PR Half Marathon! 1:43:47

Mission accomplished! Went sub 4hr for a Full in Napa 5wks ago, and finished sub 1h45min today in Santa Cruz!

All in memory of Dad, in honor of Mom, in memory and honor of many others who have battled cancer and who I have come to know, and thanks to my friends at Team in Training.

Stormy in Santa Cruz, but I was very fortunate to finish just minutes before the rain started.

Very satisfying race. I maintain that the best way to enjoy a Half is to train for a Full!!

What's next for me? Sub 3:45 for a Full (Nike SF in October) and sub 1:40 for a Half (SJ Rock 'n Roll in October). Continued training, a lot of fun runs and further fundraising for cancer research between now and then.

Toward Santa Cruz

Just a couple of weeks to the Santa Cruz Half Marathon.

On the heels of a sub-4hr marathon in Napa, I will attempt to achieve my other Spring running goal of going sub-1h45min for a Half Marathon. That means taking another 1min30s off of my PR Half time (achieved just a couple of weeks ago) - sustaining an 8:01min mile pace for 13mi. It's going to take everything I've got at this point!

PR Marathon 3:55:45 !

Mission accomplished! Second marathon completed; first time under 4hrs.

Really hard - miles 21 through finish; could no longer sustain sub-9min pace. But I persevered and finished sub 4hrs.

What a great sense of satisfaction!

Napa Valley Marathon Eve

Tomorrow is the main event!

I feel on top of the world - excited.

Thank you to my coaches, captains and all my friends at Team In Training for getting me to this place!

Siobhan will be in my thoughts tomorrow.

7d to Napa!

What a great winter season training!

My TNT participants were extraordinary - three of them completed half marathons for the first time ever, and the fourth completed her ninth!! All punched through their fundraising goals.

As for me - fundraising is done and the Napa Valley Marathon is just 1wk away. I've dropped a heap more weight this winter and recently set a personal best time over 13.1mi. But the most important result this winter has been confidence in the last miles of long runs. I learned to achieve "negative splits" - running each mile a little faster than the previous even over 18mi. I have a good combination of strength and endurance - can endure over the marathon distance, and can engage my legs to achieve fast final miles.

Sub-4hrs is within reach, and I'm excited!

PR Half Marathon! 1:46:28

Since my TNT participants are all running a Half Marathon tomorrow in San Francisco, and since I'll be on the Great Highway cheering each of them on, I decided to run a Half myself today.

1:46:28 - that's a personal best time - takes 1min30s off of my previous personal best time. And I really didn't have this in mind this morning. It just felt good over the first half so I decided to bring it home strong and see what happens. That's half way to my winter season goal of taking 3min off of my previous personal best half marathon - going sub-1:45:00.

I'm signed-up for the Santa Cruz Half on April 11th. I WILL go sub-1:45:00 !!!

Confidence Building in Santa Cruz (18mi)

What a gorgeous morning running along the coast in Santa Cruz! Sun was splitting the rocks. Beautiful.

And my thanks to Rich Hahn, because I wasn't going to run that fast this morning. But Rich is a great running partner, a bit faster than me, and fortunately he started a little later than me so he caught up with me at ~ mile 4. Perfect. I'd run four slow miles to start and was nicely warmed-up. With Rich I picked-up the pace, but even more importantly, something Rich is very good at, we ran negative splits bringing in the last 3mi all under 8min pace!

That's a great confidence-builder for me. I now know I can cover a long distance (18mi) and yet have the strength to run fast at the end. This is critical because in last autumn's marathon I ran out of juice and had no strength left at the end. This season I've learned how to start steadily, manage my pace, and finish strong!

Winter Season Starts

I'm looking forward to meeting the new team and starting to train for the Napa Marathon in March. I'm also targeting to raise $2,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This is why ...

John Haluck became part of the LLS family almost a decade ago. He is now a trustee of the Greater Sacramento Area chapter and is not only a survivor but is a huge supporter of LLS.

When I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2000, I was no stranger to leukemia, having lost a good friend to the disease. Still, going in for a routine physical and finding out I had an "incurable" form of cancer was a massive shock to both me and my family. I looked at my three kids and I wondered if I would be around to see any of them graduate from college or get married. It was the worst weekend of my life.

My doctor recommended a "watch and wait" approach, since my form of leukemia was chronic, not acute, and some people have lived twenty years with CLL. However, my cancer progressed much faster than my hematologist predicted. By 2004, he recommended that I start chemotherapy soon as the cancerous lymphocytes were increasing in number and could cause a stroke. He told me that there was no hope for a cure and advised me against looking for a clinical trial.

By this time, I was volunteering with my local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, chairing and helping organize the annual Light The Night Walk. I also learned about a doctor, who has been funded by LLS, who does leading edge research in CLL - Michael Keating, M.D., at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I contacted him and heard back immediately - he would see me as soon as I was ready.

