26.2 in NYC

Train hard, hurt hard, push harder…   All this running has brought a new level of respect to how I view sports. It is no easy task getting to this point, but I made it! This time next Sunday, I will have completed my first marathon. I am approaching it as a 10-10-10; 10 mile race, 10 mile race, and a 10k race. Mentally and physically I am going to approach each 10 differently. I am extremely excited and nervous at the same time, but I am really looking to start on the Verazone bridge next Sunday morning at 10:10am (Green Wave, Coral 42, Bib# 42917).   Yesterday we had 3 inches of snow in The City, most on record since the Civil War in the month of October. At 7:30am it was 37 degrees and raining an the group and I ran the last 8 miles of the marathon course. I am glad we scouted the trek, I can’t wait to do it again next Sunday!   Look for me on NBC and we will be in Hell’s Kitchen after the race for drinks and food among friends, stop by if your in the area :-) details to follow…    

November 6th, is right around the corner and the pains of training are defiantly present. I ran both my 20 milers with great success and looking to finally run the race!

Last Saturday I got some much needed rest and ran the 14 mile Bridge Runs solo. Each lap on the 59th Street bridge is 2.81 miles, which I ran 4 times on Saturday afternoon. The 59th street Bridge is about mile 15 and is one of the steepest in Manhattan.

I appreciate all the support for the fight against MS and plan to keep everyone in the loop the next two weeks. I am at the point where I can not improve only hope the pains stay minimal.

For those of you who can make it out to cheer, support and party on November 6th, Tori is organizing an after party in midtown, so stay tuned!

So I am 55 days away from running in the ING NYC Marathon (26.2 miles) through all 5 boroughs of New York City!  I just got back from a nice 13 mile run in Central Park and I feel great!  Next weekend I have a 18 miler, that might hurt a little more…

I am still raising money for the FIGHT against MS and looking for new and old supporters!!!  If everyone on this Facebook page donated $7.50, I would raise an additional $2827.50.  Every little bit counts, I hope you can help!

Thanks for all the support so far, I will keep beating myself up 6 days a week, you guys keep pushing me :-)

Anonymous asked: Hey bro when you coming back to Texas? Need to get that party on?? Still go wake boarding? - Geoff Foster

TEJAS!!!  Looking at dates for the near future…  I’ll keep you posted!

Anonymous asked: How many toe nails do you have left?

I only lost one during the Queens Half Marathon.  Bought some new shoes at Jack Rabbits that have a soft material at the toe part of the show, no issues since!

Just got back from a nice 16 mile run with my running team and I must say it was absolutely beautiful outside this morning in New York City. We started out at Columbus Circle and worked our way East, making our way around the 5 mile Central Park loop. After returning to Columbus Circle, we headed west on 59th Street to the West Side (Hudson River) and ran all the way downtown to World Financial Center then looped back up to 59th Street.  The new Freedom Tower is officially towering over Downtown Manhattan, very awesome building.

I am not going to lie, the 14th and 15th mile was tough, since the sun was beating down on us, thank goodness fall has already begun to set in. Its about 75 degrees right now at 11:30am on Saturday morning, couldn’t ask for better weather.  Around 1pm, we headed out to Central Park for some relaxation with Miss Tori and some good friends.

I hope everyone enjoys the end of The Summer Weekend!  Thanks for all the support!!

Just a heads up, I am almost at the 60 day mark till the big day… ING New York City Marathon November 6!!! I can’t believe this is going to be a reality.

Just finished the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon, and I am so glad I decide to join and run this weekend. My number one fan, Mrs. Tori Faxel and I, headed downtown to the park at 5:30am to help support the fight against Cancer. “Cancer Sucks!”. It was an amazing 13.1 mile run through the heart of downtown Chicago. Got to see Tori at the Start line, mile 2, and mile 7, she makes me happy! After twisting through downtown, we cut out West a few miles and turned back into the city. For about 5 miles, I watched the Sears Tower, which was directly in front of me, grow taller and taller. It was a beautiful way to see the great city of Chicago! Back to NYC late tonight. Glad I got to see and race with my Aunt Susan, Uncle Karl and Uncle Keith!

Race Results: 13.1 Miles, 1 hour 49 minutes and 38 seconds, Avg. Pace 8:22/mile

Tori and I are headed to Chicago tomorrow to visit T-fax (aka my brother) and his girl Sophie.  Going to take advantage of every minute, since its a short weekend trip.  I found out my two Uncles, Keith and Karl as well as my Aunt Susan are all running the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon this Sunday.  T-fax is going to sign me up tomorrow, so Chicago 13.1 here I come!!!

-AJ

For those of you that are not aware, my Father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”) when I was about 6 years old. Before MS, he was a person who played golf, tennis, skied Europe and even ran 10K’s. I know MS was not an overnight life changing disease but after the affects started to settle in, many challenges began to appear.

For those of you who know my father after MS, you know that he is a famous 24 hours fitness member at The Woodlands Market Street location, who attends daily to stay in shape. The reality of never giving in or giving up is clearly seen everyday is his life and should be a quality everyone demands as well.

Everyone has challenges in their life; true success is developed by taking on those challenges and not letting anything keep you from true happiness.

I will be running the 2011 NYC ING Marathon for my father, my friend Lisa Kennedy, my Aunt Sandy, my Aunt Colleen; are all people in my life that have been affected by challenges this past year. Here’s to you!!!
-AJ

I completed my 9 and 1 Program, which means I qualified for the 2012 NYC Marathon!!!

·         2011 Queens Half (Corona Park) – 8:57 

·         Central Park Conservancy Run for CP 4M (Central Park) – 7:55 pace

·         Achilles Hope & Possibilities 5M (Central Park) - 7:47 pace

·         NYRR 4M (Central Park) - 7:59 pace

·         Japan Run 4M (Central Park) - 7:50 pace

·         UAE Kidney Run 10k (Central Park) 8:00 pace

·         AHA Start! Heart Run 5k (Wall Street) - 7:30 pace

·         NYRR Celebrate Israel Run 4M (Central Park) - 7:48 pace

·         Portugal Day 5M (Central Park) - 8:04 pace

·         Coogan’s Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K (Washington Heights) - 8:14 pace

·         NYRR Al Gordon Classic 4M (Prospect Park, Brooklyn) - 8:21 pace

·         The NYRR Gridiron 4M (Central Park) - 8:57 pace

·         Volunteer Complete