Kevin Marshall's America » Running

2011 Troy Turkey Trot registration now open

kevinmarshall — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:51:31 +0000

Registration is now open for the 2011 Troy Turkey Trot.

CLICK HERE for more information and to register online.

I started running a couple years back and ran the race itself for the first time last year. It’s a ridiculously crowded field, but I still loved it. There were no shortage of complaints about the crowd before and after the event, but I’ll say this year what others told me last year: this isn’t a race to set a personal record. Rather, it’s more of a tradition and a chance to partake in a race that also does some good (the Regional Food Bank is this year’s official charity).

However, to alleviate some of the congestion problems, they’ve changed the course.

I signed up for the 5K. I thought about doing 10K, but ultimately decided “bump that noise.” Not yet, anyway.

So, who’s with me?

New Year’s Resolutions

kevinmarshall — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:02:05 +0000

Resolution (rez-uh-loo-shuhn) n.

1. A promise one makes to one’s self that s/he has no intention of keeping.
My New Year’s resolution is to quit smoking!

2. An Irish Catholic tradition of generating more self-loathing by openly pointing out and proclaiming ones areas of deficiency and making an empty, half-hearted gesture to do something to fix it.
My New Year’s resolution is to lose twenty pounds. This gym membership will most likely go unused, though.

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I could tell you that neither applies to me, but that’s because I haven’t made any formal or declarative resolutions in the last few years.

I have some friends who are vocal in their contempt for New Year’s resolutions. Most of them claim they make resolutions whenever they need to be made and don’t wait for the calendar year to flip to make the needed changes.

…okay, whatever. I’m going to make some because let’s face it, there’s always room for improvement (even for a local treasure such as myself) and it’s all in good fun.

RESOLUTION #1: Make resolutions for 2011.
DONE!

RESOLUTION #2: Make an effort not to be single.
I don’t want to say “get a girlfriend,” because who wants to be in a relationship just for the sake of being in a relationship? I think it’s better to say I should open myself up to it. I’ve been comfortable being single for too long, to the point where I know I’ve missed out on some opportunities.

My resolutions include being better, stronger, and faster than before. In other words, become the Six Million Dollar Man. CH-CH-CH-CH-CH-CH!

RESOLUTION #3: Drop down to a solid 160.
I’m not nearly as big as I was a few years ago, but while I was able to make strides with my cardiovascular health I definitely got a bit soft. I’m on the right track, though, thanks to the folks over at NY Boxing in Cohoes. Speaking of which…

RESOLUTION #4: Become halfway decent at boxing.
Right now I can just about make it through their intensive one-hour workouts. I want to eventually get to a point where I can potentially spar with someone and be able to hold my own.

RESOLUTION #5: Get 5K time under 25 minutes; run a 10K competitive race.
Outdoor running gets a bit precarious this time of year, so this one might have to wait until the Spring.

RESOLUTION #6: Go down to New York City more often.
I have good friends and family down there that I don’t see nearly as much as I want to.

RESOLUTION #7: Try to read at least one book a week.
2010 was an all-time low for me personally when it came to leisure reading, and I think it’s actually made me dumber. I need to make the time and the effort to put everything away, turn on a lamp, and cozy up with a book for at least a half-hour a night.

RESOLUTION #8: Improve ability to tell when girls like me.
I am absolutely terrible at this.

RESOLUTION #9: Quit eating Reese’s Pieces.
If there’s one “junk food” that could be considered a weakness, it’s these. Time to cut ‘em out.

RESOLUTION #10: Make new friends.
Because I enjoy having new people in my life.

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Folks! What’re YOUR New Year’s Resolutions?

Runaround: Foregoing Shame and Self-Esteem for Charity at the Santa Speedo Sprint

kevinmarshall — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:19:06 +0000

WAIT FOR ME YOUSE GUYS (photo courtesy CBS6Albany.com)

Last Saturday, I joined a throng a thongs and Santa hats to partake in the 5th Annual Santa Speedo Sprint.

It was an awkward and terrifying experience. Not for the other people at the Sprint or the event itself, but for the mental anguish I put myself through leading up to the event.

