Moth StorySlam: A First - Part 1

I have a little time before I'm meeting Dr. Sassypantsmagoo for a run, so I thought I would start on one of the posts I meant to write a few months ago.

I am a huge fan of The Moth, which is a storytelling show and podcast. I believe I have listened to every story that's available on the website. The one thing I wasn't able to do for a very long time was get tickets to a live Moth show of any kind. For a long time (although I think they've remedied this now), the tickets would go on sale about a week before the event, but I was never sure exactly when and they sell out almost instantly.

One serendipitous morning, my friend Vicky managed to check the site at the perfect time and tickets were still available. We made an immediate decision to go (there's not a lot of time for ruminating) and I bought a ticket for each of us. The event was a StorySlam and the site listed the evening's topic as "Bosses." A StorySlam is essentially an open mic where anyone can submit to tell a story that relates to the evening's topic. The only real "rule" aside from relating to the topic (and even that is somewhat flexible) is that the story must be true and it must be your own. Over the course of the evening, ten storytellers are chosen to perform onstage.

For the week before the show, I racked my brain trying to think of a story I wanted to tell. I thought of a few I could tell, but none that I felt like I needed to. It's a hard feeling to articulate, but after lots of thought, I resigned myself to the idea that I was going to pass up the opportunity to tell a story. Rather than force a story that would seem (to me, anyway) contrived, I wanted to wait until I had something true to say. I wanted to tell a story with not just factual, but also emotional truth because that is the crux of storytelling as a performance genre.

The Monday of the show arrived and I could barely contain myself during the workday. Since I didn't intend to submit, I decided that this would be a good opportunity to commute to the show by running. Kill two birds with one stone and all. My timing could have been better, but I arrived about 15 minutes before the show started and had an absolute bear of a time getting my ticket. Fortunately, Vicky had gotten there on time and was saving us seats.

When I got to my seat, I found a slip of paper on it that said "Tell us about a time when you took charge," which I thought was just another way of interpreting the theme of "bosses." Suddenly, I thought of a story I wanted to tell. I scribbled it onto the slip of paper and brought it to the front. Unbeknownst to me in the moment, I actually dropped it in the wrong container but got some help from the person standing at the front with the submissions. Crisis averted.

Ophira Eisenberg was the show host. I'm a fan of her stories, but she's even better in person. She explained the format of the show and also how many people had submitted. I imagined lots of people would submit to tell a story and that the odds that I would actually be chosen were slim to none. I was completely wrong and shocked to learn that only nineteen people had submitted. Nineteen! My odds of being chosen were slightly higher than 50%!

All the storytellers aren't chosen at once. Each person goes up, tells their story, and then chooses the next person. From the minute I put my name into the pot, I knew I was going up. It was just a hunch. One by one, stories were told and I had a small heart attack every time a name was called that wasn't mine.

As the ninth person's story came to a close, there was a split second when I thought maybe it wasn't my day and I wouldn't go up after all. But he (she? I don't even remember) stuck their hand in the bag and pulled out a slip of paper and I heard Ophira Eisenberg read my name. I turned to Vicky and made a less than family-friendly exclamation before heading up to the stage. Keep in mind, I was still in my running clothes.

I did not expect this post to drag out to multiple parts, but here we are. To be continued!

July (Almost August) 2015 Catchup

This is shaping up to be my worst year for blog posts. I've been meaning to catch up for some time, because there were four or five times over the last few months that I wanted to write and just never sat down to do it. Call it laziness or a funk, but I've been terribly remiss with regard to blogging.

I was inspired to post something tonight because I spent the last few hours of it watching livestream of the Ironman Lake Placid finish line. It's something I highly recommend doing if you're looking for some big ol' feels.

I was at a social function a few weeks ago and met a friend of a friend who slipped into casual conversation that she was set to do Lake Placid in a short three weeks. Prior to this, we had chatted a bit about riding and triathlon in general, but it took some time for her to mention the Ironman. She revealed that she was anxious about it because she had attempted the same race in 2013 but hadn't made the bike cutoff. She was very apprehensive about even talking about it much. I had some relevant insight, as someone who has found myself in the same exquisitely agonizing situation (well-documented, in a four part post that starts here). We commiserated about it for awhile, and eventually parted ways. She said she wasn't completely sure she was going to do it while I did my best to encourage it.

It wasn't my day, so I won't make this its own epic saga (although maybe she'll do a guest post about it...). Suffice it to say, she started and finished like a champ and she is an Ironwoman. I am very glad she overcame her fear of the distance and was able to power through all the tough times that come with a daylong race.

