Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Umm... Err... Was that a Milepost?

I crossed the 350 mile mark of miles run in 2008. I also crossed the 950 mile mark on my Nike+ iPod system. Both of these occurred today!

It sure is fun to run!

Monday, March 24, 2008

The Road To... Moab!

I ran 11 miles yesterday. I ran 5.5 miles today.


Moab
I am going on vacation next week. It is to one of my favorite places in the entire world. I'm going to Moab, Utah.

This is nothing new. I tend to go to Moab 2 - 3 times a year. It is close enough to visit on a regular basis, yet far enough away to be able to enjoy while forgetting about the every day matters of life's occurences.

Now, you may ask, What is there about Moab that is so unique? I can do what I like to do. Me against the elements! And what elements they are!


Here I am running on the Moab Rim Trail. Excellent views of red rock canyon country and the Colorado river!


This the Mighty YJ (the jeep) navigating White Knuckle Hill. This hill is a very steep hill that you enter facing forward. It is extremely scary and can make personal parts pucker precariously!


This is my friend, Tom, at the top of the entrance to the Cliff Hanger Trail. This obstacle is one of the worst on this trail.

I have one great support group this time around. We should have 12 to 15 rigs from around these great United States. I take water, my garmin watch, my iPod and an FRS radio. I need to stay within radio contact of the group, and within a few feet of the trail, itself. That way all of the bases are covered. It doesn't matter if a Jeep breaks down or if I break down, the situation will be covered! I can either get back to them or they can get to me.

I am looking forward to it!


For Whatever Reason!
There is a great couple podcast called, For Whatever Reason!

I look forward to this podcast every week. They discuss food, beer and many other fascinating facets of life. I heartily recommend it for each of you! Oh, yeah, in episode 46, they discuss this humble runner and his Chicago Marathon run!

(Tim is also a runner!)


Tagged Again!
My friend, Jamie, Of The Diabetic Runner has tagged me! This time around the rules are a bit different. Here they are:

Six Word Memoir
There is no way you can sum up a person’s life in six words, but I think you can capture their current state, which is what I’ve tried to do. Now, here’s the rules for the challenge to complete the Six Word Memoir.

1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4. Tag at least five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

OK, let's start this exercise. Many of you know that I break the rules. First of all, I tend not to tag others. That would knock out rules 4 & 5. That's just me being me. If you really want to be tagged, just leave me a comment and I will include your tag in the next blog that I do.

Do start thinking about your answer and do check out Jamie's site at http://diabeticrunner.com/ for the rules. His answers also involved a lot of thought, so check his examples. Cool and thoughtful.

I do beleive that someone in the near future will tag you for a Six Word Memoir!

Now... What am I going to use as my six word memoir?
Shy runner going for Chicago Marathon!

Friday, March 21, 2008

1. Paranoia, 2. The Need for Scheduling & 3. Family

I thought that I might explain some of the needs that I experience.

I am fascinated by the process of preparing for this marathon. That means telling all of my friends that frequent here about my desire. That means registering for the marathon. That means getting reservations for the event. That means training.

I have read so many accounts of other bloggers telling of their first experience. I have seen what they have done and accomplished in their lives. I am jealous of their ability to set goals and accomplish them.

I feel that I am about to prove to myself what I am capable of doing on a personal basis. Beleive me... My family, my friends, my co-workers, and even people I talk with occasionally through my work and my personal life know about this event and what it means to me!

2. The Need for Scheduling -
It doesn't help that I am the kind of individual that needs to have things scheduled. I like to get up and go to bed at the same time. I eat, run and work under a schedule. I am not very spontaneous. I use this 'ability' to increase my own experience.

Where I work, I am the dispatcher. I say that because I create the schedules that most of the facilities are cleaned under. I am good at it. It results in satisfied customers.

1. Paranoia -
Now for the paranoia. I have been checking both the Chicago Marathon Hotel website and Orbitz for information on hotels.

When I first started looking, I noticed that prices were lower than they are now. The website for the marathon shows several of the 'sponsoring' hotels as having waiting lists for rooms. Between yesterday morning and yesterday afternoon, the overall package price of what I was looking at increased by $30.00.

I wanted to have a hotel close to the finish line.

3. Family -
I wanted to get the same hotel as my brother, Clint, who has confirmed that he would be there. We have accomplished all of that.

So... This guy decided to 'Be Prepared' and go for it!

Umm... Err... I never was a boy scout, either.

Summation -
Maybe, if I ever run another marathon, I will not need to make plans like these so early, but right now I find comfort in knowing that I am ready for the trip (if not yet for the marathon).


BTW -
I ran 30.36 miles this week. That included a long run of 14.5 miles. Tomorrow is a rest day. Under sunny skies in the beautiful state of Colorado, I will attempt a jeep ride tomorrow. If the snow is still too deep, then I am ready for a casual Saturday morning drive!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Reservations Paid For and Confirmed...

I am Chicago bound!

I am flying into Chicago Midway airport at 1:30 PM and will be staying at the Congress Park Hotel. I will be in Chicago from the 10th to the 14th!

Now that I have made my confirmed reservations, I am committed to the marathon!

Who else is going now?

Monday, March 17, 2008

On the Road...

I ran 30.1 miles last week. My long run was 12 miles.

Yesterday, I started this week with a 14.5 mile run.

Chicago...

One of my older brothers and his great wife will be going to Chicago (Thanks, Clint and Susan!) I am trying to make it an opportunity for all of my siblings to come and experience it with me. That would be great!

I am planning on getting to Chicago on October 10th and leaving on the 14th. That will give me race time and some family time. We are hoping to go and see the old family stomping grounds (this is an activity that both Clint and I enjoy).

