Day 30: 1.34mi, 12:22, Hoboken NJ

I don't know what was worse, playing volleyball after a gluttonous Italian dinner and a few glass of wine or running after volleyball after a gluttonous Italian dinner and a few glasses of wine.  My legs hurt in weird places today, I'm guessing I didn't have the best form yesterday.  It's definitely a 1-mile treadmill day for Thursday.

Day 29: 3.05mi, 24:51, Jersey City/Hoboken NJ

Today I set out to do an easy jog of 3-4 miles.  I didn't anticipate having a hacking cough, or worse, diarrhea- but I had both (don't worry, no pictures).  Just for good measure, throw in the shard of glass that I can't dig out from the ball of my foot.  So I set out after the gym with an easy stride.  It was wet out, but 40-degree temperatures were a welcome change from the recent deep freeze.

Mile One beeped on my watch and I was shocked to look down at a "7"- 7:57, that is.  I wanted to run some easy negative splits for my miles, but I guess I went out way too hard?  I kept the same easy stride going and Mile Two clicked off at...7:43?  Strangely enough, these were two of the fastest miles I've run all year.  Mile Three started in Hoboken right around the same time the water from the gym started sloshing in my stomach with nothing left there to absorb it (see stomach issue, above).  This combined with the constant hopping up and down curbs, trying not to get hit by cars (typical Hoboken run) slowed me down a bit for the final split at 8:42.

My legs didn't feel bad in that last mile, which is definitely encouraging with Sunday's five-miler approaching.  You can never gauge what pace you should be running on a trail, there are just too many hills and technical aspects.  Road pace, however, does give you a feel of how hard you can push yourself on race day.  I surely will end up shuffling up the hills and bombing down them recklessly, as usual.  Hopefully I'm getting a feel for what I can do in between..

Splits:
7:57
7:43
8:42

Day 28: 1.11mi, 7:45, Hoboken NJ

Is my watch broken or did I really do this run today?  My Gamin clicked on after I had already run about 0.25mi (which isn't included here) so I'm wondering if it got an accurate reading.  All I know is that at 5am today, I did not feel like being outside.  It's Monday, I was hungover, it was COLD...again.  So maybe I was actually keeping that pace, who knows.  It pretty much just checked out distance-wise on MapMyRun.com so I'll call it my fastest pace of the year.

I officially registered for my first race today.  Check out njtrailseries.com, this is the circuit that I run on throughout the year.  I placed 3rd overall in a couple of 10k's in the Fall and actually won a 10k in the Spring last year.  The races are typically really small so it's not like I'm lighting the world on fire with these results.  They're well-run though and you see a lot of the same faces from race to race.  There's one guy who looks and dresses like Killian Jornet, he's not particularly good but certainly intimidating! 

STATS Update

Weeks 1-2
Miles:  28.49
Time:  4:21:16
Cities: 5 (Hoboken, Jersey City, Millburn, Clifton, West Caldwell)

Weeks 3-4
Miles:  24.05
Time:  3:37:20
Cities Added:  3 (New York, Charlotte Amalie USVI, South Orange)
States Added:  1 (NY)
Countries Added:  1 (St. Thomas)

Cumulative
Miles:  52.54
Time:  7:58:36
Cities:  8  (Hoboken, Jersey City, Millburn, Clifton, West Caldwell, New York, Charlotte Amalie USVI, South Orange)
States:  2  (NY, NJ)
Countries:  2  (USA, St Thomas USVI)
Weeks to go: 48

Day 27: 2.01mi, 16:39, Hoboken NJ

If there's one thing I'm noticing about running every day it's that I pretty much never get to sleep in.  Got up around 8am for this one, just an easy stride around Hoboken before I had to head into the city to meet some clients at the St. John's - Seton Hall game.  The good news is that "easy stride" suddenly has gotten a little faster.  Despite my outer ankle ligaments being really sore from a slip on the mountain yesterday (had about 20 of them in the snow), I clicked off an 8:40 and an 8:00 with ease.  Not that an 8:40 mile is anything to brag about but I still feel exactly the same as I did running 2 miles in 17:30 two weeks ago.

Day 26: 3.61mi, 37:56, South Orange NJ

Ran my favorite trail this morning at South Mountain Reservation - the Orange Loop.  There was about an inch of snow on the mountain today so this technical trail got a little more technical.  Matt and I were laughing at our terrible splits but it wasn't an easy 10-minute pace.  I wore my snow trail shoes for the first time (My Will Smith high tops as Matt calls them) and found that they were a little clunky but had very good traction. 

