So today was the Disneyland Half Marathon.  Some of you may remember that I did this race with Rachel last year in the unbearable heat.  Since then my marathon and half-marathon times have steadily improved.  Last year at Disney I ran a 2:47 and I PR'd at the Val Nolasco Half-Marathon last fall with a 2:42:59. Since then I've gone sub-2:40 several times in training runs and in full marathons.  So I set my goal this time a bit ambitiously - to see if I could break 2:30. 

Plan Your Race - Race Your Plan

I had the most detailed race plan I think I've ever had for a race.  I broke this race down mile by mile; almost turn by turn.  I knew the course (mostly) from last year so I knew looking at the map what to expect at each stage of the course.  To attack this particular race I started by regarding the race as a 10 mile warm-up to a 5K.

Then I divided it further into two 5-mile segments.

Segment	Goal Time for Segment
1st 5 Miles	60 Minutes
2nd 5 Miles	55 Minutes
5K	As fast as I can...

 

I even broke it down to mile by mile pacing, notes or thoughts on the course over that mile and what I should expect, and plans for how I wanted to handle each of the water stops along the way.  I wrote myself some little reminders about certain parts of the course like "Be efficient!" or "Gain time here!" Obsessive?  Yeah, maybe, but I wanted to have a solid plan so that I didn't have to think about this stuff too much during the race.  I was setting out to try and set a 13 minute PR which, in a 13-mile race, is no small feat.

The Night Before

The night before the race was really nothing special.  I caught up on some e-mail, chatted with some friends, grabbed an early dinner (light pasta) at the hotel restaurant and was in bed by 9PM with a 4AM wake-up call.  Unfortunately this hotel (Sheraton Anaheim on Harbor Blvd.) has NFL Network so I went to bed, not especially sleepy, and watched NFL Network for a while.

Just as I was starting to get sleepy I was "awakened" but a loud bang.  A glance at my window revealed immediately the source of the noise: Fireworks!  The evening Disney Fireworks show was starting and my hotel room had a front row seat.  Like, apparently, most of the hotel guests on this side of the building I went out onto my balcony and sat in one of the comfy patio chairs to watch the show.  Good show too, as you might expect.

Fireworks over I went back to bed...just as the Chargers game started on NFL Network.  Great.  That will keep me awake another half hour.  And it did.  Finally I fell asleep though, and managed a few hours of good sleep before the run.

"This Is Your Wakeup Call Mr. Score"

Oh dear.  4AM already?

I had already laid out my gear so getting ready was a fairly simple matter of putting in contacts, putting on sunscreen and Body Glide, using the bathroom at least twice, getting dressed, eating a few Sport Beans (Orange), grabbing my iPod Shuffle and headphones, race belt (with number), sunglasses, and room key.  By 4:45 I was out the door and walking the ~1 mile to the starting corrals.  Uneventful walk, joined by several other runners.  When I arrived at the corrals I found the usual long lines at the portajohns and the usual festive Disney atmosphere.

TIP: The same trick worked here that worked at San Diego.  When the race starts (or is about to start) everybody abandons the portajohns and heads for the start line.  But this is a chip timed race.  That means that *I* could step out of the corral and go to the now empty portajohn without having to wait for anybody!  By the time I came out and got back into the crowd moving towards the start, I really hadn't lost much ground in the herd and since I hadn't crossed the starting mat yet I didn't lose ANY time.  Easy!

The Year of A Million (and One) Dreams

The Emcee for the event is some fellow named Rudy Novotny(?) who sounds like the typical Disney emcee/voice guy.  In the course of doing the pre-race announcements and welcoming instructions he said that as part of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion they were going to make one lucky participant's dreams come true that morning.  He said they'd selected a number and wanted runner #13461 (I forget the exact number) to come forward to claim the prize.  They called the number a few times then the person arrived at the front (I couldn't really see).  Rudy then exclaimed "Oh, no, it's somebody I know!  It's my girlfriend!"  The Disney official cued Rudy to take it from there and...

...he got down on one knee and proposed to her.  Yes, the whole thing was an elaborate setup for him to ask her to marry him.  She said yes.

Congrats Rudy and the future Mrs. Rudy (Carole?).

The Race Itself

I actually didn't feel that great just before the race started.  Wasn't really feeling my energy, my stomach wasn't great, I was daunted a bit by the task I'd set for myself.  But when it was time to go forward it was forward I went determined to do my best.  Once I crossed the start line and started moving I gradually started to feel a little bit better. 

