I ran - enjoyed it?

I enjoyed a 5K at a 10-minute-per-mile pace during lunch. I was surprised to find it challenging, but midsection fat affects running. Before work, I used my difficult office elliptical for 34 minutes to cover 2 miles.

I may not run again this week, but the weather forces me to get out. I’m taking long walks along the river bottoms, experiencing the changing colors and exercising simultaneously. It’s perfect weather, and I can look up as I walk, unlike trail runs where I keep my head down.

Hope all are recovering well and ready to enjoy the cool weather.

Carry on!

Unfair

I’ve been a United States Tennis Association official for almost a decade now. I’ve had the opportunity to officiate matches with professional players, including John McEnroe and Andy Roddick. One time, Roddick hit a 130-mile-per-hour service, and he disagreed with my call. The replay showed that I was right (by about a 1/16 inch). How did I do that? Well, I’ve been training a lot, but I’ve also made plenty of mistakes along the way!

Over the years, I haven’t been as accurate as I’d like to be. There have been days when I’ve been feeling under the weather, but I still had to officiate because there was no one else available. Did I do well? I’d say I did as well as Randy Moss or Tom Brady if they were playing with a 101-degree fever!

I have to live with those mistakes, though. Officiating is a whole different ball game. One time, when I was on my way to officiate a McEnroe match, the head official gave us a motivational speech. He said something that I’ll never forget: “You’re expected to be 100% perfect out there, and you’re expected to improve on that!” That’s how society looks at officials.

I’ve grown accustomed to accepting perfectionist expectations. Ed Hochuli’s acknowledgment of a call error in a recent game is human, but it shouldn’t happen to an official. What bothers me is society’s tendency to find easy scapegoats for losses. Did the official’s mistake cost the Chargers the game? I doubt it.

How can I say that? I watched most of that game. If we hold officials to one apparent mistake, we should ban them. We should ban several receivers for dropping a pass right in their arms. We should ban many defensive players for missing an easy tackle. We should ban offensive players who negated a significant gain by grabbing onto a defensive player and throwing them to the ground. But those are forgiven as issues in a stressful situation by a player who makes $10 million a year. However, the official who earns $80,000 a year must not make a single mistake, which could mean a death sentence.

In baseball, should we ban outfielders who drop easy-fly balls? Hockey players who miss open net shots? Or the countless botched lay-ups in basketball? Slam dunks missed, too. But we wouldn’t say such a thing. The San Diego Chargers made more mistakes, which ultimately cost them the game. Did the official goof up? Yes, but he’s the only one people want to fire, harm, or ridicule.

Interestingly, the most vocal critics have never officiated a high-level game. If they did, they’d understand officiating is a stressful job that requires dedication.

I’ve seen a shortage of officials in all sports. Many great ones have left due to mistakes and backlash. If I were Ed Hochuli, I’d retire, losing a quality official, but still having the players who made mistakes. But he and I keep officiating through name-calling and threats. Are we sick?

That could explain why I want to run 100 miles.

Carry on my friends!

I am 46 today..some jokes... Stolen words

Some jokes about getting older!

• You know you're getting on in years when the girls at the office start confiding in you.
• Middle age is when it takes longer to rest than to get tired.
• By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.
• Middle age is when you have stopped growing at both ends and begun growing in the middle.
• You're getting old when you're sitting in a rocker, and you can't get it started.
• You find yourself in the middle of the stairway, and you can't remember if you were downstairs going up or upstairs going down.

GEORGE CARLIN'S WISDOM - HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight, and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about computers, crafts, gardening, or whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love: family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies,
8. whatever. Your home is your refuge.
9. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
10. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
11. Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity.

MORE WORDS FROM MY favorite comedian - George Carlin

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're under 10, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, and now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number or even a few ahead. "How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!

The greatest day of your life is when you turn 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony: YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

Now you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes. It's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50, and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You make it to 60. You didn't think you would!! So you become 21, turn 30, push 40, reach 50, and make it to 60. 

You've built up so much speed that you hit 70! After that, it's a day-by-day thing; you hit Wednesday!

You get into your 80s, and every day is a complete cycle: You hit lunch, you hit 4:30 PM, and you reach bedtime. And it doesn't end there. 

Into the 90s, you start going backward; "I Was JUST 92." Then a strange thing happens. 

If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.

Happy 46th Birthday to me!

Carry on my friends!

Gaiters flagged?

After frustration with REI gaiters at ST 100, I ordered some, but Google keeps tagging the post as inappropriate. The first name of the gaiter manufacturer is what happens when you play in the mud, and the second name is the opposite of boy, that is, girl.

I fell in love with several designs on the website and finally settled on three pairs. I need to learn to make a decision as to why I need three pairs. I consistently mail-order stuff to my office because it’s a sure way to get it instead of waiting outside a door or in a mailbox.

The administrative staff read the return address on the envelope, which read the words listed above. She logged into a tagged site and opened it with caution. Her co-worker told me she acted like it was the plague. She took one of the vibrant gators out of the pouch and walked back to my desk with a funny look, saying, “What are these?”

She held it like a soiled diaper. I asked why she had opened my mail. She and I got along great, so I didn’t care. She said I found it strange that I would order from the first two words listed above as it sounded like a place that sold inappropriate products that shouldn’t be shipped to the office.

I explained the company and the use of the product, but for the day, it was a laugh. I'm glad I have a sense of humor—at least, I think I do.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

PS: She thought they could be "decorative nut cup holders" until she saw there were two in a pack and was confused.

Christmas countdown?

