Pirate Triathlon

Wow! It has been over a year since I last posted. I guess for good reason, as I have not been able to run or bike since my surgery. Life is different for me now, and my days as a triathlete have come to an end.....................
WAIT!
Stop the presses!!!!

Who am I kidding? A triathlete never quits. Sometimes we recover. Sometimes we have to take a moment to re-evaluate things. But quit? never!

For the past few months I have been swimming more and more. Some time a few months back, I tossed out the idea of doing a relay with some friends from the Cleveland Tri Club. Chuck Marquardt who has undergone major heart surgery and been unable to run as a result jumped at the idea and took on the cycling portion. I mentioned it to Brandon Henneman, in hopes that he would run for us, and we had a team lined up for this mornings race at Fairport Harbor.

Always one of my favorite venues, I thought the protected waters on Lake Erie would be perfect. The 500yd swim starts in the water, and finishes on the beach. We were granted an exception to tag at the shore, so that I wouldn't have to race across the beach and risk a fall. The race was also $30 for the three of us....That is amazing!

6:00AM- The alarm goes off and I begin to ready myself. Goggles, cap, suit.....Check. This is much more simple than is a race where I have to be responsible for three disciplines. So I shower, dress, and eat before heading outside to meet Annie (she and I are dating) and Theresa (a Plain Dealer reporter working on a profile piece about me). We climbed into Annie's van, giving Theresa lots of time to interview me and save gas. We then headed east to Lake County for the race.

7:30AM- We arrive. The lot is full, so Annie drops us off before finding a parking spot. We meet up with Brandon and Chuck, get our t-shirts, body markings, and waivers signed, and head down to the water. Theresa meets Mickey Ryzmic of the Greater Cleveland Triathlon. I imagine she got a great interview or at the very least a good laugh.

Chuck having racked his bike, met us and we established a spot on the beach to tag. Things seemed to be moving quickly when we looked out at the water and realized the swimmers were all old men. Brandon helped me enter the water as we hear the starting horn, and my competitive nature kicked in as I dive forward into the water and begin swimming. Later I was told it was more of a flop due to the lack of power in my legs....A few strokes in and I notice another man my age wandering in slowly. I pull up and ask, "What wave just went out?"
"That was men 35 and up, relay teams are next", he tells me.
I relax, and swim to the start. I didn't have to wait long before my actual wave began.

The horn sounded. Feet and arms were everywhere. The dark open water of Lake Erie was blanketed by an overcast sky. My adrenaline was surging. I love this. This is my sport, and I am participating despite my disabilities. My stroke felt strong and smooth. My breathing was steady and calm. My only weakness was the lazy kick due to my injury. I seemed to be pacing well with a friend of Mickey's, so my confidence was also strong. This swim went as well as my swims go. I sighted well and swam straight. I went around the marker cleanly, and approached the beach with strength and the desire to swim further. Once I was out of water deep enough to swim, I crawled on my hands and knee's to the waters edge before tagging Chuck who raced off to the Bike transition.

After I had my shoes and leg brace back on, we headed to the transition to wait for Chuck on the bike. I did play by play for Annie and Theresa giving back history on many of the other athletes from CTC. Brandon headed into transition, and we waited along with Mel (who was and often is with Brandon).
Chuck came rolling into transition with a smooth dismount. This was his first race since 2007, but he looked like a pro that clearly knew how to play this game. Once tagged, Brandon took off running looking for a 20 minute 5k. We moved to the finish area and grabbed a much needed seat.
Chuck grabbed some post race food, and we waited...

A short time later we saw E-Speed run past yelling for Charlie....We thought she was looking for another Charlie. She was not, she was sent by Brandon so that I could finish the race with him. He made me take our race number, and we moved slowly a cross the finish with my leg brace and cane. Mickey was on the mic now and making sure that everyone knew that I had returned to the sport today following my injury. I proudly waved to the cameras held by Annie, E-speed and Janet (CTC Prez).

For Chuck and I, it was a return to a sport we love. We were both able to be apart of this wonderful culture of health and fitness. The day was special. The finish was fun, but we have no idea what our times were. It really didn't matter. Today we were part of a triathlon team. Today we competed. Today we were triathletes.
 We named our team, "Team Billy Shears". That name comes from the Beatles song that  states, "I am gonna tri with a little help from my friend's. Today that is what we did.