The morning after the Light The Night Walk, I boarded a Southwest flight for Houston. After a battery of tests, I waited to see Dr. Keating. In walked this big, burly man (a rugby player, no less) who grabbed my hand and then gave me a big bear-hug. To my surprise, he said, "John, I think that we have a very promising treatment for you!"

I called my wife, who flew in, and I started a clinical trial the next day of a new targeted drug, Rituxan®, which was developed with the help of funding from LLS. The rest is history. After four days of chemotherapy, my white cell count had dropped to normal! A week later, the lumpy cancerous lymphocytes had disappeared from my lymph nodes. It was happening just as Dr. Keating had predicted.

Now I've had 53 months in complete remission. I feel a debt of gratitude to Dr. Keating and LLS, whose funding helped make Rituxan a reality. I have my life, and am able to enjoy it. And I have hope!

-- John Haluck

1:49:03 Thrilling US Half

Wow. My most thrilling race yet!

Replay my run here.

As we ran toward the Golden Gate Bridge from Aquatic Park in San Francisco, and climbed up to it, we couldn't see the Bridge until we ran onto it - it was that foggy. However it was just that time of the morning when the fog was burning off. As we ran north across the bridge the fog slowly thinned. We emerged on the north side in brilliant sunshine. Then, as we descended down and around the bridge on its north east side, we were treated to a magnificent few of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, the City skyline and the Bridge through wisps of fog. Many runners around me were gasping at the view, as was I. We then ran south on the Bridge with the City skyline unfolding to our left while to our right we could see nothing but white fog.

Now it was a hard run! A tough climb up to the Bridge on the south side, slow climbs in both directions crossing the bridge, a tough climb back up to the Bridge on the north side and a final climb during the last mile through Fort Mason Park. Again the hills took their toll and the final three miles were fairly hard, but I was able to persevere for just three miles and finished strong. 1:49:03 is only a minute slower than my SJ Rock & Roll Half finish at the beginning of October, and SJ is a flat course.

I am thoroughly satisfied with the finish time, and thrilled about the experience. I'll try to run this race every year from now on!

US Half

I'm looking forward to running the US Half this weekend. That's two times across the Golden Gate Bridge, starting and finishing in San Francisco.

race humour

Nike San Francisco FULL Marathon: 4:12:57

Finished my first marathon!

The course was probably about as flat as possible in San Francisco - but a flat San Francisco course is impossible. The hills took their toll. I learned something every time I ran during training - and I learned something today too: respect the hills! In hindsight, I think I might have broken 4hrs if I'd walked down the early hills. !! But I couldn't resist the temptation to pick up some time on the early downhills. I trashed my legs and paid the price in the second half.
Miles 19 through the finish were a head down, teeth gritted, whole body (and mind) effort to keep putting one foot in front of the other and finish strong. Miles 19 through the finish were pretty horrible, but as so many have said - endure short-term pain in exchange for everlasting achievement!

Replay my run.

What I endured was nothing compared to what our many honorees have endured. I wore the names of some of my honorees on by back: Dad, Mom, Tia Teresa, Tia Maritza, Edward F, Ana. I had them in mind as I persevered during the last 8mi.
The Team In Training Nike San Francisco Marathon runners raised more than $14M for cancer research. That's more than $500k per mile.

I was touched by so many supporters who lined the course and called my name or cheered for Team In Training. I was especially touched having all of my coaches run a portion of the race with me, as well as several team captains and mentors.


My next Team In Training full marathon is March 7th in Napa!

3 Days to My First Marathon!

Following 5m of training, my target time of 3:59:59 is within reach - challenging but feasible. Over the last 5m I've dropped 20lbs, taken 4" off of my waist, and definitely increased running speed and endurance. 2wks ago I finished the San Jose Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon in a personal best time of 1:47:58 beating my target time by 2min and last year's time by 22min! Last week I ran a 10k also in a personal best time of 48:30. And thanks to generous donations I met my summer fundraising goal of $2,500. Thank you!

This Sunday I'll be running in honor of: Dad, Tia Maritza, Tia Teresa, Ana, Edward F, Kristin, Mom, Wayne, Rob, Keith, Doug, Carlos, Leah, Jack, Patti, Mike, Ellen, Todd

I can't think of a better city in which to be running my first marathon, better people with which to run it, or for any better a cause. Thanks TNT!

Run for Your Life 10k

The SF Full Marathon is 1wk away. Like everyone on our team, I've been tapering the distance over the last week or so - allows the body to recover from training in advance of the race. However it's good training to include short, fast runs during the taper. So I ran the "Run for Your Life" 10k around Stanford University campus, in support of Stanford Hospital Emergency Medicine.

Fastest 10k of the season for me: 48:30. A 10k is 6.22mi, so this finish time corresponds to 7:48 min/mile. My 1/2 marathon pace last Sunday was 8:15 min/mi.