Plans now are to spend enough money to have a good competition experience, but not too much money. I know that many of the friends of this blog are also planning on attending, assisting, coordinating and/or running it.

Where is everybody planning on staying? I've gotten some suggestions but I may not be able to do them. So, I need to get some more ideas.

Right now, it looks like I will be making a reservation at the Best Western - Grant Park. On a map, it looks like it will be close to the start / finish lines. The hotel does not have the greatest of ratings but the location looks good.

Hmmm...

And... Umm, err... I have seen and am familiar with most of the Chicago sites and points of interest! I remember staring out at the Chicago skyline from the observation floor of the Sears Tower and seeing a spider in its web on the outside of the glass. Thanks for all of those great suggestions!

Humble Triathlete!!
Vote for Shirley again! She would be a great addition to the evotri team. Read all about it at her web blog, humble triathlete. Please just send an email to vote@evotri.com with http://HumbleTriathlete.blogspot.com in the subject line. Let's get her a sponsor!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The Road To Chicago!

Here is the word!

I, Charles White, am officially registered for the Chicago Marathon!

I paid the $110 for the registration.

I bought a ChampionChip for the race. It will be a momento and a souvenitr of the trip, plus I can use it here for some races!

I bought the "Commemorative Edition" of the Chicago Tribune for that weekend.

I also purchased one seat at the buffet the night before!

I am on the way!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Let's Talk about Marathons...

Hello my friends!

Let's start talking about marathons.

I, or should I say my fictitious friend, is about to commit to a marathon. He is yet to hear from some key family members, but he is ready to commit.

I, or should I say my fictitious friend, is thinking about the Chicago marathon that is going to be held on October 12th this year.

Why Chicago? Didn't they have a miserable showing last year? Why commit to something that may fail again?

The Positives and the Negatives
I, or should I say my fictitious friend, has a few reasons. First of all, I am somewhat familiar with the Chicago area. I spent several summers there whilst growing up. I know the area that the race will start at. Several of you, my friends and fellow bloggers, are also planning on attending. It is extolled as a "Fast and Flat" course. It should be easily completed within the 6 and a half hour time limit.

Those are the positives. Here are the negatives. I am a shy and introverted person. I have always been that way. I will be very ecstatic at meeting you, then quiet down and sit in the corner watching everyone else. It is my nature. I am planning on going alone. I have family in the area and do hope to see them. But I am planning on being there by myself. That is pretty scary to me.

Plans.
I, or should I say my fictitious friend, would need some help from all of you. Again, there are many things I need to consider. I am going to put both feet in and commit. That means that I will register and secure my flights and hotels. I also have to start a new training program.

That is where all of you come into play.

Finally...
I, or should I say my fictitious friend, am weak! I, or should I say my fictitious friend, am not worthy. But I, or should I say my fictitious friend, am going to commit. AND I, or should I say my fictitious friend, need all of the advice and preparation help that I can get.

Can I, or should I say my fictitious friend, count on you?

Friday, March 07, 2008

Stop me if you've heard it, but...

· Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.
· A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."
· Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.
· A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
· A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says "A beer please, and one for the road."
· Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: " Does this taste funny to you?"
· "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home." "That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "Is it common?" Well, "It's Not Unusual."
· Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially Inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," says Dolly. "It's true; no bull!" exclaims Daisy.
· An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.
· Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
· I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I couldn't find any.
· A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you can't -- I've cut off your arms!"
· I went to a seafood disco last week . . . And pulled a mussel.
· What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.
· Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says, "Dam!"
· Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
· A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse. "But why," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
· A woman has identical twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt, and is named "Ahmal." The other goe s to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
· Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him. (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) . . . A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
· And finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Laughter is sometimes a key to have a really long life. I hope that you enjoyed this bit of Friday humor.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

What’s in a Title anyway?

Alright… I’m starting to extend my weekly long runs. I’ve been doing a pretty standard 10K on Sunday mornings, but it is time to expand my efforts. Two weekends ago I ran 8 miles. Last Sunday, I ran 9.5 miles. I am planning on running 11 miles this Sunday.

Now lets you and I have a down home practical talk. Lets not talk of training programs but instead of the practicality of muscle memory and the need to establish endurance.

I’ve read of the hows and whys of training & preparation for long runs.

Suppose a fictitious person wanted to run a marathon? Suppose this fictitious individual is running between 25 to 30 miles a week? Suppose this alleged person would like to know how do you establish your long runs? How do you increase the mileage?

I’d like to hear from you (for this fictitious person) on the following training parameters:
· How often do you increase your mileage?
· How much do you increase?
· When do you fall back?
· How often is a rest needed when you are in the process of extending your weekly log runs?

Susan
Susan has found another friend! This guy is a jailer in Clark County, Washington. She feels empathy for him as they have something in common. Do you want to hear about this new friend of hers?

Just go here - www.2g1b.com - and listen to podcast #280.

Susan writes the extremely popular running blog -
http://www.irunformylife.blogspot.com/

I think that Susan has a sweet voice also…


At The Office –
It was a quiet afternoon yesterday. Then the police show up at the hotel across the street from the office. Then more police show up, then the fire department shows up, then the hazmat guys show up! What the heck is going on?
Well, it ended up being an investigation about a meth (amphetamine) lab being set up in one of the rooms!

Read about it here where I wrote a more in depth article with video and a picture –
http://www.2guys1brain.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=972

Additional Running Information?
I ran 30 miles even last week!

I have run 29.72 miles this week! So far…

Only 23 days until I head to Moab! I will soon be running trails in Moab again!