A big 17 miles tomorrow and looking forward to it. "The Times They Are A Changing." Indeed they are!
Friday, August 7, 2015
Day 39 - "The First Ones Now Will Later Be Last"
A great eight miles this morning at my hopeful marathon pace. Who better to run twenty-five miles in two days with than this guy?
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Day 38 - Good Judgement and Mary Lenari
Everything I needed to know about running smart I learned from Mary Lenari of Sarasota. I first met Mary at the Cincinnati airport in May 2003 while I was waiting to catch a connecting flight to Sarasota. The day before, I dropped out of the Pittsburgh Marathon as I was trying to run through an injury. That same day, Mary was 200 miles away running the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati. Her energy and positive nature were quite evident in the waiting area at our gate in Terminal C. With the Sarasota contingent of Galloway runners surrounding her, Mary included everybody in the conversation. She looked familiar but I was sure we had never met.
Mary at the Myrtle Beach Marathon:
Mary has coached and inspired former coach potatoes to runner status for years. She is the John Bingham ("The Penguin") of the Sarasota area running community. She has earned the status of Marathon Maniac. Her theories on marathon running are based on Penguin like facts. No need for speed. Enjoy the experience. Have fun. Meet people. Advance your health. Make life long friends and change lives. Do what you never thought you could do and don't use your body up. Don't forget to rest and you will run for a long time. These are all characteristics that would describe Mary's outlook on running. All good thoughts.
A common look for Mary during a marathon always running with somebody:
I felt bad about dropping out of Pittsburgh and said so to Mary as we engaged in our first conversation. She was the first runner I remember using the terms and saying that DNF ("Did Not Finish") beats DNS ("Did Not Start"). My focus in that first conversation changed to the successful seven marathons I had done in the previous twelve months prior to meeting her. Our discussion centered on the Galloway theory of running. I felt we became instantaneous friends. In all honesty, maybe we have met twelve times in person and then through Facebook and emails over the years. I absolutely consider Mary a friend and continuing running inspiration.
On three different occasions while in Sarasota visiting my parents, I would connect with Mary's Saturday morning running group including running two different times in a group with her husband Bob who had me in stitches the entire training run. A very funny guy indeed.
Mary and Bob (Bobby):
I unexpectedly ran into Mary at the beginning of my first New York City Marathon experience and then a few years later on the course at a Marine Corps Marathon. I pushed myself at both events only to watch Mary pass me by later in the race with her measured, "What Wall?" theory of marathon running. She is always smiling. Always.
The Boss met Mary at a couple of Sarasota races and instantaneously liked her. Noticing a pattern here about Ms. Lenari's positive impact on people?
I was standing at the starting line of the Boston Marathon in 2010 and got into a conversation with a fellow runner who said he was from Sarasota. I asked, "Do you know Mary Lenari?" He responded, "Everybody knows Mary." A year later while having dinner at the Quarterdeck in Falmouth, Massachusetts prior to the Falmouth Road Race, I felt a tap on my shoulder. The man says, "Hey, I was next to you at the start of Boston last year. You're Mary Lenari's friend aren't you?" I smiled and responded, "Who isn't?" We both started laughing. He had a couple of friends with him and they chimed in and asked, "So you know Mary?"
When my dad was living in Sarasota and he had his first stroke and mom had some health issues. I remember asking Mary in a phone call that if anything ever came up would she mind if I called her to check in on them? While I never needed her help, her immediate reaction was, "Sure," and you knew she meant it.
There's nothing wrong with running in a measured fashion. The heck with DNF and DNS. LPF, ("Last Place Finish") blows the other two away. Mary would approve, with enthusiasm and a huge smile.
(Note: Pictures from Mary's Facebook photo page. Hope you don't mind my friend. They're great!)
Mary at the Myrtle Beach Marathon:
Mary has coached and inspired former coach potatoes to runner status for years. She is the John Bingham ("The Penguin") of the Sarasota area running community. She has earned the status of Marathon Maniac. Her theories on marathon running are based on Penguin like facts. No need for speed. Enjoy the experience. Have fun. Meet people. Advance your health. Make life long friends and change lives. Do what you never thought you could do and don't use your body up. Don't forget to rest and you will run for a long time. These are all characteristics that would describe Mary's outlook on running. All good thoughts.
