2015 Newport Liberty Half Marathon Race Report

This was my 10th Newport Liberty HM, 2005-2015. Funny, I never planned to run the same race 10yrs in a row, but hey, there it is. I have placed inside the top 10 at this race 7 times.We have our ups and downs, don't we? Sometimes, the competition gets tougher, ready or not. Anyway, the weather yesterday was fairly ideal, cloudy and 72 degrees F. While it kept us cool, the wind was too strong, it definitely put a slow down on things between miles 6-10.

Shortly after the start: Far left, Steve Mennitt takes an early lead, 3 different styles of GSTC singlets on display.

 Today's splits 5:50, 5:39, 5:41, 5:36, 5:34, 5:36, 5:41, 5:51, 5:55, 6:02, 6:07, 6:01, 6:33 last 1.1 miles (5:57pace). Battling Sciatic nerve pain was a factor, time to see the Chiropractor. Maybe I haven't thrown myself into hard enough workouts yet this year. I am trying to avoid having excuses. I would prefer proper execution of a solid race strategy. Anyway, read on. Check here for Full results.

At least 7 GSTC men in this photo, we all were somewhere around 25-30th position here at about 1.75miles. Anthony Harris is looking at You!

My reaction: This didn't feel so great. Knowing I had pushed too hard too soon and was over my threshold into the wind in the middle of Liberty State Park, but let's talk about where I was in the field early versus the end. I was easily somewhere back around 30th before we had made it to 1 mile. Noticing that I had taken off too quickly, I corrected my pace within the first minute of the race. From there I was running along with a well formed pack of teammates and competitors, probably somewhere between 12-15 at times. Everyone in this clump seemed fairly content to keep it tight for the first 3.5miles...
That's when I had had enough of the little tea party. I swung a turn wide allowing me out from behind 7-8 guys and I started to move to the front. I made a push from there until we were near the 5mile mark. I felt surprisingly comfortable with the first three miles. By the 9th mile I might have been in roughly 14th or15th position, but I was clearly a pretender, fading back to 19th by races end. All in all, it was good battling with some great runners.
I proved to myself the following, I'm not at my all time best and I can't run at that pace right now. Which, is admittedly frustrating. But at least I have a better idea of where I am working from. Truth be told, I wasn't ready to race a HM. There has been little in my training this year to lead me into this.  But, I've had worse efforts and worse endings for sure.
I was impressed with the effort I saw out there today from so many people. The teamwork I witnessed and took part in was great! I still dislike the course itself, and if they change the championship race location ever, it won't break my heart. I could happily close the book on a race I have run 10 times.
Somehow, from here, I will find a way to make training happen each day until The Club National XC Championship in December. It shouldn't be impossible, I've got inspiring teammates around me!

Finishing in 1:16:05, glad this one came to its end.

Living a Runner's Dream

People remark to me when they learn I am "A Runner", that they "hate running", "couldn't run down the street", "would only run to catch the bus", etc.  Or sometimes, they ask simply, "Why do you do it?"
I find the why a more interesting thing to respond to, it is open-ended. Perhaps they actually want to gain some insight. 
 I'm going to cut to it now. Nevermind specific race goals for the year, nevermind why I started. Let me tell you why I won't stop.
 I am living the dream: Every time I get going, even when the weather sucks and I am alone wishing I had a buddy out there with me, I am at least 51% glad that I made the effort.  The pain comes with the territory, and there are far more painful things than running injuries and pushing yourself to the limit over and over again. Every step is worth everything I get back from it. I see things that most people won't see, I continue to meet exceptional people because we run. Goals always seem just around the corner, adventures are in every direction. I have been doing this for almost 20yrs, I've run enough miles to encircle the earth and then some.  I can look back on it so far and realize I have accomplished a lot for myself and with teammates, on my terms, in my own time, on my level. Why Would I ever stop?

My team, the distance runners at least, we roll deep.

Now I ask You, "Why do you NOT run?"
That's enough, chew on it...and get your ass out the door, the world probably needs you to run all over it.

