My Dad. My Running Partner.

When I was 17, at the age of 50 my father was diagnosed with terminal melanoma and given a short time to live. Fortunately, my parents sought out a a second opinion which provided a more positive prognosis. He received treatment, and after recovery was found to be cancer free and had a second chance on life. A few years later, he retired at the young age of 53. In the years following, I got to know my dad in a different way than I had as a child and an immature teenager. I was now a young man living on my own, and quickly began to recognize what everyone else already knew: my dad was a great guy. He had an incredible work ethic, he was the life of every party, and he was a loyal and generous friend and family member.

Me and my dad Easter 1976.

Around that same time, I started running. As I began running more and participating more frequently in races, he started showing more interest. He would ask me when my next race was. He would congratulate me on my performance and save me the race results from the local paper. My dad and I were never very expressive when it came to our relationship, but I knew this interest was his way of letting me know he cared. In 2006, I was lucky enough to be picked in my first lottery entry for the New York City Marathon. When it got close to the race, my dad asked me if I wanted company on my trip to NYC for the race, so I said "sure." When it came time, we drove in the day before the race. We explored the city, and he shared stories of when he lived in the city as a young man. We went to an afternoon movie, had dinner, then retired to our small NYC hotel room. On race day, he scrambled around the city to catch me running at a few spots along the course, and met me past the finish in the family area. We had lunch and celebrated my accomplishment, then returned home. It was a special weekend on so many levels, and that time together gave us the opportunity to bond in a meaningful way, and really, become friends.

Me and my dad summer August of 2005 at my parents house
on the Cape in Chatham, Ma

The following May, at the age of 72, he was again diagnosed with an advanced stage of melanoma. He weighed his options and decided to enter a trial treatment program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston, MA. My dad was tough and he was under the care of a top cancer facility, so we had high hopes, but the reality was that even if treatment was successful it would at best only prolong his life for a short time. My mom drove him sometimes several times a week to Boston for his blood transfusions and chemo. I decided I would give her a break one of the days and drive him to Boston so I could sit with him through one of his treatments. I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to talk. Talk about how he is feeling. Talk about preparing for the worst. I could tell him how much he meant to me. But he was tired, weak, and not up for talking. So I just sat with him and kept him company. We sat in the car on the drive to Dana-Farber, we sat as he received treatment, and we sat on the drive home. We didn't have that meaningful talk I was hoping for, but like our weekend in New York for the marathon, it was a special time together, and it was my way of showing him that I cared. He developed complications and continued to deteriorate, and ultimately we were told that the trial was unsuccessful. He decided to forego hospice care and spend his remaining time at home. I watched my father get weaker and weaker while my mom cared for him. He fought for his life every day through extreme pain and suffering, but eventually lost his battle in September of 2007.

I am so thankful that my dad recovered from his first diagnosis, giving him 20 more incredible years of life with my mom, my brother and me, family, and friends. If he had not, he wouldn't have been there for my wedding, the birth of my two daughters, my brother's wedding and so many other life changing events. I would not have had the opportunity to get to know him the way I did. I would not have had his guidance and support that helped me become the man I am now. And, I certainly would not be the runner I am today. I learned by his every day example the importance of hard work and commitment, which keeps me focused on my training. As a witness to his fight with cancer, I learned that as tired and sore as I might be, or as bad as I might feel, nothing can compare to what he went through, and he never gave up or complained. Once. I think of him on every run, and whenever I need a little encouragement to run or a push to finish a tough race, his memory is there to get me through it. My running has evolved in many ways since he passed, and I know he would still be one of my biggest supporters. As a tribute, I write his initials on all my running shoes to carry him with me. I am far from a religious person, but somehow I feel closer to my dad when I run and that connection makes every one of my runs more meaningful.

Dad, thank you for all that you have given to me and continue to give. Thank you for being with me on all my runs. You are my motivation and strength. I miss you. Happy Father's Day.

My current rotation of running shoes with my dad's
initials on them - "AYV" for Anthony Yves Vallez.

Has someone special in your life helped improve or give meaning to your running?

