First Trip To The Zoo

It's been years since I had been to the zoo myself, but taking a child for the first time was like going for the first time myself.

I'm not too sure how old he should be before I break the news that not EVERY animal at the zoo is a "dog-dog", but who cares. There is nothing like helping my son discover new things. "Finest Kind"

The summer heat has begun hitting us here in Cincinnati, (not like my friends in Fla., but still hot) and it's made my lunch time runs more of a challenge. I seem to rotate between "I can't breath in this humidity" and "It feels good to sweat like this". No complaints yet.

Big plans to see JERSEY BOYS with my wife this weekend! A very cool Broadway play AND a date with my sweetie! Again I say... Finest Kind.

Also have final plans to visit YANKEE STADIUM soon to see this "House That Ruth Built" before it is torn down next year.

Probably followed by a trip to Chicago!

Summer is shaping up nicely ;-)

Peace.....

The Flying Pig Marathon

So if I can't RUN a marathon theses days (and I CAN'T) I might as well help others run one!

My buddy and I have worked The Flying Pig Marathon here in Cincinnati since it's inception 10 years ago. It's a real BLAST!

We are now the organizers of the finish line. You would be amazed at how much time it takes to put this thing together. Meetings start in January for the race that is held the second Sunday in May each year. Medals, blankets, chips removal, food, water, Gatorade. We are responsible for providing the volunteers, setting it all up and getting it all handed out. I work from about 5:30 AM till noon, and feel like I have run it when it's all over!

So if you are not already volunteering for a marathon, do it! And if you are anywhere close to Cincinnati next May, get in touch with me! I'd love to use you! ;-)

I have run 5 marathons in the past, and still have dreams of maybe doing another. But I have to tell you, after working the finish line, I'm not too sure I can put myself through that again. All of you who are doing them.. God Bless You!!!

Peace....

10 IN 10 Challenge!

OK,OK, so CAKE might not be a good option when I'm on a diet, but tell me, could YOU refuse a fist full of icing from this kid???

I started Nigel's 10 IN 10 CHALLENGE this past week. Doesn't a measly 10 pounds in 10 weeks sound easy?? DAMN YOU CAKE!

First week actually went well, losing 1.5 pounds, but it's not fun at all!

I really think the only way I ever lose weight is to really step up my exercise. By this I mean going from exercising 4-5 days a week to 6-7. Stepping it up a bit. I've been running 5-6 days a week and using the Elliptical Trainer when I can't or don't run. I stay with it for at least an hour every time. Maybe all in my head but it seems to work for me. In all reality, besides the great sweat and the calories I burn, I am much less apt to cheap knowing the work I had to put in to finish that hour!

Ran 4 days in a row this week (22 miles) and almost couldn't lift my legs out of bed on day 5! Don't think that's a wise move for my 51 year old body anymore. I better think twice before I do THAT again. Took today of completely!

That's all from sunny Cincinnati for now.

Peace.....

You CAN have your cake and eat it too!!

Look who turned 1!!!





BEFORE














AFTER






What a damn doll this kid is! It's far too easy to forget how much fun kids are. But it's all coming back to me in a rush now!

Connor had his first birthday and I followed with my uhm, I forget which one it was for me. Don't ask, don't tell.

Just finished producing and uploading The Extra Mile Podcast Episode 21 and what a blast it was! Thanks to everyone who helped. You should have seen the email I got from Steve. He LOVED it.

In other news.. My buddy Nigel has somehow talked a few of us into trying to lose 10 lbs in 10 weeks! Sounded like a good idea at the time! Just kidding. It does help to know others are in the same boat and following what I do. Mmmmm.. celery.

Training is going pretty well. The weather has FINALLY broken and my body has started to stop aching, for now. The miles are adding up slowing. Up to about 25 miles a week on the way to about 30. I think 30 is about my limit these days. Parts begin hurting and falling off after that point! Thank God nothing too important yet.

My other good buddy, Adam, has been talking a lot about Twitter and Nigel again nudged me so I bit the bullet and dove into that as well. Pretty cool I must say. Check it out and let me know so I can stalk, uhm, I mean "follow" you. ;-)

Peace....

