So it begins

 In case you haven't heard I am running the NYC Marathon this year as a member of Fred's Team. Fred's Team is an organization that raises money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Take a moment to make a donation to Memorial Sloan-Kettering by visiting Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page

On May 12, 2010 I had the chance to go to the Fred's Team kick off party for the 2010 ING New York City Marathon Team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  Against my better judgment I decided to trust my GPS, rather than my own instincts on the ride into the city.  I typed in the address on 67th street and figured i would go over the 59th (i refuse to call it the queensborough bridge, deal with it).  Instead I wound up going south on the BQE.  Once I got to metropolitan avenue, I discovered that the GPS was taking me to 67th in Brooklyn, since i neglected to type in East 67th street.  Garbage in, garbage out  I suppose.  So I had to take the Manhattan Bridge across the river, cut up Bowery, head east on 27th to the FDR and exit at 61st, which is where I would have wound up if i just took the 59th street bridge to begin with. 


Dr. Richard O'Reilly, Chair, MSKCC Department of Pediatrics spent part of the evening talking about the strides in treatment made possible by the money raised by Fred's Team runners through the years.  I am not going to pretend to understand half of what he said, because I barely squeaked by in biology back in high school.  However, I can understand what it means to say that the survival rate for certain types of childhood cancers has gone from 5% to 50% and better. 

In addition we got to meet our coaching staff and hear some wisdom from Coach Jeff and Anna about how to not only survive this experience, but to enjoy it as well.  Group runs are scheduled to start soon on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  NYC is not just around the corner from me, so for me being able to go to these sessions is going to be more the exception than the rule.  I am going to try to stay on top of the training program and make sure I am putting in the work.  Today I put in five and a half miles on the treadmill in 60 minutes. 

In closing, remember to give early and give often as it is my goal to raise $3,000.00 for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.    

Kevin runs some more, while I am lazy

At least someone is out there making sure the club's good name or bad name stays intact.  Over the weekend Kevin ran The Bench 5k in Stony Brook.  To paraphrase Kevin, "Never miss a race that finishes at a bar."

The course.  Well according to Kevin, it was two hills and a fraking mountain.  So there you go.   Kevin finished in 21:49:10.  In recognition of this accomplishment, and his great showing at the Long Island Half Marathon Kevin has been awarded with a new club title, "Minister of Stamps and Jeter Bombs."

Kevin placed 4th in his age group.  This has lead to a new club policy.  Anytime a club member places and gets any type of prize purse, it must first be used to buy other club members drinks.  Now, I am the first to admit, that as the only club member in any danger of winning a prize purse, this rule really only applies to Kevin. Some might say this is unfair.  To them I say, too bad.  The motion has been seconded and carried.

Registrations have been sent in for the Summer Run Series and in my case, the Sayville Summer Series.  I would love to say that I have been out putting in the miles, but that would be a lie.  And we all know you can't lie on the internet.  The pollen out here in god's country has been so thick the past few days that I haven't even gotten out the door.  Tomorrow I get back on track, with a 5 mile day.  Wednesday is a quick three, Thursday another 5 and Saturday is a sixer. 


In case you haven't heard I am running the NYC Marathon this year as a member of Fred's Team. Fred's Team is an organization that raises money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Take a moment to make a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page

Remember, give early and give often.  It is my goal to raise $3,000. 

Kevin runs a half and the Bamboozle review

Approximately a week ago Kevin "El Guapo Jr." Gill learned that the RXR Long Island Marathon was happening on May 2, 2010.  On a whim he decided to sign up for the half marathon.  Keep in mind that Kevin never ran more than nine miles before May 2.  Also keep in mind that the night before the half marathon Kevin was out till god knows when at a show at the crazy donkey.  UVR&SC is very proud to congratulate Kevin on finishing the half marathon in 1:49:30. 


While Kevin was busy slogging out 13.1 miles Dori and I headed over to the Meadowlands for Bamboozle.  Angry old scenester Dan was in full effect for most of the day.  My review of the show in the form of the facebook postings of a semi dehydrated lunatic follows. 

Daniel Jimenez: going to jersey and am not going to be anwhere near a windmill to satisfy my craving for cheesefries. roadtrip fail.

