Running to 24%!

Does 24% constitute a milestone of sorts? It certainly seems like it should - and so we will announce our progress as having achieved our 12th of 50 States and in, of all places, Abilene Kansas. For those of you perhaps unfamiliar with this landmark on the Chisholm Trail, may we remind you that this was Dwight D. Eisenhower's boyhood home - and certainly the community of about 6,000 people - some 2.5 hours west of Kansas City, has not forgotten their famous son.

So what did running to that 24% milestone look like? It looked like an enjoyable pasta dinner the night before the race in a parish church recreation hall across from the Eisenhower Center where we met runners from BYU, Colorado, Florida and a host of other places (to include Kansas!) - most of which shared one common trait - they were hooked on running. It looked like an interesting tour on D-1 of the Eisenhower home and museum - a fitting and very interesting tribute to a true American hero - whose management and leadership of the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944 is probably responsible for us being where we are today and living as we do. It looked like a small-town race with a relatively small number of runners (probably less than 400) - but hosted by a warm and friendly community that made everyone feel welcome and that took care of runners before, during and after the race. It looked like a course across the Kansas countryside - with rolling hills, a park, friendly aid and drink stations and a strong breeze that took its toll on the outbound portion of the race but helped push people as they finished. It actually looked like a course that allowed me to have one of my best times since I began running races again in my 50s. It looked like a post-race pancake and sausage breakfast - again hosted by some very friendly volunteers. And it looked like a visit to the Statehouse in Topeka and the campus of Kansas University on the return trip to Kansas City and the airport.

All in all, running to 24% was a very nice weekend and race - and a milestone worth noting on the journey. Check it off! Color it in! Hang the medal! We're on our way!

Oh...and by the way - what noteworthy thoughts may have been associated with this particular run? Perhaps an even deeper realization and gratitude that both health and means have converged to make this journey possible - with someone I love to run with - and someone who makes the next 76% look like a wonderful adventure.

Run strong. Run grateful. Keep running.

A Little Rocky Running

Warm hospitality, seasonable and pleasant (albeit breezy) weather, pretty doggone good food, very cute ducks, civil rights history, Presidential mementos (and cooking), an interesting expo, a good post-race party, and even a respectable race - all of which would describe our recent weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the Little Rock Marathon and Half-Marathon on the 2nd of March. However, it was also a race to remind everyone of their mortality - definitely a rocky race for a 27-year old graduate student from Wisconsin - running something like his 5th marathon and trying to run a time that would qualify him for Boston. He finished the race in his best time ever (a Boston qualifying time) - then immediately collapsed and could not be revived. No doubt he valued a healthy lifestyle as much as I do - and it was a powerful reminder that despite all that we do - sometimes there are forces at work well beyond our control - and we just need to be grateful for all that we have been given. I know I am reminded of that often and hope I don't forget to say thank you just as often.
Anyway, the Little Rock weekend was a good one. The people really were extremely hospitable and friendly and made us feel very welcome. Karen's Mom (Betty) and brother (Tom) met us to spend the weekend with us - Tom running the marathon in his quest to do one of that variety in every state. (We had to remind him that between the two of us, we also do a marathon every time we race!) I must say that although I was never much of a fan of one of our recent presidents - his library and museum was quite interesting. It was the first time I have visited a Presidential Library and this one certainly has a lot of high-tech stuff to keep your interest. It also has the only existing exact replica of the Oval Office, which was interesting, as was the Cabinet room and the displays of annual highlights. No doubt there was some "manipulation" of the message - or at least a somewhat biased presentation - but it was nonetheless a worthwhile visit and since our next race is in Abilene, Kansas - home of Dwight D. Eisenhower and his library - we will have another opportunity to check one out very soon.
Back to the race, though - the expo was nice on Saturday and we even won a Clinton and staff presidential cookbook - which at some point we'll have to check out - to see if their cooking rivaled their policies....hmmmmmmm. We also managed to visit Little Rock Central High School - site of one of the really historic events in the civil rights movement and school desegregation - very interesting displays and narratives. Their Capitol Building was equally impressive and worthy of our visit. After the race we ate dinner at a "hole-in-the-wall" type restaurant downtown ("Flying Fish") - lots of history, absolutely nothing fancy, open fronts to main street and some great catfish! Oh - about the ducks. Little Rock is home to one of a couple of Peabody Hotels - very stately, elegant (and expensive) - and also home to trained ducks (Mallards) that at appointed hours every day have a red carpet laid down for them - and then to John Phillip Sousa at his best, march out of their pond, over some stairs, onto the red carpet and over it to the glass-walled elevator that they march into prior to being whisked off to some suite above! Quite a sight - and one that a LOT of people watched. Rachel was quite fascinated and I'm surprised the ducks made it by her on the side of the red carpet!
All in all, a very good weekend with State #11 being checked off. However, before I close - since this IS the Thoughtful Runner's blog - perhaps I can share a thought or two about expectations and how this actual race was affected by them. Karen and I had somewhat disparate reviews of the actual course and race. Although both of us thought all the associated race activities were very nice, Karen liked the actual race and route - whereas I wasn't nearly as fond of it. It seems we all go into activities, jobs, meetings, relationships and just about everything with certain expectations - which greatly affect how we perceive them. In this case, I had reviewed the race route online prior to the race. I envisioned a course that looped around through downtown and across the Arkansas River and then went out into the suburbs before turning around and heading back. I envisioned a few minor hills, but nothing to sweat about. What I EXPERIENCED was a course that I perceived as continually doubling back on itself with it taking forever to get out of downtown - and one which had a number of inclines - ALL of which were into the wind! Although I think I am always kind of shooting for a "best time" (PR) - this would likely not have been one due to hills and the fact that both Karen and I came down with some good colds prior to the race - but the expectations, when compared with perceptions as I ran, certainly didn't work in my favor. Lesson learned (again) - be careful with expectations. Try and make them realistic to begin with, but remain flexible enough that when reality isn't exactly aligned with them, that it doesn't become a factor negatively impacting performance.
One other item of note in closing - Karen finished our "Medals Board" in the last couple of weeks and we got it up between our maps in the basement. I think it speaks for itself very nicely, but is a good visual reminder of what we are trying to accomplish and how far long we are - always a good motivator when working on achieving goals.