Happy Happy!!

It's been a whole YEAR already!!!!! OMG! My "little" boy is celebrating his first birthday today!

I'm sure you are all wondering what you can get him too. So here's a little help:

Please feel free to send your significant contributions to:

The SEND CONNOR TO THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY College fund

I will be accepting contributions for the next 17 years. Thanks in advance for your HUGE checks.

Peace...

Back from the beach

So we are back from the beach just about a week, and it seems like months since I was there!! Whats up with that? Needless to say, we had a GREAT time.

We escaped Cincinnati JUST IN TIME too! It was snowing so badly when we left that we had to sit in the plane for an hour while they de-iced us. But we did got out of town!

The day we escaped, Cincinnati was hit with over a foot of snow that closed the city down.. all the while I was running in the sun in shorts! Life is Good.

Last Saturday, the 3 of us entered our first 5k together. Well, we REALLY entered the 10k but Connor decided HE wanted to stop after the first 5k. So dad stopped with him and mom did the second loop and ran the 10k.

I guess the little guy needs to do some more long runs!

Now lastly, I ask you, specifically you women with children out there. Who (and WHY!) names their shoes? Connor's mom has started buying these shoes called "pedipeds"? Very cute shoes but they actually NAME the models. Yea, real boys names.. Andrew, Charlie, Conner (obviously spelled WRONG). So every time my wife talks with a girlfriend about the shoes, the conversations goes something like this:

"I bought Connor some Ethan's yesterday that are SO cute"

"I LOVE those. Have you seen Harvey and Jake yet? Adorable!!"

And there I stand just shaking my head.....

Peace.....

Beaches Here I COME!!

A lousy day at the beach still beats a great day in the office! This is what's keeping me going these days!

I'm about over The Mother Of All Colds, coughing only occasionally, and although my running is SSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOWWWW these days, at least I'm running.

In a little over a week now, my wife, son and me will be heading for the North Carolina coast for a family vacation. Not nearly long enough (only 4 days), but better than braving the Cincinnati winter temperatures these days!

I ask you, is there anything more fun that running while you are on vacation? I just LOVE heading out of the door in a strange place to explore! I usually get up early, in enough time to get out and back before my little buddy wakes up. I explore the place and usually am able to find a cute little breakfast dive we can hit. Aren't those always the best places? I'm very pumped about the trip.

In addition (KNOCK ON WOOD), other than some small remnants of this cold, I have no nagging aches or pains! It's the first time in months I can say that!

So to recap.... Vacation, Running, Great Breakfast Dives, Sun, Beaches, Healthy.

Life is good.

Peace....

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

I officially HATE winter!!!

I don't snow ski. I haven't played hockey since I was 15 and lived in Minnesota. My back hurts when I shovel. My nose runs from October through March. There is NOTHING I like about this season!!

OK, there IS Christmas, and Thanksgiving, and building snowmen. There is that whole "laying by a fire during a snowfall" thing too.

This winter season has been particularly bad on my running and health in general.

I've been WAY sicker than any winter season in memory. And this has of course resulted in my running SUCKING too. Which of course depresses me, which makes me eat more, which leads too... Yes, it's a damn snowball!!

Hear my frustration yet? Step closer if you need to. If misery loves company, have a seat in front of the fire and prop your feet my friend.

The only thing that will help get me out of this winter rut, I fear, is either a complete and FINAL break in this Ohio weather (prop your feet right over there Melisa), a quick trip to sunny Orlando (scoot over a tad Chris), or at the VERY least, an end to all these crazy colds I have gotten this season!!



But if I look closely, I might see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

If I squint, I swear I can see a trip to a North Carolina beach in a couple of weeks. And if I look closer, I may see the official first day of spring only about a month away!

All that is fine, but in the mean time, any suggestions for beating (no wait, not just beating. I'd really like to PUMMEL) the common cold??? Or maybe the not-so-common one?

Peace.... *cough, cough*

GERMS! GERMS! GERMS!!!

