Day 32 - Standing at the Crossroads

This was a Cape Cod morning at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, Massachusetts in early June around 5:20 a.m. Just looking at my photo of the sunrise brings me back to this moment live. The sounds of the waves splashing on the sand as the tide was beginning to rise is something I can feel right now. The sounds of the seagulls and the other birds in the area bring one word to mind, "peaceful."

This is the image that I need tonight.  It's the place where my mind has to be in order to get enough sleep. It's eight miles in the morning and then sixteen on Sunday.  This is it.  I'm at THE crossroads in my training.  If I pull this off this weekend, then I will know inside my mind and my heart, that I am for real. 

A sweet gentle, "Goodnight," to all of us, and most of all:

Peace

Days 30 & 31 - Choices

Yesterday was an unexpected rest day.  I was going to run but the dog ate my homework.  Wait, that's not necessary.  (Note to self: Don't lie when the truth will serve you better). Let's start over.

Yesterday was an unexpected rest day.  I knew I had to be at the United Way breakfast on the other side of Akron in the city of Fairlawn at 7:30 a.m. which in the morning time wise is a roll of the dice depending on traffic.  I got there a couple of minutes late, and to be frank, wasn't really that excited about being there. It wasn't because of the people to be sure.  It was something else. Namely, I couldn't go for a run which is what I really wanted to do. I'm a changed man. I was craving exercise.  I mean it wasn't like I wanted skip to go to the International House of Pancakes or get the Big Ham Steak Breakfast at Bob's Big Boy. I had the purest of intentions.

When I arrived at the Hilton Fairlawn ballroom, I sat down at my assigned table with my colleagues. I got there just in time to hear most of the opening remarks.  Then comes the featured speaker Doctor Tim Stover, President and CEO of the Akron General Medical Center.

I know a lot of people in the Akron area but Tim and I had never met.  When he started speaking, I felt like I had known him all my life.  For me it was a Bob Newhart type of natural delivery.  I was almost under the table holding back belly laughs on some absolute classic natural one liners.  I referred to him early in this paragraph as "Tim" because he comes across as a regular guy who just happens to be CEO.  I see a guy every morning in the mirror that used to be a CEO and that was his style.

Tim drove home a couple of key points in his remarks that validated my current journey.  I may have this wrong from his comments but I bet I'm close.  Eight billion dollars can be cut out of health care costs if people just made better personal health choices.  Anything that is not preventive health dollars, dollars that could actually could be viewed as an investment, are wasted dollars if you make bad health choices. The choices that folks make that land them in the hospital are:

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Driving Fast
• Obesity
• Lack of Exercise

In five simple bullet points I truly understood my running mission.  No need to fix the rabbit ears on the television or change the channel to find Dr. Oz, or call Dr. Phil to figure out my motivations.  My frustration with not being able to run yesterday morning was driven by the fact that I blow the first three choices out of the water but when it comes to obesity and lack of exercise, I know I could do much better.  

The good doctor then went on to talk about the concept of Blue Zones in the world. These are places where people live to be 100 or more just by adopting a healthy lifestyle.  Cue the Roberta Flack and let's all sing together, "Killing me softly with his song..."  For me his words just hung in the air like a closed caption display on the bottom of a television screen.  For more than a few years, I was living the old expression, "Digging my grave with my fork and spoon."  

So here's the payoff.  When I got home last night, I really wanted pizza.  Instead, I went to the refrigerator and got out some greens and tomatoes, corn on the cob, and some other veggies and had that for dinner with a tall glass of ice water with lemon. I went to bed early.  When I got up this morning I really wasn't feeling it on the running thing. Then I thought about how I felt yesterday at the same time. Then I recalled Tim's speech and I made a choice. I got my obese and lack of exercise body out the door and killed it on the trail and roads near my home.  I felt great when I got done. 

So let me summarize Dr. Tim's presentation, "Eat less and move around more. Make healthy lifestyle choices and you get to hang on to the money in your wallet. You may even possibly find out who wins the 2040 Boston Marathon. Who knows, maybe you might even run in it."

So I didn't run yesterday.  Thank goodness.  For me, I got the golden ticket on running motivation from a non-running event.  Guess that gives new meaning to "Live United" for me.  People helping people. Neighbors helping neighbors. Guess I'll be writing a check.  Hell, I can afford it. I'll just take it out what I won't be spending in the hospital.  Hey, I made a choice, and it was a healthy one.

Day 29 - Have You Seen Me?

Hey, that guy in the middle looks familiar. Where have I seen him before?  I know I have seen him someplace.  

I had a great run this morning. It was seven good miles along the Freedom Trail from Tallmadge to Kent.  The sun was just coming up as I headed out of the Buckeye Gym.  No, I did not lift as planned.  I'll do that Thursday.  With a tight schedule on Wednesday I had to go longer today. I was going to do eight big ones but "Running Au Naturel Part 2" took over. Shorts, shoes, and tech shirt were the only things today.  I was one with nature once again.  Bring on the Zen. Hidden by a row of trees along most of the trail, I was shielded from light and heat of the sun. But like my man Pitbull, "Baby, baby, baby, I was on fire!"  I was in the pocket.  Constantly thinking about beating the sun before it got too high, I booked it.  ("Booking it" at my level of fitness is a relative term. But for my purposes, I was Dale Earnhardt Jr.)  On my way across a road that put me out in the sun for a brief period about a half a mile from the gym, I did something really mature.  I gave the sun the finger.  Well that was precious now wasn't it?  After I did so I thought, "Do you really want to mess with Mother Nature?"  Sixty five years on this earth and still thirteen years old according to the woman I'm related to by marriage.  I think I just proved her point.  As I ran to the end of the trail in about .3 miles I turned left and into the sun drenched parking lot.  I'm not making this up sports fans. It got hot real fast.  Message received from the sun gods. Note to self: Sun 29 - Steve-o 0.

Oh yeah.  Now I remember. The guy in the middle is only about half the man I was when I started out on  this journey in April this year. The guy in the picture looks like the side of the milk carton that asks, "Have you seen me?"  Survey says, "Not in 46 years my friend. " But today for almost seven miles I kind of felt like him.  Come to think of it, I might have done "the finger thing" once before in 1969.  It's great to be a teenager.....again, if even for only eighty minutes.