I'm liking this guest post idea more and more, so I'm going to try to make that happen. As for me, I would like to post about a few things that have happened since we last touched base:

• I told a story at the Moth StorySlam just about a week after my last post. It was (perhaps not shockingly) about running and Hurricane Sandy.
• I finished the New Jersey Marathon at the end of April and ran it just about the time I anticipated.
• Brooklyn Half
• Queens 10K (maybe)
• Challenge Atlantic City half iron tri
• Party With Purpose - 5K in Hoboken
• Tomorrow is Day 1 of serious marathon training

Now that I've broken the ice, hopefully these posts will come easier. Congrats to M (kept at least partially anonymous for now) and to all the Lake Placid (and other Ironman races that happened today) finishers. 

I'm Still Alive!

Which, based on the number of times I've posted this year, may come as a surprise. I had a decent January when it came to training, but a very rocky February and March due to some good reasons and some bad reasons. But those are over and done, so let's move forward.

A few noteworthy things have happened since I last posted. I signed up for a half iron distance triathlon on June 28, and I'm really excited about it. It's been a long time since I trained for/did a tri and I forgot how much I enjoy it. With that in mind, I was very excited to go on my first ride of the season two weeks ago. It was a group ride that was sent to me by my friend Bern. It was good to get out on the road, but also entirely too cold for a very long ride so we didn't do much more than 17 miles. The other good news is that it sounds like the group will go out for a ride every couple of weeks. Hopefully gone are the days when I spend an entire season doing training rides by myself!

I also signed up for the Chicago Marathon lottery. I think it would be really fun to do Chicago, since I've spent a little time there for work now. It closes April 21, so I imagine decisions will be made soon after. If I end up doing that, I'll have to miss the Staten Island Half for the first time in 6 years. That's okay, though. Sometimes it's good to change up the routine.

Finally, I'm really proud to say that I've run 50 miles per week for the last three. That's more than I've done in the past but I think it's sustainable for awhile as long as I listen to my body and rest if it's necessary. One thing is for sure, the fact that I've managed it has given me a huge confidence boost about my ability to stick to a training routine. I was beginning to wonder if I'd lost it.

Hopefully this means more posts for me. Happy Easter, everyone!

I set a trail on Friday and the view from the West Side Highway was lovely, even if I didn't capture it very well.

Happy 2015!

Checking in. It's been a really super long time since I posted anything so I figured I'd get started again.

January is off to a slower start than I'd anticipated, but that's okay. I'm starting to find my groove. I don't remember if I posted on this last year or not, but Amortya convinced me to sign up for the New Jersey Marathon a full year in advance. So that's what I'm training for. I also signed up to try for 2015 in 2015. I'm behind, but confident that I'll gain momentum as the year continues. I forgot how much I dislike running in the cold.

Also, also, I'm not drinking until the marathon. It's been a little while since I decided to do my personal version of Prohibition, but I'm convinced it's going to be very helpful. So far, I'm right about that.

Lastly (maybe?), I got a new pair of Vibrams. It has literally been years since I ran in Vibrams but I really did like it when I used to wear them. So far, the transition has not been difficult. The only issue I've encountered is a couple of troublesome blisters on my left foot. As of now, I'm only using the Vibrams at the gym and don't anticipate running much more than 6 or 7 miles in them on a given day. I anticipate wearing them outside, though, once the weather gets better.

As usual, I'll try to post more often for the same reason I always liked posting: it keeps me honest.

(Half) Live Photo Blog: 2014 Run Around Manhattan

Checkpoint 1: Queensborough Bridge (12:30pm)

Scenes so far:

The first glorious sight on Manhattan's perimeter comes at a bend just before 23rd St. It's a little hard to see in the distance because my picture isn't great, but if you look closely you can see the Queensborough Bridge.

At 25th Street, there is a bridge over the FDR. Just north of that on the side of the river is Waterside Plaza, which is a gorgeous outdoor plaza that overlooks the East River.

Unfortunately,  you can't run the entire length of the East Side of Manhattan right along the river. One of the stretches where you have to come a little inland begins here, at this pedestrian tunnel at the end of 38th Street.

Access to a path along the East River resumes here, if you run up a ramp on 60th Street. The scene is complete with this structure that resembles a roller coaster, which (sort of) covers a dog park.

Checkpoint 2: Macombs Avenue Bridge (1:40pm)

A little above the Queensborough Bridge, the Bobby Wagner Walk begins, and we see this lovely scene.

