anticipation. Mark Smith came to bat and completed one of the greatest games in Pirates history with a bomb into the left field seats. The Pirates won, the 10-inning no-hitter had been completed and the magic of baseball had been reaffirmed. The best part was being able to share that night with my dad, and let's not forget that it only cost 2 bucks! I still have that signed baseball from earlier in the day on my shelf (Ricardo Rincon is one of the signatures) .

So this weekend, Happy Father's Day - especially to all of the "Pittsburgh Dad's" out there. Get out there and do something fun together, you never know when you may see history together.

Drive slow
NY Times Article

A Happy Anniversary

I've been away for a couple of weeks, taking some time away from the ol' blog - but training for the NYC marathon is beginning for me, and it's time to check back in.

Before we dive back into training and the challenges of being a busy lad, I think it's appropriate to take a step back and think about what it means to just be happy.

Having fun at the Olive Garden

41 years ago, my parents were married in Pittsburgh, PA. Anniversaries can be pretty tough when you lose a loved one, but we do our best to focus on all of the good, and especially what today represents. (Love, if you haven't figured it out yet)

Today I felt like sharing a picture that I particularly enjoy. You'll have to excuse the quality as it was taken by a crappy phone camera, but hopefully you get the point. They are really happy in this shot which was taken at the Olive Garden. My mom is from Italy, so the "OG" is a pretty substantial step down from the homemade treats I grew up with - but the point is they were just happy to be spending time together in this shot.

While watching "The Bachelorette" last night (not ashamed), I thought the one intelligent thing the girl said, was that she was looking for someone who could just have fun and not be so serious all the time. Pretty good criteria, Emily - I think this is a good way to go about things, and hopefully I can do that too while juggling a lot of different things.

To my mom, Happy Anniversary
To Emily from the Bachelorette,  don't pick that creepy Ryan guy.

Drive Slow

What's cooler than being cool?

No, Andre 3000, it's not "Ice Cold", it's running in the morning or later in the evening.

We had some pretty warm weather this past weekend which worked out great for folks heading to the beach aka "Down the Shore" here in Jersey, and most other outdoor activities. What it wasn't good for was running.

I couldn't believe the number of people out running around 2pm yesterday. It was about 90 degrees and they were not in the proper hot weather gear ( light weight dry-fit gear, a hat, etc). These folks looked miserable - and as I was comfortably driving by with my AC keeping my car at a comfortable 70 degrees; I was wondering why they would put themselves through that kind of stress. It's not to say you can't work out during a hot afternoon - you certainly can. But if given the option, doing your runs early in the morning or later in the evening will be more comfortable, you'll perform at a higher level and most importantly it will be safer.

Dehydration is a serious problem that runners always have to be wary of, and if you choose to go out for a jog during the afternoon, make sure you have plenty to drink along with you, sun screen and the right clothes to keep you cool. The easiest solution still is just to time your runs for cooler parts of the day and not be the weirdo running in sweatpants during a hot afternoon. But that's just me.

Drive Slow

How to keep track of your every move

To succeed this fall at the NYC marathon, I've determined that I need to get down to my "fighting weight". Nothing crazy, but hauling a few less pounds couldn't hurt! I feel that I do a decent job of training, but could do better - so I have a schedule that I'm going to be following. That's only half the battle though - the part that I feel like I have a handle on, but probably don't is my food intake.

It's easy to fall into the trap of telling yourself, "well I just ran, I can eat whatever I want!" To a point, you do have some latitude with caloric intake, but running a few miles isn't license to eat a cheese steak (even though I like to tell myself that it is)

Offering some motivation each time you pick it up

So, I decided to keep track of my food intake, with two fabulous pieces of technology. The first, is the "Lose it!" app. It's free if you have an iPhone, and probably on other platforms as well. There's a website too if that's preferred. But basically I can put in my meals and exercise and it'll give me a daily report of how I'm doing. Sounds nerdy, but you do sort of get into it - it's like keeping score. You can even scan the bar code on food packaging and it will automatically input what you're eating. The other item in my fitness arsenal is this little bad boy pictured to the right. The FitBit.

This guy is like a pedometer on crack. It tracks your steps, but it also tracks the number of stairs you climb, miles traveled, calories, and then syncs with the FitBit website - which links with "Lose it!". What all this means is that if you're active - you take the stairs at work, walk instead of drive somewhere, etc - this will give you credit and help you more accurately track your calories burned in a day - so you know what you're real food targets are.