The first mile is basically a half-mile to the corner, a left turn onto Katella and then a half mile to Harbor Blvd.  There is a little down and up when you go under an overpass, but otherwise it's pretty flat.  I had planned to do a 13 for that mile, just as a warm-up, but actually found myself slightly under 12.  I was really working to hold myself back, trying to let my energy build. I kept telling myself "I have permission to only do 13 here!" but still...it was under 12 when I passed that first mile marker.

Heard on the Course:

• Two guys running just behind me at the start discussing their favorite college football team's prospects for this season and where they are ranked.
• Two women running to my left a hundred yards or so later discussing which schools their kids are starting in this fall and whether their new school district is better than the last.

After the turn onto Harbor Blvd. it's just a short jaunt until we make a left onto the Disney property, winding thru the parking lot and towards a back gate of California Adventure Park.  The first water stop comes up there and I had decided to take some water because I knew the next stop wasn't for nearly 2 miles.  Winding thru California Adventure and then Disneyland I was feeling increasingly good.  I tried to pace with a few other runners, but it's tough to pace with strangers when you don't know how steady and reliable they are; so mostly I just had to pace with myself.

I never saw the 3 mile marker, but I know where it's supposed to be and my GPS confirmed that we'd passed it so I wasn't too concerned.  At that point I was almost 3 minutes ahead of pace and I was supposed to be running 12s at that stage.  Still ramping up.

Seen on the Course:

As expected Disney has a good showing.  Lots of characters on the course, lots of cast members alongside the course applauding.  The course is basically the same as last year but it seemed like there may have been even more Disney characters (not all of whom I recognized) out there to wave and get photos taken.  I high-fived with Mrs. Incredible and traded waves with a number of others - including Pluto.

Just before Mile 4 is another water stop and the course heads out onto the streets of Anaheim.  I again took water, and picked up the pace.  Out on the flat asphalt streets (as opposed to the slightly less runner-friendly surfaces of Disneyland) I was planning to try and stay under 11 minutes per mile.

Approaching Mile 5 I took my first (and only) nutrition of the race; consuming a Chocolate PowerGel just before the water stop at mile 5.

Mile 5 marked the completion of my first segment and I was due to be there in 60 minutes.  Actual time: 57:19.  2 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of pace!  I was not as thrilled with that as I might have been, only because I was slightly concerned that I might have gone out too fast.  Next task: Second five miles in under 55 minutes.

The next few miles went by quickly and pretty easily.  It wasn't nearly as hot as last year but it was still very humid and based upon the amount I was sweating I opted to take a water and a PowerAde at each of the water stops up to mile 8.  I actually ran thru Mile 8's water stop, knowing another was coming up in just a mile and wanting to save the time.  Regular checks of my watch revealed that I was running about a minute ahead of schedule (55 mins for this segment) and I was determined to try and stay there.  The faster I could get to Mile 10, without killing myself, the more cushion I would have for the 5K.

Last year Mile 10 was at the left field exit of Angel Stadium.  This year they routed us around the stadium rather than thru, which made the course slightly less interesting but was otherwise of no consequence.  When I arrived at the 10 mile marker I discovered that, in fact, I was still a little over a minute ahead for that segment: 53:39 (1:21 ahead of pace) and now in pretty good shape to break my goal!

There's a great satisfaction to heading into the final miles of a race and knowing that you are well within striking distance of your goal and need only maintain a strong pace to get it.  For the first two miles of the 5K we're on the streets of Anaheim and I was determined to just maintain my strong pace - around 10:30 - even though I was definitely feeling some fatigue. 

Around mile 11 there is a tent you can run thru which has misters in it for cooling off the runners.  I don't know if it helped anybody else but I was surprised that it had no apparent effect on me at all.  In fact, though I clearly saw the mist and sort of felt it as I ran past, I didn't sense any cooling whatsoever. Oh well, no time lost.

Fortunately just after the 12 mile mark we re-enter California Adventure Park and two things happen:

1. The territory gets more interesting, running through the theme park instead of the industrial streets.

2. I know I'm into the last mile which is pretty motivating - especially when I know I have 16 minutes or so to run that mile and still beat my goal.

Running thru the park I was really pressing now: goal in sight and really wanting to be done with this race.  I managed to time it so that "My Hero" by Foo Fighters was on the iPod as I made the turn into Downtown Disney for the last quarter mile or so.  Making that final turn around the ESPN Zone and catching sight of the finish line I turned on my finishing kick - sprinting the last 80 yards or so with surprising speed (though it probably felt faster than it actually was) for the end of a half-marathon and crossing the finish line at 2:24:04.  WAY under my goal time of 2:30 and destroying my old Half-Marathon PR of 2:42:59.

