When Life Gives You Lemons, Chuck Those Bastards Back

I don't see myself running anything beyond a five mile collegiate cross country race - I said years ago as a Morehead State Eagle (1994-1997). In the last year, as a still wet behind the ears "40 something", I have run a variety of 10K's, an eight miler, 16 miles (three separate routes) as part of a 24 hour team relay and ... a half marathon?

Out of all of those races, the half is the most surprising to me. It just came out of nowhere...well, actually, it was due to ridicule by some of my The Buck Fifty teammates who have run their fare share. And running the 13.1 mile race is just as odd as being rear-ended while at a dead stop at a red light in front of the President Warren G. Harding Memorial by a guy (who has a name similar to another former president) in an SUV who isn't wearing a shirt or shoes, has a pastel mohawk, no insurance, is wearing SpongeBob SquarePants pajama bottoms and has changed his middle name to "Highlander"within the last month (Yes, this really did happen and to a co-worker. Melinda is okay, but the car she purchased band new just two months ago...isn't. Afterward, I believe she told this guy what he could do with that pineapple under the sea).

President Warren G. Harding Memorial

If you have trained for it, the half is more about making sure you don't psych yourself out. With a goal of 1:30:00, I began putting in the work. Having spent the last year averaging somewhere around 20 to 25 miles a week with long runs of 7 to 8 miles, I needed to increase my mileage per week as well as my long runs to better prepare (and simply get used to) running the 13.1 mile gauntlet. I began this process the day after the August 12th 10K race.

On that race day, I ran along side one of the half marathoners for the first 5K (before our races went separate directions). There I was getting an idea of how one would pace themselves for a half marathon in order to be competitive and not tire themselves out by the halfway point. I tried to apply this to the six weeks I had to play with before race day and it went something like this...

Half Marathon Training:

6 Weeks To Go: 31.93 total miles; 10.22 Saturday long run (7:18 pace); Monday/Thursday off
5 Weeks To Go: 32.93 total miles: 11.18 Friday long run (7:01 pace); Monday/Thursday off
4 Weeks To Go: 33.64 total miles: 12.06 Saturday long run (6:57 pace); Monday/Thursday off
3 Weeks To Go: 34.11 total miles: 12.51 Saturday long run (7:12 pace); Monday/Thursday off
2 Weeks To Go: 34.51 total miles: 13.10 Friday long run (7:22 pace); Monday/Thursday off
*RACE WEEK: 15.63 total miles: 3.05 Thursday leg warmer (6:54 pace); Monday/Friday off

Running a half marathon is a huge step and it reminded me of the last time I had put this amount of effort into a race. It was my last cross country race, my junior year at Morehead State and we were running at Eastern Kentucky University. My personal best five mile time of 27:13 was established, despite the fact I ran the last 3 1/2 miles (or so) with one shoe on. This was after it was partially pulled off after getting stepped on (and spiked), then kicking the shoe off the rest of the way because I didn't want to spend the time to stop and put it back on. I finished 29th, but my cross country season ended after the gash in my heel - from the spike puncturing my shoe and into the back of my heel - became infected (as a team, we won the meet. CLICK for full details).

I was hoping the half marathon effort would have just as much success, but not end the way things did back in October of 1996. It’s called a race for a reason and – for me, personally – simply finishing was not good enough.

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Live Hard. We Got You

My 13.1 mile seal breaker was supposed to be the Scioto River Run in Powell on Saturday, September 23rd, with acquaintances of mine who run nearby Ill Mannered Brewing Company having their beer available for finishers. Unfortunately, that Wednesday (just three days out), the 1,500 or so of us who signed up receive an email from the organizers that starts like this..."We regret to inform you that as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2017, Liberty Township Trustees decided to reverse their favorable vote on a resolution to support the 2017 Scioto River Run. This is a reverse of a previously written approval obtained on February 22, 2017.  We, the organizers of the Scioto River Run are devastated by this decision..." 

A little ticked, since I had this planned for months, I try to let it sink in. Folks were able to get a refund and the back story on the reasoning for the cancellation is long and drawn out - I will save you the details. It boils down to permit issues and some "he said/she said things", apparently and sounds like a bit of a cluster.

