Short blog this week. Family and work demands are taking priority at the moment.
I've been blogging now for almost three years. (Yikes!) And, it is a way to keep the creative juices flowing and have a bit of fun with it. I don't go into too controversial topics and keep it as light as possible. I don't have a lot of visitors but, hey, the ones I do have I consider friends even if we never met.
But....
Recently, I was getting some anonymous postings in my comments section that had nothing to do with the topic of the day. I didn't think anything of it at the time and thought it was random. However, it was happening more frequently. Nothing offensive, mind you, but just annoying.
Well, it wasn't going away. And, the anonymous postings (bordering on advertising) were continuing to be posted. But, I was resistent in putting up security.
Well, the time has come that, my bit of fun has got to be more secured. And, I hate the fact that I have to do it. And, the fact there are people out there that will do stuff like this. But, that is the reality in this digital world.
The change is not earth shattering. I am reviewing comments before they are posted. Not that big of a deal. But, again, the fact that I feel I have to do this to protect the integrity of the blog bugs me to no end.
I am hoping this doesn't dissuade you from posting comments. I love comments. Wish I can get more. Just another day in cyberspace.
(Notes: Sunday a week ago, I was going to participate in the 8 mile BCRR Winter Series. Except, when I got out of bed, I couldn't walk 8 feet. My back tightened up and I could barely walk. Took me awhile but it's starting to come around again. I went for a four mile walk/run over the weekend and that seemed to have stretched it out a bit. Congrats go out to my dog, Ellie Mae, as she has recently won her championship. It was a big deal in my family.
RIP--Adam Cartwright a/k/a Pernell Roberts. Bonanza was one of mine (and my Dad's) favorite shows.)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
The End of an Era
If you look at the pictures below, it's pretty non-descript. In a town that is pretty non-descript. It was built in the 1950's to withstand nuclear attack from the Russians. And, I remember signs posted outside the building saying it was a Fallout Shelter. It will not be missed by the world in general. But the 50 some-odd classes that have graduated from there, it was the center of their world. Yesterday, I found out that, St. John of the Cross in Roslyn, PA, where I went to school from grade 1-8 will be closing its doors this June. And, I will be very sad to see it go.
But, not surprisingly, the world has changed since I was in grade school. Back when I started first grade, we had 40 kids per class and three classes in our grade. And, that was the same for all 8 grades. There were, about 1000 kids in the school, in any particular year. Now? There are about 100+ kids in the entire school.
Back in the 1950/60s, families were moving out of Philadelphia and moving to towns such as Roslyn and the surrounding area. I didn't live in Roslyn and was considered to be 'living in the sticks' because we had a dirt road and the mailbox was up the street from us. I only lived maybe a 1/2 mile away from the school. But, today, the area has changed. Families are moving further away from Philadelphia (and Roslyn) and new schools are being built there. Schools, such as St. John's, have to try to compete with new public schools being built in the area. We are starting to see consolidation of venerable parochial high schools in Philadelphia that were some of the largest in the country. So, closing St. John's comes as no surprise to any of us.
As I grow older, more and more I try to cling to what was familar to me. Though, there is less and less to cling to. The house I grew up in is still there but you would never recognize it anymore. I once showed a picture of how it looks today to my parents and said I was interested in buying it and what did they think? It took them awhile to notice it was the house they raised their kids in. My grandparents' house in western Pennsylvania was torn down and a new house was built. And, now, my old school is being shut down.
Going to school at St. John's, being part of that parish, being from that area, was the last time I ever felt a sense of community in my life. I have tried, and in reality, do have some sense of community with runners in the Doylestown area. But, back then, what parish you belong to was part of your identity. Our school was revered (feared?) in our athletic programs. Even through high school, you were partially identified by what parish you came from. I'm not sure if it's the same today.
I am sad this day has come though not surprised. The pictures below were only from a few years ago. To me, it looks like the same desks, the same clothes closet, the same blackboards, etc. that I used when I went there (and probably were). I'm hoping over the next few months, there will be some reunions and open houses of the old school. I'm hoping that, somehow, it can remain open as part of the community in the future. I keep thinking how many families sent all of their kids to get an education here. But, no longer. Not after this year. The times they are a-changin'.
(When I was a kid, these hallways looked huge. Back then, it was where I went to first, second and third grade.)
(I'm pretty sure this was my fourth grade class. Except for the positioning of the desks (which would have been facing me), it looks much the same as it did then.) (Notes: I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my buddy, SteveRunner, who is celebrating, probably something like his 85th birthday or thereabouts this Tuesday. I can' t say for certain he is celebrating his 85th birthday but I'm only guessing by his appearance. Geez, life has been tough on this poor guy. Happy Birthday, Steve. See you in Falmouth!!!!)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
My introduction to the BCRR Winter Series
It will fun. Seriously, we all have a good time. And what better way to stay in shape over the winter?
For years, this is what I've heard from my fellow Blue Dawgs about the Bucks County Roadrunners Winter Series. And, for years, I've been meaning to go over to Tyler Park and run in a few of their events. But, as the series progressed and the weekends went by and my Sundays were taken up by other things that came up, I never had a chance to do it. Until this past Sunday.
When I woke up on Sunday, I began to read an article in the newspaper about how this is the coldest winter in the US in over 25 years. I turned on the TV to watch the morning news and they talked about how this day was the coldest so far this winter. And, now I know why the Dawgs are Blue. Because it was freakin' cold out!!!! My wife asked me, 'is it safe to run in this cold?' I dunno. I assume people from other parts of the world that were colder ran outside as well. I didn't think I was going to be the only one there. Plus, this was a test of whether it was better to run in the extreme cold or extreme heat.
