3:00

not in minutes, but hours....I hurt everywhere, not running again until I pick up my orthotics on Thursday...I am pretty sure I have no more cartilage left in my knees...vaseline has nothing on nipple guards...and Nike makes terrible running shoes.

If anyone needs me, I will be in the shower until tomorrow morning...

leaving now for my......

20 miler! Ah! I will let you know how it goes when I get back.


And yes, I look amazing.

Run 4 St. Lawrence

So to all of those that read this, you know that I am obsessed with the Scarlet and the Brown, Mud and Blood; St. Lawrence University and all that it entails. Well, a big part of what keeps me fired up are the alumni that are just as rabid as I am, and for the most part, they hail from the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Because we are so fresh and so clean, clean, we often connect like Voltron for big races, relays, events, and any other debaucheries we can think of. Since we all chose to attend college at this fine academic institution, we are therefore incredibly intelligent. What does that mean, exactly? Well, it means that a) we really are that dope b) we all at one time ate fat bags at 3 a.m. and c) decided that taking over the world would need a website. Therefore, following was born:

www.run4stlawrence.com

This is the brainchild of the famous, and quite infamous, Sammy. While we all helped here and there along the way, there isn't a chance in hell that so many hotel rooms around the country would have been collectively owned if it were not for his organizational prowess. So, hat tip to Sammy, he can hook a steak up, as Biggie would say (40oz. tip-emphasis added).

So, check out the website if you want to see what winning looks like. And by winning I mean at everything, et al.

Git out now!

It's the Olympics fault

Blame the rings - they are the reason that I have not posted in a while. What, it is once every four years that I get to watch the US drop the baton in the 4x100, I am not going to miss it.

OK, so here is what I have been up to...well...OK, FINE, it's not much of anything but it's an update.

I've been crushing 6-milers like they were the celery that comes with every BBQ wings order. I know, I like the celery, too. Who ever thought of this particular tubular friend of spice is the bomb. Anywho, my daily runs have consisted of a 6-mile out and back in south Boston that for one reason or another does not get old. Here, check it out-
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/ma/boston/123719975118
Not bad, pretty straight forward. That and I get to scare the crap out of the folks waiting for the T/Bus at the corner of DOT Ave and Broadway :). Hey, it's not everyday that you get to see a stunning picture of fashion-meets-grace such as this:

Photo credits go to my moms, Jane, who was thoroughly appalled by my outfit - which is what got the thumbs up. I was actually heading out the door for a long run of 13 miles on this one, but as with many things that I do, it didn't turn out the way I envisioned but I finished...15 miles later. I was out of water and about drink from a puddle on the side of the road when I thought I was on a road I recognized. I also thought that there was a mini mart further down the hill, so I took the chance, and chance turned out to be a punk A-B. I finally corrected myself and jogged the extra 2 miles to the mini mart I was thinking of and about stuck my face under the soda fountain. Thanks to the nice ladies working behind the counter, who after taking their finger off the red "call police" button, treated me to the coldest water south of the arctic. It was breathtaking. After getting thoroughly cold and tight, I headed back out and finished the run, although I think I left my hamstrings in East Longmeadow.

I am about to embark on my second 20 miler of the training plan. In preparation, I spent hte day at the beach yesterday and got severely sunburned. I thought that would add a little fun to the run, especially since the worst burn spots are on the backs of my thighs, you know, right where the irritating part of the hem on my running shorts will be.

Excellent.

GE Petit Foundation 5k

A few weeks back I traveled down to Plainville, CT with the lovely Nisa Bryant to run in the GE Petit Foundation 5K. It was the first annual race and I must say rather bitter sweet, as race day fell a few before the one year anniversary of the Petit Family tragedy. 

I had been anticipating this event for a long time, it meant a lot to me to be there. Now for those of you who have run in a 5k before, you will know that they typically draw a few hundred people, especially on the first go-round. Yeah, not this time, not for the Petit Family...

