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Limited Archive: September 2007 |
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Sunday, September 16, 2007
I was pleased to participate this morning in the first ever Effinghalf (Half) Marathon at Lake Sara. The organizers did a great job and drew an interesting mix of competitors.
I started out in rain gear but quickly discarded it and then went on to record one of my best races ever - as well as a personal record in the half marathon. Additionally, it was my first “Top 10” finish overall ever in a major race, albeit just barely. No doubt, I’ve come a long way from finishing dead last as a “new runner” in the Effingham Park District’s 5K Turkey Trot in November of 2003. But I always will remember how nice and encouraging the people were at that first event.
I’ll be headed to Springfield on legal business tomorrow afternoon, but when I return it will be back to training with a one hour “recovery run.”
Oh, I guess I probably should mention a recent training secret - although I am really just kidding about this purported secret. I got my hair cut fairly substantially recently. Some people I’ve run into haven’t recognized me, which I find almost hard to believe because in my opinion I really don’t look that much different. But my hair is pretty short now, and I’ll probably keep it that way for a while. (Actually, I was planning to put it up in braids for a few weeks before getting my hair cut sometime after the Chicago Marathon, but . . . oh well . . . whatever)!
A final note: One person in life whom I greatly respect and who always seems to make a great deal of sense on the issues of the day is Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. I once had the opportunity to see Archbishop Tutu speak in person several years ago in Chicago. Click here for an excellent recent news story from CNN: “Tutu: Poverty Fueling Terror.”
Monday, September 17, 2007
Song of the Day: “When Jesus Left Birmingham” by John Mellencamp. Why? I hadn’t heard it in a while, and it came up on my iPod while I was running today. The song reminded me of old times, hosting the evening air shift on WXEF-FM (97.9) in the mid-1990s and introducing such bits as “Rush It Or Flush It” and “The Top 9 at 9.” They’re still doing a version of the latter program these days over at “The Party” (104.3), only now they call it “The Top 8 at 8.”
This evening, I put in 60-minute “easy run” around town that didn’t give me much trouble. However, a little bit later when I was at the store picking up groceries, I was hit by a really significant energy shortage. But then - considering the past couple of days, including today’s work schedule and its numerous court appearances in Effingham and the hours of driving (to and from a Secretary of State administrative [drivers license] hearing in Springfield) - I smiled, and I understood.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I very much am looking forward to tomorrow’s Broken Arrow Roadrunners lunch get together. We put out a news release about it earlier today, and the local media were good enough to put it out quickly. Here’s what it said:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Telephone: (217) 821-9539
BROKEN ARROW ROADRUNNERS TO HOST “BUNCH LUNCH”
Effingham -- The first ever monthly "BUNCH LUNCH" gathering of subscribers to the Broken Arrow Roadrunners Club newsletter will take place on Wednesday (Sept. 19) at 12 Noon at Pizza Man, 604 W. Jefferson Ave., in Effingham.
A meal discount will be available this month to all Broken Arrow Roadrunners newsletter subscribers.
The Broken Arrow Roadrunners newsletter is a monthly publication that includes Effingham area running schedules, race results, marathon and 5K training tips, plus much more.
Newsletter publisher Shelley Nuelle says future subscribers are welcomed to the "BUNCH LUNCH" gathering. Annual subscriptions are available at a cost of only $10.00-dollars.
Nuelle promises that the area's regular runners who show up for Wednesday's lunch event probably “will smell a lot better in their street clothes."
For more information, telephone (217) 821-9539.
Tuesday’s Running Song of the Day: “How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty. Because: If you can’t pick up the pace when you’ve got this one going, well . . . you know. It’s really a great running song.
Today’s workout: A 90-minute continuous run around town. Self-Reported Grade: B. Pretty decent.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
I reluctantly am dropping Saturday’s Terre Haute 10-Miler from my racing schedule. I’m sure it’s a great event, but I need to put in some more time on my distance running. So, a very strong runner, Dave Price, and I are meeting up on Saturday morning for that purpose. Not that Terre Haute’s 10-miles wouldn’t be a significant distance. It’s just that I need to do a little bit more than “just” 10-miles. Dave and I met up at today’s Broken Arrow Roadrunners Club “Bunch Lunch.” We didn’t have a big turnout, but everyone who showed is good to have as a friend. No shortage of quality people.
