TIME FOR REFLECTION....

So another year is almost over. 365 more days that I can't get back. Just how many of those days were wasted to a certain extent I really don't care to think about, but a will think about wasted days to come.
I am getting tired of "saying" things. The to do list is full and it is time to start scratching items off the list. So come the new year here are a few things I am going to do that I have been talking about doing for a long time....
...I am going to go to culinary school. I flirted with the idea of becoming a chef years ago and let the fear of change stop me. As the years go by I keep telling myself that I am too old...BAH!!!
...Getting my financial mess in order...enough said.
...Spend more QUALITY time with the kids...I need to be more of a playmate while at the same time continue to be the rule maker!
...talk to my sisters more.
...put more miles in. I love running, the feeling is like nothing else. People who don't get it will never understand. Those of you who do, know exactly what I am talking about. That feeling of not being able to go another step and yet going another mile!! It is so cool. I am no longer going to look to others for help in finding the time. I am going to MAKE time.
...seeing my mother at least twice a month.

Ok that is all for now. Have a Happy New Year!!!

R.P.D.

AND SO IT GOES....

Another week goes by and no running. I will be very glad when the holidays are over and I can start to develop some sort of schedule. Everything has just been crazy since Hawaii. I can't believe it has been three weeks!!!! It seems as though I barely have time to catch my breath before the next problem arises. I am not going to stress about it. Things will shake out, I will get back into some sort of normal routine. I have been more aware of my eating habits than I was last year. That is not necessarily true, I was aware of how much I was eating last year. I just couldn't stop myself!!! I have 15 more pounds to loose to get to my goal weight of 185 which I should be able to maintain with regular running. The problem occurs when I don't run...see above comment about not stressing!!!!
Anyhow, I miss the feeling of a run ending. That feeling of, you know I really didn't feel like running today, but now that I did I feel great!
This is going to be a big year you me in more ways than one, but where running is concerned I am committed to make significant strides towards Boston. What that means is putting the miles in come Hell or high water.

Thanks for stopping by,
R.P.D.

WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE?

I actually ran on Saturday, I will wait a minute for everyone to get back into their seats!!

A perfectly slow, comfortable 3 miles in the dead of winter here in Michigan. No aches, pains, complaints or any other type of ailments.

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and here's to a safe and happy New Year!

R.P.D.

P.S.
I was reminded over the holidays of who I am, or more precisely of who I used to be. And I think I like him. One day I plan on meeting him again, more to come...

HO!HO!HO!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year!!!! Sorry for the absence of blogs lately, but as I have said before. When I don't run, I don't blog. I haven't run since the marathon. I will do my best to get a few miles in this weekend!!! Keep your fingers crossed.


R.P.D.

TIME TO TELL THE STORY....

