“Participate” is exactly what I did this year. I went into the race very undertrained, with only one “long” run under my belt. The problem is that “long” training run was only 14 miles. So as expected, and as planned, the second half of my race became even more social with lots of walking breaks. And I swear, running a marathon that way can be so rewarding because you don’t miss a thing. You don’t miss a single sight, smell, or sound along the way. I think I high-fived two million people along the side of the road yesterday.

Once again we stayed with my wife’s sister and her family. Although they live about 25 miles north of the race festivities, it’s a wonderful opportunity to see family while being a part of such a great race. I wouldn’t exchange the great company, great home cooking, and the comforts of home and family for the convenience of staying in NYC. We arrived at their home in West Harrison late Friday and settled in for the weekend ahead. And I do have to say that my wife, MG, was and is a complete saint for shuttling me back and forth all weekend to make sure all of my connections were made. I thanked her a dozen times if not more over the weekend. Support like that is just incredible.

Saturday mid-day we cruised into the city to take care of my registration details and the expo (and spent a few dollars on some things I NEEDED). From there it was off to the Remi restaurant to meet Ethan and the crew for our GRS marathon team pre race dinner and gathering.  The dinner really set the tempo for what would be a great weekend.  There are a number of athletes who have done this race before and we have all developed a nice friendship so it was good to see everyone and get caught up. It was great to see guys like Paul, Sully, Craig, Angela, Becky, and many others as well as the many new comers to the group. This is a GOOD group of human beings and I am honored to call them friends.

We added about 20 more runners this year over last, including Ironman 70.3 World Champion triathlete Aaron Scheidies from Seattle. Aaron is a visually impaired athlete who I also knew from the triathlon world. I might add, he is also one of the nicest guys I have ever met and is a complete character who can eat anyone I know under the table.

After a great dinner and many laughs we started to wrap things up and head our separate ways to get things in order for race morning.  But not before I was tapped on the shoulder by the film crew of Everyday Health and asked to do a short interview about the race, and my relationship with Ethan. Hopefully that comes out well, we shall see. Shortly after that we headed back to get organized.

This weekend we changed the clocks BACK an hour so I was a little nervous about my wake up, but all went very smoothly and we left to head back into the city at about 4:45 AM on Sunday morning. We all gathered at the race’s host hotel and took care of some last minute preparation before boarding the team bus to the start.  Ethan also reached into his bag and said “I have something special for you” as he handed me a Stand Up 2 Cancer / SURVIVOR bandana.  That was much appreciated and actually turned out to be a great distraction during the race because I played with it and kept moving it around between my head…. My neck…. My wrist …… it kept my mind off of running 26.2 miles.

While we waited, I had a nice conversation with a guy in our group named Adam. This was Adam’s first marathon and he was pretty nervous. We had a nice chat and I assured him that he had already put in the hard work and there was no doubt he would have a good day. I reminded him to start off slow and to also savor the day and drink it all in. I also told him to enjoy the crowd, engage the kids when possible and high-five anyone who sticks their hand in the road. More on Adam later.

We boarded the bus and made our way to the start. At dinner I had recommended to Ethan that we write the letters F C on the soles of our running shoes. “FC” has taken on a couple of translations over the years with this group. “Fight Cancer” is one of them. The other, is not quite so G rated. On the bus ride, we broke out the Sharpies and marked up the soles of our shoes. Ethan took my idea one step further and suggested we stomp through dog sh*t to REALLY drive the point home to cancer.  Not sure how he made out with that one! Luckily I didn’t encounter any of that during the race.

Unfortunately our arrival at the start was a little rushed because the bus hit a lot of traffic delays so we actually had to exit early and walk the rest of the way to the start. Once that happened, people scattered and some of the people that I had hoped to at least start out running with all ended up in different places. No worries. I made my way to my designated start coral and waited for our start.

At 10:10 the cannon fired to signal the start of our wave. The start of the NYC marathon is actually about a one mile climb up the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. It feels steep and it’s a little chilly between the shade and the breeze from the river. But before you know it, you hit the crest and begin the descent back down the other side.

As I mentioned earlier, I was a little under prepared for this race. But I was healthy and injury free so I knew I could fake or muscle my way through it without any problems as long as I didn’t set the bar too high.  I ran the first half at pretty consistent 10 minute miles. At around 14 miles, the walking breaks kicked in and became longer in duration as the race went on. Other than feeling like I had steak knives sticking out of my quads, I felt OK. Nutritionally, I felt great. Things went relatively according to plan.

I also did get the chance to connect with a few GRS runners on the road, including Sully, and Angela. And remember Adam, who I gave advice to in the hotel? He passed me somewhere around mile 15 and gave me a thumbs up and a smile and asked how I felt. And THEN, Adam weaved his way over to the curbside so he could high five a row of kids. He listened to what I had told him and during that simple little exchange I had an emotional moment.