A common look for Mary during a marathon always running with somebody:
I felt bad about dropping out of Pittsburgh and said so to Mary as we engaged in our first conversation. She was the first runner I remember using the terms and saying that DNF ("Did Not Finish") beats DNS ("Did Not Start"). My focus in that first conversation changed to the successful seven marathons I had done in the previous twelve months prior to meeting her. Our discussion centered on the Galloway theory of running. I felt we became instantaneous friends. In all honesty, maybe we have met twelve times in person and then through Facebook and emails over the years. I absolutely consider Mary a friend and continuing running inspiration.
On three different occasions while in Sarasota visiting my parents, I would connect with Mary's Saturday morning running group including running two different times in a group with her husband Bob who had me in stitches the entire training run. A very funny guy indeed.
Mary and Bob (Bobby):
I unexpectedly ran into Mary at the beginning of my first New York City Marathon experience and then a few years later on the course at a Marine Corps Marathon. I pushed myself at both events only to watch Mary pass me by later in the race with her measured, "What Wall?" theory of marathon running. She is always smiling. Always.
The Boss met Mary at a couple of Sarasota races and instantaneously liked her. Noticing a pattern here about Ms. Lenari's positive impact on people?
I was standing at the starting line of the Boston Marathon in 2010 and got into a conversation with a fellow runner who said he was from Sarasota. I asked, "Do you know Mary Lenari?" He responded, "Everybody knows Mary." A year later while having dinner at the Quarterdeck in Falmouth, Massachusetts prior to the Falmouth Road Race, I felt a tap on my shoulder. The man says, "Hey, I was next to you at the start of Boston last year. You're Mary Lenari's friend aren't you?" I smiled and responded, "Who isn't?" We both started laughing. He had a couple of friends with him and they chimed in and asked, "So you know Mary?"
When my dad was living in Sarasota and he had his first stroke and mom had some health issues. I remember asking Mary in a phone call that if anything ever came up would she mind if I called her to check in on them? While I never needed her help, her immediate reaction was, "Sure," and you knew she meant it.
There's nothing wrong with running in a measured fashion. The heck with DNF and DNS. LPF, ("Last Place Finish") blows the other two away. Mary would approve, with enthusiasm and a huge smile.
As I have been training for Columbus, on some of the longer runs, sometimes I am disappointed that I'm not the runner I used to be. Then I think about what I have learned from Mary and celebrate the runner I am. Yep, everything you need to know about good judgement when it comes to running you can learn from Mary. I rested today to prepare for the long runs of the next two days. "Thanks Mary! You are one very smart Penguin." Glad we met.
(Note: Pictures from Mary's Facebook photo page. Hope you don't mind my friend. They're great!)
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Day 37 - Vermilion - The Course
I figured if I am really serious about being successful in Columbus, I have to do a few unexpected things along the way. I took my own advice from "The Hoodie" episode, "Its on to Vermilion."
Last night, I went to Vermilion to map out my course to prepare for this weekend. (As all of us know, "The Hoodie" is all about preparation). The course is going to be two loops of an 8.5 mile course that will take me out through the countryside of morning sun drenched cornfields, bean fields, farms with cows, over Route 2 that runs from Cleveland to Toledo, and begins and ends on U.S. Route 6. This is the same route that could take me west to Oregon or east to my beloved Cape Cod.
I ran the first loop of the course this morning. Here's the course in pictures and the necessary medication for this portion of my training program.
Morning has broken:
As the run began, here was the view of a channel leading out to Lake Erie as I began:
Last night, I went to Vermilion to map out my course to prepare for this weekend. (As all of us know, "The Hoodie" is all about preparation). The course is going to be two loops of an 8.5 mile course that will take me out through the countryside of morning sun drenched cornfields, bean fields, farms with cows, over Route 2 that runs from Cleveland to Toledo, and begins and ends on U.S. Route 6. This is the same route that could take me west to Oregon or east to my beloved Cape Cod.
