Let's Celebrate! ...and some Randomness

Happy Anniversary to me!

I ran a lot of miles over the last two years. I've earned a cupcake, or two.

On Wednesday, April 30 it marked exactly two years to the day that I started running.  I wrote about how it all came to be as the first new entry for my blog.  As I have recently started to reflect back to that day and all that has happened since, it has certainly far surpassed anything I envisioned at that moment.  That day I remember struggling mightily to do 3 miles and now I really don't even run if I can't get in at least 5.  I keep a running log of all the miles I run, the routes and such for every day.  As I added it up all for the last two years, here are the specs:

Total Miles Run:  3586
Marathons:                  4
1/2 Marathons:           3
10K:                           2
Tillman 4.2:               1
5K:                           11
43 miles at once:        1

Needless to say, it's been quite a ride.  Running that first day I was really doing nothing more than trying to fill my time and burn some energy and hopefully get me tired enough to sleep and break the insomnia I was having.  Well the insomnia didn't go away(it was stress related) instead the running just gave me more energy and so I kept going at it every day.  It has been good "therapy" if you will, for my divorce, but beyond that I have grown to really enjoy running and all the positive aspects it has provided me.  I am in great health and starting my day with a run gets me energized and feeling good every day.  So how did I celebrate my 2 year anniversary?  Well Wednesday I ran 5 miles, just a standard every day run.  But last Sunday I ran the Heroes Half Marathon(didn't run as fast as I hoped, but finished in 24th overall out of about 1000) and this Saturday I'm running the Snoqualmie Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon. So 2 half's in a week.  Seeing how I can run a full marathon, I figured this would be no problem.  One down, we'll see how the other one turns out.  Still Fired Up after 2 years and well over 3000 miles! Shooting for 2000 miles in 2014!


“People think I'm crazy to put myself through such torture, though I would argue otherwise. Somewhere along the line we seem to have confused comfort with happiness. Dostoevsky had it right: 'Suffering is the sole origin of consciousness.' Never are my senses more engaged than when the pain sets in. There is a magic in misery. Just ask any runner.”
― Dean Karnazes, ultra runner



Running for Fun?

Umm, enough chit-chat can we get started please!!!!

In trying to have more fun with my running, rather than just training, I joined a run group, The Seattle Green Lake Running Group.  They have group runs every day, although it's a bit of a drive from where I live, so I have only been joining them on Saturday mornings.  It's a great group of people, anywhere from 75-100+ show up on Saturdays and there are people at all paces/levels and doing various distances, so you can always find a few people to match up with.  It's a very well-run group and sometimes they take pictures and I thought this recent one captured the essence of me as a runner about perfectly.  I am on the far right in the orange shirt with my hands on my hips, obviously ready to start running.  I hate waiting around and lolly gagging, thus I am probably a bit too serious, which I know and why I joined the group, to try and have more fun and meet other runners and not just do it all on my own all the time.  I have met some great people and it has been beneficial to me, however, I am obviously still a work in progress...



National Champions Reunion

Pickle Juice.  It's good for........something I guess.

Earlier this year one of my best friends, John Eloff, flew out to Seattle for a visit.  I had intended to have a full blog about those adventures, but it never materialized.  But I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention his visit.

20 plus years ago when I went to CMU, John was one of the first people I met, as we lived next door to each other in the dorms.  Eventually we were roommates and we had about as much fun as anyone could have in college, while still going to class and graduating.  You may not see it from this picture, but he used to do a killer Prince impersonation, winning many contests and prizes and money too.  There was the time he brought his pet pit bull, Jocko, from home and she was running down the hallways frightening everyone.  He and I gave everyone nicknames, most of them not flattering.  We had a "Wall of Comments", things that were said that made us laugh or mostly laugh about(He still has all of those).  Winning a National Championship.   Having the Fetus as our roommate our Senior year(We gave him that nickname and he loved it).  And a million other stories that he'd be happy to relay, but not here in a quasi-public forum.

Beyond college there probably has not been a week that has gone by that we haven't talked to each other one way or another.  Probably not even more than a few days.  We really are a lot alike and he is as good a friend as anyone could ever have.  As I went through my divorce and all the painfulness that has, and continues, to go with it, it was John that called me relentlessly and was always there, even though he was 1000+ miles away and has his own wife and kids to take care of.  Basically, he's been there for me through all of the most important parts of my life since college and having him be my first extended guest in Seattle seemed appropriate.

We did all of things one should do when visiting Seattle for the first time as well as meeting up with a colleague of mine at local bar to watch football, John cooking up a killer slab of ribs, meeting up with my cousin Todd who happened to be in town and closing down some bar in Renton, reminiscing of all the fun and great times we've had, and eventually even doing shots of pickle juice at Pike's Market in downtown Seattle.  It was a great visit and I look forward to undoubtedly more fun adventures in the future.  Thanks for the visit and more importantly for always being such a great friend Johnny!


Marathon Outtakes

Who knew checking in would be so difficult?!?!?

I had an interesting time checking in at the Phoenix Marathon.  I had already registered, so that wasn't the issue, I was merely there to pick up my race bib(number) and shirt and such.  They have you check in the day before because the race starts at 6:30 on Saturday morning and you have to bus to the starting line.  So my brother Jeff and I went over to the Expo after the Cubs game and I proceeded to try and check in.  Since there were over 8K runners for all the races combined they had you first look up your bib number on a computer then the registration tables were categorized by number.  My number was #8900.