At 84th Street, Carl Schurz Park begins. Across the river from that, you can see Lighthouse Park, on the northern tip of Roosevelt Island. See the lighthouse?

Sometime in the 90's, you come by this place. It would seem to me that it used to be a pier of some sort. Now it's just a roosting place for seagulls.

Between about 120 and 155 is another stretch that can't be done along the river. It's a zig zag slog through an industrial area of Manhattan that is replete with bus depots and car dealerships. At some point, though, you make it to the Macombs Avenue Bridge, from which you can see Yankee Stadium.

As typically happens with this, battery and energy ran short on the second half, but here are a few more pictures I took before I couldn't anymore. Let's call this Checkpoint #3: Inwood.

10-20 blocks above the bridge, there is a small, barely noticeable entrance to a pedestrian and bike path that'll take you across a highway and back along the river. It provides breathtaking views of a number of bridges on the East side as well as the towering structure you can see here that is located in the Cloisters.

Bridge views from north of the same bridges. I love this area.

Ever so slightly north of the last picture, you'll see the Peter J. Sharpe Boathouse. A boathouse on the northeast side of Manhattan? You bet!

At the back end of Manhattan, there is this pretty little inlet. It's hard to see here, but it was actually frozen. The curved pathways you see in the picture were little rivers that had unfrozen. There are geese and ducks there, getting ready to take off in flocks.

Pretty sure this is exactly the furthest part north on the island. I took this particular bridge on a nice pathway that happened to be under a bridge.

I think this is one of the best views on the run. It's a small outlook point in the park. Look how far north you can see up the Hudson River!

Alas, I started running out of time, battery and energy after this checkpoint. I actually bypassed a sizable chunk, since I underestimated how long it would take and was meeting Jessica Sassy at 14th Street. So I cut a good 7-8 miles out, but also added a bit at the end between the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges that I haven't done the last couple of years. I think altogether it ended up being 27-28 miles. I learned some things for next year's run. As usual, it was a great experience. Hope you enjoyed the half live blog!

NYC 60k

Race Report: The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon - Part 2

So there I was, borderline tearing up and crossing the start line of the marathon. I'd decided to set out with the 4:30 pace group because I was a little intimidated at the prospect of running with 4:15. I didn't feel that my training had been up to snuff and the idea of an overly ambitious start scared me a bit.

From the minute we started running the bridge, I could tell it would be a trying day for many people. The wind was much stronger than I remembered it in previous years. Abandoned clothing was whipping around on the ground and I saw multiple people trip and fall. Our pace leader apologized in advance and profusely, just in case she the wind blew the sign she was carrying into someone's face. As our small group made its way across the bridge, the pace group leader began chatting a bit. In my opinion, chat is a major benefit of running with pace groups. It makes the whole race seem like more of a team effort. Anyway, our pace group leader told us that NYC was her 124th marathon! And I thought I was getting up there in numbers.

I stuck with the group for about the length of the bridge before finding my own pace, which turned out to be a good bit faster. Somewhere between miles 2 and 3 in Bay Ridge, I started to get a little too warm and so abandoned my sweatshirt on a barricade. Hopefully, someone will make good use of it. Soon after that, we were on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, where I had my first on-course friend sighting at the 5k mile marker. It was Darian! He was helping on the course and I was able to wave to him as I ran by.

The next person I saw was my friend Emily, who had let me know a couple places where she'd be on the course. I got some high fives and was again on my way through downtown Brooklyn. My next friend target was Ali, with whom I used to play recreational basketball. I looked for her around the Brooklyn Academy of Music, but no dice. Onward!

Between miles 9 and 10 we entered Williamsburg, which is part of one of my favorite running routes. At some point, we turned onto Bedford Avenue and headed up toward Greenpoint, where I knew another friend, Tiffany, would be cheering at mile 12. As I approached, though, I realized I hadn't asked her which side she would be standing on. I took a gamble on the left side and found out five or ten minutes later that she had been on the other side. Alas!

The halfway point of the race came somewhere in the middle of the Pulaski Bridge. I checked my watch and saw that I was on pace for just about four hours, and so figured if I could at least mostly keep my pace up, I would finish just above that. I never have been a negative splitter.

The next person on my route was Tom and his fiancee, Carmen, who told me they would be cheering just before the Queensboro Bridge. Unfortunately, though, I missed them, too. No matter! I was feeling good as we made our way onto the Queensborough Bridge.