There were other moments as well, especially as I reflected on the fact my wife and I are celebrating 25 years of marriage. She has been such a catalyst in allowing me to achieve and realize so much in this life.

Of course, runners cannot turn onto First Avenue without being overcome with emotions. I feel like the heart of the entire race sits right there waiting for you to come off of the quiet of the bridge and erupt into a hero’s welcome.

In keeping with a little tradition that I started, I did have a couple of Philly pride moments. Most notably came along First Ave at about 79^th. A group of guys were tossing a football on the sidewalk, tossing it into the crowd of runners anytime a runner gave them a nod and a “hey, I’m open” sign. So of course I did, and the guy hit me in stride with a perfect strike. But before I tossed it back, I broke into an “E-A-G-L-E-S” cheer and fired it back to them. I thought the whole corner was going to come after me. Good thing for cops and barricades. I did the same thing to a spectator wearing a Giants Lawrence Taylor jersey. That guy just yelled back and said “I’ll remember your face”. Too funny.

So eventually, after over five hours of five borough therapy, I made my way into Central Park and across the finish line of marathon number…. perhaps 20. I am not 100% sure. I met up with MG who SOMEHOW had secured street parking just a few blocks from the finish. (a saint, I’m telling you). From there we actually went back north for a great dinner, shower, and to pack up and say goodbye to our family.

And so ends another chapter of the ING NYC Marathon.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who played a part in this awesome adventure. From my wife and family, to my warrior cancer brother Ethan Zohn and his GRS team, to each and every spectator and volunteer along the way. You all rock and I will see you next year.

Side note – please don’t forget my committment to donate all proceeds from my book “In Search of Center” to two of Ethan’s favorite charities. Details can be found HERE.

So here is my offer and our chance to all do something from the comfort of wherever you are. Effective today 100% of the proceeds received from both the paperback and download versions of this book will be split evenly between two charities which are meaningful to Ethan and I.

50% will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and 50% will go to Ethan’s charity Grassroot Soccer. Please pass this around to your friends.

Please click below to make a difference:

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The irony in all of it is he has been training for this weekend’s NYC marathon where I will be joining him and racing for his charity; Grassroot Soccer. Ethan will also be guiding a blind athlete that we have running with our team. Check that. Not just any “blind athlete”, but world class and world champion  triathlete Aaron Scheidies. 

All systems were GO. So of course in true warrior fashion, he will still race. Perhaps not as well as he had hoped, but he’ll get it done. Someone commented that this news is “sad”. I don’t feel “sad” right now. I feel really pissed off and offended if that makes sense. But not “sad”.

In talking to Ethan yesterday, I offered the following:

Call me crazy but I feel A LOT of really positive energy around the race and your situation. Think about the dynamic…. Leading a blind athlete…. Going though treatment …. Running with another survivor … (yours truly)….. raising money for GRS and saving lives…. leading by example ….There is just so much karma and POWER in all of this….

The Hodgkins Lymphoma is just showing its ignorance by rearing its ugly head. It’s going to get chewed up.

I’ll post some updates once we get to NY on Friday. I will see Ethan and our crew for dinner Saturday night and we will all ride a team bus to the start and have our own little colony to hang out and enjoy each other’s company prior to the start.

My goal is to just hang out with Ethan during the race and make it a MISSION against cancer.

More to come.

Below is an email from Ethan that went out to our marathon team just today:

To All My Favorite GRS Marathoners,

The past 2 years as a cancer survivor have been super exciting – a trip to South Africa for the World Cup, a journey around the world on The Amazing Race, a new TV series with Jenna called Everyday Health, and running of the NYC Marathon for Grassroot Soccer. In fact, working with GRS has always been the MOST rewarding part my life.

Having said that, I have some not-so-exciting news. On September 14^th, after a routine visit to the oncologist, they found evidence of canzer. I relapsed. My f’ing canzer is back.

I have Hodgkins Lymphoma that is localized to the chest and lung area. The docs are very hopeful and are treating this with curable intent.

I’m on a super new drug called SGN-35 which was passed by the FDA on September 24,2011. SGN-35 is considered a “Smart Therapy” because it will only target the cancerous cells in my body.  Therefore, the side effects are not as bad.  Most importantly, I will not lose my jew-fro again, and that’s really my biggest concern…not this stupid cancer stuff. HA!! My first treatment was on October 18^th and I’m feeling ok.

Here’s the yucky part. Once my cancer is in remission, I will have to endure another stem cell transplant. Hola Mr. Bubble Boy!!!!  This time it will be an Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant (versus and Autologus stem cell), which means I will use another human’s stems cells and I WILL lose my hair. I will be in the “bubble” for about 40-50 days with a hard-core intensive 120-day recovery period once I’m released.

So that’s the deal….

