On Sunday I ran the Winter Wimp for the third year in a row. This is the race that began my long distance road racing career in January 2008 when I ran it with Alex and Cati in a sweatshirt and cargo pants, before I knew what I was doing. I call it my anniversary race. It’s a good measure of my continually improving fitness — and a good excuse to race in Upstate NY in the middle of ass-cold winter.
The first year I ran it in 38:33. Last year I ran it in 30:15 (the improvement in fitness between when you first start running and your next year is always the most significant since the faster you get, the more exponential each minute and second become). So this year my goal was both to beat last year’s time and to break 30 minutes.
I achieved both, clocking in at 29:46, which was good enough for 3rd in my division and 19th overall (if you go by 5-year age increments, like most races, I would’ve been 2nd in division).
It was a sunny yet super cold day (about 12 degrees) and I felt strong going into the race. I was careful not to come out too fast, and quickly fell into a solid pace (although the 6:29 in Mile 1 turned out to be my fastest full mile of the day). I started at the front of the line so as to avoid getting caught in any congestion (as was the case when I ran the Saratoga First Night 5k on New Year’s Eve 2009), and let a bunch of people pass me in the opening uphill stretch, knowing that most would probably fade and that I’d be able to turn it on later in the race.
Sure enough, after the second mile mark, lots of runners started slowing and I kept on going, passing a number of people (6:42 Mile 2) . There’s a small hill leading up to the final turn toward the first 2.2-mile lap (where runners have the option of “wimping out” for the shorter version of the race). In the first lap, I passed a few people going up that hill.
As I passed the start / wimp out / finish line, I slowed a bit to grab some water, and a couple guys passed me. I ended up re-passing them by the end, though (despite my slowest-of-the-day 6:56 in Mile 3). In the backstretch, I was still feeling strong, so I picked up the pace, and gave it all I had for a solid finish (6:37 in Mile 4 and 6:16 pace for the final 0.4 mile). I wasn’t wearing my iPod, so I sang “Eye of the Tiger” to myself for some motivation. Yeah, that’s right.
Congrats to all of the other runners!
Big props to Jen for braving the cold and giving up so much of the day to journey to Hagaman and back with me.
Note to organizers: The post-race festivities took way too long. Please consider finding another venue for the high school cross-country awards, or doing them after the awards ceremony that’s actually part of the race for which everyone was there.
Wow, is it really the last day of 2009?? What a year! It ended with an awesome trip to California the past week, where Jen and I spent time with family and friends in San Francisco and Sacramento.
Of course, one of the many highlights of the trip was the meeting of the Anderson Brothers for the ABMGC III showdown before Christmas. It couldn’t have been more grand an occasion.
People often ask me who won the competition this year. That’s a tough question to answer because, well, we’re Californians and though I consider myself a competitor at things like running races, ABMGC is more of an informal competition really. It’s like art. Can you really name a winner at an art show?
That said, I think the consensus is that Pete’s artistic flair — and blog prose — is hard to match, while the thickness of my ‘stache was tops this year. Flair, you say? Why yes. How could I possibly compete with the below?
This was a banner year, Bro. Congrats on your pornographic and artistic unstoppableness! Clearly the ladies were inspired, as Sierra and Jen demonstrate below:
Last but not least, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of our ‘stache grandmasters — Bay Area legend Juan (of Juan’s Place in Berkeley) — whom Jen, Enoch, and I had the pleasure of meeting last week. Now there’s a man who’s not afraid to embrace his ‘stache year-round:
Here’s wishing you and yours a very muzzy Christmas and a Happy New Year — to 2010 and beyond!
So far this week has brought you the pink martini ‘stache & GabeSpock, and a new GabeSpock-influenced post of self-doubt by Pete — with a conspicuous lack of update photos of himself. Is he waning? Is he questioning the power of the ‘stache to carry him through the holiday season? His ‘stache is not giving him the confidence and power one needs to stand victorious in this contest, but is instead giving him nightmares and making him uncomfortable with himself. He writes:
This contest, this assassination of self-esteem, has left me incapable of looking at myself in the mirror- a ritual once cherished by yours truly.