I ran this race in honor of my good friend Rob who was recently diagnosed. I learned of his battle just this past week. Fortunately the prognosis is excellent. In addition he has a super attitude - will kick his cancer's butt. Rob - today's PR was for you and I'll be thinking of you when I have to dig deep around mile 22 or so next Sunday!

1:47:58 !!!

Replay the run.

4 Days to Go Before the San Jose 1/2 Marathon

Following 4m of training, my target time of 1:49:59 or better is within reach. It will be very challenging, but it's feasible. If I succeed, I'll have taken 20min off of my previous best 1/2 marathon time.

Over the last 4m I've dropped 20lbs, taken 4" off of my waist, and definitely increased running speed and endurance. This past Saturday we completed our last long training run - 20mi - and it wasn't that bad!

18 days to go before the San Francisco Full Marathon.

I'm very thankful to all those who have donated to support cancer research through my web-site. However I'm a little short on my fund raising goal. Can you help with a donation to support cancer research? You can do it right now, right here online.

Thank you so much for your support, and check back on Sunday to see how I did!

We Run for Carlos

Carlos is 17yrs old - he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was 12:

... I underwent three more years of treatment. Throughout this process, I had about two dozen spinal taps, several dozen blood draws, about 50 chemotherapy infusions, I lost my hair four times, I came to a point where I vomited up to 7 times per day, and I was hospitalized A LOT. My family, friends, and teachers were incredibly supportive of me, for which I have much to thank.

I’m currently completely off of treatment! I’m a healthy junior in high school who enjoys biking, designing for yearbook, reading, and refereeing. Because of astonishing people like you, cancer survivors like me have so much to be thankful for. The effort you put into accomplishing your milestones is incredible, and has taught me a great deal about facing challenges in my life. Thank you so much for doing what you do!

20mi Monterey - Beautiful

This morning we ran the last long run before we 'taper' in advance of the marathon. 20 miles.

The setting was the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California - a run along the ocean on a cool, sunny Saturday morning - very beautiful.

You can re-trace the run here: Monterey 20mi. Be sure to click on Player.

I finished in just under 3hr - that's consistent with my target marathon pace. And for the first time, 26.2mi seems feasible. Won't be easy - but for the first time it actually seems conceivable.

Some of us followed the run with a natural ice bath in Monterey Bay. In the photo, I'm at far left. The fellow to my immediate left in the purple Team In Training race shirt is Keith - who has a (presently) incurable form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. According to Keith, the typical survival for someone with the specifics of his cancer is 7 years. He was diagnosed 1.5yrs ago. He has celebrated his May-October break from chemo by training with us. He already ran a full marathon in Kauai earlier this month, and will run the Nike SF Full with me on October 18th.

We all run and fund raise for folks like Keith.

for Kristin

I ran a fast 7mi this morning in memory of Kristin.

One of my teammates this season, Emory, was inspired by Kristin to train and raise money for cancer research.

Kristin's leukemia came back. She'd been waiting for a bone marrow transplant when she succumbed this past week. 35yrs old. Left a husband and two young daughters.

Thunder, Lightning, Hail, Frogs, Locusts

Well the thunder, lightning and hail part is all true.

This morning we ran 18mi in 2h:44min- the next to last 'long run' of our marathon training. The run was in Golden Gate Park, along the Great Highway and around Lake Merced - all in San Francisco. The marathon takes us through Golden Gate Park; miles 19-23 are around Lake Merced; and we'll finish on the Great Highway. So this morning was a preview.

The weather was half the story! On the drive up to SF this morning from San Jose, I saw a couple lightning strikes. We heard thunder during the run, and in GG Park it hailed on us. Otherwise pleasant, cool conditions for a run. :-)

I've learned something on every long run. This morning: I need to replenish electrolytes. Immediately after completing the run, both calves cramped up. Pretty painful. A teammate gave me a sodium/potassium tablet and 10min later - problem solved. On very long runs, one perspires enough, and loses enough salt, that it needs to be replenished. Muscle cramps are the first indication of a problem. I'm glad it happened this morning and not in a couple of weeks during the marathon. I'll take a sodium/potassium tablet or two during long runs from now on.

Achievements? 18mi is now the longest single distance I've ever run. Also, the first 13.1mi passed in under two hours, so that was the fastest half marathon of my life even though I wasn't deliberately trying to run a fast half.

3wks to the San Jose Rock & Roll Half Marathon: my time target of 1h:50min is within reach although it will be a challenging run - right around the limit of my speed/distance right now.

5wks to the Nike SF Full Marathon: 18mi was hard enough today that 26.2mi still seems daunting. I may have to dial back the pace a bit more to complete, but I really want to finish in sub four hours too. 5wks to take off another couple of pounds, add a little more strength and endurance, and practice getting hydration & nutrition straight during the run.