There is no one-size-fits-all food plan, and maybe this is what ends up frustrating people. If you work out and walk a lot during your day - you are burning more calories and in turn need to eat more than someone who isn't as active. It's a great way to get serious about your nutrition and honestly isn't that hard. The FitBit unfortunately isn't free - but maybe trying the lose it app first (which also allows you to manually enter exercise) is a good way to see how you like this method. I'm a fan, but I'm also pretty type A!

Drive Slow

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken

Works for Kanye, not for you

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son"

This timeless advice from Dean Wormer may seem obvious, but not to the new friends I made on my train yesterday evening...

I was coming home from school on a beautiful Sunday and just as soon as I settled in to my seat, a line of drunk, sloppy 21 (19) year olds got on the train. I knew I was in trouble when I noticed the line of ironic sunglasses and the 40's of beer in hand, but seeing drunk people on the train is nothing new, and I figured at 4pm, maybe they would be alright. Wrong.

Now, let's be clear - it's fine to have a good time, and I don't even care if you're drunk on the train really. It happens and it's certainly better than them driving somewhere. But acting like idiots and being disrespectful is not ok.When everyone has to hear each detail of your (not that interesting) day of drinking, and how much you hate so-and-so at the top of your lungs, that's the line.

Thankfully, they got off the train pretty quickly- at which point my whole car applauded. This reaction provoked some colorful language from the herd of "classy" ladies and gentlemen, but whatever - they were gone. I may have added an Oscar the Grouch inspired "Scram!". I'm not proud. (Maybe just a little)

Moral of the story, boys and girls - it's not ok to be a jerk, regardless of your BAC.

Drive slow

How to make Injuries Fun.

Sorry for the delay in posts! I've been stuck in meetings and trainings for the last two weeks, but wanted to check in with a quick thought.

I am as guilty of this as anyone - taking things too seriously sometimes. I get caught up worrying about "did I train enough for this race?", "what is happening at work?" and so on. I then go and worry about things that don't even have a real bearing on anything except for my unreasonable expectations of myself. "I didn't learn how to speak Spanish yet" and "I didn't finish writing my book yet" are the two that are in my head now.

Ridiculous.

As crazy as this may sound, I need to have more fun sometimes and not worry so much about what I'm accomplishing to such a ridiculous degree. This is why yesterday, while I was at the JnJ company story, I purchased a box of Muppets Band-Aids. Why? Because they are hilarious.

If you want to get deeper on it, have you ever really had fun with something as boring as a band-aid? It's a good way to think about things. Either something boring, or perhaps it's a fun solution to a problem or disappointment. You got a cut? It's an opportunity to wear a picture of Kermit on your arm.

Drive Slow

Long Branch Half Marathon: Recap

At the start with my friend Ilya

Well, it's Monday morning, I'm moderately sore, pretty tired, but feeling excellent about my race yesterday morning. Here's a recap of the action along with some thoughts and lessons that hopefully can help you achieve your running goals, or at least make you laugh (no promises there though). There wasn't a ton to report from the race itself, which is actually a good thing - a pretty uneventful 13.1 miles.

Friday: Packet pickup. This is the one day during a race weekend that I feel like a bad ass. Most of the dudes who run endurance races are smaller than me, so when we're checking in, I feel pretty tough. On race day, that all changes, but for now - I'm the man.

Pretty much every race has some sort of expo associated with it. The bigger races have huge set ups with pretty much every vendor you could think of for running, and some that have nothing to do with running like car companies. This race had a pretty modestly sized expo, but plenty to check out. My advice is to do a quick lap if you'd like, but don't spend too much time there. You're better off staying off your feet as much as possible before the race. Also, you are tempted to try free samples of drinks and whatnot, and this isn't the best idea ever. It's not Sam's Club - leave the samples alone. It can also be tempting to buy some new gear for the race while at the expo, and this ,as you can guess, is a huge no-no. Don't use anything new on race day. Shoes, clothes, food, drink, ANYTHING. You don't want to throw away months of training to an injury because you wanted to look fly in a new pair of shoes. Don't be that person.

