Stockhorn Half Marathon

In my last blog post, I talked about my experience in Switzerland. And I briefly covered the Stockhorn Half Marathon. But in this post I will go into detail about my experience at the Stockhorn Half Marathon. It was my first race off American soil and it was an overall amazing experience.

The day began at 4:15 am. Silvia and Lorenz were already up and getting things together for the trip to the race. I grabbed a cup of coffee and checked to make sure I had everything I needed for the race. I put on my race gear and a light hoodie. I then grabbed something small to eat before we began the 3 hour drive to Simmental. We packed up the car and a little after 5:00 am we were on our way. The trip itself did not feel long at all since we were going through mountain passes and I was getting to see the beauty that Switzerland had to offer. We stopped a few times to take pictures and just give ourselves a rest. We went through the mountain village of Andermatt and I watched as the military soldiers were preparing to go home for the weekend. Silvia and Lorenz were giving me pieces of information about each location that we passed. Before I knew it, we arrived at the location of the race.

After getting out of the vehicle and having something small to eat again, Silvia and I made out way to the packet pick up location. At this point, it still had not hit me that I was about to run a race on foreign soil. But the reality of the situation definitely hit me once we got into the crowds of people. I did all of my pre race stretching and warming up about 20 minutes before the race was set to began.
Silvia and I took a photo together and we went to line up at the start. I got up to the front and Silvia gave me some last encouraging words. I could not understand the announcer as he was speaking another language but I did identify when he was starting to countdown. And then, Bang! We were off! Everyone shot out like a cannon and I did not let myself get caught up in the excitement. I had a strategy going in and I was not going to stray away from it.

We took the first turn which took us up a slight hill and then we turned into the village. Once we were in the village, we were mostly running on road and everyone was moving pretty fast. The villagers were cheering us on and felt like a big celebration. I heard people lined up among the course cheering us along in German,Italian, French, and other languages. We hit two hills in the village and then the course turned into a mix of grass and rocky surface. This is where my strategy kicked in. I began to conserve my energy and cut down on my pace. The elevation was starting to increase and the ground we were running on was uneven and slippery. As we were making our way toward the trail, it felt I was running sideways and it took a lot of energy to stop myself from slipping and falling over. The guy in front of me did not have as much luck as he fell down and I helped him back up.

Now we were in the trail, and it was so beautiful. It was like we were running on a cliff as the trail was narrow and if you looked to the right, you would see the edge which would lead to a pretty nice fall down. The trail had a few uphills but it was nothing different than what I was used to. After we got out of the trail, the path turned rocky and grassy again, but not for long. Soon we hit the road again and this is where the fun began. We began to climb, and climb, and climb. The road kept going uphill and did not stop. With each turn, I was hoping that the road would even out for a little bit, but it didn't. As I made each turn, there was just another hill waiting for me. I could hear every runner around breathing hard and struggling. The elevation was getting higher and higher, which made breathing that much harder as well.

Around the 10k mark, we finally hit a downhill portion, and it was a big relief! I was able to turn my pace back up and and let my body recover a little from all the climbing. The downhill portion did not last long though, as we began to climb, climb, and climb again. The road just snaked up the mountain with each turn leading to another hill, and another hill, and another hill. It was at this point that I was fighting myself. My body wanted to quit so badly, but I would not let it. We eventually got to some steep rocky steps that went straight up. This was one of the hardest parts of the course. The rocks were slippery and I almost fell a few times. My calf muscles felt like they were on fire as I took each step up. This continued for over half a mile before we finally reached the road again. Once we did, it was the final stretch home. We continued up the road until we got to the lake, which was mainly downhill and straight. Once I got pass the lake, it was more climbing up a rocky path again.

Once I cleared that uphill after the lake, I hit the next to last aid station. I made sure to grab plenty of fluids here. And now, I was at the last mile. The last mile, was the hardest one of all. It was a hike up to the finish line.We were climbing 1,000 feet up and it took so much out of me to keep going. Every step forward was an effort. At times, I could feel my ears popping and it was getting harder to breathe. That last mile must have taken over 20 minutes just to clear. But I made the last turn up the path and there was the finish line! I sprinted toward it with everything I had left and crossed! My finish time was 2 hours and 31 minutes! I received my shirt and I have to say, out off all the race shirts I have collected, this one was the most treasured! I earned this shirt!