One of these is a cute little vessel that collects and grows germs and viruses, allowing them to spread to humans, causing the sniffles, various aches and pains, and sleepless nights.

The other is a petri dish!!!

Now I realize I turned 50 this past year, but I refuse to believe that has anything to do with the fact that I have gotten 3 nasty colds in the past 7 months! Hey wait, 7 months just happens to be the same amount of time that my son, Connor, has been attending day care. hmmm.. How odd!

And I'm not just talking about slight colds. I'm talking about no running, sleep in the other room, coughing till my abs ache COLDS!! And they last almost 2 weeks.

If there is any good news in any of this, it's that I am about 90% over my third cold now. And just in time too! It was 56 degrees today and I HAD to get outside in it! 6 miles later, much of it spent caughing like I had one lung, and I feel much better!

Hope you all are getting through winter without these colds! but if you feel left out, send me an airline ticket and I'll ship you my cute little petri dish for a few days!!

Peace...

Ramble Ramble...

I was checking out Marathon Maritza's very cool blog and saw where she has become a crock pot junkie, and I think I was a little jealous! Our dinners have become not just monotonous, but because of the "Microwave-ability" requirement, not as healthy as they should be.

But the meals Maritza talks about sound very healthy and very YUMMY! So I sent her an email asking for her recipes and any suggestions. It would be very nice to throw it all in the crock pot and have it all ready when I got home.

So if anyone else has any easy/half healthy recipes, GIMME GIMME!

One day a few weeks ago I was leaving my house for the gym at an ungodly time of day (4:50 AM). On my way out of the neighborhood, I passed a runner (who was MUCH faster than I am!). I could see her coming at me from a LONG way off. She was wearing a flashing light that made it look like she was wearing a lighthouse on her ankle.

Needless to say, since I run a few times a week in the early morning dark, I had to find out what this thing was!

Turns out it's a product sold by ROAD ID called Firefly.

I ordered one and now, if you each walk out of your front doors at around 5:30 AM and face Cincinnati, you will see a bright flashing light moving at about a 9:30 pace across the horizon!

I still wear a vest (OK, 95% of the time) but this light is very cool and can REALLY be seen from a far way off!

I'd say it's worth checking out, as is the same companies Road ID product. GET ONE! ;-)

The foot (plantar fasciitis) is about 95% gone now and I've begun to SLOWLY add some miles back in. Up to about 25 miles now and feeling good.

That's about it for now. Hope everyone is doing well.



Peace....

Had a GREAT TIME!!!

I'm sure we all did some pretty awesome things over the holidays and I wanted to share one of mine with you all.

As some of you may know, I have a set of older (23 years old) twin boys and one is in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. SOOOO proud of that kid!

He does his 1 weekend per month duty right in Columbus Ohio at Rickenbacker Airport where they base 13 KC-135 refueling planes. You know, those very cool jets that refuel fighters in mid-air?


Well, a few days before Christmas, the base had an open house where you could invite family to come for dinner and tour the base. As you can see, I spent much of my time there on a KC-135. How cool was that!

Spending the day with one of my favorite people in the world, seeing what he does for his country... It just doesn't get any better than that! Does it?

This one ranks right up there with watching Connor (my 9 month old) reach for me every time I walk in the room!

I COMPLETELY fooled Santa again this year and had the most wonderful Christmas ever! Hope you all can say the same!

Now it's back to the old grindstone!

My foot is at about 90% now so I want to SLOWLY pick up some miles in January and make DARN sure to stick with my weight lifting! I'll keep you posted how that goes.

Peace....

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

SEE YOU ALL IN 2008!

KEVIN

Peace....

He's Making His List!!

The Internet really IS the best thing ever invented, and it's only at Christmas that I truly appreciate it. While you nutty woman (I use that term in a loving way) get up at 2:00 am the day after Thanksgiving to shop, there I sit, mouse in one hand, Starbucks Venti in the other, and blast through my shopping list faster than you can say I Love You Al Gore!

Seriously, I have ordered so much over the Internet I now have to stop so I have something to buy when my wife and I take a day off work to shop together!