I ran the first loop of the course this morning. Here's the course in pictures and the necessary medication for this portion of my training program.
Morning has broken:
As the run began, here was the view of a channel leading out to Lake Erie as I began:
The sky at one mile:
Three miles into the run, a small river:
Five miles into the run:
Feeling happy along the way:
From one of the bridges that crosses Route 2:
Sunrise over corn at six miles:
Corn looks great:
Take me home country road:
A stream with about a mile and a half left:
Lake Erie on the turn on U.S. Route 6 back to the start/finish one mile out:
As the Dr. Higdon's prescription for the weekend says, "Repeat as needed with unlimited refills."
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Day 36 - Take It Easy You Pretender
"Lighten up while you still can, don't even try to understand, just find a place to make your stand and take it easy...." - Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey circa 1971
Maintenance days are cool. They're kind of play days. Hard to believe that four months ago I would have said that a three or four mile run day along with strength training would be fun. The folks at Buckeye Gym and my friends in the Summit Athletic Running Club make it so. Talk about a perfect day to run, this morning was it. A brief workout at the gym and then onto the Freedom Trail. The music of the day was Jackson Browne's greatest hits. So many great songs that capture the feel of my journey to Columbus.
Written along with Glenn Frey, Jackson penned the landmark song, "Take It Easy." The song was the foundation of the Eagles phenomenal career and was the cornerstone of Jackson's writing and performing career. It's not the words but the overall message of just letting life come to you naturally that seem applicable in my approach to my running program.
Here's a gratuitous picture of a "Girl in a flatbed Ford" who wouldn't necessarily be slowing down to take a look at me. But Joey Phillips or Steve Sisco? Well probably.
In the rotation of music on my IPod was another Jackson Browne song "Running on Empty." Thirty years after its release you can still hear this song played at road races. For the last two miles of this past Sunday's run it was appropriate, but not this morning. Today, the greatness of being on a bike trail on an awesome morning was more than I could have hoped.
Then through my headphones comes Jackson's all-time classic "The Pretender." Now this song has me wondering. Is that who I am? I love the closing lines of the song, "Say a prayer for the Pretender. He started out so young and strong only to surrender." In two lines Jackson summarizes my running career. I was young and strong only I surrendered to a less active life. This is what I am thinking about when the negative thoughts go through my head. I begin to doubt myself. These doubts are soon obliterated by the next Jackson Browne offering, "Somebody's Baby" from the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." I love this song. When it was in the standard radio play rotation in the 1980's, my son Adam and I would sing this song together, a lot. The memory brings a smile to face and joy to my mind. I am feeling pretty darn spiffy.
As I completed my effort for the day I looked at the pace time on my watch. I was traveling at a speed of 12:40 per mile. This should not be confused with traveling at the speed of light. However, it occurs to me that this is about 90 seconds faster per mile than where I began in April. So much for running on empty.
There's something to this "Take it easy thing." I'm not the Pretender. And as far as being somebody's baby, well, that's reserved for the Boss. If she's not the girl in the flatbed Ford, then I'll just wave and wait for the lady I'm related to by marriage. For now, "I'll lighten up while I still can....and take it easy." Good advice Jackson and Glenn. I got eight miles in the morning. It's a good time to take it easy. My body will thank me tomorrow.
Maintenance days are cool. They're kind of play days. Hard to believe that four months ago I would have said that a three or four mile run day along with strength training would be fun. The folks at Buckeye Gym and my friends in the Summit Athletic Running Club make it so. Talk about a perfect day to run, this morning was it. A brief workout at the gym and then onto the Freedom Trail. The music of the day was Jackson Browne's greatest hits. So many great songs that capture the feel of my journey to Columbus.
Written along with Glenn Frey, Jackson penned the landmark song, "Take It Easy." The song was the foundation of the Eagles phenomenal career and was the cornerstone of Jackson's writing and performing career. It's not the words but the overall message of just letting life come to you naturally that seem applicable in my approach to my running program.
