April 6th

Well the time has come, folks. It looks like this is my Swan Song post before I vie with 40,000 others running the Marathon De Paris. Thank you for all your generous support and donations; your blessings and encouragement made me reach beyond my fears and doubts about training for a marathon in the middle of Winter, and hitting quite a cumbersome fundraising goal. Now it’s time to fulfill the final part of my covenant between you and me, and all our loved ones who have battled through the anguish and torments of cancer:

Cadillac Joe

Tammy Patten

Donna Linderman

Tara Leopald

Johnny Hawks

Josh Sherman

Tommy Gibbons

Paul Savord

Chris Yaney

Jessica Buyno

J. Gail Adler:

This race is for you.

March 1st

They say if you feel great during a marathon not to worry, because you’ll get over it! That has definitely been my case lately during these long runs. I start out feeling like I could be Pheidippides for the first few miles, then I get battered back to reality: my IT band starts to rankle; my calf muscles start to clench and contort; my toes start to cramp…all I can think is “never again will I EVER do this”, and I tamper with the idea of giving up and walking the rest of the way. But somehow, I find the stamina to push through it and by the time I’ve iced all my injuries I’m already devising the next run and how I’m going to avoid any more breakdowns. I guess that’s my “sub rosa” motivation when it comes to high mile goals: to make my next run SUCK less than the last! But hey! It’s the 1st day of March! It’s beautiful out and the warmer weather(well, by that I mean above zero at least) should make all the difference in the world when I hit the road over the next 5 weeks.;;;OMG! Wow... I can’t believe I’m counting the weeks now, until Paris. I’m almost there…

Feb 19th

My first 20 miler of the year...It was windy, cold and tough, but I made it!

It was a beautiful day to run 20 miles. I was especially feeling astir after a weeklong respite from running due to bad cold. I started along the serene and pastoral Marshall Bluff Road, where there’s a garland of lovely old barns that stand in salutation as I run by. No farm dogs came out to bellow at or bite me this time, so I was feeling particularly hopeful that the mile gods would be with me and grant me a pain free journey. That didn’t exactly happen. But still...

I continued to run in my slow, measured pace, allowing myself to pause and take pictures of the idyllic offerings along the route: dilapidated barns; the Friday hey market at the local Citgo Station; horses in their downy winter coats that came right up to the fence line to contemplate me; and of course the caboodles of cattle I passed in pastures…it was truly a utopian morning.

Four hours more of all that rustic beauty and I was ready to jump on the nearest Metra back to Chicago and never return. My happy meter plummeted with my stamina and I suddenly cursed all that splendid beauty and stillness crap around me that I had so blissfully snapped pictures of hours earlier. Although I was properly Gu-gelled and hydrated, my calf muscles still ached and my joints felt like they were made of glass. Every painful foot fall made me aware of how assailable I was out there to the vehement wind and monotonous roads in my weakness. I wanted to hail a cab out there in the middle of Swiss'consin... as if, right?

If it wasn’t for my constant backer Jane coming to reel me in the last leg of the run, I would have given up in despair. She joined me just when I was on the road to ruin, so to speak. But as usual, her buoyant spirit and words of encouragement pulled me up Argue Road, past yet another pasture of torpid, gawking cows, past the horses standing shaman-like in the wind, and finally up over the last hill and down to the last and final view: my car, which would take me home! I was so happy I didn’t notice the “Abandoned Vehicle” impoundment notice on my antenna until I got home. Ha! I guess the run was as long as it seemed… But I did it!

Jan 24th

Before I begin this post, I want to give a big shout out to Roger from Budget Bikes in Madison who generously donated a Trek Lime bike for my fundraiser. And with the help of all of YOU guys, we raised over $2000 in raffle tickets! YAY! And congratulations to Micki of Madison who won the bike on Saturday. She really deserved it since someone stole her last bike and she's too nice of a person to be a victim of such injustice! All I can think of is ...KARMA: it's such a cool thing that many people thought the drawing was rigged,...it certainly was not: good karma picked Micki, not me! Congratulations Micki!

Now back to my training post.....

I did my 16 miler today and it was nothing short of punishing. But I finished. I drove to Madison and ran the familiar 11.2 miles around Lake Monona, and had my loyal and indomitable friend Jane run me in for the final 5. Everything was fine until about mile ten. I often “forget” to bring my fuel-belt in the winter because I always am benighted about electrolytes, nutrition and hydration when it’s cold; you just don’t notice the sweat and thirst as much as when it’s an 80 degree run. Plus I didn’t feel like wrestling with my water-belt to fit over so many layers of down, wool and fleece. Instead, I ran sans Gu gels and water. STUPID me. I completely discounted the logic of winter running:

When it’s cold, your body decreases blood flow to your toes and fingers, drawing blood towards your core. This tricks your body into thinking that you’re not ready to hydrate. If one fails to properly hydrate in cold weather, it can lead to hypothermia, and frostbite.