Getting my shirt all set

Saturday: Took it easy as much as I could and hydrated all day. This is critical. Really you should be hydrating all week, but really focus those last two days. Don't "carbo load" This isn't necessary. Eat good healthy foods, and yes, work some carbs in there like a nice pasta dish or whatever - but don't go crazy with it. If you eat 3 plates of pasta for dinner, your body will absolutely hate you the next day. Avoid Fettuccine Alfredo - Michael Scott did not read this blog obviously (clip below). Basically, eat good normal food, some lean chicken, whatever. If you eat crap, prepare to feel like crap. If you eat good foods, prepare to feel good. Also, lay out your gear and have it all set up (water bottles, bib pinned to your shirt, etc) - this will save you time and anxiety the next morning. Also, put your name on your shirt or arms so people can cheer for you by name - they definitely will and it helps.

GTL - Gym, Tan, Long Branch

Sunday: Race day. The race started at 6:50am(!), so we left home around 4:45am to get there around 6. It's a good idea to plan on getting to the race early so you have time to settle in, and stand in the porta-potty line. Seriously. Just get in line, it'll take 20 or so minutes and by the time you get to the front, you'll probably be happy you got in line. It's not cool to have to run into the woods at mile 1 (this happens a lot more than you'd think, avert your eyes).

The first couple of miles are always really crowded, and it's wise to pay close attention to what's going on around you. There will be people passing you, weaving, moving around, etc. Just stay focused. After that though, you can ease into a groove and run your race. I felt pretty strong the whole time and actually kept a constant pace the entire 13.1 miles which was a goal of mine. Never got too fast, or too slow.

Around mile 9, I saw Stephanie and Ilya(pictured above)'s wife, Katrina, cheering which was a huge boost. Be sure to agree on spots to look for each other. This race didn't have a lot of spectators, but larger races can have thousands of people along the course. In Chicago I was able to find my cousins about 4 times all over the course and it really kept me going.

The last mile and a half of the race goes up the coast, and while the view was awesome of the ocean - there was a cold wind coming off of it, right into my face. To make things a bit more challenging, the whole last mile or so is a slight uphill. I told myself that I wanted to run in the last mile, and I'm happy to report that I was able to achieve that. When you get to the end of a race, it's all mental. You have to keep telling yourself "you can do it!". If you're me - you're also telling yourself "don't be a wimp!". I sprinted in the home stretch (like a boss) and ended my run on a total high note. It was a great run and hopefully I can say the same thing in a couple of months when I'm crossing the finish line in NYC.

Drive Slow

Let It Loose

I'm going to bring things down considerably from Monday's post, but before I continue, I just wanted to thank everyone for the overwhelming response that I received. It meant a lot, and I hope my story meant something for you all as well.

My race is this weekend, it's a half marathon, so certainly a physical and mental challenge. When I run, I usually listen to music, but not on race day. This is mainly a safety thing as it can get sort of crowded at times, especially towards the beginning. But it also allows my mind to relax and take in what's around me; the spectators, other athletes, the sites, whatever. There is one other good reason for it.

During the last part of a race, your body begins to break down. This is seen more dramatically during a full marathon, with the last 6.2 miles having been described (accurately) as hell. In a half, you still have a last push to endure and it's certainly not comfortable. What works for me is pumping myself up, getting psyched and "letting loose" emotionally. This is easier for me without Ke$ha or whatever playing in my ear. I think about why I'm running (as described at length in the last post), the training miles I put in, how good it's going to feel to cross that finish line, and everyone who is cheering me on so I don't let them down. It's about being completely honest with yourself and being in the moment. As long as you do that, and do your best, you can't lose.

The inspiration for today's title comes from the Rolling Stones song, "Let it Loose" from 1972's "Exile on Mainstreet". I really love this song mainly for how raw and emotional it is. It's very stripped down and is one of the best examples of what the Stones really are - a down and dirty blues band. It's one of the most honest sounding songs from their catalog, and serves as a great sonic metaphor for the end of a race. Rely on who you are, and pour everything you've got into it - just like the last minute or so of the song feels like Mick and the backing vocalists are giving their last ounce.

Drive Slow

Why I Run and Why I "Drive Slow"