I left my house around 8:00a for a 9:30a race. My car therometer said it was 16 degrees (F) outside. Damn, that's cold. Now, I have to tell you upfront. This race is equivalent to baseball's spring training for me. I was running to keep in shape for the spring. So, anyone (Chief) who happened to have beaten me (Chief) in this 'race' (Chief), doesn't really count. It would be like Detroit Tigers beating the Phillies in March in Florida. Yes, it happened but who remembers those games (Chief)?
I didn't know the layout of the land so wanted to make sure I had plenty of time in case I got lost. I arrived much earlier than expected and was one of the first to sign in. I have to admit, it was the first time I saw an open fire for warmth in a race. And, in truth, it felt good.
Now, on our Wednesday night Blue Dawgs run, we run a fairly hilly course. All through the years, I heard from the Winter Series runners that, these hills on Wednesday night are nothing compared to the Tyler Park. So, I was expecting the worse.
The race on Sunday was a 5.3 miler. And, apparently, needed to be altered a bit to avoid some snow still on the original course. But, not knowing the course at all, I wasn't aware of these changes and how or if it was going to affect me.
The race starts uphill. My old rival, Chief White, (Chief, I wanted to emphasize OLD here but I won't . This is my birthday present to you) and I were running side by side. Chief was saying how out of shape he was. Really? I kept this little nugget of information in the back of my mind. I got to the top of the hill first and didn't think it was that bad. And, in truth, for the first 4 miles or so of the race, didn't find the hills to be too bad at all. And, all this time, Chief and I were running, if not next to each other, certainly within striking distance of each other. Until....
I should have been tipped off when Chief said, 'We're not running Dairy Hill, are we?' But, it hadn't been that bad up to this point? I was in front of Chief going down the hill. Can't say the same going up. I was having problems WALKING up this freakin' hill (tip of my hat to Kelly for the adjective describing hills in general) let alone running up it. Chief just plowed through and got up the hill a lot sooner than I could. He's out of shape?
From that point in the race, it was literally all downhill. Chief was probably 15 seconds in front of me at the top of Dairy Hill. Oh, I could have probably caught up with him and made it into a REAL race. (Cough, cough). But, why humble the guy? I mean his birthday was coming up and it wasn't a REAL race in my eyes anyway. Why spoil his fun?
I did the 5.3 miles in about 49:10. I was pleased with that considering the freakin' cold and the freakin' hills and I hadn't really run a whole lot since my San Francisco race. And, in the end, having a chocolate covered donut (or two) with some hot apple cider did seem to ease the pain in my legs and my shivering body. Some people at work asked me how did I stand the cold? The answer: I didn't think about it and what I was doing. I just did it. Because, if I took the time to think about it, I would have realized that people don't generally do this type of activity in 16 degrees (F) weather.
This Sunday's race is an 8 miler. I am repenting for my sins of over indulgence over the holidays and the fact I gained a little weight. If it's not raining (much rather run in the cold than the rain), I should be out there. Fun? You betcha!!! And, by the way, it is easier to run in the extreme cold than the extreme heat. Harder to start. But, easier to run.
For years, this is what I've heard from my fellow Blue Dawgs about the Bucks County Roadrunners Winter Series. And, for years, I've been meaning to go over to Tyler Park and run in a few of their events. But, as the series progressed and the weekends went by and my Sundays were taken up by other things that came up, I never had a chance to do it. Until this past Sunday.
When I woke up on Sunday, I began to read an article in the newspaper about how this is the coldest winter in the US in over 25 years. I turned on the TV to watch the morning news and they talked about how this day was the coldest so far this winter. And, now I know why the Dawgs are Blue. Because it was freakin' cold out!!!! My wife asked me, 'is it safe to run in this cold?' I dunno. I assume people from other parts of the world that were colder ran outside as well. I didn't think I was going to be the only one there. Plus, this was a test of whether it was better to run in the extreme cold or extreme heat.
I left my house around 8:00a for a 9:30a race. My car therometer said it was 16 degrees (F) outside. Damn, that's cold. Now, I have to tell you upfront. This race is equivalent to baseball's spring training for me. I was running to keep in shape for the spring. So, anyone (Chief) who happened to have beaten me (Chief) in this 'race' (Chief), doesn't really count. It would be like Detroit Tigers beating the Phillies in March in Florida. Yes, it happened but who remembers those games (Chief)?
I didn't know the layout of the land so wanted to make sure I had plenty of time in case I got lost. I arrived much earlier than expected and was one of the first to sign in. I have to admit, it was the first time I saw an open fire for warmth in a race. And, in truth, it felt good.
Now, on our Wednesday night Blue Dawgs run, we run a fairly hilly course. All through the years, I heard from the Winter Series runners that, these hills on Wednesday night are nothing compared to the Tyler Park. So, I was expecting the worse.
The race on Sunday was a 5.3 miler. And, apparently, needed to be altered a bit to avoid some snow still on the original course. But, not knowing the course at all, I wasn't aware of these changes and how or if it was going to affect me.
The race starts uphill. My old rival, Chief White, (Chief, I wanted to emphasize OLD here but I won't . This is my birthday present to you) and I were running side by side. Chief was saying how out of shape he was. Really? I kept this little nugget of information in the back of my mind. I got to the top of the hill first and didn't think it was that bad. And, in truth, for the first 4 miles or so of the race, didn't find the hills to be too bad at all. And, all this time, Chief and I were running, if not next to each other, certainly within striking distance of each other. Until....
I should have been tipped off when Chief said, 'We're not running Dairy Hill, are we?' But, it hadn't been that bad up to this point? I was in front of Chief going down the hill. Can't say the same going up. I was having problems WALKING up this freakin' hill (tip of my hat to Kelly for the adjective describing hills in general) let alone running up it. Chief just plowed through and got up the hill a lot sooner than I could. He's out of shape?
