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| Ever wondered what it feels like to run a marathon? This about sums it up. |
The photo above is literally seconds after crossing the finish line at the Vancouver Marathon last June. Right before I expunged everything that was in my body. Clearly I was exhausted, nauseous, tired, you name it. After running the Phoenix Marathon last March, I felt awful, but for other reasons. But maybe this picture serves as a catalyst for 2014 for me. Clearly 2013 was not the best year of my life in so many ways, but then again, lots of good things happened as well. But maybe that's just every year of our lives, some things good, some not so good.
But that being said, I have started my training for Phoenix and I am going to do all I can to have a much better experience this time. I still enjoy running on a regular basis, but I'll let you in on a little secret that most runner's share. Yes, I do enjoy running, but there are many, many days regularly that I can't seem to get motivated or that I don't really want to run. However, I force myself to do so and having a marathon on my schedule helps because you don't run a marathon by running a few days or weeks ahead of time, it takes a lot of training. So knowing I can't run the marathon in March if I don't run in December helps motivate me on a regular basis. But on the days that it's tough to start or even still tough after a mile or two, there has NEVER been a time that when I finished that I wasn't happy that I did make myself do it. I always feel great and it's never as bad as you make it out to be at the onset.
So 2014 will be the Year of StuDemption. First the marathon, of course professionally and maybe even the wonderful world of dating. Yippee!
Gooey Ducks?!?!? What?
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| A giant.......mollusk, yeah that's right, a mollusk. |
In the Capitol city of Olympia, Washington sits tiny Evergreen College. By most standards it's your garden variety small, private liberal arts college. However, they have one distinguishing factor that sets them apart from everyone else, their mascot. The Geo Duck(phonetically pronounced Gooey Duck), a mollusk, but lets face it,look at that picture above, it clearly has overtones of something else. And I wish I was making this up, but their school fight song is as follows:
Go, Geoducks go,
Through the mud and the sand,
let’s go.
Siphon high, squirt it out,
swivel all about,
let it all hang out.
Go, Geoducks go,
Stretch your necks when the tide
is low
Siphon high, squirt it out,
swivel all about,
let it all hang out.
Very, very, interesting to say the least. You can see if all for yourself if you want on their website.
So I'm still not sure what any of this means other than I guess the folks at Evergreen College have a sense of humor. I suppose that makes sense because their most famous alumnus is none other than Michael Richards. Somehow that seems appropriate. Welcome to the Capitol City!
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| Most Famous GeoDuck, Dr. Martin Van Norstrand, aka Michael Richards. |
Salt Lake City Revisited
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| Tons of kids....must be in Utah |
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| The Utah Capitol building stands high atop downtown Salt Lake City. |
The Capitol was under construction the whole time I lived in Salt Lake, so it was nice to see it standing tall and complete. It sits atop a hill on the north part of town overlooking the valley. I've visited most of our state capitols, this is definitely one of the best for many reasons.
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| The Olympic Torch still standing proudly and lit since 2002. |
We then went to the only Czech Brewpub that I am aware of anywhere, The Bohemian Brewery, and had some great Czech cuisine and local brews. We then had a fantastic Thanksgiving meal with Jeff and Rebecca and it was very nice to be able to spend the holiday with family. A short trip back home, but another great one. Thanks again Jeff and Rebecca and Shelby too!
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| Brothers Studenka, celebrating Thanksgiving together 2 years in a row. Let's go for three! |
The Studenka Family Legacy: Donuts and Coffee
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| Tim Horton's, they should give me free coffee for life! |
When my great-great Grandfather, Anthony, and his son, my great Grandfather, John, first came to America from the Czech Republic at the turn of the century, they landed in Pittsburgh and worked in a factory or a mine, no is exactly sure. But at some point early on they had the chance to come to Michigan because there was a Sugar Beet factory that was looking for people that could speak both Czech and English and so they made their way to Owosso, Michigan, about 30 miles NE of Lansing and proceeded to plant the Studenka legacy. My parents both grew up in Owosso and since my grandparents lived their whole lives there, I spent many a weekend in Owosso and the legacy, if you will, that my family has in this relatively small town ran deep.
