So the Warrior Dash was everything I thought it would be AND a bunch of stuff i didn't think it would be. The first thing you notice is how BIG the event was.
The first Turkey Trot we ran several years ago was the first time i realized thousands of people will show up to run a race. I had no idea. I mean sure, the Boston Marathon i figured would get a couple thousand runners but a 5 miler in little Columbus, Ohio on Thanksgiving Morning? (hence the Turkey Trot name) I figured 4 maybe 5 hundred tops. Nope. More like 7K plus. I was stunned and i still get surprised every year. That is NOTHING compared to the WD.
For 2 days straight they set off 500 person heats every half hour ALL DAY. Conservative estimate is 25k total but I could be off by half as much.
The second thing is how organized it was. No issues with anything. Directions? Cake. Parking? A breeze. Shuttle to the event? Every 5 minutes. You're seeing the pattern right? Everything was well thought out and flawlessly performed. It was really cool and I'm glad I did it. It will not be my last event for sure.
The unexpected thing had nothing to do with the race at all.
When I decided to do this several months ago I recruited all my friends who i thought might be up for this. They were all IN! except none of them did it... but my fiance said I should ask Richard.
Richard is her best friend. They grew up across the street together and have never "lost touch" like a lot of us do. I know Richard but we're not really "friends." No reason, I certainly like him enough, we just don't live very close to him and everybody has life to deal with.
Last year he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that, from what I understand, is very difficult to remove. This is the kind of news that you have nightmares about. I'm certain he had his "Well... my life is over, Check please." moment or two that he had to deal with but the amazing thing is he didn't let it kill him. Instead he got himself in shape, started running races and living life. That's what really got to me. That is what made me feel small and petty and... well... dumb. He lives his life like he's going to die tomorrow where as i live mine like I'm going to live forever. I keep the "tomorrow it will be better" mantra running through my thick skull all the time instead of making today better. What's really so bad about today anyway?
So a week after the Dash i started training for a half marathon. I'm doing several things different this time. First off, I'm actually into week 2 without and major complaints or wining. Which is practically unheard of from me. The really big difference is I am actually telling people about it. Previously, I would start these grand schemes of various design and direction but never let anyone know about it. That way when I quit, no one would give me shit about it because no one even knew. This time I am saying it out loud. I'm attempting a major physical feat which will require dedication and changes in my daily life. I have certainly stumbled a lot in my first 2 weeks but I am at least seeing my mistakes and making corrections instead of excuses. I have even started making changes in my daily eating!!! What??? Yup. I want to move faster... not eat more. Weird. Never had that happen before.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Pennsylvania tourist
It's been far too long since my last post. I found that i wasn't writing anything of great value and for the most part just winging it... like a daily in a newspaper. writing something clever-ish because i was supposed to, not writing for the therapy and need of something to say. So I opted to stop for a while and see if i missed it. Well here i am. Missing it.
About a month ago i went back home to western Pennsylvania to spend some time with my family and recharge a bit. I loved growing up there. It was rural farm country surrounded by mills, refineries and coal mines. It was also populated by the greatest people i have ever known. Hard working honest people. Kind of a tough find these days. I'm sure it's not the innocent, leave you keys in your car don't lock your doors at night place i remember but in my minds eye it will always be that way.
A few days before i went home my Dad invited me to go on a fishing trip with two of his buddies. I haven't picked up a fishing pole in.... twenty years or so but i said sure. He got me a pole and other stuff and i headed east. When i got there i had to go get a fishing license and it was a Pennsylvania Tourist "good for seven days" which was good knowing i wouldn't be needing another one for another twenty years or so! So the next day we get up at some God awful hour and jump in the truck and drive about two hours north east. on the trip we got to catch up and tell stories and have fun but to be honest i wasn't all that excited about the fishing part it was just a chance to spend time with my Dad. We met up with his buddies, who are arguably the greatest people in the world, and get to fishing.
Something amazing happened then. It was 1979. I didn't have a worry in my head. I was just fishing with my Pop and everything was right in the world.
The fishing was great, i literally caught a fish every cast. So many fish i almost ran out of bait! We're catch and release people so i didn't have to gut (and not eat!) the slimy bastards either. Which is a real plus in my book.
every once in a while i would catch my Dad watching me and i could tell it was 1979 for him too. It was that rare smile we all so rarely get. The one that says life is good.
A week or so later I was cleaning out my Jeep and found my PA tourist pass and it dawned on me that i don't live there anymore. I know. I left there in 1995. You'd think it would have sunk in but it hadn't.
I will always refer to PA as home and i still claim my yinzer blood with pride. I miss my family and friends. I am glad I grew up there.... I'm also glad i left. I get to see it with new eyes and love every time I go back.
I know people that live on the coast that never notice the ocean anymore. They just live their life and sometimes get reminded that they live in somebody else's paradise. By leaving, that farm town will always be my paradise.
So I kept my license and it is still sitting on my dresser. Every time I see it I think of a boy and his father and the best day they ever had.
About a month ago i went back home to western Pennsylvania to spend some time with my family and recharge a bit. I loved growing up there. It was rural farm country surrounded by mills, refineries and coal mines. It was also populated by the greatest people i have ever known. Hard working honest people. Kind of a tough find these days. I'm sure it's not the innocent, leave you keys in your car don't lock your doors at night place i remember but in my minds eye it will always be that way.
A few days before i went home my Dad invited me to go on a fishing trip with two of his buddies. I haven't picked up a fishing pole in.... twenty years or so but i said sure. He got me a pole and other stuff and i headed east. When i got there i had to go get a fishing license and it was a Pennsylvania Tourist "good for seven days" which was good knowing i wouldn't be needing another one for another twenty years or so! So the next day we get up at some God awful hour and jump in the truck and drive about two hours north east. on the trip we got to catch up and tell stories and have fun but to be honest i wasn't all that excited about the fishing part it was just a chance to spend time with my Dad. We met up with his buddies, who are arguably the greatest people in the world, and get to fishing.
Something amazing happened then. It was 1979. I didn't have a worry in my head. I was just fishing with my Pop and everything was right in the world.
The fishing was great, i literally caught a fish every cast. So many fish i almost ran out of bait! We're catch and release people so i didn't have to gut (and not eat!) the slimy bastards either. Which is a real plus in my book.
every once in a while i would catch my Dad watching me and i could tell it was 1979 for him too. It was that rare smile we all so rarely get. The one that says life is good.
A week or so later I was cleaning out my Jeep and found my PA tourist pass and it dawned on me that i don't live there anymore. I know. I left there in 1995. You'd think it would have sunk in but it hadn't.
I will always refer to PA as home and i still claim my yinzer blood with pride. I miss my family and friends. I am glad I grew up there.... I'm also glad i left. I get to see it with new eyes and love every time I go back.
I know people that live on the coast that never notice the ocean anymore. They just live their life and sometimes get reminded that they live in somebody else's paradise. By leaving, that farm town will always be my paradise.
So I kept my license and it is still sitting on my dresser. Every time I see it I think of a boy and his father and the best day they ever had.
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