Iron Horse Race Recap

What an amazing day this past Sunday, for the Amica Iron Horse Half Marathon, 10k and 5k! Another great event organized by the Hartford Marathon Foundation. It's an awesome race, with a distance for everyone, but for whatever reason, I hadn't run it since 2008. This year, I wanted to run a spring half marathon this spring, and it worked with my schedule so I registered.

TRAINING
After the Boston Marathon on April 21st, I spent a lot of time cycling to train for the Ten Penny Ale Shamrock Duathlon on May 18th. Following the duathlon, I had two weeks to quickly recover and focus on the half. Because of work and travel, my training those two weeks was inconsistent at best. I was squeezing short runs in where I could, but was out of my typical routine which really put me out of sorts. I did manage to get in a solid twelve mile run in while in Catham, MA (my favorite place to run) for Memorial Day weekend, but that was my only run longer than 6 miles since Boston.

Team HMF before the start. 

RACE DAY
Blue skies, cool  weather, and 2,000 positive people made for a great pre-race atmosphere at the center of Simsbury, CT. I met up with some of my Team HMF teammates for a quick team photo, went for a short warm up run, then made my way to the starting line. Since my training was a little off, I didn't have high expectations but I'm too competitive not to set aggressive goals. My strategy was to run at a 6:15 min/mile pace for the first 6 miles, see how I felt, then hopefully hang on at that pace for the rest of the race. If I had a good day, that would put me at a finish time of 1:22:00. I figured that would place me in the top 10 overall and top 3 in my age group. Well, surprisingly, I had a great day. As usual, I went out too fast, but at mile 6 I felt great. I felt strong. I decided to turn it up. I caught and passed the previous year's winner, then another runner, and another. The next runner was far ahead in the distance, and with only 1.5 miles left, I assumed he was out of reach. But after a mile, I had closed the gap and was now on his heels. With about 1/4 mile left, I passed him going into the last turn, and he didn't have the legs to do anything about it. As I ran to the finish a race official told me I was third. THIRD! I couldn't believe it. I didn't believe it until I heard them announce my name as the third place finisher as I crossed the line in 1:18:31. It was a personal best half marathon time for me by almost 5 minutes. And the runner I passed in the last quarter mile? Rather than being upset that I beat him at the end to take third place, he THANKED me! His goal was to break 1:19:00 to qualify for New York, and he said that I made him run harder when I passed him and pulled him to the finish. He finished in 1:18:47 to achieve his goal and get his qualifying time. That is what the spirit of running is all about and why I love the running community.

My take home loot from completing
the race and 3rd place finish.

POST RACE
As usual at HMF Events, the post race party was great. A winners podium photo booth, great food, music, and people. I ran into old friends, talked to some of my new friends from Team HMF, and stuck around for the awards ceremony to collect my 'trophy.' HMF always gives unique and useful awards. Last time I ran the Iron Horse Half I won my age group and was given an Iron Horse beach towel. This year? An Iron Horse beer pitcher, an HMF running hat, and a Timex Ironman Road Trainer GPS watch. SWEET! Thanks to the Hartford Marathon Foundation, Timex, all the volunteers, and the town of Simsbury for putting on a great event. For a quick race recap check out the video where me and my Team HMF teammates are shown at 0:53.

Iron Horse Half Marathon, 10k and 5k race recap video.

NEXT UP
Riverfront Scramble #1, a 5k on Thursday evening, June 19th. The first in a series of three races that start at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford, CT organized by HMF Events. The course include trails, grass, pavement, and maybe even some stairs along the Connecticut River. You never know what the course will be until just before you start. It's always fun, and the post-race includes burritos and beer. How's that for a reason to run!?

What's your next race?

Ten Penny Ale Shamrock Duathlon Results

A few years ago, after two decades of running road races and an occasional trail race, I started to get the itch to attempt something different and give multi-sport races a try. In 2010, I took the plunge, bought myself a good road bike, and entered a local sprint triathlon that was held conveniently a mile from my house at Crystal Lake in Ellington, CT. I did fairly well on the bike, had the fastest run time, enjoyed the race, and finished 9th overall. I was pleased with the results of my first tri, but I also confirmed what I already suspected - I am a terrible swimmer. Later that year, I found out that the Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) hosts a duathlon, which is a 5k run, 26k bike, followed by a 3.3 mile run. NO SWIM! Now THIS was the multi-sport for me. This past Sunday was my third Ten Penny Ale Shamrock Duathlon by HMF.