Exercise with a spinal cord injury

One major struggle for me has been adapting to a sedentary lifestyle. For most of my adult life, I have had the ability to head out for a run. When I need to blow off steam, I always have had my running shoes. Exercise was something that came naturally. The activities I chose kept me fit and healthy.
Today I have to work much hard to motivate my self. I use a stationary bike to get my heart rate up. I have some hand weights to try to maintain some muscle, and I do a series of core exercises to help keep my lower back and abs strong. Soon I plan to begin swimming again. I am waiting for the outdoor pool to re-open for the summer. I look forward to this as I know the benefits will be huge.
I know that much of what I gained as an athlete is still available to me. I know that I can regain much fitness in my heart, lungs, endurance, and muscle.
My neuro wiring is a mess, and I can barely walk let alone run. The concept of being able to race is remote. This is beyond my control. But my fitness is not beyond my control. The workouts may not always be the way I want them to be. But they are available to me. Fitness is my choice. This I am grateful for.

On with the show

So as I am adjusting to life with a disability/injury I am making changes due to my physical limitations. The first thing I need to do is replace the sound system I use for open mikes and other gigs. It is a great system, but it is much to heavy for me. I have come up with a plan make it much more manageable. This means selling the old to purchase a new lighter one.
I also have some triathlon gear that will not be put to use any time soon. Wetsuits and GPS devices are not going to be used for a while. So I have decided to sell these as well.

While selling these belongings, I have become reminded of how different multi sports athletes and musicians can be. When an athlete expresses interest, they say " I will be there at 5PM". This is often without fail. When a musician expresses interest, they say, "I want it! I should be able to buy it the third wed. in June".
I guess this could also be an economic issue.
Both of these traits belong to me.
In any event, the wetsuits and HRM/GPS are sold while the PA remains.................

Trifolk coming out of blog retirement!

It is summer of 2010. I had intended to put this blog to rest, but I have come to believe that the story is not finished. Over the winter I suffered compression to my spinal cord and underwent surgery to repair broken discs in the cervical area of my spine. I am currently 3 months out from my surgery and undergoing physical therapy at MetroHealth in Cleveland.

Triathlon and running are not in the planning right now, but I can dream and use these activities as physical goals. I am using the bike indoors and plan to return to the pool soon. Running is a long way off, as even walking is very difficult due to the nerve damage I have suffered.

My long term prognosis is unclear. Nerves heal very slowly. I was told by my surgeon that the goal of the surgery was to prevent additional damage. A full recovery was not promised to me. I live with symptoms from neuropathy that include: tingling in my hands. feet that feel like they are frozen. My legs are numb, cold or burning. I am unable to walk without the assistance of a brace and a cane. When I switch from a sitting to a standing position I am often slowed by extreme stiffness. I have poor motor control and weakness with my feet and legs. My left foot drags without the brace. These issues are mostly neurological. Structurally I am ok aside from a little extra weight.

My goals are much greater now than ever before. I have every intention of returning to the sport though I know it may take years if this is even possible. I have no intention rolling over in defeat. The will that drove me to ironman remains. I will now return to this blog to update on my progress and struggles as I work toward my recovery. My hope is to one day enter another race report.

Thanks for reading.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion

I never did follow up on the last post. This animation shows the surgery I wound up having about 6 weeks ago. Everything went smoothly and I have been undergoing a lot of physical therapy since then. I spent 17 days in the hospital and was very calm through the whole thing. I thank my family and friends for seeing me through this. I can safely say that I have no triathlons planned for this season. My training now is dedicated toward PT. learning to walk is my big goal.

Surgery

I know this blog has ended, but I thought I should add this. I am in the Cleveland Clinic dealing with an unknown compression to my c4-6 vertabrae. Best case is steroid treatments worst will be removal of a growth and chemotherapy. This should all start today as I am on a presurgery diet.
The problem is unrelated to my sports, but my fitness will help me to overcome this. I am far more nervous right now than I was when I entered the water at Ironman. I hope to post positive results soon.
Thanks Charlie

Greater Cleveland Triathlon Race Recap 2009

The week had been tough for me. Monday evening I took sick and was unable to train all week. My voice and ability to breath were in serious question with a nasty head cold. I tried to be optimistic and view it as a taper. The race plan was to go hard. The fear was to go hard and risk further sickness.

I packed up Saturday. I have found that ironman training and racing has taught me to minimize my belongings and weight, so I have refined both my race and gig kit to the point where it can be carried in one trip. I had dinner and coffee before sleeping. At a weeee bit past 5am Sunday, Bbop and Mel picked me up and we headed east through lightning storms towards mentor Headlands on the shore of Lake Erie.

