Training for the Hambletonian Marathon: An experience like no other

Alexis Tarrazi after a training run.

BY ALEXIS TARRAZI

GOSHEN — “A marathon is hundreds of miles. The finish is the last 26.2” – unknown.

I came across this quote a few weeks ago and it carries more truth to it than I ever considered. I am training for my second full marathon – the Hambletonian Marathon in Goshen set for Oct. 19.

The journey to completing a marathon is much more than running 26.2 miles. A typical training plan takes around 18 weeks or 4 months to train for. In that time you will cover hundreds and hundreds of miles leading up to the finish line. My plan – designed by Hal Higdon, a renowned writer and runner – calls for me to run a total of 462 miles before the start of the race and that doesn’t even include all of the other exercises you will do in between.

Aside from the numbers, running a marathon is an experience like no other. It’s a journey to finding out who you really are, how far you can go and achieving feats you never thought the human body could.

Locals finish strong at Boston Marathon

By Alexis Tarrazi (Straus News)

Team Eastern in Boston prior to the race.

BOSTON — Local runners from Team Eastern took to the streets of Boston on Patriot’s Day, April 21 and conquered.

Soaking in the crowd’s excitement helped drive each one to the finish line.

“The spectators were so energizing!” said Laura DeLea of Sparta. “They lined the streets 20 rows deep for 26.2 miles… Music blasting, fans cheering, the people of Massachusetts thanking us as we ran for not giving up on Boston and for being there for them. I can’t explain it… It made me laugh, it made me cry but most of all it made me keep on going even when I thought I had nothing left.”

The running group, made up of 11 locals across Sussex County, each finished the Boston Marathon. Some even ran a personal best — including Brendan McDonough of Sparta, Paul Meyer of Hackettstown and Lauren Huffman of Branchville.

Local runners are Boston bound

Photo by Amy Cilli
Team Eastern runner: Lauren Huffman of Branchville, Laura DeLea of Sparta, Jeremy Scheid of Sparta, Justin Schiedof Sparta, Brendan McDonough of Sparta, Billy Washerof Ogdensburg, Bill Bosmann of Sparta, George McDonough of Sparta and Paul Meyer.

BY ALEXIS TARRAZI (Straus News)

SPARTA — With each step, Karl Fenske and his girlfriend Julia Scales raced past hundreds of cheering fans and inched closer to the finish line of the Boston Marathon. They were 25 yards away from completing the 26.2 mile race when the first of two pressure cooker bombs explode on Boylston Street on April 15, 2013.

When the explosion occured Fenske and Scales were running on the other side of the street.

Fenske knew what it was right away.

“I knew it was a bomb, I knew the thing went off and then I saw body parts and people screaming and smelled the cordit,” Fenske said. “So I knew it was not part of the celebration. “I spun (Scales) around so she wouldn’t see the stuff I was seeing. There was a metal barricade to our right and jumped over that and ran into an alcove, a building hallway and huddled with another runner.”

Getting back to their car and escaping the scene was an ordeal.

“It was just the law of the jungle,” Fenske recalled. “There were good parts and bad parts. Terror and irrational behavior and incredible acts of benevolence.”

When they stopped in a hotel someone bought them a meal, another person gave Fenske a shirt and Scales a blanket to wear.

There was also a runner asking how he was going to get his finisher’s medal.

“This is World War 3,” Fenske said. “This is like Armageddon is happening and you are wondering about a finisher’s medal?”

They made it home and survived.

When it was over, three spectators were killed and 264 injured — at least 14 people required amputations.

Celebrate Life Half Marathon

The Celebrate Life Half Marathon does just that – celebrates life. The race raises funds to help cancer patients in the local area and also to remember those who lost their lives to cancer.

My coworker and good friend is battling bone cancer at the moment. I felt helpless when I heard her news but did what I do best. I ran. This race was in honor of her and I decided to raise money on my own as well in her honor. In total we raised $695.

This race was also my third half marathon and I really wanted to PR. My last half was 2:16. So I took to Hal’s Intermediate program which incorporated tempo and pace runs and speed training. It was wonderful I was getting faster! But then I pulled my groin muscle. I did 9 of the 12 week program no problem and then had to stop all together. I hadn’t run in about a month when race day approached. I headed to a massage parlor the Friday before the race and the woman pinpointed my problem and worked it out in a minute! She used to be a physical therapist so she is used to helping runners.

Saturday was my grandfather’s 100 birthday party! And it lasted until after midnight. I enjoyed myself but ate sensibly and laid off the alcohol. Got home around 1 a.m. and then taking into account daylight savings. I lost another hour. But I woke up around 7:00 feeling good.

This race is much smaller than some I have been to. I was able to park right next to the starting line and I didn’t even need to get there an hour and a half early like I did.

I opted to run with the slower wave at 9:30 since I wasn’t going to push it after not running for so long. My goal originally was to PR, now my goal was just to finish. As we stood at the starting line it was bitterly cold and the wind was so strong. It started to snow as well. Other runners ran back to their cars to put on extra layers and I contemplated it but am glad I didn’t since a few miles in I was warm.

Once the gun went off on the first turn, runners started going the wrong way. The course wasn’t marked properly at that point. It was a bit amusing. As I got to the first water station the water and Gatorade were both frozen! It was like drinking a squishee! But I got my sustenance and powered on. I didn’t push myself and kept it slow.

Around mile 4, the faster runners who started at 10 a.m. were beginning to pass me. The guy in the lead blew by me so fast! But he was so nice. He turned around and gave me two thumbs up and said “Great job! Keep it up!” I was totally amazed at his speed.