Well, Pete, it’s time for you to step it up and embrace this final week of ABMGC. Let your mustache shine. Stand tall. Stand proud. With my next two photos, you’re going to need to gather up your confidence and charge on because the real battle is about to begin.
Before I unveil the true highlight of this week’s ABMGC photo contest — The Kip — I present to you a self-portrait (in the mirror, no less!) from Wednesday night that I captured before heading out into the snow and 25-degree cold for a 7.77-mile run:
The above picture has garnered 2 “likes” and 14 comments on Facebook, including declarations like the following:
“This is…purely and simply EXTRAORDINARY. You made my day!!!”
“the mustache makes me laugh lol”
“You look like some combination of crossing guard, spelunker, and ski bum. Nice!”
“Hahahaha – that was really special. I needed that laugh out loud moment!!”
Not one to be easily outdone, my mustache-supporting wife jumped in on the action yesterday and left me laughing all day long — and many of our friends simply speechless — when she posted The Kip on Facebook:
This masterpiece of a post has collected 5 “likes” and 21 comments (so far), including the following:
“If they want to look like 80s porn-stars, maybe you (Jen) should do the same. Break out the blue-frosted eye shadow and the hair spray!”
“HAHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS this just got so.much.better.”
“Jen – you know you’re LaFonda now, right? 🙂 “
“Mary dragged me from the next room to come look at this/you. Â I am without speech.”
“Gabe, you’re too funny! People don’t usually develop this look on purpose.”
“Those frames will come in handy when you reach your bifocal era. Hopefully, they’ll be back in style by then.”
“I think you’re going to get arrested.”
“BWAAHAHAHAHAHA. I love it! Great look. You manage to perfectly balance an innocent hopefulness and burnt out despondency in one gaze. You’re a freakin’ masterpiece (of ass).”
“How do you like electrical engineering?”
I’d show you a close-up of The Kip, but I’m not entirely comfortable with it. Plus, it’s better when viewed side-by-side with the actual Kip.
Saturday night while Jen attended Alexis’ holiday party with her, I took to the town with Seth, Niki, and Jami… Jen and Alexis met up with us later, when I was caught red (pink?) handed with a cosmo and a coy ‘stache-powered glare:
After Jami took the photo and posted it to Facebook, she declared, “I like when people in our community think I am hangin’ out with a porn star!”
The ladies were clearly pleased to be in the presence of such ‘stache-tastic greatness:
Though maybe they were wondering what had happened to the Magnum P.I. look from last week?
Over the weekend I posted the Magnum-stache photo of myself in my company’s community forums, half-fearing what Photoshop fun may emerge. Sure enough, one of my customers (Gerry) delivered… so I now present to you the GabeSpock, which has become Pete’s caller ID photo on his Blackberry:
And you know what? Pete’s not the only one who loves the GabeSpock. Even though I missed Alexis’ holiday party, if you look closely at the below photo of her and Jen, you’ll see that I was there in spirit — it seems that Alexis has hung a new picture on the wall of her apartment in honor of ABMGC III:
In other ABMGC III news, I challenged Pete this week to lose the subterranean lip distraction. Will he do it?
“There are times when one human being really shouldn’t take advantage of another … but this wasn’t one of them.”
– Magnum P.I.
Yesterday marked Day 14 of ABMGC III and Pete has spoken. He calls the below look The Prairie Dog, and declares the following on his blog:
Reminiscent of the game at Chuck E. Cheese, my head popped up just long enough for the bathroom security camera to capture a glamour shot. The only one getting clubbed on the head though, is Gabe’s ego.
I must say, it is impressive, Pete. The Prairie Dog is strong. But is it strong enough for the final stretch?
The ego of this mustachioed man is indefatigable, especially after hitting a perfectly timed night out for an ’80s cover band last night (following a most delicious restaurant week dinner at Maestro’s).
Given the flurry of Facebook activity I noted in yesterday’s post, the consensus is in and it is this: I am “100% pure Magnum,” as my friend Joe commented. And that was before I made an appearance with one of the many Hawaiian shirts in my wardrobe (this particular gem a gift from Alex and Cati):
Oh yes, Magnum was in full effect last night, and the ladies couldn’t take their eyes off me. Despite the snowstorm, Jen and I retreated to my Ferrari, met Higgins at the airport, and he lifted us off into the night by chopper.