I think the general perception of cancer is that there are winners and losers. You either beat cancer and win, or lose to cancer and die. There is no in between. The reality of my situation is that I did everything in my power to beat cancer and I did. But it came back. And that’s ok too. I’m not a failure. There are millions of people out there living with cancer and living with the reality that this horrible disease may come back.

This morning, People Magazine made this announcement, but I wanted to send a personal note to everyone. I’m going public because I hope the details of my life have the power to educate and heal others. Or perhaps enable them to connect with me in a way that helps make their journey more manageable. I’m right there with them…living and fighting each day of my life bringing awareness to this global pandemic. It’s who I am, It’s what I represent. I stand up for what I believe in.

I’m still running the NYC marathon for GRS even though I have cancer and have had my first chemo treatment.  It’s that important to me. The docs think I’m crazy, but I want to send a message of hope and let people know that cancer will not slow me down. And it doesn’t have to slow anyone else down either. I will to charge forward and continue to do the things I love, like work with GRS.

I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a horrible diagnosis and I want to do everything in my power to make sure no one else will have to go through the same crap that I’m going through…whatever that may be, cancer or HIV.

I can’t wait to see everyone this weekend and have some fun. It’s an honor to be part of something so much bigger than myself.

Who’s ready to outrun cancer and stomp out AIDS?  That’s what I thought…me too!

See you at the finish line,

Ethan

I met Ethan at his Center City hotel at 7:45 on Saturday morning and we headed over to Boathouse Row so I could show him one of my favorite running loops around the Art Museum. Of course we had to detour slightly to run up the famous steps and pause for a Rocky Balboa dance at the top before heading back onto the path to resume our run. (With another brief stop to touch the boot of Rocky’s statue). We resumed our run and had a typical Ethan and Steve discussion about everything from cancer to diet to endurance sports to how we can save the world to soccer to how nice Kelly Drive is to run…. And a long list of other topics.

On the return trek, of course we couldn’t pass the Art Museum without another trip up the steps, followed by a little push up and ab workout at Eakins Oval. Once done we made our way back to his hotel and I went on my way to brace myself for Hurricane Irene. Bracing myself also meant sitting at my laptop with swim goggles, swim cap, and a headlamp! I was ready!! The good news is we really did dodge a bullet. We had some minor water in the basement and we lost power for about 20 hours but all things considered, we lucked out.

And in reality, my wife and I ended up having a lot of fun with our own little hurricane party. We had a few cocktails, plenty of battery life to run the iTunes, and even danced a little! Of course I played DJ and added my own little narratives and twists with those dumb factoids like how the Classics IV morphed into The Atlanta Rhythm Section, or how Paul McCartney’s former girlfriend Jane Asher was the sister of Peter Asher, of Peter and Gordon fame and how Paul had written a number of songs for Peter and Gordon and then wrote “You Won’t See Me” when it was time to blow off Jane Asher…. you know…. rocket science stuff that the world can’t live without!

The attached pictures and video however show the very area where Ethan and I ran along Kelly Drive. Areas of that path were completely submerged by Saturday evening and into Sunday. It’s hard to believe we were running on it just hours before.

AND, today, Monday, is a day from the weather gods….. beautiful skies and 80 degrees. And the rest of the week looks like more of the same.

Check out this VIDEO.

So, goodnight Irene and I wish a speedy cleanup and recovery to those who were not as fortunate as I.

On the race front, I am now less than one month away from the Chesapeakeman Ultra Distance Triathlon (a.k.a “ironman” for all intents and purposes). Am I ready? I always feel like I could or should be more ready but I think I’ll be ok. Swimming feels great. Running is decent, except for some foot pain during recovery that I am working through. I could use one more long bike ride which I will get next week. That should put me in the right mindset to taper down and get ready. My head is in a good place. I am both afraid and anxiously excited about racing, and that is usually just the right chemistry for a good day when racing ironman. Next up after that will be the NYC Marathon again in November with Ethan Zohn and then I am racing the half marathon on Philadelphia Marathon weekend, also in November.

I also want to share another little ditty. I have talked about my passion for music in the past. Not that I can play a lick of any musical instrument, (unless you can count some mean dashboard percussion or unskilled and ad-hoc drumming on just about anything that doesn’t move). But, since early childhood, I have been very passionate about my music. I have very vivid memories of dragging my mom to the local record store when I was very young just so I could score whatever latest album so moved me. And I was, and remain, one of those listeners who would don the headphones and get completely lost in every note while reading every word from the album liner notes. Which explains why when listening to something today I will blurt out some useless factoid about so and so who played such and such on some recording that I remembered from years ago.

