Farewell 2007. It's been nice.

So another year is done.

I credit 2007 for introducing me to new adventures, new people, new challenges, and for giving me insight as to what 2008 will bring. On the other side of that, in some ways I'd like to wish a farewell to 2007 and hope it never comes back.

As some of you close to me know, the relationship I was in ended this year. I wouldn't trade those four years for anything in the world. I knew that I was finally happy, and thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with her, but it wasn't meant to be. God has other plans for me, and I leave it to Him to lead the way, just as He has always done.

Ending that chapter in my life has been one of the most difficult things I've ever had endure, and the wounds have yet to completely heal. Still, in the end, I know I will be happy if I keep a good heart.

On a lighter note, here are some of the goals I'd like to reach in 2008:

- In case you haven't noticed, I'd like to run and finish the entire 26.2 miles of the Chicago Marathon in 2008. This blog will tell of my journey as I complete that goal.

- A dedication to a healthy lifestyle. I'm already on my way, and hope to keep it up.

- Travel to a foreign country.

- Learn how to ride a mountain bike - extreme style!

- Fishing, and more fishing. I just don't do enough of it.

- See California again someway, somehow.

- Swim in the ocean.

- Do as much outdoorsy stuff as possible and try new adventures.

To my beautiful sisters: It was wonderful that we got to spend some quality time together doing cool things like Cubs games, Bulls games, and partying! I look forward to doing more. Those are very precious moments to me. I love you!

To my JstreetRadio family: You don't know how lucky I feel to know such amazing people. I feel blessed to be working with such a wonderful group of friends. You are like family to me, and dear to my heart. You make me laugh, you inspire me, you keep my spirits up. Thank you so much for all that you have done to keep the Jstreet spirit alive. I know we'll be rockin' in 2008!

And to you: I hope you've gotten to know me a little better, even though I have no idea who some of you are, but I know that you visit. I'm not one to reveal many things about myself in a public forum such as this one, but it helps me to open myself up a little more. Thank you for your interest in my life, and I hope you continue to see my world through my eyes.

Much love and see you on the flipside.

It's not so dangerous, is it?

It's happened again.

Elite distance runner Ryan Shay, 28, died today not even six miles into running the 2007 U.S. Olympic marathon trials in New York. The top three finishers in this marathon win a spot on the U.S. Olympic marathon team. A runner died during the 2007 Chicago marathon last month. Some statistics say 1 in every 50,000 runners will die during a marathon.

I think about it sometimes, but like anything else, you never think it could happen to you. I know I'm healthy, and I got good marks on a health check up last year. I guess there's danger in anything you do from driving, walking, or just standing there. It's a risk we all take, I guess.

Perhaps I should rethink my dream of parachuting from a plane someday.

Running Log 10/8/07

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6
Total miles: 4.0
Total time: 40:02
Pace: 10:00.05 / mile
Grades: 3x at 5% for 1 minute each

I got up later than I wanted to on Saturday morning, so my original plan to run my 4 miles outside changed to going to the gym and hitting the treadmill. The temperature was already up in the upper 70’s when I was ready to run around 10:30 a.m. Considering I had a late night out at the Bad Religion concert the night before, I didn’t feel I was hydrated enough to take on the heat (darn beer!).

I still have to shave 5 minutes off of the 4 miles I did to compete with my 5K pace, but not too bad of a time. I got a brief scare while running one of the 5% grades at full speed (6.5 mph) when I felt a sharp pain in my left knee. After walking it off for a minute, I felt no pain when I started back up again. I was stupid not to back off my speed while doing those grades- I would naturally do this on pavement. Still, I think I need to do some more hill training to strengthen up.

I learned some good lessons checking out the Chicago Marathon this past Sunday. My heart goes out to the family of Chad Schieber who died during the intense heat of the race, and congrats to all of those runners that finished, and didn’t get to finish.

Next to stregnth training each day- Monday is sprint day, Wednesday I will do another 4.5 miles, and my long run for Saturday will be 5 or 6 miles.

Baby steps.

Chicago Marathon Finish Line

Update: One runner collapsed and died and over 300 were sent to area hospitals due to the intense heat. The race organizers decided to stop the marathon after four hours and turn runners back because it was so dangerous, and most water stations were out of liquids.

Incredible.
















Truly inspirational. Period.

This wheelchair runner crept up the hill on Roosevelt Ave. towards the finish line along with 40,000 other runners.

The temperature reached a record high in the upper 80's, and the marathon had a record number of registrations.

I can't think of a bigger test of endurance and strength than this.

See you next year.

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Sent with a Sprint Treo 755P Smartphone

Chicago Marathon Mile 13

These are what the running world calls the Elite's. - runners that are built to finish long marathons in short times. These runners are still going at a fast pace with the course only half done.

Mile 13 finds the immense running field thinned out. At 9:30 a.m. I'm seeing the beginning of the pack. The runners have been on the streets for one hour and twenty minutes.

The crowds are incredibly huge and very loud.

Just awesome.

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Sent with a Sprint Treo 755P Smartphone

Chicago Marathon Mile 2

The runners are off!

Mile 2 marker at Adam's and State with 24 to go!

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Sent with a Sprint Treo 755P Smartphone