The Pretzel City Sports Ugly Mudder Trail Race!

A few weeks ago my friend Alex Barth calls me up and says, "Hey Mike, do you want to come out and run the Ugly Mudder with me? Yea, we can race the race, then head back out and run it again!" My response, "uh, well, uh, I don't know - I'm not too thrilled about racing on the trails. Lets wait until it gets closer and I will let you know." Well, I decided to make a change of pace from the road and try out a trail race!

I had a weird feeling before this race - not nervous, but more anxious because I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't know the course, I knew there were some really good trail runners there, and my footwork on the trails isn't all that great. So my main goal was to go out with the lead group and hope my footwork would keep me there for the majority of the race. I wanted to prove to myself that I really wasn't that bad of a trail runner!

This was one of Pretzel City Sports biggest turnouts - they had over 800 people show up! WOW - that is so awesome! With that many people it made the start line a bit crowded. So I knew once that gun went off, I needed to bolt as fast as I could to the front so I didn't get stuck.


Photo Courtesy of Helene Horn from Pretzel City Sports

So we start down the road, make a right hand turn, go up a short hill, and then BAM - there we are popped onto the trail. I'd say there was a good group of about 10 - 15 guys off the front. When we get on the trail we then make a super sharp left, straight uphill! There were three guys really pushing the pace, but I stayed back a bit not really knowing how this course is going to be.

So we get about a mile in, there are two guys a bit off the front, then two other guys, Alex, me, then the rest of the group right on our heels. So we head up this hill, Alex makes a giant step around the two dudes ahead of us and I think, 'this trail stuff is ridiculous but fun at the same time.' I go with Alex and we settle in nicely, still a few steps behind the two guys off the front.

Josh Emery picks up speed, comes by us, and at this point I am starting to feel it. Uphill, uphill, uphill, hopping over trees, rocks, slipping on leaves, my eyes watering making it hard to see, reaction after reaction. These first 3 miles were very very intense. We were, or at least I was, absolutely redlined running as hard as I could - trying to hang, picking my line hoping it was the best line.


Photo Courtesy of Helene Horn from Pretzel City Sports

So we hit this gnarly downhill section and it was so chaotic. There wasn't a definite turn and I'm in this group - we all ended up picking different lines to get through it. I ended up losing a few steps there. We pop out on the road, cross the road, then run straight uphill to another road and turn left. WOW, I was hurting by this point. We run up the road and go around this building and what happened here was the pace started getting faster!!! Aaahhhh! I couldn't keep up. I lost touch with Alex and another guy passed me. So there were the two dudes off front, Josh Emery, Alex, and another guy in blue, then me, and a couple other guys behind me.

Once we get passed this building, the guys behind me caught up to me and passed me. I was thinking to myself, 'ok, my legs are completely dead, I'm losing ground, I don't feel like I am running that fast - I either need to pick it up and catch back on, or just keep dropping back.' So I decided to pick up the pace a bit. So I re-pass Louis Secreto, and now we are running through a super nice flat and windy section. I loved this because I could really get it cranking again. I was at max, but I was able to catch back up to Paul and Patrick.

So where we are at right now in the race we have I believe a group of 6 guys about 45 - 60 seconds ahead of us. Then in my group is Paul Wallace and Patrick. Then about 30 - 45 seconds behind us is Louis and Tadd. Then I think the next group was a few minutes back.

So we come barreling down this hill and I am doing all I can to hang with Paul and Patrick. All of a sudden they stop and one of them says, "Damn, I think we are off the course - we are off the course - where do we go?" So we stop, look around, and we are at a T intersection - to the left of us it is a downhill with pink ribbon and to the right of us it is uphill with pink ribbon. We must have missed a turn. By this point Louis and Tad catch up to us. Without much hesitation they bolt to the right, not trying to stop and correct where we went off, and go up the hill. Paul, Patrick, and I are still standing there wondering which way to go. By the time Louis and Tadd get up over the hill on the other side of the rock - we decide to head up that way hoping we were right.

So now Louis and Tad are probably 45 - 60 seconds ahead of us, ha! Paul, Patrick, and I pick it up and we are talking - "what do we do?" "are we sure we went off course?" "if so what do we do about it?" So in about a mile we pop out onto a road with an aid station and they shout, "great job guys - you are 3, 4, and 5 (because Louis and Tad are ahead) and instantly we say to eachother "yep, we went off course."

So Patrick says, "guys why don't we just wait for the group who was ahead of us, we will let them go, then start running again." I say, "Alright man" but as I look back I don't see anyone. So we run a little further at an easier pace and we decide that our race is over and the three of us won't cross the finish line. So I say, "alright guys, that works - so lets just pick things back up and at least get in a good workout. Our race is over but lets just work together over these last few miles and get in a good tempo." So that's what it was.