As a bit of background: earlier in the week, a reader – Em – brought to my attention that she along with several others were running in the Sprint, and I said I’d do what I could to raise some cash. I did a couple blog postings encouraging people to donate.

One comment suggested that I’d raise more money if I also ran. That led to several messages and texts basically challenging me to do it. At first I ignored them, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was true: if I upped the ante and agreed to run myself, it’d raise more money than if I didn’t.

This led to my Irish Catholic upbringing creating a guilt complex, and I basically felt an obligation from that point on to do this.

So I agreed to do it, but ONLY if my readers and friends went to the AASRD Jeerleaders’ donation page and helped them meet their goal of $500.

Which you did, because you’re all either great and charitable, or you’re all terrible human beings who want nothing more than to see me suffer.

See more photos: the Times Union’s SEEN | All Over Albany | CBS 6

Thus began my saga of stripping down to my underwear in a gay bar and running away as fast as I can.

I was terrified at the prospect of revealing my body to that many people. I’ve never been very comfortable in my own skin, and I’ve detailed my issues with weight in the past. But I also knew that if I want improvement and personal growth, I can’t allow insecurities and anxiety to prevent me from doing those things that could benefit myself and, more importantly, others.

So I swallowed my pride and reminded myself that it was for charity.

The night before the race, I ritualistically laid out the items I would need: my red boxer-briefs, weight lifting gloves, and a red striped tie. I figured I could use the red tie, which passed as Christmasy due to its colors, to have some fun with it (I wasn’t going to wear a Santa hat). The weight lifting gloves are the result of a promise I made to local blogger derryX that I would wear them in tribute to former professional wrestler and MMA color commentator Bill Goldberg (for no particular reason other than it was an amusing non-sequitur).

I spent about twenty minutes lying awake in bed. I was unable to sleep, nervous about what was to come the next morning. I finally gave up and decided to put something on Netflix to help pass the time. My fears drifted as I passed into unconsciousness to the images and sounds of British detectives hunting down serial killers.

I woke up the next morning and mentally prepared myself as if I was running a 5K. I did my usual routine of stretches as my quads, which were still in pain from my very first kickboxing class on Thursday night, screamed in protest.

I decided that would be my hook. Instead of focusing on the fact that I was baring myself in front of strangers, I focused on the pain of my quads. Even sitting down provided momentary discomfort, which allowed me to shift concern to how I was going to run with the pain making my usual running stride more difficult.

It wasn’t a competitive or timed race, but it helped to operate as if it was.

I left my apartment at noon and discovered that it wasn’t nearly as cold as I thought it was going to be. It was a small relief, even though the temperature was never really much of a concern. My personal failings always, always, always come via the insecurities and lack of self-esteem I have. For some it’s just being prudish or shy, but anybody who’s known me for longer than it takes to drink a cup of coffee would call bull on such claims.

Before the race with reader Em - who you all helped reach her goal of $500 - and another fellow Albany Jeerleader.

I arrived at the Oh Bar on Lark Street to register and was surprised by a $25 entrant fee. I’m sure it was stated clearly on the website but it somehow got lost, most likely engulfed by all the angst and anxiety I carried with me to the event. Thankfully I had hit the ATM the night before so I could get a proper haircut (thanks, Tragedy).

A half-hour before the race, I put my materials in a safe place with one of the AASRD (Albany All-Star Roller Derby) girls who had given me a heads up she would be there. Then, with a room full of strangers, I stripped down.

Wearing the gloves and the tie actually helped. Even though they covered little, I felt as if I wasn’t as exposed. I didn’t worry as much about the jiggle in my mid-section when I moved, or the contours of my love handles being exposed to everyone and exposing my lack of fitness to any and all females in the area.

Then came the awkward part, where I waited in little clothing amongst a huddled group of strangers for what seemed like an eternity.

I didn’t arrange to meet or run with anyone, having decided from the outset that I would go it alone. I didn’t personally text, call, message or e-mail anyone to tell them I was doing this and that I could use their support. If anybody knew about it, it was from reading the blog or the Facebook and Twitter posts I used to direct people to the donation pages.

