20...oops...21 miles on Plum Island

 

Heading out to Plum Island along the Plum Island Turnpike, I could see the sun rising through a small gap in overcast sky right at the horizon.  It was really cool a few seconds before this shot, but you have to take what you can get!

I kept going and headed down the main road onto Plum Island.  It was a great run!  It was cool, comfortable, and the sun was not beating down on me.  I love running in the fall!

So, I headed down Plum Island looking for the right turn around point.  Since I ran 20 miles on Plum Island before, I thought I would remember the spot no problem.  I was wrong.  I came around a corner and all of a sudden I saw features I had never seen before.  That's when I said "oops, I think I went too far"!

Being almost at the end of the island, I decided to take a look at the beach.  As I approached I could hear the familiar sound of waves breaking on the shore.  Having grown up near the beach, I always love that sound.  And the view, well...

Breathtaking!  So what if I ended up running an extra mile.  It was worth it!

Happy Running!

The Applecrest Half Marathon!

I ran and completed the Applecrest Half Marathon this weekend!  I finished in 1:38:27.  44th overall (out of 410 runners) and 5th in my age group (out of 19).  I was pretty pleased.  No pictures yet, will post them on Friday.

Over all, it was a great run.  Lots of hills, so towards the end I was getting a little worn out, but not enough to be demoralizing.  Afterword I enjoyed some apple pie, homemade ice cream, and fresh pressed apple cider.

But best of all, me and my wife and kids enjoyed some time at Applecrest Farm, where we purchased some fresh apples, and pet some goats and bunnies.  It was a great family Sunday!

Lovely Event in Memory of Cancer Victims

In Newburyport, lanterns were set a float at Bartlett Mall in memory of cancer victims. This video shows the event, and this article provides the details.  It was a lovely event, and a fitting tribute.  I remembered my father during this event.

Soaked During 16 Mile Run

It started raining 10 minutes into my run and it didn't stop until I was done!  About 8.5 miles into my run, it was raining so hard, I could barely see ahead of me.  During a break in the rain (when I say break I mean it was just raining lighter.  It never stopped) I got a few pictures.

As you can see, I was soaked.  That's not sweat (not entirely) covering my body.  My shoes were soaked as well, an I developed a bit of a blister on my big toe! 

But, the view was pretty good!

Over all, it was a good run.  I'm just happy to be running healthy no matter the weather.

Peace!

That Roll of Fat on Your Back is Gone!

"Wow, that roll of fat on your back is gone!"

This is what my wife said to me about a month into my weight loss program in 2010.  My first thought was "there was a roll of fat on my back . . . and you never told me about it?" 

Rewind to a month earlier.  It was June 2010.  I believe it was a Wednesday, which was my wife's yoga night.  While she was at yoga, I put the kids to bed.  Afterword, I went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.  I undressed I looked at myself in the mirror.

Now, I don't have any pictures of myself with no cloths on, which is a good thing, so you will have to take my word for it.  The view was troubling, to put it lightly.

The closest analogy I can offer is this.  Below are two pictures, one from the Fall of 2009, the other is from the Fall of 2012, before I ran my first marathon.  You can see it in my face.  Big difference!

Fall 2009

Fall 2012 - Bay State Marathon

Well, I didn't like what I saw in the mirror that night, so much so that I was finally determined to do something about it.  It was hot that evening, so I put on a pair of shorts, but no shirt, and went down into my basement to run on my scarcely used treadmill. It was dark out by that point, and my treadmill was next to a window, so I could clearly see my reflection in the window while I was running.  You can see where this is going!!

The roll of fat on my back was not the only roll of fat on my body at that time, and I could easily see all the rolls roll in the window to my right while I ran.  It was a horrendous sight, I'm sorry to say, but I didn't stop running. 

I kept going despite the horror show in the window.  I kept going after my wife came home, saw me running, and quickly turned around and went back up stairs (I don't blame her).  I kept going despite the burning in my lungs and the pain starting to form in my legs.  I just kept going.

I don't remember how far I ran, or how long, but I worked up a good sweat, and that was enough for me.  I kept going the next day, and the day after that.  A month latter, I heard those words from my wife . . . "That roll of fat on your back is gone."  Those were sweet words!

Now, 35 pounds lighter, and three years later, I'm still going!  Not only is my weight under control, but my cholesterol numbers are better, my diet is better, and my self esteem is through the roof!  What more can I ask for?

One of my favorite movies is Shawshank Redemption.  The best quote from that movie is when Andy Dufresne says:

 Well, that day, I finally got busy living!

14 Miles on the Merrimack River

Sunrise Over the Merrimack River, Amesbury/Newburyport, MA

What a beautiful weekend!  It was a perfect weekend for running!  I ran 14 miles along the Merrimack River this Saturday and I loved every minute.  The views were as spectacular as the weather. 

I started out in Newburyport.  I ran by Mosley Pines Park and over the Hines Bridge into Amesbury.  I then ran along the Merrimack River past the former Hat Factory at Hatters Point (now condos).

Former Hat Factory, Amesbury, MA

From there I continued on along the river and enjoyed some beautiful views across the river to Maudsley State Park in Newburyport.  As I ran along the river I felt a cool breeze coming off the river bringing the smell of freshly cut grass into my face, along with the crisp morning air.

Merrimack River with Maudsley State Park in the background.

As you can so, the view was incredible.  A clear blue sky that makes most Hollywood directors drool!  It doesn't get any better than this. 

Looking forward to next weeks long run!  Run happy!

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Mission Moment

I read the quote below, which is part of a longer quote, and thought I would share it with you all.  This is one of the reasons I am doing what I am doing.  Ted was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) in 2008. He had a bone marrow transplant this past May.  Here is a sample of Ted's recent experience after his transplant:

I was getting very anxious when my doctor walked in to the exam room a few hours after I'd had my CTs and didn't immediately say anything about the scans…So for some quick, instant-gratification reassurance I asked him if he thought I needed to worry about the scans and he said, "No. Not something I expect any issues from. This is a CURE we're working on." So I went home to wait. I had just wanted to hear him say "CURE." I love it when he says that...[a]nd then I got the results. I was glad the news was good and I was glad I'd finally let go and lived in the time of the day.

The fundraising I am doing, the hard work and sacrifice I am going through, and the small commitment I am asking from all my friends and family, help create more Ted moments.  The work performed by the dedicated staff at LLS leads to "Cures" so that more people can get back to "living in the time of the day."

Have you done something amazing today?  Here's your chance!

 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/maine13/ngrasso59