Twofer

Summer Training Shoes-Brooks Ghost 11's

So I run.  I’ve run since I was a wee lad.  Sometimes I’ve run slow, sometimes I’ve run fast, but more often than not, I’ve run for fun. (Click on and see: “Running Part#1: The History” - from the Spring of 2016)

Now on the brink of my fifteenth marathon, this time in downtown Chicago, I find myself reflecting on the reasons why.  I think I’ve narrowed it down to two specific reasons, although it could probably be argued that each of those reasons most likely contains subsets of notable significance.  Regardless, I like to think of it as a “Twofer;” two reasons to run, rolled into one.

The first of these reasons involves running as an escape.  I know I can’t run away from anything, but sometimes it provides an outlet that allows me to refocus; even when I may seemingly start the run without a whole lot in the tank.  Sometimes my mind slips into a dream phase while I run, where I am accomplishing something, or saying something, that apparently must be important deep within the brain. As I mentioned in my last blog two months ago, this past summer’s responsibilities kept me from being able to get into the out of doors as much as I would like.  The outdoors is typically where I recharge to do what I do. I remember when I first started this blog, and how I could could go out fishing, hiking, or kayaking almost every couple of weekends, and then come home and write a blog entry for that adventure. It pains me to say that directives during the school year, to make things “easier”, have sometimes kept me from being able to do what I long to do as well.  And so I have my running. Thank God; literally.

During the week I often run on my own, and that’s helped fill the void of thinking and exploring; a mental and physical outlet that somehow fuels me even as it drains me.  Irony! On the weekends I’ve run with friends; new and old. When you run in a group, you can feel the pull and motivation that comes from a pack mentality. The miles slip by when you’re running, talking, and listening to others alongside you.  These are the things that make up reason number one.

In addition to running as an escape, my second reason for running is to help others.  Often that involves grabbing some friends, coming up with a goal race and training plan, and then providing some motivation to help them achieve it.  Sometimes I find that I can motivate others through phone texts or personal conversations; words have power and strength. At other times I can supply the motivation by simply providing opportunities, such as letting them know when I’m going out for a run in case they want to join me.  

For this fifteenth marathon I’m also running for Team World Vision.  I did back in 2008 and 2009; years I was also trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  In both cases I injured myself about a month from the race and had to struggle to finish under excruciating pain; figuring it was the least I could do to honor those who had supported me and donated money to my goal of bringing fresh water to African communities who need it.  In many of those villages, women and children walk many miles for contaminated water that can make them deathly sick. For those marathons, running on injured legs didn’t seem worth complaining about, even despite the extreme disappointment of dashed dreams.

This year my goal continues to be to raise funds for World Vision; running for others and supported by many.  It’s a goal to help others beyond my community, and fortunately at this point, I feel strong and healthy going into the marathon itself.  After backing down in mileage while coaching basketball for a few months at the start of the year, I officially started back into a base work of training in late March.  Since then I’ve ran countless miles. Well, I could probably figure it out, but I get bored trying to keep mileage journals like I used to do, and if you know me at all, the new fangled watches that synchronize with some programs on your computer just aren’t me.  I’m more ninja than cyborg. I’ve run three different races throughout the year as part of training, and I loved all of them for different reasons; the Rockford 4th of July 8K tradition, the 12K Run Clark Lake family heritage, and the Byron Tiger 10 Miler for the challenge and beauty.  The Runner’s Image store in Rockford continues to be my supplier through it all...with running shoes that is! And for many years now, the Brooks Ghost have been the shoe of choice.

Those are some of the details, but when you sift through it all, I love to run.  I run for the mental escape from the tough days or seasons we have throughout life, and I run to help others.  I’ve run this particular year, the year 2019, to prepare for the Chicago Marathon. As I’ve mentioned, it’s my fifteenth marathon, and the fourth time I’ve run Chicago.  My wife Cindy and I will head into the Windy City next weekend. I’m looking forward to running this one injury free, and I’m hoping I can carry that through the entire 26.2 miles.  I’m also looking forward to running for those who have sponsored me through World Vision; remembering the kids, families, and communities that will be affected by the monies raised by our Team.  Breathe deep, this is going to be an adventuresome “Twofer;” a weekend to run where I can escape among over a million people, to help communities on the Flip-side of the world.

See you along The Way...