This entire course is in the Catskills so it was ALLLLL hills. I mean up and down and up and up and up and down and up. Constantly it was one hill after another. I didn’t have my music on this race and I could hear runners complaining every time a hill emerged… “Another hill?!!” lol. It was amusing.

I chatted with some of the slower runners and had to walk more times that I liked but I felt great. My body had no pain and felt awesome. I probably could’ve pushed myself more but I was afraid and also mentally I wasn’t there. My mental endurance was my weakness this time. Since I hadn’t run in about a month and the last long run was 10 miles, my mind had lost its mental toughness.

There was a surprise at mile 12. A guy handing out doughnuts and beer. I took a shot of the Coors Lite.. not the best choice but after we crested the LAST hill and a volunteer pointed out it was the last one and only about a half mile to go I sprinted and crossed the finish line with a time of 2:50… my worst ever. Plus there were no medals, that bummed me out.  I hadn’t realized that when I signed up.

But despite my time I finished and I finished pain free. I ran for a good cause and I was just so happy my pain was gone. Because in 10 weeks I have a full to run! 🙂

I. AM. A. MARATHONER!

Four days ago I joined the elite club of men and women as a marathoner. Statistics say only one tenth of one percent in the U.S. have actually finished a marathon. I still can’t believe it.

But my journey to the finish line was not easy. It required not only physical strength but mental.

Salt Shakers shake up the wilderness

Photos by Amy Cilli
Chiara Lombardo of Green.

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

STANHOPE — Formed over a pint of beer about four years ago, what started out as a couple of guys running has evolved into the Salt Shakers — a running group of more than 30 members.

Salt Gastropub’s owner Brad Boyle and Robbie Davidson were chatting at the bar in Stanhope about their shared interest in running. The two began to start running on the Sussex Branch trail which is part of the 160-mile Highlands trail that runs from the Hudson River to the Delaware River and crosses right behind the Gastropub. Afterwards the two would celebrate their achievement with a cold beer at Salt.

Salt is “not just restaurant but an environment,” says Davidson, Founder and President of the Salt Shakers.

As time went on, more and more patrons and friends heard about the weekly run, and wanted to join in. Thus Salt Shakers was born, with the motto — “my drinking club has a running problem.”

Ski Hawks take flight: Take third at National Show Ski Eastern Region competition

Sparta Ski Hawks in pyramid formation.

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

SPARTA — Local dare devils on the Mohawk Ski Hawks get their adrenaline fix as they careen across lake waters at speeds up to 65 mph all while balancing on two pieces of wood and tethered to the back of a speed boat by a rope.

“I think its really fun,” said Arianna Genovese, 15 of Sparta.

Ariana has been water skiing since she was seven and loves it.

“My dad loves to ski and I used to always come to his shows and thought it looked fun,” Ariana said.

The Ski Hawks recently competed at the National Show Ski Eastern Region competition in Northampton, Mass. on July 26 to 28. The Ski Hawks came in third place overall but had bragging rights for several other events where they placed.

Ken Grisback to run 140 miles in six days for MS

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

Ken Grisback crossing the finish line at the New Jersey Marathon on May 5.

 

LAFAYETTE — As if completing two Ironman Triathlons, multiple marathons, and a 50k wasn’t enough, Lafayette resident Ken Grisback will be tackling a new challenge — running 140 miles in six days all to benefit Multiple Sclerosis.

Grisback along with 15 other runners are trekking a total of 3,000 miles across the United States, from Los Angeles, Cali. to New York City, N.Y. over six months as part of MS Run the US. MS Run the US, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to raising disease awareness and funds to further research in the fight to end multiple sclerosis.

The runners have been selected to individually run the equivalent of approximately a marathon (26.2 miles) every day for six consecutive days during their assigned segment. Grisback’s leg will take him from Clearfield, Pa. on Aug. 24 to Mahanoy City, Pa. on Aug. 29.

The entirety of the relay will span 145 days in an effort to raise $500,000 to help cure multiple sclerosis. Grisback is looking to raise a total of $10,000 — so far he has close to $7,000 but still needs more donations.

Female wrestler, Marlee Smith, competes in nationals

Marlee taking down her opponent in the nationals.

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

WANTAGE — From as far back as she can remember, Marlee Smith of Wantage has been involved in sports. It wasn’t until second grade that she began to play with the boys.

“She was cheering as a cheerleader and my husband was coaching football. He was one kid short, so he turned to me and said, ‘I’m putting her in,'” said Crissy Smith, Marlee’s mother. “She was this little thing but a tough kid, so we threw football pads on her and she went out there and that was the end of cheerleading.”

Football was the transition Marlee needed to explore another predominantly boys sport, wrestling.

Q&A with UFC Fighter and Sparta native Jim Miller

By Alexis Tarrazi – Straus News

Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Pictured from left: Jim Miller punches Kamal Shalorus during their lightweight bout at UFC 128 at the Prudential Center on March 19, 2011 in Newark.

SPARTA — Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter and Sparta native, Jim Miller is returning to the local area to take on former Strikeforce number one lightweight contender Pat Healy.

With a record of 22 wins, 4 losses and zero draws, Miller is ready to claim one more victory this weekend at the Prudential Center in Newark on Saturday, April 27.

Originally from Sparta and still living in Sussex County, Miller, 29, trains twice a day, five to six days a week at four to six hour sessions, out of Whippany and Fair Lawn with wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, live sparring and more to prepare for fights.