As we arrived the skies began to clear, but the lake remained agitated and rough. The Coast Guard quickly canceled the swim. Bummer, but I get it, Lake Erie is unpredictable. Swims are never a sure thing on this body of water.

I set up my transition very quickly and just milled around. I left my guitar and cables in the car just in case the weather acted up. For the most part I was very relaxed.

We all gathered around the start to watch the oly race begin. GCT being the Cleveland Triathlon Clubs home event makes this race a great social event for us all. For CTC members, it does not matter your role in the event,you just want to be at GCT for the chance to visit with everyone.

30 minutes after the oly got going, we lined up and the race began. I took off in a group of other CTCers. With a 2 mile run, I ran as hard as I could with my head still stuffed up. I hit T1 in 17minutes. My transition was slow. I have not added yanks to my lacing system and continue to use road shoes on the bike. Once thru, I hit the bike and hammered all but two RR crossings that appears to be eating tires and delivering triathletes faces to the pavement. During the second crossing the gates closed while I was on the track. It was spooky for a moment, but we all kept riding as we heard the roar of the passing locomotive behind us. The last couple of miles up rt 44 gave me a good tailwind to ride. I hit T2 and joked around with volunteers a little to long before taking off on the final 2 run miles. My running was good and I felt fast. One section had a huge puddle with a single track pass. With oncoming runners on the dry section, I took the plunge through a 4 inch deep puddle before dashing to the finish. 1:18 .09

At the finish they took my chip and gave me a medal for my might accomplishment. I grabbed some water and headed straight to the car to get my guitar, mic and cables. I got set up quicker then either of my transitions during the race and began to play"Going down the road" by Woody Guthrie. I felt good singing and everyone seemed to enjoy my noise.

Following the race I helped clean up before Mel and I jumped in Lake Erie to bob in the waves. Bbop took off for a 2 hr run in the heat as he is prepping for IMKY.
As everyone was thru at the park, we all headed to Pickle Bills for and Great Lakes brew.
Twas a fine Day. GCT and Mickey Ryzmic put on a great event. I love the tradition we have developed with me playing in the finish area.

******

This is my last post to this blog. I am moving on to the next stage in my life where I will be applying all I have learned while training and racing ironman triathlons. My ability to accomplish what I have car free and plant based has taught me that I can do what ever I dream of doing the way I want to do it. The world I want to live in exists if I make it so. My only limitations are in my lack of imagination. If I allow my self to dream, then "Anything is possible".

When I left music in 2004 as my primary motivation, I had become disheartened by the need for so many belongings to present folk music. My business had lost the magic that it began with. The idea of a guitar and a singer going anywhere people were became so complicated and impersonal. My friendships were sometimes overly competitive in very unhealthy ways. The need to own and maintain a car was absolute. I rarely had time to sit with people and get to know them. I would drive 50 minutes, do the show, get paid and drive home. I dreamed of being more independent as a musician, but struggled to visualize a world that would allow me the freedom to do this.

Having spent the past few years learning to minimize my needs and belongings during a race as well as traveling to races through out the region and into the United Kingdom, I have found it very simple to become a regularly performing songwriter with out a car. My standard gig set up is lighter then my bike now. It includes a small PA, guitar mics, cable, stand, recordings and postcards. I am now able to be the performer I had dreamed of becoming. Self powered.

My next big project will be planning and executing a tour next summer using only bikes and bike trailers. A friend will also join me and film it as a documentary. I will be starting a new blog dedicated to this project, so please stay posted.

Thank You for being a part of this adventure. Let nothing stop you from living your life the way you truley want to live.

After mulling it over for a while now, I have decided to end this blog. My last post will appropriately be the race report for the coming Greater Cleveland Triathlon. I am registered to race the sprint distance and scheduled to perform during the post race festivities. As I am going through this current transition in focus, I feel as the metaphor of beginning the day as a triathlete and finishing as a musician serves as the perfect conclusion to this blog.

When I began writing this blog, I saw it as a means to journal my training. Over the past three years of writing I have found it to be a portal into a strong community of support and camaraderie while training for long course triathlon. I have gained a number of good friends as a result of writing and reading other blogs. I feel I have contributed to a greater knowledge base with race reports giving insights to the races I have done. In some cases information on these races was scarce. For many looking for Ironman UK info, my report became a resource that I did not have prior to my race. I am glad that this blog has been used for this. For the reason above all others, I will keep trifolk published. I will however not be adding any new posts beyond the GCT report.

