Bret

AM - 3.25 miles with all three of my girls and running into Richie on the way back from Central Park - as a day before shake out effort.  Very windy outside today, but it should be nice tomorrow for the race. 

This was a very special day.  Running has a been a significant part of my life as my family well-knows and about 18-20 months ago, my eldest daughter noted that as I was approaching 50 lifetime marathons, that I should schedule it out to take place in NYC in 2025 which would also be my 15th NYC marathon and also because it would bookend the race as my first marathon - that all of my children and their respective spouses would run the event togerher with me.  And although in many situations the best laid plans do not work out...this all came together as it was envisioned.

Over the last two years or so, I had to run enough races and not too many, as well as keep myself healthy enough to make this happen.  At the time I think I had 43 or 44 race completed. 

My family loves to organize events and parties and this truly was a team effort.  From arranging for a hotel suite for the whole family, to arranging for Halloween trick or treating in the West Village for the grandchildren with all of us dressed in costume as the muppets, to a bunch of gear with running shirts, hats and sweatshirts including those for runners and those for cheer teams emblazoned with "Bret the Jet" "50 Marathons, 15 NYC's, 7 World Marathon Majors, 1 with all of his Kids" to a group dinner celebration which was like receiving a lifetime achievement award - to everyone coordinating to be on the ferry to be at the starting line Sunday morning-- it all went to plan.   

My wife's "job" on race day was to shepard the two grandchildren around to spectate at the 8 mile mark, 16 mile mark, and at the finish line for which she recruited my youngest daughter's best friend and her boyfriend for navigational assistance and child minder support.  They made their way around the city and met us at each place perfectly. 

My middle daughter learned that she was pregnant about 8 weeks ago and due to some related issues, was not able to train enough nor did she want to push herself too much (and because she'd already run 3 NYC's including last years) she planned only to run the first 8 miles with everyone so that she could be a part of the event; and likewise my eldest son-in-law who was diagnosed with MS this year was having some serious training issues and complications associated with that condition and so he opted to do the same as my daughter.  So we all ran together through 8 miles and then the group was down to 4, which included myself, Sam, Delaney and Bradlea.   Neither Sam nor Bradlea had ever run a marathon.   Sam did some really very good training and so I was confident he would be fine, but Bradlea who has the two little ones, never got enough long runs in her training - though she was very consistent for about 8 weeks of daily runs during the week.   I was a bit more concerned about her ability to finish.  Delaney had completed last year's event with me and because we had all committed to run as a team, that meant we'd run Bradlea's pace which we expected to be around 12 mins per miles - and because we kept true to that effort and commitment - that's about exactly where we ended up.   

My daily running friend, Dan who has not run a marathon in years, and was not running even this year, nevertheless came up with his wife and visited their two daughters who live in NYC and they all came to the Saturday evening dinner and met us as spectators on at about 18 miles and about 23.5 miles to cheer us on.  I was so happy that he made the trip.  

Although Bradlea had to focus a lot in the second half of the race - she was very determined and kept the effort well-within herself not to overdue it had the utmost confidence that she would finish - and she did.  Sam was well-trained and could have easily run an hour or so faster than we did took it all in with relative ease - but it was not about performance on the day - it was about celebrating running together.

I could not have asked for a more special event to mark a milestone for me in my running than what they put together to celebrate the occasion and what we did together as a family.   It is a memory I will never forget.

Day off - travel back home after marathon. 

AM - 3.5 miles with Dan on the trail - at recovery effort pace - which oddly enough was nearly 90 seconds faster per mile than I ran pacing my family on Sunday.  Legs were a bit sore despite the easy effort in the race.  Perhaps just the length of time being on my feet and running at a considerably slower pace contributed to the soreness.  

AM - 3 miles with Dan at Milton HS.  Flat and a good bit faster, but my legs are still recovering - so kept it short again. 

AM - 3.5 miles with Dan in the neighborhood before an early meeting at the office. 

