Feeling positive...

It was a nice Thanksgiving weekend. I did work 9 hours Thanksgiving Day as well as another 34 hours Friday through Sunday, but had a great time with my son who flew in in Wednesday night. We got tickets for the Gopher/Iowa game from a friend and attended, even though it was cold, it was fun. He was able to spend time with his Aunt, Uncle, niece, nephew and Grandparents as well.

For those who may not know him or be aware, he is attending the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. (The thing about coming home is I think they catch up on his sleep...) He is 21 and really a great person. He has run Grandma's with me twice, and kicked my bottom doing so (but i still have a PR just under an hour of his PR). He still plays great tennis. (See the club tennis page.).

A little more about him. It was Thanksgiving, 1994 when there was an event which would change his life. It also changed much for all around him as well. We were visiting in my fathers farm where his right hand was amputated. He really is lucky to survive. He never really sulked in loss and is very successful due to his attitude. Of course, attitude is so much. If you do not believe me check this out: (Website: http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/)



But I think there was a attitude and balance he learned from his grandpa, his mom, Neal Halberg, Tommy Valentini, Steve Wilkenson and so many others. Parents do not raise a child successfully without others and there were so many others that have made him into the successful man he is today.

Enough about that, although once again on this weekend I spent time with some good tears. Almost each year cry less about the accident and the impacts of that day. But this year, as I have written before, it is the loss of loved ones which really hurts a little more. I think is is strange the way some people are sheltered and never see the things in this world other experience. Some of you know Shelley, we speak of how she has never had a human loss. She has had real bad luck lately with two of her three cherished pets getting ill and were put down. That was hard for her and she adjusted, I think.

Well this weekend, was an especially hard one as well one with elation of having my son home. I kept hearing songs on the radio which brought back memories. I started to cry when a few of Dana's favorite songs came on and I bet I looked like an idiot crying at the stoplight. As many of you know how much Dana was such a positive influence in my life only to see hers cut short...

Then I heard some 80's songs. That was when a good friend committed suicide and two other were lost in a car accident. Then the late 80's, when my nephew drowned in a few feet of water. These losses hit me hard this weekend for some reason.

But a good cry seems to wash away some of the pain and sorrow we hold within ourselves. I know that the positive feeling that comes from a good hard cry really makes things better for a while. But it is still hard overcoming the loss of a great friend. I know there have been many and there will be more. But I try hard to recall the best, and that usually helps. In 1988, I had a great friend and we grew apart, that is also hard to accept but when I see they are doing well and happy, that can only bring a great smile. Life throws us so many curves, but as good catcher does not let the ball of life pass... We grasp it hard and throw it back for another pitch!

Today I was talking to someone who asked me how is it so often I laugh? I responded by saying, "Everyday I laugh because I can". Laughing is beneficial my your health. It has been said that laughing for 10 minutes heartily is equivalent to 10 minutes of moderate jogging. So tonight, as I came home after crying several times throughout the day, I thought if laughing is beneficial to your health, what are the benefits of crying? We all have those nights here tear drops saturate our pillows. For those who say they have never cried, I say you have never lived.

And this cry will get me into the gym more often, I can feel it! It was something that needed to get done and as I close this post, I smile... My son will leave tomorrow but it will be a brighter day for so many reasons that I know his going back to school after a short visit, I will be OK.

Carry on my friends...

Fatigue, memory loss and other losses

uBefore I start, all this talk about the "pat down" was put in a different perspective in a cartoon sent to me by a friend. Here it is:



After a third week of 75-80 hour work weeks including Saturday/Sunday of over 26 hours on those two days on successive weekends, I tend to find I have a loss of memory. I used to get concerned over this, but not any longer. What is amazing is how people will tell me what I accomplished and I look at them like "where have I been".

I started to compare this to my long running efforts. I have had several training runs which were over 20 hours. As I look back, I recall a common thing, once I reach a certain level of fatigue, my body goes into some type of auto-pilot before it crashes.