Day 28 - Grete Waitz Remembered

Today is a day off.  It's 8 miles and the gym tomorrow.  Tonight,  I just want to take a moment to remember the greatest female runner of all-time.  The winner of nine New York City Marathons. The woman who was so good, that she made the male idiots that prevented women from running the marathon in the Olympics establish the race.  She inspired women all over the world to run. She is my favorite elite runner.  Grete Waitz from Norway was and still is the best distance runner ever in my mind.  She made everyone care about women's running. You could argue Joan Benoit. You would have a great argument.  I have a feeling though that even Joan would agree, that Grete Waitz was the best ever. Period.  She passed away from cancer in April 2011.  The Boss and I met her in October 2004 at the Norway Festival Half Marathon in Central Park. Of all the celebrities I have met in my life, this was my favorite moment.  I didn't want her autograph.  I didn't want a picture.  I just wanted to meet her for a moment and I did. It's a life time memory.  She carried herself with class during the period of her illness.  Even as she faced the end of her life, she was a true champion.  Each of us have our own favorite athletes and she's mine. Grete Waitz was the best athlete there ever was in my book. Simply the best.

Day 27 - Out of Their League

This morning I did my fourteen mile run.  Any other week I would be impressed with myself but not today.  Yesterday, I watched the finish of the Burning River 50 Miler and the slightly over half way on the Burning River 100 mile runners at the Stratford House finish line/aid station.  It was a tremendous sight to behold.  It was the essence of the sport we love. These are all participants who could care less about the roar of the big time marathon crowds.  These were real endurance runners,  The preparation that they put into doing their best to perform on a hot summer day was just so impressive.

I waited close to four hours for our really good family friend Connie Kolita to get in from the trails.  I did the running selfie with her at about 500 yards left to go.  At one point on the trail Connie fell and hurt her knee but got back up. All who know her are very proud of her.

Pretty early on, I considered it a privilege to watch the 50 mile runners come by my location.  The anticipation of folks who were cheering on their friends and loved ones that were standing by me was quite emotionally moving.  I hurt for the 100 mile runners that had to call it a day at the 50 mile finish line. Several of them came by me and I was at a loss for words of encouragement or comfort.  

In the lower picture, that is Mark Warner, SARC member, on the far left heading toward the finish line for his 50 mile effort.   

As much as I have struggled with the sun on my long runs during my training program, I fixed that today by going out before dawn.  It was cool enough. It was really dark as I made my way to Silver Lake.  The sky got brighter as I headed around Silver Lake itself. Then it was on to the Silver Lake to Kent trail along the Cuyahoga River.  I had plenty of rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and birds to keep me company.  At 12.5 miles into my run I ran into these lovely ladies just short of Billy Goat Hill in Stow.  Moving left to right on your radio dial, this is Shay Christopher, Debi Glinsek, and Lisa Nemes.  I was tired and was listening to John Mayer's "Why Georgia Why" when I looked down the road and saw them.  Each with smiles so bright, it made me forget for the next mile how fatigued I was starting to get. It was uplifting to see them and their smiling faces!

This was the end of Week 6 of my Hal Higdon program.  I am grateful that I am still feeling motivated and staying on point.  Twelve more weeks to go to Columbus.  Not matter how good I felt today though, there was one sure thing. When it comes to the runners I saw yesterday and even Debi, Shay, and Lisa, I'm out of their league, and it's okay.  Nothing says I can't keep trying to make to "The Show!" It's certainly worth the effort to try to do so. 

Day 26 - "Takin' It to the Streets"

Thank you Papa Joey Phillips.  The comment the other night, "Takin to the Streets" inspired me to go to the Doobies on the IPod this morning.  The songs were a perfect antithesis to the Zen of what yesterday was all about. If Joey has a hand in it, then its all about rock 'n roll, positive energy, and a good time.

The up tempo beats of most of the songs were exactly what I needed, for example:

• Listen to the Music
• Jesus Is Just Alright With Me
• China Grove
• Takin' to the Streets
• Black Water
• It's Keeps You Runnin'
• Take Me in Your Arms

I love the Doobie Brothers, especially the Tom Johnson version:

The entire extended greatest hits album that I listened to was the perfect soundtrack for the day.  The music started when I left the house, and ended exactly when I rounded the corner to almost arrive home. "Takin' to the Streets?" I'll take 8 of those please.  My weight is down.  I beat my running nemesis up in the sky this morning by going out early.  My cadence was strong but relaxed for my level fitness. 

The only time I paused is when I saw my good friend Gideon Oswitch at about 3.5 miles coming towards me on the trail when he said, "Love the Blog.  Keep writing."  It was an extremely brief fist bump pause, but it was enough to lift me the rest of the way and keep up the strong but relaxed pace.  

Later today I'm off to support a couple of friends at the Burning River races.  Tomorrow in response to a suggestion from one of my running heroes, Lynn Anderson,  it's Bob Seger for 14 miles. Just give me some of that old time rock and roll! Now we're back to Papa Joey and the positive energy and a good time.  Hmmm. Works for me!

Day 25 - Running Au Naturel

This morning I took the big leap.  It was about 65 degrees. The sun was just coming up. I stood on the deck of the condo near Vermilion on the shores of Lake Erie. I  looked out on a lake that was almost glass like all the way across the northern horizon.  Running "au naturel" seemed like such a good idea.

No, not that.  The picture below is of world class marathoner Ryan Hall a couple years ago from the ESPN Body Issue.  But if you honestly thought it might be me, well then, bless you!

I'm talking about I didn't wear a hat, sunglasses, watch, IPod, headphones, or socks on my run this morning and it was great.  My attire was a running shirt, shorts, and running shoes.  On a beautiful morning with only the early morning shade from tree lined country roads as my protector against my arch nemesis known as "The Big Fireball in the Sky," I was safe.  I only needed four miles for the day.  I did four and a half. I heard birds singing and rustling in the trees.  I heard the sounds quite clearly of near and distant trains.  The early morning sounds of cars on State Route 2 near one of my treasured country roads were more noticeable to me than ever before.  Even the calming gentle rhythms of the streams I passed on my run made me feel even more alive.  I heard the sound of my feet as they touched the payment.  I was so aware of my surroundings. Even for somebody who doesn't really know farm crops, I could tell as I past a corn field that this is really good looking corn on the way. The whole holistic running experience this morning was a great idea.  I was one with my environment.  I'll have to do it again, soon.  Don't worry.  I won't go Ryan Hall on you.  But I will always give it my best effort.....naturally.

Day 24 - PRE!