There were sections that were technical where we slowed down a bit just because we were out of the race. But slowing down - there were actually three guys from the group ahead of us that ended up catching us. We actually moved to the side, stopped, and let them go through because we thought they ran the right course. And no point in impeding their progress because we knew we went off course.

So anyway, we get up to the finish and pull off to the side and start walking. Ron says to cross the line and finish because the guys in front of us went off course too - so we will figure it out. So here we come to find out that some random person/people actually cut down one of the turn markers and the majority of the top 20 people went off course. AAAhhhhhh. So it was just a bummer of a situation that really was not in anyone's control. It sucked. It sucked for me because it was my first trail race and I felt I was hanging pretty well. It was a great pleasure to run with Paul and Patrick as they were trying to figure out where we went wrong. I ended up getting put in 8th place on the results (http://pretzelcitysports.com/userfiles/file/11%20UM%20res.pdf), which that is cool with me. When the top 20 or so head off course and that is noted within the results - I don't think you can really sit down and believe it. Although I will say I think anyone in this race who went off course should have been disqualified and not listed in the results (including myself). But that is not how it happened, so lets just all be happy we are healthy and enjoy what these great trails have to offer! AND I am sure there will be another day when we are all out on the trails again, random folks don't mess with the turn markers, and we stay on course. I am REALLY looking forward to that day for sure :)

Alex Barth kept back tracking because he got lost too. He ended up running almost 8 miles (of the 7 mile course)!!! Once he came in, we chilled out a bit, then Alex and I headed out to run the course again at an easy pace. This made the day because we were both a bit fired up about getting lost, but ultimately came to the conclusion that we enjoy being out here on the trails, we didn't get hurt, we still got in a good effort, and we will go home happy. But as we ran the 2nd loop we found the spot where we went wrong. Alex ended up running extra because he kept going back and forth never finding the marker because it was ripped down. As for me, I'd say by missing that turn, I cut it short by about .2 miles (my garmin read 6.78)?? But with all the stopping we did, it might equal out my time.

I definitely look forward to hitting up some more trail races. They are great workouts and those first few miles are filled with some serious adrenaline!!!

PERCEPTION, OPPORTUNITY, POSITIVITY - Create a world you want to be in

Create a world you want to be in rather than a world you feel you are stuck in.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about perception and opportunity and the above statement came out of my thoughts. The world is full of people and their stories. How do the stories come about? Every decision the person makes? Their perception? How much opportunity were they given? How much opportunity did they create themselves?

I think as humans we are constantly having interactions and perceiving them into our own reality. It's what makes our story. But my question is - how do you want your story to go? Are you someone who always feels like things happen to you or are you someone who feels you make things happen? Can you look at most situations as positive, or are you sometimes burdened with negative thoughts that can bring you down?

Recently I have been very busy - working a full time job, running HCM Foundation, working part time at Peak Fitness, coaching some people for running, and keeping up with my own run and bike training. There have been so many days where I feel very overwhelmed. And for awhile there I thought maybe I have too much on my plate. Maybe I can't do it - maybe I should let something go. So I sat down and thought what I would be able to let go and I realized I can't. I really do love everything I do so why let something go? Since the thought of 'I have too much on my plate' kept bringing me down a bit, I made this decision from now on I am going to PERCEIVE every situation as a POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY. Opportunity can be construed to mean whatever you want it to mean. In this instance for me it means the opportunity to help me grow and learn from people who know things I don't, the opportunity to help others (through the foundation and coaching), the opportunity to be healthy from running, etc.

And have you ever thought about how people view you? As you step into a room does your mood lift the room up, does it bring it down, or does it stay the same? Do people look forward to speaking with you and finding out what you have been up to? Your mood sets the tone for your own perception and the perception of others. So next time you step into a room remember what is about to happen will be POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY - make sure to give a smile, take things as they are, and lift other people up so they help lift you up!

My First Colonoscopy - PREVENTION - Keep your Doc appointments up to date!

When I was growing up, the family doctor suggested I start to get colonoscopy screenings when I turn 21 because my family history is so strong (my Dad passed of colon cancer when he was 30 years old.) Why it took me 7 years after I turned 21 to get my first colonoscopy, I do not know! Perhaps I didn't totally get it? Maybe I was ignorant? Maybe because I didn't have any signs or symptoms? Maybe because it was all on "me" and I didn't have anyone really forcing me to go? Maybe I was scared? And probably the biggest reason - I didn't know how - where do I go - who do I see, etc?

Life is so fragile and you never know what will happen, but I always assumed I would get to this point (my late 20s). The point of being 28 and truly understanding the age my Dad was when he was dying of colon cancer. I feel like I have so many cool things going on in my life - I am surrounded by terrific people, and I thrive on the many opportunities out there. Being 28 should be exciting - there is so much to look forward to! However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about what my Dad had to go through at this age. The outlook would be different - counting down the days, saying your last goodbyes, wondering what if. The last several months I have been thinking a lot about all this stuff, trying to figure out my take on it, and I realized now is the time to really start taking care of myself. So I did it - I made an appointment at Fox Chase Cancer Center to get my first colonoscopy.