I am grateful to everyone that has followed this blog over the past three years. The intense focus required to train for ironman has often found me very alone. The constant contact I have been able to maintain through these writings, along with your feed back has given all of my efforts greater meaning.

My triathlon and running plans will remain active, but not central. My music is where I am directing most of my energy now. I have set up my music site within blogger and will continue writing regularly on that page www.charliemosbrook.com . If you enjoy my writing, I promise to post regularly. In addition my music site serves as a portal to my web presence from twitter, facebook, and myspace to itunes and other music sources. Feel free to friend me on facebook. I am obnoxiously active on that site and talk about endurance sports often. Ultimately once my music career is where I can rely primarily on it for income, I will have more time to devote to a hobby. When I arrive at this point I may try Ironman again.

As for now my rededication to music has manifested immediate results. A lot of very cool things are happening for me as a musician right now and I am enjoying an excitement about music that has been missing for a few years. Please feel free to take a moment or become a follower of the charliemosbrook.com site. I will continue to follow the blogs I have been reading as many of you have become friends and I want to know how it's going.

Anyhow, to steal a line from Spokane Al,
Thank you for reading,
Charlie

Mondays mean Open Mi

Mondays mean Open Mic at the Coventry Phoenix. I like Monday

Lake Metroparks Pirate triathlon at Fairport Harbor

The Pirate Triathlon is the old Fairport Harbor sprint with a new spin on promotion. I have done this race a 1/2 dozen times in it's original form and always felt that it was one of the best races around. The new pirate theme gave it a little more flair. The swim course is within the break wall on lake Erie, the bike rolls mostly flat along the lake and the run is flat and largely unshaded. The distance is a sprint 500m/20k/5k.

After returning from my vacation I got a hold of Tracy to confirm my ride. Around 6pm I knew the race was on. I had some veggie sushi, converted the bike from road to areo, packed my gear, and chilled.
At 5:30 I woke up and ate a small bowl of cereal and had a 1/4 cantaloupe. Tracy arrived 10 seconds early as I was crossing the street to meet her. We attached the bike to the car, I jumped in and away we drove for Fairport Harbor.
We got to the race just in time for registration($25 w/late fee). Set up transition, and got ready to race. Everything went very smooth pre race. I chose to wear a wet suit.
My wave started at 8:10. A horn sounded and we were off. I felt strong right off the bat. My mind was clear and really felt like I was just focused on the task at hand. The wave was a large group of men 35 and up. The swim was frantic and aggressive. Contact was constant. I remained steadfast and unapologetic throughout my swim. I am not sure of my time, but I stayed with the main group and swam straight. In general I believe it was a very good swim for me.
As I came out of the water I began stripping my wetsuit and jogged into T1. The only problem of the day occurred at this point as I really struggled to get my wet suit from my ankles. My guess is that I lost 3-4 minutes to the suit.
Once on the bike I hammered out the next 12 miles. Going out we had a great tailwind. I was doing an average 24mph and passing a lot of riders. On the return it dropped to 19mph as the winds were now at our face. I used my areo helmet cause I never get to. I think it benefited me on this course. Geek maybe, but it was the right choice.
T2 was quick and easy. I haven't switched out my laces this year, so I had to tie em. Not a big deal.
The run starts with a steep hill and soon turns flat. I went easy up and hit my stride after the climb. The Run went well. My old hamstring issue was apparent but not an issue. My run went well and I finished in 1:20.04(not confirmed yet).
It was fun to get out and run this race. The prep was light, I felt good the whole time and feel as though I put out a solid effort. My interest in time was obvious as I didn't look at my watch after I started it. I just went out and raced. Just had fun doing a tri and pushing my self a little harder then normal.
The race was very low tech but run well. Te new theme was fun, the food offerings were top notch. The cost and venue were as good as can be expected. I honestly believe this race is one of the best bargains in triathlon.
We had a good group of CTC members on hand and everyone seemed to have fun.
My race experience was A1.

Toning it down and tuning it up

I have unsettled business. It is my music. This is what I set out to do years ago. I need to focus on that first and for most. This is what has always driven me, and I am ready to give myself back to it.