Club XC Nationals 2014, Hernia Repair, and proving you can still run that darn marathon

A career change can change a lot more than who you work with and for, or where your work happens. It has taken much of my mental focus away from running.  Honestly, that is fine.  I can balance it all out eventually.
So, as you may wonder "Have you been running, Mike?" Some of you know, yes  I have a bit.  But here's the catch up:

December: I limp into Club Cross Country Nationals at Lehigh University and run a sub-par effort on a painful hip/groin or some mysterious still undiagnosed thing. I won't even give it the legitimacy it yearns for and call it the "I-word". Shh, they can hear you and it makes them grow larger, angrier, vengeful! Just don't talk about them and they will leave you alone!
So, really, from step one to the end of the race I felt like I was running with a tear somewhere in my hip socket/groin or perhaps an attachment point between my glutes and hamstring. Despite this, I shaved 3 seconds from my personal best at 10k xc on a course that was somewhat slick and loaded to the gils with fast guys!

To provide a temperature of things: Olympian, Matt Tegenkamp, didn't win the race.  There were some very high quality professionals and rising amateurs in this race.  Flatly, I was mid-pack, in the low 300's of almost 600 runners.  At this level, I guess I can't complain.  Had I finished 100 spots further ahead, it would have made little difference in my life overall. Of course, yes, I would like to finish inside the top 200 at Club Nat XC, maybe in the 2015 race.

Finishing the last 100m of The Club National XC Championship at Lehigh University, I swear I beat at least one of the guys in front of me here! Photo credit to Michael Scott

One of the great things about this race for my team was that it was a fairly short trip for a national championship, we had more Athleles in the races than any other club by far!  It was really a lot of fun to be surrounded by all of them for the weekend.  Many shenanigans and laughs.

The Men's Teams at 2014 Club National XC Championship at Lehigh University, so many fast guys!

Winter: In the time since that race, I simply shut it down for a while, figuring somewhere in between Jan 1-8 I would get rolling again into training for the Boston Marathon.  Bad weather is always a challenge to training. Developing an inguinal hernia while shoveling snow was a show stopper.  While helping my housemates shovel about 8 inches of heavy snow in Mid-January, I felt something funny in my lower abdominal/groin area. Symptoms were obvious, and so running became very scary and awkward.  It is a weird sensation to have your intestine pushing through your abdominal wall, even if it is "minor".  That night and the next I had runs planned at a couple of running stores that I deal with for my job as a Technical Representative for TomTom GPS; I couldn't back out.  After these runs, it took me a few days to stew on what to do about this problem.  I tried taking a week off thinking maybe it was an inflamed muscle, and in that time my delusional theory was clearly proven false.  I was able to get an appointment in a couple weeks with Dr. Tomer Davidov at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.  The Dr. recommended surgery, no surprise. But he told me that I can run until the surgery date, just take it easy. This was a relief, but I had already not run a  step for 2-3 weeks at this point.  I ran 4-6 days per week until surgery on March 18th, no runs longer than 9-10miles. It still felt weird/bad to run for more than 70mins. Honestly, it felt weird from the 1st stride every time, but I had to maintain my sanity and fitness until this was dealt with.

Surgery/Rebounding: Surgery itself wasn't stressful, the tightness of the muscles afterward was awkward for the better part of 10-14 days. But My follow up visit with the Dr. went smoothly. I had already been trotting across streets to beat changing traffic lights. He gave me the go-ahead to start running. So, I went home and did a 6mile run.  Not so bad.  I felt plenty rested over the several weeks and not sore from that run, so the next few days I went 8, 8, 3, 0...and 15. Yes, I decided I had to see how a longer run would feel. Along the way, I could still feel the muscles around the surgery site being stiff, but it was more simply this, I hadn't gone 14 miles since early December. So now here in March, 15 was admittedly unwise. I trudged the last 3 miles in a fading state of mild hunger and general bonkiness. Mike Dixon ran the middle 9 with me, so it was a bit like going off a cliff. You know the feeling, suddenly, you are alone and slowing down against your will...bummer.  3miles in the hurt box did not deter me.