Here's a gratuitous picture of a "Girl in a flatbed Ford" who wouldn't necessarily be slowing down to take a look at me. But Joey Phillips or Steve Sisco? Well probably.
In the rotation of music on my IPod was another Jackson Browne song "Running on Empty." Thirty years after its release you can still hear this song played at road races. For the last two miles of this past Sunday's run it was appropriate, but not this morning. Today, the greatness of being on a bike trail on an awesome morning was more than I could have hoped.
Then through my headphones comes Jackson's all-time classic "The Pretender." Now this song has me wondering. Is that who I am? I love the closing lines of the song, "Say a prayer for the Pretender. He started out so young and strong only to surrender." In two lines Jackson summarizes my running career. I was young and strong only I surrendered to a less active life. This is what I am thinking about when the negative thoughts go through my head. I begin to doubt myself. These doubts are soon obliterated by the next Jackson Browne offering, "Somebody's Baby" from the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." I love this song. When it was in the standard radio play rotation in the 1980's, my son Adam and I would sing this song together, a lot. The memory brings a smile to face and joy to my mind. I am feeling pretty darn spiffy.
As I completed my effort for the day I looked at the pace time on my watch. I was traveling at a speed of 12:40 per mile. This should not be confused with traveling at the speed of light. However, it occurs to me that this is about 90 seconds faster per mile than where I began in April. So much for running on empty.
There's something to this "Take it easy thing." I'm not the Pretender. And as far as being somebody's baby, well, that's reserved for the Boss. If she's not the girl in the flatbed Ford, then I'll just wave and wait for the lady I'm related to by marriage. For now, "I'll lighten up while I still can....and take it easy." Good advice Jackson and Glenn. I got eight miles in the morning. It's a good time to take it easy. My body will thank me tomorrow.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Day 35 - Keep It Simple
Here's the thing about running schedules, if you have one that fits you, its like gold. For me the golden ticket is the Hal Higdon Intermediate II Marathon Training Program. I'm on week eight and I have been pretty true to the effort. This is what it looks like:
Talk to a novice marathoner or someone who is on to their second marathon and chances are they will tell you, "I used the Hal Higdon program to get ready. Here's a picture of my schedule's author Hal Higdon. He's 84 years old and still looking good.
Here's me when I started:
You can look other postings in this Blog and see what I look like now. But I digress!
The written program looked so darn ominous when I started. It was just numbers on a page. As I have continued, I now see that its the kind of art that made Van Gogh famous, and you get to keep your ears. When you look at the schedule and then experience the theory behind it, you see the simplicity. You rest and then stress your body. Rest is just as important as the running. On Wednesdays and on the weekends you have your longer runs. The other two running days are maintenance efforts. The cross training works on muscles your running form does not address, and then muscles that oppose those that you use for running. Genius. Even this weekend, I am running a marathon in total for the two days.
So far so good. Not injured. Not overtired. Moving to a rhythm. I'm observing the secret of life and the motto for all happy people, "Keep it simple." Now that's a running plan.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Day 34 - Interview with "The Hoodie"
One of the main things that politicians, celebrities and sports coaches are doing these days is being careful with what they say in interviews. Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer is exactly like this as are political figures like Hillary Clinton. They are strategic with their comments. With all the social media that is available, these special brand of folks do not want things out there that are negative or missteps that could come back to haunt them. Unless of course you're the Kardashians in which case all press is good press. With everyone except the Kardashians and Donald Trump, the information you are looking for is sometimes in the questions and the members of the press are just looking for confirmation or a sound byte!
The most negative of all interviewees is Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots. His goal is to be surly and miserable and to not give his opponents any information, or the public for that matter. Bill, as he likes to be called by his veteran players, is also known as "The Hoodie." Gone are the days of when Tom Landry and coaches of his era wore suits on the sidelines. It's now dressed down or NFL logo sportswear. Belichick is often portrayed as the Emperor in Star Wars in parodies of his demeanor. Bill wears a hoodie, almost always.