AM - 4.5 miles with Dan on the Milton Trail.   He was having some lower leg pain that was affecting his gait and so we slowed and walked a couple of times.  My left hamstring has been a little tight the last two days and so I may have some post race inflammation that needs to subside before resuming my normal training efforts.  

AM - 5.25 miles solo and slow - did not feel all that great today - may be fighting off something. 

AM - 3.25 miles on the trail solo before church - took it very easy as I have some aches and pains in my traps and lower back. 

AM - 5 miles on the treadmill this morning and at a decent pace after the first mile.  Dan texted that he was sick and not running, and this was the first really cold day of the season, with temps below freezing and winds making the feels-like temperature at 15.   Good day for an indoor run.

AM - just under 4 miles with Dan and his dog Rosie on the trail - on a chilly morning in the upper 20's - we actually had some snow flurries yesterday evening.  

AM - just under 4.25 miles with Dan at Milton HS.  Still cold, but this flat route keeps our effort smooth and pace decently near 8 mins per mile after the first slow warm up mile.   Would have gone longer but Dan was running late so we cut it a little shorter than normal.  

AM - 4.25 miles with Dan in the neighborhood.   Not quite as cold - decent pace - so much easier to run with low humidity and cool temps.  

AM - a little earlier from Dan's place this morning as he had an early meeting downtown - and he brought Rosie - so the run was a good bit slower as she likes to stop and sniff and generally fails to keep up with the pace; but it was all fine, easy run and she's a sweet dog. 

AM - 7.25 miles with Dan and Darryl at an easy pace from Summit Hill.  Good conversation, really nice morning.

AM - 3.75 miles with Dan and Rosie on the trail - quite a bit warmer this morning. 

AM - 5 miles solo in the neighborhood  - temps dropped overnight back down into the upper 30's - good pace and energy today. 

AM - 5 miles with Dan through North Valley and East Bluff - decent pace.

AM - 3.75 miles with Dan and Rosie on the Milton Trail.  He had a doctor's appointment early this morning to check on his knee situation.  

AM - just less than 5.25 miles on the trails from Dan's house.  Foggy and so warm that we were shirtless - in late November.  Two days ago it was in the thirties.   

AM - 4.25 miles on the trail with Dan and Rosie.  The city sent out a notice that they are closing the trail beginning Monday for about 7 weeks to allow them to install new landscaping including trees and wildflowers along the trail and the new extension.   A bit frustrating from my perspective is that this latest work extending the trail was supposed to be completed in August and now they are delaying even longer - but it will be nice to see additional landcaping complementing the existing trail - hopefully they will also work on the eroded parts of the existing trail with better drainage.  Anyway, we got one last run in on it before the closure.

AM - 8 miles with the guys from Summitt Hiil out to Providence Park and looped back to Brittle - slow going in the Park trails with wet leaves and roots and rocks. Good run with the group. 

Travel day - drive to WV.  No run today. 

AM - 5.75 miles in WV along the Ohio River trail - colder, dark and foggy - quiet run on the way out - quite slow, but fine with that.   Faster on the return after my body was warmed up.  Came back on the return down Rte 2 which was loud with traffic and headlights.  I have little niggle in the right hamstring that I am not sure is running-related as it really does not hurt when I am running.  Might have to do with work around the yard, repairing a fence and removing a post in the last week or so.  Hoping it subsides over the next few weeks. 

AM - just 3 miles this morning in a cold light rain.  May be catching a cold or having allergies - awoke with sneezes and stuffiness.  Kept the run easy and short as a result.

AM - 6 miles in WV along the river in the reverse direction 

AM - 3 miles easy on a very cold and windy Thanksgiving day morning.  

AM - 6 miles in WV heading to Glen Dale on another very cold day with some snow showers.  

No run today - travel day back home.  

AM - 4.25 miles with Dan and his dog Rosie from his house up to Summit Hill.  Slow because of Rosie but enjoyable to catch up with Dan since being away for a week.