The Gory Details...of Real Estate

Great Belmont Trail Run - Leave Your Glutes at the Bottom

Oh lordy, if there's ever a great trail run that will make you feel like David Gest after Liza Minelli had a few cocktails, Waterdog Park in Belmont is it.  It's a woodsy, canyon trail, with canopies of live oak, eucalyptus, and all other kinds of native California foliage. Apparently too, it was part of the original road to Half Moon Bay, and is over 130 years old.

Regardless, for the amateur to experienced trail runner -- and mountain biker as well, the various extensions of the trail provide all kinds of rolling and steep hills that will burn your glutes to the point of feeling like white hot coals.  Here's a link to the various trails within Waterdog Park.  I highly recommend starting out at Lake Rd. & Hallmark Drive, then follow the John Brooks Trail, the Elevator Trail to Carlmont Drive, then hit the streets on Carlmont Drive up to the trail head at Lake Rd./Lyall, then the Lake Road Trail back to where you started. To mix it up even more, you can then cross Hallmark, go up Upper Lake Road Trail where you can connect to either the Crystal Springs trail (where the cross country teams run), or venture down Sheep Trail to hook up with Canada.

But, like I said, leave your glutes at the bottom of the hill, cuz you won't be needing them as you make your way up some of the nastier hills!

Great Trail Running

Though I'm no speedster when it comes to running, I'm a sucker for human endurance, and the affiliate pain and suffering that comes with it. I had the pleasure of running the Pacifica Trail Run at San Pedro Valley Park this past weekend. While the race boasted a 9K, 21K, 30K, and 50K courses, I opted for the "little" 9K.  Perfect running weather, a couple of semi-gnarly hills, and this has become a race I will definitely do again. 

Put on by Pacific Trail Runs -- this organization does some pretty awesome races -- it was small, informal, and had great post-race food.  Doing trail races makes one realize how fortunate we are here in the SF Bay Area.  Street running, and paved trail running is great, but there's nothing to compare with some of the natural beauty inherent in the trails right in our own backyard.  Edgewood Park, Huddart Park, Pulgas Ridge, Canada Trail, Wunderlicht, Windy Hill....those are just a small few of the many great trails here in the San Mateo County area.

So, if you feel like trying out a great trail run, check out their website at www.pctrailruns.com.  And for even more interesting reading, check out master trail runner Scott Dunlap's "Trail Runner's Blog."

Five Boroughs, 5 Bridges...in 276 minutes

Marathon #9 is in the books! In 4 hours and 36 minutes, from Staten Island to Brooklyn, to Queens, to Manhattan, to the Bronx, and finishing in Central Park in Manhattan, there's no better way to see the five boroughs of New York City. I again thank everyone who has supported me these past few months -- your support and words of encouragement have been exceptional in my preparation for this race. And, I'm happy to say I raised over $5100 to go towards cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

What a great past few days -- Friday night I saw the Police at Madison Square Garden. Saturday morning I watched the Olympics Team Trials for the Men's Marathon race through Central Park (where sadly, elite runner Ryan Shay died on the course).  Seeing these world-class athletes "cruising" 5 laps through Central Park, running 4:30+ minute miles was absolutely amazing.  The top three that are going to the Beijing Olympics to represent the US -- Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenheim, and Brian Sell -- just flew like the wind (and none of them are Kenyan transplants, either!).

Sunday morning was race day. Of course, running the marathon was more than just running any other marathon -- this was New York after all. It started right there with my pre-recorded hotel wake up call at 5:00am: "This is yah wake-up call for Novembah fowuth.  The fowuh-cast for today is fifty-fowuh degrees and claddy." Laverne DaFazio couldn't have said it any bettah.

6:30am: Everyone on our team of 800 (our Fred's Team charity running group) packed up on buses for the 45 minute ride from Times Square to Staten Island.

10:10am: The race officially starts. Well, not for me, just yet. With over 39,000 people running, it took me a while to get to the starting line. Almost 30 minutes (if you saw my email split times, it didn't show my start time was actually 10:38am).

4 hours and 35 minutes later, I'm 200 yards from the finish line. BAM! A cramp knots up in the side of my thigh. I do a simultaneous walk and massage on my IT band, and try to pick up the pace again. No luck. 150 yards to go. I give myself the quickest deep-tissue massage, driving my knuckles into the side of my right thigh while I walk. 100 yards to go, I'm back in running stride -- much slower than I was 4 hours earlier, but I crossed the finish line with arms pumped in the air, and running! My fourth best time out of my nine marathons. And I beat Katie Holmes by 1 hour! No sightings of Lance Armstrong or Tim McGraw, though.

My most memorable moments of the race:

• Almost every kid in Brooklyn on the sidelines had their hands out, giving high fives to the runners. I think I slapped more Puerto Rican kids than Ricky Martin at a Menudo concert.
• On the bus to Staten Island, a freeway sign before the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge read "You are now leaving Brooklyn: Fuhgeddaboutit"
• On the back of a runner's shirt: "I hate the Sox too"
• In the category of "Why on earth would anyone run a marathon wearing THAT?", I saw a runner in full Superman outfit (and a little too tight below the belt if ya know what I mean), another one dressed as a clown, complete with makeup, which didn't drip a bit when I saw him at the finish line, and still, in the Superhero mode, another runner dressed as Spiderman.
• In Central Park, at mile 24, a spectator -- in inimitable New York fashion -- holding a sign that read: "Finishing is your ONLY F***ing Choice".
• Having "Go Eddie" written on the front of my running shirt -- with 2 million people spectating on the sidelines, hearing my name cheered by spectators all along the way (except for one mile in Williamsburg) really propelled my spirits along the way. I easily heard my name yelled out over a thousand times in classic New York accents.
• That one mile in Williamsburg -- in Brooklyn..it's a predominantly orthodox Hasidic Jewish neighborhood. Nobody cheers, nobody spectates. With few exceptions, it's strangely quiet for about 1 mile till we make our first pass through Manhattan on First Ave. Then it's like a parade for the first astronauts.
• Seeing my sister and my niece on the sidelines at mile 18 in Manhattan. A well deserved break for high fives, pictures and a quick stretch before jaunting into Da Bronx.
• Music, music, music!  Nearly 2 or 3 bands every single mile -- except on the bridges -- made for a unique, multicultural, raucous, block party feel. Rock bands, bagpipers, and salsa in Brooklyn, heavy metal in Queens, hip-hop dancers in the Bronx, party bands in Harlem, stereos blaring "Born to Run" by the Boss and "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi...it was non-stop entertainment.
• When I felt like walking at mile 25 -- thinking of my dad just made me keep going despite my legs feeling like two tons of lead.

So that's it for now -- until next year's marathon!!! Thanks again to everyone for their support!

Countdown to NY Marathon - 30 days!

The countdown to race day, November 4^th

30 days left

~100 more training miles in the next 4 weeks, including my final long run of 20 miles next weekend

Injury report: 1 black toenail, a perpetually iced Achilles tendon, and a pair of chafed nipples (damn, I knew I forgot to pack the BodyGlide that day)

And….raised $3,695 so far, only $805 shy of my personal goal of $4500

(Deadline to contribute is Oct. 19^th)

Hi friends!

As I approach the one year anniversary of my dad’s passing, which falls on race day, Nov. 4^th this year, I eagerly anticipated watching “The War” documentary on PBS last week.  There’s something to be said about that generation of Americans, and I’m proud and inspired to say that the memory of my dad – who was an army medic in WWII, traversing through Normandy, the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), France, Holland, and Belgium – is a huge inspiration for me as I prepare for the New York Marathon. Yes, I’ve done marathons before (this will be my ninth), and sure I know what to expect in terms of proper pacing, stretching, hydrating, and doing whatever it takes to get across that finish line in one piece.  But this marathon will definitely feel different this time around. The more and more I become aware of my dad’s generation and how important they were to our country (you should rent “The War”, or “Band of Brothers” and see for yourself), the more I’m compelled to keep that spirit of “never give up” alive and well.  And particularly as this fundraiser will benefit cancer research, which, as we all get older, seems to affect more and more people in our lives – friends, relatives, and co-workers.