I think maybe 1 out of 10 people on the Queensborough were actually enjoying themselves at that point. I was one of those and I made every attempt to rally my fellow runners. At a few points, I tried the hoot and holler. For the most part, though, no one was having my crap. I think I might have gotten one enthusiastic response but otherwise my cheers were met with radio silence. Well, panting and heaving, if not silence. When we had almost reached the end of the bridge, I yelled "WOOOO! Manhattan!"

My words sat in the air for a bit and I tried running a little faster, figuring everyone around me had probably had enough. But finally, one girl turned to me and said, "this is my favorite part." I turned to her, incredulous, and said, "mine, too!" And it was glorious. Taking that turn is like running into New York City's open arms. The road exits the south end of the bridge and wraps around under a tunnel, leading runners north on First Avenue. For that entire portion and through the next five or ten blocks, spectators are four and five people deep and their energy and excitement is palpable. For however brief a moment, it's easy to forget that you're 16 miles into a marathon.

Ali had said she would be in that area as well, so I scanned the crowd as I ran by but didn't see her. The next people on my official list were Julia (92nd and 1st) and Monica and Helen (94th and 1st). As I passed 78th Street, I looked out for my friend Jorge, who had not explicitly said he'd be there but also lives in the area. No luck, though, so I continued on. In that stretch, we passed mile 18. I briefly considered taking a PowerGel that was being distributed, but decided against it, as I didn't actually feel like I needed it. Course volunteers were also handing out wet sponges, but it was way too cold for me to want any of that.

Finally, I reached the 90's. I missed Julia (my overall ratio of seen:missed friends was low) but saw Helen and Monica and came in for some high fives. The guy standing next to them even gave me a high five!

After that, the next two miles toward the Bronx was a bit of a slog. My hamstring was beginning to really bother me. It had started hurting earlier in the race, but I'd managed to put it away by telling myself that it was simply too early in the race (mile 6) to indulge it. 12-13 miles later, though, the tightness was back and it was much more difficult to ignore. I found myself having to stop and stretch it out at least once a mile starting at 19 or 20.

After an uneventful time in the Bronx, we entered Manhattan again on 5th Avenue and almost immediately saw the 21 mile marker. I knew my next stop would be my Hudson Duster friends just after mile 23. I could not have been happier to see all of them and ran down the line, giving high fives the whole time. I even got my own race beverage, which I very nearly coughed into someone's face. Ahhh…the marathon.

Soon after that stop, I saw Helen and Monica one more time. This time, I meant serious business and came in for a full-on hug. Helen was really thoughtful and brought me a banana. Unfortunately, eating a banana was not in the cards for me at that moment, so I had to refuse and I continued on my way. Next on my list was the Cornell water stop at mile 25. Honestly, I didn't even know anyone giving out water, but I still always look forward to that one.

Soon after that, I knew I only had a little over a mile left and decided to dig in and finish. To my surprise, Emily (whom I last saw around mile 7) was there right after the Mile 25 water stop for a last minute boost! I made the turn onto 59th Street and began the final stretch. I knew I had 3 more avenues and about two tenths of a mile to go after that, so I took it one at a time. 6th Avenue, then 7th (near where Monica, Jeremy and I used to live) and finally 8th. Somewhere between 7th and 8th I was pleasantly surprised by an 11th hour friend sighting when I saw Ali! I heard her cheer as I passed and saw her out of the corner of my eye and if I hadn't been so darn close to the finish, I would have swung around.

At that point, though, nothing was stopping me. I barreled on through Columbus Circle and into Central Park, knowing the finish was only a couple tenths of a mile away. At that point, I couldn't help but pick up the pace as I ran past burgeoning crowds and across the finish line.

5 down, hopefully at least a dozen more to go.

I know this post has already overstayed its welcome, but I want to emphasize how much I love this race and this day. This year and every year. It somehow manages to be both heavy with meaning and buoyant with hope and excitement. And people show themselves to be so, so good. All of the good adjectives you can use to describe people are applicable on this day. They are good, kind, true, generous, warm, gracious, brave and strong. And even if, in the grand scheme of things, it's just a foot race, it assures me that we can rise to even greater, more urgent occasions.

EDIT: After thinking about this a bit, I discovered the sentence in bold is probably a minor internalization of a Maya Angelou quote I love. It's not the same and doesn't explain the exact same sentiment, but it echoes her words and so I am including it here, primarily in the interest of transparency:

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest."

-Maya Angelou