• SIMPLY •
CELEBRATE
I HAVE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE I LOVE AND EASY TO TEAR MYSELF DOWN FOR FALLING SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS THAT WERE NEVER MINE.
SINCE
TWO-THOUSAND AND TWELVE
Fenway Park Spartan Race 2nd Place Finish After two year hiatus - 11/11/17
After spending time away from the sport of obstacle course racing Eric trained for his first race in two years and placed 2nd overall in the competitive division at Fenway Park!
Spartan Race : Tuxedo Finds A Way To Get Harder! - 5/31/15
For Eric much of this season is about building a good foundation of technically sound running -- meaning working on stability for the ever challenging trails that Spartan Race provides, as well as building strength evenly in both legs to help work as efficiently as possible. Tuxedo was the first trail run of the season and it proved even tougher than last year. Eric finished in 1h:12m last year. This year Eric and the rest of the competitors had a little more terrain to deal with, pushing Eric’s time to 1h:36m! Eric placed inside the top 70 at an amazing event that drew over 11,000 competitors! More important than Eric’s finish was his recovery -- no set backs in his training and continuing to progress.
Spartan Race : Top 50 Finish at Citi Field - 5/09/15
Eric Pellini (Left) Micheal Miraglia (Right).
Micheal finished 11th.
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X-Ray of My Back From Standing Position.
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This was a huge moment for me because I overcame some major back pain to complete this race. The picture above (right) shows some major imbalances in my hips and spine. This lead some serious pain in my back and halted all my heavy lifting and training. It took me time to retrain my body to get back to a competitive level.
CMC Brooklyn, NY - Eric Takes 4th Overall -- 9/27/14
Another race that Eric now looks forward to every year. After a top 100 finish last year Eric was confident he would improve this year. Eric's running improved a lot in distances 3-5 miles and the CMC is 4-7 mile race with the Pit Challenge in the beginning. In the Pit challenge, all competitors must select a division (4 options all with varying weights). Each competitor has 5 minutes to accumulate as many reps as possible in his/her division and will be ranked accordingly. Competitors are scored in the run portion of the competition against those in their division according to the Pit Challenge. Eric finished 4th overall in the Charlie Division against 497 athletes. Eric's pit score was 115, while he finished his run in roughly 46 minutes.
Reebok Spartan Race World Championship, MT. Killington, Vermont -- 9/20/14
This was the "mother" of all races, at least for Eric this particular season. The race finished at a taxing 16.5 miles (some calculated 18.5 miles), but the course was marked 14.5 miles. This made the race extremely difficult for all racers in terms of pacing and fatigue. Eric has recently been working on his "short game" in racing rather than his "long" game, but still Eric did not want to miss out on the race he did so well at just a year earlier (Top 100 finish). The extra milage and increased difficulty on the obstacles pushed Eric back to a hard fought 306th place finish. Roughly around mile 11, Eric sustained a slight right knee injury; enough that convinced him to walk the remaining 4 miles. Still, just finishing the Beast feels like a win no matter what place you come in.
Spartan Race Mohegan Casino, CT! - Top 100 Finish of the ELITE! - 06/28/14
Eric was poised to reach another top 50 finish in a much more competitive race, however an unusual slip on the traverse wall in the last 100 meters of the contest earned Eric a 30 burpee penalty. Eric flew threw the burpees, but sacrificed most of remaining strength in the process. Directly after the traverse wall was the heavy object pull -- Eric again earned himself 30 burpees. The two penalties thwarted Eric's bid at a Top 50 and dropped his placing to 97th.
The Spartan Sprint in Connecticut was the first annual Spartan Race for the State and was only held on Saturday, rather than the usual Saturday and Sunday option. The one day competition pooled even more talent that normal and made for a very competitive race.
Eric is excited to return next year and improve his finish!
The Spartan Sprint in Connecticut was the first annual Spartan Race for the State and was only held on Saturday, rather than the usual Saturday and Sunday option. The one day competition pooled even more talent that normal and made for a very competitive race.
Eric is excited to return next year and improve his finish!
Spartan Race Tuxedo, NY - Second Race, Top 50 finish of the ELITE! -05/31/14
44th Overall;
Time 1:12:11
Eric finally entered his first Spartan Elite Heat, racing against some the top obstacle course racers in the World. Eric faced many new challenges, one of which was getting up at 5am to race! More seriously, Eric took home valuable lessons in pacing against more advanced competition, individual thresh hold -- basically a lot about race strategy.