Bill Belichick and his shining demeanor at a press conference:
My brother Phil used to be a newspaper guy. For today's posting let's assume that Phil is a news guy ("NG") once again and I am "The Hoodie." An interview with Phil (NG) and me (Hoodie) regarding today's run it would go something like this:
NG: "Hoodie, thanks for joining us today to discuss your 16 mile run this morning from the Mustill Store in Akron to and over Sand Run Trail and back."
Hoodie: "Ya, sure."
NG: "You got out before seven o'clock this morning and there was nobody in the parking lot or to be seen anywhere. We're you nervous as to whether you were going to make the distance today or not?"
Hoodie: "No."
NG: "Early on you seemed to be moving rather well past the construction that is taking place on the trail and is preventing the Akron Marathon from using the trail on the course this year. Did the site of these infrastructure improvements affect your Zen like state at all?"
Hoodie: "It is what it is."
NG: "What do you think of the folks who run the Akron Marathon and how they are dealing with the course changes for 2015?"
Hoodie: "They are pretty smart people. They're professional and they know exactly what they are doing. They can be on my team anytime."
NG: "At or just a little beyond two miles in the Big Bend area you made your first restroom stop and there was no toilet paper on any of the four rolls. Did this upset you?"
Hoodie: "It wasn't a factor in today's run."
NG: "But after seeing this, what would you say to a park ranger if you saw him or her this morning?"
Hoodie: "Do your job."
NG: "You ran into and saw a bunch of people you know this morning on Sand Run Trail who were either running or walking, Some of the names that come to mind are Sheila Avsec and her Towpath Turtles group, Terry Fox, George Beckham, Judi Shapiro, Bob Danylchak and his running partner Amy, Diane Perriello, Jim and Maura Bozzelli, and some guy who you have known for years but neither of you know each other's name."
Hoodie: "Is there a question in there somewhere?"
NG: "What do you think of their efforts this morning?"
Hoodie: "You'll have to ask them. Look, each of these folks are very special and talented runners and walkers. To the best of my knowledge, they give 100%. Each are legends on the Sand Run Trail. It's always great to see each of these athletes. I have to worry about getting ready for the Columbus Marathon."
NG: "It seems like you stopped to talk with a couple of them including Judi Shapiro. Isn't Judi the one when the doctor told you in 1995 with your torn Achilles that you'd never run again, said that you should not let the doctor's reality be your reality?"
Hoodie: "Yes, that's my recollection. She's an avid walker and very smart lady."
NG: "You have a seventeen mile training run next week in Vermilion, Ohio. You seemed to walk quite a bit in the last two miles. Why?"
Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."
NG: "But aren't you going to celebrate today?"
Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."
NG: "It's different along the lake. The terrain while it has some roll to it is relatively flat in the Vermilion area. You'll be trading visions of the Cuyahoga Valley and trail for mostly farm country with some lake views as well. How will the change affect you?"
Hoodie: "Doesn't matter. It's on the schedule and you run where the schedule takes you. It's on to Vermilion.
NG: "Are you're legs sore right now?"
Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."
NG: "Well, thanks for your time. And good luck next week."
Hoodie: "Ya, sure. Is that it? Bye."
WOW! This is so not me. I'm this guy below at the Santa Hustle, eating M&Ms at the aid station, only I'm 18 pounds lighter now than in this picture. However there is one thing Hoodie is right about. It's on to Vermilion.
The most negative of all interviewees is Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots. His goal is to be surly and miserable and to not give his opponents any information, or the public for that matter. Bill, as he likes to be called by his veteran players, is also known as "The Hoodie." Gone are the days of when Tom Landry and coaches of his era wore suits on the sidelines. It's now dressed down or NFL logo sportswear. Belichick is often portrayed as the Emperor in Star Wars in parodies of his demeanor. Bill wears a hoodie, almost always.
Bill Belichick and his shining demeanor at a press conference:
My brother Phil used to be a newspaper guy. For today's posting let's assume that Phil is a news guy ("NG") once again and I am "The Hoodie." An interview with Phil (NG) and me (Hoodie) regarding today's run it would go something like this:
NG: "Hoodie, thanks for joining us today to discuss your 16 mile run this morning from the Mustill Store in Akron to and over Sand Run Trail and back."
