Fly Like A PIG!

If ya can't join'em, HELP'EM I always say.

Have I mentioned that I am in charge of the finish line for The Flying Pig Marathon here in Cincinnati? Well if not, I think I just did.

I have been involved with the race since it's first running back in 1999. Having run 5 marathons of my own, one of my most vivid memories of ALL those races was the volunteer support. People rushing up to ask if I needed anything, handing me water, taking off my chip, wrapping a blanket around me.

When they stared this race in Cincinnati, having known a lot of local runners and organizers, I was asked to help out and JUMPED at the chance! The feeling of being on the other end of that water or blanket is one I will remember as long as I do the race itself.

So for the past several weeks, I've been involved in meetings, conference calls, emails and all the other stuff that goes into the logistics of making sure 10,000 runners have bagels and medals when they cross that finish line! It's always nerve wracking, but a blast!

The race is this Sunday, May 6! I'll be up at 4:30 AM to make sure I get there by 5:00 AM to get prepared for it all. I'm always NERVOUS about it all but it always works out. You cannot imagine all the things that have to happen to pull off just a finish line (WHAT No spoons for the yogurt???!!!)!! But it's all good.



All still perfect with my little "eating machine"! If fact, at this very moment my wife is at Target returning some "Newborn" diapers that no longer fit my little runner!





Still looking for that half marathon to point to. I "think" I want to do it in the September time frame. I'll keep you posted.

Peace....

In AWE!!

Yo, dog, check it out... (I feel like Randy Jackson from American Idol). That's Jen over there with the smile that starts at one ear and ends at the other! She did something way more important than just running the Boston Marathon last week. She made memories that will last forever! And to add to that, she met and actually spoke with St. Steven on this weeks episode of F'dip!

I've said this before, I'm a USER!

I see people set a goal, spend weeks and months working their butts off to achieve those goals, and finally let nothing stand in their way to achieve them, and I sit back in AWE of it all.

If you can read Jen's recap of her Boston Marathon run (http://runningstories.blogspot.com/), and not want to lace up your shoes and head out of the door, I find it hard to believe you are reading this blog to begin with. I've read her blog for a while now, as she runs, swims, and lifts weights (sometimes all on the same day!!), all because she had a goal and this is what she had to do to reach that goal.

It's not just Jen's Boston. It's Nigel's Stafford Half Marathon. It's Melisa's LaSalle Bank Half Marathon (that's her on the left Grrrrr ;-)

It's Cory running through the nasty hills and weather in Colorado, preparing for the Colorado Mini-Marathon (15 miles is Mini????).

It's Chris who has her hands in 1200 different things (I counted) and still finds time to run and put together a podcast, all the while bringing her family on the trip!

There are SO many more cool people training for races that I use all the time! I use them for inspiration. They don't lace up my shoes for me, but MANY times it's because of them I am doing it!

So what's my point? I KNOW I had one! Oh yes.. If you are not using them already for YOUR inspiration, try it! Read their blogs. See what they go through. Then lace'em up and get out of the door!

My guess is.. none of these people cares if you use them! Jen? Melisa? Mind if we use you? ;-)

All I know is, that until they tell ME differently, I'm gonna use them! I'm gonna use them to train for and run a half marathon this year. I'm gonna use them to lose about 10 more pounds before my daughter's wedding in July. I'm gonna use them to do whatever I need to do to achieve my goals. Join me....

Peace...

One Tired Puppy

It's not the fact that I am getting between 5 and 6 hours of sleep at night these days that is getting to me, it's more that those hours are not 5 or 6 hours of UNINTERPRETED sleep. That having been said, I would not trade our 2:00 am feedings for the world!

Connor sucks down that bottle like it's his last meal while he stares up at me. And after he eats, he just looks at me with those wide eyes and slowly drifts back to sleep. It's truly the best hour of my day! Now if I could convince Connor that we could also have that bonding time at 9:00 pm!