This is likely my last trail run before next Sunday's race, a 5-miler.  It will be my first race of the year, and interestingly my first race in the 30-35 age group.  I've always considered this age group more competitive than the 25-29 age group but I'm just glad that I can invite Matt to a race and still have a chance to win my age group!  I plan on doing this one as an easy training run but I'll still bomb down the downhills and hopefully run a smooth race.  I'm not sure how my mileage to date will translate to a distance that I haven't run yet this year but I'll find out soon enough. 

Day 25: 1.00mi, 8:45, Jersey City NJ

I was about to walk out of the gym on Friday when I saw Nick over on the treadmill, which reminded me that I had completely forgotten to run after my workout.  We're going to start our full weights routine next week, it's a system I designed called "The Pyramid".  More to come on that later.  According to Runner's World, only 26% of runners lift weights 3 or more times per week. 

Day 24: 1.64mi, 14:00, Hoboken NJ

I had a very active day today- gym, volleyball, and my coldest run of the year!  16 degrees with a windchill of -1.  I was actually feeling good until my facemask started chafing my neck and I got the sudden urge to pee.  Ended up cutting the run short but if you're dressed correctly, weather doesn't matter.

Got two pairs of trail shoes in the mail today from steepandcheap.com, the great gear website that sells one outdoor item at a time till it's sold out.  Their partner websites whiskeymilitia.com (clothing) and chainlove.com (bike gear) are good to check on too and the main site has an iphone app.  These Saucony's look like high tops but they're actually pretty light and have big traction.  I plan on using them if there's any snow to contend with either on the trail or the road (a necessary incurance policy for my streak!).  For a measly $32, how could I not have a pair of snow running shoes?  The second pair is the original New Balance Minimus Trail, the most comfortable running shoe I've ever worn.  Great for cross-country type courses, not great for bombing down mountains or more technical trails.  They were perfect for Morris Parks Association run last year which took place on a farm.  These were a nice deal as well, just $54.

Day 23: 1.00mi, 8:45, Jersey City NJ

So I got back from paradise yesterday and I have a work event today- already a pain in the ass because it meant I had to wake up at 5am and run.  Problem being, I was in 85-degree temperatures yesterday and this morning it was TEN degrees outside.  The windchill, a balmy 1-degree.  This was not going to work, so I packed my work stuff and headed to the gym.  Did a quick shoulder workout and my obligatory 1.00 on the treadmill. 

Read "Eat and Run" by Scott Jurek over the weekend.  Jurek is the greatest US ultra runner in history, was really interesting to learn about how his career started and how nutrition played a role in his success.  A must-read for vegan runners, if there are any of you out there. 

Day 22: 2.00mi, 17:45, St Thomas, USVI

Last vacation run today, gradually increased speed every 0.25mi, including a warm-up and cool-down at 6.0.  So sick of treadmills. 

Day 21: 2.00mi, 17:40, St Thomas USVI

Treadmill intervals to avoid the heat and humidity. 

Day 20: 1.00mi, 8:45, St Thomas USVI

This was a quick one at 6am on the treadmill. By 7:30 we were on a boat headed for five of the British Virgin Islands. I'll probably stick to running inside the next couple days just because of a lack of options. A little frustrating but it might be better not to acclimate to running in 80-degree weather only to return to the Northeast in a couple of days. Mileage has stayed low for a few reasons lately but it's probably exactly what I need right now to help me hold back and not get too aggressive.

Day 19: 1.32mi, 12:40, St Thomas USVI

Feeling a little ill from a day of traveling and running in hot weather at 7am on vacation isn't a great combination. I kind of ran around the hotel grounds, ended up running through the pool area, up some stairs, and into lots of dead ends. Unfortunately I don't have the option to leave the premises because all of the surrounding roads are narrow with no shoulder.

Heading over to US Virgin Islands National Park later in the day made me wish we had stayed over on St John. With that island being 80% national park, there are trails everywhere. The ones that I saw were nice and well maintained, walking rather than running them was torture. What a great combination it offers, a beach vacation in the Caribbean with a huge national park to run and explore. Something tells me I'll make it back here.