Hoodie: "Ya, sure."
NG: "You got out before seven o'clock this morning and there was nobody in the parking lot or to be seen anywhere. We're you nervous as to whether you were going to make the distance today or not?"
Hoodie: "No."
NG: "Early on you seemed to be moving rather well past the construction that is taking place on the trail and is preventing the Akron Marathon from using the trail on the course this year. Did the site of these infrastructure improvements affect your Zen like state at all?"
Hoodie: "It is what it is."
NG: "What do you think of the folks who run the Akron Marathon and how they are dealing with the course changes for 2015?"
Hoodie: "They are pretty smart people. They're professional and they know exactly what they are doing. They can be on my team anytime."
NG: "At or just a little beyond two miles in the Big Bend area you made your first restroom stop and there was no toilet paper on any of the four rolls. Did this upset you?"
Hoodie: "It wasn't a factor in today's run."
NG: "But after seeing this, what would you say to a park ranger if you saw him or her this morning?"
Hoodie: "Do your job."
NG: "You ran into and saw a bunch of people you know this morning on Sand Run Trail who were either running or walking, Some of the names that come to mind are Sheila Avsec and her Towpath Turtles group, Terry Fox, George Beckham, Judi Shapiro, Bob Danylchak and his running partner Amy, Diane Perriello, Jim and Maura Bozzelli, and some guy who you have known for years but neither of you know each other's name."
Hoodie: "Is there a question in there somewhere?"
NG: "What do you think of their efforts this morning?"
Hoodie: "You'll have to ask them. Look, each of these folks are very special and talented runners and walkers. To the best of my knowledge, they give 100%. Each are legends on the Sand Run Trail. It's always great to see each of these athletes. I have to worry about getting ready for the Columbus Marathon."
NG: "It seems like you stopped to talk with a couple of them including Judi Shapiro. Isn't Judi the one when the doctor told you in 1995 with your torn Achilles that you'd never run again, said that you should not let the doctor's reality be your reality?"
Hoodie: "Yes, that's my recollection. She's an avid walker and very smart lady."
NG: "You have a seventeen mile training run next week in Vermilion, Ohio. You seemed to walk quite a bit in the last two miles. Why?"
Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."
NG: "But aren't you going to celebrate today?"
Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."
NG: "It's different along the lake. The terrain while it has some roll to it is relatively flat in the Vermilion area. You'll be trading visions of the Cuyahoga Valley and trail for mostly farm country with some lake views as well. How will the change affect you?"
Hoodie: "Doesn't matter. It's on the schedule and you run where the schedule takes you. It's on to Vermilion.
NG: "Are you're legs sore right now?"
Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."
NG: "Well, thanks for your time. And good luck next week."
Hoodie: "Ya, sure. Is that it? Bye."
WOW! This is so not me. I'm this guy below at the Santa Hustle, eating M&Ms at the aid station, only I'm 18 pounds lighter now than in this picture. However there is one thing Hoodie is right about. It's on to Vermilion.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Day 33 - "Goodnight Moon" Meets the Allman Brothers Band
What a great night's sleep. After my posting last night, I let the cat in and looked up and saw the huge colorful moon in the sky. For those of you who truly know me, you can understand that the first thing I thought of was the book, "Goodnight Moon." I went to bed thinking "In a great green room, There was a teleph.........(snore......zzzzzzzz.....").
That was it for almost seven hours. I don't sleep seven hours, ever. Not wanting to waste it, I was out the door by 7:00 a.m. I had planned ahead. The music of the day was none other than the Allman Brothers. It was as golfers say after a really sweet drive, "Dead, solid, perfect." The sun was still coming up. I was on the shaded trails. I was listening to "Statesboro Blues" and all systems were "GO!"