A few years ago I hit a wall. I came out of an engagement that I had wanted for most of my adult life. The woman was the one that always left me wondering, "what if?". The long and short of it is that I found out "what if", and it sucked. It left me confused and without direction. In an attempt to regain some direction and focus I turned toward the discipline of triathlon. I developed a multi year plan aimed at completing an Ironman.

The goals I set were accomplished methodically. I finished 2 ironman distance races, 7 70.3 distance races, and 5 stand alone marathons. I relied on the consistency of my training and was always willing to make sacrifices to achieve my goals.

I need to apply the same energy toward my music. I still hope to run a 50k this fall, but I can not see my self commiting to a 50 mile race and being able to give music the attention I need to. I need to be in a place where I can feel ok with missing or skipping a workout or two. Music is my greatest passion . I need to set my musical goals higher then those in sport right now.

The personal healing I looked for has occured and I want to be able to go deeper on an emotional level. I wasn't willing to do that before and my music suffered for it. I am ready now.

A Most excellent Race 10k-Race report

I woke this morning at my normal 6:30. I had everything ready to go so I was able relax as I got going. I had a banana and a glass of H2o. Checked the latest MJ news, climbed aboard my bike and headed to the other corner of Cleveland Heights.

I arrived at Beaumont school with lots of time to register and stretch out before the race. I mostly sat by myself pre race before one of my customers and Dane's old boss, Brad came by. It was his first race. We chatted a bit before the kids of Camp Cheerful headed down the track. Every one clapped as the kids made their way to the finish line. This is one of the best pre race traditions in the Cleveland area.
I headed to the start in an easy jog and lined up. The weather was great. The heat had backed off this morning and the sky was overcast. I watched the herons and hawks overhead and relaxed. Just before the horn sounded and old prof named Scott lined up with me. He loves folk music, triathlon and running, so we always have lots to talk about. The gun sounded and we made our way across the line slowly. Still chatting for a good two minutes, I remembered what I was doing today. I wished Scott well and got going.

My hope was to hang at 8:00 miles. My legs have been heavy since the marathons and I turned my ankle this past week on a trail run, so I had lite expectations. I figured 50 minutes would be a success, but I was ready to except slower.

As the race turns west on Fairmount you have a slight downhill for about 1 1/2miles. I was moving at about 7:45 very comfortably. No ankle pain and my stride was smooth. At Coventry we turn right right for a block before heading east on Northpark. The return is uphill slightly before becoming steep after Lee road. I know this area as well as any. so I was able to anticipate every thing perfectly. The second loop came and my legs were beginning to feel it. Other runners began to pass. My pace was consistent so I wasn't worried.
As I approached the Coventry turn I got caught behind a group of walkers. I was a little discouraged, but I just took the extra moment to run around them. Half the group was in wheel chairs. So it was no big deal. The day was for these kids. Not me.
As I headed backup NorthPark I began to fade a little. I was heating up and my insides were churning. I focused on my breath, footing and a runner I had been just behind for 3 miles. At mile 6, Brian (another customer) was calling out times. He yelled "Come on Charlie, run harder". I tried to laugh or smile, as I did appreciate the sentiment, but I am sure it didn't show much. The last .2 miles are uphill. I dug in and pushed through to finish at 50:57 for an average pace of 8:10.

I headed straight to the loo and then for water and fruit. Everyone was gathering on the soccer field. I noticed fellow Aquarius triblogger ironG and went over to introduce myself. I have known her for about 2 years now online, but this was the first time we had actually met. We talked for a bit and hung for the awards. She had a great 5k finishing 2nd overall.
As G took her award it began to pour. She darted for her car and I put on a jacket and my helmet. The rain slowed and I rode home.

Overall I feel the race was successful. I was able to meet my speed goals. The lack of speed and sluggishness I have felt for the past month seems to be behind me. My ankle is a little soar. I iced all day.

Home course advantage

Last week I ran for 6 days straight for the first time in years. This week I will continue that trend. The off day is Thursday. Friday I will run four miles, Saturday two, and Sunday I will run a 10k around the Shaker lakes area. My goals for the race will be to see where my fitness is at two weeks into structured training.
"A Most Excellent Race" is a local 10k that was started by my current boss Brendon Walton. It is a fund raiser for Camp Cheerful, a residential camp for children with disabilities. Just before the race start, kids from the camp participate in a fun run as all of the racers cheer. I have shed a tear twice for this event. When I ran this race in 1998 I was talking to Jen just after the race. I asked "How did ya do?".
She said, "I won."
The following year I had one of my personal best races. I don't recall the time, I do remember out racing some fast runners.
The race course has changed since then, but it still remains in the area that I have run regularly for 18 years. I went to elementary school two blocks away. I will spend a few miles on it today. This is my home course. I have good memories going back to '93 for this race. Should be fun.

new habits

While training for Ironman, my run mileage usually remained between 20-30 miles per week. My long run was the important run and topped out at 2.5 hrs. Brick runs were also mandatory. Most of my other runs would be 30-45 minutes. My pattern was 3days on, one day off. Biking dominated my training for the Ironman. If the choice was bike or run, I had to bike.