On that same day, after mowing the grass at my apartment building (I do this for cheaper rent) after a short run, I notice my keys were missing. Since I was still wearing my running gear and had nowhere to put my keys, I hid them in a plant near a tree in our yard. I did notice a little earlier some dude, whom I didn't recognize, roaming around the building and walking by my hiding place - then hopping into an SUV and leaving. After trying to figure out what I did with them, I determined they had been taken. I contacted my landlord and explained it to her, then contacted the authorities to file a report. As you can imagine, I was highly pissed since my apartment and car keys were now missing in action. Once my landlord and the officer arrive, I see the same SUV returning. The officer continues taking my frustrating detailed report and my landlord saunters over to visit the fellas in the parking lot.

From a distance, you can see the short, fiery brunette get extremely animated and loud (and scary). Before I know it, she has my keys in her hand to go along with a sly "don't-mess-with-me" grin on her face. Alyssa tells me the group claimed to not know anything about the keys, but the dude whom I recognize as the one I saw earlier suddenly "finds" my keys outside the side door of my building - nowhere near where I had been the entire day and mysteriously next to the door he had just exited. Relieved my keys came back unscathed, I requested my apartment door lock be changed and wondered if I should begin polishing the wooden, splintered baseball bat resting in the trunk of my car. I don't believe my keys were duplicated and the officer has their names and car identification, but I'm not taking any chances.

With that out of my way (but still lingering), my biggest issue was the fact I was now race-less for the weekend. After sending off several emails and web posts on various race/running sites, I learned there was a half marathon - on the same day - still taking registration...it was just much further away (90 minutes instead 30) then I had wanted. The Grand Lake Full/Half Marathon in Celina & St. Marys, Ohio would fit in nicely (complete with free beer from Moeller Brew Barn for finishers).

This race would cover the entire northern shoreline of the 13,500 acre Grand Lake, Ohio's largest inland lake. It would, though, force a complete change in my race weekend game plan. The Scioto River Run was in an area familiar to me, this race was in completely new territory...well, mostly new territory. I did apply for a job years ago in Celina while working in the Dallas, Texas area (Addison) and looking to return to Ohio. I was a radio news reporter/anchor back in 2002 and applied for jobs in Newark and Celina. I was given an interview in Newark and eventually hired there. Though, not more than a month later, Celina made statewide and regional news for some flash flooding and one story I read had the radio station I had applied to underwater. Yeah, just a small bullet dodged there.

Grand Lake Half Marathon route

On a whim, for the first time, I started wearing sunglasses while running about three weeks ago. It was just something I didn't do, though I bought a pair of @shadyrays out of simple curiosity - they were relatively cheap, fit well and helped with my lack of ability to see distance in detail: thus, less squinting when the sun is attempting to blind you. Recent training runs with them proved to be less of a distraction than I had imagined. As it would be, they, along with my usual visor, were needed on this day with the full late summer sun throwing everything it had left at us: mid 80's and humid.

Beginning in Memorial Park in St. Marys, we first hear a few words from 2016 U.S. Olympian Jared Ward, followed by the countdown, then the gun. Starting next to the 1:30:00 pacer, my thinking was if I stayed somewhat ahead of him, I could judge my pacing without having to spy my watch every so often. As it would be, the first handful couple miles had Mr. Ward lead away followed by a few super overzealous participants. Not wanting to pretend to be superman, I hung back with a pace comfortable for me. Slowly some runners would slide by, but not immediately disappear. I casually wondered if they knew what they were doing or were testing the half marathon waters like myself.

From a distance, the good first half

The latter seemed to come true as within the next three miles, three of them came to a stop and began walking. Then I see Lauren - my girlfriend who has tagged along for the day - she's throwing out some encouragement and all seems on track. Feeling good and reaching the halfway point in 43:36, I still have yet to see the 1:30:00 pacer - I must be doing something right...or at least I thought. With the sun beating down and no shade to speak of, I start to feel like I'm lumbering. I can barely see any runners ahead of me and I don't hear any runner within striking distance behind me. At mile eight the struggle begins and when I pass water stations I can hear the cheers for those coming up behind me.

