Monthly Archives: February 2015

races

Race 8: Brazen Racing Hellyer County Park 10k

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We started this fundraiser seventeen days ago, and fifty-three people have helped us reach $6,150 for the GBS/CIDP Foundation.

Working up a small hill at the Hellyer 10k
Working up a small hill at the Hellyer 10k

It’s an amazing start and they’re amazing people — but we’ve still got a long way to go to get to our goal of $52,000 in 2015. I’d be thrilled if you’d join in donating — just head over to http://igg.me/at/fiftytwofives and then give us a Like over at http://facebook.com/fiftytwofives.

Race medals and bibs. The Hellyer bib is in the middle at the top, number 2862.
Race medals and bibs. The Hellyer bib is in the middle at the top, number 2862.

Today’s race was the Brazen Racing Hellyer 10k. It was time to step up from the 5ks to a 10k, and see what we could do. It turns out that the 10k distance is pretty competitive — I came 21st overall with a time of 46:46, and that only got me 5th place in my age group. My speedy wife Selina came 1st in her age group, and 5th overall in the women’s division.

The Hellyer 10k. A lap around the lake, and then an out-and-back on the paved trail
The Hellyer 10k. A lap around the lake, and then an out-and-back on the paved trail

While Brazen Racing is best known for their trail runs, this was a flat and fast run on a shared walking and cycling paved trail. The race starts with a lap around a small lake, and then it’s an out-and-back on the paved trail for the remaining five miles. The last mile and half was a little crazy — I was cranking along passing tens of the 5k runners who were mid-pack, and dodging hundreds of the back-of-the-pack 5k runners coming the other way. Kind of like playing chicken, except I weigh more than a chicken and I’m racing like a NASCAR truck.

All up, a fun race and it felt good. I can’t decide whether or not to race tomorrow. Let’s see how the legs feel in the morning.

I’ll update the post with photos when they’re published.

 

 

races

Race 7: Mardi Gras Madness 5k

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Cruising across the line
Cruising across the line

I felt blessed to be out running today. It must have been 60 degrees at race time, with a light breeze, and on its way to a low 70s day in the Bay Area. I feel doubly-blessed to be running with my family and for a great cause: the GBS/CIDP Foundation. As always, I encourage you to like my Facebook page athttp://facebook.com/fiftytwofives, and donate over at IndieGoGo.

Rosie, Lucy, and Selina ready to race the Mardi Gras Madness 5k
Rosie, Lucy, and Selina ready to race the Mardi Gras Madness 5k

After yesterday’s crazy time of 20:15 for a 5k, I took it a whole lot easier today. My left calf has a knot in it, my quads were tight, and I had to take a few deep breaths as I warmed up with a yoga-inspired downward dog. I probably should have stretched, rolled, and drank less champagne last night — you’d think I’d have learnt by now.

New shoes, old shoes: ready to race the Mardi Gras Madness 5k in San Jose
New shoes, old shoes: ready to race the Mardi Gras Madness 5k in San Jose

The Mardi Gras Madness 5k is a well-organized, small, local event that has a small town, happy crowd feel. There were around 150 folks at the race, and no-one was looking too fast or competitive at the start line. I ran with my youngest daughter Rosie, who’s nearly 11, and let her set the pace. My wife Selina took off with the leaders, and my eldest daughter Lucy ran in the middle of the pack.

I ran a 27:05, and enjoyed the streetscape, parks, and ambling along in the middle of the pack. Selina won the women’s and was fourth overall. The girls did great, running with the family is pretty special. Cool t-shirt, nice medal, and a good time had by all.

See you next week for race #8.

races

Race 6: The UjENA Double 5k

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It’s been an amazing week. I’m blessed to have so many friends and colleagues supporting my fundraiser for the GBS/CIDP Foundation. As of this morning, we’re at $5,124 raised on our way to the $52,000 goal. Please like my Facebook page at http://facebook.com/fiftytwofives, and donate over at IndieGoGo.

Working as hard as I can -- just after crossing the finish line
Working as hard as I can — just after crossing the finish line

This morning I ran the UjENA Fit Club Double 5k race in San Jose. It’s a new concept in running: run part of the race, take a “half time” break, and run the rest of the race. In the case of this 5k, it’s a 3k race, an hour break, and a 2k race. You sum the times from both races to get your overall time.

Getting ready for the start of the UjENA Fit Double 5k in San Jose
Getting ready for the start of the UjENA Fit Double 5k in San Jose

I ran the Double 15k race last year at the same location. Afterwards I decided this wasn’t the greatest new concept in road racing. It’s tough to stop running for an hour and start again: the legs seize up and you don’t feel great on the second leg. It’s boring to stand around for an hour waiting for something to happen. Throw in that it was badly organized, and it didn’t make for a fun day. I mean, what’s the point?

So, why run it again? Well, I promised if we raised $5,000 by midnight last night, I’d run two races this weekend. And there wasn’t any other nearby race to run. So, Double 5k it was.