From that point in the race, it was literally all downhill. Chief was probably 15 seconds in front of me at the top of Dairy Hill. Oh, I could have probably caught up with him and made it into a REAL race. (Cough, cough). But, why humble the guy? I mean his birthday was coming up and it wasn't a REAL race in my eyes anyway. Why spoil his fun?
I did the 5.3 miles in about 49:10. I was pleased with that considering the freakin' cold and the freakin' hills and I hadn't really run a whole lot since my San Francisco race. And, in the end, having a chocolate covered donut (or two) with some hot apple cider did seem to ease the pain in my legs and my shivering body. Some people at work asked me how did I stand the cold? The answer: I didn't think about it and what I was doing. I just did it. Because, if I took the time to think about it, I would have realized that people don't generally do this type of activity in 16 degrees (F) weather.
This Sunday's race is an 8 miler. I am repenting for my sins of over indulgence over the holidays and the fact I gained a little weight. If it's not raining (much rather run in the cold than the rain), I should be out there. Fun? You betcha!!! And, by the way, it is easier to run in the extreme cold than the extreme heat. Harder to start. But, easier to run.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Goals for the Year 2010!
Let's see. First, my home computer blue screened and is knocking on virtual heaven's door. Soon after, joined by the dishwasher. Then car goes in for state inspection and, viola, $800 later passes inspection. Finally, the final day of the year, my father goes into the hospital with pneumonia. Whew!!! As much as I have enjoyed 2009, I was glad to see 2010 arrive as it can only get better from here. Right?
So, this is the time and place that I announce to the world my plans for 2010. Well, here's the problem (and why it has taken me so long to post this, besides the lack of computer. Yes, this is borrowed for the moment.) I don't have goals this year of a fanfare. Not after last year. Looking back on my post for goals in 2009, I was pretty focused on what I was going to do. This year, well, not so much. But, here goes (in no particular order).
I will tri, tri again. I plan on making triathlons part of my schedule for the year going forward. In truth, I enjoyed doing that (and training for that) more than I do marathon training. I'm back in the pool on Friday. And, what I want to achieve is to learn how to breathe from both sides. I want to tackle this lightheadedness I get when getting out of a pool (or lake). I think I was so overwhelmed by information and instruction given to me last year that I didn't have time to think about it. I just did it and hoped for the best. I needed to get in shape for the swim and didn't matter how I did it. Well, I have some time now to try different things. I'm not in a rush at the moment and don't have to do 50 laps on Friday. I want to get more comfortable and breathe better.
I also am planning on getting my own bike in March. I want to thank Mitch from the Blue Dawgs for lending me a bike last year. And, in truth, I have been bitten by the tri bug and am willing to make the (financial) committment to getting something for myself. I also want to thank my wife who, about 10 years ago, bought me a mountain bike that I used for a year before I started running. I tried riding it to use for the tri but, there is a big difference. It was a Christmas present and I hate to not use it but.....
As it stands now, I want to do Lake Lenape again and stretch myself a bit and, maybe, do an Olympic tri. Beyond that, it will be based on how my vacation and everything else falls into place. But, I don't want the tri of last year to be just a one night fling.
Winter running--Last year, at this time, I was coming off an Achillies problem. And, because of that, I was an admitted slug coming back from the injury. This year, I want to run throughout the winter. I am looking forward to the Wednesday runs with the Blue Dawgs. I want to run some of the races in Tyler Park in Bucks County, PA on Sunday mornings and tackle those hills I keep hearing about. I want to run in Ambler, PA at the Frostbite 5 miler in February. And, I am willing to take all the lumps that come with it as I just started running again, as of yesterday, having taken a month off. I am hoping when the Bucks County 5k Spring Series starts up at the end of March, it will not be a warmup but something I can beat Eric and Chief in. :-)
Falmouth?--For the past two years, one of the goals was to beat Steve at Falmouth and to make sure I was prepared to do so. This year? I'm not sure if I will be doing Falmouth. It's not that I don't want to but I might not take two running trips this year and save my running weekend with Steve for the fall. If you are a sports fan, you know how difficult it is for teams to repeat their accomplishments from the previous year if they have won. Well, last year in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, I proved to myself that my previous one victory over Steve wasn't a fluke and I can do it occasionally. So, to be honest, I'm not as 'hungry' this year to beat him. Not that I won't try but the best way to describe it is that it won't be my focus this year.
Same old, same old--Bucks County 5k Spring Series, Broad Street, PDR (Rock n Roll Half is what they are calling it now), etc., etc., etc. Don't plan on doing anything 'wild' this year. No planned races in faraway distance lands. Except in fall. And, even then, I have a feeling it's going to be fairly local. (I have my eye on Freedom's Run in October but that's only a three hour drive from my house). But, I do want to be more competitive this first half of the year than I was last year.
The blog--I almost quit a few times last year. Changes in my life were making things more difficult to post on a weekly basis. And, in truth, life, in general, had me a comin' and a goin'. And, I saw some of my blog comrades fall by the wayside for various reasons. I was sad to see this as did follow the ups and downs of their lives and felt I was losing friends along the way. But, in most cases, they came back in a different form one way or the other and lived to see another day.
Those changes in my life haven't changed. And, I will be a comin' and a goin' more and more this year. But, as the saying goes, 'when a door closes, another opens'. So, yes, my lack of a home computer at the moment is annoying. But, luckily, I was able to save documents and pictures from it. And, I have a new one on the way. With a webcam. And, picture and video editing software. Hmmm? I don't like giving pearls of wisdom on camera so don't expect to see that. But, I can edit 'Places I Run' into one video so I'm not just showing you a 30 second clip of a start/finish of a run, race, walk, whatever. So, my postings maybe more visual than in the past.