It's the only thing that keeps me from screaming BAH, HUMBUG at the top of my lungs during this time of year. I'm not a shopper at all! I can't stand the crowds. I can't stand waiting in lines, I can't stand wasting a tank of gas trying to find a parking space in the same zip code as the mall I'm shopping at!

So, along with my Christmas shopping, my running and cross training are going pretty well. I've been running (although a lot less miles) 4 times a week and getting my swole on ;-) twice a week.

I STILL wish there was some way I could make myself enjoy lifting weights like I do running. I always feel very good AFTER I lift, but I generally have to make myself get to the gym and lift. But I'll keep it up, or try anyway, and see how things go. Is should be easier to keep it up during the cold winter months!

So that's it from Cincinnati. Hope everything is going well in your part of the world. Maybe you should let me know how it's going over at The Extra Mile Podcast!!!!!

Peace....

4 Day Weekend!

So after taking it VERY easy on my foot, and "thinking" it was all getting SO much better, I decided to run longer yesterday (6.5 miles). My foot felt "ok" for the run but got a bit painful last night.

So, being the smart runner I am, I got up this morning and met my running buddy at 5:30 this morning for another run. SOMEONE HELP ME!!!

Well, as you could guess, it's hurting quite a bit again now!

Here is the REAL issue... I am ADDICTED!

Seriously, I am. and so are you.

If I take more than a day or two off running, I sit around feeling fat, sluggish and like a real bum. Stop laughing, SO DO YOU! You know you do!

I take a day off to lift weights, and after I am finished, want SO badly to head out for a run too! Nothing else makes me feel this way.

So what to do? I have NO idea!!

The best I think I can hope for is to continue to struggle with this, knowing I need to take a few days off and not run 24X7. I KNOW lifting is good for me, maybe JUST as good as running. I KNOW taking a day off here and there is good for me, maybe better than running so often!

It's not like any of this is new to me. I've been doing this for 25 years. It's just that the older I get, the louder my body screams at me!


So, unless one of you has the magic answer for me, I'll just continue to try to talk myself into doing what I know is best for me, and sit down at the computer every now and then and vent.

Everyone have a PERFECT Thanksgiving!!


Peace.....

When It Rains....

It Pours!!

I started my new plan about 2 weeks ago, and I was off (my rocker maybe)!

Cutting back to 4 days a week running is WAY easy when your foot hurts! But I don't recommend you use that method to stay on target.

Also, my plan was to hit the gym for a full body workout twice a week.

Oh, there's also that part about eating better. Can't forget THAT either.

Well folks, Kevin gets a D+ for his first 2 weeks!

The running went fine, but I totally failed the others. My wife inviting me to have lunch with her one of my lifting days, so I only made it once the first week. And I won't go into the eating part. Suffice to say we still had some DAMN Halloween candy in the house!

As if that weren't enough, I got hit with the Mother of ALL colds this week (apologies to all you mothers)!!

It's not just the annoying kind either. It's more like the "cough till I get a headache and my abs are sore, sleep in the guest room, leave me alone" kind!

So this week will not be a good one either. But I guess if it IS going to rain, then let it pour and get it all done with! Hey, it makes me feel better thinking this way.

I'll muttle through the best I can with the hand I've been dealt, and move on, once I can actually breath again! Stay tuned...


Peace.... *Couch, Cough*

My NEW Plan

I began running in January, 1984 and have since logged every mile I have run (I know what you are thinking!). In that time, I've run 5573 times, covering 34,905.6 miles, for an average of 6.26 miles every time I head out of the door.

In that same time frame, running is pretty much all I've done to stay "healthy".

I've gone through periods of lifting weights, riding my bike, eating better, and all the rest, but those have never lasted like running.

I've pretty much asked running to keep me healthy and in shape all these years and it's really done a KICK ASS job!

But as I turn 50 (yuk), it's obvious to me that I need more now. I need to give running a break and some help!

So, starting right now, I'm backing down a bit on the running. Not too much because I LOVE it too much. But I think moving from 6 back to 4 days a week is realistic. I'm also going to begin lifting weights a modest 2 days a week and start putting WAY more effort into eating healthy (DAMN you Halloween!).