I am now in the process of changing that pattern to better adapt my legs to longer runs. I am reducing off days to 6 on, 1 off. Most runs are 45-60 minutes. Long runs are much longer. I am refocusing all of my training with the goal of a 50mile trail race. As long runs grow longer, I will add days off. This will be most true when I attempt back to back long days. I doubt I will do a 5 and 4 hr weekend, but a pair of 3hr runs may be the planning.

Right now I am getting my general fitness up to speed. I also still have some pounds to loose. 188 is a lot of extra weight to carry, I could save a lot of energy by loosing10 or 15 . I think the 175 range is perfect for me and attainable in a healthy way.

I have been running sans mp3 player now for a few weeks. On trails this seems like a good idea. My local trails are in urban parks. It is good to be alert. I have seen coyote and been chased by wild dogs. I really want no surprises. I also find it is one less thing to worry about.

Another new discipline has been the use of hand held water bottles for every run. I picked up a nice one made by Nathan that has a pocket and handle. It is much simpler and more comfortable then the fuel belt I have been using. I am looking into a racing vest with a bladder. That costs a bit more and is not important yet, so I will wait.

Changing all of my habits and relearning everything I know about going long is fun. I am really enjoying this new focus and I am very excited about a new goal.

That said, a new iron distance triathlon has been scheduled for next September at Cedar Point....about an hour away.......Hmmmm.

Where was I?

Quick update:
I haven't written much this week. The dominant issue has been a personal relationship. I leave that stuff off the net.

My recovery has been slow. I was able to get running quickly, but running was not quick. I added regular bike commuting and never exceeded an hour of running. Last week I took two days in a row off. I may have been ill. So I just laid around. Since then I have had a lot more energy.

I have officially kicked off my training for a fall of trail running. I am still tinkering with what the experts say works and what I think I can do while staying healthy enough to run 50 miles. I am giving more focus to post run strength training.

I am going to run in "A Most Excellent race" on the 28th of this month. This was always one of my favorite 10ks. It is run on my home turf through the Shaker Lakes area.

That is about all I have for now.

Looking Forward.........

July I will start base building for a fall season of trail runs. My family will be spending a week atop Eagles mere Mountain. I have used this vacation to train before with bike climbs up the Mountain. The confidence it built for the old GCT 1/2 and the IMUK course was huge. This year I will be running up and down the mountain along the switchbacks. My "A" race will be near Hagerstown MD. After Brierman(Also in Hagerstown) last fall, I can not take climbing lightly. The area around the Appellation trail is rough.
I will also do a sprint tri in Fairport Harbor. It is one of my favorite little races.

August My only planned race is the GCT in mentor. My main duty will be as a musician. I will be racing the sprint.
I have made a commitment to pace a runner for the Burning River100. I also will volunteer at an aid station.
On August 30th, I will be taking in IMKY as a spectator. The Cleveland Tri Club has a lot of folks racing this year.

Sept. I plan to return to Michigan for a 50k on the same course as the Trail Marathon. The race festival is called RunWoodstock. The theme for all of the races that weekend will be "hippy" I will be camping. My approach to hills will be very different this time....Walking.
I have made a promise to take part in this years "Ride for Miles". Last year I was drafted to the stage to play a few tunes following the ride. This year I know to expect it. I am excited to have more of an opportunity to combine sport and music this year.

Oct. The Towpath Marathon will be returning to my schedule this fall. It has been 4 years since I last did this race. With my "A" race covering 1/2 of it's mileage on a similar towpath in Maryland, it makes sense to me to use this as a training run.

Nov JFK50 mile run. That's all I am gonna say about that.

winning and loosing

I set off on my run this evening to meditate on winning and loosing. The Cavs are 1 game away from being eliminated from the NBA play offs following a season of dominating the league. The season we in Cleveland have followed has been the most promising of any of our pro sports teams in my lifetime. With Lebron James leading his best team, we have had confidence that we would finally experience what every other major city in America has witnessed. A championship.

