Hockey/holiday weekend memories

Friday night of Memorial Day weekend, and what was I doing? Watching hockey! Huh? I’m not even a hockey fan. I just realized last year that there is actually an NHL team in Columbus. Ohio. Hmmm. Not the most avid puck fan, to be sure. But as my former colleague at Dutchess County’s Finest Daily Newspaper, Danny Pietrafesa, used to say, there’s nothing more intense than playoff hockey. Especially when it goes to overtime.

So Friday night, I fell asleep in front of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which the Devils won in OT and eliminated the Rangers in the process. It was thrilling, non-stop action. Just like 18 years ago, on the Friday night of Memorial Day weekend, when the Devils and Rangers played Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Different outcome that game.

Why the Rain Man-like recollection of a sport in which I admittedly care little about? Well, I may not care much about hockey, but I do care a lot about my wife. And it was 18 years ago, on Friday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend, when I proposed to the love of my life, during a picnic at the Vanderbilt Mansion (I know, not the most original idea). How did we “celebrate” this memorable occasion? After telling family and friends, we watched Game 7 of Devils/Rangers, which was perhaps the best playoff game in any sport ever. It went into overtime, and the Rangers won, paving the way to their one and only Stanley Cup since 1941.

How can you not remember broadcaster Howie Rose’s memorable call of that goal (with a little help from Wikipedia)? “Matteau swoops in to intercept. Matteau behind the net, swings it in front. HE SCORES! MATTEAU!! MATTEAU!! MATTEAU!! STEPHANE MATTEAU!! AND THE RANGERS HAVE ONE MORE HILL TO CLIMB, BABY! BUT IT'S MOUNT VANCOUVER! THE RANGERS ARE HEADED TO THE FINALS!!!’’

Even Mike Francesa of WFAN was amazed at the symmetry of the Friday of Memorial Day weekend/Devils vs. Rangers. On the air Friday afternoon, previewing the upcoming playoff game, marveled at how quickly 18 years have gone, and how much has changed in that seeming blink of an eye. We’ve all gotten a lot older in those 18 years; but those 18 years went by in what seemed to be about 18 minutes. Yes, 18 years have gone by, in the blink of an eye. And this much has not changed: I watched a hockey game in which I had little rooting interest, and Heidi is still very much the love of my life.

Note to the many Ranger fans in the blogosphere: I am sorry your team was ousted from the playoffs. Such are the vagaries of the lengthy playoff system in the NHL. I guess.

Thick as a Brick

I will preface this post (as I could every post) with the following statement: I am an idiot. OK. That’s a bit harsh. But it can often be true! Back in the winter, I agreed to pace my wife’s best friend through her first-ever half marathon, up in Lake Placid in a few weeks. Upon looking up the race, I noticed there was also a marathon, which was the second loop of the half marathon. Of course, my lunkheaded brain said, “Geez, I can pace Mary through the half marathon, and then do another lap!” Pure genius, right?

Sure thing. Except … except … except … a funny thing happened during the late winter and spring: Other than my usual morning jogs, which generally range in length from 50 minutes to an hour, I really did not do any marathon-specific training for this race! Duh. Not a great idea. Not surprising, considering our busy travel schedule. But still …

So, once our season ended, I decided I would do a crash course in aerobic, endurance training – mixing in my normal early morning jogs with as much pool running as possible. You remember this now? “Fool in the Pool?” Yup, that’s me! With the help of rehabbing XC/track team member Billy Posch, who is here for the first part of the summer, I have been hammering in the pool as a way to build enough endurance to get through this marathon.

Entering this week, I came up with the idea of doing 10 hours (running and pool-running combined) training.  Triathletes call them “bricks” – when they combine different disciplines on the same day. My “bricks” have not been true to the triathlete term, as the runs and the aqua work have been split by several hours. True bricks are continuous, from one discipline immediately into the other. Like this: Triathletes will do crazy stuff like ride a bike for 6 hours and then do a 4-hour long run (side note: a dentist acquaintance of mine who is training for an Ironman actually did this last week!). Heck, if Dr. Mike can do 10 hours of training in one day, I can squeeze it into a week. Right? Right!

Well, I am here to report that I was able to squeeze 10 hours of training into a work week (Monday through Friday). Here’s how.

