Bringing Light into the World

Here it is - Hanukkah the Jewish Festival of Lights.  I have been reflecting on what this holiday means to me as I continue my efforts to raise $15,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  As I work hard to find donors and actively fund raise, I realized that there is a link between my efforts and Hanukkah.  Hanukkah is the holiday where we light candles to eliminate darkness and instead bring light into our lives.  The Hanukkah lights represents to me both hope and transcendence.  As a Jew, I realize that light is the central metaphor for our understanding of the world around us.  It is therefore my job as Jew to recognize the need for more light in the world and through my efforts as part of the DFMC Team to use it to impact the world in a positive way.  In a very simplistic way, I have taken on the role of being a light to the world around me which then becomes a way for me to reflect God's light.

So, how can I bring more light into the world.  It is simple really.  I need to perform tikkun olam.  This is the Hebrew phrase that translates to mean "repairing the world."  Through my efforts on behalf of the DFMC, I am helping to bring much needed money to the pursuit of finding a cure for the various cancers that impact our lives every day.  This year alone I lost a friend to this disease and am currently praying for three other friends who are currently in their own battles against the spread of the disease in their bodies.   I would consider the elimination of cancer in our lifetime a huge step in repairing our world.  Wouldn't that bring some much needed positive illumination to our lives?

As my family and I light a new candle each night of Hanukkah this year, I see their flames in a new way.   I see them as symbolic of hope.  Hope that through my efforts and my teammates the scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will find the causes of and develop cures for cancer.  Without hope no one who is fighting this disease would have the strength to carry on.  The holiday of Hanukkah comes to us at the darkest time of year.  Through the ritual of lighting the candles each night, we are bringing more and more light into the world.  We put our menorahs in our windows to share this light with the world around us.  

I will continue my efforts every day to reach my fund raising goal.  I know that the world we are living in today can seem like a very dark place and at times seems to be growing darker.  But, through acts of charity and loving kindness, I am hoping to bring light into the world to eliminate the darkness many of us feel.  We are living in scary times. To avoid letting fear overwhelm me, I plan to use my training and fundraising for the DFMC to provide me with an inner light that will allow me to have an impact on the world around me.

"In each life there comes at least one moment, which if recognized and seized, transforms the course of that life forever.  The moment may call for you to leap, empty-handed, into the world." - Ralph Blum

Let us seize the moment and leap into the world empty handed except for the light of hope that we can improve it through our love.

Dec. 11 – 7.10 miles (1:03:17; 8:55 pace)

Dec. 12 – 6.20 miles (57:47, 9:19 pace)

Dec. 13 – 3.20 miles (24:58, 7:48 pace) – Speed Work

Dec. 15 – 6.20 miles (49:43, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run

Dec. 16 – 6.10 miles (57:30, 9:25 pace)

Dec. 17 – 6.10 miles (53:48, 8:49 pace)

Dec. 18 – 8.00 miles (1:14:48, 9:21 pace)

Dec. 19 – 6.20 miles (57:23, 9:16 pace)

Dec. 20 – 3.20 miles (24:43, 7:43 pace) – Speed Work

Dec. 22 – 6.10 miles (49:38, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run

Dec. 23 – 6.20 miles (55:32, 8:57 pace)

Dec. 24 – 6.20 miles (55:42, 8:59 pace)

Dec. 25 – 8.10 miles (1:14:48, 9:14 pace)

Total Miles: 78.9 miles

2011 YTD Miles: 1,616.7 miles

My Training for Boston Starts Now

Helen and I at the Runner's Refuge in 2010

On Monday December 12 my training officially starts for the 2012 Boston Marathon. This will be the 7th time I have set out on a 16 week journey to prepare myself to run 26.2 miles.  The last time I did this was in 2008/2009 when I ran he 113th Boston Marathon.  I trained hard for that race and it certainly paid off.   I achieved one of my life's goals to run a 4 hour marathon.  I have heard that less than 5% of all marathoners can break the 4 hour mark.  Although I am not certain of this fact, I do know that for a middle of the pack runner like myself breaking that barrier makes you feel like you have moved into a more elite group of runners.  It is a mark to be proud of and I have to say I am proud to say I am among those runners who have reached that mark.

