My Marathon Experience

All my life I’ve been watching the Boston Marathon from the sidelines.  When I was a child I would go to Wellesley Center to watch the runners with my family.  When I was in college I’d bike from Bentley University to Boston College to watch.  After Bentley I’d watch the runners on Beacon Street.  Each and every year I told myself I’d run.  This year was it.

I started training in the wintry cold of January and after a month and a half started experiencing IT Band issues.  Not wanting to quit, because of all the money my friends and family had donated Accelerated Cure Project to find a cure for MS to support me I went to physical therapy 2x a week for the month leading up to the race.

Come race day I was feeling good; the energy that morning was incredible and I was thinking positive thoughts, expecting a great run.  I was no longer focused on time, but on finishing.

The start of the race was incredible.  The crowds along the route are amazingly energetic and fun.  You run by a biker bar with singers alone the road, a sign that says, “Short-cut here”, which you hope is true, and then you get to Wellesley.  Running through Wellesley was fantastic - SO much energy.  Without thinking about it, my pace increased while I gave high fives to every girl cheering me on! After Wellesley College my family was waiting for me in Wellesley Center.  I was feeling so good I stopped to say a quick hello - it was great seeing them.

Going into mile 14 it happened.  My knees caved; seeming to be refusing to go on. Because of my injury my longest run leading up to the race was 13 miles with very little training the month before the race.

From mile 14 until mile 22 there were many points where I thought about giving up.  I would run or walk past a med. tent and question going in to see if I could get a ride home.  I looked longingly at the T on Beacon Street as it beckoned, “Get in” from it’s Cleveland Circle Station.  No, I had to keep going.

Thankfully, I made it to Brookline where my friends were waiting for me.  Upon getting there they began running with me getting the crowds on the sidelines riled up.  It was an incredible feeling having the people on both sides of the road cheering for me.  I couldn’t stop! After 3 miles with the Citgo sign in sight I made THE turn onto Boylston Street and there it was; the finish line was in sight! I went into a sprint. (A sprint in my mind anyway - it may not have been very fast at all, but at that point it seemed it.)

Then it happened. This is why people get addicting to running marathons.  When you cross that finish line after 26.2 miles you experience one of the best feelings in your life.  It’s over. You did it! The wonderful volunteers wrap you up in a marathon foil and rest the medal on your neck and you want to collapse being the happiest person in the world at that point in time.

As I write this post, a few days after the race, I find it unbelievable, but I’m already thinking about giving it another go next year.  Hopefully next year I won’t have an injury.  Next year I will beat my time!

To anyone who has said, “I want to run the marathon some day,” but hasn’t, you should. Let me tell you that you can do it and should do it! Start today, this weekend is going to be beautiful.  Wake up early and get out there and run!

I’ll see you out there!

******

I want to give a sincere thank you to everyone who helped me prepare for this marathon.  Thank you to all my friends and family who donated to the Accelerated Cure Project to help find a cure for MS on my behalf.  (Today we have raised an incredible $3,884.00, only $1,116.00 short of the $5,000 goal. ) Thank you to everyone who gave me tips on how to prepare for the race.  Thank you to everyone who trained with me on those long runs.  It was all this incredible support from all of you that enabled me to do this.

If you wanted to donate but didn’t have the chance or want to donate more there is still time for us to reach the goal of $5,000. Your help is much appreciated http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/jobeymarathon

Qik | Cort Johnson | Boston Marathon - Justin Obey socialbostonsports.com Finish

The last four miles of the marathon. Thank you to everyone who ran with me!

Find That Something that Drives You!

In today’s go-go-go lifestyle it seems like everyone is running around trying to keep their head above water.  Lately, (and it kills me) I’ve had a few back-and-forth emails with friends trying to schedule a time to catch up, only to find out that the earliest we can meet is weeks away. The key to maintaining a full and active life is not to give things up, but to balance it all.

You don’t want to look back on your life 50 years from now and realize that your great success has cost you your life.  Making time for friends and family is very important.  Making time for you is also very important.

For instance, I make it a point to make time for myself through my running, and my most recent hobby; photography.  Even if it’s only thirty minutes here and there, it’s important.  Through my love of photography I read and draw inspiration from Chase Jarvis.  Chase is a professional photographer out in Seattle and maintains an excellent blog.  (http://www.chasejarvis.com)

Recently I watched an excellent video on his blog called, “Laura’s Story.” It’s a great video that reminded me that you’ve got to make time for the things in life that you’re passionate about. Thanks Chase!