That's it. 2010 is starting to look up for me already. We are all in this together. Support and encourage the people that mean the most to you. Hope everyone meets their goals for the new year.
So, this is the time and place that I announce to the world my plans for 2010. Well, here's the problem (and why it has taken me so long to post this, besides the lack of computer. Yes, this is borrowed for the moment.) I don't have goals this year of a fanfare. Not after last year. Looking back on my post for goals in 2009, I was pretty focused on what I was going to do. This year, well, not so much. But, here goes (in no particular order).
I will tri, tri again. I plan on making triathlons part of my schedule for the year going forward. In truth, I enjoyed doing that (and training for that) more than I do marathon training. I'm back in the pool on Friday. And, what I want to achieve is to learn how to breathe from both sides. I want to tackle this lightheadedness I get when getting out of a pool (or lake). I think I was so overwhelmed by information and instruction given to me last year that I didn't have time to think about it. I just did it and hoped for the best. I needed to get in shape for the swim and didn't matter how I did it. Well, I have some time now to try different things. I'm not in a rush at the moment and don't have to do 50 laps on Friday. I want to get more comfortable and breathe better.
I also am planning on getting my own bike in March. I want to thank Mitch from the Blue Dawgs for lending me a bike last year. And, in truth, I have been bitten by the tri bug and am willing to make the (financial) committment to getting something for myself. I also want to thank my wife who, about 10 years ago, bought me a mountain bike that I used for a year before I started running. I tried riding it to use for the tri but, there is a big difference. It was a Christmas present and I hate to not use it but.....
As it stands now, I want to do Lake Lenape again and stretch myself a bit and, maybe, do an Olympic tri. Beyond that, it will be based on how my vacation and everything else falls into place. But, I don't want the tri of last year to be just a one night fling.
Winter running--Last year, at this time, I was coming off an Achillies problem. And, because of that, I was an admitted slug coming back from the injury. This year, I want to run throughout the winter. I am looking forward to the Wednesday runs with the Blue Dawgs. I want to run some of the races in Tyler Park in Bucks County, PA on Sunday mornings and tackle those hills I keep hearing about. I want to run in Ambler, PA at the Frostbite 5 miler in February. And, I am willing to take all the lumps that come with it as I just started running again, as of yesterday, having taken a month off. I am hoping when the Bucks County 5k Spring Series starts up at the end of March, it will not be a warmup but something I can beat Eric and Chief in. :-)
Falmouth?--For the past two years, one of the goals was to beat Steve at Falmouth and to make sure I was prepared to do so. This year? I'm not sure if I will be doing Falmouth. It's not that I don't want to but I might not take two running trips this year and save my running weekend with Steve for the fall. If you are a sports fan, you know how difficult it is for teams to repeat their accomplishments from the previous year if they have won. Well, last year in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, I proved to myself that my previous one victory over Steve wasn't a fluke and I can do it occasionally. So, to be honest, I'm not as 'hungry' this year to beat him. Not that I won't try but the best way to describe it is that it won't be my focus this year.
Same old, same old--Bucks County 5k Spring Series, Broad Street, PDR (Rock n Roll Half is what they are calling it now), etc., etc., etc. Don't plan on doing anything 'wild' this year. No planned races in faraway distance lands. Except in fall. And, even then, I have a feeling it's going to be fairly local. (I have my eye on Freedom's Run in October but that's only a three hour drive from my house). But, I do want to be more competitive this first half of the year than I was last year.
The blog--I almost quit a few times last year. Changes in my life were making things more difficult to post on a weekly basis. And, in truth, life, in general, had me a comin' and a goin'. And, I saw some of my blog comrades fall by the wayside for various reasons. I was sad to see this as did follow the ups and downs of their lives and felt I was losing friends along the way. But, in most cases, they came back in a different form one way or the other and lived to see another day.
Those changes in my life haven't changed. And, I will be a comin' and a goin' more and more this year. But, as the saying goes, 'when a door closes, another opens'. So, yes, my lack of a home computer at the moment is annoying. But, luckily, I was able to save documents and pictures from it. And, I have a new one on the way. With a webcam. And, picture and video editing software. Hmmm? I don't like giving pearls of wisdom on camera so don't expect to see that. But, I can edit 'Places I Run' into one video so I'm not just showing you a 30 second clip of a start/finish of a run, race, walk, whatever. So, my postings maybe more visual than in the past.
That's it. 2010 is starting to look up for me already. We are all in this together. Support and encourage the people that mean the most to you. Hope everyone meets their goals for the new year.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Missing 'The Big One'
I watched it all unfold far away. I tried to be involved but found it impossible to be there. You see, the Northeast of the United States had one of those 'snowstorms of the century' this past weekend and I missed it.
I was in Florida for a few days helping my parents as my father had surgery for a bonespur on his spine. He stayed in the hospital a few days longer than expected. Not from any complications from the surgery but something unrelated and more for a precautionary standpoint. But, he is back home now. It wasn't the case for me, however, as my flight was cancelled on Saturday as the storm hit the Philadelphia area.
Mind you, I was feeling a bit guilty as my wife was now stuck with a house full of dogs and had to shovel the driveway as she didn't know how to use the snowblower. And, I was 'stuck' in 70 degree (F) weather with the sun shining brightly. (Oh, ok, it DID get down into the 50's (F)overnight one night and I had to put a long-sleeved shirt on. I'm taking it I'm not getting any sympathy for that).
So, on Saturday, I went down to Orlando airport and changed my flight for 5p to Ft. Myers to Philadelphia on Sunday. In the meantime, I was able to help my father in the house (something I didn't think I was going to be able to do based on his extended hospital stay and my travel schedule) and get him settled down and into a routine.