This year I am going to still train as if I were going to try for that 4 hour mark again.  But, it is really more to make sure that I am fully trained to be able to run and coach my friend Helen to her marathon goal of breaking the 5 hour barrier.  My hope is that my fitness level on race day will be such that the 11:25 per mile pace will seem easy for me.  This should allow me to be able to focus on what Helen will need as we travel those 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.  I need to be in tune with her body and what she needs mentally to reach her goal rather than worrying about my body and mental needs to run a marathon.

What Helen and I need to do over the next 16 weeks is communicate where we are in our training each week.  The bottom line is make sure I have set her up for success on Patriot's Day.  I know Helen wants to run a sub-5 hour marathon.  But, it doesn't mean that it is a guarantee.  Her training times will let me know whether or not it is a realistic goal on race day.   If for some reason Helen is not able to do the tempo runs that teach her body to run at an 11:25 per mile pace, then we cannot expect a different result on race day.  We need to make sure that we know where she is in her training to ensure that we come up with a good plan on race day.  The race plan is as critically important as the good training leading up to the race.

Over the next several weeks, Helen and I will be logging miles to make sure we are in peak condition when we arrive in Hopkinton for the start of the race.  My initial race plan is for us to start out a little slower than the 11:25 per mile pace.  The most successful strategy is start slow. I know we are going to be excited and we will be feeling strong and confident, but I need remember to hold back at the start.  Since the Boston Marathon course is mostly downhill at the beginning, we need to go out at between and 11:30 and 11:45 per mile pace for the first 2-3 miles.  Then we can pick up the pace to try and run the next 23.2 miles at an even pace of 11:25 per mile.  I know that our pace will naturally slow slightly during the race.  This means I need to keep the goal in mind and if Helen is feeling good in the early miles we can try and push the pace slightly. 

However, the best laid plans can be waylaid due to conditions outside of our control -- like weather.  The Boston Marathon has had major variability in weather conditions in the last ten years, from over 80 degrees in 2004 to a windy chilly rain drenched race in 2007.  The most important thing I need to do with Helen on race day is to make sure she does not lose sight of what brought us to the starting line in the first place.  I need to keep her focused on the hard work she will have done to prepare for the race.  We will try and stay as close to our original race plan as possible because this is what we prepared our bodies to do.  What we will keep in mind as we set out on our journey is what Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ said:

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

Nov. 13 – 8.10 miles (1:12:00, 8:53 pace)

Nov. 14 – 6.10 miles (57:20, 9:24 pace) – Speed Work

Nov. 15 – 3.20 miles (25:19, 7:55 pace) – Speed Work

Nov. 21 – 6.20 miles (56:11, 9:04 pace)

Nov. 22 – 3.20 miles (24:57, 7:55 pace) – Speed Work

Nov. 24 – 5.10 miles (38:57, 7:44 pace) – Whiten 5 Mile Race

Nov. 25 – 6.20 miles (55:12, 8:54 pace) – Tempo Run

Nov. 26 – 10.10 miles (1:29:30, 8:52 pace)

Nov. 27 – 8.50 miles (1:16:32, 9:00 pace)

Nov. 28 – 6.10 miles (57:02, 9:21 pace)

Nov. 29 – 3.20 miles (25:15, 7:53 pace) – Speed Work

Dec. 1 – 6.20 miles (49:43, 8:01 pace) – Tempo Run

Dec. 2 – 6.10 miles (54:41, 8:58 pace)

Dec. 3 – 9.20 miles (1:18:27, 8:32 pace) – Mansfield, TX

Dec. 4 – 7.10 miles (1:01:27, 8:39 pace) – Mansfield, TX

Dec. 9 – 5.10 miles (47:28, 9:19 pace)

Dec. 10 – 10.10 miles (1:32:32, 9:10 pace)

Total Miles: 109.8 miles

2011 YTD Miles: 1,537.8 miles

I am grateful for...

On December 12 my training for the Boston Marathon starts in earnest.  I didn’t run much the week before Thanksgiving due to the fact that it was tech week for the play I directed for the Westborough Players Club.  Even though I didn’t train much, I still signed up for the Whiten 5 Mile Race on Thanksgiving in hopes that it will fire me up for my upcoming training.  I find that races always get my juices pumping and let me know where I am in my fitness level prior to getting into serious training mode for a marathon.