One by one, ever so slowly, I start getting passed and then there he goes. The 1:30:00 pacer strides by and my personal annoyance hits a high note. I do my damnedest to stretch my stride to pick up the pace, but it doesn't last long. The most I can do now is simply hold on and fight the urge to start walking. The last few miles creep along and in the last portion those who had earlier passed me, but then began walking, have enough decent speed left in the tank to blow by. At this point, I'm only moving just enough to not be mistaken for walking backwards and despite being exhausted - I'm disgusted this is how my first half marathon is coming to an end.

Funny, with about a quarter mile to go, I hear a familiar voice. Its Lauren again, she - trying to boost my spirits - points to an electronic "Your Speed" sign that indicates the speed for this Celina City Park road is 20 mph (the kind of sign which flashes your speed if you are going to fast). Its turned off, but she says something like, "You aren't up to speed, the sign hasn't kicked on." I smile slightly and I'm glad I can still at least pick my feet off of the ground and they aren't scuffing across the pavement with each step.

That's me in the gray, a quarter mile to go

The finish chute welcomes me and finally getting to stop running (IF what I was doing at that time could actually be called "running"), I ignore the first guy handing out finisher's medals. I couldn't have grasped it anyway. I get a bottle of water, guzzle half of it, then dump the rest down the back of my neck. In all my extreme wooziness, I then get a finisher's medal and another water. Then I remember I haven't stopped my watch, now even more annoyed, I find I have finally stopped it at 1:40:45. Then comes Lauren and she guides me along to keep me moving as one would an intoxicated zombie. As long as she is a step ahead of me I will follow like a lost puppy, and not collapse to the ground.

We find shade and get more water, a banana and a bagel. Once my wits have returned, I make it over to the Moeller Brew Barn beer cart to get my free finisher's beer. Sitting back down in the shade I realize there was no way I could have sped up at the end, I hit the wall and it hit me head on. Still recovering, some random dude hands me his "free beer" ticket saying he wasn't going to use it. Well, apparently sucking the last five miles wasn't absolutely horrible. Out of curiosity, we wander over to the electronic results and to discover I have finished 17th overall (out of 451) in a time of 1:39:40. Way off of my goal, but it was within the 1 hour, 30 minute time frame - for whatever that means (the overall winner was the Olympian, Jared Ward, finishing with a time of 1:10:51 - ten full minutes ahead of second place).

Posing with my finisher's medal & free beer

Surprisingly, I have finished second in my age group (out of 48). This means I am the recipient of a souvenir beer growler and a gift certificate for one free growler fill from nearby Moeller Brew Barn. Now fed up with melting in the sun, as it is now over 90 degrees with full sun and not a cloud in sight, we decide to drive the 20 minutes to the south to fill up my new growler. Upon arrival I get it filled with the Oktoberfest Marzen, sample a beer or two more, then head home.

On Sunday, my legs are still sore and my pride a bit dented but take in the fact I ran a freakin' half marathon. If I remember right, I think my first words to Lauren after finishing were, "Well...that was just stupid". It may have been, but I'm glad I did it. I complete my day after by moving my homebrew Double IPA from the keg to the bottle and decide to take the next two days off from running.

Will the half marathon become part of my return to running repertoire now that we are no longer strangers? My brain says "no", but my competitive nature says "yes" - and he's a jerk by the way. The next step up, of course, would be the marathon. Regarding that, I will give you a hearty "Hell, No". I've punished myself enough and have no urge to run for three straight hours.

So, there you have it, Summer 2017: 467.47 miles, 19 weeks, five races, two countries and a variety of beers.

Summer runnin'... happened so fast ... has come to an end, at long last ...

Perfect Stranger - Grace Weber

I see myself in strangers

On the subway on the street

I find a little comfort when our eyes meet

I know it’s rude to stare to long sir, but were we friends three lives ago?

I see myself in strangers

In the people I don’t know

But who am I, without you? I don’t know, but I want to

Who could I be next to you? I don’t know, but I want to

Could you be my perfect stranger

I need a little danger

Lose who you are, we can stay in the dark

And you’ll be my perfect stranger

I met you on the corner then you went there in my mind

Creeping to the surface, now I see you all the time

You don’t need to know my name no, let’s just stay inside the game oh

I see myself in strangers in the people I don’t know

But who am I, without you? I don’t know, but I want to

Who could I be next to you? I don’t know, but I want to

Could you be my perfect stranger

I need a little danger

Lose who you are, we can stay in the dark

And you’ll be my perfect stranger

You’re a throwback, a bad plan, but this something that I’ve never had

Tying up some loose threads, cleaning out my head

Mama said don’t ever talk to people you don’t know about

But I can’t help it gonna try it out out out

Could you be my perfect stranger

I need a little danger

Lose who you are, we can stay in the dark

And you’ll be my perfect stranger

The Grand Lake Half Marathon Finish 

Attempting to eat...something...anything...