What I needed was simply water and a little sugar and electrolytes to get me through the run without obstacle. But instead, my blood sugar dropped, my glycogen stores were emptied, I became dehydrated and I became a wobbling zombie. Jane came to my rescue just in time: she could tell I was bonking the minute she saw how comatose I was. She tried to cheerfully ignite our typical running talk, but, when I slurred out monosyllabic responses to her questions about my weekend, she knew I was in trouble. She sprung into action by pulling out a blackberry Gu Energy gel with replenishing electrolytes and made me suck it down. Then we stopped in the nearest café to get some water to rehydrate my poor brain, and almost instantly I felt better again! I could string more than a few words back into my sentences and actually found the energy to laugh again. By the time we reached our cars, I was still babbling my head off and was almost little disappointed that we didn’t have another mile so I could finish whatever I was yammering on to Jane about. Yep. I was back to normal, alright. And, I learned to never abandon my winter defensive strategy of sugar and water again!

And a big thanks to my hero Jane for rescuing me on the run once again: you are forever my sweet goddess of electrolytes and Gu!

Jan 18th

Its winter wonderland outside this morning and I’m glad I got my long run in yesterday, despite the tempestuous winds and driven snow. It was a tad too violent to run outside so I stayed in and did 10 miles of intervals on the treadmill yesterday. UGH! Not fun, but I was able to stave off ennui by jumping off every mile and do a chore around the house; it went like this: run/stop/water a plant; run/stop/change the sheets/run/stop/bring the clothes up from the dryer, etc... This type of interval training wasn’t exactly in my training books, but hey- it repelled my treadmill lassitude and plus, my house was sparkling clean by the time my ten miles were up! I would recommend this treadmill work out for anyone snowed in during a blizzard over doing nothing. Weather is really no excuse not to run, because it’s just another adversity in life we have to face; if you want to feel victorious, find a way to squeeze those miles in. Afterall, it’s our primordial nature to keep running and fighting through life:

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

Jan 4th

Today was my day to put my delinquent 12 miles from Rosebowl Saturday in, and it was a tad cold, to say the least. I ran the lovely 6mile Arboretum Loop and then drove off to meet my 6pm Runner’s Group on Lake Monona to finish my run along the bike path. My plan was to do another 6 with them, but I was so cold, wet and miserable from the previous 6 miles, that I was only able to do half of the distance. The lake-effect weather was nothing less than barbarous. Everyone seemed to run faster than their goal pace to beat the bitter coldness of the night. I just seemed to galumph like a frozen turkey all the way. One ninny showed up bare legged and wearing a pair of g*d-damn SHORTS! He was waaaaay to macho for me, I guess; I wore my ski pants, two layers of thermals, my ski coat, wool socks, hat, and mittens complete with hand warmers, and STILL felt the roguish winds of winter sting my face like acid. I even had icicles forming in my tear ducts and on my eye lashes. I just decided to cash in my chips and go home. 9 out of 12 isn’t so bad, is it? Sigh....

The good news is that I'm half way there with my training for the Paris Marathon, AND I'm over 62% there with my fundraising, yay! I could never have made it this far with out all your help and encouragement! You guys are the BEST!!!!! My deepest thanks to every one of you!

Dec 29th

Christmas has came and left, but not without leaving its indelible crosshatch of elation and exhaustion on our faces. Two days straight of unslaked gluttony and inertia polished off with endless hours in front of the TV watching football really tested my love for my family; I think the earth itself becomes catatonic when the Packers are on. My restlessness was so profound it left me in a sweat. Ughhhh. I guess I’ll always be the token football malcontent in the room, but that’s fine with me; after all, Christmas comes only once a year and the joy outweighs the suffering!

My long run was scheduled on Christmas Saturday, but because of the perilous road conditions, I shortened it to a languid 6 instead. Snow pants and extra layers make my pace even more torpid and reluctant, and the icy roads sneered at me in reproach just for treading on them. It was enough browbeating by the elements to send me back home, demoralized, albeit happy. Instead, I put my tardy 10 miles in yesterday, when the maelstrom of Christmas calmed down and the roads were clear and dry.

Dec 15

10 below, but it's my Hump Day Run with Jane this morning. Not really looking forward to it- my finger are freezing even as I type this. But, the good thing is that it's only 3 miles and we are about to prove to the cold how MACHO we really are. Layers. Layers.Layers.