First thing I want to say, even though he doesn't read this here blog is happy 13th Birthday to my step son Nathan. I truly cannot believe he is 13 already, I haven't had many opportunities to see him since I got back from Hawaii, which bums me out! Happy b-day dude you are a great kid!!!
Ok, now for the report. I really don't know why, but my recollection of this marathon is nothing like last year. In San Fran I remember every single detail about the day, even now I can remember the smell in the air at the start, the look of the bay as we ran along fisherman's wharf. Hawaii seems like such a blur. A couple of reasons for that may be that, one, it was dark at the start and stayed dark for about 2.5 hours. The other I think was the rain, it poured on us as we stood in line for the race to start and then again several times during.
The weather leading up to the marathon was bad, how bad you ask? The Weds. before we arrived they had 80 mph winds on the big island. Rain had fallen for 10 days straight the night we arrived. Did someone move Honolulu to Seattle?? After 14 hours of mass transit we got checked into the hotel and yes it was raining.
Fast forward to Sunday morning, 3:30am. Yes 3:30am!!! I dragged myself out of bed and put the gear on for the race. Nothing special, TNT shirt, hat, shorts, socks, and shoes. 4 packs of GU safety pinned to the shorts. Off I went to meet the team. After some chit chat we headed off toward the start. Not even 5 minutes into the walk it started pouring. Luckily we found another hotel with a large covered area to huddle under. After a few minutes the rain stopped and we finished the trek to the start. The line seem to end at the 4 - 5 hour corral so that is where we stood. After 30 minutes and another down pour the cannon sounded and the fireworks signalled the beginning of the race. We crossed the start line some 18 later and the rains came again. Soaked to the skin, water sloshing around in my shoes at miles 1.5 I had the feeling it was going to be a long, long run. This is where things get fuzzy. The only thing I recall about the first 8 miles is that my right foot was on fire. That and the fact that there were people everywhere. I was never more than 2 or 3 feet away from another runner the whole race! At mile 8 we started up diamond head and if it weren't crowded enough the road narrowed. This is because the elite runners and wheel chair athletes were making their way back. We were front to back, shoulder to shoulder the whole way up, it was crazy. The next thing I know it is mile 12 and I had my first real thoughts about not making it. By this time my other foot had joined the party so now every step was pins and needles, but I plodded on. At some point around the 15 miles mark I ran into coach Janet. Janet is one of those rare people who can cheer me up without saying a word. We ran together for a few minutes and I felt better. At some point prior to that I started to run walk every mile and I was really starting to feel the miles. After a loop around and back I hooked up once again with Janet at around mile 18 and we ran together until 20. Again I am clueless until mile 24 when it was back up Diamond head. I finally got my second wind and the way up was tolerable. Once you get to the top it was mile 25 and all down hill from the there. The next thing I remember is the finish. Marathon number two was in the books and man did my feet hurt!!!
Now under ordinary conditions the park that we finished in must be beautiful, but that day is was a muddy mess. It is hard enough to walk, but with 5 pounds of mud caked to the running shoes it was damn near impossible!
My disappointment was not in the race, but my lack of attention during. I had my down almost the whole race, which is unusual for me. Once in a while I would look up and the scenery was incredible, but then it was right back down to the pavement again. Not sure why? One of these days I'll have to back and look at what I missed!

Take care,
R.P.D.

MARATHON REPORT, SORT OF...

Sorry for the delay in posting my marathon report, but I just can't seem to get my thoughts organized to write them down. In a nutshell, as was the case last year it was an experience I won't soon forget and one I hope to build on in the future. I will post a detailed report in a day or two.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way and I will report back soon...

promise.


R.P.D.

P.S.
5:16:31

FINAL COUNTDOWN...

Toothbrush.....check
bodyglide........check
running shoes....check
shorts, socks, hat, nerves.....check
I am officially ready to go. Mentally that is. Physically we'll see. This will be my last post before my 2nd marathon and I have to tell ya it couldn't come at a better time. Not only because I get to leave the 20 degree temps of Michigan to go to Hawaii, but I need the break mentally.
I have a plan, I have a target, I have a goal. And if I don't meet any of them I have a back up!

THE PLAN.....to start slowly, real slow and stay slow for no less than 6 miles.
THE TARGET....4:30:00, by starting slow 10:30 or slower I am hoping to have enough reserves in the tank to make catch the 4:30 pace group at the end.
THE GOAL....4:28:24 this is exactly 1 hour faster than my previous marathon.

THE BACKUP....have fun with it. I am so not going to stress if any of the above do not happen. I am only going to be there for a short time and may never get a chance to go back, so I am there to enjoy myself 1st, run a marathon 2nd. Everything else is gravy.

I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to where I am. The team, Tim, Ken, Dana, Sandy, Anika, to name only a few. The family, Nate, Jack, Chloe and Beth. To my fellow bloggers like Bill, Al, Dabigleap, Greatlakesrunnergirl who inspire me to run farther and faster.

And last of all to Beccah, my daughter. As I have said before and will again. If not for her I would not be sitting here writing this. I love her very, very much.

Thank you for stopping by,
R.P.D.