Well the Volunteer at the registration was just plain frazzled, I guess, even though there was no one in line besides me.  But she at first proceeded to give me #8909.  Simple mistake.  That she gave me #8990, then some random number like #7822 before finally getting it right.  All the while she kept saying, "I'm only a volunteer, I'm just a volunteer!".  It was an auspicious way to begin the race to say the least.

Here's an actual photo from that moment.  My hand on hip, obviously annoyed but I never was anything but polite.

Marathon Tricks of the Trade

A child's drink, but no I don't have kids.

When you are getting ready for a race, and it really doesn't matter the distance, whatever works to put in you the right frame of mind leading up to it, is really important.  Especially if you are running for time and not just for fun.  One of the tricks I had heard about for marathoners was to drink Pedialyte for two days before the marathon to help with hydration.  If you are not familiar with it, and I wasn't, its something you give little kids when they are sick to help them stay hydrated as it coats the stomach and throat.  So before each of my marathons I drank a 32oz bottle for two days prior.  Whether it helps or not, who really knows, but again if it makes you feel better, you think it's working, well the mental aspect is far more important than almost anything else at that point.

Speaking of the mental aspect, confidence is a big key.  Last year when I ran Phoenix, it was my first one and I had some confidence going into it, but it still didn't turn out like I had hoped. That knocked my confidence, no question.  Leading up to Phoenix this year, I was feeling a bit nervous.  I knew I had done the required training, but again, I did last year too.  But I was having some worry about a possible repeat performance.  About 3 weeks out of the marathon I was talking with one of my colleagues, Dr. J, who is an avid runner/marathon/iron man, he's done dozens of everything.  I am nowhere near his level, nor will I ever be.  If you know any true runners, often times they don't like running with others because we all run at our own pace and when you do, oftentimes it's hard to run with someone slower than you.  I am completely guilty of that, thus I'm still trying to have more fun with it.  But Dr. J and I had never run together, but he finally agreed one Sunday and we set out to do 10 miles and I set the pace.  When we got done he was surprised at how fast we ran, which was my normal daily pace, and he said he doesn't usually run that fast, so he saw no reason I couldn't run a 3:15 marathon(he does sub 3:00).  I knew he wasn't just blowing smoke and that gave me a great deal of confidence, because I know the type of runner he is.  So thank you Dr. J!  Your words did in fact give me a lift that day and even though I haven't run that 3:15 yet, I know I have it in me.



New Countries Update

Thank you Sweden, you are always welcome here!

More new countries have found their way to my blog.  Again, who knows why, but I greatly appreciate all of the visits and would like to welcome new readers from:

Poland, India and Sweden

This makes for readers in 27 countries outside the USA.  These new three were all really active at various points although for any readers in India, please know that there will never be any cricket updates.  I don't understand it and I don't want to.  Sweden, well continue to send me any exports at any time, I'm still single ladies.


TV, Movies, Cartoons

Take the time to check out The Oatmeal.

Even though I am not a comic book guy, far from it actually, I came across a site called The Oatmeal.   It is written by a runner that creates a lot of cartoons about running related things, but there are many other comics as well.  I found a lot of them pretty funny, especially the one about his undead parrot.  Check it out, you will laugh.

I also want to pass along some recommendations, not that anyone asked for them, but hey, this is my blog so here you go.  Even though these two shows are now over for the season, I highly recommend finding them online or Netflix or something and watch, The Following and True Detective.  Both are really good and intense, but thoughtfully done.  I am fairly picky but I found myself really looking forward to each of these shows every week. I am also currently enjoying Fargo, the tv show.  I thought the movie was just okay, but Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic in the tv show and I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch, but he's good.

I also highly recommend the movie Bad Words with Jason Bateman.  Chances are it's already left the theaters wherever you live, but again it's worth renting or streaming or downloading or whatever it is everyone does these days.  Me, I go to the actual theater when I want to see something.  But then again, I'm old school I guess.


A Happy Easter

The beauty that is Arizona!

I had the chance to be back in Scottsdale for Easter and had a fantastic trip for a number of reasons, but especially for the visit with my friends Doug and Kristin Hatfield.  Thank you for having me over the holiday and for an incredible Easter brunch at the Wrigley Mansion.  I also got to go to mass at St. Patrick's and to be a part of my former Friday Morning group; Bill, Doug, Matt, Mike, Robin and Sammy, one more time.  I had a great time, as I always seem to when I've been back, and it was a wonderful way to celebrate Easter.

As I got back to Washington and I went running on Tuesday morning, it was a mere 35 degrees and I wore a hat/gloves, multiple layers, it really made me miss living in Arizona even more.  Maybe someday I can be back and maybe someday soon.  If only there was a way to make that happen, to put the Cactus back in Cactus Chip.  Hmmmmm.......




Thank You to anyone and everyone that takes the time to read my blog.  I do enjoy writing it, even taking way too long sometimes to write the entries.  I'm not a writer, never claimed to be, but I always try to make the entries read like a story or flow easily so that whoever is reading it can find something interesting, no matter where they are around the world.

Stay Fired Up my friends, it's the only way to try and live!!!!

After the Heroes Half.  Be sure to thank a veteran or a soldier.  USA!