Day 23 - Into the Mystic

I could just kiss Kelly Clarkson. Well, that may be a little much but I really was glad she was part of my life tonight. I had made up my mind last night after writing my story that tonight was going to be a good run, and it was. If this was figure skating, I would have cleared the compulsory competition with a 9.8.  It would be higher but I would have a phobia about being downgraded by the Russian judge and probably by the Luxembourg judge due to some awful things I may have said in my youth about Luxembourg when I first learned about the tiny country in third grade.  Kelly Clarkson got me over any running fears with her song, "Stronger."  I was suppose to go 8 but I figured I owed the program one for yesterday morning.  I also owed myself a better performance.  At three miles tonight I got loose.  Real loose.  I decided to take a left into Silver Springs Park in Stow instead of a right on the trail to Hudson Rd. north of Kent.  I went into the park and ran by the baseball fields and into the woods where the high school cross country races are held. I had never been up on those trails.  It was great traversing the wooded trails.  I came out of the woods and ran on the fields in the park and eventually found my way back out the way I came into the park.  Then I headed toward Hudson Road which is the direction I usually go.   I got to the precise turnaround point on the trail I needed in order to make it nine miles tonight.  The fun began the last four miles.  The cadence and rhythm of my stride picked up.  I was feeling it.  In just that moment, the music in my head was Kelly's, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger..." I got a little bit faster and a little bit stronger.  I figured, "What the heck." I pushed harder.  Okay sports fans, let's put this in perspective.  We are talking about a guy who has been living in the thirteen to fourteen minute per mile range on long runs now "punching it at around 11:30 per mile.  It's still slow but its all mine.  With about 1.8 miles left there is a series of hills on the trail. Long term there is speed in those hills. For now, I just wanted to get up those suckers.  Boy did I ever.  How great was it that when it came time to approach the final and steepest hill, the Michael McDonald song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," began to play?  I had to smile, my youngest son Alex mocks the heck out McDonald who I love and imitates Michael's vocal style much to the amusement of everyone else except his dad.  As I got within a quarter mile of the house the song "Into the Mystic," the cover version by Michael McDonald, came on.  I finished and then after the run I was basking in the glow of my best effort on a longer run in a long time.  I sat out on the back deck with sweat pouring off of me as I drank some ice water.  The feeling of accomplishment grew as the words of the song played.  The words by Van Morrison the writer and original performer of the song toward the end meant something more to me tonight than ever before:

"And I want to rock your gypsy soul

 Just like way back in the days of old

Then magnificently we will float into the mystic"

I looked over at the Boss on the other side of the deck and without taking my headphones off.  I just said, "I nailed it tonight."  She smiled and then I turned away I looked down at the deck below my chair. Everything was covered with moisture supplied by me.  I closed my eyes to relive the key moments of the run.  I thought of the nights in Wapakoneta when I was faster and had nights like this.  Then I was done for now but there's so much more do.  But for now, I think I will just float into the mystic and get a good night's sleep.  I should do something about the Russian and Luxembourg judges before they become problems.  Anybody have Tonya Harding's phone number? On second thought, I don't need her. The Kid is on a roll. I'm stronger and I'm sailing intro the mystic. It's where I want to be.

Day 22 - The Vertical Runner

Vince Rucci and Steve Hawthorne created Vertical Runner.  Today's story focuses on Vince but Steve Hawthorne is pretty special too.  I have no inside knowledge of their business model so this is how I see them which in a word is "wonderful."

It's always better to be a vertical runner than a horizontal one.  If your body is east and west as opposed to north and south in a marathon, chances are you are on a cot in a medical aid station.  I love the name of my friend Vince's successful running stores, "Vertical Runner."  I sometimes am guilty of walking into the store even if I am not buying anything.  The atmosphere is one of pure running in all its forms. The store surroundings are a visual and spiritual reminder of the sport we love and why we do it.  It can be the ibuprofen to what ails me in the short term in my running attitude.  I had a lethargic run this morning for three miles.  I woke up too early and it just wasn't there.  Not only that, when I got back I realized that today's offering was supposed to be four miles not just three. I knew today's attitude adjustment could be found by stopping and visiting Vince in his element.

Vince is a marketing genius in my view, and a quiet motivator in addition to being an outstanding runner.  Vince is smart in that he employs people who love the sport of running and are knowledgeable about their craft. Tammy Polen, who runs the Wooster Vertical Runner Store franchise, is just one example.  The culture of each store is that every runner matters.  Vince has seen acts like mine before.  Perhaps too often but he would never let on.  There's always an encouraging word of support no matter who you are.  Vince likes to build people up. One of the accomplishments of Vince and the team at Vertical Runner is the establishment of races that support numerous community causes.  "The Frosty Five" on Christmas Eve Day is one such race.  I find myself each year on Christmas Eve day morning in the role of  DJ with loud rocking seasonal music near the two and three mile marks. I like to entertain the runners, get them in the Christmas and holiday spirit, and make them smile.  Why? It's the buzz of seeing people happy at holiday time.  It's a way I can pay Vince back for a moment like today that just made me forget about the disappointing running experience this morning.  In fact, I'm raring to go on my 8 miler tomorrow afternoon.

During this marathon training process I am learning that I am not mentally going through anything different than what all other runners experience. Dealing with the psychological aspects of running and unlocking the positive forces around you are critical to anyone's successful training program.  

In an anonymous comment today on my Blog, it stated that I hold a cheeseburger in one hand and the Columbus Marathon in another hand.  That is expert analysis and spot on for now.  I am not a special runner.  I remain just a guy who's struggling with the same issues that so many others do who are trying to find their way back.  Right now is perhaps the most dangerous time of the program.  I have made significant progress but not enough.  I can just as easily lose what I have gained by letting up. With very few exceptions, nobody really does well in a marathon on just five weeks of training.  There's thirteen more weeks to go for me.

Seeing Vince today reminds me that I have to put not only this morning behind me and every other day of the schedule whether good or bad that's in the past.  If I nail tomorrow's run, it will be a major victory on the way back.  I will need to be focused, positive, and dedicated to my dream.  It's how Vince and his team built the Vertical Runner brand.  It's time for me to put down the cheeseburger and focus completely on the mission. 

I ended up in a horizontal position in a marathon in 1980.  I literally was lying east and west in a medical tent and would have much rather been a vertical runner. Getting off that cot and riding "the meat wagon" to the finish line was the worst running experience I ever had. The vertical runner crossing the finish line is always preferable. Always! 

Day 21 - Who Is This Guy?

When I got on the scale this morning after a good gym workout, I had one question about the man in the mirror, "Who is this guy?" Week five of Hal Higdon's Intermediate 2 Training Program has gone by.  I'm still in the game.  I'm losing weight.  I have 80 miles in so far this month. I will be tacking on another 50 miles before the month is out. So far, other than some back tightness last week, I'm good health wise.  Writing the Blog is keeping my feet to the fire.  This morning's trip to the gym would have been nonexistent if not for being accountable in some fashion.  Today was a great strength workout that just seemed to flow.  Oh what I would have missed had I stayed in bed. The sights and sounds of the roads and the trails over the last couple of months have been wonderful and inspiring. The smell of the gym has as well.

Ferris Bueller is right:

At the age of 65, I'm running out of comeback opportunities. This is the moment for me where I put it all together for a marathon for the first time in a long time.  I have not been this singularly committed to prepare for the marathon for over 30 years. I need to stay away from injuries and over use of tendons and muscles.  This needs to happen.  The Hal Higdon program is working so far but there's a long way to go.