Since I just recently ran the Boston Marathon, I had little time to recover and train specifically for this race. I was so completely focused on the marathon I had not spent any time on my bike. Following Boston, I took a week to recover and get my legs back, then quickly began training on the bike and working on my running speed. Going into the race, I was feeling confident about my running, but didn't have high expectations for the bike leg. My strategy was to go fast on the first run, ride as hard as I could, and hope I still had enough left in my legs to have a decent time on the second run.

When the start horn went off, I quickly settled in just behind the lead pack, picked off a few of the stragglers, and finished 5th on the first run. This gave me a much needed head start on most of the field for the bike leg. Much needed because at some point, it was inevitable that crazy cyclists with legs as long as me, and expensive tricked out bikes, will begin to catch and fly past me like I am standing still. I used to get discouraged by thi s, but now I just accept it. I know I'm am not the fastest on the bike, but I've learned that I will have the opportunity to catch them on the last run. So I finished the bike, ran out of the transition area and set out to catch as many ahead of me as I could. One by one I tracked down runners ahead of me and passed them until I ran out of road. I finished with a total time of 1:29:53, only 1:03 off my best time. Given that I didn't train much at all on the bike, I was very pleased with my time, which landed me 16th overall and 3rd in my age group.

TEAM HMF
This was the first Hartford Marathon Foundation race since our team meeting, and there were several team members there participating in the 3.3 mile run, the duathlon, or volunteering. It was great to see so many teammates there encouraging each other and representing Team HMF. And, the women's duathlon and the 3.3 mile run were both won by Team HMF members. Congrats to Allie Burdick and Lanham Marks-Hamilton!

NEXT UP
The Amica Iron Horse Half Marathon on Sunday, June 1 in Simsbury, CT.

Do you ever get bored with road running? What other types of races do you do?

Meeting Team HMF

A couple months ago, the Hartford Marathon Foundation was calling for runners interested in being part of a new team they were putting together to help promote their events. Team members would be required to participate in at least 5 Hartford Marathon events, talk about them on social media, wear team apparel while training and racing, and organize a community event. In return, team members would receive some free gear and entry into races. Fair enough, right? The Hartford Marathon Foundation is a great organization, I would be running the races anyway, I love talking about running, and who doesn't like free gear? So I applied. A couple weeks later, much to my surprise, I received an email letting me know that I was one of 25 runners selected to to be on the first Team HMF!

In the last few weeks, I've been getting to know (stalking) my new teammates through social media. Last Thursday, we had our first team meeting where I had the opportunity to meet the HMF staff and the rest of the team in person. What an incredible group of people! The team is a diverse bunch made up of various shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds and abilities. But we all have one thing in common - an incredible passion (obsession) for running! As we went around the room to introduce ourselves and share our stories, I was impressed and inspired by each and every one of my new teammates. Some overcoming weight problems or smoking habits. One battling cancer. Others helping communities. And some just serious kick-ass runners! It was awesome.

I have never experienced a situation where I could talk for two hours straight about running, to anyone in the room, without boring them to death! It felt like a Runners Anonymous meeting, with a room full of enablers. It was great to hear Beth Shluger and the rest of the staff talk about the organization and their excitement about the team. I am thrilled to be on a team with such incredible people, representing a positive organization, and I look forward to a great year with Team HMF! This Sunday I'll be participating in my first of many HMF events this year, the Ten Penny Ale Shamrock Duathlon, in Glastonbury, CT, with several of my new teammates. Stay tuned for a race report next week. #TeamHMF

Did you know that the Hartford Marathon Foundation does so much more than just stage the marathon each year? What HMF events do you participate in?