Yesterday at 13:42 via Facebook for BlackBerry

No surprise, we hit traffic at the Throgs and on the CBX.  We left the house around 2:30.  We arrived just in time for Motion City Soundtrack's set at 5:05.   On the way to the stage where Motion City is about to begin playing we catch the last five minutes of Minus the Bear's set.  Impressed.  

Daniel Jimenez: just saw a kid with justin bieber's haircut wearing a shirt that says f$ck justin bieber. I am ashamed of my part in all of this. I officially am handing in my punk rock union card. and my jersey union card. I hate the meadowlands.

Yesterday at 17:15 via Facebook for BlackBerry

Motion City Soundtrack is up on stage.  These days I can't be bothered to push my way to the front.  I need to get kicked in the head by some moron crowd surfing like I need to get hit by lightning.  So Dori and I settle back into my new standing area of choice.  Near the sound guy.  I have wanted to see MCS live for years now and am glad I finally got a chance.  They were excellent.  Also, got a kick out of seeing Diaz hard at work.  

After MCS, I decide it is time to enjoy a cold beer.  I mentally prepare myself to part with ten bucks for the privilege.  I wait in the line and present my ID to the beer lady.  She asks where my bracelet is.  I tell her I tend not to wear bracelets.  She tells me that I need a bracelet to get beer.  I respond that I have shown her my driver's license and I want a beer now.  She is not compelled.  I respond that I have gray hair in my beard for god's sake, now give me a beer.  My arguments, while entertaining are less than compelling.  I am rebuffed and told to find the bracelet tent.  

Dori and I make our way over to the next stage to catch some of Say Anything's set.  I have a soft spot for lyrically clever obnoxious music.  It makes up for the fact that they took the stage wearing matching outfits.  They looked like Mormon missionaries.  

Some random thoughts as I stand in the crowd. 

Ladies, bikinis are a privilege, not a right.  Gingers, it is called sunblock, you should all invest in it.  

After Say Anything wraps up we do a lap around the merch tents.  In addition we find the fabled bracelet tent.  ID's are produced and bracelets procured.  Dori is upset that the ID guy does not scrutinze her drivers license.  I see the parent's tent on the left.  I suddenly feel sad and out of place. Twenty five dollars later a beer and chicken fingers have been accomplished.  There is still a long gap until Weezer takes the stage at nine.  

We call grandpa and grandma to see how Aidan is doing.  They took him to the Holtsville Ecology Center and Zoo.  We are told he had a good time until a peacock stared him down and honked at him.  

We decide to walk back over to the main stages and check out Matt and Kim. I take the opportunity to use my new beer bracelet again.  I had started to think that my loathing of the crowd was due to the fact that most of them are half my age.  My time in the beer line proved that wrong.  I was in front of two guys talking about how much better Cochella was because you could get Heineken there.

Daniel Jimenez: thoughts from bamboozle. if you love or even like matt and kim please do society a favor. go back to williamsburg and commit suicide. they are awful.

Yesterday at 19:35 via Facebook for BlackBerry

Now I know that may sound a bit harsh.  Maybe I was dehydrated and perhaps my agoraphobia was really firing on all synapses.  But I stand by it.  They were not my cup of tea.  To those who are fans I say potato, and you are free to say potato.

Daniel Jimenez: Also please take all the idiots jumping around to the musical stylings of girltalk with you. Post haste.

Yesterday at 19:52 

How can I even begin to describe Girl Talk (two words, thanks Diaz for the correction)?  A guy wearing a headband with a macbook pro set up on a folding table in the middle of a stage mixing hip hop lyrics over beats.  Was he a DJ?  I don't know.  He spent too much time jumping up and down on his table to really be doing anything.  I think he may have been updating his facebook status from the stage. At one point some feedback hit the monitors, I am pretty sure he was playing on chatroulette too.  

 

Daniel Jimenez: more thoughts from bamboozle. the crowd gathering for mgmt looks like an urban outfitters vomitted all over them. there is a girl wearing neon green socks and wooden clogs. life fail.