Post race recovery with Lauren

Filling my 2nd place age group
award at Moeller Brew Barn

Grand Lake Half Marathon SWAG

Finishing!

Runnin' Summer 2017 Tour (completed):

(May) Summer Runnin', Should Be A Blast

(May) I Got Three Twist Ties and a Paper Clip - Where it's at!

(June) Like Addition to Calculus, I Got This

(June) I'll Take the Three Leaflet Demon Clusters for $500, Alex

(July) Red, White & BOOM - Goes the Microwave on the Beach

(July) Chifrijo Land Shark: Married Man Seeks Spotted Rooster

(August) I'm Dame Nature, Not Cause I Hate Ya!

Summer Runnin' 2017 SWAG

I'm Dame Nature, Not Cause I Hate Ya!

Mother nature is apparently fed up with this baseball season just as much as I am. So much so she replaced Ohio's usual 85 degree August temperature (and electric blanket-like humidity) with a taste of fall just as preseason football began. And just like that, it suddenly became late September/early October as we watched the Pro Football Hall of Fame game and had a week's worth of 70 & 60 degree temps.

The August week that wasn't. Mother Nature took
a vacation - and it was weird

It has been odd to not only turn off the air conditioner, but to also close some windows at night because it was just too cool....in August. I'm sure a return to reality is just around the corner, but this proves Mother Nature can do what she wants, when she wants...you don't mess with her (hey, Sharknados can happen man!).

And I'm not going to complain because it does make it more comfortable to train and run without feeling like you are melting or having to peel sweat soaked clothes off like the removal of a second skin. Still, though, I really don't want to see October until...well...you know...OCTOBER.

This unexpected weather break proceeded the Columbus Half Marathon 10K + 5K on August 12th. Now, I took part in the 10K portion of this race - which shouldn't come a surprise - but there is reasoning behind, just follow along.

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This was also a return to the same location as the "THE" It's NOT the Hilliard Classic Half Marathon 10K & 5K  which took place in June and was ridiculously hot & humid. We traced portions of the same route, but instead of an out and back process - the course for this race was manufactured into a loop. Which, in my opinion, is best because retracing the same route can get old and make the race seem longer, messing with your mind.

The 10K race route, along the banks of Alum Creek.

I have focused on races of 10K and shorter, to go along with my running routine, to prepare for an upcoming half marathon. I just don't want to run 13.1 miles, I want to challenge myself to do the best I can and not just be "a finisher". Working on pacing, stride and strength at shorter distances can help with what needs work at longer distances - or at least that's my thinking (I'm not a trainer, nor do I play one on tv).

Most of those long training runs have been comfortable and I'm happy with the progress, as well as how they could relate to a 1 hr 30 min.-ish half marathon. I believe I still need to work on better pacing to reach anywhere near that time frame. This is where the 10K comes into play.

This was also a bit of change. I typically attend races by myself: I warm up, run, finish, recover, people watch, then go home. This time, however, the new-ish girlfriend asked if she could come along. I don't have a problem with this, but in my thinking just going to watch isn't exactly a blast. Though, she was interested and being a sports fan in general she knew it would be a lot of waiting around with only a few handful of chances to yell at me to pick up the pace and get my a** in gear. But she was game and hanging out in midsummer next to Alum Creek, the beach, race day activities and flood wall with excellent vistas left her plenty to take in while waiting for my lankiness to finish. It would be a different, yet welcomed, change.

Columbus Half Marathon 10K + 5K

race shirt and bib

I was hoping there would be a few more rabbits to feed off of in order to assist with reaching a decent pace and maintaining it. And a Traffic Panther teammate from last April's The Buck Fifty 24 Hour, 150 Mile Relay was on hand, but Gary was running the half marathon portion, so assistance from him wasn't likely going to happen. Luckily, there were a couple of super fast half marathoners who led the way pulling the rest of us along.

