First Official Training Week Highlights

Over the last 48 days I have really enjoyed running and getting my body used to doing more than pushing a stroller and climbing a flight of stairs or two. My 890 plan is at day 728, leaving just 162 days until I lace up the shoes for an early morning 26.2 mile run.

This morning I ran 5.2 miles, a route that I've made myself very familiar with over the last couple of years, but this morning was different. Recently I bought a new pair of running shoes, putting my Brook's Beasts aside for this Asics model saved me 5 oz per shoe and they feel great. Today on my run I felt stronger than ever, my stride was easy and the hills that I used to dread I climbed with much more ease.

All this had my mind turning toward my race and as I ran I began visualizing the course, the finish line and anticipating the sense of accomplishment I'm sure I'll have. When my wife ran the Rock 'n' Roll 10 years ago I was there to cheer her on at a couple points and the finish line. For my race I hope to have her and our two children there to root for me.

Up until earlier this week I have usually shied away from running with others out of fear of being so slow that I'd hold them back...but I discovered the perfect compromise. As we were visiting the kid's grandmother in Moline, IL I went for a run through the John Deere headquarters property (which I highly recommend, very beautiful, nice hills, two deer watched me as I circled the lake).

As I got back to the house I found the route wasn't as long as I was shooting for so I headed out again but this time the kids wanted to run with me...my 7 and 4 year olds. By this time in my run I was going slow enough for them to keep up with me for a bit.

My daughter ran .6 miles in flip flops and my 4 year old son ran .3 miles. They both commented that they could walk almost as fast as I was running (told you I was slow, but I wasn't going that slow, honestly). Anyway, bottom line was that this little part of my run was the best part of the whole thing. Running with them gave me energy and it was fun to see them enjoying running too. I'm going to try to have them go with me for short sections when ever I can.


Running Shoes by RLivsey at Flickr
Deere Aerial Shot borrowed from the John Deere Website

Music to My Ears

Yesterday morning as I headed out the door for a Saturday run I had my iPod in hand and was searching for some music to jump start my heart and run. As I scrolled I hit my patriotic play list by accident but it wound up being an awesome choice.

God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner, The Stars and Stripes Forever, My Country! 'Tis of Thee, are all awesome songs that evoke my pride in this great country of ours. I don't know about you but I'm the kind of guy that gets chocked up singing the national anthem and these songs really do get me moving.

So while I was hoping to find something out of a Rocky movie I found these songs, and I know next time I get out and run with the iPod I'll do it again.

Later that day I was driving to Kansas City for a quick visit and a strong sense of patriotism struck me once again as I kept seeing all the bumper stickers and ribbon magnets with slogans like "God Bless America", or "Support Our Troops".

Those three hours were really a great opportunity for me to reflect on how blessed I am, my family is, how blessed we all are to be citizens of the greatest country on earth and it made me mad as hell to think of those who would seek to harm us from abroad and from within.

Anyway, next time I'm out for a run not only will I be pulling up the patriotic tunes on the iPod but I'll be looking for flags, bumper stickers, men and women in uniform to thank and I'll be counting my blessings all over again.

Flag at Flickr by Yakk0odotorg
Ribbon at Flickr by Jason Eppink

Our First Foster Experience

My wife and I are newly licensed foster parents and back in March of this year we took our first placement. I'm glad to report that the young child returned home to mom recently after about four months with us.

I have to admit that going into foster parenting I held many stereotypes about parents who would behave in ways that would end up causing them to lose their children. What I learned through our first experience is that these stereotypes aren't true in every case.

I'm so glad that we had the child we did because this mom did everything she was directed to do. She acomplished a nice list of things during our time with them, she didn't miss or show up late to a single doctor appointment, she didn't show any resentment toward our family and was very thankful for our help.

I'm really thankful she was our first mom because they are not all going to be so perfect, and its during those placements that I'll need to recall our experience with her to maintain our faith in the system.

Boy on Shoulder by David Zentz at Flickr