Random Thoughts and Final Preparations

As I get ready to run my second marathon on Sunday, I certainly plan to write about it afterwards and hopefully share a much happier story this time.  In the meantime, I have a bunch of random thoughts and such that maybe are not full stories unto themselves or I can't figure out how to weave them in, whatever the case.  But during this last week, I am tapering down for the race and have more free time and need something to do and thought I would just dump a bunch of stuff out there and not necessarily in a cohesive manner, my mind isn't exactly focused on much else right now.  You may consider that lazy writing, I can't argue, but I've also never claimed to be a writer.  So if you just want the story and the results, check back next week, for now maybe something here will make you laugh or strike a chord or maybe it will help you just kill some time at work instead of filling out your TPS reports.



         Um, yeahhhhh.  I'm going to need you to stop talking about the marathon. Okay, that would be great.

"Finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement, it's a state of mind: A state of mind that says anything is possible."

Certainly my last marathon didn't leave me with a great state of mind, but I have tried to take much more pleasure in enjoying the process, the training and the fact that I am even able to attempt such a thing.  Marathons seem to be more mental than physical, I mean you are either in the physical shape needed or you're not, but even if you are, are you mentally tough enough to do it?  I thought I was before, we will see what Sunday has in store for me.

I am all for cougars.  Wait, not that kind!

I was talking with my co-worker, Kelly, she knows that I run every day and on a Monday she asked if I did a long run over the weekend and here is how that conversation went:

Kelly:  So did you do a long run this weekend?  Where did you go?
Chris: I did, I ran 20+ miles and I've been doing my long runs in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains North of town.
Kelly:  I live north of town in the foothills, where exactly did you go?
Chris:  I went down Look Rd. until it ends, about 8 miles, then pretty much came back.
Kelly:  Looking surprised.  Do you....take anything with you?
Chris:  What do mean?  I take Gatorade with me on long runs.
Kelly:  Well I live off Look Rd. and we get cougars out that way all the time coming down from the mountains.  They attack the foals and the calves and dogs and such.  You should be careful running through there.
Chris:  Pausing.  Well hopefully they are only thirsty when I run by.  Yikes.

Note:  I did that run only one more time and I can assure you I was running with my eyes peeled the whole time.  Not good times.  I have a new route now.

Much more my type of cougar.  Sadly, she wasn't chasing me.

"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you are in trouble.  If you feel bad at 20 miles, you are normal.  If you don't feel bad at 26.2 miles, you are abnormal."

Last time my training runs went so well that I never experienced any real trouble and I really thought I was abnormal, in a good way.  We all know how that worked out. After talking with a couple guys I know that have run well over 50 marathons each, they both said that it never gets easier, it's just a long ways and there are lot of variables; your health that day, the weather, training, the course set-up...so I definitely have tried to understand that and accept that some things may be out of my control.  However, what I can control is all mental because I am definitely in shape physically to run it, so it's really all mental(barring injury) as to how I can finish. But since we're talking about "normal", what do you think the chances are of me crossing the Columbia and going to Portland?  Anyone, anyone, Bueller?

Halloween,no; random costume day; no, just every day in Portland. 

Um, yeahhhh. No thank you.

I am VERY disappointed that I will not be able to do this race!  Only a masochistic runner would be upset about such a thing. Check.  However, I may have a story about this when it's over.  Here's hoping and good luck to those running.  The way the weather is in Phoenix this week, they just may set a new record that day.

 Oh it doesn't need to be a secret Hoff.

 I bet you could never guess what David Hasselhoff and I have in common.  We are both HUGE in Germany.  Don't I wish it was that we were both ridiculously wealthy.... At any rate, when I started this blog it was really just to stay in touch with family and friends back in the Midwest and wherever else they may live. Sharing things about Arizona or Vegas or anything unusual that I may be doing. Some people do blogs for money, or to try to make money which is fine, its just not what I'm going for.  You'll never see ads on my blog or me promoting the purchase of anything, this is purely for fun and for those interested, nothing more.  When I write a story I post it on my Facebook page for those that might be interested.  I only have about 75-80 "Friends" because I am very selective, I mean if I wasn't friends with you in elementary school, I'm still not, likely nothing has caused that to change.  With the blog I am able to see all of the hits to each article and where they come from, by country only.   I don't get any one's email address or login address, for example, anytime I post something new, immediately it will show a bunch of hits from the USA, which makes sense.  Well for some reason I also get a bunch of hits from other countries and not random mistakes, but rather every time I post something new I get hits from a number of countries, particularly Germany, France and Russia.  Overall I have hits from 12 countries including China, Morocco, Netherlands, South Korea, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Canada and the United Kingdom.  Obviously when you put something online, it's out there for the world, but it never ceases to amaze me that for whatever the reasons I keep getting hits from these countries.  No one ever contacts me or makes a comment, so I am left to theorize as to why.  My friend John says that since I write about common topics like marathons or the Grand Canyon, that people doing random searches probably come across the blog that way.  That makes sense, but why they keep coming back is what's so interesting.  But whatever the reasons, to my German friends, please know that I will never attempt to be a "singer" like the Hoff, but if you still want to make me an international superstar, I'm in.  However, I do like cheeseburgers.