For about 5 seconds I felt great.  Then I felt nauseous as the effort caught up to my stomach.  Luckily nothing came of that, if you know what I mean, and maintaining my composure I started the proud walk towards the finish area, getting my chip cut off my shoe, getting my medal, some fruit, some water, a bagel (no toaster or cream cheese unfortunately) and a surprisingly delicious Chocolate Mint Clif Builders bar.

After eating and drinking I decided it was time to walk back to the hotel - my path taking me past the finish line and backwards along the course where I called out encouragement to runners still finishing the race (including Johanna, who looked fabulous, especially for a woman who had just run 12.8 miles or so).  I walked and chatted with a fellow runner from Vancouver for a bit until finally reaching the hotel for a much needed shower and change of clothes.  A great race day.

Odds and Ends

• I didn't carry any water of my own on this run.  Decided to forego the bottle belt which undoubtedly aided me because I didn't have the weight and bulk of it.  I may do the same at Maui Marathon in two weeks - I'll have to check their course map and see how often the water stops are.
• I did have an extra chocolate PowerGel and a thing of Sport Beans in my pockets but didn't need them, perhaps because I was taking more PowerAde than expected.
• The temperature was MUCH better this year.  Last year it was over 100 and runners were passing out.  I was on the edge of heat exhaustion myself last year.  This year it was overcast early, breezy throughout and the climate, though a bit warm and humid, was never really a factor for me.
• Learning from last year I wore a visor and sunglasses on this run.  Watching the top triathletes compete I noticed that virtually all of them wear a visor or cap and sunglasses.  I figure they know something I don't, so now I always do as well if I'm going to be running in daylight.  It definitely helps.
• My knees were the biggest injury factor for me this year - and I wore both sleeves throughout the race.  I was aware of them, but they never really hurt.  The Alleve I took pre-race (and one around mile 6) might have helped that too.
• Disney's corral system worked well again.  For the most part I was always around runners of about my pace; not nearly so much picking my way thru walkers and slower people as I've had at Honolulu Marathon.
• Yes, after the race and a shower and fresh clothes my first stop was In-N-Out Burger.  In keeping with the tradition.
• Sheraton Anaheim is a good place to stay for this race.  Nicely situated and friendly staff.  Try to get a room facing Disneyland if you want to see the fireworks.
• Thanks to Brian, Jill, Patricia, Maureen, Sandi, Celena, Susula, Ashley, Christine, Alan, Jana and all of my other friends who offered encouragement and support.  It was greatly appreciated.  Once again I was surprised by the number of text messages and e-mails I received the night before and the morning of the race.  I have to admit I'm not very sorry that Maureen's prediction for my finishing time (which would still have been a PR) turned out to be wrong. :-)
• Next race: Maui Marathon on September 14th.

-B-

I'm at the Sheraton Arlington and I have to say...so far not much to say about Dallas.  My shuttle bus driver from the airport had plenty to say...he described Dallas as "Basically one big industrial park."  I think he may have just lost his "Convention and Visitor Bureau: Man of the Year" award.

The Sheraton Arlington is a good value, but be aware that unless you're a Texas Rangers fan you're going to be a long way from anything.  There isn't any sundries store in the hotel and only one actual restaurant.  There's a bar and a Starbucks/Pizza Hut thing as well but only one actual restaurant.  There are a couple of restaurants about a 10-15 minute walk away from the hotel and the hotel has a shuttle bus that will take you, for free, to a number of places within a 3 mile radius.  Still...if you're used to a hotel with those services/facilities the Sheraton Arlington may feel a little isolated to you.

Another criticism of the Sheraton Arlington...the pool.  It LOOKS great.  It's large, interestingly shaped, surrounded by landscaping and chaise lounges and shade.  It's almost always empty.  I went down there on Tuesday evening with my swim gear intending to do a modest swim workout...got into the pool...and discovered that it's only 2 feet deep.  About 85% of the pool, in fact, with the exception of one small pocket that that 3-5 feet deep, the rest of the pool is 2 feet deep and that means that as I swim my hand hits the bottom.  Basically it's a giant wading pool, nothing more.

The Jacuzzi...long as we're on the subject, isn't bad but it's, small, oddly shaped and needs more regular maintenance.  I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt now that their renovation is complete details like that will get more attention.

