Saturday, October 16, 2010
Goodnight and Good Luck
Approximately 15 years ago, during college, I was talking to a dormmate named Danny. He had come back from a run. He mentioned his plan to run the Chicago Marathon. Despite the fact that my Dad had run several marathons, I was in disbelief that anyone my age would have a similar interest or ability.
With conviction, he told me that I could do it too. As if it were irrefutable proof, he asked, "You can run a mile in 8:30, right?" Uncertain, but giving myself the benefit of the doubt, I replied that I could. As if a bright neon sign spelling Q.E.D. had suddenly lit our dim hallway, he resolutedly posed that I only had to do it 26 times. Forgetting the remaining 0.2 miles, I thought the prospect was impossible and laughed off the prospect. The topic never came up again.
Tomorrow, I may actually do it. My goal time is 3:45 (technically 8:35 per mile), and Jenn's is 4:00. While we won't be on the flat havens of Chicago, I hear that the Grand Rapids Marathon is a fast course. I had always figured that the goal time that Coach Aaron recommended would require perfect conditions. The weather will be excellent (high 58, low 42 with 12 mph winds), and except for some nagging injuries, I could not imagine better circumstances.
Goodnight and good luck.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Psycho Runner, Qu'est-ce Que C'est?
I have not blogged in a long time, but last night Jenn and I did something noteworthy but kind of crazy. We both registered for the MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon on December 5, 2010. Adding my hometown, we will now run a marathon three months in a row, Grand Rapids in October and New York City in November. And with London in April, that makes four marathons in 2010.
Our mileage has been high this year with weeks hitting 50 miles in training without an end in sight. Talking Heads immediately comes to mind:
Psycho [runner].
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away.
When David Byrne sings, we listen.
The U.S. tour of They Might Be Runners 4 Life will stop by close to many of you. Our team name this year originally signaled us running our fourth marathon for life (i.e. the AIDS Foundation of Chicago). It seems ever more fitting that Jenn and I will each run four marathons this year alone.
There is still time to join. Come out and cheer us on. Depending on the city, we'll have friends and family with us too (Dan in NY, Dad in Dallas). Or support us remotely through donations to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago through our team. No Ticketmaster charges on that site. Thanks to everyone.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Not Leaving on a Jet Plane
Our flight to London is scheduled to depart on Wednesday night; the 2010 Virgin London Marathon takes place on Sunday morning. We will likely know tonight whether our flight is officially cancelled. We hope for the best for our trip and for anyone whom the volcano has impacted in far worse ways. We are certainly fortunate not to be among the thousands of people stranded away from home. We are disappointed nonetheless.
We have found alternatives in the Midwest in the coming weeks, the most likely being the 2d Annual Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha. Whichever marathon we end up running will be as much of a mental challenge to us now as ever. On a positive note, we made the local NBC news because of our fundraising along with our inability to get to London and got to plug the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and its marathon training program.
Anyway, we had a good streak vs. the World for years. With the 3 of 4 days lost to travel delays on the way to the Grand Canyon in February and this London trip in jeopardy, the score for the 2010 season may soon be: World 2, Us 0. We still have hope, at least for a little while longer. By the way, there is still time for anyone who would like to donate in support of our team. http://afc.aidschicago.org/netcommunity/TheyMightBeRunners3
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Do You Believe in Magic?
After the run, I accepted an invitation to Wizard World, the Chicago satellite of Comi-Con. I saw some Harry Potters in the crowd, but despite the name, the convention is less about magic, and more about sci-fi and comic books. Seeing various celebrities (broadly construed) and costumed fans, I had an interesting and amusing time in a world where reality is suspended. I have included a couple of pictures here and posted an entire album on Facebook.
Anyway, we might not believe in magic, but we have reason to believe in a lot more. We see that running is a way of life for many, maybe even us. However, without the AFC mission and the generosity and emotional support we have received, there is no way that we would feel so empowered and improve as greatly our physical and mental strength on the run. After being one of the top fundraisers last year, we would not want to spend our summer any other way.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Graceland
We strayed from our usual slow 5-miler on Thursdays, but running the 5K at a good clip made for a nice change. We signed up and were blessed with great weather, particularly for August. As I enjoyed a complimentary post-race beer with the peanut butter banana sandwiches, we also attended the post-race concert by an Elvis impersonator. Or was he the real deal? The passion with which he sang the Star-Spangled Banner before the start almost convinced me.