I wanted to post a message prior to Thanksgiving to let my friends, family and followers know what I am thankful for this year.  So, if you will indulge me here is my list for 2011.  I am thankful for:

1.      My wife who puts up with all of my crazy passions and supports me in everything I do.  She provides me with unconditional love and acceptance making me feel special each day.  She is there when I am down to pick me up and to share all of the happy times as well.  I could not imagine my life without her in it and feel lucky to have found her and made her a part of my life for the past 27 years.

2.      My children who are a source of joy each and every day.  I am thankful that I was lucky enough to have them. They mean everything in the world to me – more than the world.   As I approach the empty nest, I know will miss them greatly.  In a blink of an eye they somehow metamorphosed into adults.  Where did the time go?  I am so proud of them both and know that they will go out and make a positive impact on this world.

3.      My parents who made the trek from San Diego to celebrate my 50^th birthday this year.  They enabled me to experience many things, regardless of how much they sometimes worried. They gave me room to be the person I wanted to be never judging my choices in life.  Their love and support allowed me to become the successful person I am today.  They gave me everything they possibly could and some things they probably couldn't. 

4.      My brother and sister who continue to be a big part of my life.  Being the oldest was never easy and we fought a lot as kids.  But, as we have matured, I am thankful that we have truly become friends as well as siblings.  I am so happy to have been able to grow up with two people who truly kept my life so entertaining and still do.  They are two people I know will be there for me through thick or thin and I love them for that.

5.      My friends some of who are just acquaintances who are fun to hang out with now and then.  And then my tried and true friends who I know I can count on, who truly care about me and who only want what is best for me.  I have met so many people over the years and all of them touched my life in special ways.  Some I am no longer in contact with which I regret.  Despite that, I truly value my friends and believe you can never have too many.

6.      My passion for running which has not only allowed me to stay healthy but has given me some of the best experiences of my life and memories I will cherish forever.  Each marathon I have completed has been a unique experience and culminated in achieving my life’s dream of running a 4 hour marathon in 2009 and in Boston no less.

7.      Having lived in many places in the United States.  Since I was born in 1961, I have called California, Arizona, New York, Kansas, Texas, Nevada, Florida, Arkansas and Massachusetts home.  I have to say that experiencing various parts of the country gives you a broad view of how each and every state is different and special in their own way.  I also think it makes a person more tolerant of people’s differences hopefully making me a better person.

8.      My love of the outdoors which has been a huge part of my life through Scouting and beyond.  Having the ability to stand on the tops of mountains and seeing the world from places one can only get to on foot is a life changing experience.  As Henry David Thoreau said, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

There are so many things that I am grateful for that I could run this list out to 100 or more things.  What I am probably most grateful for is knowing that people can change themselves if they try hard enough.  I am living proof that this is true.  I am also grateful to have the openness to be touched by so many people and conversely touch so many other people’s lives.  We only have each other in this crazy world and we need to remember that you can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you can get what you need.  So, “be thankful for the fact that you’re alive and that you have another day to enjoy life to its fullest!” (Unknown author)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Weather!?!

Winter has definitely arrived here in New England.  As if a hurricane in August wasn't enough, we had a freak heavy snow storm on Oct. 30 that dropped some very heavy and wet snow on us.  Normally it would be no big deal.  But, our trees had not dropped their leaves.  This combined with the heavy wet snow caused many large limbs to simply break off and snap power lines plunging us into darkness and cold.  We lost power for 72 hours and we considered ourselves lucky.  The storm made me wonder just what was lurking ahead this winter as I prepare to run the 2012 Boston Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team.

The early spring and fall here in New England is my favorite time to run.  Unfortunately, this fall has not been very good.  We had Hurricane Irene which threw off the tree's system and our leaves were not as colorful this year.  In addition, we have not had very many of those beautiful cool crisp fall mornings to run in.  Then the October storm that damaged many trees throughout our town and sent us into darkness for several days.  I really missed out on one of my favorite periods of the year to run. But, I still went out there and ran because it is such a huge part of my life.  And I run in all kinds of weather.

Because I don't know exactly what weather I am going to encounter when I head out in the early morning hours, I have to do a little more preparation the night before.  When the weather starts to get a little unpredictable here in New England, I have several layers of running clothes that I lay out to allow me to be able to dress appropriately for the weather conditions I find when I wake up.  Since I typically am out the door before 6:00 am, having the clothes already out allows me to not disrupt my wife's slumber looking for my running gear.