Eric is excited to take a crack at the top 25 June 28th at the Mohegan Sun Spartan Race in CT!
Eric is excited to take a crack at the top 25 June 28th at the Mohegan Sun Spartan Race in CT!
Spartan Race Citi Field - First Race Of The Season, 27th Overall! - 04/12/14
After a long hiatus, two months of illness and very little training dedicated towards obstacle course racing, Eric felt Citi Field would be a good test run to get the juices flowing again...
It turned out to be much more than a test run. Eric turned out an impressive 26th overall finish out of almost 7,000 spartan racers! Needless to say Eric is excited for the rest of 2014! Let's Go!
Results Page
It turned out to be much more than a test run. Eric turned out an impressive 26th overall finish out of almost 7,000 spartan racers! Needless to say Eric is excited for the rest of 2014! Let's Go!
Results Page
The Men's Health Urbanathlon - Mental Toughness - 10/26/13
When race day arrived Eric did not expect, nor did he train for a 12-mile race, but that was his only choice after both of his teammates could not compete for various reasons.
Eric had built (on paper) what he thought was a winning team for the "Male Relay" Division ( each man running a little more than a 5k), but it was not to be. Instead Eric Ran solo. It was a tough learning experience, as this was his first road race. The terrain proved tough as Eric ran the majority of the race with cramps and tightness, but toughed it out to the finish; after all, nothing can be harder than the Spartan Vermont Beast!
Eric finished in the top 15% of this race...until next year!
Eric had built (on paper) what he thought was a winning team for the "Male Relay" Division ( each man running a little more than a 5k), but it was not to be. Instead Eric Ran solo. It was a tough learning experience, as this was his first road race. The terrain proved tough as Eric ran the majority of the race with cramps and tightness, but toughed it out to the finish; after all, nothing can be harder than the Spartan Vermont Beast!
Eric finished in the top 15% of this race...until next year!
The Fitathlon - Eric takes 2nd Place In One Of CT's Newest Obstacle Course Challenges - 10/05/13
This course was marketably different from any other challenge Eric has done. The race started off with 40 of each: pushups, squats, lunges, squat jumps and split jumps followed by 100 yards of more lunges! This proved to be a tough challenge as Eric fell back to 3rd place during most of the race. It wasn't until the last 1/4 of a mile that Eric pulled ahead during the beach portion of the run, finishing in a solid second place for the males. Eric finished 5th overall, gracefully loosing to an ironman competitor to name one. Eric was really humbled by the other talent on the course and aims to take on Fitathlon again in a month!
Merrel Down & Dirty Mud Run - Eric Guides Team Momentum To Finish 09/29/13
Eric took a back seat from his own goals to help his favorite team of female competitors and their goals. In their first obstacle course race ever, Eric guided a team of fit women from group fitness club Momentum -The Physical Classroom, to an epic finish. The goal here was simple, but challenging....finish a grueling 5K obstacle course race in Pelham, NY. The Team made it through one by one, standing tall and ready for more! No man left behind! At one point Eric ran back 1/2 mile to push his soldiers to the finish! That's dedication and team work.
Reebok Spartan Race World Championship - Top 100 Finish! 09/21/13
Eric conquered MT. Killington in Vermont in his third race in as many weeks, but this one was no doubt the toughest and his greatest accomplishment. 13.5 miles up a mountains that gave no breaks. Treacherous down hills with seemingly never ending uphill. This course featured a swim element as well as three weighted carries uphill - sandbag, pales filled with rocks and yes another sandbag.
Eric experienced severe cramping up and down both legs, but was able to reach his goal of breaking the top 100 with a 100th overall finish in the male division out of over 2,000 athletes and a 13th place finish in his age division against over 400 athletes. Overall, finish time was 5:50:35 mins. Eric is poised for a top 20 finish next season with just the experienced he gained from this race alone. With more advanced program training, who knows what he can accomplish.
Eric experienced severe cramping up and down both legs, but was able to reach his goal of breaking the top 100 with a 100th overall finish in the male division out of over 2,000 athletes and a 13th place finish in his age division against over 400 athletes. Overall, finish time was 5:50:35 mins. Eric is poised for a top 20 finish next season with just the experienced he gained from this race alone. With more advanced program training, who knows what he can accomplish.
