Test Photo

Okay, Guess which daughter is mine...I'll give you a clue. She does not think it is cool for Daddy to take pictures of her or her new soccer team.... I only took about 15 pictures to get one where she was not making some sort of face. Thank goodness for digital cameras!

September Grass

What a difference a few weeks can make! Or, more exactly a little ol' September cold snap. With James Taylor singing about "September Grass" I slowly hammered along with Kelvin a.k.a., "Preparation K", or "The Kelvinator" and with Phil Purser, a.k.a. "Agent Skelaxin". We warmed up nicely with about a 20 minute walk before running 2:1 intervals. Kelvin hooked me up with some of his Hammer "pancake batter", along with his baby aspirin tasting concoction, and that gave me much better sustained energy. I feel alot better after having my near "Phil" episode on the 18 miler. With little or no hills, people cheering, and ther weather about the same or cooler, Chicago is something that seems realistic. I saw some courageous efforts out there today, and I am really proud to say I am part of this group. What a difference a few months can make, too!

My Confirmation is in! My Confirmation is in!

I am a Marathoner!!
Do y'all remember that movie(here's where I show my age again) with Steve Martin, in which he plays a dim-whitted adopted son of an african-american family?

When he finally leaves home to "Become somebody" he finally thinks he has achieved true success when the character- "Navin" finds his own name listed in the new phonebook. "The new phone books are in! The new phone books are in". I'am Somebody!!!
Anyway, I kinda acted like that when my confirmation came in the other day. Apparently, the Chicago Marathon Committee knew I was an elite runner for sure... They gave me one of those bib numbers that if you saw pinned to my chest you would know immediately I am one of those to be found in the seeded start pens at the very front. Out of the estimated 45,000 runners, I have bib number 48,000 and something....Well, I guess the good news is I can only move up with that. I am running with the Kelvinator in the morning. Please pray he doesn't make me jiggle another kidney stone loose!

HApPy lAbOr Day.....

I had a great run Monday morning on Labor Day. I had good company, and thanks to Suz for making me feel better by wanting to walk the trails some. Her hemp buzz was wearing off, and the heat and humidity finally slowed her down a little...Welcome home, Suz... Meanwhile, Phil was ready to run an Ironman with his muscle relaxers kicking in. Later, I got home and toyed with going straight to the mower and knocking down some weeds of the unwanted-non-smoke able variety, and instead drank some coffee and took in the paper. About 30 minutes into the paper and coffee, My mind wandered off to the strange sensation that eventually turned into a raging fire. By 10am I had my wife seeing if any GP's were open. By 11am I was seeking some of the previously mentioned muscle relaxers trying to score some from Phil. I had no idea what was going on. By 2pm. I wasn't sure if it was my back, gall bladder, or a stray gunshot wound, but I knew I was going to the E/R...Something had to give. So, I will spare you all my theories about health care and abuse of the E/R by the uninsured just to say on this Labor Day, 2007, I gave birth to a small kidney stone without yet getting pain medicine or a CT to confirm what was going on. With no prior history of these little gems, I had no idea what was going on. I will see a Urologist next week for follow up, and will at all times have appropriate pain medicine in the event I have to deliver another...One more item for my little baggie of "must-haves". My humble adoration to all of you women that have delivered babies. Hey, can they give epidurals for kidney stones?
The good news is I have recovered enough that I had lunch Tuesday with Mark, and Wednesday got the yard work in as XT. Last night and today my wife had to travel, so no work outs until school is in session and some of my work stuff is taken care of. I look forward to seeing all of you Saturday! Happy LaBoR Day!

August 32nd Run

Yesterday was a great run, and although it still felt like August 32nd, I do believe I am getting some signs that the heat may abate some year very soon! I keep hoping the leaves I am seeing fall are from the season and not just drought like baking. Unlike Suzanne, that has already had a hemp-assisted 20-miler in Northwest passage weather, I am still feeling a little confidence shaken from the 20 mile attempt I made unencumbered by the hydration process. Anyway, despite trying harder to stay out of the heat, and put the hydration on Thursday and Friday, I found myself watching the JA/JP football game in the stands late Friday evening. I finally got wise and got out of there, went home and drank another gatorade. I was intrigued by F-Stop/Debra Ferguson's walk of an hour before beggining to run, and decided to walk a ways to warm up with the company of Phil(the person, not the verb/noun), and Suzanne. Great company, but I was getting froggy, and decided to run when I hit the familiar trails. It felt great being stretched and warm, and although I didn't finish as fast, I was certainly feeling great that morning. I know for fact I would have never made it this far without the friends I have made on this journey. I can not wait for Chicago, and have already started forming my own little "bubble" as Suzanne calls it. No old tuna for me, (thanks,Kim...) Staying hydrated Wed. through Saturday, and definately hitting some XT, Plica/runner's knee excercises every day.. I missed so many of the smiling faces I normally see, and hope to see all of you next week! Chicago is about a month away! Have a happy Labor day!