Dec. 11th

The Blizzard cometh

The morning is eerie white and bloodless, with the prelude of THE BLIZZARD approaching. There is no snow yet, just a curtain of frost that falls from sky to earth; it’s as foreboding as a De Chirico painting. How am I supposed to put my 15miles in now? I should have done my long run yesterday when the sky was vivid blue and the sun was warm as toast. But now here I sit, trying to muster enough courage to go out and have a hand to hand combat with the elements, while precious time is escaping me. It’s lagging moments like this when I have to think of my heroes who have battled chemo and radiation, bone marrow transplants and other anguishes, and don’t have the luxury to procrastinate. And as William Channing so aptly states:

“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage; the human spirit is to grow strong by conflict”.

So with that in mind, and the strength of my heroes giving me fortitude, here I go…off into the boreal snowscapes of Green County…bring it on!

Berbee Derby

12-6-10

Hi everybody, I’m a little delinquent in my postings but I’m still running; breadthened by excesses, but still running. I survived Thanksgiving and another birthday, reveling in the felicity of friends, FOOD and exalting spirits; how can one resist all the gustatory pleasures this time of year, especially when your birthday is nestled between the blithe tiers of Thanksgiving and Christmas? Mmmm…Champagne martinis; wine; tequila; chocolate or cheese coated everything: this is the time when moderation is performed in moderation and I wake up with more food hangovers than anything. Did I mention chocolate?

I did the Berbee Derby with TNT and my loyal cohorts, Lynn and Jane on Thanksgiving day morning. It was the first cold morning of the year and 10k seemed like a marathon to me. It was so fun, though, connecting with 3000 others with the same goals in mind: to be thankful for our health; our lives, and our loved ones. And warm homes to go back to and nosh all afternoon; starting with the post race snacks, which were bounteous. Holiday races are always the best. We all got a lot of love In our goodie bags like long-sleeve Berbee T shirts, skittles, hand warmers, and a box of SUMPTUOUS chocolate butter toffees for finisher gifts… who wouldn’t love the Berbee Derby?

Nov 23

Running In the Night

What a strange and beautiful day it was yesterday! I went for a long run down the Badger Bike trail wearing sunglasses to thwart the vivid sunlight, but returned a couple hours later in Stygian darkness. The weather was certainly paradoxical. Tornados were touching down in other parts of Wisconsin, ravaging homes and turning over semis. It was windy but bizarrely warm. I was happy to make it back safely without tripping or something in the darkness. Daylight is so minimal this time of year; I have a long winter of dark running ahead of me, so I have to get used to dressing like a miner as well as an ice fisherman when I head out after work. You gotta love the Midwest!

You know you're a runner when...

~your first thought when you look at the weekly weather forecast is,

"When can I fit in my runs?"

~you have more running clothes than regular clothes in your laundry pile

Nov 10th

Tragically Hip

Today Jane and I met for our hump-day run, and ran our usual easy 3 miles on the trail, although it hasn't been that easy for me lately. My Iliotibial band has been talking to me a lot more since I abused it at the Chicago Marathon, and I’m sure I’ve got some nasty trochanteric bursitis going on. This means, sigh, I have to be more disciplined about stretching and strengthening my greater trochanter bump (which is essentially the hip and glutes). This also means taking this setback seriously so I won’t be in pain for Paris. Looks like I’ll have to hit those heinous hip abductor machines at the gym. I hate strength training: I have no discipline! But... who am I to complain? At least I am able to get out of bed every morning, and sadly, some people can no longer do that.

Running Rules of Thumb

1. If you see a porta potty with no line, use it. Even if you don’t need to.

2. If you have to ask yourself, Does this driver see me? The answer is no.

3. If you have to ask yourself, Are these shorts too short? The answer is yes.

4. 1 glazed doughnut = 2 miles

5. You rarely regret the runs you do; you almost always regret the runs you skip.

6. Not everyone who looks fast really is, and not everyone who looks slow really is.

7. Nobody has ever watched Chariots of Fire from beginning to end. Not even the people who made it.

8. You can never have too many safety pins on your gym bag.

9. Running any given route in the rain makes you feel 50 percent more hard-core than covering the same route on a sunny day.

10. If you care even a little about being called a jogger versus a runner, you’re a runner.

NOV. 4th

Donna

I woke up this morning early enough to see one of those magnificent coral sunrises that can only be witnessed, not spoken about unless you are Horace Mann or Whitman. The fields shimmered with a chilly frost which whispered to me: “just dress your whiny butt up warm today and get moving- it’s going to be a long, cold winter ahead.” So I bundled up in layers and headed out into the gelid morning to run.

My joints were implacably stiff and my fingertips stung with cold immediately. For a couple of recreant seconds, I thought about retreating back inside the house, but remembered how it wasn’t that much warmer inside. So I continued to grunt and shuffle through the rocky trail of the cornfields until I was able to warm up and find a tempo. The round bales of hay glistened in the sunlight and I thought how beautiful everything was around me, even in the late fall starkness.