We're trying as hard as we can and quote Paul Simon, a musician I much prefer over Elvis:
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love every ending,
Or maybe there's no obligations now.
Maybe I've a reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland.
Friday, July 24, 2009
17 Again in Rio
Rather than skip our long training run and blame it on Rio, we checked into our hotel and ran 17 miles, a distance we had not since the marathon in October. Fortunately, Rio has a running/bike path along the edge of Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, and a natural lake a little inland. In addition, most sections of the major road adjacent to the path are closed to cars on Sunday, in effect, widening the path. Pristine crescent beaches and mountains flanked us as we ran past historical fortresses and giant, elaborate sandcastles by local artists.
We've raised $900 so far, and with only nine generous donors. We're well on our way to help the AFC just as it has helped us with our training.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Return of the Blog, Sequels et Cetera
As I expounded on the film's simultaneous terribleness and retro-awesomeness, we examined how movies no longer have "Love Themes," at least not separate from their regular theme songs. If it were made today, Peter Cetera's "The Glory of Love" would merely be a track listing on the soundtrack -- not the "Love Theme" that it is. That marketing problem is so obviously the reason that the record industry has failed in the new millennium. As we approached the water station, Jenn and I sang the chorus aloud in honor of the era past:
I am a man who will fight for your honor.
I'll be the hero you're dreaming of.
We'll live forever,
Knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love.
And so, Jenn and I trained outdoors through the long winter, improving our pace significantly for the glory of love and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Following the lead of questionable sequels, Jenn and I also want to announce our AIDS Marathon Team name for this second year. Last year, we had our doubts about our ability to conquer a distance longer than five (5) miles for the first time in our lives. Our team name, "They Might Be Runners", reflected that.
This year, together Jenn and I are "They Might Be Runners II: Electric Boogaloo". We will run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2009. While fatigue comes and goes, bad sequels last forever -- or at least seem to upon viewing.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
And Now for Something Completely Different
During the last few months since our last post, I almost wrote about varied topics: an amateur magician practicing card tricks, shuffling and slights of hand on the "el"; the photography class I have been taking; the week-to-week changes on the lakefront. Nothing seemed to be "important" after the rewarding experience of the marathon and the fundraising. Well, there may be no topping the charity marathon, so to borrow a line from Monty Python -- and now for something completely different.
Not completely though. We are still running outside every weekend as far as thirteen (13) miles. The coldest temperature on the Sunday runs has been 5 degrees, before the windchill and the minor windburn that I suffered that day. We have committed to running the AIDS Marathon Program, probably staying local with the 2009 Chicago Marathon. We will run some out-of-town races, including a half-marathon in Ft. Worth, Texas in two (2) weeks with my family. We may try others, and possibly another full marathon out-of-town. Knowing that we can finish a marathon, we won't focus on the success and challenges of training nearly as much.
But I digress. Going forward, this blog will be as varied as our life experiences with events remarkable and thoughts random. After a extremely busy couple of months at work for Jenn and me, we should blog with regularity again. These entries and entries on "Listimosa," our second blog regarding all things lists (ours and others, including national publications, and thoughts about those lists) http://listimosa.blogspot.com/, will occur with the prior frequency. Because some lists were easy to prepare, we have kept up with Listimosa a bit more. Nonetheless, I feel a little guilt for leaving this blog unattended. Fortunately, I have made significant progress on my goals for 2009 (as discussed on Listimosa) while getting a lot done at work.
My guilt and my commitment stem are best summed up by a film that had a major effect on me: Throw Momma from the Train. Certainly not Best Picture, it did forever leave me with the mantra: "A writer writes. Always." With that in mind, I hope you find your interest surge as this blog emerges from the fog.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Angels in America
Through the program and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, we have seen that the fight against AIDS is no less important today. As we have told some of you, we are fortunate not to have had direct contact with AIDS. Perhaps growing up in our generation sadly makes it part of the reality of the modern world. Fortunately, some do not accept that reality and instead join the fight against AIDS through scientific research, education or health services. Our preparations for our trip to Africa reminded us of how greatly and tragically AIDS and HIV can impact those who are hardest to reach and serve. The AIDS Foundation battles the disparity in education and services locally.
