Must Watch

"Only One Way Out Of The World"

Interesting title huh? Comes from the song "Why I Am" by the Dave Matthews Band and is extremely fitting for a blog post where I sum up the events of the last 6 weeks or so....

We said good-bye to my Mom on Tuesday. Her battle with cancer ended on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at approximately 11:05 a.m. The latest rounds of the battle were fought over the last 12 months or so, and while she fought valiantly, ultimately that bastard of a disease won. Her chemotherapy treatments really took their toll on her since about August or September and six weeks ago she received her last treatment. After that it was just a matter of time, since there is only one way out of this life...

So you can understand that things sort of fell by the wayside as my family began to adjust to, and cope with the reality of her final days. I was able to have a great visit with about two weeks before she passed, and I am grateful I took advantage of that visit to tell her how much I loved and appreciated her efforts into helping make me the person I am today.

She celebrated her 72nd birthday last Thursday. Late that afternoon her condition warranted moving to the hospice care facility where she would spend her last hours surrounded by her friends and family. She left this world the way she had expressed to me that she wanted to: she went to sleep and didn't wake up.

I'm still coming to grips with the gravity of the situation, and I miss her dearly, but I am very thankful that her ordeal is over.

The event that resonates the most with me from Tuesday: Over the last few years my mother gather with a group of women that she attended elementary school with, that's correct, elementary school, for lunch on a regular basis. I had a great conversation with one of those women who related to me how much she admired my mother's strength as she confronted the disease. That meant so much to me...that and she told me that my Mom was extremely proud of me. What more could a person want?

She leaves behind a husband of 48 years, three children, and three grandchildren. She touched many lives. She will be remembered by many.

I will miss her. I will try to carry her spirit with me and demonstrate it in my daily life. What better memorial could there be than that?

Priorites

Learned a valuable lesson yesterday.

This time of the year, spring sports seasons, I have very little control over my schedule due to a variety of factors: weather, spur of the moment scheduling changes, events that have no time limits, etc, etc.

The lesson? I've got to make my stuff a priority when I can. No putting of a run until the afternoon because the afternoon while clear on my calendar might be spent at the baseball field. No putting off that phone call, or paperwork because I might have to be at a softball game. You get the idea.

I'm fortunate that my work day typically doesn't start until mid-morning, so I've got the time. I just need to spend that time more judiciously.

I need to be a bit selfish. Me first. Because if I take care of me first, then I'll be in a better frame of mind to tackle the events of the rest of my day. Then everyone wins.

Apologies

I need to go on the record with an apology.

I haven't been able to update this as frequent as of late due to circumstances beyond my control. My family is dealing with some end of life issues right now, and while I will at some point talk about all the stuff bouncing around my head right now because of that I'm unsure of how to do so without airing familial dirty laundry and violating privacy.

Right now it's hard to put things into words, so I'm going to refrain for the time being.

I'm still alive and kicking and trying to get ready for my two goal races this spring, and I'm updating the reading list over there on the right just so all 4 of you don't think I've fallen into a giant hole and can't get out.

I promise there will be an update this weekend - excellent chance there will be great news to share after a 5k on Saturday.

Grading Scale

In the classes I teach the grading scale says that 87-89.9% is a B+, 90-92.9 is a B, and 93-100 is an A. (Don't get me started on +/- grading scales...still haven't been able to get anyone to tell me why there isn't an A+ and if there really is a big enough difference between an 86.9 and a 87 to warrant that little "+", and no it's the grading scale the Athletic Training Education Program uses so no, I can't change it.)

Sorry for the diatribe.

87%. A solid, above average (no matter what scale you use) effort we would all agree? Good.

Then I had a solid, above average week of running last week. Schedule called for 32 miles and I ran 87% of that amount, or 27.8. Most importantly though, I learned some things, most of which fall under the I'm not doing all that I can to give myself a chance to succeed category:

• I need to get more consistent sleep.
• I'm not eating good enough throughout the day
• I'm definitely not refueling correctly after runs, especially after hard, quality runs that are on my schedule now.
• I'm not doing enough ancillary work (foam roller, strengthening, etc).
• I've totally abandoned any other form of workout besides running.

So what am I going to do with all of this knowledge you ask? I've already made on small change to re-incorporate some general hip/leg strengthening back into my regimen and I'm working on adding back in some of the other things that have fallen to the wayside - slowly. I'm trying to avoid throwing so much stuff at myself that I can't get it all done. Add one thing each week and then build on it.

One thing I'm working on this week? Lights out at 10 pm. I'll let you know how it goes.

Gaps

I realize that some time has passed since my last post here...not for the lack of anything to say, just not enough time to say it, and not sure how to say it.

But I'm not giving up on this, just waiting for things to settle down a bit.

So check back in a day or two.

What We Need

I'm not really a fan of sports.

Okay, I am, but I don't buy into the cliches people like to banter about regards sports. You know things like "sports build character", "sports teaches life lessons", "sports show us that if you work hard you can be a champion". Makes. Me. Want. To. Puke.