I need to lose 15 pounds, the healthy way, and just take an overall better approach to my health!

So now I've put myself out there. Lets see if I can do this!!!!

Peace....

I feel MUCH better!!

First of all, THANKS for all your concern and help!

I last ran 4 days ago. Haven't run a step since! Instead, I've been on the Elliptical every day since. Certainly not close to a run workout, but better than nothing, and it doesn't hurt my foot at all! :-)

For the past few days I've also taken ibuprofen pretty regularly, and stretched the foot a lot! It's feeling 1000% better now. Doesn't hurt at all unless I press on it. So maybe I won't press on it!

Today, after my hour on the elliptical, I ran 1.5 miles on the treadmill to see how my foot would feel. NO PAIN!!!

I'm SO pumped about this! We leave for Destin Friday morning and I LOVE to run on vacation! There is no better way to see a new place than on foot! Turn my Garmin on and go! SWEET!

So we will check back with all of you next week when I get back.

Everyone have a GREAT week and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Peace.....

OUCH!

So, if I read this right, I now have Plantar Whatever!


It started last week with a very small pain in the heel of my foot. *Take a day OFF Kevin!*

So, the next day when I of course ran, it started hurting a little more *You dumby! Take a day off!!*


So, of course the next day when I ran, it hurt so much I had to stop and walk.


From what I read, it hurts when you first get out of bed in the morning... Check.


The condition starts gradually with mild pain at the heel bone often referred to as a stone bruise... Check.


You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise... Uhm, Check.


So, now what?


"About 90 percent of people with plantar fasciitis improve significantly after two months of initial treatment". WHAT? TWO WHAT? HA! (this is where those of you with virgin ears plug them) POOP ON THAT!!


So now I'm taking ibuprofen, pulling my hair out on the elliptical, and telling myself every day DO NOT RUN SILLY!!


Oh, before I forget, does anyone know who the TOP RANKED football team in the nation? Maritza dear, do you?

Peace....

ANOTHER Change Of Plans!

So, before I begin, can anyone tell me how THE Ohio State Buckeyes are doing this year? huh? ;-)

Number 3 in the country for the "College Football Challenged" among you.

Well I'm afraid a few things in my life have jumped up to bite me in the butt and it doesn't look like I'll be running the half marathon in Columbus this year :-(

So, I think next Friday, my usual long run day, I'll head out for my usual long run and let my Garmin GPS watch tell me when to stop. I just hope my body doesn't overrule my Garmin and make me stop sooner!!

But the week after that we are hoping a plane for Florida for a few days of the sun and beach!! CAN'T wait for that! Although I'm a little worried about how Connor will react on his first plane trip. He will be a little over 7 months old by then. We shall see. Any "tips" on plane travel with babies?

Peace....

Anyone Paying Attention?

Anyone paying any attention to College Football??? I mean besides ME!! ;-)

Hey, I put 4 kids through this darn school and I'm going to pay all the attention I can!

This is by far my favorite time of the year. The leaves turn the most beautiful colors ever, the weather turns cool and crisp, the apples begin to fall off the trees, and the Buckeyes start moving up the polls!!

My blogging has obviously taken a back seat to The Extra Mile Podcast. Sorry about that. I still read all of your blogs though! So you all better keep it up.

My running has been pretty good also. Averaging over 30 miles per week, which is a lot for me these days, with some speed work through in for good measure.

My DOLL BABY (see picture above) is able to sit up all by himself and has 2 of the damn cutest little teeth poking through on the bottom of his mouth that you have ever seen (breast-feeding mom isn't as excited about the teeth as I am)!

Besides the Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon and "Kick the Couch" 5K road race, I'm getting rather excited about taking a short vacation to Florida at the end of them month (I wonder if Chris and Maddy get excited about traveling to Ohio)!! This will be our first trip away from home with Connor, and obvisously his first trip in an air plane.

So there ya go... all up to date with what Kevin's up to. Everyone hang in there and good luck with all the races coming up!

Peace....