3,000+

Wow! That is how many runners and walkers showed up and registered for the race. Now if you add in the number of supporters that were on hand, well, that number would be upwards of 5,000 people. It was certainly a sight to see, and proof that the human spirit is innately good. Here are a few pictures that were taken by various media outlets that were on hand to capture the magic of the day.

OK - who can pick out yours truly...I know, not tough with the ridiculous hairdo I had going on...

So here is a picture I would like to entitle, "before," for obvious reasons. I look pretty relaxed, ready to run a good time for a great cause. A few problems, though...

1) My father came in the house just before I left for Plainville and said that he had run already and it was brutal out - and by that he meant the humidity. He was lucky, as he ran at 6 AM where the temperature was not a factor yet. Me, well, not only was the humidity a big factor, it also felt as though the thermometer was in the 90's. My father's advice? "Go out really slowly and work into it." Good nugget of info from a seasoned runner and wise man in general.

2) Apparently I took my father's advice and threw it directly out of the window as I headed down the highway. What was I doing at the front of the pack, as can be seen in this photo? Is that a Kenyan running by my side? Does anyone else smell trouble?

3) looking at the stride length of some of those cats in the front of the picture, the start pace was fast - much faster than I should have been moving at. Hey B, what did Dr. Paul C. Hetzel say to do during the race, more specifically at the beginning? 

For your viewing pleasure, I thought I would tell the story of my race through a series of pictures. Notice my facial expression and demeanor in the pic above. Take that, hold onto it, even savor it a little, as it is the last time you will see calm, cool, and collect on this race day...

Notice the time on the clock as this man finishes and wins the race. He was not in the picture f

or the beginning of the race, I think he was standing off to the left or just getting mentally ready to sprint for 3.1 miles in the 

nauseating heat and humidity...but being from Kenya, and most likely Eldoret and the Rift Valley at that, he is used to it. 

Bwana, kazi nzuri lakini ulihitaji kusaidia Brian! 

Translation

Buddy, good job but you needed to help Brian!

That is a blazing time, sub 5 minute miles. Now, seeing that he ran that time, I have to point out the obvious...

WHAT WAS I DOING TOEING THE LINE WITH THIS GUY?!

I mean, seriously, I know I am a competitive guy, but you would think I would learn by this time that dry heaving is not a) a sport

 and b) fun.  Apparently my brain seems to think otherwise.

So, back to the start of the race - The announcer...announced...that the mile markers would coincide with water stops. So, I made a mental note of it, waited for the gun, and took off. Almost instantly I felt the pace in my legs, but thought I could hold on for a little bit, ease into it after a while. About a half mile in, I could still see the lead pack up ahead, which you would think would be enough for me to slow down.

Nope.

I didn't feel terrible at this point, but I wasn't feeling awesome either, nor comfortable for that matter. Trudging on, I looked up as I came around a corner and there it was...the first water stop. Again, I could see the lead pack still and I actually think time stood still for a second as the synapses fired in my brain, connected the water stop and lead pack images and sent an impulse up to my amygdala - the fear center of the brain - which then sent an impulse to my temporal lobe that probably sounded like a teenage girl on instant messenger:

OMG! Look at ur watch! LOL ur soooooo OOC! TTYL - F.L.

I looked down at my watch to see what my first my split was...

5:45

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That was the sound of my amygdala, along with all the other parts of my brain, laughing in unison as I reached for a cup of water. I could have sworn that I heard a small child say, "Good job Mr. Hetzel! Have fun walking the rest of the route! You are so screwed! Enjoy trying to sit comfortably tomorrow!" It was probably just my imagination.

So how did I fare during the rest of the race? Funny you ask. Let's jump on my time machine and take a look! I like to call this next picture "after," a nice juxtaposition to the photo entitled "before."

I know it was hot out but seriously? Did you sweat an ocean? Like I said, humidity and I don't get along, and apparently neither do I and a comb.  I have to say that at the point where this 

picture was taken, a few steps from the finish, I seriously thought I was going to puke all up on a volunteer. I felt terrible, dehydrated, and above all else, SLOOOOOW. 

What's that? My finishing time? Seriously,

 you have some nerve asking that question...