The good news was I cranked it out. I ran the first 3k in 11:58 and the second 2k in 8:16. They gave me a 20:15 for the 5k total. By far the fastest I’ve run 5k since I started racing or timing myself. I don’t know whether it really counts — having a one hour break makes it rather non-standard. On the one hand, you could argue taking a rest break is an unfair advantage. On the other hand, you could argue it’s a handicap and I would have gone faster without it. Who knows. In any case, it’s the fastest I’ve run a Double 5k (and, er, the only time).

Got a slight calf tweak in the last quarter mile. Another good indication that it’s not a great idea to have a “half time” in a running race. Hopefully, I’ll be ok for the race tomorrow — the whole family is running with me in the Mardi Gras Madness 5k in San Jose. See you then.

 

Fundraising, races

Race 5: Bay Breeze 5k

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I’m 9.6% of the way through 52 races in 2015. Only 5.3% of the way through the fundraising for the work of the GBS/CIDP Foundation — but that’s only the first week! I know it’s hard to find time and that you want to donate — so please help me out. And give me a Like over at http://facebook.com/fiftytwofives

Running the Bay Breeze 5k. A gorgeous day for a race in San Leandro, right on the San Fran Bay.
Running the Bay Breeze 5k. A gorgeous day for a race in San Leandro, right on the San Fran Bay.

I ran race 1 in 21 minutes, 32 seconds. Race 2 in 21:21. Race 3 in 21:06. For a 5’9″ guy who’s 45 and who has legs like tree trunks, I’m moving. Kind of like the NASCAR truck series.

Race 5 was the Brazen Bay Breeze, a flat and fast course. Beautiful day by the Bay. Not a cloud. Not a breeze (false advertising I guess).  Great crowd — hundreds of runners in the 5k. I was ready, so was Selina. It was Valentines Day, and every couple at least starts Valentines Day happy. You get the setup — this is going to a fast time, right? (By the way, the girl who sells us flowers at the Farmer’s Market works in the service industry — she says over her years working in restaurants, she sees more couples arguing over dinner on Valentines Day than any other day of the year.)

Oh sorry. Anyway, I ran 31 minutes, 37 seconds. About 10 minutes slower than the first four races of the year. I wasn’t actually supposed to be running — the doctor said no strenuous exercise for a week. I had surgery on Monday — so it was more of a shuffle than a run. I recommend it — running slow, not surgery — it’s nice to smell the roses, look around at the beautiful Bay Area, chat while you run, and have no pressure to get faster.  Don’t tell my doctor. I’ll be faster next week.

Crossing the finish line in a blistering time of 31 minutes and change.
Crossing the finish line in a blistering time of 31 minutes and change.

The race was one of the Brazen Racing series. These guys put on a great show — packet pickup is fast, the races start on time, the courses are marked carefully, they take *free* photos, they have the best medals in the business, and the food afterwards is amazing. Most of their races are hard, in state parks on trails, and with climbs that burn your legs. This race wasn’t like that, it’s probably their flattest and fastest, and their most urban and accessible to everyone. Throw in Valentines Day, and you get a crowd of thousands running the 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon.

Starting the 5k at the Brazen Bay Breeze
Starting the 5k at the Brazen Bay Breeze

Oh, what was the surgery? if you donate $100 and ask me, I’ll tell you 🙂

Several amazing people donated to my campaign this week. Thank you to (in order of donation): Nate Lyman, Luis Gaitan (best limo service in the Bay Area),  Prathibha Alam, Jay Weiler, Katy Chu, Antoine El Daher, Mike Mathieson, Angela Lau, Oliver Hurst-Hiller, Brian Johnson, Wilson Pang, Gene Cook, and Matt Madrigal. You guys are amazing.

Please donate — help people who are debilitated by GBS and its related conditions. It’s a great cause. See you next time.

Fundraising, GBS

I’m Running Fifty-Two Races to Fight Guillain-Barré syndrome

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I suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) in 2009.

GBS affects 1 in 100,000 people. It begins with weakness or tingling sensations in the legs, and can spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase until muscles cannot be used at all and the person is almost totally paralyzed. It can be life threatening.

My experience with GBS was tough. In a few days, I went from athletic to struggling to walk to the letterbox. It took too long to get diagnosed and I didn’t know where to get help — it was mentally very tough. I couldn’t look after my family, and I wasn’t able to work. It took me over a year to get back to even close to normal, and more than two years to run again. You can learn more about my story here.

Late 2009 -- a few months after I got GBS. Out of shape, but on the road to recovery.
Late 2009 — a few months after I got GBS. Out of shape, but on the road to recovery.

Now I’m doing what GBS stopped me doing for a while: running! I’m going to run 52 races in 2015 to raise money for the awesome work of the GBS/CIDP Foundation. This website is called “Fifty-Two Fives” because my GBS-defiant, fundraising plan was hatched in 2012 with the goal of running fifty-two 5k races in one year. As the idea developed, I decided that I’d count any race that had a timer — it could be a one-mile time trial, a 5k, a 10k, a half-marathon, or even a marathon. I suspect there’ll be more 5ks than otherwise — but let’s see what the journey brings!

Please support me by donating at IndieGoGo. And stick around here and follow my running journey — I’ll be writing about it every week, and I promise it’ll be fun.