Standing exposed and near naked in a room full of strangers who are far superior to me in conditioning and overall fitness, I felt like an alien and unwanted presence. I made conversation with people I knew that I happened to run into, trying to hide the massive sense of shame and anxiety I felt. I don’t think I was very successful, and I’m sure more than one encounter was awkward.

WHOOMP, there it is. (photo courtesy AllOverAlbany.com)

As for the race itself, I ran it. There’s not much to write about, really. When I run, I sort of turn my mind off. I focus on breathing more than anything, which I use in my running to maintain a consistent pace and push myself further.

After the race I once again ran into Em, the reader who first brought my attention to the cause and was the first person to call me out (“Pansy,” she wrote) for not doing the race myself.

“Thanks for bringing my attention to this,” I told her.

“Wait,” she asked. “Are you being sarcastic?”

“Not at all.”

I really wasn’t. I was glad to be able to solicit some cash for the Albany Damien Center and it re-assuring to find out that I really do have good and generous readers.

On a personal and selfish level, though, I was also glad I had the opportunity to confront a long held fear and insecurity without a complete mental breakdown.

Does that mean I’m fixed or that my fear has diminished? Certainly not. The old cliche goes that the only way to conquer a fear is to confront it, but it takes more than just one confrontation. It’s a constant struggle, one in which one must be ever vigilant but also willing to take a chance in encountering the circumstances that create so much fear and anxiety.

One run in my boxer-briefs isn’t going to make me permanently feel better about myself. It is, however, a small step forward, which is more than I would have taken had I decided to stay in bed covered from head to toe and hidden from the prying eyes of the outside world.

Besides, it’s for charity, right?

Just $300 Needed to Get Me to Run in the Santa Speedo Race for the Albany Damien Center

kevinmarshall — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:20:04 +0000

UPDATE 1:18pm – only $180 to go. CLICK HERE to donate. Yay! And *gulp*. Keep it coming, guys.

UPDATE 2:16pm – only $100 to go. CLICK HERE to donate. We’re almost there, and I’m almost going to be freezing in public in my underwear! Thank you and I hate you.

UPDATE 2:38pm – WE HIT OUR GOAL! Thanks for all who donated.
But why not keep giving for a great cause? CLICK HERE to donate.

==========================

Tomorrow morning is the Santa Speedo Sprint in Albany.

One of my readers put out a plea for donations, and I heeded the call. When I didn’t see enough action, I upped the stakes.

It’s a tough time of year to ask people to give to a charity. I understand everyone’s budget is tight and money for many is in short supply this time of year.

That’s exactly why I’m doing this.

As anyone who knows me or has read this blog long enough can tell you, I’ve had my own emotional and mental struggles with my weight. It’s a battle I still wage and try to be vigilant against.

Which is why I didn’t initially enter the Santa Speedo Race. The idea of the cold doesn’t bother me at all. Revealing that much of myself physically, however, is terrifying.

Then I was reading about the Albany Damien Center, and I thought about all the sacrifices involved: the people that sacrifice their time, money, and livelidhood to keep the center running and especially the sacrifices made by those individuals with HIV/AIDS in the Capital Region.

In light of their struggles, my issues with self-esteem and body image problems seem inconsequential. Still, if I’m going to do this, I want it to bring something tangible to the cause.

So I will run, but ONLY if you all help one of my readers meet her goal of $500.

CLICK HERE and donate, whether it be $5, $10, or $50. If you all pitch in, I’ll fulfill my end of the bargain and confront my personal demons for your entertainment.

Let’s do this, guys.

Got $5? Help a Santa Speedo Sprinter Raise Money for the Damien Center

kevinmarshall — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:45:01 +0000

This Saturday is the 5th Annual Santa Speedo Sprint in Albany in the Lark St./Madison Ave. area. The race itself kicks off at 2:00pm.

The event is held to benefit the Albany Damien Center on South Lake, which is a community center and resource for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

One of our readers is running the race and could use your help raising funds.

I was looking at the number of visitors I have on average and decided to issue a challenge: I want each one of you reading this to donate $5 – just $5, that’s it. Why so little? Because if all of you reading this donate $5, it’ll raise more money than if only a handful of you donated a greater amount.

I’m challenging you all to help meet the $500 goal the reader set. It’s the season of giving, right? Well, let’s show them what the best readers in the local blogosphere can do when they pool their resources together.