Next criticism: The shower.  The temperature controls were a tad imprecise and my first night there it took a LONG time to get any hot water going in the shower.  I had actually given up and settled on a tepid shower and was 2/3 of the way thru my shower before the water got hot.  Then once it was going it was challenging to find the right setting so that the water wasn't scalding hot.  The temperature control only moved thru about 90 degrees range of motion (by design) and as a result the options for temperature seemed to be "Really cold, hot, really hot, crazy hot, Angelina Jolie."  I was looking for "Sort of hot"  and it took me 2-3 showers to figure out where that was on the dial.

On the plus side...the room was clean and nicely outfitted.  The bed was large and comfortable and the staff were excellent.  With the exception of the quirky, chatty, shuttle bus driver (whom I didn't mind, but who might be off-putting to some guests) I would say that the staff at the Sheraton Arlington were as friendly and professional as any I've encountered in my travels.  From the front desk to the bellmen to the exceptional restaurant crew I found the staff to be outstanding and one of the best reasons to stay there again.

The only meal I ate in the restaurant was breakfast (twice) and both times it was quite good and reasonably priced.  The staff of the restaurant, as above, was top-notch.  Friendly, attentive and welcoming.

-B-

Heading off to Dallas tonight to speak at the ILTA conference.  Then to L.A. to run the Disneyland Half-Marathon next Sunday.  Those of you who remember last year's Disney run it was ungodly hot -- over 100 degrees I'm told.  I'm glad to see that the 7-day forecast currently looks like it shouldn't get above about 85 this year.  And hopefully with a good run I'll be off the course before we see those kinds of numbers.  That bodes well for a better race this year.

-B-

A few Olympic notes...

• Want to watch the Men's Triathlon?  With audio commentary!  Click here
• Women's Triathlon: Click Here  (I'm not sure this is the full race - the timer seems short) This also features the audio commentary that was missing from the live feed.
• I'm surprised and disappointed that USA Softball finished second.  Not to take anything away from the Japanese but Team USA was so dominant and seemed to be rolling to another gold, before Japan beat them in the final.  Also this may be the last time Softball is played in the Olympics - it's scheduled to be dropped after this year.
• Congrats to Misty May and Kerri Walsh for defending their Gold in Women's Beach Volleyball!
• Men's Marathon is the last event - on Sunday (Bejing time).
• How could you doubt a sprinter named "Bolt"?

I really hope NBC decides to leave the video of the events available on the site for the foreseeable future.

-B-

Finally the triathlon events have started in Bejing!

73% humidity for this race; but the air quality doesn't look TOO terrible (from what little I can see).

Watching the women right now - it's not on broadcast TV so I have to watch it via NBC's web feed.  A few thoughts on the broadcast itself:

• Really cool that the coverage has expanded like this.  A lot of sports that have fans who never got to watch before because it just didn't make it into the broadcast rotation can now watch their sports live!  If not for this web feed I guess I'd be out of luck and just waiting for the results.  Probably fans of other relatively obscure sports feel the same way...though I notice that women's badminton somehow got on the broadcast schedule....
• No disrespect intended but I don't get why Women's Table Tennis makes the broadcast schedule while Triathlon (a more epic sport, in my biased opinion) is web-only.
• The video coverage is excellent but there is no audio commentary on this feed!  There is a typed commentary happening in a "chat box" at the bottom right-hand corner with some expert whose name I didn't catch typing comments every 20-30 seconds.  But otherwise nothing.  The audio on this feed is just the actual sounds of the race; mostly crowd and wind noise.  That's not terrible, but it would be nice to have some audio color commentary and updates on who is in the lead.  Some pretty good camera work on this race, though.  Gotta hand it to them - it's one of the best I've seen so far.
• The Play-By-Play applet on the left should be really useful to show you standings but it really isn't/  It doesn't update real-time and it scrolls past too quickly - maybe because there are 55 athletes in this race.  As a result it's easy to see who is in 47th place (or at least who was at the end of the last lap) but not who is leading.
• It's also a little difficult to determine sometimes if we're looking at the leaders or a chase pack; though occasionally they put a "Chase Group" or "Leaders" badge in the corner of the screen which helps a lot.  More of those graphics would be useful; especially if they're not going to give us audio commentary.