To Blog or Not to Blog - that is the Running Question

Lest anyone think there may never be another posting on this blog....ah hah!! And was it really four months ago since I last posted an entry on here - enthused and convinced that I really needed to blog?!? I remain convinced - but nonetheless somewhat derelict in using this forum to share some of the things that I think about while running...or even to share thoughts ABOUT running.

However, based on the late hour, it will be short - an update of the Thoughtful Runner's progress in running a half marathon in every state with his most awesome, cute, energetic, fit and speedy companion! Since the October entry we have checked off three additional states in our quest (giving us 10 to-date): Missouri (Springfield and Bass Pro Shops) in November; Florida (Jacksonville) in December; and Texas (Austin and 3M) in January. Of particular note - 1) Karen's Mom joined us for the Missouri race and was our biggest fan - not to mention our caretaker for Rachel. 2) I achieved a personal best (at least since I began running half marathons again in November of 2006) in this race at 1:44:15, eclipsing my New Jersey time by 34 seconds! 3) Bass Pro Shops was a fun sponsor and there is an awesome wildlife museum adjacent to the Pro Shops World HQ. 4) The Austin race was the first one Rachel also completed with us! Typically, races like this don't allow strollers or joggers, but this one was an exception and since we had no one to watch her, she watched nearly 5000 runners compete...or at least participate. Since we had to start in the very back, she even watched us pass over 3000 of them! 5) The Texas race was a personal best pushing Rachel, but we won't remind you that it has also been the only time. 6) Texas has great Tex-Mex food! It is good we don't live there - our running would not be nearly enough to maintain our weight!

So - another blog entry - and another plug for someone preparing and joining us for one of our races coming up (Little Rock AR this weekend, Abilene KS the first weekend in April, and Nashville TN the last weekend in April.)

A final thought to think about: how many things are more important than our efforts to do everything we can to remain healthy? When we lose or impair our health (esp. through our own inaction), how much service can we provide and how effective can we be in taking care of the duties, responsibilities and obligations that may be ours in relation to our families and loved ones and others? Health is truly a blessing, but also an obligation while we are able.

The Runner's Profile

There should be very few of these postings about the Thoughtful Runner - because that is not what this Blog is about; however, a few pictures may be useful to establishing a profile and to providing insight to this Runner's world. These tell a lot about him - with his youngest daughter, in the glorious majesty of the mountains with family, and finished with another half-marathon - in this case in New Jersey.

This is part of the runner's world - and part of the reason that world gives often pause for thought.

In The Beginning.....

In the beginning, there were no blogs; indeed, in the beginning there were no computers. But already there were forerunners - the need to communicate; the need to share thoughts and ideas; the forum and councils where information was evaluated and decisions reached to shape families, communities and nations.
Alas - we no longer live in the "beginning" - and I have been convinced that yes, even I, should have a blog. And perhaps I believe I might also have thoughts worth sharing, ideas worth vetting and the ability to receive feedback of value and thoughtful consideration.
And so with this introduction, I will start this blog - with no illusions of particular grandeur - but nonetheless convinced that this Thoughtful Runner may yet have an audience - however small - where resonance for ideas can be found.
Let the games begin.....