Speed had nothing to do with this morning's effort although I was doing okay. As I started moving down the trail, off in the distance I could see a blonde lady with a pink shirt and black compression pants walking fast and quite purposefully. Even from a quarter mile away I was almost positive it was Maureen Sacksteder. She's "Mo" to me the 24 years we have been neighbors. Nobody but the Boss can hold a candle to her when it comes to speed walking. If I could catch up to her in my mind without pulling anything, I could call this morning's offering at least a partial speed workout. At the almost two mile mark I caught her. Of course I was greeted with her trademark awesome smile and good cheer as she reached her turnaround point. After Mo's electric smile and greeting the next six miles were in the bag.
The trail was busy and I was in a good mood. Lots of people out riding bikes, walking, or running but all seemed to have scowls on their faces. It's a beautiful morning. Mo is smiling. I'm happy. What's up with you? So I would nicely say, "Good morning," to folks. Some perked up. Others went Robert De Niro on me as in, "You talking to me?" I didn't care. I was armed with the Allmans, the memory of Mo's smile, and a positive outlook on life, at least for the moment. And then some amazing things happened, This incredibly beautiful beautiful young lady with a graceful runner's stride emerges from the trailhead on the next trail I was getting ready to take a right to go down. She didn't seem to notice my approach. She stops and takes a big swig of water from her bottle and then proceeds to spit the the whole thing out. (Show of hands runners. How many times have you done that? My hand is the highest). She looks at me and smiles and before she can apologize or say anything at all, I give her a thumbs up and say, "You look like a runner!" She points at me and gives me a thumbs up and a smile and takes off. I glance back as she begins to disappear into the woods of the trailhead on the opposite side of the road and I think to myself, she looks some of the deer I see on my morning runs, ever so graceful as they move and then just disappear with graceful strides into the woods. The young lady was all athlete.
As I headed down my trail, I see one of those old friends that we all have and you don't know their names. You know what I mean. The exchange goes something like this:
"Hey Big Time. How are you?
"Good sport. Good to see you."
"Take care big guy!"
"You too Bucko."
What you can't possibly see is that what's in both of our minds is the exact same thought process and words. "Thank goodness I didn't have to remember his name. What is it anyway? How do I find out? Aw the heck with it. I'll just ask him when I see him again sometime in two years." Yep. We've all been there.
Then it hits me that I am in a spot where I took a picture six weeks or so ago on a rainy day so I took one again today along with a selfie from the same spot. The first one is for my buddy from Texas Pamela Washington. The next is me wearing a Meghan Goughan approved Browns visor.
About a half mile down over a bridge I turn to come back. As I head out of the woods a young man comes up beside me and runs with me for about a half mile. He's running in his first marathon in October. A very enjoyable half mile of running to be sure. Nice young man. I think he said his name was "Mark." Next time I see him I will call him that. Then again I can cover myself with Hey Big Guy, Sport, or Bucko..."
Everything about this run feels perfect. Even the sun is not part of the equation during the final mile. Five weeks ago eight miles WAS my long run. Then it hits me. "Goodnight Moon," The Allman Brothers." The song that's playing is "Blue Sky." It's at this point I realize the mood, the whole experience, the good attitude, this is all about the "Lindsonater," also known as my daughter Lindsay. The Allmans are our band. We've gone at least three times together to see them. "Good Night Moon" is our book. She's my favorite running and funniest running partner of all-time with her cousin Nina in a close second place. She and the Boss are coming home today. Thanks to Mo, the folks on the trail who scowled and then smiled, "Running Lady," and Mark or Sport, Bucko, or whatever his name really is, you made my run a small movie of a memory in such a simple way.
Bottom line, I got eight miles in. I feel great and refreshed and I'm going to see the two loves of my life in about five hours. Add to that tomorrow morning some Lyle Lovett, a trip on the trail from the Mustil Store to Sand Run Road and back, and then a chance to sit down and write about the whole experience and for me, I would call that a great weekend.
That was it for almost seven hours. I don't sleep seven hours, ever. Not wanting to waste it, I was out the door by 7:00 a.m. I had planned ahead. The music of the day was none other than the Allman Brothers. It was as golfers say after a really sweet drive, "Dead, solid, perfect." The sun was still coming up. I was on the shaded trails. I was listening to "Statesboro Blues" and all systems were "GO!"