One more try: At this point the Boston marathon was now just 8 days away, I had done a few moderate runs since the 15 I suffered through. I figured, my body will adapt quickly from this recent return to moderate mileage. I was leery of attempting 18miles. So I gave myself the "range" option, "Try for 16, feel alright , go as far as 18, feel bad stop as early as 14."  I met with Adin Mickle and Joe Zeoli and I ran 13miles with them at a fairly casual pace on the Wissahickon trail. When they were done, I quickly grabbed another energy gel and some more water that I had in a crumpled 16oz Poland Springs bottle to reduce sloshing; and soldiered on. I ran downhill on the trail toward the Schuykill River. As I approached the intersection of Lincoln Dr and Ridge Ave, I saw my good pal, Michael Daigeaun running by headed toward East Falls. Now somewhere around 16miles into my run, I was feeling alright and he was too far away to shout at...I gave chase. Thankfully, he wasn't going too fast and in about 1/2 a mile I was able to run him down to his surprise. "Too slow kid, too slow!", I said as I rolled up on him touching a low-6min pace. He laughed, "Mike Anis, always good to see you!" He told me about his recent running/races, I explained how I was testing the waters to see if I could/should still run Boston. It was about time to turn back, I was already too far out and we parted ways. I realized then, that yes, this run was going to be 19 miles, not 18, the last of which was all uphill. Which is actually fine, it rounds out the effort, all flat is bad. Heading uphill to end a run changes the angle of impact, engages your muscles differently, all good. I pushed it a bit, wanted to feel like it was a real effort, running in the 6:00-6:19 range for the last 2 miles felt good.

The significance of a single run: I couldn't tell you how many runs I've done that have been close to or over 20miles, just because I care to not over-stress these facts. Many of them blur in the mind and have little significance due to their repetitive nature. Familiar faces and places are a happy thought always, but this run will last in my memory. Simply because I figured it would be much tougher and would be a lot shorter, and fate brought me to bump into a friend at the right moment, to pull me past where I thought I could go on the day.  The feeling of accomplishment and thankfulness for a run like this can't be matched. The fact that I ended it by myself and most immediately had just myself to celebrate it with more firmly entrenches it into its place in my memory of long runs.
Afterward, I got together with my girlfriend, Anna, showered, ate/rehydrated and then went to a Phillies game. I ran for 2:16:00 that day, that's long enough to prove you can run a marathon.  And I'll tell you about that one...when I have a little more time to sit and write some more.  You might have heard, the Boston Marathon is kind of a big deal. ;)

To be continued...

Ashenfelter 8k 2014 Race Report

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have to say, this year has had it's ups and downs like any other. So, let me say that I am surely Thankful for this healthy body that can run pretty darn fast! I have been "off the air" for a couple months here because I started a new job with TomTom GPS as a Technical Representative with responsibilities to promote the brand and ensure sell-through in a geographic are covering Central/South Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, Yes, the whole thing! Which by the way is truly enormous! It's huge! There are a lot of little places I have yet to see in that state!) Did you know that Erie, PA is a 2.5hr drive North of Pittsburgh, PA! Well, it is, and I have yet to go to Erie, soon enough I will have to see "The Mistake by the Lake", as my Best Friend's Father has called it. I will be excited to see it anyway I think, maybe for the first time only perhaps.  In either case, I am having fun discovering new parks, trails, bridges, and views on my runs around the Mid-Atlantic region!

A swarm of angry Bees in the center of the photo, also note Two heads left of the Neon shirt at center: My Beard

Anyway, so running has become less organized. I haven't journaled any of my training since early September, this is the first time I have not recorded training in probably 9-10yrs. I am putting in 40-60per week, but I am ballpark guessing. Given that, it is to me, astonishing that I managed to maintain my fitness to perform at the level that I did today. I mean quite honestly, I gained 7-8lbs in this time. As a competitive distance runner, straight up, that is going to make you slower. Sure, I'm a lean guy anyway, so it's not like I'm in danger of anything. It is just the reduction of serious workouts that will catch up with you and leave you getting torched by 4 of your teammates in the final 100m of an 8k road race.