THE PICS LEADING UP TO THE MARATHON

Zach And I Signing Up For The Marathon With The Heartland Team

One Of Our First Group Runs Along The Rock River Bike Path-Early Spring

Training On Trails

Training On The Stone Bridge Trail

Training On The Rock River Bike Path

Team World Vision Heartland - Early Summer
Zach's In The Fluorescent Shirt, And I'm To His Left

Rockford's "Lifescape 4th Of July Classic" 8K Race

Cousin Brian & I Running Michigan's North-wood Trails
The First 5 Miles Of A 10 Mile Training Run

Cousin Brad & I Running
The Second 5 Miles Of My 10 Mile Training Run

Sean, Brad, Brian, And I Running In The Heat
On A Dirt Road In Northern Michigan

Morning Run On My Birthday

Cousin Brian And I Finishing Strong In
The "Run Clark Lake" Race in Michigan (August)

Stretching Out And Enjoying The View Of The Rock River Valley
Before Byron, Illinois' "Tiger 10 Miler"

Tiger 10 Miler
I Love This Type Of Running!

Finishing The Tiger 10 Miler

Doug, Justin, Amy, And I After The Tiger 10 Miler

I Actually Ran This Race Faster Than I did Last Year
And Finished Second In My Age Group Again.
After Race Party At The "Hairy Cow" In Byron, Illinois

Running On September 11th

I Ran 9.11 Miles In Honor Of September 11th

Part Of The Team World Vision Team That I Run With.
(L-R) Andrea, Chris (el Capitan), Me, Jake, Brian, Louie, Zach, And Terry
This Was After Finishing Our 20 Mile Training Run

In High School My Senior Motto In The Yearbook Was
"Save The Trees, Save Your Lunch Bags."
For Every Team Run, I get A Cup And Use It Over & Over Through The Miles
After The 20 Miler, This One Was Pretty Beat Up!  : )

Last Team Run - An 8 Miler On Saturday, October 5th
I'm About 4 People Over From The Jerry Can In The Front

New Ghost 12's Broken In For The Chicago Marathon

Video: Final Comments A Week Out From The Race:

Beyond The Four C's

Sometimes I honestly feel like I must be from a different planet, struggling to survive the wilds with limited gear and faculties in this foreign land.  Pressing forward can be taxing. Fortunately the blessings of the unexpected, and one’s giftedness, can occasionally coincide in such a way as to provide a breath of fresh air; often just in the nick of time.

This has been the summer of Camps, Cars, and Classes.  I worked three different camps, spent time looking and buying a couple of newer-used cars for both Jodi and us, and then took two graduate courses.  It’s also been the summer of running. Running was the one activity that provided an outlet in the midst of busyness, but it doesn’t start with the letter “C.”  A friend suggested I try calling the running I did, “cardiovascular.” So I suppose I could entitle the warmer months of 2019, “The Summer of the Four C’s”: Camps, Cars, Classes, and Cardio.  I’m not sure it has the smooth, catchy ring it needs for me to “Hang my hat on it,” but it does adequately describe how I’ve spent most of my time these last couple of months.

Thankfully an overnight presented itself that allowed my Dad and I to escape, and head into the Western, middle area of Wisconsin to do a little trout fishing.  Because of the unusual schedule this summer, and trying to reign in any urges that I might have had to ignore my studies and escape to moving waters, I was excited to finally have a chance to head North.

Dad and I headed out the morning of Friday, August 9th and made our way up to a favorite little creek, after first checking into a hotel we would return to later that evening.  The day was beautiful. I caught a nice 14 ½ inch brown trout that I kept, and then released a 12, 10, and 9 incher.  Dad himself caught a brilliantly colored 13 inch brown. We took some pictures of the creek, bluffs, and fish. I also took a video of our hike out.  In typical fashion, it was a struggle through brush and prairie. In addition, the trek was up hill, but at least it provided us with some awesome vistas that I tried to capture in pictures as well.  After the drive back to the hotel, we had dinner at a local restaurant, got cleaned up, and fell right to sleep.

CLICK FOR A VIDEO:

CLICK FOR A VIDEO:

The Vista

After The Hike Out Of The Valley

The following morning (on Saturday, August 10th), we headed out again, but decided to explore a different creek in a different valley.  It was equally as beautiful, and was a little more accessible; which may not always sound great to someone who likes to fish out of the way places, but after enduring what we had the previous day, it was a fringe benefit.  It was fun to explore new and uncharted waters. The creek had a lot of fishable areas, and some deep bends that must have held some extraordinary trout. We saw a few, and I managed to hook into a 14 inch brown. On our hike out we did have to thrash through some thick grass and cattails, before crossing a soupy drainage ditch. But then that’s what typically comes with the territory, and we did soon come out onto a road that led us straight back to my Jeep.