The Race Itself

• All three U.S. women are hanging tough in the lead back on the bike, though Julie Ertel seems to be struggling, especially with the climbs.
• The swim course was BEAUTIFUL - very scenic.  The bike course is o.k, but a little hilly.  I'm not sure what the story is with the blue mat they have to ride on, but I think I saw an article that purported to explain it.  I'll have to check that out after the race.
• Emma Snowsill (AUS) is a favorite of mine but she's been virtually invisible in this coverage so far (early in the bike); even though at last check she was riding in the top 5.
• Mariana Ohata (BRA) is putting on a brave performance on the bike.  The Cervelo guys must be pleased with her showing.
• Two bike crashes that I saw - one big one that took at least two competitors out of the competition and a much smaller one going into T2 that doesn't seem to have stopped anybody - but certainly may have caused a scrape or two towards the back of the lead pack.
• Emma Snowsill is DOMINATING the run - Fernandes (POR) is currently in 2nd but looks like she's battling a bit.  I don't think she has enough to catch Emma at this point.  The big battle looks to be for Silver and Bronze at this point with Fernandes (POR), Bennett (USA) and Moffatt (AUS) in the thick of it with Ide (Japan) not far back.
• Odd moment - Emma Snowsill apparently was directed off the course briefly approaching the final lap.  It doesn't seem to have affected the outcome - she still has nearly a full minute lead - but what a surprising turn of events.  And Fernandes (POR) has taken over the race for silver.  The other Emma (Moffatt) (AUS) seems to have a good handle on bronze unless Ide (JPN) or Bennett (USA) can come up with something on the final lap.  Julie Ertel enters the last lap in 18th, Sarah Haskins in 11th.
• Countrywomen Snowsill and Moffatt gave each other a little wave as they passed on the final lap - then Snowsill lapped one of the Chinese women.  Great performance by Snowsill today.
• Ohata for all her heroics on the bike finished 39th.
• The catchers were busy at the finish line.  Lot of competitors collapsing after crossing the finish line.  They really battled hard - tough race - and I guess it was hot.
• Snowsill at 27 is the youngest female Olympic gold medalist in triathlon.  Previous youngest was 33.

Results...

1. Emma Snowsill (AUS) - 1:58:27
2. Vanessa Fernandes (POR) - 1:59:34
3. Emma Moffatt (AUS) - 1:59:55

11. Sarah Haskins (USA)

19. Julie Swail-Ertel (USA)

 

Quote of the Day

"Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!"
       -Confucious- 

-B-

• Purely as somebody interested in nutrition it was good to see TCBY empty and Jamba Juice packed full.
• Odd sight at the gym: There are 3 TVs in the men's locker room.  Mostly they are ignored; mere background noise as you change clothes and dry off.  Today there were 2-3 guys, half-heartedly changing and watching one of the TVs.  Were they watching the TV that was tuned to ESPN?  No...the TV that was tuned to the Tyra Banks show.  I was a little taken aback - until I discovered that the topic of today's show was apparently women who wanted plastic surgery.  Curious fellows they.

Well, that didn't take more than five months...

Look what arrived in today's mail...

I guess they had to get the mayor's signature.

Today's Workout

I was going to take the day off - meeting the running group tomorrow morning; then doing the Tamanaha 15K on Sunday but Patricia pointed out that I could swim...so I did 1100 meters in the pool.  Felt good.

Off to bed for me...I finished Anthony Bourdain's book tonight.  I'll tell you more about it soon.

-B-

O.K. a few late Wednesday notes...

• Running group was good today.  We just did a few miles; working on pacing, figuring out our groups, teaching the newbies how far a mile really was.  Productive.  Except...
  ...my knees are starting to act up and get creaky on me again.  Both of them tonight; especially the right one.  I think I need to go back to wearing my sleeves for a bit.
• After running group about 20 or so of us went over to Pasta Basta at Restaurant Row for dinner.  I got the Spinach Salad which was o.k.  I wasn't crazy about how the flavors came together; it was a little too sweet for my tastes.  I think I might have enjoyed a little more vinegar.  But still, a nice salad and quite hearty.
• More Words on Wii (similar to Monday): A friend asked tonight if the Wii really works.  I told her "Yes, as a video game it works.  As a piece of fitness equipment?  Not so much."  On some level anything that gets you up and moving is good.  The Wii is better than my PlayStation 3 from the standpoint that if I'm playing Wii Tennis I'm actually on my feet and having to move at least a little.  With the PlayStation I'm planted firmly on my okole. (that means "butt" for those of you non-Hawaii residents).
   
  Wii Tennis shouldn't replace REAL tennis in your fitness routine.  If you skip a run to play Wii Bowling then you're not gaining.  But if you would otherwise be sitting, watching TV, surfing the web, playing a regular video game then getting on your feet for a game of Wii Baseball is definitely better.  The Wii DOES get you on your feet and moving and that's generally a good thing.
  