Sports do teach us lessons, except they are things like this: if you're talented people will fawn over you, if you're talented the rules don't apply to you, if you're talented you can be lazy and not have to work and still be successful, if you're talented people will make excuses for you, and most importantly if you're bigger/faster/stronger than your opponent 7.5-8 times out of 1o you'll win.

Why this post?

Because of this post.

That's the problem with sports. The inmates are running the asylum.

Ponder This

Lots of not-so-fun-but-part-of-being-an-adult-so-get-your-big-boy-pants-on-and-deal-with-it stuff going on in my world as of late.

I'm a regular listener to the Phedippidations podcast and last week's episode talked about this essay by Dr. George Sheehan, "Is Running A Religion?"

We all deal with things differently, seek solace in different places, but take a few minutes to read that essay. I know running has been, and continues to be, a place that I find renewal. Well, that is when I'm able to do it.

Then ask yourself, what is that place of renewal for you.

A Return

So after spending the first two weeks of 2010 in a boot (self imposed) and the first three weeks of 2010 not running my ankle/foot/shin finally responded.

Yesterday was my first official day back in training - okay, so I ran a whopping 2.57 miles last week over three days to see how it would respond - and I actually got to run outside. You can only guess what happened then. That's right, it snowed last night. Have I mentioned how much I love the winters here in west Michigan? So back to the hamster wheel it is for me. Sort of reminds me of Punxsutaweny Phil, see the white stuff scurry back inside. Boring yes, but infinitely less likely to be injured.

The goal this week is about 20-25 miles. Yes, I've had to totally redo my training plan to accommodate a lower peak training mileage (still not pleased about that, but that's what injury forces you to do) but still have the same goal for the HM at Bayshore.

The one positive from all this? I've actually used my portion of the YMCA membership! That and I've gotten in the habit of getting up and getting my workouts done...well, that is until today.

Off The Recent Topics, But of Vital Importance

I saw this link on a friend's blog. Clicked it and after reading it, I've got to post it here. No idea if anyone will follow it and read. I hope they do because it is simply the most cogent defense of gay marriage I've ever read.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/229957

No matter what your stance on the subject, or how you came to your opinion, take the 5-7 minutes it took me to read it and at least be open to hearing the argument.

Progress? Maybe...

Well at least I don't have an x-ray or a MRI in my future...yet.

Had a great conversation with our team doc (and personal physician) today after the basketball game. After a thorough evaluation she agrees with me that while we can't ignore the bony tenderness she thinks it's a soft-tissue issue that has irritated the bone.

I'm supposed to continue to wear the boot and I can cross train, and we will re-evaluate the situation on Wednesday (another home basketball game) and decide if diagnostic testing it warranted.

I also sat down an looked at the calendar: I want at least 16 weeks of training leading into my spring goal race Memorial Day weekend, which means I could push back the re-start of training until Feb 8. So I have some time to let this heal properly, BUT I need to get my ass to the YMCA and try to maintain my fitness.

Setbacks, Nothing But Setbacks

I'm really beginning to develop a loathing for the month of January.

Second year in a row that the ice/snow of West Michigan has thrown me an injury curveball for a called third strike.

I'm officially on the shelf. Well I've been on the shelf since 12/29/09 and tried an easy run yesterday (on the TM of course) that did not go well, so not only am I back on the no running plan for another week but I'm also in a boot. Desperate times call for drastic measures!

Last year it was a run on Jan 8. This year I go into January with an injury. I think I narrowed it down though - all the pain started after I ran outside on 12/23 and 12/24 - so what does that mean? As much as I might not like it, I'm inside until the ground is clear enough to run. So maybe March? April?

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

I've had a great day. Spent the morning at work/practice - okay maybe that part wasn't great - and then the rest of the day with T. Our original intentions were to see Sherlock Holmes at the 3:30 showing. When we arrived at the theater the parking lot looked like it was Dec 23. The amount of people inside waiting to buy tickets reminded me of a Friday night at 10:00 p.m. when I was in high school so we decided that waiting in line and missing the first 10 minutes of the movie was something we could do without.

Neither one of us wanted to head home, so a trip to the new Barnes & Noble at the fancy mall was in order. Both of us are people that could spend hours in a bookstore - PNW people: goddamn do I miss trips to Portland and Powell's. We managed to kill most of the afternoon there before coming home and fixing a nice dinner and just spending the rest of the night like old, boring people.

But here's the thing: I absolutely loved it.

Then in wanting to kill some time before I headed to bed I went back and read the first year of this thing...1) I can't believe I've got 3.5 years worth of entries on here, 2) people still read the thing...and I realized just how much things have changed, but are still the same: I'm still trying to relate mundane things of my life in a funny way and Erin is still reading! Thanks, big guy.

In all seriousness, 2010 is here and it may still be the hangover of 2009 lingering but I'm not sure it's going to be a good year. I'm going to do my best to make it one, but some things in life are beyond our control, as 2009 reinforced for me. My hopes are high, so you'd better not kick me in the teeth 2010.