But I want Columbus.  I want it bad. And that's a good thing.

Days 19 & 20 - Going Toe to Toe with Gypsy Joe

Today was a long run that was supposed to be 14 miles.  The sun got me again and I only did 11.  It got up to 90 degrees in the sun during my run.  Unlike last week, I am not going out tonight to get the other 3 miles.  I need the rest. I actually experienced some fear about the training this weekend.  I think past experiences are great teachers for the future. My pro wrestling experiences helped me after the run today! This is all true!!

When I was 14, I came upon some free tickets to a wrestling match at the Boston Arena.  My brother Phil and I along with a couple of our friends went to see the show.  The big event featured a tag team match with Gypsy Joe as the featured wrestler.  He was in wrestling terms, "a bum."

But Gypsy was a well known bum at the time.  Our seats were in the first row at ringside. I screamed out a chant halfway through the featured match, "Gypsy's a bum! Gypsy's a bum!" I got some in my section to start cheering with me.

There are a few lessons to be learned from this experience.
Lesson 1 - I was not at home on a Saturday afternoon watching Big Time Wrestling on television.
Lesson 2 - When you're at ringside, the combatants can hear you.
Lesson 3 - When a pro wrestler does a spectacular flip out of the ring and does a perfect somersault and lands toe to toe in front of you, and then looks you in the eyes from the end of your nose, make sure you have a clean pair of underwear handy because you might need them.

Gypsy in a deep voice with spit spray coming out of his mouth and fire in his eyes looked right into my eyes and calmly but fiercely asked, "What did you say?" I actually didn't hear the words because my older brother Phil was laughing too loudly.  It was too hard for me to hear anything else because others nearby joined in on the laughter at my expense.  The best I could muster was, "It wasn't...." I got cut off in mid-sentence by Gypsy.  This part I can remember very clearly because Gypsy was quite demonstrative and clear. With one word he dressed me down with, "BUL@$H!T!"  I was shaking.  If you want to know what fear looks like and then facing it, this was it.

I got mocked all the way home by my brother and friends.  I understood that cowering in the time of confrontation will lead to even worse feelings later.  I felt quite empty and embarrassed. "One must be brave in the future," I surmised.

I come from a family that loved pro wrestling.  Well my brothers and I did.  Whenever mom and dad would leave and my older brother Phil to babysit us, he and I would always have wrestling matches in the living room. We would jump off of mom's new chairs and love seat claiming that we were bouncing off of the turnbuckles.  We would practice pro wrestling moves like the Boston Crab.  When mom found out about it, probably because one of our younger siblings ratted us out, she uttered the famous words, "It' all fun and games until you put an eye out."  She did have a good point but fortunately it was all fun and games.

When my two oldest boy were growing up and we had our differences, sometimes watching wrestling was the bridge to fun and communication.  When my daughter was five, she and I were at ringside at a WWE house show at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio. During the middle of the royal rumble, a match where there's at least 16 or so wrestlers in the ring, the last one standing wins. My daughter started cheering for S.D. "Special Delivery" Jones.  Jones was a resident wrestling doormat.  The people around us thought it was so cute that this little girl was cheering so the entire arena started cheering with her.  Remember what I said earlier that wrestlers can hear you from the first row?  The differences this time from my youth is that the entire crowd was cheering along and she was cute.  It totally screwed up the planned event.  S.D. Jones went from being the first guy thrown out of the ring to being the third to last guy tossed out. Trash started flying into the ring and a riot almost broke out when Jones was sent packing.  The winner Iron Mike Sharpe, "Canada's Greatest Athlete," won the match. A friend of mine with the Lima Police Association that sponsored the benefit told me later that backstage, "The guys loved it and said the little girl in the front row should come to every show." I guess even I'm questioning my former parenting skills as I write this.

Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage were always favorites in our house.  The Macho Man and Hulk were always arch enemies until they formed the Mega Powers." Even "The Woman I'm Related to by Marriage" loved these guys and some of wrestling's story lines.  She of course loves "The Rock."  Pro wrestling helped bridge the communications gap between me and my youngest son during his junior high school years as well.

One year for Father's Day, my son Alex gave me a Mega Powers t-shirt to match his. I of course was Hulk:

I really admire WWE majority owner Vince McMahon.  I didn't say I liked him but I do admire his business skills.  He united a lot of the wrestling groups into one cohesive unit.  Instead off offbeat events like the one I went to with my brother, McMahon built a behemoth of an empire. I know its sports entertainment, but make no mistake about it, these guys and ladies are athletes.  The point is that Vince McMahon had a vision and started the WWE empire from an arena on Cape Cod McMahon and his family built it into a multimedia world-wide entertainment company.  He took risks that most of us would never take. McMahon mortgaged everything he had to put on Wrestlemania III in the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. He sold out the 90,000 seat stadium and had the most successful pay per view television show of all-time at that point. Had McMahon failed, he would have been ruined financially, probably for life.

You may be asking yourself, "Steve is this related to running? Do you have a point?"  I sure do.
When you embark on a quest to be as George Sheehan described, "A fit animal," you have to take some risks.  You have to have a vision.  You have to be able to communicate with your family members as to what you are trying to accomplish with your goals. Your quest to reach your dreams does affect your family's lives too. You have to have no fear. And when you fail, you have to get off the mat and try again. My friends who are really good runners do this all the time.  You cannot cower from the moment like I did when I was a kid.  I should have looked Gypsy Joe right back in his eyes and said nothing. What was he going to do? I had started it but had no exit plan.

A long training run may may go bad and make you feel like you were just given "The Rockbottom" by every one's favorite, The Rock. You have to get off the mat the next day and get the miles in.  Stick to the plan.  As the Hulk says, "Eat healthy, take your vitamins and workout."

For me as I look at those inanimate 26.2 miles of the Columbus Marathon course, I personalize and humanize every section of the marathon pavement. I have one question for every bit of asphalt that I will travel on October 18, 2015.  "What are you gonna do, when Hulkamania runs wild all over you?"  I think I just heard Alex "Macho Man" Hailer say, "OH YEAH!" He'll be cheering for me and hopefully be waiting for me at the finish line. If the Mega Powers re-unite, how can I fail?

I'll be at the gym in the morning. It's time to get off of the mat. Gypsy Joe would be proud of me.

Day 18 - Some Days You Gotta Dance

From Friday:
It was off to the gym this morning and then the three mile run I was suppose to do yesterday.  The music of the day was James Taylor's new offering and then later during my run. I listened to his two albums of nothing but songs by other artists appropriately titled, "Covers" and "Other Covers."  One song that surprised me was "Some Days You Gotta Dance" by the Dixie Chicks. I was running along the Freedom Bike Trail in Tallmadge and of course started singing out loud.  That's what I do.  Just me, a squirrel, a rabbit, and a raccoon in the distance.  The music was spot on for the day before the weekend. I figure what the heck.  Sing it like you mean it.  It was a great gym experience.  I was having a great run experience. Musically speaking I was "in the pocket" on my run.  Now you have a great weekend and here's the best advice I can give you which is the refrain of the song.  Sing it like you mean it!