So let’s do this, guys. Don’t disappoint me. Shell out five measly bucks and let’s get to $500 before Friday night!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Running Regress: the 2010 Troy Turkey Trot

kevinmarshall — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:34:50 +0000

Don’t forget: TROY NIGHT OUT IS TONIGHT! Hello Pretty City will be doing a show LIVE at the Frear Building on 3rd St. See you there!

===========

2010 marked the year I started making an actual habit of running, which led to my first race back in August. I was happy with the milestones I was able to achieve in a handful of months: I ran my first competitive race in my best 5K time at that point (26:30) and generally felt good about myself.

Yesterday I ran the Turkey Trot with mixed results.

I placed 894 out of 4,866 total runners (within the top 20% overall) and placed 74th amongst my age group (25-29; just outside of the top 30%) with a time of 26:38.

A lot of the complaints that come about with any big race applied: it was a crowded field, which made forward progress difficult, awkward, and at times hazardous. At the start of the race, I literally got stepped on three times. In an attempt to get out of the crowd that was bumping, shoving, and stepping on me, I ended up in another semi-collision with another runner who I didn’t have time to apologize to.

It’s especially annoying because I knew it was going to happen. I wasn’t at the front of the race, per se, but I was within forty to fifty feet of the starting line. I was simply standing still at the start and people were still bumping into me and trying to squeeze in-between myself and the runners around me.

What’s so annoying about that is that it’s a timed race. Meaning your time doesn’t start with the clock, it starts when you cross the starting line. Squeezing in front of me and contributing to the congestion did not improve the time for those people; if anything, it probably hurt it.

What do you want? I'm only 5'8" and he's The King.

Still, it was good to have the experience of running for the very first time in cold weather. It was also good running (figuratively speaking) into an old friend from High School, Eitan, who’s involved in a start-up company called Fire Hose Games that’s getting a lot of press and buzz in the gaming community for their forthcoming release.

The highlight of my day came after the race, with Eitan and I running through a crowd to pursue an Elvis impersonator in the Troy Atrium while yelling “ELVIS! HEY ELVIS!” which resulted in the picture you see to your left.

Not so good was the huge disappointment I felt in my own performance. As annoyed as I was with the congestion (as well as things like people being in the front of the starting line only to start walking at the halfway point in one large group that blocked half the running lane), the 26:37 time is my responsibility, and those aforementioned factors can’t excuse it. I didn’t train nearly as much as I wanted to or should have, and I let my diet lapse a few times in the weeks leading up to the event. I also allowed my social schedule to become a priority over my training schedule, and for that I only have myself to blame.

26:37 is a miserable time considering I know I can – and have – done better.

Where to from here? Well, the Last Run 5K on December 18th in Albany is appealing. My one concern is the potential for hazard because of wintry weather and ice, but I’m wondering if I should chalk that up to another experience and challenge that I should rise to.

Know what? I will. To Hell with the ice and my excuses. Let’s do this. Who’s with me?

Nipper the Dog Featured in Comic Book; The Race Away Stigma 5K

kevinmarshall — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:53:43 +0000

What do they have in common?

ME, baby, ME!

Also, they’re both happening this weekend.

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Tomorrow I’l be running the “Race Away Stigma” 5K Walk & Fun Run at HVCC. The race seeks to promote tolerance, understanding, and awareness of mental health issues. More info is HERE.

My expectations are pretty low…the last few weeks have been kind of crappy for training, and I actually didn’t run this week at all. I might not even set a goal for myself, but it should at least be a good way for me to kick off training for the Troy Turkey Trot in November.

—

Sunday I’ll be heading to the Albany Comic Con on Wolf Road. A lot of talent will be there, and many local businesses – including Troy-based Aquilonia Comics – will have plenty of great deals on books, merchandise, and more. Plus, comic legend Ron Marz will be on hand.

Perhaps the most intriguing offering – besides the costume contest which is bound to be entertaining to say the least – is the variant edition of Keith Dallas’s “Argonauts” which will feature cover art depicting none other than Nipper.

The show runs from 10:00am until 4:00pm and is only $5, damnit, so check it out! Official website is HERE.