Years later after I graduated from college and was working in downtown Lansing, I bought my first home in Owosso as it was a relatively easy commute and I thought it would be nice to keep the family name in town. Working in politics at the time, I found my way to the Mayor of Owosso and got myself on the city Planning Commission and he then asked me to be on the City Council. I was only in my 20's at this point, so it was pretty interesting being in the meetings and having city business in front of me to vote on and truly make some decisions that would impact the city for years and years. One of the most contentious issues that came before us was the potential of Tim Horton's, a Canadian coffee chain store. Keep in mind this is long before the Starbucks proliferation nationwide. They wanted to put the store right on Main St. next to a church in a spot that once held the birthplace home of Thomas Dewey. Seems like a no brainer right? I mean how could this be a bad thing. Well the church was adamantly against it and proceeded to rally all of their members and brought them all to all the planning commission and council meetings to speak out against Tim Horton's coming to town. Seems their main issue was that the drive-through would be open 24 hours and they thought there would be too much potential for vandalism and such with their church right next to them. Well every time we voted on anything we voted alphabetically and that meant I was always last. The Council had 7 members so that meant I was always the deciding vote. Normally that wasn't a big deal because the Council tended to vote unanimously on almost everything, but every once in a while it fell to me. In this case after listening to a hundred church patrons, ministers and such all give pleas to not bring Tim Horton's to town it came to a vote. In talking with Council members ahead of time we seem to be split on the issue. In fact the Mayor, who personally asked me to join the Council, was against it saying the traffic on Main St. was already busy enough and having another turning point would be too much. So what to do. Well that night it was a full house and the Mayor always gave everyone that wanted to speak a chance to do so and after hours of people giving their two cents it came time to vote. We went around the table starting with the Mayor: No-Yes-No-Yes-No-Yes leaving it tied 3-3 and me as the deciding vote. The room was packed, people were on edge and I proceeded to vote YES. It was not received well. But as a member of the Council you always have to vote for what you think is best and in this case I saw value in a new restaurant in town for various reasons. I eventually moved before the Tim Horton's was built, but I did pave the way for it and thus the legacy of coffee I left behind.
I bring all this up because my cousin Matt, who grew up in Owosso, was just back in town and the Tim Horton's still stands proudly downtown some 15+ years later. So I guess my vote was right and even though it's hardly anything major in the grand scheme of things, I guess my legacy will always be bringing a coffee shop to Owosso. Ironically I now live in the coffee capital of the world, Seattle, so somehow this all came full circle I guess.
Although, somehow I'm not so sure this was the reason my ancestors moved here. Dah!
J Dubbs!!!
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| J.W. Sexton High School |
Nothing but Blue Skies
In this he mentions being on the Track team and since it's my blog I will say that I too ran track at Sexton and we won the State Title two years in a row. As a member of those teams I'd like to think I helped make the difference, but then again it probably had more to do with the future Olympic Hurdler/Sprinter and various future Collegiate sprinters on the team rather than the small white kid that ran the 2 mile. But hey, this is my blog and I was a 2 time State Champion so lets focus on me!
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| The Sexton track with Fisher Body looming over. The auto workers would often sit atop the building watching various sporting events at the stadium. |
Cactus Chip New Countries Update
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| In Japan they seem to be chanting, "We want more Cactus Chip!!!!!" |
Bangladesh, Turkey, Japan
In addition to all of the others that have found their way here, that makes for readers from 24 countries outside the United States that seem to either enjoy reading this blog or don't, either way they keep coming back. I do accept gifts, so send some accordingly. Thanks for reading, I think.
This is Chris' Brain
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| Chris' Brain, where are the running and football sections? |
"What? That makes no sense. You just tell your brain to wake up?" , which spawned into:
"Hello, this is Chris' Brain, it's time to get up" and with that the voice of my brain was born and I have been taunted with this in all aspects of life. It does seem to work for most occasions:
"We're going to lunch, doess Chris' brain want something?"
"I need that report done, can you tell your brain?"
"Hi, this is Chris' Brain it's time to run"
"This is Chris' Brain: Football, Football, Running, Football."
So the jokes are endless, good thing I can take a joke, I think. But it is rather amusing and although I thought it might only play out a few days, it stuck and now that monotone, deep voice of my brain taunts me regularly. Sweet.
Hey, Chris' Brain, enough!
Good Luck Cousin Matt!!!!
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| Who'd want to live here?!?!?!?! |
Recently he was offered the position of a lifetime at the University of Florida, where he got all of his degrees and where he lived for 18 years of his life. So around Christmas he packed up and headed back to Florida. I am truly happy for him because he really wanted to go back to Florida and I'm glad this opportunity came about for him. I wish you all the best Cuz! You now have given me a good reason to visit Florida again and I will forever thank you for your hospitality in Washington. Still not sure why you'd want to trade the gray and rain for palm trees, beaches and sunshine? You will be missed and that leaves Cousin Todd and I to navigate Washington on our own. Yikes.
This proves without a doubt that sometimes nice guys can finish first! Can I be next please, although I guess that would mean I'd have to be nice. Oh well.
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| Me and cousin Matt at the Burby 5K/10K on Vashon Island. |
StuDEMPTION!!!!!
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