So, with that passion for music comes a pretty decent collection of vinyl albums. Now understand, I don’t even have a turntable anymore so this collection has been doing very little other than just that: being a collection tucked safely away in the archives of my basement. But it’s a collection that I truly do cherish and would never want to part with. That music remains a part of me. But I had a good idea earlier this year. And that idea was to start to pass some of these gems onto my daughter who has developed an impressive taste for my all time favorite band – The Beatles. My Beatles collection (band, solo artist, and related books) is quite impressive if I do say so myself and that band more than any other triggers certain emotional buttons for me. I thought it would be cool to gradually pass some of these onto her. It’s a chance to pass on the legacy while still keeping it in the family, and giving her something to enjoy that she truly appreciates. So far, I have given her, Let it Be, Revolver, and Abbey Road in album frames so she can hang them on the wall, and listen. Even pulling them out of the archives reaches the inner nostalgia in me … it feels good.

OK that’s enough for now. Gotta run. I will keep you updated with news, events, and happenings!

Have a great day and do something randomly cool and nice for a complete stranger today.

I have settled into a great 5 AM running routine but I bailed this morning. It was just too gross when I stepped outside. Training is going well though. I feel pretty focused for ironman on September 24^th. Generally speaking, things are progressing nicely. And of course the NYC Marathon with Ethan is set for November. I still need help with our cause. Donations can still be made HERE. NO donation is too small. Got that? NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL.

I have also decided to make the trip to Virginia in October to help out the USA Ultra Triathlon group with the double, and triple ironman.

There is a reason.

I have mentioned before that the double ironman has piqued my curiosity for quite some time now. I was close to racing it this year but I vetoed myself. I have been in regular contact with race director Steve Kirby and it was his idea to invite me down to really get the true flavor for this year’s race, which will better prepare me for attempting this in the fall of 2012. I’ll write a feature article on the event as well.

I’m not sure why but I have always had a burning desire to set myself apart. Not above anything or anybody. Just “apart”. Ironman is yesterday’s news and has become way too popular – and too commercial. I hate that….. or I at least dislike it. I feel it’s time to again do something that others are not doing. Much more to come on this. I’ll also need a full blown support crew … so I will be recruiting!

As a reminder, I will be meeting my buddy Todd Crandell tonight for the screening of his new documentary film Running With Demons. It will be good to catch up with him and a couple of his partners on this film.

All else is good. I’ll try to get some pics posted from the film screening tonight.

Stay cool everyone.

Steve and Danielle

 My daughter bought tickets for us to see last night’s Philadelphia Union soccer game as a Father’s Day gift . We had been talking about wanting to see a game so this was a great gift and surprise. I was able to spring a little surprise back on her as well. My daughter didn’t realize that I knew the Union’s CEO, Nick Sakiewicz. Nick is a former goalkeeper, as am I. And Nick is a blood cancer survivor, as am I.

That survivor and goalie connection seems to be a pretty powerful thing because it was my buddy Ethan Zohn, also a former goalie and survivor who facilitated my connection to Nick Sakiewicz.

So, I reached out to Nick and let him know we would be attending the game and he followed up with an invite to come hang out in his suite. We spent the evening in the company of some great people, great food, and plentiful drink. Add to the mix the fact that another friend, former All American runner and two-time Olympian, Vicki Huber Rudawsky was also seated in the suite with us and an unexpected drop in by none other than Hugh Jackman and you could say we had a pretty excellent night.

Steve and Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz

What impressed us most was the stadium atmosphere and how cordial and friendly every single person was that we made contact with. As a long time Philly area soccer fan and former player, it’s nice for me to see the Union have such a firm foothold in the community in just their second season of play. Over the decades I have seen the Atoms, Fury, Stoners, and Fever come and go. And in fact almost caught a break with both the Stoners and the Fever as a reserve goalie. But things didn’t quite pan out as hoped for me, although I did end up with some good playing days for Danubia in the majors division of the United Soccer League of PA. I applaud the Union’s ownership, staff, fans, and player personnel for doing this right and for giving us something real, honest, and wholesome to celebrate.

Thanks very much to Nick, his assistant Sheri, and Drew Young, for making sure last night was memorable for us. And thanks to Danielle for the awesome Father’s Day present.

Oh and the game itself? A 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City, but that didn’t matter. Last night was about people, not goals. We’ll be back soon.

Steve and Vicki Huber-Rudawsky

Read more …

Imerman Angels carefully matches and individually pairs a person touched by cancer (a cancer fighter or survivor) with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer (a Mentor Angel). Cancer caregivers (spouses, parents, children and other family and friends of fighters) also receive 1-on-1 connections with other caregivers and survivors. These 1-on-1 relationships inspire hope and offer the chance to ask personal questions and receive support from someone who is uniquely familiar with the experience. The service is absolutely free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world.

Learn more at imermanangels.org

I’ll do the hard part ….. I’ll do all of the running to prepare for and race in the 2011 NYC Marathon. ….. you just need to make a donation…… and together, we make a difference.

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You can also visit Jenna’s blog HERE