Like the 2008 ST 100 attempt. I recall so much of the race, until about 4 AM (20 hours after the start). Then the memories fade and by the 25th hour, I am totally unaware of what happened. My mind just shut down. I recalled when I quit at 28 hours, like my mind took back control of the body and that was the end.

In these long weeks I find the same. I go into auto pilot. I just float along. I am actually much more productive then when I am aware of my surroundings. It is an interesting phenomena. I am not sure if it has been studied or not but would be interesting. But sadly, I do not realize who I have spoke to or what I said. This could be dangerous. But the general consensus of others I as is my facts are significantly accurate and I can answer much more detailed questions on the fly. This is just strange.

I had read taking extra vitamin B12 can assist in reducing this activity. I used to take a Multiple B vitamin each morning but lately, I have skipped taking it on a regular basis. I should consider taking it for 2 weeks and track the progress since I have two more bad weeks before I get to come back to a 50 hour week. At times I think this is all a bummer but in reality, in this time of job difficulties, I am just happy to be working. I have many friend who would love to be in my shoes, so it is not bitching, just the facts.

I read an article today which was actually sad for me to read. Many might have know the 53 year old Mike Broderick. He finished Western States 100, in August finished the 50K Green Lakes Endurance Run and in September, he finished a marathon and half-marathon. On November 4, 2010, he died. He had an aggressive lung cancer.

He was a lawyer left the profession to do hat he liked - run, coach and teach. He threw himself into running with knowledge was so vast that he was in demand as a coach. I only met the man once. He reminded me of me with little tact in what we said but we were also funny and charismatic. There is that trait of being happy with running whether we were first, last or in between.

One website posted a e-mail from mike which read:

"It turns out that the shortness of breath and other symptoms which I have been experiencing over the past several weeks are not due to pneumonia after all. I apparently have lung cancer and am now in the process of further testing and evaluation to determine the extent to which it may have spread and to begin a course of treatment."

He died just weeks later.

As I age, as we all age, we see life just for what it is... Precious. It is times like these I really need to look in the mirror and not see the fat, out of shape runner, but the person who has been given another breath, another step and another moment to either cherish, or waste.

May we all cherish our loved ones, friends and even enemies on the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Another run

I did another 2 mile run. It was rather enjoyable. Well, kind of sucked in the process but after i was done it was so great when I was done. The Strassburg sock really helps the PF, but the pain in my toes in the morning is really odd. I will take a little toe pain in the morning anytime over the PF pain.

There is a benefit for Larry and Colleen Pederson next weekend. My son is here from Colorado and i am working tennis and will miss it. If anyone wants to meet great people, help great people and work off a little post Thanksgiving calories, check it out! Should be great!

I was talking to a few friends of mine and they pointed out the Wild West Relay. If I get back into it by next year, I may have to have my son and a few others give it a try. It is 36 legs and 200 miles. There are several 7-12 team runners. Entry is about $1,300. The one I like if the Flatliners (all runners live below 2,500 feet. Minnesota qualifies! They have structured formats or Helter Skelter where anyone runs whatever they can... Leave Fort Collins and heads to Wyoming then southwest, over the mountains! Any interest?

For a shorter race, consider The Colorado Relay? Both sound cool...

This is the type of events that can make me dream and motivate me as needed...

Either way, I have a few weeks where I will have no less than 70 hours work weeks so one week at a time. May we all have a great Thanksgiving and take care to you all.

I want to close with a story I heard today:

A man was running behind an Amish Carriage which has a bumper sticker which read:

"Energy efficient vehicle. Runs on grass and oats."

This was on one bumper and on the other it read:

"CAUTION: AVOID THE EXHAUST!"

Carry on my friends, carry on...

2 miles, 31 minutes, no pain....

Just a quick, well slow, update... The SOCK has worked well for the PF... Running, just in time for snow this weekend! Great timing.

My pal Wayne Nelson shared the comic below...



Cool!

God bless our Veteran's on this day... Carry on...