FINE, I'll tell you, stop asking.

22:04

Yes, laugh away, I know, I know. NO, I didn't stop and take a nap, very funny. I just went out little too fast. OK - Maybe entirely too fast. I honestly wanted to stop and walk the rest of the way in at around the 2.5 mile mark but there was no way that was going to happen. And what the #$!@#$@ is up with these modern finish lines in all of the races I have run over the past few months? You know, the ones on rollers that move away from you as you are coming down the home stretch? Not a cool invention - that idea sucks.

All in all it was a good time and an amazing cause, one that I care deeply about. I would do it over again in a second if asked, and thankfully, the organizers are going to make it a yearly event. The lovely Nisa Bryant and I capped off the race with a scrumtious specimen of a meal - a Saints chili dog. Apparently I have been living under a rock as it was my first chili dog ever. I know, I know. But, I will make up for lost time because that mama jamma was DE-lish. If you are in the Southington area, stop in and say hello, awesome people and dope food - 

Saints Restaurant

1248 Queen Street

Southington, CT 06489

They cater, too! Tyler, a former student and proctor of mine at Suffield Academy, works there (his parents own it) and will hook you up with a tasty treat or two. If you see him, congratulate the guy on getting into Cornell. Not too shabby!

Anyway, here are a few more pictures of the race. It was a spectacular event, not just a 5k. Big props to all the volunteers and workers who put it together. Most of all, well done, Dr. P., you are an inspiration. 

-B

been a while

I have been bouncing around a few states over the past few weeks so it has been difficult to write. So, here is an update:

My training took a hit this past week, as I was up at St. Lawrence University to work a track camp hosted by my good friend and former coach Mike Howard. I thought I would have time to get out and put some serious miles in, but I was always a) chasing a camper down b) eating c) napping or d) too tired to go out. I know that sounds lame, and it pretty much is. However, that week was really tiring and my body was just not having it. I did go out for two 9-milers with Mike, although the first was a run-walk as it took place at 8 AM. For those who have never run long distance, changing the time when you go out can make a big difference. I usually run at night, it's when my body seems to be adjusted and ready. Running that morning, my body was like,

"Uh, what is this? Brian? HEY, DOWN HERE! Fine, you don't want to listen? Have fun trying to get us to cooperate for the next hour.  

Sincerely, 

Legs

PS- You're screwed"

I'm sorry, legs, I should have listened to you. It was not fair and I will never neglect you like that again. Actually, I will just ask for your permission, see how you are feeling before I try and use you like that again - Seriously, my b.

I got about 4 miles in and it felt like I had just finished a 5k running as hard as I could. I told mike at the  4 mile mark that I had to stop and walk for a bit, which I did. My whole body was shot, even my lungs were laboring. Now, if we were setting a land speed record I would have understood but that was far from the case. In fact, I don't even think we were jogging as much as shuffling. To be fair, it was the first time so far that I have woken up and gone right into a run. As Legs said earlier, and to quote Beyonce,

"NO NO NO NO NO"

I should start getting up earlier to run, as the Marine Corps Marathon is in the early AM. But, that is not going to happen. Besides, I have run races that early and been fine. I was golden at the Boilermaker, and that started at 8:30, about the same time I went out with Mike. What the deal?

Anyway, enough of that run. I did put in a full 9 miler with Mike and my other buddy and coach, John Newman (new head men's track and field coach at SLU as well as Head Men's XC coach). It was hot and painful, but I got through it. You know how Batman and the Joker are bitter enemies? Yeah, well if humidity wore creepy face paint and had a jacked up mouth, it would be totally along the same lines. I fight on runs in humidity, and my body does not respond well in the least; This run was no exception. 

I was able to get in a few 4 milers at a good pace with Mike, put in a couple more with Newms at one point, but that is it. I know, not good enough for Marathon training. What is worse is that I haven't been on a long run in weeks - especially nothing longer than 15, which needs to happen this weekend. I am going to put in 18 in the next few days, whether my body is ready or not.  We will see what happens!