What are you passionate about?

Swimming in Smartwater

For the past 3 weeks I’ve been drinking about 6 bottles of Smartwater a day. First of all, I can honestly tell you that I love it.  The water is so pure that you barely know you’re drinking anything.  It’s light, refreshing, and simply good.  It’s a bit addicting too.

Another thing I’ve found is that hydrating yourself will make you feel more energetic throughout the day.  Forget the energy drinks, coffee, 5 hour energy, and now 6 hour energy (?!?).  Want to live an active life? Drink water!

Water is key to feeling on task and focused throughout your entire day.  Tomorrow, try foregoing your usual cup of coffee or tea and drink water.  I’ll bet you feel just as awake as you normally would. (I did.) I’m not saying to give up coffee - I love coffee and  I think it makes me a happier person, but I don’t think you should have to be dependent upon it.

Anyways, I digress.  The point is that Smartwater is damn good.  It’s also been a bit frustrating when you go out at night and they don’t let you bring in a Smartwater.  (I won’t mention names, you know who you are.) Yes, I know, it’s not cool to bring in food or drink to a restaurant or bar but if said establishment doesn’t serve it then why not? I’m still going to buy a drink and/or get some food. (Oo well…what can you do?)

What do you think? How much water do you drink a day? What energizes you throughout your day?

Sharing: A Thought Provoking Talk on Living a Balanced Life

“The richest and fullest lives attempt to achieve an inner balance between three realms; work, love, and play.  To pursue one to the disregards of another is open oneself up to ultimate sadness in older age were as to pursue all three with equal dedication is to make possible a life filled not only with achievement, but with serenity.” - Doris Kearns Goodwin

Click this picture to hear historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talk about what we can learn from American presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson. She also shares a moving memory of her own father, and of their shared love of baseball.  Check it out here at TED.com

An Afternoon Adventure - The Minute Man Nat’l Historic Park

There are always countless events going on throughout the city everyday; however, sometimes it’s refreshing to get out of the city.  Yesterday was one of those afternoons.  If you’re able to, I highly recommend visiting the Minute Man National Historic Park located in Lincoln, MA.  (Click here to see a map. It’s only 30 minutes away from Boston.)

As you walk the Battle Road Trail it’s incredible to think about the great historical impact of what happened here. This was where the culmination of a disagreement in economic policy between England and Massachusetts finally burst open with a battle between 3,500 colonial militia and 1,700 of His Majesty’s redcoats.  This was where the American Revolution began.

Check it out.  Don’t have a car? Check out a Zipcar for the afternoon.

Making Time…

Time, Talent, Treasure.  When you first start out in life you have endless amounts of time.  Slowly, you acquire talent through schooling, working on the job, reading, etc. with the end result being treasure.  However, it seems that one can have a very hard time obtaining an abundance of all three T’s.  If you have a lot of treasure you most likely a lot of talent, but will you have the time to enjoy your treasure?

Time seems to be the one common factor we all have the same amount of it - I realize there are many factors that can come into play, but in most cases time puts us all at a level playing field.

In Boston and in today’s world, everyone seems to be extraordinarily busy.  You’re a go getter! It’s a good thing and there’s no shame in running around making things happen and furthering your career.  However, it’s important to make time for the people and things that are important in your life at the same time.  (You don’t want to look back on your life 20 years from now and realize most of your friends are gone and you haven’t done that beloved hobby or sport in years.) Simply put, leading a successful active life is about balance.

So how do you do it? Here are a few of my thoughts and tips.  I’d love to hear from you though. How do you do it?