Civilian Miliatrary Combine - NYC Urban Assault Top 3% Finish!!! 09/14/13
Eric had his best finish in 2013 at the CMC in New York City. His first CMC event, Eric finished 31st out of almost 1000 male athletes and 40th overall out of roughly 1500 athletes. Still less than a year away from his IT Band injury suffered in 2012, Eric is starting to peak with five races still to go in 2013.
Eric completed 155 reps in the Crossfit Pit portion of the CMC and finished the run portion in just over 37 minutes.
CMC is in its third of year of holding elite crossfit and obstacle course racing events across the country.
Eric completed 155 reps in the Crossfit Pit portion of the CMC and finished the run portion in just over 37 minutes.
CMC is in its third of year of holding elite crossfit and obstacle course racing events across the country.
Competes In First Major Triathlon!! Finished in Top 11% 09/08/13
It was Eric's first time wearing a wetsuit, first time riding a competitive road bike (provided by Canondale of Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica, CA) and first major Triathlon. Eric was part of Team Equinox's exclusive 25-man team, the best 25 Equinox Employees from across the country.
Despite two setbacks during the race, a right calf cramp during the bike portion and left hamstring cramp during the run portion, Eric turned in an impressive top 11% overall finish and 51st in his age division out of 149 athletes.
Despite two setbacks during the race, a right calf cramp during the bike portion and left hamstring cramp during the run portion, Eric turned in an impressive top 11% overall finish and 51st in his age division out of 149 athletes.
Finishes 2nd In The Nutmeg State Games! 07/20/13
Eric competed in his first track and field meet since 2009 and took second place with a throw of 188 feet and 6 inches in the JAVELIN.
Eric renewed his passion for the sport when he began coaching at New Canaan High School in the Spring of 2013. Eric made a serious impact on the athletes at New Canaan High and vice versa. He competed along side some of the graduated seniors from the New Canaan High Class of 2013, a special and rewarding moment for a coach.
It was Eric's experience in coaching the New Canaan Rams that propelled him to compete. Eric will enter the Nutmeg State Games again next year and expect to improve on his performance, this time going for the gold!
Finishes 1st In The RunDead 5K Zombie Race.....What?! 06/15/13
An interesting and crazy race...where to start...
Eric loves zombies. He's a big fan of the popular video game "Call Of Duty," and its ever popular hoard mode of disposing zombies in endless amounts of waves, so why not really run from zombies in real life!
Dodging zombies with a goal of finishing the race with all three of your flags strapped around your waist was no easy task, but our guy Eric got the job done. Not the first to finish, but the first to finish with his flags. Eric's athletic training definitely paid off here, as agility was perhaps more important than overall stamina.
And for the all the "Call Of Duty" lovers....no, there were no quick revives on the course, or any other perk.
Race Results: http://scoreyourrace.com/results/results_2013/rundead_zombie_run%202013.htm
Eric loves zombies. He's a big fan of the popular video game "Call Of Duty," and its ever popular hoard mode of disposing zombies in endless amounts of waves, so why not really run from zombies in real life!
Dodging zombies with a goal of finishing the race with all three of your flags strapped around your waist was no easy task, but our guy Eric got the job done. Not the first to finish, but the first to finish with his flags. Eric's athletic training definitely paid off here, as agility was perhaps more important than overall stamina.
And for the all the "Call Of Duty" lovers....no, there were no quick revives on the course, or any other perk.
Race Results: http://scoreyourrace.com/results/results_2013/rundead_zombie_run%202013.htm
Qualifies For The Iconic Nautica Malibu Triathlon On September 8th, 2013
Fully recovered from his IT band injury, sustained during the winter of 2012 training for the Toughest Mudder, Eric attempted to qualify for his first triathlon. Eric had no preparation, or training, but his ability to rehab his injury and maintain a high level of fitness allowed Eric to qualify for his first triathlon ever.
I think Eric has found another reason to train harder...not that he didn't have enough already.
I think Eric has found another reason to train harder...not that he didn't have enough already.
First Race Of The 2013 Season, And First Since IT Band Injury 05/16/13
Eric competed in the Stamford, CT 5K Corporate Run, as a member of team "Squats On Blocks," made up of co-workers from Equinox Gym in Greenwich, CT. Eric finished his 5K in 23 minutes and 15 seconds. A great time to kick off the 2013 Season, which will consist of several obstacle course races and a couple of triathlons!
Eric's First CrossFit Games Experience 03/10/2013
Eric learned a lot about crossfit on this day, most importunity he learned that he wants to be good at it. Eric is a supporter of the crossfit movement and while he doesn't endorse everything about it, he certainly likes circuit style training and how it's getting thousands of people off their couches and into gyms.