I walked away from the finish line and found Lorenz and Leilani waiting near the restaurant on top of Stockhorn. "I didn't die!" were the first words out of my mouth. Lorenz laughed and said "It was tough huh?" "Yes! it was intense!" I said sitting down. And the first thing I wanted more than anything was a nice cold beer. And Lorenz was generous enough to get one for me. I have to say, there is nothing better than a cold beer after a grueling race. It tastes like heaven! Silvia finished the race a little over 30 minutes later and we enjoyed the sights around the top of the mountain before we took the lift back down to the vehicle.

This race was the hardest I have run so far. The 5,700 feet of elevation and constant uphills were a true challenge for me mentally and physically. I refused to give up, even though doubt creeped into my head many times. I was not going to let myself down. I went in with one goal, to conquer a mountain. And I did just that!

Brandon-1       Stockhorn-0

Switzerland

I am sitting here in seat 21a flying over Europe and going over the memories that I created this past week. This trip has truly changed something in me. The beauty that is seen through pictures or videos do not do the experience justice. Being there, being in the moment, is just something no photo or video can capture. I stood among giants and I felt small. But at the same time, those giants resemble how I feel on the inside. I found myself just sitting there staring at the mountains, listening to the rushing water, feeling the cool breeze, and just getting lost in it. I climbed up and got next to a waterfall and felt its power as the water crashed on the rocks below. I ran the most brutal, and yet, most beautiful race. I climbed from the bottom of a mountain to the top of it. I looked around me and got lost as the surroundings below me as I climbed higher and higher. I felt the energy on the course as the villagers cheered me on with each hill I climbed. And the view from the top was breathtaking, I looked down and saw how far I had come. And it was at that moment that every ounce of fatigue, every sore muscle, and all the grueling pain was worth it. Climbing that mountain made me stronger, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

 I look back at the way I felt while I was in Switzerland. I felt at peace, I felt whole, and I felt complete. I remember feeling the cold mountain water on my skin. I remember how refreshing it felt and how it calmed my soul to listen to it rushing around me. I stepped far out of my comfort zone and experienced a new culture and new way of living. I tried new foods and different twists on foods I had previously tried before. I ran along the mountain passes and trails and took in the beauty around me. I did not concern myself with miles or pace, I just got lost in the world around me.

And most of all, I met an amazing soul. A fellow runner who shared a love for the mountains as I did. We created memories and shared experiences. We ran the same race together and both conquered a mountain. We joked, we shared, and we created a friendship that will last a lifetime. She may be on the other side of the world, but she will always be here in my soul.

And now I sit here watching the ocean approaching and the land starting to slowly disappear. It wont be long before I will be landing back in America again and will be that much closer home. I will never forget everything I felt this past week. Because its the feelings that you experience that can not be captured. You can share them with others, but even sharing them cannot fully justify just how much they touched your soul. In Switzerland I did not just create memories, I also discovered a deeper love for life

Zydeco Marathon 2016 Recap

Its been 10 days since the Marathon and I am finally getting a chance to sit down, collect my thoughts, and revisit the experience. So lets start the day before the marathon. I traveled down to Lafayette, LA with my wife to attend the Zydeco Marathon Expo. We got there close to noon and I signed my wavier, collected my bib and t-shirt, and looked around at all of the booths that were set up. It was a pretty cool experience and this was the first time I was able to attend the expo of a race I was running. So afterwards we checked in at the hotel and got settled in. But now came the decision of where we would eat before we called it a night. So ultimately, it came down to Olive Garden (carb heaven.) After eating a nice portion of pasta and grilled chicken, I made sure all of my race gear and attire was layed out and ready for the morning. I was actually pretty calm at this point. I was not stressed out or having any pre race jitters. I slept like a baby that night and woke up shortly before 5 am the next morning. The continental breakfast was just being set out and I grabbed a bagel, some oatmeal, and a banana before I got dressed in my race attire. We headed toward downtown and arrived about 45 minutes before the start. I ran into a friend of mine who walked with me to the starting corral. We must have sat there and talked for a good 25 minutes before the race officials started to announce that the race was close to starting. Shortly after, our corral and the corrals behind us were full of eager runners ready to go. And before I knew it, the count down started! 3, 2, 1, Go! We all took off! Some guys charged ahead of others. But I stayed at my planned pace and let some guys pass me. I was going to play this smart and not get caught up in the excitement of the race. About a few miles in I started to turn my pace up a little. I slowly started to pass a few guys and was staying with a few of the half marathoners. I was running side by side with the eventual female overall winner in the half marathon for about 5 miles. The excitement all around us was electric! Crowds lined the streets of the marathon route cheering us on and screaming! It was awesome! At about mile 12 the marathoners and half marathoners separated. And now I was running on a new part of the marathon course that was just added. This part of the course felt a little more "deserted" at first, but at about mile 15, I started to see more crowds of people. Everything was going to plan until about mile 18. I started to feel more tired than I should have. I could tell the weather was getting to me. The race had started when the humidity was at 90% and the sun was warming up the temperatures as the morning progressed. I had to stop at every aid station to keep myself hydrated as I felt like the heat and humidity were zapping me of my energy and dehydrating me quickly. After mile 21, it was a struggle. I forced myself to keep moving and took my time at each aid station to drink as much water and Powerade as I could. The last thing I needed was to pass out of this course. I kept going and when I saw the mile 25 sign, I kicked my pace up and forced myself toward the finish line. I turned a corner toward downtown and there it was, the finish line! I crossed the finish with a smile on my face and gave the race director a high five as I walked over to collect my medal. My wife met me as I came out of the finish chute and asked if I needed anything. "Food and water" I said as I looked for somewhere to sit down and relax my tired muscles. Eventually we made it over the finish line festival and I stopped to check the finish times and placements. I had to look twice to believe it, I had won my age group! And I had finished in 3:38!! A new course PR! I was overwhelmed with how great I did! I walked away from that marathon with not one, now two, but three medals! One for finishing, one for my age group, and one for running the Cajun Cup 10k, the Cajun Country Half, and the Zydeco Marathon! I had a great experience and I am proud of my performance! I definitely plan on doing it all again next year!