• Technology: If you don’t already have one, and you can afford it, make the investment in a mobile device that supports email.  (I recommend Blackberry, or iPhone.) At first it may seem like you’re tied to work, but this little device might allow you to go skiing or golfing and stay connected at the same time.  I personally, have taken a few business calls while I’m running through my iPhone’s ear plugs with a built in microphone.
• Keep a Calendar: The key here is to keep a calendar that you have with you all the time.  When you scheduling meetings it can be hard to remember all that you have going on.  It’s easier to have everything right in front of you so you can schedule a meeting while being confident that the odds of having to reschedule are slim.
• Lists: To Do Lists are incredible.  In my opinion they’ll allow you to stay on task and goal oriented.  It’s also a great feeling when you cross something off your list.
• Combine Your Worlds: There is no law that you have to separate your business life from your social life.  In fact, sometimes the best business is done with friends.  Don’t hesitate to invite a wide group of your friends out with you when you go out. Over lap all your social circles and you’ll not only see your friends connect with each other, you’ll also see your own network grow.  (Read the book, “Never Eat Alone.” by Keith Ferrazzi for more info. on this.)
• Take the Time To Stay In Touch: It only takes a few minutes to send a quick thoughtful email or facebook message to someone special in your life.  The last thing you want to let happen is for your work to get a stranglehold on your life. Take the time to let the important people in your life know they are appreciated.  For people you aren’t as close with schedule a time in your calendar to call them.

(*Hint to making this all work: There is a lot going on in today’s world and there’s a lot to remember, but no one said you have to remember it all on your own in your head.  Write things down, keep lists, and a calendar and you’ll find it’s much easier.*)

Make time for your family, friends, and loved ones - your job will be there waiting for you; work will always be there, your family, friends, and loved ones may not.  Make the most of your time with them.

Cheers and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Coffee - It’s all about the water…

Very quick post then out for a training run.  In sticking with my challenge of only drinking Smartwater this week I made my coffee with a bottle of Smartwater.  (I was hesitant to do this as I’m a huge coffee guy - I absolutely love it.)

Coffee made with Smartwater = awesome! Upon drinking it, I remembered back to a time when the barista at Starbucks told me that one of the reasons Starbucks coffee is so good is because they use highly purified water when brewing their coffee.

If you can use purified water when making your own coffee I highly recommend it!

Ok, that’s it - I’m outta here.  See ya!

4 days training for the marathon with Smartwater

It’s been 4 days since I’ve started incorporating Smartwater into my marathon training.  In 4 days I’ve consumed 24 bottles of Smartwater (averaging 6 bottles of water per day) and have run 20 miles.  So far, it’s been great - when you compare the water to tap water there’s a huge difference.  Smartwater tastes much cleaner, more pure, and better for you.  You feel healthier just drinking it.

[Photo Credit: Justin Obey]

In regards to performance while training, I haven’t noticed anything truly different.  There hasn’t been any sudden increases in my speed or endurance; although I have had some great runs lately.  (Regardless, I’m not going to attribute the good runs to Smartwater just yet.) I’m going to continue drinking Smartwater before and after my workouts and throughout each day and report back to you about how it goes.

One question asked by a friend when I told them about Smartwater was, “Are you only drinking Smartwater?”

So far the answer is no, I have also been drinking juice, beer, and coffee made with tap water.  I’ve decided, for the next week to only drink Smartwater.  I’ll let you know how that goes…

Marathon Training - hydration power

I’ve always been a tap water kind of guy.  (Water is water, right?) Additionally, I’ve never really been concerned about my hydration levels until recently reading a letter posted at my gym by one of the trainers.

The letter was to motivate people stay with their New Year’s resolutions of staying/getting in shape.  In the letter there was a tip that read, “Drink more water,” quoting some crazy statistic saying 75% of American’s are chronically dehydrated.

You’ve grown up being told to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.  After doing a very small amount of digging on Google, I’m not exactly sure if this is true or not.  I took the ‘hydration calculator test” at http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm and was told I have to drink 115 ounces of water a day (about 14 8oz. glasses of water).  Snopes.com told me I should drink about 5-6.

Anyways, regardless of exactly how much water I should drink, I realize it’s important for me to stay hydrated especially while training for the marathon. I’ve decided to take the Smartwater Challenge to see if I feel any different while drinking Smartwater as opposed to other types of water.  For the next two weeks the only water I’ll drink will be Smartwater and I’ll let you know how I feel.

So far, after drinking two bottles of it, I can tell you I like taste. It’s hard to describe.  This may sound cliche, but it’s a clean/pure taste and your body seems to absorb it upon drinking.  The label on the bottle says there are electrolytes (calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and potassium bicarbonate) in Smartwater which you’d think should make my trainings better.  We’ll see after today’s 6M workout how I feel…