Having studied crossfit workouts over the past three months and selectively incorporating some of them into his routine, Eric eagerly registered for the 2013 CrossFit Games. Well aware that he would need far more training than three months to reach his desired level of success, Eric exhausted himself in his first CrossFit Games Open workout and reached a total rep count of 126. Checkout the video below to see highlights of Eric's performance.
Having studied crossfit workouts over the past three months and selectively incorporating some of them into his routine, Eric eagerly registered for the 2013 CrossFit Games. Well aware that he would need far more training than three months to reach his desired level of success, Eric exhausted himself in his first CrossFit Games Open workout and reached a total rep count of 126. Checkout the video below to see highlights of Eric's performance.
Temporary certification until the real one is mailed to me.
Battles Through ITB and Groin Injuries In Toughest Mudder Debut, 11/17/12
Eric and his brother and battled through several injuries to finish the Toughest Mudder and in retrospect, despite Eric's initial disappointment, he is happy it finished the way it did. It gave him unique perspective to be truly, painfully injured throughout the entirety of his participation in this race. Approximately a week before the race he newly injured his right IT band during an intense treadmill run, yes treadmill run. During the race, this lead to a groin injury.
He is stronger now, having had to battle through adversity, and that's what Tough and Toughest Mudder is all about.
Even better, Eric now has the unique chance to learn, first hand, how to rehab two new injuries. Invaluable experience. He is not crazy, he is determined.
He is stronger now, having had to battle through adversity, and that's what Tough and Toughest Mudder is all about.
Even better, Eric now has the unique chance to learn, first hand, how to rehab two new injuries. Invaluable experience. He is not crazy, he is determined.
Finishes in Top 5% of World To Qualify For Tough Mudder Championship 10/20/12
Since the Mudder doesn't officially time anyone, Eric's unofficial time is just under two hours. We approximate about 1:59, or less. His time was verified by Tough Mudder and received an invitation to the Toughest Mudder of'em all, The Toughest Mudder. Yeah!
Best of all, it gives him a chance to continue to reach his prospective donators for the Wounded Warrior Project. His goal was to raise $150 and we're 40% of the way there with a few weeks to go.
The Toughest Mudder is no joke, it's a 24-hour race. Course length is unlimited. Winner is the mudder who completes the 8-10 miles course the most amount of times. Here is the e-mail Eric was sent! Click Here
Best of all, it gives him a chance to continue to reach his prospective donators for the Wounded Warrior Project. His goal was to raise $150 and we're 40% of the way there with a few weeks to go.
The Toughest Mudder is no joke, it's a 24-hour race. Course length is unlimited. Winner is the mudder who completes the 8-10 miles course the most amount of times. Here is the e-mail Eric was sent! Click Here
Warrior Dash, 09/23/12, Thompson, CT
Finished with an unofficial time of 29:30.
Eric raised almost $200 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , just two days prior to the event. He donated $40 in accordance with his challenge. View his challenges to help raise money here
This picture is a perfect example of how Eric communicates with everyone around him, even while running through the mud. Brian (left), Luis (center) and Arturo (right) were all in Eric's heat, he met them for the first time that day, just minutes before the race.
This picture is a perfect example of how Eric communicates with everyone around him, even while running through the mud. Brian (left), Luis (center) and Arturo (right) were all in Eric's heat, he met them for the first time that day, just minutes before the race.
Earns White Belt 09/12
Eric Pellini: (front row) Second from right (white gii).
First belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Two months of training at Jungle Gym. Thanks to all my coaches and family at Jungle Gym. Working my way towards blue belt.
First-time Participant Finishes In Top 20 Percent Of Spartan Race Spartan Race: September 2012, Tri-State (NJ). Distance: 11+miles. Time: 3:24:49.
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Tri-state Results, 2012 Spartan Race Over 1600 participants overall. Average time over 4 hours.
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Warrior Dash 2012, Windham, New York
Warrior Dash: August 2012, Windham, NY. Distance: 3+miles.
Time: 0:52:00 (unofficial)
First 5k and mud-run. Start of new beginning. Started Race 20 minutes late, which altered my finish time. Official time listed at 1:11:55. First 1.5 miles of this race was uphill. Eric is 180lbs in the picture. He is now 165lbs. Visit Eric's blog for information about health and fitness.