Once we had our gear off, and stored away, we began our trek back home.  We stopped for a chocolate shake at one point, but if I remember correctly, I practically had it polished off before we got onto the highway.  When I returned home, I still had to complete the homework from the second class I had taken this summer, and school would begin in two weeks, but that outing with Dad reminded me that brighter days were ahead.  I just needed to stay the course and finish. These last couple of months may be known as “The Summer of the Four C’s,” but beyond that, this particular trip will also be known as the adventure when the unexpected, forged with the giftedness and love for the out-of-doors, created a lasting memory.

See you along The Way...

Getaway

It’s Merel’s.  What more needs to be said?  Well, actually it’s Merel and Carol’s boat.  Together they were kind enough to extend an invitation for our Gulo Adventure Clan to join them last Wednesday; the last day of July.  It’s just that Merel is an official member of the unofficial group of guys who have ties in some way, shape, or form to the Prairie Hill School District; either in the past or currently.  The invitation was to join them on a lake that used to be an old sand quarry, but has since filled with water from its exposed springs. A dredged outlet creates a link to a long, narrow, backwater channel that empties into “Old Man River;” a.k.a. The Mighty Mississippi.  In short, it’s the perfect getaway, both for those who are summer residents, as well as those who stop in for a visit. And so it was for us.

We were ten strong, from an assortment of various positions once held within our district, but the crux of the matter was that we were simply ten guys coming together to celebrate the summer, our friendships, and our chosen occupations.  Working with children and the future generations is what we do. Teaching at its heart is simply about developing relationships and trust as we learn and grow. Water was the venue we chose as a place to celebrate those efforts; it usually is, although during other seasons throughout the year, the body of water we visit is often times frozen.  It wasn’t on this warm, sunny day.

We gathered in front of my house at noon, condensed into two vehicles, and headed west.  It’s about a two hour drive, so we had ample time to discuss life, sports, and anything else we could think of.  We traveled with four to a car as we met two others already waiting at the boat.

Relaxing To A Cruise On The Mighty Mississippi River

Once on board, we were able to talk, catch-up, and relax as we traveled down river for a spell.  Several took turns “manning the wheel,” until we had to maneuver around a barge. Merel took the helm at that point,  At the same time, he gave us a quick lesson on the barges that travel in this section of the Mississippi.  Tugboats typically push fifteen barges at a time in this Northern section of the river above St. Louis, Missouri. Fifteen barges is equivalent to about 225 hopper cars that are pulled by a train.  That’s a massive amount of tonnage, and pretty amazing!

Justin & Mike Guiding The Boat Through The Main Channel

Wes, Ted, And Carol Talking And Catching Up

The water was amazing too.  Once we were back and tied down at the marina, some of us jumped off the bow, dock, and mat to swim and cool off.  Others zipped around in a smaller “Boston Whaler” boat. Since it was Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and since bull sharks can often be found swimming upstream into freshwater areas, we joked about finding one swimming in our getaway lake.  It was not to be on this day, however, so that was most definitely “a good thing.”

Swimming In The Lake

Louie & Mike Cruising In The Little Boat

Andrew & Wes Talking While The Steaks Are Grilling

Yum!

Eating In The Shade Of The Docks

Scott & Justin Opening Their Gifts
Framed Pictures From A Past Gathering Of The Gulo Adventure Clan

For dinner we had farm raised steaks and burgers, courteously brought and cooked by Wes.  It was a fitting way to finish out our afternoon as we presented a membership card to one of our new inductees, as well as a Gulo Clan framed picture to two of our members.  Those two members are moving on to administrative roles and need to have both a wall hanging for their new office, as well as a constant reminder of where they first cut their teeth in the realm of education.  As we sat in the shade of the dock, eating and talking, I reflected on the basic idea behind a quote that I’ve heard a friend of mine say several different times; “You can’t orchestrate relationships. It’s got to be part of the culture.”  It’s a reminder that no matter where our paths may take us, all of us have had trails that have wandered through our school district. Deep down we all “Bleed Blue;” the colors of the Prairie Hill School District. Today those paths met up and meandered along the backwaters, just off the Mississippi River.  With school close to starting up in the next few weeks, it was a classic getaway.

See you along The Way...

Ten Members Of The Gulo Adventure Clan
From Left To Right
(Top Four)
Scott, Tyler, Justin,And Andrew
(Bottom Four)
Wes, Ted, Merel, Mike, Louie, And I

A Perfect "Getaway" On The Water
Thank You Merel & Carol!