Monday: am, 55 minutes with Fast Tony and Even Faster Dave; pm, 70 minutes in the pool with Posch. Total: 2:05

Tuesday: am, 45 minutes birthday run with Slow Artie (he turned 55!); pm, 60 minutes in the pool with Posch. Total: 1:45

Wednesday: am, 50 minutes fast and hilly with Fast Tony; pm, 50 minutes in the pool with Posch. Total: 1:40

Thursday: am, 55 minutes solo shuffle with the iPod; pm, 35 minutes solo in the pool (Posch lifeguarding). Total: 1:30

Friday: am, long run 2:25 (first 62 mins with Fast Tony/Faster Dave/Slow Artie); pm, 45 minutes in the pool with Posch. Total: 3:10

Total for 5 days: 10:10.

Phew. I’m getting tired just typing this. FYI. Don’t expect much out of me up in Lake Placid. This isn’t like cramming for a final exam. Marathon training needs to be built up for months, not a week or two. In fact, my son Joey is predicting a PW (Personal Worst). Thanks, pal!

Must read: Last run of the White Horse

Required reading for all followers of this fancy blog: The following New York Times article is exquisite in its reporting and writing, one of the best pure pieces of journalism I can remember. The story is about Micah True, who was made famous as “Caballo Blanco” in the book “Born to Run” (which, I hate to admit, I have not read yet … but I’m working on it now!).

Take a few minutes and check it out. You’ll be very glad you did.

2012 Outdoor Track Performance List: Men

100-meter dash
Jesse Aprile 11.12 MAAC

Jesse Aprile 11.18 YALE

Jesse Aprile 11.33 VASS

Jesse Aprile 11.41 MON
Tyler Schwarz 11.43 VASS
Jesse Aprile 11.47 VASS
Tyler Schwarz 11.63 MAAC

Mike McCloskey 11.66 MAAC

Darren Bushey 11.67 VASS
Mike McCloskey 11.68 VASS
Darren Bushey 11.71 MAAC

Darren Bushey 11.72 YALE

Mike McCloskey 11.85 YALE

Mike McCloskey 11.95 MON
Tyler Schwarz 11.98 MON
Darren Bushey 12.24 MON
Neal Viets 12.71 YALE

Neal Viets 12.95 VASS

Neal Viets 13.29 MON
200-meter dash
Jesse Aprile 22.38 *school record MAAC

Tyler Schwarz 23.21 MAAC

Tyler Schwarz 23.31 VASS

Darren Bushey 23.31 MAAC

Tyler Schwarz 23.52 SBU

Mike McCloskey 23.56 RICH
Darren Bushey 23.72 YALE

Darren Bushey 23.74 RICH
Mike McCloskey 23.86 MAAC

Jesse Aprile 23.92 VASS
Connor Dodge 24.02 RICH
Connor Dodge 24.05 MAAC

Darren Bushey 24.35 VASS

Mike McCloskey 24.72 VASS
Neal Viets 25.94 SBU

Neal Viets 26.01 YALE

Neal Viets 26.29 VASS
Neal Viets 26.68 MON
400-meter dash
Connor Dodge 55.26 VASS

Dan Conklin 53.17 YALE

800-meter run
David Marthy 1:54.64 MAAC

David Marthy 1:54.66 PRI2

Matt Panebianco 1:58.24 YALE

Chris Vanzetta 1:58.62 YALE

Kyle Havard 1:58.66 YALE

Arquimedes DelaCruz 1:59.04 YALE

Tom Lipari 1:59.07 BUCK

Bryan Buttigieg 1:59.87 MAAC

Bryan Buttigieg 2:01.17 YALE

Bryan Buttigieg 2:01.73 SBU
Dan Conklin 2:02.74 SBU

Kyle Havard 2:03.88 MON
Bryan Buttigieg 2:03.91 MON
Andrew James 2:04.77 VASS

Ryan Fitzsimons 2:08.36 RICH
Adam Osowski 2:09.17 MON

Adam Osowski 2:13.61 YALE

Adam Osowski 2:15.61 SBU
1500-meter run
Kyle Havard 3:59.36 BUCK

Tom Lipari 3:59.38 BUCK
Arquimedes DelaCruz 4:00.00 YALE

Tom Lipari 4:00.86 PRI2

Kyle Havard 4:03.14 RICH

Tom Lipari 4:05.67 RICH
Ken Walshak 4:08.12 YALE

David Marthy 4:09.06 MON
Matt Panebianco 4:10.52 RICH
Kyle Havard 4:11.20 MAAC

Kyle Havard 4:13.06 MON
Chris Reynolds 4:13.62 MVAS

Matt Flint 4:15.92 YALE

Ryan Scrudato 4:16.86 MON
Kyle Hannafin 4:16.95 SBU
Brian Townsend 4:16.99 SBU

Mark Valentino 4:17.13 MON
Chris Reynolds 4:18.58 SBU
Brian Townsend 4:19.93 MON
Nick Hughes 4:20.39 MON
Kyle Hannafin 4:22.19 MON
Isaiah Miller 4:22.91 MVAS