  Note: I do NOT yet have a Wii Fit.  I'm curious to see if that is as good as it promises to be.
• I've seen the ads for "FlipSides" which promises to be half-cracker/half-pretzel and had wanted to try them for a while but never saw them in my stores.  Granted I didn't really look that hard, but if I found myself on the cracker/chip aisle and remembered I'd look for them. This week I finally found some.  Glad I tried them, now I don't have to try them again.  They're alright; nothing special.  I'd rather have a cracker or a pretzel I think.

Tomorrow's Workout

I'll see how I feel in the morning; but I'd like to do a short-course run.  In the afternoon a trip to the gym is definitely on tap for weights and swim.

Quote for the Day

"If one advances confidently in the direction of her dreams, and endeavors to live the life which she has imagined, she will meet with success unexpected in common hours."
   -Henry David Thoreau-

-B-

Yeah, yeah...

A few miscellaneous items:

• First meeting of the Honolulu Marathon Training was tonight.  Good group - nearly 100 strong.  Lots of great new faces, lots of old friends.  We had a nice orientation run while Brian tried to sort out who belonged in what group.  Great to see that Alan will be my assistant group leader.  Diedre, Kanoe, and maybe Johanna will be joining us on Wednesday too.  Sorta hopeful that Jen might drop back and run with me too.
• After training eight of us went out for Greek food.  I had a vegetarian grape leaves dish that was quite tasty - the leaves were so tender you could cut them with a fork and filled with a nicely seasoned rice.  Rina gave great service and the gang had a good time.  Kelly taught the group about Twitter and thought Owen was wearing her watch (turns out he has the exact same watch).  Only "complaint" was that the pita bread was a little inconsistent.  Mine was warm and soft; Jen's was a little more cooked and hard.  It was hard to pass up the cheesecake for dessert, but nothing tastes as good as being fit feels.  We'll definitely go back though.  I'll have pictures to post when Kelly e-mails them to me.  Despite the requests I refused to show my abs. :)
• Some of you know that my Swiss Ball actually POPPED the other day.  So I got a new one, but I got one size too small.  So today I went and got a bigger one. Nice to have my desk "chair" back.  I had meant to buy some Omega-3s while I was out but forgot.  Hey...worth a try.
• The Wii is not a substitute for regular exercise but it DOES get you up and moving around.  So while it shouldn't take the place of your morning run or evening swim, as a supplement to it a good game of tennis or bowling probably does burn a few hundred calories.  And that's better than sitting on the couch doing nothing. :)
• I'm going to take the year off from Fantasy Football.  I know, I know.  But I've been so wrapped up in other things I just haven't kept up on the personnel moves (wait, didn't Favre retire?) so if I did play most of my draft choices would just be total guesses anyhow; and that's not how I like to play the game.  I think I might just enjoy being a Charger fan this year and not having to worry about lineups.  And I'm thinking about going to San Diego to catch a game or two in person this year.

Photo of the Day

Actually it's from Saturday - Brian talking to the troops at the Marathon Training orientation meeting.  It was great to see so many old friends and meet a lot of new ones.  Regina is busily making a tiny human - she's due November 20th - so her participation will be a little limited but it was great to see her.  Lori B was there and looking slim and trim (fresh off her Kona 70.3 Ironman triumph).  Noa, Trish, Matt, Jill, Bill, Brett, Richard...it felt a little like a reunion.

Some of the crew who are doing the training didn't make it to the orientation - like Christine, Vern, Holly and a few others.

Tomorrow

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to bike over to Ko'olina and do a swim workout or drive up to the gym for weights/swim.  It's raining tonight (more great rainbows today!) and if that weather holds I'll opt for the gym rather than biking in the rain.  Right now I'd say I'm leaning 70-30 towards gym.  Either way I'll be up stupid-early and looking to exercise.

Quote of the Day

(Actually something said to me today)

"The right things are often the hardest..."

       -Susula W.-

-B-

Just catching up a couple of photos from yesterday...this was so big, bright and close I couldn't get far enough back to get it all in one shot.

 

One of the perks of living here, I guess...

-B-

Couple of last bits before bed tonight.

• Had a really interesting workout tonight.  When I got into the pool at the gym I did a pretty smooth 1000 meters of swimming and about 1/3 of the way thru it started to rain!  It was sort of nice cruising back and forth with soft, cool raindrops falling on my shoulders as I went.  The rain was just slightly cooler than the pool water; which made for a nice effect.
• The other bonus of the rain was a REALLY bright and full rainbow.  I got a few pictures of it but the camera is in the car and I'm too tired to go get it right now.  Maybe tomorrow I'll post a couple...
• After the workout, getting cleaned up and dressed I went and met my friend Christine for dinner at a popular pasta place.  It was great to see her - she just got back from Japan - and she's a fellow runner.  The food was pretty good too.  I had a vegetarian lasagna with a mushroom sauce.  The flavors were nice but the texture was a little dense - the noodles were a bit tough to manage.