I would like to remind you all, the Ashenfelter Road Race is a great race! The only thing that could be better is if they found a way to widen the start line so we could get a cleaner start. Otherwise, it is a great day when many of the club runners you know from around NJ come out and take a shot at a fast course before they stuff their guts with a massive meal. I wish we had four Thanksgivings every year, one isn't enough!

GSTC all kinds of "in-front" led by Yousef Rochdi, who ran away from us like he was robbing a bank!

So, thinking back to a year ago: I coined the phrase "finding seeds in the bird shit", as I wrote about the 2013 Ashenfelter 8k race. You always have to do that, find something positive out of what feels like a "shitty" situation. And today, I can't even say it is shitty. It was far from shitty.  The seeds are even sprouting a bit! Read on below these action shots, the story of the race is coming!

The chasepack in the first mile, Ken Goglas, Thomas Young, Stephen Ellwood, Mike Dixon, Kyle Price, Sean Swift, Chris Schneider, Mike Fonder, Matt Eder, Mike Anis, Josh Neyhart, Jarrett Kunze, and another random blurry dude in neon.

Honestly, I predicted a lackluster performance that would feel awful. You know, the kind of race that you just know you screwed up, this wasn't the day you should be racing.

Well, somehow the lack of expectation worked in my favor today. I was in tight with about 8 guys through the 1st mile, we split 5:07, I felt the pace slow at the first turn shortly thereafter and decided to break up the hand-holding-party. I pushed the pace for about a quarter mile and they gobbled me back up, we split 10:19 as I recall for 2miles. Things started to thin out a bit, and I was now back around 13th-14th position. Mile 3 I reeled in Neyhart and Schneider, and naturally glided by them (see below). Neyhart pulled even with me and then ahead just before mile 4, we split 20:40 and worked on reeling in young Matt Eder and the wiley verteran, Attila Sabahoglu.  Up until this point, I never felt like I was in severe oxygen debt, which was surprising, I managed my effort level very well today.

Rising the last incline, the four us were in a clump. Neyhart surged past us all with about 400m to go and bested the bunch of us. I faded pretty hard after using what I had left with 300m to go and Rob Nihen also came along and passed me. Watching four of my teammates put that gap on me in the last 1/4mile was rough on the ego, but I'll get over it. I crossed the line in 25:47, good for 12th. A thing I like to remind my readers of, in these scenario's, the majority of the guys that beat me are fellows who ran at DI college teams (except for Kyle Price, DIII Ramapo College of NJ, an XC Conference Champion in his time there!) Not too shabby.

Other fun and notable points about this race:
1-Our club took the Individual win for both Men and Women, Yosuef Rochi and Greta Sieve
2-Our Men's teams scored a pile of points
3-There were a pile of PBs(personal bests), some of which were just mind-blowing improvements!
4-Bob Skorupski of Do Run Runner's, got his Top 100 mug by finisher 97th, I like Bob, he also has a beard.
5-I once again had the honor of shaking Horace Ashenfelter's hand!

Around 3.4miles into the race: Anis holding steady in front of Neyhart and Schneider. Neyhart eventually schools Anis and finish 8th to Anis' 12th, Schneider finishes 13th

Young(2837) challenges Rochdi(1825)

Yousef Rochi, furiously breaking the tape! 24:26! New CR!

I encourage you all to check in on the Garden State Track Club blog and read in more depth about the great performances from many of my teammates. I have a lot of faith in their ability, and know if I stick with them and keep training with them, I will keep getting faster too!  Afterall, I'm one guy, and one guy a team does not make. If the worst thing that happens to me at age 33 is watching my young, talented and on-the-rise teammates light me up like a pinball machine in an 8k, well...at least I'm fast enough to see it happen as I race them!

Besides, I did run a PB by 3.33seconds anyway, 25:47. Took most of the day to wrap my head around this, and really feel good about it.

Mike wins!

We're Anis-Neyhart, we are going to the Club National XC Championships Dec 2014, your arms are useless against us, and we're taking no Prisoners.