                            Some days you gotta dance
                            Live it up when you get the chance
                           'Cause when the world doesn't make no sense
                            And you're feeling just a little to tense
                            Gotta loosen up those chains and dance

Day 17 - "Help Wanted: Coach for 2016 Akron Marathon"

The following are the facts that I remember.  I am not taking editorial license.  If I got something wrong its not intentional.  Regardless, its a really good story.  I hope most of it is true!

The tightness was still there this morning so I elected to do strength training and run tomorrow morning and give myself a rest day. As I write this tonight its turning out to be a good decision.

I am going to need the right person to be my coach next year for the 2016 Akron Marathon.  Of course its a way off considering I have a shorter range goal but I think I have just the guy for 2016.  If you ask most runners today, "Who is Bill Rodgers?" most folks will know him probably from reading about him, meeting him at numerous race expos, or perhaps what their dads and moms told them.  Certainly Rodgers is a legendary runner and deservedly so.  Most dedicated runners will know Frank Shorter, Bart Yasso, Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley. as well as many others from the golden era of the North America marathon running up until the mid-1980's in the 20th Century.  It was a time when Americans and Canadians ruled the marathon roads.  Ask someone at a running expo any place outside the Boston area today who Randy Thomas is, and the reaction will go something like this: 

"Who?" 

"What's that name again?" 

"Never heard of him."

I said to Bill Rodgers at the first Akron Marathon Expo, "Bill, I know a friend of yours, Randy Thomas." Bill's response, "You know Randy?  He was my rival.  He was really good."  

In the height of the Greater Boston Track Club's popularity in the late '70's and early 80's, New Balance had posters of Randy and other notable runners who were sponsored by what was then a relatively new company. Randy was in a running store buying something.  His life size poster was on the wall right behind the register.  Randy asked pointing to the poster, "Do you know that guy?" The clerk said, "No." He didn't make the connection! My guess is that the employee wasn't a runner.

The Boston Globe back around 1979 did a feature article I recall entitled, "He's Always Chasing Rodgers." The article talked about the numerous times that Randy in key races came close and how good a runner he really was.  Randy came so close to beating Boston Billy and certainly did from time to time or tied him, or so I am told. 

A picture from that time period.  Randy Thomas on the left and Bill Rodgers on the right.  I can't recall another picture I have ever seen of Bill Rodgers with a tie on let alone a three piece suit. I'm sure they exist. I just don't remember seeing them.

Back in the 1980, Pepsi sponsored a national 10K running series with the championships in Purchase, New York.  Sports Illustrated covered the championship event that year.  There in a fantastic finish line photo was Rodgers crossing the line in first and Randy just slightly behind him but only by an incredibly small margin. 

To Boston and knowledgeable runners during this era, Rodgers and Thomas were like Lennon and McCartney. Jagger and Richards. Hall and Oates.  Working together they made each other better under the coaching of Bill Squires and a quite historic group of Greater Boston Track Club teammates. To think of Randy as a sparing partner would be a gross distortion of history.  Randy was hugely successful in his own right.  How successful? Try this partial list on for size:

• World-Record Holder for 30-Kilometer Run
• Previous-Record Holder for the 10 mile and 20-Kilometer Distances
• Previous American Record Holder for the 15 Kilometer, 10-mile, 20-Kilometer and 30-Kilometer Distances
• Winner of Numerous Races at All Distances Across the Country
• Fifth-place finishes in the 1977 and 1978 Boston Marathon
• Course record holder for the Cape Cod Marathon. A record that has stood for 29 years.

For the past nineteen years, Randy has been either the men's and women's cross-country and track coach for Boston College, and more recently has coached just the women's program. In the life following his active running career, Randy's teams have captured Big East cross-country titles, and he himself has been recognized as Coach of the Year at several levels of recognition.  His former athletes hold him in the highest regard.  I know.  I've run into a couple of his former team members from time to time.  Musical artist and guitarist Ellis Paul was coached by Randy. He's "RT" to most but to Mari and me he's Randy.  We don't see him that often but Randy and Marcy are family as far as I'm concerned.

This picture of support was sent to Randy prior to the trials with Grover the Muppet, the Hailer boys at ages 2 and 1 respectively, and a Misha the Bear latch hook rug which was the logo of the Russian Olympics prior to the decision being made to boycott.  The famous RT New Balance poster is in the background.  I think the poster got destroyed about five years later when the boys imitating young Jedi warriors were using Wiffle ball bats like Star Wars light sabers and well...bye, bye poster.

As I disclosed earlier to my friends on Facebook, my second son is named after Randy.  I had this theory that it was important to have strong names for our boys and hopefully the names of men I held in high regard and would remain so just in case anything every happened to me when the boys were younger.  My thinking was there would be positive points of reference in their names to help guide them.  Both Randys grew to be men of honor and integrity.  Mari and I got it right.

I knew as Randy Thomas was operating in the shadows behind Rodgers that he would make a great coach.  When I would talk with him whether he realized it or not, he was always talking about race strategy and the teachings of Coach Bill Squires.  Every runner Randy talked about that he thought was special before they became famous, became famous.  He has an eye for running talent and character in a runner.  He roomed with Greg Meyer who went on to win the Boston Marathon.  Randy when he talked about other runners would tell me what their strengths and weaknesses were. That's what coaches do.  He learned a lot from Coach Squires.  You don't last and succeed nineteen years in college coaching at the same great university like Boston College unless you truly know what you're doing and care more about the athletes and the school than you care about yourself.

At a New York City Marathon, Randy figured out that Finnish marathon great Lasse Viren was not seriously competing in the race and and surmised that Viren was only in town for the appearance money.  Randy saw Viren eating a big breakfast.  He tipped off his fellow teammates so that they wouldn't burn themselves out trying to stay with Finn.  Randy could have kept the information to himself but if he was going to win, he was going to win with his best or not at all.  Randy was competitive as hell as a runner and begrudged nobody who left it all on the course who bested him on any day. Randy knew there was never a shortcut to greatness.

The great Lasse Viren from Finland. before he mailed it in in New York for the appearance money. I don't think that is something Steve Prefontaine would ever have done. Just my opinion.

Randy lead the Olympic Trials on the old Skylon Marathon course from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1980 for a while. The truth was that the Trials that year was a race that would lead to nowhere for the American team.  The United States was boycotting the Moscow Olympics.  Mari and I were there to support Randy at Fort Erie on the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge out of Buffalo.

