Glory Days

I thought this week I would discuss how it came to be that this 6 foot 3 inch 200 pound man decided running was a sport for him.  Ever since I was a little kid I have enjoyed running (weird I know).  My first competitive foot race (that I can recall) came at the Southeast Elementary school 5th grade Field Days.  One lap around the grounds (probably 1/2 mile or so).  From what I remember, Carsten Carter and I dueled to the end.  I honestly don't remember who won that day, but I do remember having a feeling that this was something I enjoyed.

Like many Indiana boys I wanted to be a basketball player.  My height always allowed me to be part of the school team, and my desire always allowed me to play on the B squads or JV teams, but I never had the athletic ability to be varsity material.  Running was a different story, which I first discovered back in 5th grade, but didn't really pursue until my Freshman year.

I decided to go out for track my freshman year (think 6 foot tall maybe 120 pounds soaking wet).  I met with the Coaches and they thought distance was the right place for me to be.  Coach Curts announced the mileage for the day (5 miles), and I was too naive and shy to say uh coach this is my first time running for distance, so I just followed along.  I remember that run taking forever, but when I finished, all of the other distance runners were still at school waiting for Billy Gillock and myself to return  They were amazed that we had run the entire distance.  I recall them saying things like great job, unbelievable, and I think we just found ourselves two new cross country runners.  I remember that bringing a sense of real belonging, which for as much as I wanted, I never felt on the basketball court. 

The last varsity meet of my freshman year, I was entered into the mile, and finished second with a time of 5:25.  One of my first real sense of success competing in sports.  I went on to have fairly successful high school running career in both track and cross-country, culminating in qualifying for the 4x400 meter relay at the 1992 Indiana Boys State Track Meet with a team of three other very talented runners.

I was never the strongest or fastest runner on the team, but through shear will of heart I was always in the picture.  There are a lot of things to like about running (camaraderie with fellow runners, health benefits, competitive outlet), but for me the thing I liked most about it then and I like about it today is that running is more of an individual battle that allows for your inner strength to shine through.  Today, I am still not the fastest (recall I am now at least 60 lbs heavier than my youth), but I still have that desire to not give up when runs get difficult or my head tells me I can't continue (there's probably a life lesson there of some sort). You can be assured that my head will be telling me to go back to bed tomorrow at 6:30 am, but there is a real thrill and a sense of accomplishment associated with overcoming that self doubt and finishing.

Score Card - This week marks the end of the fifth week of "official" training.  Tomorrow's 13 miles will round out a 27 mile week, and a total mileage of 127 miles over the past five weeks (Indy to Louisville).  In general, I am feeling pretty good, but am starting to have few aches and pains.  Nothing serious at this point, but I anticipate these to continue as the mileage is only going to go up from here (saying goodbye to 20 mile weeks - saying hello to 30 mile weeks). 

Back to School

This week marked the first full week of school for the kiddos.  They seem to be settling in nicely.  My memories of first days are a bit blurry, but I always remember being very nervous about what the next grade will bring, will my teacher be  nice, and whether I might poop or pee my pants on that first day (no one wants to associate with that kid -- for the record this never happened).  It was always nice to rekindle friendships that had a summer of seperation, and you never knew if there was a new friend waiting around the corner.

As adults we don't get many first days or maybe we don't get first days that bring the emotions that kids experience on their first days.  I am always amazed at how bravely my kids go about what we ask of them.  Example...they both went to a Y camp this summer, and they knew absolutely no one, and yet they put their shoes on and hit the ground running.  As adults, we are able to draw upon our experience to make walking into a room not knowing anyone much easier on ourselves.  What do kids have?  Most five and seven year olds are not well versed on conversation starters, so they go about being themselves.  I think it would be nice to bring your trueself to those situations, but too often we have to feign interest in conversations about the weather or sports to build relationships.  Challenge for the week, let's all try and bring a little bit of our true-selves to a new situation this week.

Training has gone well this week, in large part because the weather has been much nicer.  An early wake-up tomorrow to tackle a twelve miler to bring this weeks tally to 23 miles .  Anyone interested in joining? 

State Fair Goodness!

We took the annual Fisherkeller pilgrimage to the Indiana State Fair this week.  We did it all: eat, road rides, saw the sights (and boy there are some to see there!), eat, looked at animals, eat, went into the craft building (1st time ever), eat, rocked out to Rick Springfield, and eat.  Did I mention that we eat.  Could there be anything more sinful and delightful then fair food?  Certainly, chocolate covered bacon, pork butt on a stick and deep fried (insert food - for the record there was deep fried butter this year!) is not for the refined pallet, but there is something to this magical night of massive consumption that I think even Padma Lakshmi would enjoy.

Peggy had the line of the night.  Scene - walking on a asphalt jungle for a few hours with over stimulated kids, temperature is somewhere between boiling and surface of the sun, and the sun, now low in the western sky, is penetrating your soul to which Peggy replies, "It's like a constant irritation on top of an irritation."  Well, we laughed and laughed.  Although for the record our kids were angels, and Hazel receives extra kudos as the big sister that shared (of her own freewill) her sno-cone with her brother after he dropped his.

Running this week has been difficult once again with this unbearable heat.  All and all, I am pleased with where I am fitness and health wise.  Tomorrow's 11 miler caps a 26 mile week (probably about 26 shy of working off the damage a few hours at the State Fair brings).

Last, but certainly not least, I have heard from many about their intention to donate to DII and Camp Delafield, and for that I thank you.  Remember you can send a check to DII (2511 East 46th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205) or you can donate on-line at:  http://www.dyslexiaindiana.org/donate_to_dii.  Be sure to not "26.2 for Camp Delafield."

Have a great weekend everyone!

Clearing One's Head

There are days when in my minds eye  I have resolved the issues that plague the world while I am running, to only have lost the thought by the time I arrive back at the house.  I believe I owe this type of memory loss to my stint at Ball State...sorry world.

Then there a days that I crank the tunes and expel some demons.

Then there are times (like today) where I am able to have my mind completely devoid of thought, and can simply revel in the breeze and sky.  I tend to like these days best, although these are few and far between.



I ran a new circuit today that took me through the 100 Acres at the Art Museum.  I am often a creature of habit running the same loop courses or out and backs (hard to imagine I know), so when I am feeling free spirited I often stumble onto a new path.  Today was that day, and I certainly did enjoy.  If you have not been you should plan a visit.  I would recommend early in the morning, who knows you might end up solving the worlds problems.

Day 1 - A liittle more heat would be nice!

I am excited about starting this blog and I look forward to sharing my experience with those interested in following my journey. I have no experience with this media, so you will have to bear with me if I approach this from a non-standard way. 

I have no real expectations as I start my official marathon training, other than I hope I am strong enough to withstand the mental and physical rigors that training demands, have some fun along the way, and finish.  I am also hopeful to raise the $2,400 needed to send one child to Camp Delafield next summer.  For that, I need your help.

Tonights training was completed with the Ken Long Associates group at Roberts Park tonight.  To my surprise I ran into an old friend I had not seen in sometime, which was a nice surprise indeed.  The word for tonights training was simply HOT!

More to come...