Two of those guys disappeared almost instantaneously into the morning horizon, a third pulled up along side of me and we fed off of one another until we reached the 10k turnaround at about the 3 1/2 mile mark. This helped tremendously regarding keeping a decent pace (5:56, 6:09, 6:15, 6:16). He continues on as I high five him, reverse course and pass the remaining 10kers and half marathoners on my way back.

From this point on it was up to me to attempt keeping a decent pace and it was not easy trying to get the stragglers to understand I was heading back towards them. At times, it was like trying to part the Red Sea - except the Red Sea didn't want any part of it. I just kept my head down and watched, from my peripheral, runners & joggers dodge me at the last moment.

I was able to sort of keep myself afloat at the pace I wanted the last two miles (6:29, 6:31), but was obviously slower as I was on an island and finished the better part of five minutes ahead of the next 10k participant. My official finish time of 38:58 ended up being my second best 10k time (the PR took place at the Columbus 10K earlier this year). My Traffic Panthers teammate, Gary, finished 7th overall for the half marathon in a time of 1:26:52.

So, it has come to this - it is now all systems go for the Scioto River Run Half Marathon taking place next month. I knew I had to break the seal sooner or later. Its like the unexpected relationship that pounces when you least expect it. At first you aren't sure its something that should be cultivated (since your past relationships scream 'this has no chance to succeed!'), but the more it evolves - the more you realize it cannot be denied and you want it to happen (and it has with tremendous success thus far).

Toothy fish out of water (picture taken while I was in Costa Rica
a few weeks ago). Is this how I'm going to look in September?

Now will this 13.1 mile albatross I have my sights set on work the same way? Or will I forever damage my relationship with running by pretending a half marathon - and one at a semi-competitive pace - is simply a matter of letting it happen?

Come September 23rd...break me open...

The Relationship - Break Me Open

The night makes promises

that daylight cannot keep…I know.

Just like the haunted dreams

that taunt me in my sleep…you know.

I can barely breathe.

Can't make a sound.

Every wall comes up

when the sun goes down

(chorus)

Break me open.

Crack the code of my emotion.

Break me open.

Cut the vein that's kept me frozen.

I'll surrender.

I've been drowning long enough.            

Break me open.

'Til my heart is bleeding love.

I see those stubborn rays

force their way through dark window shades.

Lyin' in bed I pray

The light in me escapes the same            

Gotta let it out.

I don't wanna hide

the solitary man

locked up inside

Break me open.

Crack the code of my emotion.

Break me open.

Cut the vein that's kept me frozen.

I'll surrender.

            I've been drowning long enough.            

Break me open.

'Til my heart is bleeding love.

A soul awakening

that's what I'm searching for

Shine a smile in the shadows

and I'm forever yours

Break me open.

Crack the code of my emotion.

Break me open.               

Shock my body into motion.

I'll surrender.

Go ahead, invade my space.      

Break me open.

Baby, you can change my fate. 

Break me open.

Crack the code of my emotion.

Break me open

Break the spell that kept me frozen.

I surrender.

You're the one to pull me through.

Break me open.

Love me into lovin' you.

Randomness: During a discussion on lack of artistic

ability, Lauren (the girlfriend) challenged me to draw

Ben Franklin playing catch with a chainsaw.

This was the result.

Runnin' Summer 2017 Tour

Summer Runnin', Should Be A Blast

I Got Three Twist Ties and a Paper Clip - Where it's at!

Like Addition to Calculus, I Got This

I'll Take the Three Leaflet Demon Clusters for $500, Alex

Red, White & BOOM - Goes the Microwave on the Beach

Chifrijo Land Shark: Married Man Seeks Spotted Rooster

Chifrijo Land Shark: Married Man Seeks Spotted Rooster

Costa FREAKIN' Rica - this is where my mid-July half-marathon training took place. Never did I think, when I started running again one year ago July 16th, I would be going "on location" to run.

Chifrijo!?!?! 

"Spotted rooster" or Gallo Pinto

Casado or "married man"

Well, it wasn't about running, it was a family vacation - BUT STILL - with the half marathon in September inching closer, what better way to break up the monotony of running in and around Central Ohio then to visit a rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. From July 15th thru July 22nd, I was in paradise and even put in some miles (key word: some).

The fateful random message which began my
running re-evolution.