Yesterday at 20:05 via Facebook for BlackBerry

Again, I know that alot of people like MGMT.  Good for you.  They were okay.  But by that point, Dori and I were staking out real estate for Weezer at the other main stage.   

Now I enjoy Weezer. I haven't seen them live since the Blue Album.  Dori on the other hand LOVES Weezer.  Correction Dori loves Rivers Coumo.  Another thing about Dori is she is short.  That puts her at a significant disadvantage at general admission shows.  We set up camp at extreme stage left far enough back to avoid the crowd.  In short we set up in pretty horrible real estate.  I passive aggressively complain about the spot until she agrees to move.  We wind up right next to the soundguy again.  

Weezer took the stage at 9:05ish.  Great studio band and a great live band.  Of course they didn't play "in the garage" which has to be one of my favorite songs, but the mix of old and new stuff was really good.  

At one point during the set Rivers ran through the middle of the crowd and climbed up on the soundcage to sing.  The picture above, while just as crappy as the rest, was taken without zooming.  You are welcome Dori.  

We left a bit before the Weezer set ended to avoid getting stuck in the meadowlands parking mess. Somehow or other I wound up on Rt 17 on the way home.  We drove by a SONIC.  Yes, a SONIC.  Sadly there was a line of cars running down the shoulder trying to get into the place and we could not be bothered waiting.  

In case you haven't heard I am running the NYC Marathon this year as a member of Fred's Team. Fred's Team is an organization that raises money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Take a moment to make a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page

Because all run and no play makes Dan a dull boy.

"There must be a guardian angel or some kind of destiny we have, cause we should have died a long time ago the way that we were living in our past"

I know the premise of this blog is a desk bound chubby guy getting back into running shape, but dammit, I do things aside from work and run. Barely.

This weekend Dori and I are heading to the Meadowlands for Bamboozle. Now I know what you are saying. "Dan aren't you a little old to be going to an all day music festival in a parking lot?"

Short answer: Yes.

However, out of fifty bands there are probably 4 that I am pretty excited to see. Weezer, Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything, The Dear Hunter. Plus, I am sure the whole rest of the bill can't be entirely horrible. It can't all be skinny jeaned, eye make up wearing emo bands and hipster rock right?

And if the rest of the bands turn out to be horrible I am prepared to unleash angry old scenester Dan on the unsuspecting masses. Angry old scenester Dan has been paying his punk rock dues since before you damn kids discovered Barney and the Teletubbies. Angry old scenester Dan has band t shirts older than you damn whippersnappers. Angry old scenester Dan hated that band before you emo hair wearing idiots illegally downloaded their music.

Other things angry old scenester Dan anticipates ranting about.

1 - The price of a bottle of water at this event. Sure they cost $7 back in my day too, but you got double the water.

2 - The number of stages. Back in my day music festivals had maybe two or three stages, and we were thankful.

3 - The Meadowlands? Why the hell isn't this thing being held in Asbury Park anymore?

4 - That the Aquabats are playing on Saturday and I have tickets for Sunday. The world needs more costumed superhero punk rock.

5 - People wearing merch for bands that are on the bill. Seriously? Also band members wearing their own merch.

I am sure there are going to be a dozen other things that really grind my gears. We shall see.

Thanks for listening. In case you haven't heard I am running the NYC Marathon this year as a member of Fred's Team. Fred's Team is an organization that raises money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Take a moment to make a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page

ESM 5k and UVR&SC RunAmuck team reveal

What started off as a cold morning turned into a great day for the Eastport South Manorville Lady Sharks Lacrosse 5k.  Dori, Marc and I rolled up to what had to be the middle of nowhere, Long Island around 9:00 a.m.  Aside from some technical difficulties at the start, the whole event was really well organized and executed.  The end result was 28:12 for me.  Marc crossed the finish line in 36:55 and Dori finished strong with 37:33.  A nice start to the spring and summer season.

In August the Unlicensed Villains Running & Social Club is rolling down to Quantico, Virginia for RunAmuck.  RunAmuck is a 4 mile mud and obstacle run aboard MCB Quantico.  While some may not see the fun to be had in something like this, I am happy to announce we already have a full team and then some.

