CLARITY.....



Just saying that word suddenly makes me feel better. Last night I had a really, I mean really cleansing run. I did a slow 6 miles with my daughter and by the time I got back home I felt like a new person. Clarity, Webster says: clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity. I call it peace of mind. Now understand, I know this could be nothing more than a fleeting moment in the chaos that is my life, but I am learning to relish these moments. Thursday Beccah and I went to see her Dr. We arrived about a half hour early so we found a seat in the waiting room. There is a small TV in the room and on the TV the movie Elf was playing. Beccah decided to sit on my lap and we just sat there watching Elf. We laughed at the funny parts, but really we just sat there. For me it was the best 35 minutes I have had in a long time. I cannot remember the last time I felt so totally relaxed. Clarity.

Sitting at home after the kids are in bed and my wife is out my brain has been on overdrive. What should I do, what could I have done, what about tomorrow, the pool, the bills, school starting, overtime, the house, the family. Yikes, the noise! So to have just 35 minutes of nothing but Elf and Beccah is pure joy. Back to run last night. It started like any other run, but as I went on all of those thoughts/problems that have been floating in my head suddenly began to sort themselves out. By mile 4 it was like a well oiled machine, taking 1 problem at a time, organizing, analyzing, and filing it away, next! I felt 20 lbs lighter when I was done. Clarity.

So as I start this Thursday my troubles are still there, the difference is they are MY troubles I own them, they don't own me anymore. I have a marathon to train for, 26.2 miles, 147244 feet. I don't have time to be bogged down by troubles. October 22, 2006 I will cross the finish line and I will do it running.

Clarity!

R.P.D.

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in
the sunlight." -Benjamin Franklin -

NOT JUST ANOTHER 10 MILE RACE



For the last few days every time I attempt to write something of interest here it just ends up being gibberish and I decide to quit. Today I need to get this back into gear, because I need to get my running back in gear.

After a week I just as soon forget, I woke to the alarm at 4:45 Saturday morning. Blearry eyed I managed to make it into the bathroom and threw some water on my face, brush my teeth, and stretch my old bones. I got my running clothes on, kissed the kids and headed out the door. Great it's raining! Back into the house for the wind breaker/rain suit. 1st stop coffee, 7-11 big brew and a energy bar. The 30 minutes or so it took me to get to our meeting place was filled with this thought, 'How am I going to get through this?' My food intake for the week was way, way below what it had been and my sleep, well let just say Thomas Edison would have been proud. I was the first to arrive at Big Buck, so I decided to wake some people up, it was after all 5:30AM on Saturday who would still be sleeping? After a while the others arrived and we piled into Christy's Envoy and we were off. The others were Steve, Russ, Matt, Christy and myself. Just in case you were wondering. As we pulled into the YWCA parking lot I could feel the anticipation building in my gut. The 5 minute walk to the registration building was filled with the sites of racers just milling about, warming up, people setting up tents, etc. Registration went without a hitch and it was back to the car to drop off everything I didn't need. As amazed as I was we found some other people from Team in Training and before I knew it we were herding toward the start line. Fast forward to mile 3 and I knew it was going to be a long day. My arms and legs were already tingling and I could almost feel my body burning muscle instead of fuel. Somewhere at mile 4 or 5 I lost myself in a crowd and let Margarita go on without me. I had held her up enough. Thanks for helping me get through those first few miles!!!! From this point on it was just a matter of would I finish not when. 1:52:07 after my chip beeped I crossed the finish line. It was like a scene from a movie. There I am, barely able to walk looking for any familar face. To the left, the right, half hoping to see my family there to surprise me, but alas. I really started to feel sorry for myself until realized how many people were saying way to go nd good for you. Everyone seemed genuninely happy for me. Funny how things happen like that. So that was that, my first Crim, my first big race. Even though I was extemely disapointed in my performance I understand why it happenned and will learn from it.

Thanks to everyone for the pep talk before, during and after the race. You folks help me more than you know. Oh and by the way, next year... 1:35:00 here I come!

R.P.D.


The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want?Sigmund Freud

EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

After a brief hiatus from the normal, I am back. Well, sort of, I haven't run in a week. I have a 10 mile race this weekend and I have lost 10 pounds in 5 days. Oh, and I think I am losing more hair, UGH!!! Oh well bald guys are sexy, right?????

My golf outing last weekend went well. The weather was good, we did have a little rain, but nothing too bad. The only real highlight was a near hole-in-one on Friday. Man so close!!! As usual the ride home really, really, sucked. Especially with the construction!!! Didn't get in until about 11:45 PM Sunday.