24 Hours Away and 26.2 Miles Ahead of Me

Its Almost 6 am as I type this up and I am a mix of emotions right now. I am nervous, excited, anxious, and hopeful. In 24 hours I step up to the starting line of the Zydeco Marathon for the second year in a row. Last year I only had one goal in mind. And that was to cross the finish line. This was my first marathon and I signed up with no formal marathon training under my belt. I just wanted to tackle the challenge of running a full marathon and I did it! I paid dearly for my lack of training as I was overwhelmed with fatigue and muscle cramps. But I did not let it stop me last year. But this year is a different story. I have spent the past few months pushing myself mentally and physically to prepare for this marathon. Back to back double digit mile runs, hill repeats, tempo miles, speed work, trail runs, and of course the weekend long runs. All of this to put my body through the worst so that I could perform at its best for this marathon. My goals this year is to not only finish but to also get that BQ (Boston marathon qualifier) that I have been dreaming of for over a year. And I plan on finishing well under the required time to make sure I get it. Now don't get me wrong, I am not just going into this marathon with a serious focus. I plan on having fun and enjoying the course too. Last year's event was so much fun and full of energy. The city as a whole comes together and it feels like a big party. This is why I have chosen the Zydeco marathon as the one I want to BQ at. It has a special place in my heart. The spectators and volunteers along the course make you feel like a rock star. The support is so overwhelming. Lafayette, LA knows how to put on a marathon and as the time draws near to step up the starting line, I feel the excitement begin to overtake all of my other emotions. Some may think I am crazy for being excited to run 26.2 miles. To take on a challenge that will test me mentally and physically. But I love it. To me, this is living!

A Minor Setback

The past few months have been really hard on my body. My training for the upcoming marathon next month has taken its toll on my legs. And now my IT band is acting up. But its nothing severe, if anything, it could be worse. I am actually surprised that my body has been holding up the past few months as I have been increasing my weekly mileage and doing more hill repeats. Last week I started to feel some tightness in my right leg and started to do more stretching to help ease it out. But after a 10 mile run the following day, I felt the pain in my IT band and knew it was time to take a short break and let my body heal. Experience has taught me that it is best to listen to your body than to keep running it into the ground and risk a even worse injury. And this is not my first experience with IT Band Syndrome, so I know what I must do to get through it and get back to my training. And quite honestly, I am not even disappointed or mad that this happened. This small break from running is most likely going to be for the best in the long run. It will allow me to also take a mental break from the daily grind of marathon training and refocus myself. As of typing this entry, It has been currently three days off from running and today will most likely be the last depending on how I feel tomorrow. But as I stated before, I am impressed with how much of a beating my body has taken to this point and has kept going. I have great expectations for this marathon, but I wont let it be the end of the world if I don't perform up to my expectations on race day. There will always be others marathons in the future. So I am going to continue to take it one day at a time and focus on the small goals that will eventually lead up to the bigger one. One of the best lessons that running has taught me is that its not enough to just train hard, you also need to train smart!