My dad and I after a Pirates game - cool dudes

People often ask me why I run marathons. It’s a fairly unique hobby that I have, and most of my friends and colleagues have never even considered participating in one. They always want to know what is appealing to me about running 26.2 miles. I answer: I run because I can.
            I don't run because I love it, lord knows that's not the reason. Many days I have to talk myself into completing each and every mile. I have to fight the urge to quit and do something I’d prefer, but I keep going. Love would not be the word I use to describe my relationship with running; it would be more like tolerate.
           I don't run because I'm good at it. If you were to look at the top finishers in the newspaper on Monday morning, I'd be somewhere at the bottom of the article with Thelma the 70 year old grandmother. It's true, I get passed by old ladies by mile 20 and while this is a great tribute to "Thelma", it's terribly humbling to Matt the 28 year old runner.
           I run because I can.
          Steve Prefontaine said "to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift". I'm able to run long distances (somehow), so I should. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience running a marathon - or sing, or paint. But if you can, you should; gifts are to be cherished. If you have a family, you should spend time with them, and if you have something, you should not take it for granted. In life, nothing is promised.
         My dad always told us, "drive slow" before we left the house. To him, it was just sound advice for the operation of a motor vehicle. To us, it always meant more. It meant enjoy the moment you're in. Often times in the marathon of life, we zone out , miss the moment, and focus too much on the finish lines. It's important to enjoy each step of each mile because you don't know what you could be missing. Sure, sometimes you're passing the proverbial porta-potties, but often times there is something more out there to notice, and it's a shame if you don't. 

Cousin Jill with me at the finish line in Chicago

In June 2009, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, so when I ran the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2009, I did it in his honor. We never know when running is no longer possible, and to that point, when anything is no longer possible for us. I ran that race because I could, and because he, like so many others suffering from disease, could not. Making the most of what life has given me is a lesson that I will always carry with me thanks to my father. This Sunday at the Jersey Shore Half Marathon, I will run in his memory.  Sometimes it means running a marathon, other times it means taking a chance on graduate school and learning new things. Whatever my next adventure is, I’ll be sure to “drive slow”. I’ve learned its okay that I run that way too.
Drive Slow.

Cousin Chris knows what's up

An idiotic trend that shows no signs of stopping

Watergate - ok

It seems ubiquitous at this point. You turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper and see a headline referring to the latest scandal:

"Mitt Romney's Newest Mini-Headache: 'Cookiegate'" (Link)


Give me a break. The guy made a bad joke about cookies (incidentally from a bakery in my home town - the cookies are ok, but come on)

It seems that any time there is any kind of wrong-doing, a title is attached to it, and more often than not, it's a word with "-gate" after it.

Fistbumpgate - Not ok.

This is both lazy and idiotic.

It stems from the Watergate scandal, which refers to the Nixon administration's break-in at the Watergate complex in Washington DC, to spy on the Democratic National Committee. The scandal lead to Nixon's eventual resignation in 1974. Clearly this was a major political event, but it set off a chain of lunacy that still exists today.  It had nothing to do with "water"; it was literally the name of the place where the break in occurred. This apparently has given people free-reign to apply "-gate" to anything and have it be known that it indicates some sort of transgression. The list of scandals with the suffix "-gate" from the last 40 years is too long for me to list, but lucky for you, Wikipedia did it (here).

Simply adding "-gate" to a word needs to stop. But in the mean time, at least there are some ones that are so bad, that you just have to laugh. For your consideration, "Terrorist Fist Bump Gate"

Which scandal names do you find ridiculous/amusing?

Drive Slow

An Ad that Shows Both Sides of Running

Running is a very polarizing sport. Some people really love it. We like to call those people insane. Some, myself included, have a more complex relationship with the sport - let's say that this group "tolerates" it. We know it's good for us, when we are in a groove or when we finish, we feel good about it - but it's not a "love" situation.

Nike's new Advertisement for their Nike Free shoes depicts a couple literally running to each other. The gal is coming from Los Angeles and the guy is in New York City. They are singing about their journey, the girl in pink Nikes, the guy in another running shoe. The girl is the typical "loves to run" sort of person. There is sunshine all around her, it looks effortless and the only thing missing are song birds landing on her shoulder.

The guy - I'm this guy. He starts out excited, drinks a raw egg like "Rocky" (people actually do this?) and heads out at breakneck speed. HE LOVES TO RUN! RARRRRRRRRR!

Soon though, as is oft to happen, he feels a cramp. Then he slows down. Then he feels like vomiting.

The ad is really about how running in Nike shoes help the girl run from LA to NYC, while the guy not wearing Nike shoes ends up passing out in Washington Square under the arch and ending up in a hospital, never getting out of New York.

Ok, so the message is, "wear Nike shoes, and you'll have a better run". Got it. But  I just like the fact that this ad is showing both ends of the running spectrum. Not all of us are awesome at running like this girl - but that's alright - just get out there and give it a shot. Just try to not hurt yourself!