Tonight I am going to try and get some carbs in me and get a good night sleep for the Crim tomorrow. This will be my first really BIG race. They are talking about 15,000 people for all of the events!! I will be running with the Berkley Babes, I will explain that later!! I am thinking of wearing my "I Love Hot Moms" t-shirt!!!

Well that's all for now...have a blessed day!

R.P.D.

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.

William B. Sprague

BINGE TIME AGAIN

Ok, ok, it's not what you think. Well maybe it is. Every year 28 or so of us get together and golf for 4 days. This year we are going to Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, MI. The name Binge, although fitting, comes from one of the original golfers. This is the 26th year, of which I think I have done 13 or so. This year will be slightly different for me, mainly because I need to fit in some training time along with the usual festivities. I haven't run with a hangover yet...I'll let you know how it goes! A couple of the guys are former marathon runners and with any luck I can get them to join me for a few miles on Saturday.

Beccah and I went out for 6 miles last night. All in all it was very enjoyable, I had a little leg pain, but nothing to fret over. And by mile 4 it was gone. I can't believe how lucky we have been with the weather lately. It's just been gorgeous!! (knocking on wood). Just 10 days until the Crim, I am starting to get excited!!!

R.P.D.

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.

Truman Capote

THRU HELL AND BACK.....


The weather Saturday was perfect for running. The atmosphere was electric, people teaming about in their fluorescent yellow shirts. My number, 336 for you lottery people, was pinned on as was my championchip. After my brother-in-law Steve left(thanks for the lift) I kinda stood around and stretched, made some small talk with 2 ladies who were team in trainers, and waited for what seemed like ages for the race to start.
The race finally starts and 3 minutes later I cross the start/finish line hit my watch and try not to trip anyone as we startout. The first set of hills meets us about 50 yards into the race. What looks like one BIG hill turns into 3 hills with plateaus in between. The road is a sea of people and we're at the top before I know it. Pretty uneventful first mile, 10:33, a little slow but that's ok. 2nd and 3rd mile were pretty flat and at this point I felt as though I could run forever. 9:45 and 10:27 respectively. The first hill that I felt was somewhere in mile 4, but we made it without any real issues, 10:31. So far so good, my plan was to do the first 5 miles at a 10:15 to 10:30 pace and the last 5 in under 10 minute pace. So I purposely slowed down for mile 5 to get ready to pickup the pace, 10:58. Well wouldn't you know it someone decide to put all the big hills in the last half of the race. The route had 2 out and backs, I hate out and backs! The first after mile 5 had the first of what I will call from here on out, "testers" Almost a half mile long with an incline of oh, moderate pain. At th end there was a lady directing runners back onto the course and I mentioned something about the hill being, "amazing". Not the word I wanted to use, but there was no need to swear. She said something to the effect of "yep", but I could tell by the look in her eye that this had just been a warm up. Then it was back out on the course for about 1/2 mile before the second out and back. Did I mention I hate out and backs? Oh by the way, mile 6... 11:01
About 30 seconds into the second out and back I realized I was running down hill and it was steep! About half way down this hill it hit me... I have to come back this way! Well let me tell ya it looked like Everest when I turned around. It loomed like a wall in front of us. I started up and at some point realized that trying to run up this tester was an exercise in futility so I walked the rest of the way feeling as defeated as possible. I missed the 7 mile marker, it was somewhere in that hellish out and back so I have no split until mile 8, 22:33. To be honest from here until about a half mile from the finish is a blur, except for the 10 seconds I saw my daughter. The closer I got to the finish the more people I saw, which helped. I crossed the finish line with the last burst of energy I could muster and stop the watch, 1:48:03. The volunteer at the finished asked if I needed help removing my chip. Since there was no way I could bend over without passing out I said yes and thanked her as I wondered off. Two bananas and a cookie later I left feeling about as tired as possible, but at the same time really pleased and proud that I did it. Every thing about the race was a positive, yes even those damn hills!

R.P.D.

P.S.
Race results...69th out of 70 in my age bracket (whew) 823 out of 870 O.A.F.

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible. Arthur C. Clarke

SUB 9 MINUTE MILE.....







I know a lot of you are thinking, so! But for me it's a big deal!!! I went out yesterday with the intention of running a fast, for me!, 3 miles. Ended up doing 3.1 miles (according to google earth, 3.08) in 28:02. I was so happy!! Second mile was 8:46, Dude I was flyin'!!!!! Now for all of my coaches reading this, I am not going to run this fast all of the time and I will take it easy!!!! I just needed it yesterday!