Bonus Thought of the Day

On the eve of the new season of BC Endurance marathon training...

"If I train to improve myself then one person gets better.  If I share what I know and help other people get better then everybody gets to benefit and improve."

      -Dan Millman, author "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior"-

O.K.  Off to bed.  Up early to run tomorrow...

-B-

A few little ramblings...

• Have you ever stopped to think about something and then wished you hadn't?  Yeah, me too. <sigh>
• The Olympics are off and running.  No pun intended.  I haven't had the chance to watch any yet, but you can bet I'll watch when Triathlon comes up next week.  I may catch an event or two before that too.
• Happy birthday to Glen!  A hearty and enthusiastic group gathered to celebrate last night.  Dawn, Anthony, Cat and I (See photo at right) left at about 1AM and the party was still going.  Sadly this is about the best photo of me taken that night (that I've seen).  Cat looks great in all of them, of course.  Note to self: leave the camera at home when I'm tired.  And yes Glen, Tara's dress was very cute. :)
• Hau'oli la hanau (Happy Birthday) also to Sharon Nelson!  One of my favorite folks and a driving force behind getting my books published at the ABA.  I hope you and John had a lovely day.
• One more happy birthday - to Jen Shiraki!  Sorry I couldn't make an appearance at your party cutie, but thanks for the invite.  And yes, I do still have that Spanish chicken and rice recipe for you.
• Break up the Kanakas!  We pulled off a 7 run victory over a very good Family Stones team today to run our record to 14-7.  We're sitting solidly near the top of the standings in the league. I was 2-3 with a walk today and did fine at 1st.  We had a pretty solid game from top to bottom - Jason struck out looking but we batted around that inning and when he stepped back up to the plate he drove the first pitch he saw into the deepest part of left-center field for a two-run homer.  O.K.  You're forgiven. :)
• Speaking of pictures...my desktop wallpaper is now the finish line of the Disney Half-Marathon from last year.  (See



• photo at left)  Just a little reminder.  Eyes on the prize.  My running training has been mediocre of late, but tomorrow BC Endurance Marathon Training starts up so that should hopefully help me get a couple of good weeks in before going to Anaheim.  At least my strength, bike and swim training is all going well.
• This year I'll be smarter about my heat preparation.  I'm definitely wearing my visor this year during the race, and sunglasses too.
• Christine, Cindy, Alan, Vern and Holly are going to be joining us for marathon training again this year - that's great news!  We'll miss Marsha though. :(  And Susan apparently moved to Chicago when I wasn't looking. :(

 

• Denial can be comforting in the moment but eventually it runs out and reality has to be confronted.
• Travel Schedule: Dallas Aug 25-27, L.A. Aug 27-Sep 1, Maui Sept 12-15, Tucson Oct 16-18...Indy at Christmas most likely.  And I'll probably throw another neighbor-island weekend or two in there as well. :)
• Future Travel: Phoenix in January, Boston in February, Seattle in March, Chicago in April and looking ahead to a possible spring trip to Australia.

Today's Workout

Played softball this morning.  Leaving soon for a trip to the gym for weights (biceps and back) and swimming.  Tomorrow AM will probably do an easy run - tomorrow PM meeting the marathon group for our first evening run.  Tuesday morning will probably ride my bike to Ko'olina, do a ocean swim workout, then bike back - an almost 40 mile round trip bike in addition to a good swim.

Quote of the Day

An oldie but a goodie.  One I've actually used here before.  I'm reminded of it by events in my own life and from the movie "Talk to Me" which I saw (again) on HBO this weekend.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

       -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-

-B-

O.K., I'm getting ready for bed but a couple of quick hits...

• Congratulations to my cousin J.D. and his new bride Beth.  They got married today in Louisville, KY and I wish them a long and happy life together.
• Good workout today - back and biceps on the weights (that's my current focus) and then a good long swim.  I keep adding distance to my swim workouts with an eye towards Kona 70.3 next year.
• I'm not going to Maui this weekend, but I will be there the weekend of September 14th and I'm increasingly excited about it. :)
• Tomorrow is the orientation meeting for this year's BC Endurance Marathon Training.  3PM at Church of the Crossroads near University and King (behind the old Varsity Theater).  If you're interested in running or fitness walking at all, even if only recreationally and you don't plan to do the marathon come on out.  It's a GREAT group of people and a fun activity.  I'll be there! (of course)

Funny how life is.  Out of dark moments sometimes come unexpected joys.