No rest for the weary

As much as I enjoy the challenge of the marathon, the amount of training required and the recovery time needed can make it very disruptive if you like to race frequently. Spring marathons especially. There are several May/June races that I like to run, and if I am to run them again this year, I need to get right back to training following Boston. Fortunately, other than some sore muscles, I was feeling ok, but my body was tired, and I needed rest. And the day after Boston, I returned to work to start a new job. So, there was no time to relax. I treated myself to a single day off after Boston, I enjoyed the runners' high, and was right back at it the following day. An easy two miles on Wednesday, three on Thursday, five on Friday, and by Saturday I was focused on my next race: the Ten Penny Ale Shamrock Duathlon, organized by The Hartford Harathon Foundation.

This race takes place on Sunday May 18th, so after a short week of recovery trying to get my legs back, I have three weeks to prepare. Usually adequate time, but this is a duathlon - 5k run, 26k bike, then another 5k run. And I haven't been on my bike once since last July. While I enjoy cycling, I have limited time to train, and I spend most of that time running. I typically would train on my bike for a couple months prior to the duathlon, but there was no time for cycling in my training for Boston. I started doing this duathlon a few years ago, looking for a new challenge. I hold my own in the runs, and do ok on the bike, but there are some hardcore riders that log serious miles. With only three weeks to prepare, I'm just hoping to get comfortable on the bike, and get through the ride with enough left in my legs to make up some time on the final 5k run.

I rode on my trainer a handful of times the last week, and finally got out on the road this weekend to get in a solid brick (run-bike-run). But time is running out. I'll see what kind of riding shape I can get myself in by race time, but regardless, I'll be there on race day.

We all ran for Boston

Words can not adequately describe (at least not my words) the experience that is the Boston Marathon. It is the Mecca for runners all over the world. And this year, all runners were in Boston, if not in person, in spirit. From the moment I arrived in Boston on Sunday, I could feel the energy in the city. Excitement, anxiety, anticipation, sadness, defiance, concern, joy. Each of the two previous times I have run Boston were incredible, but this year was very special. There are so many things that made this race unforgettable. Here are just a few:

MY RACE:
While the course is challenging and known for it's unforgiving 'Heartbreak Hill,' each of the two previous times I ran Boston were Personal Records (PRs) for me. At my last marathon in Hartford in October, I ran a PR 2:53:28. I had trained hard, I was feeling good, and I believed that another PR was a reasonable goal. I planned to run an average 6:36 min./mile pace, which would be a 2:53:00 finish time. I had studied the course elevation, and had a solid strategy that would get me to the finish.

I took the first mile slow according to plan, but soon found myself at a pace that was faster than where I wanted to be. By the half marathon point, I was about 1:30 min. fast. This may not seem like much, but if you have run a marathon, you know that going out too fast can result in burning too much fuel too early, causing you to run out of gas and hit 'the wall' later in the race.

That said, I was feeling good, the pace was comfortable, and I thought I might just be able to hang on to this pace and crush my previous PR. I made it through the legendary hills of Newton, and it was all downhill from there (both literally and figuratively). At mile 22, I knew I was in trouble and I started to struggle to maintain pace. By mile 24 I had slowed to 7:08, and somewhere in mile 25, I hit the wall like never before. My legs felt like cement, I was dizzy, and I was close to passing out. So, I walked. I knew my goal of a PR was now out of reach, and I assumed goal 2, which was to finish under 3 hours, was as well. At this point, I just wanted to finish. I had to finish. I managed to regain some strength and began running again. finally, there it was. Hereford Street. I was almost there. Right on Hereford, and left down Boylston, to the finish. After easily running a few miles at 6:17 early, it took everything I had to run 9:33 in the final mile. Not my smartest race, but I had survived, and surprisingly still managed to finish under 3 hours in 2:59:15. Here are my official splits...