Running Safely

I recently read an article about a runner who was hit by a vehicle during a run outside. She later passed away due to complications of the injuries she sustained from the accident. Stories like this hit close to home. And unfortunately, I have seen stories like this far too often lately. It is sad to see people who are so full of life be taken away from their loved ones and their friends so tragically. We are all aware of the dangers of running outside, it comes with the territory. We must always be mindful of traffic and our surroundings. We cant control what others will do, but we can take action to do our best at preventing an accident happening to us. There are a few things a want to cover that you can do during your runs to help protect yourself from getting hurt while running on or near roads. First and foremost, make sure to dress appropriately. If its early in the morning and still dark, make sure to wear reflective clothing and a headlight. Some people also like to use flashing red lights on their clothes as well. This will make sure that any drivers can see you and are aware of your presence. Headlamps will also help in lighting the way for you, helping you to run carefully and avoid anything in the street or sidewalk that could trip you or make you slip and fall. Second, if you run with music, make sure to keep the volume at a reasonable level so that you can still hear your surroundings. I know that music helps motivate and focus you, but you also need to stay aware of what is going on around you as well, it could save your life. Third, if you are approaching a road coming in from the side of the street that you are on, don't assume that traffic will stop at the stop sign before making a turn. I cant tell you how many times that this particular situation has occurred on my runs. Sometimes drivers wont even look left or right before turning toward the direction you are coming. So in this case, slow down and pay attention to what the driver is doing before trying to pass by them. The same goes with intersections. You will need to usually stop  or slow down at a intersection before making a attempt to cross, even if you have the right of way or if the intersection looks clear. Fourth, always use awareness even if you are on sidewalks. Sure sidewalks are usually safe, they keep us off the roads with the traffic. But even on sidewalks, always make sure you are paying attention to what the oncoming traffic is doing. I hate to say it, but its reality, people do drink and drive and they could lose control of their vehicle and hit the sidewalk. Or people could be not paying attention to the road and swerve off. This kind of awareness should also be applied while on the road (where you should run facing oncoming traffic when possible.) Fifth, don't dread your run, have fun! Running outside is an adventure and it allows you to unwind and clear your head. But don't let the dangers stop you from enjoying it. Just be aware, use common sense, and don't assume the drivers always see you. Have fun and be safe!

Back on Track

Well its been a while since I posted an entry to my blog. But I needed the time to refocus myself. I have spent the last few months running races, tackling new challenges, and enjoying the small things. Since my last entry, I have battled with and recovered from a foot injury, won four 5ks, ran a half marathon, ran a very competitive 10k in which I won my age group, and tackled a 27 mile ultra trail race. So as you can see, I have been pretty busy. But all this time away from blogging as allowed me to build up and gather my thoughts. It has also made me realize just how much I missed writing. So I am back. And other than being very busy the past few months, I also picked up a sponsor since my last blog entry! I was reached out to by Honey Stinger about a little over a month ago and they offered me a 1 year sponsorship. So I am now a part of the Honey Stinger Hive! And I am excited to see what the 2016 year holds for me and my new sponsor! But what plans do I have for the New Year? What goals do I look to accomplish? Well, first and foremost, I want to take on the Zydeco Marathon in March for the second time! I am looking to finish strong with a new PR! And also qualify for the Boston Marathon as well! Another big goal for this year is to run the Chicago Marathon! Last year, my name was drawn in the lottery and I was all set to go, but I had to unfortunately postpone my entry to this year due to a bad case of plantar fasciitis. So as disappointing as it was, I had to drop out and wait another year. But I have October to look forward to as my place in the marathon is secure. I also have another big goal that I wish to take on this year. And that is to run my first 50 miler! I don't have a specific race in mind just yet for that goal, but I am keeping my options open. And my last major goal for the year is to win a long distance race. As I stated before, I won four 5ks last year, but now I am looking to step it up. It wont be easy, but the biggest obstacle that stands in my way is my mind. As a runner, no matter how much experience you have, your mind will try to make you doubt yourself. When you are in the thick of it, when the fatigue is building up and is becoming too much to bear, and when the physical pain get uncomfortable, you have to keep going. Its getting through the worst that ultimately makes you mentally stronger. The challenges ahead of me this year will try their best to break me down, but I will refuse to back down and quit. And ultimately these challenges will only build me up!