The progress I have been making with my diet and running have also been interrupted. My weight is holding steady, which is better than adding to it, and I am getting out of the door to run, but the total miles is way down. It seems I am always rushing to get back for some reason. Since Connor's birth, I have made it to the gym for my morning run exactly once. The first thing I have been doing at 3:00 am before climbing back into bed is to re-set my alarm from 4:30 am! I need to get back into that morning run habit so I know I have the time and I know it's out of the way for the day. Like I said before, I think a half marathon later in the year to point to would help with that too.

I always do better when I have some goal to point to. Some large event in my life I need to prepare for. Something to PUSH me. Know what I mean? It doesn't have to be something like having a baby or turning 50! Just an incentive of some kind.

The next big event in my life I need to get ready for is my daughters graduation from law school! That happens on May 19th. Plenty of time!

Peace....

Amnesty Granted!!

I won't belabor the point, but you will recall some time ago the nasty "legal" action that I was speaking to my team of attorneys about with regards to Marathon Chris' new Podcast. Well I am pleased to announce that I have dropped all charges against Chris!

Although there is a gag order in place, let me as least tell you all that her current Podcast, entitled "Back To Nature" ( working title: "Kevin is the man"), is now available! So first read the rest of MY blog, then click over there and give a listen! Don't make me file charges against you too!

Chris does something in her podcast that I have yet to find another podcast that does.. She invites you to join her family! I ask you, what could be cooler than inviting strangers along on her family vacation? If you haven't heard her podcasts, trust me. You will be a stranger for only about the first 2 minutes. Then you are a friend and fellow runner sitting next to her making S'MORES!

In other important news, all continues to be PERFECT in my life!! Well, unless 4 to 5 hours of sleep at night could be considered less than perfect!

My running is on target, although it's way more quantity than quality right now. At least I am getting out of the door. My wife, knowing that my 5:00 am runs would be in jeopardy for a while, got me a membership to a gym next to my office so I could get some runs in during my lunch hour. How thoughtful was that! So now I have become one of those exercise nuts with multiple gym memberships!

I think, once I start getting some more sleep at night, I need to pick a half marathon to train for. Maybe during the summer. Just something to aim for. To give my running some direction. We shall see.

One last ramdon thought.....

Is there a more perfect invention than the disposable diaper? Geeze... I need to invent a product that I can sell billions of, that lasts maybe an hour (or maybe 38 seconds!), and that people buy like there is no tomorrow!

One last personal note....

Am I a freak because I want to just BITE this doll????

Peace...

(now... CLICK HERE)

The Juggler

First and foremost....

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Thank you ALL for the sweet post's, the prayers, thoughts and all the kind words. We have never met, but there is NO doubt that you are all my friends and I am SO thankful you come visit from time to time. So before I say anything else, Thank you SO much!

Now...

After a week of this new fatherhood thing, it's clear to me that my life is now a total juggling act! It's SO amazing how a birth of a little one changes completely your life. It's obviously not my first child but it's been so long (23 years) that it might as well be. It's all so different or it's been erased from my memory banks. But it's ALL good!

So now my life is trying to juggle everything and get it all in during a short 24 hour period. How can I get enough sleep? How can I fit my run it? Mow the lawn, make the bottles, help clean the house, oh yea, and work too.

My wife is staying home from work for about 12 weeks, and then she will add that to HER juggling act as well.

But like I said, it's all good and I wouldn't change a thing for the world!

Somehow, I've managed to get my runs in during this whole deal as well. Shorter runs so I can get home sooner, but that's part of juggling. The weight is good too. Amazing how hard it is to eat while holding a baby!

And it's way too soon to put this doll down to eat!

My 4 older kids have all taken to Connor in a way that melts my heart. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but they all feel like they have a new brother, which of course they do, but you know what I mean. They could have reacted differently, and I had small fears they might.

So now I no longer training for a long run. I'm now, for a while, in training for a long NIGHT!

And not that I have started one enormous change in my life, it's time to add another one. So, tomorrow, April 4th...

THE BIG 50! And I say

BRING IT ON!

Peace...