Sunday came and it looked like the flights were on. Except when I got to Orlando, my flight to Ft. Myers was rescheduled to 5:20p instead of 4:50p which would make me miss my connection to Philadelphia by 5 minutes. No, wait. The flight from Ft. Myers to Philadelphia has been changed to 8:15p. I got on the flight out of Orlando and hoped for the best.
As I got off the plane in Ft. Myers, I turned on my phone and instantly two messages popped up. My flight to Philadelphia was now 12:35a. UGH!!!! But, wait!!!! The second message said it was now taking off at 6:35p. I looked at my watch and it was 6:15p!!!!! Where the freak do I go? I found the first Southwest airline person and ask where do I get the Philadelphia flight? 'Well, right here!', he said. 'And, we are leaving in 15 minutes!!!!' Good thing I ate in Orlando as my original plan was to have dinner in Ft. Myers.
I took off at 7p and arrived in Philadelphia around 9:15p. And waited. And waited. A gate was not available. But, my thinking was, I, at least, was IN Philadelphia. I looked outside of the plane and saw the snow piles on the side of the runway. That IS a lot of snow out there. We found a gate and deplaned around 10p.
Got down to baggage claim and saw stacks and stacks of baggage. Patience, Joe, patience. You've gotten this far. Luckily, none of those bags were mine. But, I have no idea whose they were as there was lots of suitcases and lots of people around but not lots of people taking the already piling up bags of suitcases. A half hour later, the luggage off of my flight came out and there was mine!!!!!
After getting my car, it took about an hour to get home. My wife shoveled out just enough of the driveway to get two cars in and that was good enough for our needs. I walked in my house exhausted from the day's events but too wired to fall asleep right away. I was lying awake thankful that my father was doing better and proud that my wife handled the difficult situation of the 'snowstorm of the century' by herself. For the first time in at least a week, I was able to sleep knowing that everything is allright.
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and I hope you all have a great 2010. I anticipate many changes for me in the decade to come but let's take it one year at a time. Peace to all and I look forward to writing more in the coming year.
I was in Florida for a few days helping my parents as my father had surgery for a bonespur on his spine. He stayed in the hospital a few days longer than expected. Not from any complications from the surgery but something unrelated and more for a precautionary standpoint. But, he is back home now. It wasn't the case for me, however, as my flight was cancelled on Saturday as the storm hit the Philadelphia area.
Mind you, I was feeling a bit guilty as my wife was now stuck with a house full of dogs and had to shovel the driveway as she didn't know how to use the snowblower. And, I was 'stuck' in 70 degree (F) weather with the sun shining brightly. (Oh, ok, it DID get down into the 50's (F)overnight one night and I had to put a long-sleeved shirt on. I'm taking it I'm not getting any sympathy for that).
So, on Saturday, I went down to Orlando airport and changed my flight for 5p to Ft. Myers to Philadelphia on Sunday. In the meantime, I was able to help my father in the house (something I didn't think I was going to be able to do based on his extended hospital stay and my travel schedule) and get him settled down and into a routine.
Sunday came and it looked like the flights were on. Except when I got to Orlando, my flight to Ft. Myers was rescheduled to 5:20p instead of 4:50p which would make me miss my connection to Philadelphia by 5 minutes. No, wait. The flight from Ft. Myers to Philadelphia has been changed to 8:15p. I got on the flight out of Orlando and hoped for the best.
As I got off the plane in Ft. Myers, I turned on my phone and instantly two messages popped up. My flight to Philadelphia was now 12:35a. UGH!!!! But, wait!!!! The second message said it was now taking off at 6:35p. I looked at my watch and it was 6:15p!!!!! Where the freak do I go? I found the first Southwest airline person and ask where do I get the Philadelphia flight? 'Well, right here!', he said. 'And, we are leaving in 15 minutes!!!!' Good thing I ate in Orlando as my original plan was to have dinner in Ft. Myers.
I took off at 7p and arrived in Philadelphia around 9:15p. And waited. And waited. A gate was not available. But, my thinking was, I, at least, was IN Philadelphia. I looked outside of the plane and saw the snow piles on the side of the runway. That IS a lot of snow out there. We found a gate and deplaned around 10p.
Got down to baggage claim and saw stacks and stacks of baggage. Patience, Joe, patience. You've gotten this far. Luckily, none of those bags were mine. But, I have no idea whose they were as there was lots of suitcases and lots of people around but not lots of people taking the already piling up bags of suitcases. A half hour later, the luggage off of my flight came out and there was mine!!!!!
After getting my car, it took about an hour to get home. My wife shoveled out just enough of the driveway to get two cars in and that was good enough for our needs. I walked in my house exhausted from the day's events but too wired to fall asleep right away. I was lying awake thankful that my father was doing better and proud that my wife handled the difficult situation of the 'snowstorm of the century' by herself. For the first time in at least a week, I was able to sleep knowing that everything is allright.
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and I hope you all have a great 2010. I anticipate many changes for me in the decade to come but let's take it one year at a time. Peace to all and I look forward to writing more in the coming year.
Monday, December 14, 2009
2009--A Year in Review
At the end of each year, it is a time of reflection of what we have done. Below are some of the highlights of my 2009. I'm not quite done for the year as I hope to post once more before Christmas. But, if I don't, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and best wishes for the New Year of 2010. Happy Holidays!!!!!
Overall: Wow! What a year it has been. I wanted this to be a different year for me as I celebrated my 50th birthday last May. I participated in 14 races in 5 different states and 3 different countries. I ran in 8 different states (PA, FL, MA, IL, NV, CA, NJ, KS) either in a race or just for fun. This time last year, I thought I was going to do 2 marathons in 2009. I did 2 half-marathons instead. (Philadelphia and Nova Scotia) I ran my first international race in June (England) and then another one in October (Canada). I participated in my first triathlon. I ran, essentially, injury-free. (Yes, I had the flu in June. But, that wasn't due to running.) And, my friend George and I drove from Philadelphia to Kansas City, watching a baseball game in the cities of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. This year will be one for the ages.