Speed had nothing to do with this morning's effort although I was doing okay. As I started moving down the trail, off in the distance I could see a blonde lady with a pink shirt and black compression pants walking fast and quite purposefully. Even from a quarter mile away I was almost positive it was Maureen Sacksteder. She's "Mo" to me the 24 years we have been neighbors. Nobody but the Boss can hold a candle to her when it comes to speed walking. If I could catch up to her in my mind without pulling anything, I could call this morning's offering at least a partial speed workout. At the almost two mile mark I caught her. Of course I was greeted with her trademark awesome smile and good cheer as she reached her turnaround point. After Mo's electric smile and greeting the next six miles were in the bag.
The trail was busy and I was in a good mood. Lots of people out riding bikes, walking, or running but all seemed to have scowls on their faces. It's a beautiful morning. Mo is smiling. I'm happy. What's up with you? So I would nicely say, "Good morning," to folks. Some perked up. Others went Robert De Niro on me as in, "You talking to me?" I didn't care. I was armed with the Allmans, the memory of Mo's smile, and a positive outlook on life, at least for the moment. And then some amazing things happened, This incredibly beautiful beautiful young lady with a graceful runner's stride emerges from the trailhead on the next trail I was getting ready to take a right to go down. She didn't seem to notice my approach. She stops and takes a big swig of water from her bottle and then proceeds to spit the the whole thing out. (Show of hands runners. How many times have you done that? My hand is the highest). She looks at me and smiles and before she can apologize or say anything at all, I give her a thumbs up and say, "You look like a runner!" She points at me and gives me a thumbs up and a smile and takes off. I glance back as she begins to disappear into the woods of the trailhead on the opposite side of the road and I think to myself, she looks some of the deer I see on my morning runs, ever so graceful as they move and then just disappear with graceful strides into the woods. The young lady was all athlete.
As I headed down my trail, I see one of those old friends that we all have and you don't know their names. You know what I mean. The exchange goes something like this:
"Hey Big Time. How are you?
"Good sport. Good to see you."
"Take care big guy!"
"You too Bucko."
What you can't possibly see is that what's in both of our minds is the exact same thought process and words. "Thank goodness I didn't have to remember his name. What is it anyway? How do I find out? Aw the heck with it. I'll just ask him when I see him again sometime in two years." Yep. We've all been there.
Then it hits me that I am in a spot where I took a picture six weeks or so ago on a rainy day so I took one again today along with a selfie from the same spot. The first one is for my buddy from Texas Pamela Washington. The next is me wearing a Meghan Goughan approved Browns visor.
About a half mile down over a bridge I turn to come back. As I head out of the woods a young man comes up beside me and runs with me for about a half mile. He's running in his first marathon in October. A very enjoyable half mile of running to be sure. Nice young man. I think he said his name was "Mark." Next time I see him I will call him that. Then again I can cover myself with Hey Big Guy, Sport, or Bucko..."
Everything about this run feels perfect. Even the sun is not part of the equation during the final mile. Five weeks ago eight miles WAS my long run. Then it hits me. "Goodnight Moon," The Allman Brothers." The song that's playing is "Blue Sky." It's at this point I realize the mood, the whole experience, the good attitude, this is all about the "Lindsonater," also known as my daughter Lindsay. The Allmans are our band. We've gone at least three times together to see them. "Good Night Moon" is our book. She's my favorite running and funniest running partner of all-time with her cousin Nina in a close second place. She and the Boss are coming home today. Thanks to Mo, the folks on the trail who scowled and then smiled, "Running Lady," and Mark or Sport, Bucko, or whatever his name really is, you made my run a small movie of a memory in such a simple way.
Bottom line, I got eight miles in. I feel great and refreshed and I'm going to see the two loves of my life in about five hours. Add to that tomorrow morning some Lyle Lovett, a trip on the trail from the Mustil Store to Sand Run Road and back, and then a chance to sit down and write about the whole experience and for me, I would call that a great weekend.
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