Day 18: 1.52mi, 13:55, Hoboken NJ

Today was the toughest and coldest run to date. I woke at 6am, which is no different than normal but it was 26 degrees out and I had a 9am flight to catch to St Thomas. This was not a day that was easy to roll out of bed but I scratched out a short run and made it another day. Should be interesting running tomorrow with a 60 degree temperature change.

Day 17: 1.0mi, 8:45, Jersey City NJ

Everything hurts today, the good news is it's from lifting and not running.  Hoping lifting my legs is going to help them and not hurt them in the long run.  Tomorrow is going to be an early one before I set off for my first run outside the country.  Posts might be delayed a little over the next few days but the running won't be!

Best Running Shirt- This has changed three times for me over the last year but right now it's Mountain Hardwear's Double Wicked Lite.  38 bucks retail price and good luck finding it on sale but if you're looking for a race shirt it's worth the investment.  Light as a feather, stays dry, doesn't chafe - that's the runners trifecta. 

Day 16: 1.64mi, 15:00, Hoboken NJ

Today was the first time I ran twice- technically.  I went to the gym, ran to my volleyball game (0.64mi) and then took the long way home after for the other 1.0.  It's been a low-mileage week but I'm not going to start trying to push things up till week 4, leading up to race #1. 

Day 15: 3.20mi, 29:00, New York NY

Today was my first official "out of state" run- will be interesting to see how many states I end up with, I'm guessing somewhere around 8.  Just did an easy one along the East Side with Rob, the fumes of the FDR aren't ideal but the run on the water evens it out.  I hope his Nike+ thing was a little off because this time sounds pretty slow!

Based on a conversation that we had, today's review is running underwear!  We are in agreement that the best basket for your eggs are the Under Armour Boxerjock boxer briefs.  They keep you dry, don't ride up, don't chafe, and are way better than running shorts lining.  A little pricey but great for a workout. 

Day 14: 1.0mi, 9:00, Jersey City NJ

Finished up two weeks today and generally speaking, my body has responded well.  I still think my body rather than my mind will be the biggest challenge in the end- but so far, so good.  I also put my first race on the calendar today, a five mile trail race on February 3 in Morristown.

Stats Update thru 2 weeks:
Miles:  28.49
Time:  4:21:16
Cities: 5
Weeks to go:  50

My review today is for a book - Running With the Buffaloes by Chris Lear.  I found this on a Runner's World top books list two years ago and it's definitely a great read for anyone who's ever been on a track team before.  For anyone who hasn't, it's still a great story with some incredible athletic feats woven in.  I want to read it again but I'm afraid Adam Goucher's training being literally twice as fast as mine might get depressing!  All kidding aside, nothing makes you want to get out and run more than a good running book.  So whether you're trying to get out for your first jog of 2013 or you just need a little inspiration for your next workout, check this one out.

Day 13: 2.89mi, 25:00, Clifton NJ

It's sad when I'm running 8:45 miles and I feel like I'm pushing the pace but at least it was on a trail. Weird foggy day at Garrett Mountain today with Matt, trying to evade all the puddles and giant piles of horse doo-doo.

This weekend wasn't as nice as I was hoping but it was still nice to run without gloves and a hat in January. One thing I did wear was my CW-X Ventilator socks which are by far the best compression socks out there. They manage to be light, breathable and supportive all at once. I'm going to try and share more on supplements, gear, etc on here. Since I pretty much try everything, maybe I'll be able to help some other people out.

Day 12: 1.50mi, 11:50, West Caldwell NJ

Thought I was going to hit the trail today but I ran out of daylight.  I only had my Nike Free's and my trail shoes so I decided to do a quicker pace.  What I mean by that is the Nike Free is probably the worst running shoe ever made and I knew I didn't want to put any mileage on even though I was feeling pretty good.  They are like someone took a slipper and put it on top of a pack of marshmallows- for some reason my lower legs don't respond well to the combination. 

Picked up a great retro Nike shirt today "1980 Penn Relays" and it had this attached (runners will enjoy):

Day 11: 1.00mi, 9:00, Jersey City NJ

Shoulders day at the gym with Nick, treadmill after.  Felt old and creaky, hopefully the trail tomorrow makes things better.  I stumbled across a Colombia "Cool Head Beanie" at Century21 today and it looks like a swim cap, it's not even as cool as what you wear under a football helmet.  The good news is it was like $4.