I’ll leave you with this photo of me that my friend Jessie uploaded and tagged on Facebook:
Yesterday marked Day 13 of ABMGC III. It was Jen’s birthday, so I thought I’d give her a birthday present by shaving back the beard and revealing the glory of my 2009 mustache. The shaving ensued and a bushy lip companion was born:
Who’s got two thumbs and a sweet mustache? This guy!
ABMGC III also made its debut on Facebook last night, where I posted the above photo to share with family and friends. Commentary on the photo blew up, inspiring 20 comments, 4 “likes,” and counting, including excellent praise like the following:
“a porn ‘stache”
“that thing looks like something died on your lip”
“You just look like a shady car salesman!!”
“I see you’re forgoing the trucker porn look this year.”
“HECK YA! can u get me out of tickets officer?”
“BADASS!!!!! That is how a man ‘looks’. Just ask Magnum PI or Teddy Roosevelt or Col. Sanders!”
I’ve removed the names of my fans to protect their innocence (in case anyone is a closet ‘stache fan), but here’s a screenshot of my original Facebook post and a couple of my replies to the above:
Finally, I’ll leave you with another photo I MMS’d to Pete last night, to which he replied that I look “drunk with pleasure” in it:
Here’s wishing a big happy birthday to my awesome wife and best friend! I’m lucky to call you my wife, Jen. Thank you for being such an amazing part of my life all these years. So…who can guess which of the below photos are new and which are old? 🙂
Yesterday marked Day 11 of ABMGC III. Lest you think we’ve been slacking on the smack talking and lip companion growing, dear readers, fear not: This has been the year of the text / MMS mustache battles! Today I’d like to share a recent exchange that began simply with a smug photo of Pete’s proud ‘stache:
As you can see, Pete was intimidated by my bean-powered ‘stache and proclaimed in fear, “Holy shit! That’s testosterone.†That’s right, broseph; my muzzy doesn’t mess around. As suspected, he used those photos for his latest blog entry in the contest. Let’s take a closer look at those photos so as to appreciate their full follicular glory:
In true ABMGC fashion, our friends have been inspired by the adrenaline of the mustache spars, and Megan got in on the action with this recent blog entry, sporting her own ’stache-tastic mug:
And last night I got a text from James, offering to be the official ABMGC IV t-shirt designer. With a year to go, he’s already working on his concept design:
Last but certainly not least, ABMGC fans, I leave you with my ABMGC III: Day 11 entries from last night, taken when the ’stache, fueled by refried beans, was feeling sassy and was ready to wash down those beans with some Super Beer. That’s right, Super Beer: Old Monk 10,000 Indian Super Beer, a glorious 22-ounce bottle of 8% lager (would you expect anything less from a man with a ’stache like that?):
Satisfied after a delicious Indian food meal with Jen, Anne, and Tom – in celebration of Jen’s birthday week – the ’stache walked on, but not before a photo opp to show off the awesome hat that goes nicely with all the facial hair I’ve been harvesting:
The day after Thanksgiving marked the official start of the 3rd annual Anderson Brothers Mustache Growing Competition. I came out with guns blazing, posting this ’stachetastic inaugural entry of 2009. Pete came back with a recap of last year’s Sharpie surrender, then cited a technicality in the ABMGC Rules and Regulations to set himself up for redemption this year:
Section 4, Line 8, that reads: the winner will be decided based on not only thickness of follicle, but also in the design, procurement, and presentation of said mustache.
Pete also upped the ante by putting the legendary Chalice of Champions on the table to be awarded to the victor in this year’s competition:
Look at that beauty! It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
I’m happy to report that the growing is coming along quite nicely this year. In fact, being the first day of Advent yesterday, it seemed appropriate to celebrate a Christmas-themed new beginning for the finely tuned follicles making a hell of an appearance on my upper lip. So as part of the tree trimming Jen and I were doing last night, we decided to do a little ’stache-tastic photo shoot:
