about...
Distance Racing: It's all about who can put up with the most pain for the longest period of time...
I’m a full-time Portfolio Manager and a part time runner. When I’m not studying the capital markets, I spend my time either running or thinking about running.
Running is something I feel like I do because I enjoy it and cannot keep myself away from the competition of it all. My racing career began as a necessary evil from a challenge from my cousin Craig who suggested that I should join him to run the Honolulu Marathon. My first and final thought was, “I am in! I have to beat him”
So I guess the most pressing question remaining then is, why continue running? The simplest answer that I can provide goes to one of my mottos – Nobody can do everything, but anybody can do anything. You just need to grab hold of your goals and go out and knock them off.
The longer answer is that running really is a microcosm of my life. At a race, it is you against the environment of the day. It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past, racing or otherwise. It always comes down to that specific day. Talk about a challenge!
I can't speak for anyone else, but when I lace up my shoes I am not looking for the path of least resistance. I am looking to compete and to do my best to achieve my goals.
So my objective here is to chart a bit of my life and my journey of running.
Cheers, Chovy
highlights...lowlights and everything else...
October 8, 2017
Another day, another marathon. The 40th Chicago Marathon was awesome! Sometimes we just do things. My feet are killing me!
April 18, 2017
Well, the 2017 Boston Marathon is done. You have to forget your last marathon before you can tackle another. With Big Sur now in front of me in a few days, I need to focus on finishing the balance of this 84.4 km challenge! Starting strong is great, but finishing strong is epic!
Seemed like a good idea at the time. What was I thinking?
April 2, 2017
Two weeks out to the 2017 Boston Marathon and the beginning of my Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge. One Runners Passport, a custom B2B training shirt and a tattered pair of running shoes from all those long winter runs. Its been some serious mileage...
January 7, 2017
Well, the Honolulu Marathon is done for one more year and I am now off training for other races. Finished Honolulu in 3:34:18 and missed the planned sub 3:30. Oh well, there is always the next one. With only 100 days to go until the 2017 Boston Marathon, I have no time to ponder my miss in Honolulu. Besides, I have been accepted as a Challenge Runner in the Boston to Big Sur Challenge. Two marathons, on two coasts in two weeks. It will be a lot of cold weather running for me this year!!
April 20, 2016
Boston was fantastic. Came in with a time of 3;19:51. It was a perfect run and was very sweet to turn on Boylston and see the finish line. Looks like I am requalified for Boston 2017. May need to come up with an idea for next year. I have one, it is rather crazy but I will certainly keep you posted if I go for it!
April 10, 2016
Final week before the 120th Boston Marathon. Feeling strong. There is no such thing as a bad day, just weak people.
March 21, 2016
Boston bound and only four weeks out. I was looking at my long suffering, battered running shoes that I used for this training cycle and it reminded me of how many miles I have done through this winter. They are certainly one of the casualities of the 2016 Boston Marathon!
December 13, 2015
Another fantastic event at the Honolulu Marathon this year. Came in with a HNL PR of 3:32:28. Sights are now set on Boston 2016!
September 13, 2015
Looks like I am on my way back to Boston in 2016. New PB of 3:20...
April 20, 2015 - The Boston Marathon
It was one of the best experiences I have had in my life. There is nothing like pursuing your goals and knocking them off, but now I am left with the, “Now what?” Maybe the Canadian Death Race, it’s only a 125K race through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. What could possibly go wrong? Very cold race, it was 1 degree with the wind chill, 37K head wind for the entire race and rained all day. Lost mobility in my hands by 32K and lost all feeling in my thighs by 34K. Took a long time after the finish before my fingers started to work again. 63 people were sent to the hospital for hypothermia, approximately 2000 had to be treated in the medical tents at the finish line. It was fantastic!!
January 10, 2015 - Well, I finally qualified for the Boston Marathon. I achieved this after many failed attempts and a number of challenges. I ultimately qualified at the Queen City Marathon in September of 2014 with the qualifying time of 3:23:21. A bit of a squeaker, but I am in all the same. So sweet to achieve these goals especially when you hit two on the same day - complete ten full marathons and run the Boston Marathon...no one can do everything, but anybody can do anything...
December 14, 2014 - Once again, I completed the Honolulu marathon. I can't believe this is my third marathon this year, nevermind the halfs and 10Ks I did competitively. All the same, it was another great event. I finished in 3:45:27. As I am running in the Boston marathon in 2015, I decided to have fun with this one (if you can find fun in running 42.2 K), so I decided to stop for a free beer at the beer station that is always out at the 39K mark. Many thanks to the crew who make that happen!!
May 25, 2014 - I completed the Saskatchewan Marathon with a finishing time of 3:25:22. New personal best, but unfortunately missed qualifying for the Boston marathon by 22 seconds. Grrr. Gotta do it all over again so I have decided to add an extra marathon this year - Queen City in September
May, 2014 - A group of local Porsche enthusists have put together a new Porche Club of America chapter - The Living Skies Prairie Region. Our launch party was great and it looks like it will be a great group!!
February, 2014 - Well, I finally decided to say goodbye to the original site design for chovin.com. Having owned this domain for well over a decade, I decided that it was time for an update. Besides, technology has come a long way so the site was long due for an update.
December 8, 2013 - I again did my annual pilgrimage to the Honolulu marathon and finished at 3:40:30. Another excellent event and am already looking forward to the 2014 running season. I came across this photo in the local press and thought it was great to see surfers crossing in the sea of runners.
June, 2013 - Unfortunately the Banff marathon was impacted by the Alberta floods so the marathon was cancelled. While unfortunate, I believe it was a good call by the organizers.
January 2013 - after three years I have finally got around to updating my web site. For the 2013 running season, I have already signed up for one half marathon and two full marathons. Looking forward to all. The new addittion for this year is Banff for its first annual marathon. For information on the Banff marathon - check out their web site - Banff Marathon
December 9, 2012 - Ran the Honolulu marathon for the forth time and finished in 3:39, placing 602 out of 31,089 runners. Yet again another great event. I always say that if you are going to run a marathon, you might as well do it in a beautiful place.
December 13, 2009 - Ran the Honolulu marathon again and finished in 3:43, placing 839th out of 23,500 runners. Great event again and look forward to 2010.
December 2009 - going back to Honolulu to conquer the Diamond Head in the annual marathon, looking to beat the 4 hour mark this time.
December, 2008 - just finished my first marathon in Honolulu. came in 1800th out of 25,650 and had a blast!!