2014 Joggling Highlights

At the 2014 Yonkers Marathon

2014 was an epic joggling year for me. Overall, I ran 2,286 miles in 2014, juggling about 95% of the time. So much happened it would be difficult to write about all of it. I improved so much and broke so many personal records my mind has trouble digesting it all. So rather than mention all that happened, I thought it would be better to focus on the highlights of 2014.

The WNY Vegfest

This is the first vegan event I’ve ever been invited to. This was also the very first WNY Vegfest, and I must say it’s off to a great start. I managed to joggle the Tofurky Trot 5k in slightly more than 20 minutes, and didn’t drop the balls even once. It was priceless being with and meeting so many enthusiastic vegans at this event, celebrating and showcasing the vegan lifestyle. I can still feel all the energy from this event; you really should go this year if you happen to live anywhere close to the planet earth.

The Yonkers Marathon

This was my second time joggling this hilly, historic race, and my third marathon overall. I guess you could say I’ve improved. Not only was I 11 minutes(3:40) faster than in 2013, I didn’t drop the balls even once. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought such a thing was even possible not too long ago. This just goes to show you what you can accomplish with enough dedication. I still feel the Joggler’s High from this event, even though it took place in late September.

Joggling 40 miles from Mount Vernon to Mahopac

My crowning achievement of 2014, and the culmination of many years of joggling. This is the farthest distance I’ve ever run or joggled. I only dropped once, and that was at mile 39! If it wasn’t so dark, I probably wouldn’t have dropped. There are moments when I think this was a strange dream. It just seems so close to impossible that there is this surreal quality to it. Yet again, it’s ultimately the product of unrelenting dedication. To live a life without ever attempting the impossible is a life not fully lived.

Beyond my tiny little piece of the joggling world, it was a terrific year for the sport of joggling, with new world records set. The always amazing Michal Kapral set yet another world joggling record, this time with the half-marathon(1:20:40). He did this as part of a team who are raising money to help AIDS orphans. He also appeared in TV ads for Fairfield Inn and Suites as part of their “Stay Amazing” campaign.

Besides this, rising super-star Dana Guglielmo broke the 5k world joggling record in April. I find her story so inspirational because she managed to break a world joggling record while suffering from arthritis.

Lost in Yonkers? Then run the Marathon

Yonkers Marathon here I come! It’s been a little while since I’ve run a marathon. This will be my third official marathon, and my second time running the Yonkers Marathon. I’m hoping to beat my previous time of 3:51, and I’m also hoping I drop less often. It’s a hilly race, so if you’re not used to hills, this marathon will be brutal. Here is how the Yonkers marathon went last year – How I did at the Yonkers Marathon. This time, after the marathon I will be swimming across the Hudson river to New Jersey.

If you’re in the area and want to see some joggling, this is your chance. Your support will be very appreciated. I hope there are more runners participating this year, especially more vegan runners. I think I was just one of two vegan runners last year. With all the vegan runners in the NYC metro area, there really should be a lot more vegans participating in this race.

Vegan or non-vegan, if you’re running this I look forward to running with you. You’ll know exactly who I am, trust me!

I was kidding about swimming to New Jersey.

 

From Lemons to Glory

Incredibly, it looks like joggling lemons may have improved my joggling. Sometimes the road to glory is paved by ridiculousness. Yesterday, the day after joggling lemons for a few miles, I managed to break my previous record and joggled for 23.3 miles without dropping my juggling balls even once.  Still, this is my longest interrupted(both running and juggling interrupted) run without drops, not my longest uninterrupted(continuous non-stop running and non-stop juggling) run without drops – that is still 15 miles. Without stops(of juggling or running), or with stops(due to traffic, quick bathroom breaks, water breaks) 15 miles without dropping has been my record.

The weather was perfect yesterday, with temperatures in the upper 60s, and mostly cloudy. I ran north on the Putnam trail, then ran east to White Plains to get to the Bronx river trail which I used to run back south, doing a big oval. It took me 3 hours and 37 minutes to run 23.3 miles, at a 9:18 pace. The upper body exercises like push-ups and curls I did on the same day I joggled lemons may have also helped. I also kept tricks to a minimum, since I often drop while doing them.

Like I said before, this wasn’t uninterrupted joggling, since I did carry them a few times for a few seconds when crossing busy streets, and I stopped to get some juice up in Elmsford, but still, I didn’t drop them even once while joggling. It feels miraculous. This shows how doing something ridiculous can improve athleticism. The challenge of joggling with irregularly shaped lemons may have improved my precision, so it was easier to joggle with my regular balls.

It has taken me years to get to this point. Juggling/joggling is like playing a musical instrument, it requires a lot of practice to achieve proficiency. But don’t let this intimidate you. I remember when I couldn’t juggle at all, and when I finally could, I frequently dropped. When I first learned to joggle I couldn’t run more than 50 feet without dropping the balls. After finally going beyond 50 feet, for many months I couldn’t break the 0.3 mile barrier. I finally broke through 0.3 mile, and next thing I knew 1 mile was the new barrier. Then 2 miles. Then 5. Then 8. Then 10. Then 15. And now 23.

Years ago, I never would have imagined being able run 23 miles while juggling and not dropping the balls even once. You never know what you’re capable of until you try it. Truth be told, and this isn’t the first time I am saying this but I am not innately well-coordinated. In fact, I still think I am closer to a clutz than a well-coordinated person. This is largely why I didn’t play any sports in high school, not even the track team. I was the kid in gym class everyone laughed at because I couldn’t catch or throw.

I hope this inspires you to be more creative with your fitness routine. Try new things, be ridiculous. You may be astonished by the results!