One of the reasons I want to write about this is to stress the importance of prevention screenings and also that these colonoscopies are really not that bad! I must have read over the "day before prep" instructions about a hundred times so I didn't screw anything up! Last thing I wanted was to get there and they can't do the test because I messed something up! I was most worried for the day before prep because I couldn't eat any solid foods after 10 or 11am. I love to eat (solid food) and I am always hungry!! But anyway, I picked up two half gallons of yellow gatorade, a big thing of MiriLax powder, and one bisacodyl tablet. I split the Mirilax powder in half - mixed one half of the powder with one of the half gallons of gatorade and the other half of powder with the other half gallon of gatorade.

At 6pm I was supposed to drink the first half gallon within 3 to 4 hours. I ended up drinking it in about 2 and a half hours! I had some stomach cramps after drinking it, but just hung out on the couch and watched tv. Probably around 9:30pm it "started to work." At 10pm I started drinking the second half of the prep. Once I started that half, I'd try to take naps (because I was tired), drink the prep, and get up and "go" about every 45-60 minutes. Next thing I knew it was 6:00am, I was tired and hungry, but I made it!! Everything seemed clear and now my attention turned to hoping the test comes out okay.

I have never had anesthesia, and I was a bit nervous about getting it - how would I feel coming out of it and how would I feel later in the day? So I get my hospital gown on and climb up into the bed. They had a few people working on me, taking vitals, asking me questions, etc. Every person that worked there who had contact with me said the same thing, "wow, you look so young, what are you doing here today?" And that is when I had to go into the story about my Dad's history. When asked that question multiple times within an hour, it REALLY started to hit me - 'My Dad was so young when he went through all of this.' I almost didn't want to think about it, but it was very hard not to.

I was wheeled into the procedure room, the anesthesia was progressive and it wasn't all that bad. Next thing I know I am woken up and I said, "Did I do the prep right?" The Doc comes out and he tells me I did the prep right and everything came out ok. He told me to come back every 2 years for a screening and he gave me a brochure for their risk assessment/genetic counseling program and suggested I contact them.

I felt ok leaving the hospital except for a bit of dizziness (but not nauseous). They were pretty persistent on telling me not to drive at all the rest of the day. So I listened. The rest of the day I spent lounging around, watching tv, catching up on some emails. I feel very fortunate that my test came out ok, but of course I still think about the other side of things and possibly having to go through what my Dad went through - I'm certainly dedicated to continuing my work with HCM and I hope we can continue to help families in all situations, but now going through this colonoscopy I really want to stress the importance of prevention!!

So please keep up to date with your medical appointments, whether it is a colonoscopy, mammogram, or other types of screenings! Don't let these things go! TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH NOW AND LIVE LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS!

The Lehigh Valley Road Runners Superbowl 10k

It's been almost a year since I've raced! The last race I toed the line to was the CGI Unite For Charity Half Marathon in April 2010. This year I am really trying to make an effort to get my fitness back to where it was 2-3 years ago, feel healthy, be competitive at racing, etc.

So I started picking up my training at the end of 2010, running about 40 miles a week and riding my bike some. I'd do a hard day or two a week just to test the waters. I have never raced this early (February) and not being in the best of shape, I wasn't sure what I would run at this Superbowl 10k.

I have to give a HUGE thanks to the Lehigh Valley Road Runners as they selected HCM Foundation as a charity partner for this race. I think it is so great two organizations can work together like this - and the work will directly benefit our community! We had several people get in the race with an HCM spot and collectively they did an AWESOME job on their fundraising. Together they raised a little over $1,500! It is absolutely amazing and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it!

I got in a little warm up run, did a few pick-ups, and next thing I know the race is about to start!! There looked to be some fast studs there as we were waiting for the gun to go off and I thought I would just stay in the front group and see how that worked out!

The awesome race directors, Chris Garges and Carly Patterson, decided to change the course due to the icy conditions. So instead of 3.1 miles out and 3.1 miles back. It was two times (1.55 out and 1.55 back). It was a very smart decision. In the first mile and coming out of the parkway, there were three guys that were holding a good pace and they went off the front many steps ahead of the group I was in! I finished up the first loop with Mark and Bob and as we headed out for the second loop I was feeling horrible. I did all I could to stay in touch with them and hope I would feel better! As we came back out of the parkway again to go up the big hill, I actually did start to feel better! Bob dropped back a little bit and I kept tucked in behind Mark. Hitting the last turnaround and with a mile and a half to go, I thought I would just try to run as hard as I could and see how that works out. I felt great in that last mile! I came in and finished with a time of 35:24 - good enough for 4th place!

This race has definitely kick started my year and I am looking forward to keeping my training going and getting out there and race again! I hope to be at the Quakertown 10 miler next month!