Ryan Brown 4:24.97 MON
Andrew James 4:26.52 SBU

Matt Flint 4:31.04 MON

Mike Keegan 4:31.72 VASS
Adam Osowski 4:32.30 MVAS

3,000-meter run
Nick Salek 9:09.26 RICH
Brian Townsend 9:14.19 SBU
Mike Clausen 9:46.11 SBU
5,000-meter run
Will Griffin 14:42.55 MAAC

Ken Walshak 14:52.43 SAMH
Will Griffin 14:56.98 SAMH
Joel Moss 15:05.72 RICH
Joel Moss 15:21.07 MAAC

Mark Valentino 15:22.34 BUCK

Ian Dorset 15:22.35 BUCK

Nick Salek 15:24.07 MON
Ian Dorset 15:28.08 MAAC

Ryan Scrudato 15:29.37 YALE

Mark Valentino 15:29.96 MAAC

Ian Dorset 15:30.74 YALE

Billy Posch 15:32.52 MON

Tom Lipari 15:32.70 MAAC

Brian Townsend 15:32.82 YALE

Brian Townsend 15:34.04 MAAC

Brian Townsend 15:34.41 BUCK
Ryan Scrudato 15:37.23 RICH
Billy Hild 15:38.24 YALE

Nick Salek 15:42.92 BUCK
Ian Dorset 15:44.18 RICH

Mohamed Eid 15:44.37 MON
Billy Hild 15:44.67 MON
Justin Tampellini 15:45.19 MON
Mike Keegan 15:48.90 MON
Justin Tampellini 15:55.83 YALE

Justin Tampellini 15:58.38 BUCK

Ryan Scrudato 16:00.63 MON
Nick Salek 16:04.66 YALE

Brian Townsend 16:06.84 MON
Billy Posch 16:07.04 RICH

Ryan Brown 16:08.80 MON
Ryan Brown 16:11.24 RICH

Nick Salek 16:14.32 MVAS

Ryan Brown 16:17.15 VASS
Nick Hughes 16:17.64 VASS
Kevin O’Sullivan 16:18.79 MVAS

Tommy Lappas 16:24.52 MVAS

Tommy Lappas 16:25.18 YALE

Chris Reynolds 16:27.71 VASS
Rob Gorski 16:36.43 YALE

Patrick Deedy 16:36.51 MON
Pat Deedy 16:41.99 YALE

Doug Ainscow 16:46.64 YALE

Mike Nicoletti 16:49.84 MON
Pat Deedy 16:50.56 VASS
Doug Ainscow 17:00.10 VASS
Mike Nicoletti 17:01.29 VASS
Dominick Corradi 17:05.73 MON

Dominick Corradi 17:36.41 VASS
Dominick Corradi 17:39.65 MVAS

10000-meter run
Will Griffin 30:15.92 *IC4A All East

Will Griffin 30:40.20 *IC4A qualifier MSAC

Joel Moss 31:08.95 PENN

Joel Moss 31:22.95 MAAC

Ken Walshak 31:50.68 MSAC

Arquimedes DelaCruz 31:51.08 RICH
Joel Moss 31:55.22 SAMH
Billy Hild 32:18.30 MAAC

Billy Hild 32:34.05 RICH
Brian Townsend 32:42.58 MAAC

Ryan Scrudato 32:44.15 BUCK
Justin Tampellini 33:00.98 MAAC

Mohamed Eid 33:50.56 SBU
Rob Gorski 34:14.89 MON
Justin Tampellini 34:23.97 SBU

Tommy Lappas 34:20.82 MON
Ryan Brown 34:32.88 MVAS

Rob Gorski 34:41.04 MVAS

Mike Nicoletti 34:48.31 MON
Ian Dorset 35:02.96 SBU
Doug Ainscow 35:09.07 MVAS

Tommy Lappas 35:14.51 SBU
Luke Shane 35:31.66 MVAS

Doug Ainscow 35:44.68 SBU
Doug Ainscow 36:01.81 MON

Rob Gorski 36:36.05 SBU
Dominick Corradi 36:37.27 SBU
400-meter hurdles
Mike Clifford 56.96 MAAC