Best Race: When Steve (Runner) and I started the Valley Harvest Half marathon together and after the first mile and he said to me, 'this is a slow pace?', I knew I had him that day. It's not often I can brag and say I beat Steve in any race. As a matter of fact, only a month later I lost to him in the Whiten 5 mile race on Thanksgiving. But, on that day in a land far, far away from home, I was in peak enough shape on a course that described itself as having 'rolling hills' (if you consider a one mile incline a rolling hill), to notch another victory in our friendly rivalry. I had run a half marathon only a few weeks before this race and took those lessons learned into this race. It was fun to rub it in to Steve that a 50 year old broken down man could still beat him once in awhile.
Worse Race: I believe, when you toe the line for a race, you should be ready for the race. Doesn't matter if you recently were fighting the flu and have driven halfway across the country to be in this place. Doesn't matter if it was hot and humid and most likely, dehydrated. If you are there, you are racing. The Terri Tough 5k in Olathe, Kansas proved to be the worse (time-wise) 5k I ever ran. Not by a little. But, by a lot. And, I remember going out in a reasonable pace for the first mile. But, that hill. That hill that suddenly appeared on the course about halfway through the race. It was my undoing. They don't have hills in Kansas, do they? After getting up that hill, I mentally (and physically) fell apart. The way I felt the last half of that race was I how I usually feel at the end of a marathon. Don't get me wrong, I loved the course. And, if I'm ever in the Kansas City area again in late June, I would do that race again. I just didn't like it that day.
Biggest Surprise: When Steve and I stood in line at customs at the Halifax airport, we began talking to a local of what to do in Nova Scotia. 'Don't drink the wine here. It's awful', he said. 'That's too bad', we replied. But how many wineries are there in Nova Scotia? Turns out enough to satisfy a weekend visit. And, you know what? The local was dead wrong (or a wine snob) in his assessment of the local harvest. Steve and I had a chance to visit a few wineries in the Wolfville area and were very pleased with what we were served. So much so, I brought a few bottles back for the holidays. What was most interesting was talking to the people at the wine tasting and finding out these particular wines are only grown and served locally as it is too expensive to export them. It was something we didn't expect when we decided to participate in the Valley Harvest Half marathon.
Proudest Moment: I never, ever thought I would participate in a triathlon. But, last year at this time, I was coming off an injury from marathon training. And, quite frankly, I was looking for something new to do to get my juices flowing. So, I decided, for good or bad, I was going to find a triathlone that was right for me in 2009. And, with the help of Sharon, Skip, Chief and my tri classmates at the Central Bucks Y, I was able to achieve my goal and finish a triathlon. Mitch, Mike, Joan, and Kelly were at the race as well cheering me on. And, when I crossed that finish line, I said it was the stupidest thing I did with a huge smile on my face. After a marathon, it took awhile before I would agree to do another one. Within a few days of the Lake Lenape tri, I knew this is the thing I wanted to do to replace that 'marathon finish high'. That day, I wanted to prove you could teach an old dog like me a new trick.
Biggest Disappointment: If only. If only I learn lessons from the past and finish a race properly. I was beating Steve one year in Falmouth and let my foot off the gas with a 1/2 mile to go and he wound up passing to beat me. I vowed something like that would never happen again. Except it did. The last 1/4 mile of the Gloucester Township Scholarship 5k in April, in the corner of my eye, I saw someone gaining on me to the finish. Looking at him and judging his age, I didn't think he was going to be a threat for any chance of 'bling' I might be getting in the Clydesdale division of the race. I was wrong. I finished second in my division. Guess who was first? The guy who passed me at the end to beat me by 1 second. Yes, one second. Where's the competitive fire? I should given him an elbow. :-)
Biggest Thrill: Two weeks ago, I would have said running a race in England was my biggest thrill of the year. Except, when I ran the Ferry Building 4 mile along the Embarcadero, passing Fisherman's Wharf, in the shadows of Alcatraz in San Francisco only to see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance as I crossed the finish line, well, it's hard to find a better setting than that for a race. I remember standing around at the start and just smiling. This was cool. Way cool. And, in truth, the low tech aspect of it was kind of fun too. I thought I was going to come from the farthest distance to run this race. Until I was talking to the couple from England. And the guy from Ireland. Oh, and there were people from Australia. And New Zealand. Did I mention South Africa? And, is Hawaii really further than Pennsylvania? At least, I travelled further than the people from Wisconsin that were in this race. I still stare at the picture I took of the finish line with the bay in the background. Can't believe I had the chance to do that race.
Scariest Moment: I came out of Lake Lenape and ran towards where the bikes were kept. I stood there ready to put my shoes, helmet, etc. on. And, I suddenly felt I was ready to pass out. I staggered and needed to sit down before I fell down. I honestly didn't know if this was normal. An adreneline rush? A heart attack? I didn't know if I should continue with my triathlon or call for medical attention. I had worked so hard to be in my first tri that I knew I was stubborn enough not to give up and someone was going to have to drag me off the course. To this day, I'm still not sure what happened or how to prevent it in the future. Talking to different people, I have some ideas. What I think happened is the way I breathe in the water and not getting enough oxygen in my system as I transition. Over the winter, I want to practice to see if I can improve on this as I plan on doing more tris in 2010.