Drive Slow

How Not to Resign

Maybe Jerry should have just left "Flipper" behind

  I would have never sent this email out (below), but I sort of love it. It's honest and to the point, but at the end of the day, you just can't burn bridges like this. I mean, it worked out for Jerry McGuire, but unless this guy has Rod Tidwell (played by Cuba Gooding Jr) waiting for him on the other side, this is a bit foolish. Hopefully the feedback is taken and both parties can move on in a meaningful way, but realistically, this person will be seen as disgruntled and written off. In a perfect world (which we don't live in) Every point of feedback should be considered, especially the negative ones - it's the only way to get better.

Just remember, if you're going to resign, maybe it's not a bad idea to leave the "goldfish" behind.

As always, Drive Slow

**********************************************

Greetings Colleagues,

Friday will be my last day with [Company] and I wanted to send out a quick note to all those that I have worked so closely with over the past 4 years.  

In the immortal words of the Gambler (Kenny Rogers)……….’You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away………know when to run’. 

Man, I see @ [Company] the strongest and smartest men & women who've ever lived.  I see all this potential, and I see squandering.  God damn it, an entire generation consolidating net cost change analytics, calculating full absorption, enforcing SOX controls, validating CIPs, holding business partners accountable, and formulating meaningless GBU inflation splits……….slaves with white collars.  Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy sh*t we don't need.  We're the middle children of history, man.  No purpose or place.  We have no Great War.  No Great Depression. Our Great War is war on cost....... our Great Depression is the yearly business planning process.  We've all been raised within [Company] to believe that one day we'd all be high potential seniors, and finance managers, and eventually the future CFO’s. But we won't.  And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off. 

It’s been an honor and pleasure to create efficiencies and drive value in order to ensure sustainable profitable capital growth with each and every one of you.        

Thanks

Spring in Washington Square

When I have class at NYU, I take the PATH to 9th street - which is a couple of blocks away from the Stern building. It's about a ten minute walk, but there is a treat in it for me each time - Washington Square Park.

I spend about 2 hours sitting on trains leading up to my walk, and before that I sit in an office all day. Getting a chance to enjoy a park, if only for a minute, is truly refreshing.

There are some characters that greet me each time with their unique talents. I've seen a gentleman in a wedding dress dancing around in circles - just spinning around and around. That was pretty fun. I also enjoy the guy who stands under the arch playing his banjo and playing a drum with his foot. I'm convinced he only knows one song, but he owns it. In the summer you'll see the fountain at the center of the park totally filled with kids enjoying the cool water.

Piano Player under the arch

Not to be out shined, the park itself is really quite nice, especially after the renovation it underwent last year. Plenty of benches for relaxing and lots of plants and trees to help one escape the concrete jungle.

 The best part is definitely the music though. There is a guy who wheels a grand piano under the arch to perform - and you thought  your messenger bag was difficult to tote? There is a summer concert series that I get to hear during my walk back to the train where singers, jazz bands and orchestras are featured - FOR FREE! The aforementioned banjo guy is also a lot of fun, and there are countless other performers who make the walk both unique and enjoyable.

There are also some pretty great sites to check out beyond the people - I get to see the progress of the Freedom Tower each day not to mention seeing the Empire State Building every night as I walk back to the train - not bad.

All in all, take the time to walk through a park, even if it's a little out of the way. You never know what you're going to see.

Drive Slow.

Checking out the the Freedom Tower

It's Official - I'm registered.

It took me some time to pull the trigger, but I'm now officially registered for the New York City Marathon in November.

I'm not going to lie, I am a little nervous - This will be my first marathon in 3 years. I've done a couple of halves in the mean time, but a full marathon is a different beast all together. It's this beast like quality that is going to serve as the fuel for my training fire.

For me, having a race in the books is the motivation I need to get my ass in gear. Is there any way I run 10 miles on Sunday if I didn't have a half marathon in a few weeks? No way. The beer in my fridge was far too cold and the sun far too hot. The motivation to do well in a competition was enough for me to get moving though.

I was following the Boston Marathon yesterday, and the opportunity to participate in another iconic event got me really excited. Not sure I'll be high up on the leader board, but it should be a good time.

Put something in the calendar, set a goal, make it known. You have to set a goal to be able to achieve it.

Drive slow

Longest Run Weekend

I did my longest run leading up to the Jersey Shore half marathon yesterday, and while it wasn't easy - I completed the distance. I did pretty much everything wrong leading up to the run, walking around for 10 hours the day before at an outlet mall and not getting enough water and nutrition that day being the biggest mistakes. Tip #1 - don't do that.