Mike Clifford 58.80 YALE

Mike Clifford 59.28 VASS

Mike Clifford 1:01.05 SBU
Mike Clifford 1:01.19 MON
3000-meter steeplechase
Arquimedes DelaCruz 9:08.58 *IC4A qualifier MSAC
Arquimedes DelaCruz 9:09.78 IC4A

Arquimedes DelaCruz 9:10.05 *IC4A qualifier SAMH
Arquimedes DelaCruz 9:12.25 *IC4A qualifier MAAC

Ken Walshak 9:17.58 MAAC

Tom Lipari 9:29.70 MAAC

Ken Walshak 9:30.28 RICH
Mark Valentino 9:30.54 *USA Junior qualifier MAAC

Mark Valentino 9:32.46 *USA Junior qualifier PENN

Tom Lipari 9:36.63 YALE

Mark Valentino 9:37.71 *USA Junior qualifier RICH
Mark Valentino 9:42.62 MON
Matt Flint 9:49.33 MAAC

Nick Hughes 9:55.14 MAAC

Nick Hughes 9:55.98 YALE

Ryan Fitzsimons 9:56.46 MAAC

Nick Hughes 9:57.82 MON
Ryan Fitzsimons 9:57.86 BUCK

Chris Reynolds 10:02.42 YALE

Ryan Fitzsimons 10:07.15 MON
Ryan Fitzsimons 10:10.59 RICH
Nick Hughes 10:20.59 RICH
Chris Reynolds 10:23.34 MON
400-meter relay
Marist (Mike McCloskey, Tyler Schwarz, Darren Bushey, Jesse Aprile) 43.00 *school record VASS

Marist (Mike McCloskey, Tyler Schwarz, Darren Bushey, Jesse Aprile) 43.33 *ties school record RICH
Marist (Mike McCloskey, Tyler Schwarz, Darren Bushey, Jesse Aprile) 43.35 MAAC

Marist (Mike McCloskey, Tyler Schwarz, Darren Bushey, Jesse Aprile) 43.71 MON

Marist (Mike McCloskey, Connor Dodge, Darren Bushey, Jesse Aprile) 44.07 PENN
Marist (Mike McCloskey, Connor Dodge, Darren Bushey, Jesse Aprile) 44.56 YALE

1600-meter relay
Marist (Dan Conklin, Chris Vanzetta, Kyle Havard, Mike McCloskey) 3:26.32 MAAC

Marist (David Marthy, Bryan Buttigieg, Adam Osowski, Kyle Hannafin) 3:44.29 MON
3200-meter relay
Marist (Chris Vanzetta, David Marthy, Matt Panebianco, Kyle Havard) 7:40.65 *school record IC4A

 Marist (Chris Vanzetta, David Marthy, Matt Panebianco, Kyle Havard) 7:41.68 *school record, IC4A qualifier BUCK

Marist (Chris Vanzetta, David Marthy, Matt Panebianco, Kyle Havard) 7:44.04 MAAC

Marist (Chris Vanzetta, Tom Lipari, Kyle Havard, Matt Panebianco) 7:48.55 *school record RICH
Marist (Dan Conklin, Mark Valentino, Bryan Buttigieg, Andrew James) 8:28.65 SBU
Sprint medley relay
Marist (Mike McCloskey, Darren Bushey, Connor Dodge, Chris Vanzetta) 3:39.71 MON
Javelin
Julian DeZao 48.31 meters MON
Jake Akey 44.25 meters MAAC

Jake Akey 42.68 meters VASS
Jake Akey 42.51 meters SBU

Jake Akey 38.89 meters YALE

Jake Akey 38.47 meters MON

Hammer throw
Sean Ellman 32.41 meters MVAS

Sean Ellman 32.39 meters SBU
Sean Ellman 31.09 meters VASS
Long jump

Jesse Aprile 6.60 meters YALE

Jesse Aprile 6.14 meters MAAC

KEY TO MEETS

MON = Monmouth Season Opener

RICH = Fred Hardy Invitational at Richmond

SBU = Stony Brook

SAMH = Sam Howell Invitation, Princeton

VASS = April Invitational, Vassar College

BUCK = Bison Invitational, Bucknell University

MSAC = Mt. SAC Relays

PRI2 = Larry Ellis Invitation, Princeton

PENN = Penn Relays

YALE = Yale Springtime Invitational

MVAS = Matthew Vassar Open, Vassar College

MAAC = MAAC Championships

IC4A = IC4A Championships