I have two different base layers.  One is just compression shorts for warmer mornings and the other is Under Armor cold gear for when it is below 35 degrees.  The next layer is a pair of shorts and a long sleeve tech shirt.  If it is below 50 degrees, I will layer on a fleece vest and gloves.  Once the weather is consistently below 35 degrees, I then layer on my North Face running jacket and pair of wind resistant running pants.  Of course, I wear a hat when it is below 50 degrees.  I find that I can mix and match the layers to the temperature and precipitation. 

When I trained for the 2009 Boston Marathon, we had a mild winter of precipitation.  I am heading into my training for the 2012 Boston Marathon with some trepidation.  With the strange weather we have had early in the season, I am wondering if I will be face with huge snows and be forced to do a lot of my training indoors.  In the end it doesn't matter.  I will get my training in and be ready when I toe the line in Hopkinton in April.  I have to be ready since I have a fellow runner counting on me to be with her every step of the way to her marathon P.R.

Oct. 24 – 6.20 miles (57:00, 9:11 pace)

Oct. 25 – 3.20 miles (25:09, 7:52 pace) – Speed Work
Oct. 27 – 6.20 miles (49:32, 7:59 pace) – Tempo Run
Oct. 28 – 6.00 miles (55:06, 9:11 pace)
Oct. 29 – 9.10 miles (1:19:14, 8:42 pace)
Oct. 30 – 6.10 miles (55:43, 9:08 pace)
Nov. 1 – 6.20 miles (55:22, 8:56 pace)
Nov. 3 – 6.10 miles (54:27, 8:56 pace) – San Antonio, TX
Nov. 5 – 7.50 miles (1:03:41, 8:30 pace)
Nov. 6 – 10.30 miles (1:30:49, 8:49 pace)
Nov. 7 – 6.10 miles (56:11, 9:13 pace)
Nov. 8 – 3.20 miles (25:02, 7:49 pace) – Speed Work
Nov. 10 – 6.20 miles (50:27, 8:08 pace) – Tempo Run
Nov. 11 – 6.00 miles (56:06, 9:03 pace)
Nov. 12 – 10.30 miles (1:31:51, 8:55 pace)

Total Miles: 98.7 miles

2011 YTD Miles: 1,428.0 miles

Why I run for the DFMC

On October 3, 2008, I was accepted as a member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team which would allow me to run in the Boston Marathon. I knew that I would never be able to achieve a Boston Qualifying (B.Q.) time. So, I decided to become a charity runner. As I looked at all of the charities that raise money through participation in the Boston Marathon, I realized that there was only one that truly meant something to me on a personal level – the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge. Cancer has had a significant impact on my life starting with the loss of my paternal Grandmother to pancreatic cancer in 1974.

Run as I might…I could never outrun this disease and the affect it has had on my life through the loss of too many family and friends. When I read that the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), in collaboration with the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) would allow me to run the Boston Marathon by raising money for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, I looked no further. The money I raised would enable scientists at the leading edge of discovery to achieve better cure rates and to enhance patients' quality of life. The reason it spoke to me so clearly is that I have always dreamed that one day we might find a cure to this dreaded disease. If that miracle were to happen, I would be able to live my life without the fear of losing loved ones to this disease again.

If you follow my blog you know that I originally decided to sign up for this year’s team to help my friend and breast cancer survivor, Helen Morey achieve her goal of finishing a marathon in less than five hours. But, in all actuality, I had another reason that I had not discussed with anyone at the time and that was to run for my friend Sam Rosenwald who at the time seemed to be winning his fight against cancer. Sam had been the largest donor to my run in 2009 and was a big supporter of my effort to raise money for Dana Farber. I wanted to run for him to honor his fight. Unfortunately Sam did not win his battle and succumbed to the disease on August 3, 2011. Here is his obituary that shows what a special person he was:

SAM ROSENWALD of Beverly Hills, California, passed away on August 3, 2011. Sam was a real estate investor and developer, a philanthropist, a loving son to his mother, Sonja Rosenwald, a loving husband to his wife, Gita Rosenwald, a loving father to his children, Daniel and Samantha, a loving brother and brother in law to Jeanie and David Finkelstein, and a trusted friend, colleague and mentor to countless members of his community. Sam was born in Los Angeles on December 16, 1953, and attended Yavneh Academy, Fairfax High School, UCLA, and Boston University, where he received an MBA with honors. His parents were Holocaust survivors who met after World War II, married in 1946, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1951. Sam had a long career in real estate. He was the director of real estate at Pic 'n Save and Office Depot, and a partner at Black Equities. Sam was very involved in a number of philanthropic activities. His achievements in the philanthropic arena include Chairman of the Real Estate and Construction Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, member of the Board of Directors of the Federation and Co-Chair of its King David Society, Chair of the Allocations Committee of its Real Estate Principals Organization. Sam also served on the Board of Directors of Hillel at UCLA (and was the recipient of their "Honorable Mensch-ion" award this past June), and served on the Board of The 1939 Club (a Holocaust Survivors group). He was also actively involved with Sinai Temple, North County Chabad (Yorba Linda), AIPAC, Vista Del Mar, Beit T'Shuvah, and many other organizations. Sam was a mensch among menschen, and an example and mentor to countless friends, family members, business and philanthropic associates, colleagues and strangers. He was beloved by all who met him, and touched the lives of more people than one could imagine, all of whom will miss him and cherish his memory.

Sadly, I am running to honor Sam’s memory rather than his fight. As you can see he believed in raising money for causes that were dear to his heart. What better way to honor his memory that to raise money for a cause that means so much to me. Sam’s wife, Gita send me a note after I wrote to here to express my sorrow at losing such a special person. In here not she sent me two things. The first speaks to Sam’s philanthropic legacy and the other a beautiful poem.

A random act of kindness elicits no reciprocity; selfless, compassionate, spontaneous.

In honor of Sam Rosenwald, please practice these acts as extensions of his philanthropic lifestyle.

I give you this one thought to keep –

I am with you still – I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone –

I am with you still – in each new dawn.

(Native American Prayer)

Beautiful words that provide comfort that we never truly lose those we love. Now I have never been a believer in angels, ghosts or other supernatural things. But, I can remember when I was running Boston in April 2009 feeling the love and support of those people’s whose names I carried with me that day lighten my load and help me to reach my goal. I know that this Boston Sam will be with me all 26.2 miles and help me finish strong. I will be calling on him to help Helen as she runs towards her P.R. goal in this year’s race. Here’s to those we have lost and to those who fight on.

“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.” (Old Eskimo Proverb)

Sept. 30 – 7.10 miles (1:05:15, 9:12 pace)
Oct. 1 – 6.20 miles (56:09, 9:03 pace)
Oct. 2 – 10.30 miles (1:34:33, 9:12 pace)
Oct. 3 – 6.10 miles (55:53, 9:10 pace)
Oct. 4 – 5.10 miles (43:14, 8:28 pace)
Oct. 6 – 5.20 miles (46:45, 9:10 pace)
Oct. 7 – 4.10 miles (37:32, 9:00 pace)
Oct. 9 – 13.30 miles (1:54:52, 8:38 pace) – B.A.A. Half Marathon
Oct. 11 – 3.10 miles (28:02, 9:03 pace)
Oct. 13 – 3.30 miles (29:23, 8:54 pace)
Oct. 14 – 5.10 miles (44:42, 8:46 pace)
Oct. 15 – 6.10 miles (52:56, 8:41 pace)
Oct. 16 – 6.00 miles (53:45, 8:58 pace)
Oct. 17 – 6.10 miles (56:16, 9:14 pace)
Oct. 18 – 4.00 miles (36:21, 9:05 pace)
Oct. 19 – 6.10 miles (53:04, 8:42 pace)
Oct. 20 – 5.10 miles (46:28, 9:07 pace)
Oct. 21 – 6.10 miles (54:06, 8:52 pace)
Oct. 22 – 7.40 miles (1:04:26, 8:43 pace)

Total Miles: 115.8 miles
2011 YTD Miles: 1,329.3 miles

Try Something New

Each year many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Some vow to exercise more, lose weight, eat better, find a new job, be a better husband or wife, take a trip, etc. I admit that I have made many of these types of resolutions in the past. Sometimes I have been successful in adhering to them and sometimes not. But, whether I was successful or not, I always looked back and realized that I was thankful for each challenge, because it allowed me to build both my strength and character. I am not saying that I have great strength or character. I am simply saying that when I take on something new, challenging or something that may be outside of my innate abilities, I grow as a person both physically and mentally.