Randy is in the New Balance singlet at the trials along the Niagara River:

Fifteen years later, Randy and his wife Marcy, along with Mari would be at the 13.1 mile mark when I had to drop out of the Cape Cod Marathon with a muscle strain at the half-way point.  I hated to but it wasn't my day and the truth is, I wasn't properly prepared.  I've always appreciated that particular moment of support when I run.  To me, while a DNF beats a DNS, (Did Not Finish and Did Not Start), it still sucks and leaves an empty feeling when you don't finish a race.  It's one of the moments in my running career that is driving me in this period of my running life and keeping me from mailing it in at work as I close in on retirement. I've got too much pride to do that and people are counting on me to give my best. The good news however from that day on Cape Cod for you RT fans. is that I left Randy's Cape Cod Marathon course record intact. Lucky for him!

If you know Randy or meet him sometime and are wondering how to start up a conversation, here's a couple of ideas:

• Ask him about dining at "Swifty's" near the Toledo airport.
• Ask him if he's ever been to Wapakoneta, the home of Neil Armstrong.
• Ask him if he can name the starting lineup the '67 Red Sox in the World Series.
• Ask him who won the first Tawa 10K in Ottawa, Ohio

Then let the conversation begin.  

My granddaughter loves cross country and track.  Nobody knows if she will run in college.  If she does and if it isn't for Randy, I hope its for a coach just like him.

And while we are on the subject coaches, let me place the help wanted ad now for my coach for The 2016 Akron Marathon:

"Help Wanted: Coach for a 66 year old runner in the spring of 2016 through the last Saturday in September 2016.  Will accept applications from world record holders and successful college coaching experience is a must.  Applicant must be able to motivated dumb old guy behavior like eating Oreos and struggling make smart nutrition decisions. Will need to work with runner's spouse to get him to stay and keep on the straight and narrow path to excellence.  Coaching can be done by providing a schedule and occasional long distance phone calls from time to time. Anyone not having the initials R.T. need not apply."

Here's a picture from October 7, 1978 after the Tawa 10K. (So this coaching thing wouldn't be the first time we worked on something together!)

Well friends, you don't have to spend a whole lot of time with someone for them to have a positive effect on your life.  Coaches at most have four years, and usually less than that with the members of their team, but they can really make a positive difference in someone. It's a difference that may even last a lifetime. I'm no Steve Prefontaine but we have the same first name.  It's a start. I will need a really good coach after this base marathon stuff is done.  I think I have just the guy.  Hope he says, "Yes." It's all about life in the long run. 

  

Day 16 - Back to the Future

When I was in "The Zone" back in the late 1970's and at periods during the 1980's with my running, I would run at all hours of the day and night.  I did some of that tonight.  My back and my legs were tight this morning.  I got a full night's sleep and yet I was still tired.  I promised myself that I would run this afternoon after work.  I was still tired and the back still hurt so I caught about a 45 minute nap.  I felt amazingly better and did some things around the house.  I was negotiating with myself on whether I was going to run or not. Then of course my promise of last night came to mind and sooooo..... I drove to Sand Run Trail to do what I had promised.  It was getting dark.  For the first forty-five minutes it was no "problemo." It seemed like in the forty sixth minute it got dark real fast.  I was concerned about footing, tripping, spraining ankles, and every other thing that could happen to me out on a trail when its pitch black.  Then it dawned on me.  I have an IPhone with the flashlight app.  Adapting, improvising, and overcoming.  I'm a junior marine for sure.  I get done and realize that instead of needing to buy a t-shirt that says, "I'm with Stupid," with the arrow pointing up towards my head, I actually accomplished something.  My buddy Marty Fanning and I for years would run at any hour of the day that we could just to get a five to six mile run into our lives.  Want to see what I looked like in "The Zone" years?

That's brother Phil and me before the 1981 Boston Marathon.  Phil had a tryout with "Thunder Down Under Review" after the race I believe which of course explains the shorts.  I'm rocking the "stash" and a Bill Rodgers running suit.  It was a different time.  Tonight for a little under ninety minutes, I was there again if even only in my mind.  Felt good and I kept my promise.  These miles were for my friends that I mentioned.  It must be Karma because I would not have gone except for them.  Thanks!

Day 15 - I'm With Ya' Man

Twice today I was with people who are dealing with depression.  Both are just awesome human beings that I feel privileged to know.  Both folks are more successful in life than they realize at the moment when it comes to the real things that matter.  I worked out at Buckeye Gym this morning and ran three miles listening to the sweet soul music of Teddy Pendergrass.  I was incredibly happy.  I was at peace. That wasn't the case for me for a while in July 1990.  I had to fight off depression and eventually with the help of Mari and some close friends, I pulled out.  My points of reference in life at that time just needed to be adjusted.  The words below appeared on a card in a book that was sent to me regarding banking regulations of all things. I kept the card on my desk until I gave it to a dear friend who's business career is starting to take off.  It was one of my prized possessions. I offer it now to you.  It's what I truly believe and why I think I will succeed in October.  It's why I think my troubled friends will break their cycle of bad feeling because below is what they do.  We can go back to the frivolity of my writing of Uncle Cookie and his escapades tomorrow.  For tonight, these words are a reminder of my goal and a prayer and a message of love to my friends.  Tomorrow my seven miles are for them.  Anyone without a smile on their face know this. I'm breaking out the best Barry White and Isaac Hayes music that I have in my possession. I might even throw in a little more Teddy P for good measure. I'll be on a soulful run on Sand Run Trail.  Tomorrow morning I'll be in the words of Brian Wilson and his band, "Sending out good vibrations."  We will succeed, together. Particularly the "laugh often" part. Oh, one more thing. Billy Joel has been through a lot stuff in his personal life.  Know how Billy ends everyone of his concerts without exception?  After he thanks the band, the audience, and the crew, he advises the audience, "Don't take shit off of anybody."  Ralph Waldo Emerson was saying that too.  Emerson was just a little more eloquent! Both men are spot on.

Day 14 - The True Story of Uncle Cookie

Today is a cross training day that I am moving to tomorrow morning prior to my three mile run.  It's a good time to tell you bout my niece Nina Villanova who is one funny person.  I really came to truly appreciate her humor when she and I ran the New York City Marathon together in 2005.  Here's a picture of Nina and me in April 2007 running in a Cohasset, Massachusetts 10K.