Winning is a foreign subject to me personally. The last time I was part of a winning team was my Little league team (Tris Speaker youth baseball) My team went 14-1-1. Our final game was a scrimmage against the 2nd best and only team to beat us. We won 19-3. We were the Giants. We were coached by some college players that were really good at teaching us the game. What I will always remember is how well we did the basic things. When ever we did something special on the field it counted and was magnified because all the basics were taken care of.

As an adult athlete I have two age group awards from 10 years ago. My approach to racing is much more in line with participating then it is competing. I look for a personal challenge or a fun event to see friends and run faster or further then I normally would. I race with personal goals, but I have no plans on returning home with anything other then a finishers medal.

As a fan, I love to watch the games. I love getting to know the players on the field. I love seeing the way a team meshes. I love seeing an underdog like the '97 Indians or the '05 Cavs exceed every ones expectations, and not being surprised. I know that I can look back on this past season and say that I have every reason to believe that LBJ and co. can and should win the next 3.

As a Clevelander I am haunted by a sense that I will never see it happen. An Injury or free agency will snatch hope away. The best opportunity to win will be thwarted by one moment that will be remembered vividly by all in our city.

A ball sailing inches from the outstretched glove of a favorite pitcher. A great RB being stripped before he crosses into the end zone. Moments that defined the careers of two of the greatest players ever. An interception that made the coldest of January's ever in our history that much colder.

2007.....I am so glad I had ironman during the never ending sports disappointments we went through 2 years ago. As a Cleveland sports fan, I am familiar with disappointment. The best we have had was a team that still had a chance in the last play of the last game. The big win never happens here. That's just the way it is.

My run took me through a warm rain, down the hill into University Circle. The turn around point is the lagoon in front of the art museum. as I pointed back eastward I noticed a rainbow leading into the area of the University Hospital. The Rainbow Babies and children hospital appeared to be the end point of the rainbow. Having been born in that hospital, I was reminded of my mom claiming she had my dad circle round Severance Hall home of the Cleveland Orchestra, to insure musicality. I remember going to her work at the institute of art when I was young and being influenced by so much music and art. I remembered listening to music at the Jazz and folk clubs and eventually performing at them. I thought of the Gardens and Museums. I thought of the city and the amazing park system. The way the people support the arts and work to preserve the culture. I remembered that the place I was born is very special. I am proud to claim Cleveland as my birthplace and home. I realized that the end of the rainbow is an amazing city. Win or loose, it is always home.