Day 10: 2.00mi, 18:19, Hoboken NJ

Another not-so-enjoyable 5:30am run.  Was glad to not be feeling too bad after yesterday, and not to step in any dog poo in the dark.  My least favorite thing about these morning runs isn't necessarily the runs themselves but waiting for my Garmin to sync in the freezing cold!

Stats:
Miles: 22.10
Time: 3:24:26
Cities: 4
Days To Go: 355

Just realized how much faster Matt's marathon time is than my first 22 miles, which took me 10 days...haha

Day 9: 4.00, 36:00, Jersey City/Hoboken NJ

I was pretty much too angry to write this last night.  I decided to run home from the gym yesterday since it was a nice night and the waterfront in Jersey City is apparently no longer a good place to run.  There are so many sections closed that I had to stop and turn around no fewer that 5 times.  I didn't even intend on running 4 miles but I did end up running at a good clip since I was so pissed off at having to stop and turn so much.  This was my longest pavement run and I hope it didn't beat me up too bad for the weekend- supposed to be mid-50's and I want to hit the trail!

Day 8: 1.00mi, 7:55, Jersey City NJ

Another day with my hamstring nagging me, did a tough arms workout with Nick and hopped on the treadmill.  Felt a little better mentally to go faster though - these 9-10 minute miles make me feel like I'm in my thirties.  Got a couple pairs of Zoot compression socks in the mail today and will be trying them out tomorrow, hopefully for an outdoor run. 

Day 7: 1.00mi, 10:00min, Jersey City NJ

Really feeling my hamstring today so just jogged out a mile on the treadmill after a good chest workout.  Did get my new arms sleeves in the mail today- thanks Kia!

Day 6: 2.99mi, 27:19, Clifton NJ

Last night my wonderful wife threw me a surprise 30th birthday party - which meant today running was a little rough.  It definitely helped that it was my first run with someone, especially since I don't really know how to get to Garrett Mountain.  Matt was dealing with an IT Band issue which meant I didn't slow him down (that much).  A sore hamstring popped up this morning so I'll definitely have to dial things back the next few days and concentrate on strength training.  I'm hoping it just happened slipping on the ice and it's not going to be a persistent issue.  Tomorrow is day 7, which means I only have to do this 51 more times...in a row.

Day 5: 4.60mi, 44:53, Millburn NJ

Today was my first trail run of the year at South Mountain Reservation.  It was slow going, mostly running on snow and ice but I prefer it over the crooked sidewalks of Hoboken any day. 

Total Distance:  11.11
Total Time:  1:44:53
Cities Run In: 3
States Run In: 1
Days To Go:  360

Day 4: 2.19 mi, 20:30, Hoboken NJ

Woke up at 5:03 and started warming up on the bike today.  Having drinks with coworkers after work today meant paying my dues before work- this will be the first of many times that I have to drag myself outside while most people won't even begin snoozing for another couple hours.  After a bike warmup, my IPod finally charged, I headed out the door into the 26-degree temps to Green Day's "Welcome to Paradise", as if someone was telling me "you asked for it, now go do it".  As I tackled the hills over by Steven's college and looked out at the skyline, I thought to myself, yes I did - and I'm not backing down.  Now at 6:09, I'm running late - looking forward to hitting the dirt this weekend finally.

Day 3: 1.0 mile, 9:00, Jersey City NJ

Another easy gym run with Nick on the treadmill next to me. This is the routine on strength training days. Tomorrow morning will be the first 5am run of the year, not looking forward to it!

Day #2: 1.00mi, 8:45, Jersey City NJ

Just an easy mile on the treadmill today, was nice to see my wife on the treadmill next to me!  Next step, getting her on the trail. 

Total Distance:  3.32
Total Time:  30:30
Cities Run In: 2
States Run In: 1
Days To Go:  363

Day #1: 2.32 Miles, 21:45, Hoboken NJ

Day 1 - Nice casual jog around freezing cold Hoboken on New Year's Day.  Warming up on the stationary bike worked like a charm and I felt great.  I have to be careful early in this process to not push too hard- no rest days till 2014!  It's embarrassing posting 9-minute miles but I know that I have to hold back right now, I'm not in great shape and have to start slow.  Thought a lot about the challenge ahead, finding time to run every day and staying healthy.  I'm excited and nervous at the same time- excited about the challenge and nervous about failing.  Day 2, see you tomorrow.