New York was Nina's first marathon.  I had run the New York Marathon before but this one was different.  There was no way I was going to get through the race without laughing my tookus off!  Everything Nina says is pretty much funny whether its self deprecating humor or she is mocking me. The New York Marathon was a large opportunity and a really good chance to truly get to know her.  I was not disappointed. I was in fairly decent half marathon shape but this was the big show and I needed a secret weapon on the course.  Nina tells me after we get over the Verrazano - Narrows Bridge and into Brooklyn that her longest run is about 13 miles.  (This is according to my memory and she may dispute it but its pretty close to that).  I figure, "This is going to be good."  But Nina was young and I know that she will be fine.  How do I know?  I've seen this act before.  Every time I look in the mirror I am witness to this kind of marathon training and rationalization.  Of course now in 2015 its different but back then, you could have laid our training schedules over one and other.  As we roll through Brooklyn and get by the Williamsburg Savings Bank building around the 8 mile mark, the neighborhoods are truly vibrant, noisy and fun.  Music and frivolity are everywhere.  Runners tend to expend too much energy in this area only to pay for it later.  As we begin our entry into the much quieter Hasidic Jewish area of Brooklyn around the 12 mile mark, I announce to Nina that I need a break. "Huh?" she asks.  "Right here," I reply. "My secret weapon," I add.  Standing before me as I step off of the course and onto the sidewalk is a Subway sandwich store.

In my mind I am hearing choirs of angels.  Nina is thinking something far different. "You're kidding?" Nina questions.  She's used three words in the last sixty seconds and already captured the strangeness of the moment to perhaps most but not to me.  I know that I am going to be down on sugar and I got the fix, a large chocolate chip cookie. We enter the store and everybody looks at us in stunned silence. The girl behind the counter asks, "Are you running the marathon?" "Technically yes," I reply.  I then say, "I need two chocolate chip cookies."  The Subway sandwich artist almost coughs trying to hold back her laughter. People in the shop are staring at us and then begin to smile.  I go to pay the clerk who says with a huge smile, "No, I'm good."  I hand Nina one of my prized possessions on the way out the door. Nina is laughing and mocking me at the same time.  I tell her to trust me.  The unexpected stop becomes a topic of conversation until we get over the Queensboro Bridge from Brooklyn into Manhattan.  As we come off of the bridge and looking down the long four mile stretch of tall buildings on First Avenue, we have a space where everybody seems to be happy and cheering us.  It feels good.  I look at Nina and say, "This is great.  They really are supporting us," referring to the crowd.  It's at that point my not ready for prime time niece taps me on the shoulder and points behind and says, "Um, Uncle Cookie. They're not cheering for us. " At that exact moment some little kid to my left and his family that are watching the marathon says, "Look mom.  It's Mr. Potato Head." Everyone within ear shot begins to laugh and smile at the young boy's comments.  I turn to look behind me and the young man was wrong.  It wasn't Mr. Potato Head. Upon first glance I understood the laughter.  It was "Mr. Testicles."  I know because he had a sign on saying so.  It was a runner in that costume trying to bring awareness to testicular cancer. Do you realize how hard it must be to run a marathon in a Mr. Testicles outfit?  Do you know how uncomfortable it is running next to this guy?

Talk about motivation to run.  I hate this stretch of the New York City Marathon.  It's a straight shot for four miles until you get to the Bronx. Because our starting wave wasn't until the last corral was let loose, the shorter daylight of fall days and the shadows begin to chill the air in Central Park.  Sugar levels are being depleted for most but not for my young marathon apprentice and me. We look back and we have left Mr. Testicles in the dust for the moment.  Around mile 22 Nina and I separate once I know Nina is okay.  I finish.  Nina comes in a little bit later.  She did a great job for her first marathon and I tell her so.  A couple days later Nina sends me her finish line photo from the race photographers.  There she is with a great stride coming under the finish banner in Central Park.  I send her my congratulations via email.  Nina responds, "Look above the banner in the picture." There with the big smiley face is our aforementioned hero, "Mr. Testicles."  Somehow it all seems fitting.  Nina in few words again responds to my, L.O.L. email with two very carefully chosen words, "Uncle Cookie."  Nina manages an Eileen Fisher store in Boston's Back Bay area in the exclusive Copley Place.  She of course introduces her 60 year plus uncle as, "This is my Uncle Cookie."  Bank president and business executive respectful introduction?  But of course not. I'm U.C. with her and proud of it.  For the record, in Columbus this October, I know which Subway I am stopping at on the course.  I've been there before during a half marathon. Nina doesn't call me Uncle Cookie for nothing.  Cringe if you want.  It works for me.  M&M cookies work even better. I understand Subway needs a spokesperson. Maybe, just maybe, I'm their guy.

Day 13 - Houston, We (Kind of) Had a Problem Here!

April 11, 1970, Astronaut James Swigert from aboard the third moon mission Apollo 13 uttered the famous words, "Houston, we had a problem here."

On a much smaller scale that was my story this morning.  I was going to get up at 5:00 a.m. and didn't. Try 7:00 a.m.  I wanted to avoid as much sun as possible.  It's was too late.  I fell asleep on the couch watching a movie last night that I can't even remember what it was. I woke up to some sort of pathetic cartoon lecturing kids on something that was poorly written, drawn, and scripted.  Much worse than my Blog except somebody got paid to do that stuff.  I got all of that within 30 seconds.  I'm 100% positive I was not watching Frozen.  Mr. Negativity had paid me a visit as I awoke.  I needed something.  I found fault with everything. First duty of the day was to change the channel and lo and behold the answer to my attitude problems was filling the entire downstairs.  It was the music of the ever beautiful and talented SADE.

For those of you scoring at home in your programs it is pronounced "Shar-day.  How's this for a night in the summer of 2011?  Mari's out of town so I go to an Indians game and then in the top of the eighth walk across the plaza to the Q and see the SADE concert.  John Legend was the opener.  Didn't see him; didn't want to.  But SADE, well they play one of her songs every time Michael Brantley comes up to bat for the Indians, "Smooth Operator."  Oh but she is so much more than that.  She's a whole lotta more!! Do you know how good a seat you can get if you only want one ticket to a concert?  The place was sold out and I was in the eighth row two seats in from the middle aisle.  When SADE magically appeared on stage as she marched up the stairs hidden in the floor, well you know that voice I told you about a few days ago that I hear in my head from time to time that we like to call a conscience?  It kept saying, "Stevie.  Don't rush the stage.  Don't do it fella."  What a kill joy.  She opened up with "Soldier of Love" that has a rhythmic military beat to the drum part. She looked one way, then to the front middle, and then to the left, and then back to the middle as she swayed to the rhythm of the song.  I was embarrassed.  Clearly she was looking at me. Okay. She wasn't looking at me necessarily but she was looking at my section. Another George Constanza moment, eh?  It was two hours and ten minutes of fantastic entertainment.