I felt like this yesterday

When doing your longest runs, there are a few other things to keep in mind:

1. LSD - If you're not doing Long Slow Distance, you're tripping. It's important to focus on getting the miles in, more so than going for speed. You need to train your legs to go a certain distance, speed comes from mid week training.
2. Dehydration - It got warm yesterday, faster than I would have hoped. I unfortunately began to feel a little dehydrated about 4 or so miles into my run. The bad news - I was doing a down and back so I was 4 miles away from home. It's critical to know the signs. If you're feeling lightheaded or thirsty, take it easy. I slowed down, took some walks and worked on getting water into me as best as I could. 
3. Sore Legs - It'll happen. As noted, I was walking literally all day on Saturday, so my legs were pretty worn out before I even started. oops. As I've stated in the past, it's important to listen to your body. Sore is different from pain - you can run through sore. I simply slowed to a reasonable pace until I felt warmed up.
4. Heat/Sun - Make sure to use sunscreen and a hat (I of course didn't and am now paying the price). This was not smart - always protect yourself from the sun!

All of the challenges that you face on your longest runs are experiences to take with you on race day. I can promise something will not go as planned, but if you've done a good job in preparing, and have contingency plans, you'll be in good shape to finish.

*Special shout out to Gretchen Burkhard who is participating in the Boston Marathon today with Team in Training. Her fundraising page can be found Here

Drive slow

As Drama Would Say, You'd Better Hydrate

Johnny Drama: Vince, You know my policy. Except for work, I only go to the Valley November through March. And even then, only to Sushi Row.
Vince: C'mon Johnny, go for me.
Drama: I'd better hydrate

I am getting into some longer runs now, and when the distance and time starts to go above 45mins to an hour, you'll want to focus more and more on hydration. Water is great, and it's good practice to drink it during the day. I find I feel 100x better working out and in general when I'm well hydrated. As it begins to get warmer, hydration becomes even more important and something you shouldn't overlook.

For longer and more intense workouts, water isn't enough though.

There are a ton of sports drinks out there today, and there is no one magic formula that will guarantee success. Everyone is different and it's critical to test out any new drink (any new anything for that matter) well before race day. I've tried a number of them and haven't quite found the "one" for me. A good thing to do is to see what is being offered at your race and try it out on a training run first. If it doesn't agree with your stomach, make sure not to grab it on race day. Some drinks like Accelerade have protein in them that can cause problems if you're sensitive to it. Your body is going to need nourishment, and it may seem counter-intuitive, but you'll want to take in some calories as you're running to maintain peak performance. 

I've used a lot of Gatorade in my day, and there is nothing wrong with it, but I can't help but think maybe there is something better for me out there? What drinks do you use during a run? Any recommendations?

Drive slow

Proper Parking Lot Etiquette

Maybe I'm on the wrong side of this one, but I don't think so. People need to stop acting like animals in parking lots. If it's not abandoning shopping carts, it's people waiting in the middle of a row with their turn signal on. Let's just all agree to make some easy reforms. Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments section.

Had this person not backed in...

Backing into parking spaces
This practice drives me a little bit crazy, but more than that it's confusing to me. Why drive past a spot, then back into it? It only serves to get me excited for 3 seconds until I see your backup lights flash on. Rarely does this person get in the space smoothly and really, it's a parking lot - don't tell me it's safer to leave a spot when you're already facing out.


Waiting for a parking space with the turn signal on
I fully endorse the "Costanza" (reserving a spot with your turn signal), but if you have been waiting for said spot for more than 5 seconds, please move along. Perhaps walking an extra 20 feet wouldn't be such a bad thing given the state of our country's fitness level. I can make an exception for malls around the holidays - but even then I may grumble a bit.

Not putting shopping carts in the corral

Is there anything worse?

 If there is one thing that puts me over the edge, it's pulling into a parking space and finding a cart sitting in the spot. Not only is this lazy, but it is potentially dangerous! A few weeks ago I had just finished watching "Unstoppable" (the Denzel Washington movie about a runaway train) and while walking from my car to the front of the grocery store, saw a shopping cart rolling down the aisle unattended. Thinking to myself, WWDD? What would Denzel do?  I sprung into action and took off after said cart, catching it just before it struck a Toyota Corolla. I felt like a folk hero, but unfortunately no one was cheering for me, and my wife was left standing in the row totally confused as to why I had just sprinted in the opposite direction of the supermarket.

What parking lot situations drive you crazy? Or am I just the crazy one here?

Drive Slow