Confirmed attendees

 Kevin "El Guapo Jr." was camera shy for his club picture.  

Might be attending

 
Much as I would love to take credit for the awesome class pictures I must doff my cap to Joey for the masterful photoshop work.

Whiskey Killah says take a moment to make a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page for the 2010 ING NYC Marathon.

Training Schedule

Tuesday - Hilly 5 miles
Wednesday - Easy 3
Thursday - 6 miles
Saturday - Sayville Prediction Run

an open letter to motorists

Dear driving public at large;

You may or may not know me.  I am the guy running on the side of the road as you speed by.  Typically it is after dark when we encounter each other.

I just want to take this opportunity to let you know that flashing your hi beams at me is in no way, shape or form actually helpful to me.  I can see you coming.  Trust me, I don't need you flipping your brights at me to tell me that you are there.  In fact, I am sure I know of your presence well before you notice the reflective and day glo nightmare of clothes that I am rocking.  I am hugging the curb to begin with.  You have plenty of room to safely speed by me.  If it looks like a close call, I will jump onto the grass shinobi style.  Getting hit by an oncoming car is the least of my worries.  It is the a**holes speeding by from behind me that I am more worried about.

My second biggest worry is potholes.  Alien abduction comes in at third.  Oncoming cars, distant fourth.

Maybe you are worried that I am going to pick your 1994 Nissan Sentra to throw myself in front of in order to score a big personal injury payday.  Maybe you are worried that I am going to commit suicide via 2005 Kia Spectra.  Rest assured, neither is on my agenda.  However, if they were, I am sure being blinded by your warning would only make me more likely to choose you. 

Thanks for your time and I'll see you on the road tonight,

Daniel

P.S.  To those who have the ultra bright halogen stadium quality lamps instead of standard headlights.  F*ck you.  They are just obnoxious.  Stop it.

P.P.S. Take a moment to make a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page

Upcoming events

4/18/10 - Eastport South Manorville Girl's Lacrosse Booster Club 5k - because my kick ass niece Ava now plays lacrosse.

4/24/10 - Sayville Running Company 4th Anniversary Prediction Run - Prediction Run means that before the start of the race you predict your finish time.  The person to finish closest to their actual predicted time is the winner. 

6/12/10 - Keith Nintzel Memorial 5k - Part of the Sayville Summer Series

6/19/10 - Schwachman Diamond Dash 5k - Second race of the Sayville Running Series.  Also marks one year since I dusted off my racing shoes.

8/14/10 - Run Amuck - road trip to Quantico with Shinji, John, Kevin and Sabby.  A four mile obstacle course through rolling hills.  

10/2/10 - Hamptons Half Marathon - 13.1 miles.  Because I am stupid.  

11/7/10 - ING New York City Marathon - 26.2.  Because I am very stupid.  

2010 ING NYC Marathon

It is now official.  I am training to run the 2010 ING NYC Marathon.  Thank god for bags of icy and more bags of ice.  

I am honored to be running the 2010 ING NYC Marathon as a part of Fred's Team, and to be raising money for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  

Over the past few months I have come to realize just how many people in my life have had to battle cancer.  Since I am neither a doctor or a scientist (in fact a friend of mine recently described my understanding of science as "Jetsonesque") and I don't have enough money to endow a research chair somewhere I have felt powerless to help.  What I can do is run.  Point me in a direction and tell me to go, and I will just keep going.  I won't set any records, I won't qualify for Boston, I won't be able to stand up once I am finished.  But I am too stubborn or stupid to stop. If that trait can make some difference for someone out there battling cancer then I will gladly do it.

It is my goal to raise $3,000.00 to help battle cancer.  Please visit my fundraising page to help me reach this goal and make a donation. 

Daniel Jimenez's Fred's Team Fundraising Page

I thank you in advance for your donations to this cause and for your support as I run, jog, shuffle and plod my way across 26.2 miles of NYC.

Training schedule for the week

Tuesday - 5 Miles - I went out and did a few loops around the neighborhood totaling 5.5 miles in 61 minutes and change.  Shins still hurt a bit.

Wednesday - 3 Miles

Thursday - 3 Miles

Saturday - 6 Miles