THE RUNNERS:
Boston draws the best runners in the world. The elite of the elite. And, other than the Olympic Trials, it is the only marathon that you have to qualify for just to run it. You don't have to be a great runner to qualify, but you do have to be really, really good. Somewhere between the recreational runner and the elite. But it is not the qualifying runners that impress me most, it is those that have overcome personal challenges or are running for a cause. People like Dick and Rick Hoyt of Team Hoyt. A father & son team that started when Rick, diagnosed at birth as a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, told his father that he wanted to participate in a charity run. Since, Dick has pushed or pulled his son to complete over 1,000 races together, including triathlons, duathlons and marathons. Dick and Rick, now 73 and 52, finished their 32nd and final Boston Marathon in 7 hrs. 37 min. 33 sec. Amazing. There were other teams like Team MR8, running to raise money for a charitable fund created in memory of Martin Richard, the 8 year old boy killed at last year's marathon. I saw so many courageous athletes running (fast!) on one, or sometimes two, artificial legs. And believe it or not, I ran past two runners who were blind. Yes, BLIND! Imagine running 26 miles with 36,000 people, and you can't see! These are the athletes that truly inspire me.

Me and Dick Hoyt of Team Hoyt at the Boston Marathon Expo

THE CROWD:
Every inch along the 26 mile course from Hopkinton to Boston, both sides of the road, were filled with people. Over a million of them. Sometimes 5 or 6 deep. People on rooftops, shoulders and mailboxes. You could high-five people from start to finish. They had come out in force to support the runners, and they were LOUD! When my legs stopped working at mile 25 and I had to walk, they willed me to the finish. Thousands of them chanting my bib number "2-4-1-8! 2-4-1-8!" It was their mission to get me running again, and when I did, they erupted in celebratory cheers. All for a complete stranger. Nothing like it.

THE VOLUNTEERS:
The race organizers did an incredible job, as they do every year working out every detail to make this a safe and enjoyable experience for the 1 million + spectators and 36,000 runners. The logistics and numbers they have to manage are staggering. But without the volunteers, the race couldn't happen. This year 10,000 of them. And they had to turn away 5,000 more. From checking bags at Boston Common and getting soaked with Gatorade and water while offering much needed fluids on the course, to helping runners at the finish and handing out finisher medals and blankets, they were there to help. And remember how I struggled to finish? Well, I must have looked as bad as I felt, as one of these volunteers asked how I was feeling after crossing the finish line. When I couldn't manage to get any words out, they quickly put me in a wheelchair and got me into the medical tent, where I was attended to by medical staff. They checked my vitals, filled me with fluids and had me feeling better in 15 minutes. These are the people that make the race special.

FAMILY & FRIENDS:

The marathon requires hours and hours of training, and I could not do it without the support of my wife and two daughters. They tolerate my long runs, my sweaty smelly running clothes, and my obsessive and constant talking about running. My mom, brother, in-laws, nieces - all my biggest fans. And my friends. From close friends I have had for years, to new friends, some of who I only know through Facebook - all offering encouragement and well wishes. Without the support of everyone I would not have gotten through those difficult final miles.

Screen shot of a video made by one of
my biggest fans, my daughter Lola,
sent to me the night before the race.

THE WINNER:
Every year going into the race, there is hope that it will be the year that an American once again wins the Boston Marathon. A race (and sport) that has been dominated by Kenyans and Ethiopians since the early 90's. The last time an American won was 1985, when Lisa Larsen Weidenbach won the women's race. And you have to go back to 1983 to find an American that won the men's race. There were some strong US contenders this year that had a shot, but they weren't favorites, and would need to run exceptional races to win. With the names of the four people lost last year written on his bib, 38 year old Amercian Meb Keflezighi ran with emotion and won the 118th Boston Marathon! The first to do so in in 31 years, and the oldest in 83 years. It was a special race this year, and an American winner made it that much more so.

Me and 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi
after the 2009 Falmouth Road Race

There is still healing that needs to happen, and the events of last year will never be forgotten, but once again the BAA, runners, crowds and communities returned to celebrate the 118th running of the Boston Marathon, and took our race back.

Thank you Boston for an incredible experience!


 Have you ever had an experience that was so moving and memorable, you felt like words could not do it justice?