What I Will Remember Most From This Year: From a non-running perspective, I still think back on my baseball trip I took in June. In some ways, it was so non-stop going from stadium to stadium day after day that I didn't really appreciate it when it was happening. All I want for Christmas this year is a collage to hang up on my wall made up from the momentos I picked up along the way and the pictures I had taken during the trip. From running? About a quarter mile from the finish of the Lake Lenape Triathlon, you have to make a right hand turn to the end. As I was coming up to the corner, Mike, Mitch, Kelly and Joan were calling my name, cheering me on. As I turned the corner, Joan and Kelly began to run with me, encouraging and coaching me to finish strong. Does it sound similar to my experience at the Harrisburg marathon the previous year? You bet!!!! I can never find the proper words to thank people who run with me, coach me, mentor me, and cheer me on. And, at the end of that race, to feed off the excitement Joan and Kelly had in cheering me on, was immeasurable. And, seeing how happy Sharon and Skip were that another one of their 'students' had 'graduated'. That is what I will remember.
Overall: Wow! What a year it has been. I wanted this to be a different year for me as I celebrated my 50th birthday last May. I participated in 14 races in 5 different states and 3 different countries. I ran in 8 different states (PA, FL, MA, IL, NV, CA, NJ, KS) either in a race or just for fun. This time last year, I thought I was going to do 2 marathons in 2009. I did 2 half-marathons instead. (Philadelphia and Nova Scotia) I ran my first international race in June (England) and then another one in October (Canada). I participated in my first triathlon. I ran, essentially, injury-free. (Yes, I had the flu in June. But, that wasn't due to running.) And, my friend George and I drove from Philadelphia to Kansas City, watching a baseball game in the cities of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. This year will be one for the ages.
Best Race: When Steve (Runner) and I started the Valley Harvest Half marathon together and after the first mile and he said to me, 'this is a slow pace?', I knew I had him that day. It's not often I can brag and say I beat Steve in any race. As a matter of fact, only a month later I lost to him in the Whiten 5 mile race on Thanksgiving. But, on that day in a land far, far away from home, I was in peak enough shape on a course that described itself as having 'rolling hills' (if you consider a one mile incline a rolling hill), to notch another victory in our friendly rivalry. I had run a half marathon only a few weeks before this race and took those lessons learned into this race. It was fun to rub it in to Steve that a 50 year old broken down man could still beat him once in awhile.
Worse Race: I believe, when you toe the line for a race, you should be ready for the race. Doesn't matter if you recently were fighting the flu and have driven halfway across the country to be in this place. Doesn't matter if it was hot and humid and most likely, dehydrated. If you are there, you are racing. The Terri Tough 5k in Olathe, Kansas proved to be the worse (time-wise) 5k I ever ran. Not by a little. But, by a lot. And, I remember going out in a reasonable pace for the first mile. But, that hill. That hill that suddenly appeared on the course about halfway through the race. It was my undoing. They don't have hills in Kansas, do they? After getting up that hill, I mentally (and physically) fell apart. The way I felt the last half of that race was I how I usually feel at the end of a marathon. Don't get me wrong, I loved the course. And, if I'm ever in the Kansas City area again in late June, I would do that race again. I just didn't like it that day.
Biggest Surprise: When Steve and I stood in line at customs at the Halifax airport, we began talking to a local of what to do in Nova Scotia. 'Don't drink the wine here. It's awful', he said. 'That's too bad', we replied. But how many wineries are there in Nova Scotia? Turns out enough to satisfy a weekend visit. And, you know what? The local was dead wrong (or a wine snob) in his assessment of the local harvest. Steve and I had a chance to visit a few wineries in the Wolfville area and were very pleased with what we were served. So much so, I brought a few bottles back for the holidays. What was most interesting was talking to the people at the wine tasting and finding out these particular wines are only grown and served locally as it is too expensive to export them. It was something we didn't expect when we decided to participate in the Valley Harvest Half marathon.
Proudest Moment: I never, ever thought I would participate in a triathlon. But, last year at this time, I was coming off an injury from marathon training. And, quite frankly, I was looking for something new to do to get my juices flowing. So, I decided, for good or bad, I was going to find a triathlone that was right for me in 2009. And, with the help of Sharon, Skip, Chief and my tri classmates at the Central Bucks Y, I was able to achieve my goal and finish a triathlon. Mitch, Mike, Joan, and Kelly were at the race as well cheering me on. And, when I crossed that finish line, I said it was the stupidest thing I did with a huge smile on my face. After a marathon, it took awhile before I would agree to do another one. Within a few days of the Lake Lenape tri, I knew this is the thing I wanted to do to replace that 'marathon finish high'. That day, I wanted to prove you could teach an old dog like me a new trick.
Biggest Disappointment: If only. If only I learn lessons from the past and finish a race properly. I was beating Steve one year in Falmouth and let my foot off the gas with a 1/2 mile to go and he wound up passing to beat me. I vowed something like that would never happen again. Except it did. The last 1/4 mile of the Gloucester Township Scholarship 5k in April, in the corner of my eye, I saw someone gaining on me to the finish. Looking at him and judging his age, I didn't think he was going to be a threat for any chance of 'bling' I might be getting in the Clydesdale division of the race. I was wrong. I finished second in my division. Guess who was first? The guy who passed me at the end to beat me by 1 second. Yes, one second. Where's the competitive fire? I should given him an elbow. :-)
Biggest Thrill: Two weeks ago, I would have said running a race in England was my biggest thrill of the year. Except, when I ran the Ferry Building 4 mile along the Embarcadero, passing Fisherman's Wharf, in the shadows of Alcatraz in San Francisco only to see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance as I crossed the finish line, well, it's hard to find a better setting than that for a race. I remember standing around at the start and just smiling. This was cool. Way cool. And, in truth, the low tech aspect of it was kind of fun too. I thought I was going to come from the farthest distance to run this race. Until I was talking to the couple from England. And the guy from Ireland. Oh, and there were people from Australia. And New Zealand. Did I mention South Africa? And, is Hawaii really further than Pennsylvania? At least, I travelled further than the people from Wisconsin that were in this race. I still stare at the picture I took of the finish line with the bay in the background. Can't believe I had the chance to do that race.