Good night all!

-B-

So it's Thursday in most of the world and it seems like I've heard from almost every friend I have today about some sort of calamity or crisis.  Real estate deals falling thru, disagreements with family, cars breaking down, boyfriends (or girlfriends) misbehaving, one married couple who are mysteriously not wearing their rings anymore...wow is the stress flowing thick today.

Household Tip

Ideally your fridge should be between 35-40 degrees.  Test it and adjust it.  I was a little surprised to leave a thermometer in mine overnight and discover it was actually up around 42-43.  I adjusted the slider and now it's a consistent 37.  Much better.

Today's Workout

For various reasons I decided to make today a rest day(1).  Tomorrow early AM I'm going to try and get to the gym.  And I do need to get in a long run sometime in the next 36 hours.

This and That

• Trish: Thanks for thinking I'm 30 years old.  :) 
• Kathy: Glad your back is feeling better - welcome back! (no pun intended)
• Mike: Glad you're back too!
• Jen: Come on...run with MY group!  It'll be fun.  I'll teach you to cook... I promise!
• "Alvis is IN the building!"
• Vicky and Susula: Thanks for your kindness and support.  You guys rock!

Quote of the Day

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends."
           -Japanese Proverb-

-B-

(1) Well not totally a rest day, I did bowl a 202 on the Wii a couple of hours ago.

• Got electronics to dispose of?  Don't throw them in the trash - if you're a Costco member try recycling them: http://costcotrades.greensight.com/Common/equiptypes.aspx

• This Internet thing is really cool...but ultimately it's not a replacement for looking somebody in the eyes.

• Olympic Triathlon Schedule: (both at 10PM EST)

• August 17: Women

• August 18: Men

• Considering a neighbor-island trip this weekend.  Just a whim - maybe Maui.  Not sure yet.

Training Update

Fast 6 miles today.  Tomorrow should be another 6, plus some core strength and hopefully a trip to the gym for biceps/back and swim.  I really need to try and get in a solid 14-miler in the next week to stay on track for my Disney Half-Marathon training.

Song Lyric of the Day

I really like Seal's lyrics and the soulful way he sings them.  This lyric reaches out to me on the page; but it's REALLY impactful if you hear him sing it.

"Then the rainstorm came over me.

And I felt my spirit break.

I had lost all of my

belief you see.

And realized my mistake."

-Love's Divine-

Click here to hear the song and see the video on YouTube.

-B-

So...last night went to see Smash Mouth in concert at Aloha Tower.  Go Jimmy Go was their opening act, but we didn't show up for that, actually, preferring to relax outside with some cold drinks before going in to see the main attraction. (no offense to Go Jimmy Go, we were just all a bit tired and needed to recharge).  Once inside Glen got us into the VIP section and we settled in for a really good set from Smash Mouth.  I'd say they're a group that really does well live - you can see they're comfortable in these kinds of venues - I only wish they had a bigger crowd to play off.

One thing they did that was sort of interesting was that they had a big screen behind the band and the audience could send text messages to it.

We sent Glen and Dori a happy birthday message and others in the crowd sent pictures of their dogs, greetings to each other, encouragements to the band and other such silliness.  It was pretty funny.

At one point a couple of female audience members ended up on stage with the guys, dancing.  Not hard to see why they were selected and they seemed to enjoy putting on a show for the audience (and the band).  Moments later a kid who looked about 7 ended up on stage too and they sent him back to the drummer, gave him a couple of drumsticks and let him join in on "Believer."  He was having fun and so were we.

Smash Mouth did play the expected stuff like "Then The Morning Comes" , "Walkin' on the Sun" and "I'm a Believer."  In their encore they covered a couple of Van Halen songs before finally giving the audience a great rendition of what they were waiting for "All-Star".

Random Stuff

• Glen - thanks for the VIP invites!
• Dawn - good choice for after-show eats.  And yes, I did taste the lobster.  And don't worry about dropping the bottle - seriously, no harm done, except maybe to your sleeve.
• Hi Cat!  No need to be so picky, you look fantastic in all of the photos. (Yes, even when John is giving you and Dawn horns)
• Jean - good to see you.  Best of luck in your new gig and stay in touch!

-B-