As Saturday (Run thru Hell) approaches I find myself getting a wee bit nervous. It's not so much the run or the distance, but the fact that I am doing it by myself. Granted I will be with a lot of other runners, but you know what mean. I had a panic attack on the way into work this morning about the weather. "What if it rains", I thought. I don't have the clothes for running thru the mud!! My shoes will get trashed! WHATEVER!!!!

A good run in the rain would probably do me some good, cleanse the spirit and all that good stuff. The funny thing is I have no idea what the weather will be like tomorrow.

AND I DON'T CARE!!!!!

Have a great weekend!!!
R.P.D.

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
Pablo Picasso

NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just needed to get that off my chest!!!

R.P.D.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Ok this picture just freaks me out for some reason. I fully expect this thing to pick up a knife and go on a killing spree!! Vincent Price will come back from the dead and do the voice over on the news to report it. For those of you old enough to remember it reminds me of talking Tina from the Twilight Zone. "I'm talkin Tina and I am going to kill you". EWWW!!!!!

Ok enough of that! Thanks to Tim for the invite to Delia park. We figured that it was about a 2 mile loop and I did two loops. It was a nice change to get off the streets and onto the dirt. It feels good to be out running again! If anyone is going to the Run thru Hell let me know. I should be there around 7ish.

Lastly, I came across this website yesterday and was pretty amazed at what this guy is doing. 1310 miles in 50 days!!!! Wow!! http://www.endurance50.com/ I wish him all the best, too bad he will be in Michigan the day before my marathon.

As Always,

Have great Day,

R.P.D.

Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.

Mark Twain

I ACTUALLY RAN YESTERDAY.....



Well after a 10 day hiatus I managed to get 3 miles in yesterday and boy did it feel good! I was planning 6, but my route took me past my house and my wife was on the verge of a meltdown. We have 4 kids and one of the cousins stayed the night last night. Enough said! I was pretty surprised how sore my knees were when I started out. I haven't had any joint pain at all in my training(knocking on wood) , so I was a bit taken a back when both knees were sore. After a mile of two they loosened right up so I am not concerned, just surprised.

And now for something completely different...


Why do humans get stuck in a rut? Is it because we are lazy? Is it just routine? Is it an easier way to live? Why???

Have you ever noticed that with all of the technological advances to make life easier we actually have less free time????

There is nothing real about "Reality" TV.

If a bird farts in Alaska, gas prices will go up the next day in Michigan.

I have a necklace that I have only taken off once in 8 years...Is that gross???

Staring at a TV when it's off relaxes me more than when it's on.

Those little chlorine pucks that you can buy for your pool will stain the liner if you just throw them in the water.

Body Glide is wonderful

I like wonderful more than terrific.

craptastic is my favorite word, however!



Have a "wonderful" day!!!
R.P.D.


" Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it"
Ferris Bueller

CRAZY RIDE.....


Man o man what a ride it's been lately! I am starting to have a hard time telling which way is up. It is Tuesday the 8th, recommitment day for my marathon. Those of you who don't know what that means, it is the day have to decide weather or not I am going to actually do this thing. And if I don't raise enough money I have to pay the balance for the trip. It is fitting that I choose this day to write because I need to recommit and refocus my efforts. It has been over a week since my last run. Ten days to be exact. The last thing I have wanted to do of late is get out there and run! All my energy is gone and my head is somewhere else. So tonight, come hell or high water I am RUNNING!!!

My wife decided not to come with me to San Francisco for my marathon. She feels it will put too much of a financial burden on us, and another burden we don't need right now. That makes me sad, but I understand. I just really wanted her to be there with and me. I guess I will have to run with my cell phone!!!

This weekend I am running in "The Run Thru Hell" which is a 10 mile race through Pinckney, MI. The race route goes right past my sister's house so I will get a chance to see her and my nieces and nephew. I haven't run in this race, but it's supposed to be hilly, which will help me prepare for San Fran.

Here's to a good run tonight and to all of you! I hope you have a GREAT day and remember...

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

R.P.D.

THE SUN ALSO RISES


The fog is starting to lift. After a couple weeks of depression, anxiety, and anger I am finally starting to feel better. I haven't really had anything to write about since I haven't run in a week! My legs, specifically my quads, were very sore so I took a few days off. Tonight will be my first run this week and I hope to get my long run in on Sunday.

Rebeccah just got here yellow belt in Tang Soo Do. She is so proud of herself and so am I. She has her sights set on a black belt and with luck and hard work she will get it. She's planning on getting by the time she turns 15 (6 years). Beccah's has always been very independent and jumps in feet first to anything she does. Karate totally suits her and it also is helping her with self control and focus.

Well that's all for now...

R.P.D.


We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. Aristotle