Some blog readers noticed my Christmas countdown. Today is 100 days until Christmas. Shouldn’t we count down to a race? After all, we’re athletes. I don’t feel athletic. My friends know I’ve had trouble sleeping, headaches, and other ills from overtraining. My back spasms, which took me out of the 100 this year, were likely due to a lack of stretching and improper training. I ran and biked a lot, but not enough weight training, and I didn’t balance my muscles.

So, I’ve decided to minimize running this year. I’ll focus on eating well, repairing, and doing yoga. I feel much better already after 9 days. I’ve lost 3 pounds. I’ll decide on Christmas to try the Superior 100 in 2009. That is my countdown. Commit, plan, train smarter, or send my name to the volunteer list. (or offer the service of a pacer?) or both. Isn't that worth a countdown timer?

Carry on!

Clueless - failed!

In 2007, I knew where I had gone wrong and quit at 77 miles. I worked hard to correct the issues, but my confidence in my 2008 preparation was lacking. Packing it in at 24 miles after unforeseen consequences.

The week prior, I faced back spasms, a tight hip, and other pain. I thought I could overcome them, but I was wrong. From the start, I was unwell. I woke through the night with diarrhea and chest congestion. Despite support from fellow runners and crew, I left the motel late. I rushed through preparation at Gooseberry. The race start was hard, and I was sore and fatigued.

I trogged through the first aid station in two hours and 30 minutes, experiencing back spasms. I continued to Beaver Bay, making my planned time. My breathing was tight, but my crew and the station workers convinced me to keep going. By Silver Bay, my right leg pain was unbearable, a knife stab-like twisting motion. I saw Molly Cochran, recovering from a bee sting. I considered continuing, but a test push with my leg revealed the pain.

The pain is in my lower right side, similar to a Sciatic Nerve, but lower toward the hip. Is this related to my knee issue? My entire right leg is sore, and my knee, hip, and lower back are aching. It doesn’t seem like a few weeks of stretching and balanced weight lifting will suffice.

I stopped at aid stations during the race. I saw Chris at the 50-mile point, looking exhausted. At 6-9 AM at Sugarloaf, I saw Julie Berg just after sunrise; she looked strong. Christian, ready to quit, was revived at an earlier aid station by the skilled crew. After 30 minutes, he was back on his feet. I saw Carl at Cramer Road, looking like I did last year. I regretted my decision not to go, and he had more time and the best crew. I’m glad he continued. Many others were strong. I’m anxious to read posts about this year’s challenging experiences.

Amidst the discussion, it is undeniable this year’s race presented significant challenges for many. The air quality, among other factors, could have contributed to the difficulties. However, I would like to express my contemplation of attempting the race again. While I harbor a desire to achieve this goal once, I acknowledge the potential for personal setbacks to arise. My third attempt would serve as my final opportunity, an individual determination. Therefore, I am committed to a specific plan for the upcoming year regarding Superior. This entails securing employment at a station or achieving a weight loss of at least 40 pounds, which I carried throughout the year. This is the sole viable option for me.

I empathize with the circumstances of others who find themselves in similar situations. Some may choose to conclude their participation, while others may persevere. Phil demonstrated remarkable dedication and progress during my time with him. Additionally, I have received news of Adam’s severe injury. Les and I initially adopted an unwavering determination, but unforeseen circumstances, such as the bee attack with Molly, have challenged our resolve.

But life goes on…

Carry on, my friends.

Getting close!

At the time of writing, I had less time remaining before the commencement of the race than I had anticipated completing it. The race is scheduled to commence in approximately 34 hours. I will be 200 miles from my residence and approximately 102.6 miles along the Superior Hiking Trail in Lutsen, where I intend to arrive before the 38 hours of continuous movement conclude.

Unlike last year, I am not experiencing the same level of anxiety or excitement. In fact, I am uncertain about my ability to complete the race. Numerous challenges are anticipated to arise during the journey, but I must persist until instructed to cease. This is the crucial factor.

Regardless of the outcome, this year has been an engaging period of preparation. The challenges I encountered exceeded my expectations, and life has been characterized by constant fluctuations. My emotions are highly volatile as I critically evaluate my actions and aspirations for the future. Regardless of the circumstances, I must strive to provide the best effort possible, which is my intention. My subsequent entry will serve as a comprehensive report of my progress, whether successful or not.

Best regards,

Carry on my friends!

To much, to late?

Reflecting on my recent hill run, I find myself experiencing a sense of regret. Despite my initial enthusiasm, I am currently feeling fatigued and find walking to be an arduous task. My physical activities for the past few days have included a three-mile run on Thursday, a strenuous upper-body weightlifting session on Friday, a 27-mile bike ride on Saturday, and a leisurely walk around the Renaissance Festival on Sunday. Consequently, I have decided to refrain from any further exertion.

While my excitement for the upcoming race has grown, it pales in comparison to the experience I had last year. The race director should be pleased to learn that I have significantly reduced the weight of my drop bags compared to last year. Last year, I overpacked, resulting in excessively large bags. This experience has taught me valuable lessons, and I am determined to make the same mistake less frequently.

Regardless of the weather conditions, I find the daily forecast to be an intriguing aspect of the race preparation. I anticipate rain and do not harbor any concerns about its potential impact, as it would require excessive energy. A fellow ultra runner sustained significant damage to his right hand in a fall and is uncertain whether he will be able to participate in the race or obtain the necessary clearance. I will exercise caution during the next 92 hours leading up to the start of the race, as any unforeseen circumstances could arise.

Carry 0n my friends, carry on!