During my freshman year of college, my friends and I helped raise money for Northwestern's Dance Marathon benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Together, NU students and sponsors raised a staggering amount in the six-figures. Similarly, your generosity while we fundraised this summer showed true selflessness and revealed that there are true angels in America and in our lives. We have been able to draw so much strength and inspiration from those friends and family that have given support to us in so many different ways. (Having stayed awake and "danced" for thirty (30) hours straight and now having run 26.2 miles, I find it difficult to say which was more fun.)
Support came in many ways. Almost two hundred (200) people donated directly in support of our team and we are so grateful. On their own accord and in this difficult economy, a few friends even donated more than once. Others got their co-workers and employers -- complete strangers to us -- to donate. (In one case through Natacha's initiative, $5 donated by each of sixty-nine (69) co-workers added up quickly.) We likewise received continued moral support. Even on the day of the marathon the thoughtful, motivational notes some of you provided really worked, especially in the moments when we ran alone without a spectator or runner in sight.
We dedicate this AIDS Marathon reflection to all of you. The entire journey became so much bigger than the two of us, and we will be even more vigilant for the cause in the future.
Statistics:
Contributions by You and Us: $9,201 (updated 12/12/08 with donations still trickling in)
Number of Donors: 195
Days of Training: 216 (from April 8, 2008)
Total Distance Run Collectively by Jenn and Kinnier: 1,200 miles
Friday, October 24, 2008
2008 ING Amsterdam Marathon
The race was relatively intimate. Only eight thousand (8,000) runners had registered for the marathon, and spectators were sparse with many stretches without a single person. The course led us through the city, which is relatively small but beautiful, past some countryside and into the 1956 Olympic stadium for the finish line. The course scenery varied widely but nearby water (Amsterdam's canals and the River Amstel) was a constant. Ironically, water stations only came once every five (5) or six (6) kilometers. The temperature for the run was optimal (high of 60 degrees), so we did not lose as many fluids in sweat. On the negative side, it was a bit windy, especially during the second half.
We wanted to finish in less than five (5) hours, and we did. The motivational notes that many of you provided helped us along, especially because, as compared to the spectators during the Chicago Marathon, only a small percentage of the spectators on the course were vocal. We started reading the notes near kilometer thirty (30) and rationed them throughout the remainder of the race. They gave the intended boost and made us feel as though you, our honorary team members, were cheering beside us. They particularly helped where spectators were few and far between. Fortunately, we also had the benefit of some of the AIDS Marathon staff, including Katie (one of our coaches), Beth (the Chicago program rep.), Ariana (the Los Angeles program rep.) and Steve (the Chicago program director), as well as the friends and family of other runners who joined in Amsterdam.
Later, as we crossed the tunnel into the Olympic Stadium, we spotted the balloon-arched finish line at the other end of the track. The sound of the crowd, louder than during any other part of the course, overtook me just as the deejay began to play Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation," a song which coincidentally appears on my iPod running mix. As we took our victory lap, a feeling previously referenced but never fully described enraptured us. We might have to run more marathons in the future.
In retrospect, we might have been able to push ourselves a little harder -- my average heart rate is posted below -- but all advice suggested that we, as first time marathoners, run conservatively. We agreed completely and followed the advice, waiting for my IT band problem to strike and expecting the "wall" to hit us at any moment. (My IT band had bothered me as recently as the previous Sunday at the end of our nine (9) mile run.) In the end, the long-nagging injury was almost a non-factor during the marathon except for a handful of scattered, labored strides. With our prayers answered, we were able to finish this adventure just as we started -- together with a shared goal.
Thank you all for moral support and for your contributions. Together, we raised more than $8,700 to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. During the summer, not only did we grow physically and psychologically, but we also witnessed firsthand the impact of AIDS and HIV and the ways that the Foundation fights them. The Foundation's work and your generosity further strengthened our faith in people and in grace. While completing the 2008 ING Amsterdam Marathon was a personal victory for us, it was was so much bigger than either of us. "Overwinning" is Dutch for victory, but we won't soon get over the entire experience.
Distance: 26.2 miles
Start Time: 10:38 a.m.
Time: 4:53:49
Temperature at Start: 50 degrees
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Maximum HR: 171
Average HR: 150
Money Raised to Date: $8,781
Days until Next Full Marathon or Half Marathon: 124