Lastly, I’d like to hugely thank everyone who’s contributed to my fundraising effort so far.  If you haven’t yet contributed, and would like to do so, below is how you can help

(1) You can visit http://www.mskcc.org/fredsteam to make a secure donation.  Click on “Make a donation” (and if it asks you which runner you’re supporting, just enter my name to get to my homepage)

(2) Or, you can write a check to “Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center”, and mail it to me at:

Ed Gory

97 Manor Ct.

Redwood City, CA 94062

I'm In! New York Marathon, Here I Come

I tend to run about one marathon every year. Last year it was the Napa Marathon (which, incidentally, I PR'd at with a whopping 4:14 time). And while most of the time I do it with Team in Training, this year presented a new opportunity for me.

This year, I'm running a marathon (and fundraising) in memory of my dad. 

When I saw that the New York Marathon would fall on November 4^th this year – which will be the one year anniversary of my dad's passing -- I knew I had to do whatever it took to get in. Luckily, by electing to fundraise for one of their charitable organizations, I was guaranteed a spot in the NY Marathon. This year, I'm running to support Pediatric Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This volunteer running group is also known as "Fred's Team", in honor of Fred Lebow, the creator of the NY Marathon who died of cancer a few years ago. 

Training for a marathon is never easy -- but I know that any challenge I face in completing this personal goal is put into perspective when I consider what children with cancer face every day.  At Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, doctors and researchers are working on clinical trials that have the potential to increase the survival rates. In recent years, the overall survival rate of children with cancer has increased from 55% to 70%.  

We can help them do more. So, I'm putting on my running shoes for the cause and asking you for your help.

HERE’S HOW TO DONATE (two ways):

(1) You can visit http://www.mskcc.org/fredsteam to make a secure donation.  Click on “Make a donation” (and if it asks you which runner you’re supporting, just enter my name to get to my homepage). 

(2) Or, you can write a check to “Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center”, and mail it to me (shoot me an email if you don't have my address)

Thanks again to everyone for their continued support!!

Timing is everything...

In Bay Area real estate, for both buyers and sellers, there is nothing more critical than timing. Getting an offer in before someone outbids you. Putting your house on the market when the market's in an upswing.  Getting a loan locked in before mortgage rates creep higher.

That's always been my mantra in real estate, and it's been my mantra in marathon running. If you've ever noticed my picture to the left here, you're probably wondering, why on earth would a realtor be posed up in running gear?  To illustrate a point: that timing, indeed, is everything. And, that you need a realtor who will truly go "the extra mile."

Timing involves knowing what you want your outcome to be. Being methodical. Planning ahead. Preparing for bumps in the road.  What better way to illustrate these key concepts than running a marathon, which I just did this past weekend.  And, in running my eighth marathon, up in Napa, I also ran my personal best -- 4 hours, 14 minutes -- no land speed record, but I did beat my previous best by 16 minutes.  I like to think that I was able to blow away my previous PR because I did just that -- I was methodical (making sure I ran every mile at a solid pace up to mile 17, then cranking it up); I planned ahead (calculating my finish time once I passed the halfway point); and preparing for bumps in the road (mentally overcoming running in the pouring rain and wind).  Okay, so maybe it's a little esoteric, but I think being mentally prepared in every way can help you achieve your goals, whether it's in running, or in real estate.

199 miles, 36 legs, 24 feet

Yes, call me crazy. but I've done it again. Known as the "longest foot race in California", I just completed "The Relay", a 12-person (=24 feet) team effort, 3 legs per person (=36 legs), from Calistoga to Santa Cruz (=199 miles).  It's my third time doing it...and sleep deprivation be damned, it's still one of the most enjoyable races I do every year.  Think of it as like a college road trip over a 32 hour period, in a van full of sweaty people with very little sleep. Ok, so maybe that doesn't SOUND fun, but it really is. And, like so many races, it is for a good cause (see www.therelay.com)