This year I decided to take on two new challenges both of which I have never attempted before. I am very nervous about my ability to succeed in both of these challenges. It would be very easy for me to be so intimidated by imagining all the worst-case scenarios that I wouldn’t even attempt them. As I have aged, I realized that life without new experiences is dull and boring. I also know that I don’t want to live a dull and boring life. So, I have been committed to challenging my comfort zone regularly in ways that are both challenging and, yes, intimidating. As I have taken on each challenge, I have learned something new about myself and have really enjoyed the resulting benefits.

The first of my two new challenges this year is taking on the role of Director of the Westborough Players Club’s Youth Musical which will go up in front of an audience on November 18, 19 and 20th. The Youth Musical is for kids from the age of 8-15 and is a way for our club to teach kids interested in theater about the process of putting on a full length musical by having them participate in a full production. My role as the director is to come up with the overall look of the show from the blocking, dance numbers (I thankfully have a choreographer), sets, lighting, etc. I have been in shows as an actor in the past and I have designed and built sets. I have just never been the overall director. I have never been the person that everyone looks to for, well, direction. It is a daunting task.

I spent over a month going over the script to come up with the blocking and where I wanted dances versus simple movement to music. I consulted with the costumers on the costumes I wanted the kids to wear. I got approval for the set design and have started putting it together. I went through the auditions process with my music director and choreographer. We cast 24 kids in the show. Now that rehearsals have started I have to say that I am so happy to have put in the prep time. It has helped my nerves and hopefully will result in a good production that the audience will enjoy. I am finding that the skills for planning and prep I have learned through my training for marathons have helped me realize that this challenge will help me to grow my skills and knowledge of what it takes to put on a musical. But, more importantly, it will help me believe I can accomplish anything if I put in the proper preparation and planning needed to succeed.

The second and more frightening challenge is helping a fellow runner achieve her goal of completing a marathon in less than 5 hours. My friend and fellow runner Helen Morey asked me last year if I would sign up for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) in 2012 and help her complete the 116th Boston Marathon in less than 5 hours. Without thinking I agreed. I was accepted as a member of the DFMC Team and now am facing the challenge of helping Helen get ready for marathon and give her the proper training and coaching to help her shave over 1 hour off her best marathon finish.

As I think about the training program I am going craft for Helen, I realized that as her coach I will need to be fully committed to the job. I have the patience and love for running that will hopefully enable me to impart words of wisdom and motivation when she needs them. I know that for Helen to succeed, she is going to have to go through some very tough mental and physical training days. Knowing Helen these past 3 years, I have faith that her strong personality will be the key to keep her from quitting when the going gets tough. This coupled with our common sense of humor should help to make the training program fun. I want to make sure that Helen has fun during her training. But, I still am nervous about the challenge as I do not want to fail my friend.

As you can see, I am definitely getting out of my comfort zone over the next few months. I will be pushing my limits both physically and mentally. Hopefully, in the end this will make me stronger in both aspects of my life. There is that little bit of doubt that I am going to be able to succeed in both of these endeavors. Despite that doubt, I am ready to take them on and know that I will put in the time and effort needed to succeed. Even if for some reason neither challenge turns out the way I planned them, I will be satisfied in knowing that I gave it my all. The good news is that the kids in the show are working really hard and Helen is anything but a quitter. This makes me believe that in the end they will all make me proud to have been a part of the process that enabled them to succeed.

“Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”

Bernice Johnson Reagon

Sept. 29 – 6.20 miles (58:51, 9:30 pace)
Sept. 13 – 3.20 miles (25:12, 7:53 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 14 – 8.10 miles (1:09:36, 8:26 pace) – Tempo Run, Manhattan, KS
Sept. 16 – 6.20 miles (57:06, 9:13 pace)
Sept. 17 – 10.10 miles (1:30:01, 8:55 pace)
Sept. 18 – 10.10 miles (1:30:13, 8:56 pace)
Sept. 19 – 6.10 miles (57:57, 9:30 pace)
Sept. 20 – 3.20 miles (25:27, 7:57 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 21 – 8.10 miles (1:09:14, 8:33 pace) – Tempo Run, Orlando, FL
Sept. 24 – 6.20 miles (Unknown) – Hike to the top of Mt. Monadnock, NH
Sept. 25 – 8.20 miles (1:14:29, 9:05 pace)

Total Miles: 75.7 miles
2011 YTD Miles: 1,213.5 miles