Then I thought of Donna: Donna the non-smoking, health-conscious, active Donna, who was just diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable LUNG cancer. Donna has been a dear friend to so many of us over the years and we were stunned with the somber news. Not Donna! It has become an all too familiar ritual in our lives: we are told; we fall silent for a while; and then the tears finally come. We gather among friends and neighbors who've never seemed more precious to us, and talk about how arbitrary humanity is, and how just in a moment, our lives can be shortened. It’s almost like a grim formality for many of us by now, with all the loved ones we’ve lost to cancer.

The only good cancer possibly brings is that it teaches us to love more and complain less. And that we are reminded to welcome and relish every precious day we are given…cold mornings, stiff joints and all.

And so I ran an extra mile for Donna today,

and added her wistfully and regrettably,

to my list of heroes

.

Oct 30

UFO Days Run

I ran the Belleville UFO Days 10K this morning and it was one of the smallest, but delightfully bucolic of all the organized runs I’ve participated in. Ironman Jane and I met at Library Park in Belleville and were greeted by a coterie of friendly volunteers clinging to their coffee cups for warmth. We gathered at the start line with a mere handful of other 10k’ers and chatted unconcernedly with friends and neighbors until the sound of the start gun cracked the air, reminding us to, oh yeah, RUN! The course was replete with all the REAL rural accouterments: cornfields, grazing cattle, round bales, pumpkins and a farmer out mending his fence- it was indeed a different scene from the Chicago Marathon course a month before, but it was OUR scene. There’s no more charming racecourse in the world than lovely, pastoral Wisconsin!

Jane and I were both feeling stiff, and the rolling hillsides didn’t help, but the cool UFO Days finishers T-shirt, medallion, and honey crisp apples awarded to us at the finish line made it well worth the achy muscles. I returned to the Library Park later that day for the deep fried cheese curds and the UFO Days parade, where I fought with the little kids for the Halloween candy being pitched into the air. The chilly mist soon dispersed, the sun grew tepid and began to shimmer, and I could hear the faint exhale of the sky as it said:

Vivre la vie, jouir de la vie!

Live life, enjoy life...

And once again, I was reminded of why I was running.

Life is so big in small towns.

Wed Oct 27th

I did my 3 mile easy run with IRONMAN Jane.

Without Jane’s artful coaching and companionship, I would not be getting out of bed on blustering mornings like today. She meets me for our magic 3 miles every Weds and runs The Long One with me on Saturdays.Having done dozens of triathlons, marathons and Ironmans, Jane has become my #1 running mentor and is solely responsible for giving me the marathon bug- thanks Jane, you are FORMIDABLE! xo : )

Monday, October 25

Tonight I tried a couple of new cross training activities. I went to the health club with my good friend Debbie and we did a boot camp-like fitness class that kicked us both in the jimmy. It mixed up wicked intervals of step/aerobics, weighted balls, dumbbells, jumping rope, and other perverse forms of exercise toys. It was fun, but we both agreed the step-aerobic part was only for the nimble-footed and was a little too high risk, especially for a maladroit being like me- I'm always embarrassing myself!

The next class we took was a 45 minute Pilates class. We worked our cores to the point where our abs shook wildly but we both felt so good afterwards. I'm happy to have Debbie to try humiliating new things with me; we always end up having fun! Thanks Debbie!

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by my Page.

It looks like I'm at it again. I guess my road wasn't supposed to end at the Chicago Marathon Finish Line, was it? Well I have a most excellent reason to do it all over again and here's why:

This time I am running the Marathon de Paris in April for Blood Cancer Research, and I really need your help in raising money for a cure. I first became a Team In Training participant in 2008 when I ran the Anchorage Alaska Marathon in honor of my father, who lost his life to cancer. Thanks to many amazingly supportive people like you, not only did I raise over $4000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but I experienced a divine sense of humanity surounding the runners and spectators as well.

When you are running for a good cause, something extraordinary happens between miles 16- 26; despite your mental and physical suffering, you suddenly realize it’s not all about you; it's those last few arduous miles that you sometimes acquire renewed strength when you remember- it’s about the heroes who have battled and lost their fight against cancer, and the heroes who are still fighting. Our heroes are the ones who remind us that we will never run alone in this race. So, with no further ado, here is my entreaty:

I'm training to participate in The Marathon de Paris 2011 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling all types of cancers: especially for our beloved friend DONNA LINDERMAN, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer; and in loving memory of CADILLAC JOE, who died last year of lymphoma. If you have a loved one you would like me to honor, please give me their name and I will add them to my honoree list as well…Remember, these people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

I am running the Marathon de Paris 2011 In Loving Memory of:

CADILLAC JOE

And for our other heroes who have fought or are still fighting:

HERO LIST:

Tammy Patten

Donna Linderman

Johnny Hawks

Josh Sherman

Tommy Gibbons

Paul Savord

Chris Yaney

Jessica Buyno

J. Gail Adler

Tara Leopald