Scariest Moment: I came out of Lake Lenape and ran towards where the bikes were kept. I stood there ready to put my shoes, helmet, etc. on. And, I suddenly felt I was ready to pass out. I staggered and needed to sit down before I fell down. I honestly didn't know if this was normal. An adreneline rush? A heart attack? I didn't know if I should continue with my triathlon or call for medical attention. I had worked so hard to be in my first tri that I knew I was stubborn enough not to give up and someone was going to have to drag me off the course. To this day, I'm still not sure what happened or how to prevent it in the future. Talking to different people, I have some ideas. What I think happened is the way I breathe in the water and not getting enough oxygen in my system as I transition. Over the winter, I want to practice to see if I can improve on this as I plan on doing more tris in 2010.
What I Will Remember Most From This Year: From a non-running perspective, I still think back on my baseball trip I took in June. In some ways, it was so non-stop going from stadium to stadium day after day that I didn't really appreciate it when it was happening. All I want for Christmas this year is a collage to hang up on my wall made up from the momentos I picked up along the way and the pictures I had taken during the trip. From running? About a quarter mile from the finish of the Lake Lenape Triathlon, you have to make a right hand turn to the end. As I was coming up to the corner, Mike, Mitch, Kelly and Joan were calling my name, cheering me on. As I turned the corner, Joan and Kelly began to run with me, encouraging and coaching me to finish strong. Does it sound similar to my experience at the Harrisburg marathon the previous year? You bet!!!! I can never find the proper words to thank people who run with me, coach me, mentor me, and cheer me on. And, at the end of that race, to feed off the excitement Joan and Kelly had in cheering me on, was immeasurable. And, seeing how happy Sharon and Skip were that another one of their 'students' had 'graduated'. That is what I will remember.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Ferry Building 4 mile Run Race Report
The entry fee--$5. No T-shirt given out (but I bought two to support the club). No race numbers. Just little tags to identify us when we finished. No police to hold the crowds back. As a matter of fact, not really any crowds. Just a few people out there cheering the ones they knew running. Racing at it's bare bones. And, this race was as it fun as it gets for running.
The Ferry Building 4 mile race, held in San Francisco, starts at the intersection of Jefferson and Hyde Streets, (if you are familar with SF it's where the cable cars turnaround by Fisherman's Wharf) heads down the Embarcedaro for 2 miles going past Fisherman's Wharf along the way, turns around at the Ferry Building (there is a chalkmark on the ground that showed the turnaround. No one was there to instruct us) and heads back from whence we came to the finish. The finish? A view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The swag? A Finisher's ribbon from the San Francisco Runners Club.
It was a very chilly morning with the wind off the water blowing hard. I raced in layers similar to what I wore at the Valley Harvest Half. And, like the Valley Harvest Half, I was overdressed about 1/4 mile into the race. Once the buildings along the Embarcedaro blocked the wind and the sun came out, it warmed up and so did I.
We ran in the streets and on the sidewalks. We had to run around tourists and other runners not in the race. But, the views were amazing. The experience was amazing. And, to top it all off? A Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa from Ghirardelli at Ghirardelli Square. What a great way to end my race year.
Below are some of the pictures from the morning. Enjoy!
(A view of the Golden Gate Bridge at the start area of the race)
(The sign-in table)
(Looking at the course at the start of the race)
(Fisherman's Wharf)
(The cable car turnaround with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)
(At the starting area of the race)
(Me with my 'race number' on)
(Another view of the harbor)
(People gathering at the sign-in table)
(Trying to stay warm before the race)
(Waiting for the race to start)
(The start line)
(View of the TransAmerica Building on the course)
(The course about 1.5 into the race)
(The Ferry Building where we turned around)
(The Finish Line with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)
(Runners gathering after the race)
The Ferry Building 4 mile race, held in San Francisco, starts at the intersection of Jefferson and Hyde Streets, (if you are familar with SF it's where the cable cars turnaround by Fisherman's Wharf) heads down the Embarcedaro for 2 miles going past Fisherman's Wharf along the way, turns around at the Ferry Building (there is a chalkmark on the ground that showed the turnaround. No one was there to instruct us) and heads back from whence we came to the finish. The finish? A view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The swag? A Finisher's ribbon from the San Francisco Runners Club.
It was a very chilly morning with the wind off the water blowing hard. I raced in layers similar to what I wore at the Valley Harvest Half. And, like the Valley Harvest Half, I was overdressed about 1/4 mile into the race. Once the buildings along the Embarcedaro blocked the wind and the sun came out, it warmed up and so did I.
We ran in the streets and on the sidewalks. We had to run around tourists and other runners not in the race. But, the views were amazing. The experience was amazing. And, to top it all off? A Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa from Ghirardelli at Ghirardelli Square. What a great way to end my race year.
Below are some of the pictures from the morning. Enjoy!
(A view of the Golden Gate Bridge at the start area of the race)
(The sign-in table)
(Looking at the course at the start of the race)
(Fisherman's Wharf)
(The cable car turnaround with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)
(At the starting area of the race)
(Me with my 'race number' on)
(Another view of the harbor)
(People gathering at the sign-in table)
(Trying to stay warm before the race)
(Waiting for the race to start)
(The start line)
(View of the TransAmerica Building on the course)
(The course about 1.5 into the race)
(The Ferry Building where we turned around)
(The Finish Line with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)
(Runners gathering after the race)
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