What's Old Is New Again

At the beginning of this decade I was someone who utilized a Franklin (now Franklin Covey) planner to stay organized. I was working outside of Nashville, TN, and trying to keep all the responsibilities that went into my job; including but not limited to football, men's basketball, men's/women's tennis, supervising graduate assistants, and teaching class, so I used the planner.

Then technology took over. I've gone from a PDA, to a smartphone, to an iPhone now. Love it. I was able to shed the bulky paper planner and streamline everything into one place. Or two if you count the iMac at home.

But after much contemplation too many things were still falling through the cracks - I've felt I was behind the eight ball for most of 2009 and always felt like I was playing catch up - I'm going back to organizing at least work stuff (still a large number of sports and teaching responsibilities) with a new, thinner, less bulky version of the Franklin planner. I'll let you know how it pans out...

But, the to me the thing that hits home the most? It's a decade later and I still haven't managed to get organized.

Damn you snow!!!!

Yeah, I'm shaking my fist at the snow/ice on the ground like an old crazy man. It's done it to me again this year. Ever since my run outside last Thursday my right ankle has been sore and after my run on the TM yesterday it was even more swollen and pissed off so I have officially put myself on the three day disabled list. Which means I'm done running for 2009. I'm actually going to follow the advice/treatment regimen I would give one of my athletes suffering from the same condition. So there ya have it. Great way to end 2009. At least I hit my mileage goal before I had to pull the plug.

That's A Wrap

Second week of my spring race training schedule in the books. I didn't do as well this week as I did the first, but then I was derailed a bit by the winter storm that hit the 24th into the 25th. Even I'm not crazy enough to run when there is between .1-.2" of ice on the ground, plus it's been snowing constantly since about 7 pm yesterday so the majority of my miles were inside.

Still managed to hit 27 miles for the week, and more importantly I hit my goal mileage for 2009 this week. So I've got that going for me.

One week left in 2009, here's hoping it will be a good one!

What Makes A Runner?

That's a question I've mulled and pondered for a while now, and a question that T and I have debated on many a run together and finally I think I've come up with a answer that I'm comfortable with...well, maybe I'm taking too much credit. Follow the link below and then come back:

John Bingham's Final Column For Runners World

I think that essay says it succinctly and elegantly.

Being a runner isn't about how many miles you run, PRs, or if you've run a marathon or not (or how long it took you). It's not about how many days a week you run, or how many days in a row - you just have to run, and I'm not criticizing the people those things are important to because being a runner is about making running a healthy part of your life. Yeah, we all have goals: some want to BQ, some want to break 20:00 for a 5k, some want to run a sub 4 hour marathon, some want to run ultras, and some just want to escape into their head on their daily 6 miler and may never sign up for a race. All of those are runners because running is part of who they are.

So you can argue jogger vs runner, real runner vs someone who Gallowalks, but I'm not going to participate in those anymore. I've found my answer: if you've made running a part of you then you're one of us. Welcome to the club and the more the merrier.

Spring 2010 Goal Race

After much contemplation and double and triple checking spring sports schedules a spring goal race has been determined:

The Bayshore Half Marathon in Traverse City, MI.

This will kill multiple birds with one stone: spring goal race for both T, me, and it will give us the excuse to spend the weekend and explore northern Michigan (something we have yet to do in 3+ years of living here).

Race day is Saturday, May 29, which means there are 24 weeks to train starting yesterday. Let the fun begin!

Hometown Fan

I'm a big fan of the city of Cincinnati. Well, not a big enough fan of it to live there but that's another blog post in and of itself, but it's where I grew up. I've been a Bengals fan ever since the summer that I worked training camp (1992 for those keeping track of how old I am), cheer on the Reds, love Skyline Chili, etc, etc, etc.

But that's where it stops. I am not a fan of the University of Cincinnati, or Xavier University (okay, I can tolerate Xavier doing well) for one reason and one reason only...and here it is for all those people who look at me with that incredulous look when I tell 'em I'm not a fan:

I went to Miami. Miami and sUCks participate in the oldest football rivalry west of the Allegheny mountains and play every year for the Victory Bell. No, Miami hasn't done well in the rivalry recently but we hold the edge 59-48-7 in the series. In my four years on campus we were 2-1-1 in the rivalry and I got to see the bell up close in the football locker room.

I'm a Redskin (not a RedHawk). I would no more cheer on sUCks than I would cheer on that school from Tuscaloosa - War Eagle!!! - or a Red Sox fan would like to see the Yankees do well in a year when the Sox had pitching issues so stop asking if I'm happy that sUCks is in the BCS. As much as it pains me to say this...I hope Florida wins the game.

Another Recommended Read

An Honorable Run by Matt McCue

If you've read Lear's Running With the Buffaloes you need to read this book.

If you've ever had someone take an interest in you're well being and growth as a person, you need to read this book.

You don't have to be a runner, or an athlete at all, to appreciate this book.