 Oh running.  This is abut running.  Sorry.  Anyway, I have some of the music for that concert downloaded on to my IPhone.  As I head out on my thirteen mile run I know my arch nemesis that is that big ball of flames in the sky was higher up in the horizon than what I wanted.  I went for the bike trail by Stow High School and then out to Silver Springs Park and the shaded trail across the street that would take me out to Franklin Township north of Kent, Ohio.  It was so much cooler in the shade.  Heck I was cooler.  I was listening to SADE. I'm a young Kirk Douglas. "I am Spartacus!" The number of songs are only a sampling of the concert so when the music was done and my memories of her concert with her,  I strangely enough moved to Stephen Stills' first album.  It's the one with the song "Love the One Your With."  Great album but it moves fast meaning its a but a half an hour long or so.  Then to my surprise, I forgot I had downloaded Lionel Ritchie's re-recording of his hits done with country artists.  It is amazing.

I was lost in space with all systems go as I listened.  "All Night Long" with Jimmy Buffett. The powerful "Lady" with Kenny Rogers singing co-lead.  I don't care how many wives Lionel has had or how many faces Kenny has had...or wives, to each their own.  This is an awesome rendition of Mari's and my song.

I was holding strong with my run until, I had a problem.  I had brought water but I was dehydrating.  Check that.  I was dehydrated but close to home.  By the time I got home I was at ten miles. Last time I checked, that does not equal thirteen which was the objective but I was done. I wasn't angry.  I was grateful for being able to do that distance even though I walked the last four tenths of a mile.  Double digits are good,  But not good enough.

So about five o'clock this afternoon I went out the door to go get the other three.  It's not the same as thirteen all at once.  But it is the same for the total mileage as the required for the fourth week of the training program and the mileage scheduled for the day.  When I get home the Boss with a smile on her face tells me that she is impressed.  To all of you I say, "Feeling good my friends. Think I'll take it out for a spin and sing "Lady" to the Boss."  Then the voice went off in my head and it said, "Stevie. You know that song by Billy Joel "Leave a Tender Moment Alone?" And then the voice went silent.  So did I. Shhhh! Let's keep this between you and me and not tell her what I was thinking. Okay? Hey thanks a lot friends. Our secret!! I knew I could count on you.

Tomorrow: The Legend of Uncle Cookie

Day 12 - What a Great Day!

If there was a list of various emotions on this 6 mile day, I checked all the boxes. I had anxiety as I couldn't get to sleep after we got home from the Cleveland Indians game last night.  About 12:30 this morning I finally fell asleep and woke up at 6:15.  Fine except that I wanted to run earlier because I had a "thing" that I really wanted to do this morning at 8:00 a.m.  The Boss was already up.  The run would have to wait.  First day of retirement and she's shaking and baking already because she's got a race at 8:00 a.m.  I got a kiss.  Feeling loved.  Check anxiety and love off the list.  I was loading the sound system into the Jeep and I couldn't find the speaker adapter.  Frustration.  No, wait a minute, there it is.  Relief.  Check frustration and relief off the schedule. Every thing's good.  Good to go.  Before I go, I steal one more kiss.  That love emotion thing is powerful.  (Insert devious smiley face here with a grin).

I'm being a D.J. at the mid-course location on the Andrea Rose Teodosio 5K course.

I position my speakers so the sound echoes off of the buildings on both sides of the street and the walkway 30 feet above my head between the two structures.  U2, ""It's a Beautiful Day," followed by the Rolling Stones with "Brown Sugar," "Let's Get the Party Started, (Thank you Pink), a couple of Katy Perry numbers and Robin Thicke and Pharrell with "Blurred Lines," and we are good to go for sure.  All the other feelings don't matter now. The only mission now is fun! It's time for runners to come by and its time to dance and wave and make 'em smile.  They me smile and laugh too! This is a good time to add joy as an emotional experience.  Fun and joy. Check!

Here's Irv Sugerman. Great friend and as funny a man as I have ever met.

For a solid half hour runners head south to the turnaround and then they come back north and pass my music station again.  I'm waving.  I'm dancing.  I'm having a blast. So is my friend Lee Schaffer.

Let me add one more emotion, hopeful.  I'm hoping that my health remains solid and I can continue my training program safely. Note to self: Jessie Jackson is right about this one. "Keep hope alive."

Music fills and vibrates through the air for the runners. I'm picking up good vibrations.  Smiles.  I run in spurts with some of the runners for encouragement and smiles and then back to my station.  I dance with my kindred spirits in the back of the pack. I have the good sense not to grab the microphone and launch my into my 1960's AM radio host routine, "Hey groovy guys and groovy girls, we're playing the big sounds in the Rubber City on this beautiful summer morning.  Today's music is brought to you by ...."  I would do it but to be frank, you have to know your audience.  Seventy five percent of this crowd never heard of Alan Freed, Murray the K, Cousin Brucie, and clearly don't truly understand the greatness of Elvis.  Many runners in this field think AM radio can give you arthritis if you're not careful.  I know so many people in the race that I am getting pumped for my run.  They are helping motivate me.  When the last runner comes by and when out of earshot, the sound system is put into my car and I am eastbound and down.

Meanwhile back at the finish line folks are having fun in the photo booth and receiving awards, and having great conversations and refreshments.

I gotta go do six. No post race festivities for me this time.  Because the sun is up, it's late morning, and it's hot, I go to Tallmadge Meadows and then well into the woods where I can hide from the sun.  If I was Patton yesterday in my mind, today I am Robin Hood and this is my Sherwood Forrest.  The temperature in the woods is at least ten degrees cooler.  No problem on the hills on the trail.  Pleasant surroundings.  I'm listening to the soundtrack of Spirit of the Marathon as I ease my way through the woods.  The music moves to John Mayer's album "Born and Raised." Having to negotiate avoiding mud on the wooded trail, I elect to head out of the woods on to a country road and then back to the main drag.  The road is shady. Then its out into the sun and heat for the finish of the run.  It's just past noon and I realize, I got a whole day into six hours.  The Boss would be proud.  That's her standard operating procedure.  You know, twelve pounds in an eight pound can.  Fit 25 hours into 24.  Somehow it all makes sense,  When I started in April I weighed 238 or 239 depending on the time of day. Now Don Pardo, make the call from the TV studio in the sky, "Ladies and gentlemen, (Drum roll please), Mr; Hailer now weighs 228.3 pounds.  I think I figured it out. "Eat less.  Move around more." Let me add one more emotion, feeling an accomplishment. Check!

Finally, a series of emotions from this one site.  The memorial is in remembrance of today's race honoree at the Meadows.

The site reminds me of my son Paul Tyler who's memory I will always carry with me as I will our still born son Phillip Gerard.  I find peace and understanding of life in this spot.  I find motivation to live the best life I can and to most of all be happy because even if we live to 100, its's still such a short time on this earth. So I laughed today, a lot.  I smiled, a lot. I danced, a lot.  I did some thinking and was able to appreciate the awesomeness of being alive and sharing great fun experiences with friends and spreading good vibrations through music, dance, and happiness.  I in turn learned from and was motivated by my friends and family.  Today was a big day.  What a great day! I got 13 miles tomorrow.  Bring them on!!!