Gator Gallop 5K 2024

Pre-Race: Zach inthe front. Rachelle, myself and Kelly in the background.

Some pre-race fun photos.

In my first organized race of 2024, I participated in the Gator Gallop 5k in Wakefield, MA. The course for this race was very familiar as it was a loop around Lake Quannapowitt. I have run this route many times as part of training for other events. It was the perfect event for a 5K. 

The route was amazing, the weather was another story. When I originally signed up for the race, I was anticipating nice weather as it was in April and the weather had begun to warm up. The weather had other ideas as it was cold, windy, and even occasionally rainy. This made for rough running conditions as part of the race involved running directly into the wind.

Rachelle and I crossing the finish line.

I ran this race with my wife, Rachelle, and our friend Kelly. Congrats to Kelly for setting a personal record with her time in this race! Even with the tough conditions she managed to crush the race. Congrats to Rachelle as well as she was coming off of a respiratory cold that hindered her training and caused some issues during the race!

Overall, this race receives a solid A. It was designed as a fundraiser but still offered an amazing shirt and some post-race refreshments to runners. Also, there were raffles that spectators and runners could participate in too. 

If you are in the Wakefield, MA area the next time this race occurs, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Post-Race Photo Op!

Welcome to 2016! Updates! Comic book of the month! And Schedules! Oh my!!

Happy New Year! With the start of 2016 comes more content from Whoosh! Let's start with some updates. 

First, I started a comic book of the month club in November and promised another book for December.  With the craziness that the holidays bring, I decided to wait until the new year to choose a new comic book. So without further adieu, the choice for this months comic book is, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder Vol 1. 

Secondly, my next big race is the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Glass Slipper Challenge. This involves the Dinsey Princess Enchanted 10k on Feb 20th and the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Feb 21st. Last year, I ran the 10k only and I have to say, it's a great race. While yes it is definitely not the most masculine race to run, it's still an amazing time. I would recommend a RunDisney race to any runner. 

Well anyways, be on the look out for a review of a single issue comic once a week in the new year, as well as running updates when applicable and the review of the comic book of the month on the first Monday of each month. At the end of each review I will announce the choice for the next month. 

2015 Fenway Spartan Sprint

For the third year in a row, I ran the Fenway Spartan Sprint. I ran the race this year with Rachelle and Talia. They were awesome teammates and did really great job. This was Rachelle's third Spartan Race and Talia's first. All in all, I had a great time with some great company.

Some highlights from this race were that I did not slip on the monkey bars. There were release push-ups in the visitors' locker room. My last highlight is running the stairs on the green monster. These obstacles really help to highlight that we were running in Fenway Park.

The reason I highlighted the monkey bars is that The Spartan Race tends to use fence post size poles for their monkey bars and then spaces them oddly. Normally, I slip somewhere in the middle but on this course I made it all the way to the end. After the bars we were only a lap around the warning track away from finishing.   

The other two highlights, fall into the magic of Fenway category.  Even though it was only the visitors locker room its still a really cool experience. Also, running the green monster really gives you a great view of Fenway. Even though it's race, I always take some time to just look out over the park. It is just an amazing view.

If you have to pick any Spartan Race to run, I recommend doing this one. There is no mud and you get to enjoy being at Fenway Park!

B.A.A. Half Marathon 2015

Yesterday, I ran the B.A.A. Half Marathon for the second time. Last year, I ran it as part of the B.A.A. Distance Medley, which is when you run the 5k, 10k and Half Marathon. Yesterday'a race was way more fun than last year's race. I got to run it with Rachelle and Riley. Rachelle was running to beat some personal records and Riley was running it a week after running a full marathon.

All three of us started the race together. Eventually, Riley went ahead and did her own thing. Rachelle and I went on to beat her best 5k, 10k and half marathon times! It's was a great display of determination all around. 

An oldie but goodie of the three of us running the Triple Threat Half Marathon. (Left to Right: Rachelle, myself and Riley)

Some cool highlights from the race though are the scenery, the volunteers and the Franklin Park Zoo. The scenery for  race is amazing. You almost forget your running in such a big city. The volunteers were amazing. There was one particular volunteer around mile 10 who was so energetic she helped motivate all the runners when they needed it most. Lastly, running the zoo is always a highlight. We ran past zebras, wildebeests and warthogs to name a few. There are so many benefits to running this race. 

Whether it was overcoming calf cramps towards the end of the race or pushing through tired legs from long races so close together. We all made it across the finish line.  In running whether your first, last or dnf(did not finish), you had the courage to start.  That's what really counts! 

Running

So since this blog is about running and comics, its about time for a running related post! The return of fall has me excited about running again. After suffering from being severely burnt out for running for a while, I am beginning to enjoying it again. I attribute this two to things and those are the cooler weather and running for fun again.

Let me start by talking about running for fun again. For awhile it felt like I needed to be a better runner than I was because people thought I was a great runner. I took some of that pressure on and kept trying to get better but not because I wanted to get better. I was jut trying to please other people with my running. Running is time I use to clear my head and relax, but I do push myself to be better at it. I am finally back to loving running again.

Now to talk about he Weber. As runner or any athlete will tell you, humidity is a killer. I always start to doubt my running ability in the summer weather because I slow down thanks to the humidity. There were more than a few days this summer where I struggled to catch my breathe after a run. With the cooler weather, I am no longer having this problem. It reminds me that I am not as bad of a runner as I think.

Official, well sort of, maybe kind of, announcement.

I am starting t enjoy it so much that I am 88% sure that I will be running the Cox Providence Marathon on May 6, 2015.

Introduction

Hello,

If you are reading this then you probably already know me but just in case, my name is Louie. Two of my biggest interests are comics and running. I decided to start Whoosh as a way to broaden my blogging from just running. I used to write on a blog with my friend Riley called VS. The Road. This was primarily dedicated to all things running. Here on this blog I hope to provide updates on my running, new running gear, the comics I am reading, new comic movies and even start a monthly comic book club. Basically, this blog is all about fun in one form or another.

And for those wondering, I chose the word Whoosh! because in the comics it's sound effect used to indicate when someone starts running.

Thanks for joining in my next writing adventure and I hope you enjoy the ride!

PS. Iron Man is the best superhero. (Feel free to disagree)


WHOOSH!
Louie