Boston here I come

I was driving home from Albany. A text. Three more. A missed call. My friends and family were trying to get a hold of me. "Are you at the marathon?" "Two explosions reported at the Boston Marathon finish line." What? A transformer? Fireworks? A bomb? It didn't make sense. I quickly turned to a news station. Nobody seemed to know exactly what had transpired, but as the reports came it soon began to look like the explosions were most likely bombs detonated with bad intentions. It wasn't until I had arrived home, turned on CNN, and saw the horrific scene that I realized the magnitude of what had happened. I was sick to my stomach.

I couldn't process what I was seeing, hearing, and feeling. So many emotions, so many questions. How could someone intentionally harm so many innocent people? Why would they target a sport and event as unifying as the Boston Marathon? I felt helpless and confused, so I turned to what has always helped me through difficult times. I laced up my shoes, and I ran. As I ran, I thought about all the victims who may have lost their lives or sustained life-changing injuries. I thought of the runners who had worked so hard to get there, only to have what should have been a celebration of accomplishment stolen from them. I wondered how this would impact a sport that has become a way of life for me, and change future Boston Marathons. I decided that if there was ever to be another Boston Marathon, I had to be there. I needed be a part of it.

In the following days and weeks we learned about the victims and heard incredible stories about the heroic and selfless actions of first responders, runners, and fellow citizens. Following tragedy, a city, nation, and running community began to heal. It was decided that there would be a Boston Marathon in 2014, and I registered at first chance. I ran the Boston Marathon in 2006, and 2011. Both were incredible experiences, but nothing will compare to what is sure to be an amazing and unforgettable day.

I've spent hours on the treadmill through this long, cold winter. I've put in the miles and hard work on the road. I've anticipated this race like no other. And as we get down to these last few days before race day, I can already feel emotions coming to the surface. I get choked up at every related story I see or post I read. I don't know how the race will go for me, but I know that regardless of my time, I will be part of something great on Patriots Day in Boston, and we will take back our sport, our race, the city of Boston, and our nation. We will celebrate.

Perhaps Stephen Colbert said it best: "...But here's what these cowards really don't get. They attacked the Boston Marathon, an event celebrating people who run 26 miles on their day off until their nipples are raw for fun! And they've been holding it in Boston since 1897. And do you know how tough you have to be to run in a whale bone corset? And when those bombs went off there were runners who after finishing a marathon, kept running for another two miles to the hospital to donate blood. So, here's what I know. These maniacs might have tried to make life bad for the people of Boston, but all they can ever do is show just how good those people are."

If you want to break people's spirit and determination, Bostonians and Marathoners are the wrong groups to go after.

Boston here I come.

Do you remember where you were on April 15, 2013? How did the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon affect you?

Hello, my name is Kevin.

Hello, my name is Kevin, and I'm a running addict. From the moment the starting gun went off at my first race 23 years ago, I was hooked. The energy of that event, the enthusiasm of the crowd, and the passion of the runners was contagious. I didn't realize it at the time, but my life would never again be the same. After that first race, I immediately wanted more. I wanted to recreate that experience, that feeling, again and again. I started frequently running 5k's, and dabbled in 10k's. But that was not enough. I soon moved on to the half marathon. I was training longer, running harder, and shaving minutes off my times every race I ran. I craved that feeling of adrenaline, that 'runner's high' when the endorphins kick in and create a sense of euphoria. I needed that fix. I decided to set my sights on the daunting marathon. In 1998 I ran my first marathon, and in 2005 qualified to run my first Boston Marathon. I had developed a serious habit.

That first race I ran was the storied Manchester Road Race in Manchester, CT on Thanksgiving Day. Since then I have run 23 consecutive Manchester Road Races. I have run countless 5k's, 10k's and halfs. I have run 12 marathons including the New York City Marathon and two Bostons. I will be running my third Boston Marathon in less than two weeks, a year after the tragic bombings at the finish line. Through running I have come to know the streets of Paris, Chicago, LA, Montreal, San Francisco, and so many other amazing cities. Admittedly I am obsessed, some might say addicted, but I believe it is a healthy addiction. I have managed to find a balance between my running, my challenging work schedule, and my busy family life. Running has made me a better person and allowed me to achieve goals and experience things I never imagined possible. Running is my way of life. It is part of me. My name is Kevin, and I'm a running addict.

Do you have a healthy obsession? How has it changed you?