 The band Rush.  My brother Jeff is a huge fan and I believe so is Dan. P.  Again I have no story here, but being known for their technical prowess I thought this quote from drummer Neil Peart was cool:
 

"Playing a 3 hour Rush show is like running a marathon while solving equations."

If you know anything about Rush, that makes perfect sense.  My favorite Rush song, "Freewill".

Classic photo of Nirvana at the legendary Raji's in Seattle back in the grunge heyday.

After I got to Washington I soon realized that my iPod was filled with bands and music that came out of the Seattle grunge scene in the early 90's.  As much as I like the music, I never cared for the flannel, dirtbag look and being in college at the time, it wasn't all that great when girls dressed like that either.  Not the best look for anyone.  But such was the times I suppose.  I have 80+ songs on my iPod Marathon Set that lasts well over 4 hours.  As it turns out the majority comes from Seattle bands, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and even GNR has a Seattle history.  Original bassist Duff McKagan is from Seattle and was in a number of bands before moving to LA and joining GNR. His past connections helped them set their first tour as a band in clubs around Seattle, playing for dollars and cents and free drinks mostly.  The tour was a disaster including their van breaking down in northern California and the guys having to hitchhike their way to Seattle and back to LA.  You had to figure I'd find a way to include GNR into all of this.  But know that I will be rockin' out while running and since I'm in Seattle, it suddenly seems appropriate.

 Would you pick these guys up on the side of the road?

I'm a big fan, but even I'm saying no chance.

A big thank you goes out to St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.  St. Pat's has truly been a blessing in my life.  I am not outrageously religious, I've always been more of "Sunday Catholic", a term my friend Doug coined, meaning that you go to mass on Sunday and that's about it.  However, the Friday group at the Wildflower has had a huge impact on me and I am so very thankful to have been a part of that group, even for a short time.  St. Pat's has helped me in many ways; getting through my divorce, moving and even making new lifelong friends.  Thanks to Father Eric and everyone connected to St. Pat's.  I guess it only stands to reason that I would be more involved in a church when the Priest is also a local High School football coach. Some things are just meant to be, like say Notre Dame? To the Friday morning group please say a prayer of health for me running the marathon on Sunday, I need all the help I can get.  And please know that someday, I will be back.


I saw Hangover 3.  It was borderline awful.  I have no joke here.  I had very low expectations going in and they were not met.  Disappointing. I'm not a fan of the superhero movies, zombie movies or cartoons.  Add to that period pieces, romantic comedies, sci-fi and any movie with Russell Crowe(except for Cinderella Man), so this summer doesn't sound too exciting to me for movies and one of the few I was looking forward too stunk.  Speaking of movies...

 The highly anticipated follow up to Breakin'!  Dear God, were the 80's really like this!!!!

Sadly, yes.

 

I have a friend, that shall remain nameless, that is way into this dance culture.  Knowing him as I do, it's just so strange, but that's what he likes.  At any rate, I was in middle school when this horrible movie came out and I remember being at the theater for something else and seeing some older kids from school in line, I ask them what they were doing and they said they were in line for Breakin' 2, to which I replied, "Wow, you guys are pathetic".  Keep in mind I was about 12 or 13 at the time and I always had a smart mouth.  Amazing that I never got killed in school.  At any rate, I have never seen this movie nor the first one but what I will say is that this whole marathon experience, the first one and the second, have been so challenging and exciting and crazy all at the same time that if I am able to run it on Sunday in the fashion I want, I will make this promise to my nameless friend:  If all goes well and I am rounding the last turn to Esther Short Park in Vancouver with less than 1/10th of a mile to go and if I'm still feeling good; I will Boogaloo my way across the finish line.  Although I have no idea what that actually means and no one will be there to see it, but if it does happen, the poor spectators in Vancouver will have to bear witness to my horrific dance skills. 
Here's hoping!

The thirst you feel in your throat and lungs will be gone minutes after the race is over.
The pain in your legs, within days.
But the glory of your finish will last forever!

Please wish me luck on Sunday, it is all fuel for the mind and soul and in this case, sole, as well.  No one gets through any journey alone, no matter what we may think. I shamelessly ask for your good thoughts Sunday morning.  Thanks in advance and know that whatever the outcome, I appreciate the support, it will have an impact.

FIRE UP!

Just waiting for Sunday.  TPS reports be damned!
Der Kommissar!