Running Song of the Day: “I Am Not My Hair” by India.Arie. Why? It’s a GREAT song about personal dignity. My workout today was a fairly “standard” run of 60 continuous minutes.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
This was one of those days that had to be reserved solely for work purposes including the writing of a critical but necessary letter to some business acquaintances - the kind of letter that never has been easy for me to write. I tend to let people get away with questionable behavior sometimes when their activities don’t affect anyone else (other than me). But everyone has a certain line, and my line definitely was crossed . . . repeatedly. That will be the case no more, with one person in particular. Things are definitely “gonna be a little different” from now on.
Friday, September 21, 2007
After skipping a running day, I figured that I really would be strong this morning. But it “wasn’t happening.” My pace was so slow this morning, I would have trailed even my grandmother. I’m not saying which one, but they’ve both been gone for some time now. Oh well, at least I kept plodding on for the duration of my scheduled 60-minutes of “running.”
Saturday, September 22, 2007
I just finished running approximately two hours this morning with Dave Price. We hit just about every hill between here (Effingham) and Teutopolis - some of them more than once. It was a quality workout. Dave is one of the all-time great runners from this area. It was an honor to run with him - especially because as outstanding as he is at running, he’s even that much better as a person. It was a real privilege to hang out with him.
And how about those Effingham Hearts? The football team won a THRILLING contest last night over state-ranked Mt. Zion . . . in overtime . . . 46-40. What a wonderful homecoming performance. The Hearts are undefeated and definitely will be state-ranked themselves in the next poll due out next week. Some of “my” track guys are on the football team, and I was really proud of them.
Besides being a football player, one of the track guys, Steve Keller, was also a senior candidate for Homecoming King last night. I had to laugh when Steve’s profile was announced at halftime and it became clear that Steve’s role model in life is a bit unconventional. His role model was identified as “. . . Wiley E. Coyote - for his persistence and determination.” (I’ll have to borrow that one for some running motivation sometime).
My son Michael will be taking his girlfriend, Amber Walker, to the Homecoming Dance tonight at EHS. Meanwhile, my son Robert has been working on an infrastructure assistance project of some kind this weekend in East St. Louis.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Approximately one month ago, the USA’s running community suffered a staggering blow. Jenny Crain, a 39-year old Olympic hopeful, was struck by a car in the rain while on a training run in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ms. Crain currently remains hospitalized. Among her many achievements, Jenny Crain was the top U.S. finisher in the New York Marathon in 2004.
As is the case with many people, I am following the daily reports from Jenny Crain’s family and friends via www.carepages.com Financial donations are being solicited because Ms. Crain’s health insurance is said to be inadequate toward covering her medical bills.
Jenny Crain has shown hopeful signs in recent days as she continues to emerge from a coma.
Most runners have experienced a few close calls with automobiles. I know that I have. Sometimes, I have contributed to the danger by my own foolishness, but most often times not. I have been a lot more careful lately. But a tragedy like this could happen to nearly any runner at any time. It’s just one more reason to support the implementation and utilization of bike (and running) paths.
Monday, September 24, 2007
I put in two quality workouts of approximately 60-minutes each this morning and this afternoon. This morning’s run consisted of about 25-percent hill work while this afternoon’s run was mainly flat. Both runs taxed me pretty sufficiently (sort of like the government, you might suppose). It’s still pretty warm in this area of Illinois right now, but a slight chilling of the fall temperatures is supposed to set in sometime tomorrow. Running Song of the Day (Old School): “Rockin’ Chair” by Gwen McCrae. It’s got the perfect running cadence for me right now.
Happy Birthday today to Jude L. Ealy, just one birthday away from a very big milestone!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I had a very big day in court today, ending with an afternoon “Motion To Suppress” hearing, during which time it was ruled that certain law enforcement officers were NOT authorized to enter onto someone’s property (without first obtaining a warrant) to arrest a couple of teenagers for purported alcohol offenses. My clients were pretty pleased with the Judge’s ruling.
This evening, I put in a good 80-minute run around town. Although I didn’t feel much like running when I started out, by the time it was over I was pleased to have survived another fairly strenuous workout. Running Song of the Day: “Gotta Get Thru This” by Daniel Bedingfield.
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