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Race recap

The weekend leading up to the race was very relaxed. Aside from a few hours at work, I mainly stayed off my feet. I had Pad Thai for dinner Friday and Veggie sushi Saturday night. I slept well both nights. So I felt rested and well fueled without feeling bloated. I hydrated well, and my pre-race meal consisted of two Lara bars and 12oz of Gatorade. AJ and I rolled down to the race at about 6am. I was able to clear my soul in the loo. I checked my stuff, turned on my garmin and lined up.
I was hoping to make one last stop in the confessional, but the lines were very long. The race attracted record numbers this year, so I decided to wait for the first good tree or statue of a for civic leader to loose excess water weight. The air was cold. I wore gloves for warmth. I settled into the crowd near the 4:45 pace group. Not that I was looking for a finish of that time, It was just as close as I could get. I checked my Garmin for the time only to discover that it was still looking for satellites. Apparently buildings cause problems. Since the course was measured, I didn't worry to much about it. I mostly wanted heart rate info. Pace is easy math.
The race started and 5 minutes later we were thru the starting line. My first few yards were with my neighbor and AJ's roomy Brendon. I spotted a place for privacy and pealed off. When I returned to the course, I jumped in and just hung with what was comfortable. My body was still a little tired following the trail marathon, so my strategy was easy going....
Thru the first mile the crowd was tight and slow. I started to hit my stride and moved up into a pack that matched my natural pace. 9;30 with walking at aid stations. I was a little to well hydrated, so I had a few additional stops along the way. At times I reminded my self of Zeus(my folks lab) with the incessant tree soaking.
The run was going smoothly thru 12. Some where on the main street bridge my knee did something that really freaked me out. I took immediate caution and pulled to the side of the road to massage it and do a quick self examination. I began running again, but with caution. If something seemed seriously wrong I could pull out at the half way point and head to the finish to cheer on friends. The pain continued but did not worsen. This was a marathon, so I excepted some pain and pushed on past the turn off.
Out along the marginal, I was manging my knee pain. 25 yards from the coming aid station I found a GU in my pack and walked into oasis looking for water. Matt Collister(CTC multi IM and now ultra runner) was working this water table. I leaned into him and said muttered, " Doing marathons so close together f**king hurts my knees".
He replied, "Keep moving forward".
So forward I moved.
Around this time I struck up a conversation with a runner attempting her first marathon. She was beginning to doubt her ability to finish. She was concerned about falling apart after 17 miles.
I shared some of the things I had learned over the years. I let her know that things turn good as quickly as they turn bad. The human spirit is an amazing thing. during the darkest parts of this race she would find inner strengths she never knew existed in her self. Marathons turn mental after 20 miles.
Around 21 miles, she was still with me. neither of us had wavered from our strategy. She walked at mile markers and I at aid stations. I kept assuring her that she was doing great. she told me that the things I had said were giving her strength.
At 55th and St Clair I saw Mary cheering. I was still using Matt's advice. The knee was stable. Every thing hurt. I was tight and unable to stretch the stride, but I was running. The 4:45 pace group caught me. I think they were ahead of pace. I stuck close with that group the rest of the way.
The final 5k was just an exercise in determination. I hurt all over. At lakeside with under 1/2 a mile to go I ran as hard as I could. This was not hard at all. I crossed the finish in 4:44. I finished with the group I started with. I waited for my new friend that traveled the tough miles with me. she was 2 minutes back. I congratulated her. She gave me a hug and thanked me for my words. I thanked her. Staying positive is so much easier when you can share with others.
Micky Ryzmick came over to me to congratulate me. I was wearing the same GCT hat he had on. I found Mary and we laid on the Mall C lawn for awhile before finding coffee and lunch....

Thoughts from the day. The weather was perfect. Aside from a little wind, this was as a good a weather day as can ever be hoped for. The new course was very scenic. I think the race directors found a course that celebrates the city. Detroit ave and St Claire suck, but there is really no other way to get in or out of downtown without facing the economic reality that exists between the downtown area and the burbs. I personally think it is a very important area to visit in the cities of America. The lake front, Rockefeller Park all of the downtown sites, Lakewood and the new finish at city hall made for a great course. The race course had many more people cheering on both sides of town. This race has made some great changes for the better. I once again recommend it after being down on it the past few years.

Alot of friends had great races. Most notably, when I looked at the results i noticed that AJ Baucco whom I drove to the race with took 5th in the half. In the women's race I noticed E-speeds name as the 2nd place finisher.....Amazing.

Congats all.

Goals for the Cleveland marathon

As I head into the coming weekend, I think it important that I take a moment to reflect on my coming task this Sunday. I am registered for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. This will be my second marathon start in 21 days. Unlike the Trail Marathon last month, this on is flat and run on roads. I have no real expectations. I am realistic in knowing that I have never gone this distance with so little time between starts. I think I was able to bounce back following the race in Ann Arbor in good shape. My legs still have very little pep, but I have not really pushed to hard. I have followed my standard tapper. So who knows. I think my biggest goal is to go out and enjoy the biggest fitness party in town. I hope to stay positive and run a marathon around my city.

Also, I have moved my music( http://www.charliemosbrook.com ) site onto blogger and have done a lot of changes to it. Please check it out.

Runners Envy

Today was a rest day. I have been training consistently. My body is in need of the kind of schedule that marathon tapering brings. Quick short jogs and an extra day off. My mileage will be cut drastically in the coming week. My body could use the rest . I am well aware of the benefits of tapering. The JT line"My body is aching and my time is at hand and I won't make it any other way" rings true a week before a marathon. My body and mind know this to be true, but my spirit and soul want to run.

As I walked to the bust stop following work I noticed runners everywhere. As the bus rolled up the hill to Cleveland Heights, I watched runners climbing and descending Mayfield. I wanted to press my nose to the window to see them all run. I twisted in my seat to get a glimpse of all the runners heading into the cemetery. As I walked from my stop , it seemed that everyone on Coventry was headed out for a run. I noticed nothing else. My heart was stiring inside. I wanted to go out and run too.

But for me this evening there is only this runners envy. Like a dog in a car at the dog park, I can only look forward to my run tomorrow. I will be rested.