Next up: Club National 10k XC championship! Vote Anis-Neyhart 2014 for the B team!*
*This msg paid for by the friends of Anis-Neyhart 2014

The College Ave Road Mile Race Report

The start of the Emerging Elite heat at the College Ave Road Mile June 7, 2014.

As usual, Peter Bolgert runs a short distance faster than I do.

The College Ave Road Mile was an incredibly fun event.  I enjoyed the very fast racing of both 1mile and 1/2mile during the two person relay. My Partner, Karen Auteri, and I, ran roughly 4:56 combined.  We took third the in Mixed M/F division!  As an individual, in the Emerging Elite heat I ran a 4:40.25(3rd in the heat). I am reasonably pleased with this result. I had hoped for 4:39. Pretty darn close.  Eight 90 degree turns will do that to you. The weather was good, not too hot, no noticeable wind to speak of. Many of my GSTC teammates had very fast performances in the Elite heat pior to mine.  I was immediately inspired to produce my best.
Equally as important, numerous USATF-NJ clubs teams came to compete. Men and Women of all ages toed the line. In many cases, I wa impressed by the speed and determination of others!
 I'd say this was a good kick-start in a uptempo period of training, but I have since fallen ill with a sinus infection. The past three days I have mainly been jogging, and resting whenever possible. This past Tuesday, feeling lousy, I still ran a workout. 4x400 @5k pace, 2k at threshold pace, 4x400 @5k pace.  Some days you will feel lousy when it's time for a workout, and you will have to work though them. Sunday will be a nice loooong run. Time to amp the endurance back up for Chasing the Unicorn Marathon!

That's all for now.
Happy Running!

The 2013 Club National XC Championship

1st lap of 5. Ken Goglas to my left, me wearing camo head band in honor of Andrew Capizzi. Dense racing over rough ground! Photo by Michael Scott

I write to inspire and amuse.  When you race with poor tactics, it is hard to talk about it. But I have to be honest, we have to look at the ugly truth. I started way too hard in this race. I told myself "Run 50-80m hard and then settle in". Given that the first turn was a straight line and about 350-400m out, around a tree into a 90. The starting line was not that wide for 400+ runners; I figured this made sense. Instead, I probably kept rolling for more like 150-200m into the steep incline and went into oxygen debt and ran like shit for all but the last mile. Arguably I ran well in the last 1000m, but was pained to see a clump of about 20 runners that were just a bit too far ahead for me to catch. It's a hard thing traveling to an important race and flat out blowing it.  I should know better, I'm 32yrs old, I've been racing for 18yrs.  But shit, I'm human too, right?

The upside is, a handful of my teammates had a pretty good race, and good for them! Two Men and One Woman inside the top 100 finishers (Chris Johnson, Ken Goglas and Cheyenne Ogletree). From where I battled within the race, I saw Matt Eder, Joe Zeoli, and Will Appman all run well. Joe kept a steady pace throughout, picking off the fast starters (like me). Matt battled with Will and I in the last 600m and ultimately laid down the hammer to outrun us both. And Matt, Will and I all passed 2-3 men each in the last 200m I believe. Also, all 18 men and 12 women, and 2 coahes, and Bill Zeoli(Joe's Dad), had a good time in the town of Bend, and just being around all of the other runners. I'd never been to Oregon, so it was a dream to go for a Championship race. Honestly, I never dreamed I would have a chance to race in Oregon on a team in a race like this. We really had a lot of fun!

About 50m from the finish, and yes, I beat #1752, his beard was no match for mine. Photo compliments of Michael Scott.

This was the toughest XC course that I have ever run. It was designed with intentional contour and challenges that resembled a cyclocross or motocross course.  It was a lot of fun being in a race where you can hear the ground rumbling under 800+ spiked shoes.  3600ft over sea level and a tilted, twisted, hilly, muddy course were tough. I got my assed kicked. 280th of 410, my time was 36:20. Next yr friends...next yr.


And now one more photo, because this is what teammates do:

About 2seconds before this, Paul went down, but Josh and Matt helped him up quickly. Ted is on the far right. In a crazy race like this, it's good to have some teammates nearby. That's XC! Compliments of Michael Scott