All of this began July 16th, 2016 with a text message from Mark, a high school friend & cross country and track teammate. He was putting together a team for the inaugural The Buck Fifty 150 Mile Team Relay which took place last April in our hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio. I gave myself a hard running start date of August 1st and have been running five times a week since.

Once we completed The Buck Fifty (we finished 19th out of 38 teams), I continued the running thing because one can't just build up then simply bottom out. I have a competitive nature, I couldn't allow myself to do that. Now I've completed nearly an entire year with plans to continue on and found myself in Central America on vacation...and still running.

Las Catalinas, Costa Rica is just like Marion, Ohio - that is if Marion were tropical, closer to the Equator, mountainous and bordered by the blue/green, warm and salty entity called the Pacific Ocean. In Marion, it would take 8 to 10 days to reach 1,000 feet of total elevation with whatever routes you selected. The first full day in Las Catalinas and a 4 1/2 mile run along the beaches & mountain bike trails generated nearly 800 feet of climbing. Needless to say I ran shorter routes at a slower pace because I didn't want to spontaneously combust from the humidity and, too, I was on vacation. I'm not one who sweats profusely, but when finished I looked like I had just climbed out of the ocean and my body continued to secrete sweat - a human sieve.

Our resort, surrounded by the killer hills

All totaled, I covered over 2,300 feet of elevation with just four short jaunts in Costa Rica. It did get hot technically, but the humidity was the killer. Each morning, everything had a nice film of moisture on it. You began sweating instantaneously and slid on any and all hard surfaces. Our villa had three stories with the community area & deck on the second floor and my bathroom on the top floor. So climbing stairs all week, along with running what resembled dry creek beds, left the legs weary and sore. I'm not complaining, but it was obvious I wasn't in Ohio any more.

Get a discount on your next pair of @shadyrays, Next Generation Shades for 24/7 Action, by using my promo code: SIMPSON https://shadyrays.com/  We also secure 11 meals to fight hunger through Feeding America with every order placed.

The food, wow the food. I ate so much, though in retrospect in was a good thing. The energy was needed for the browsing along the mountain bike/hiking trails of which I covered in some portion every day. Any and all intake was quickly extinguished through seemingly simple activity. Simple, that is, for folks used to escalator-like terrain. Not so simple for we Midwest flatlanders. Breakfasts of eggs, beans & rice, fresh fruit, queso, corn tortillas and salsa were scarfed to the point of bursting. You laugh, but an hour later you were starving again. The human energy draining Central American atmosphere can cause one to question their sanity (or if you are like me, question whether you want to actually return to the landlocked Buckeye State...damn, I "lost" my passport).

Dinner on the beach view

Road running is not ideal here, most trips (navigated by hotel/resort employees) were along pot holed, mock roads which would destroy suspensions in any make or model of vehicle. Riding in these vehicles wore you out just as much as physical activity would. That doesn't mean you couldn't run on these roads, but doing it frequently means you have no regard for your personal well-being and don't value human life. Getting lost in the jungle on what used to be a trail and avoiding the country's twelve species of venomous snakes and clans of howler monkeys were more my cup of tea.

If anything, you cannot beat the beauty of the ocean, sky and sunset here. Every halfway decent picture looks like a painting or some graphic design mock-up. It is way to easy to be as lazy as humanly possible and just sit, stare and people watch all day. Oh, and since Costa Rica does not observe daylight savings, sunrise is at 5 a.m. and it disappears not too long after 7 p.m. - it is going to be a pain in the rear when I return to the states. Missing the silky, black, volcanic sand beaches and sunbathing, rooftop iguanas are another thing.

Using the nieces & nephew as photo props

Boogie boarding was ideal the last couple of days with the crazy surf, but not without some mixed results. My brother needed a doctor's opinion regarding a large thigh bruise sustained when hurdled into a some tree limbs high on the beach (the surf was wild and sometimes violent). He was diagnosed with a hematoma. If you know us at all, this is a normal away from home occurrence. A needle the size of a sabre filled with super fun stuff later and everything was back in order....fun times we have.

There have been an enormous amount of changes since running came back to bite me - it continues to nibble. And if you knew me this time last year, you would be blown away by the level of personal growth, not to mention relationship upheaval and improvement. The running thing has allowed for more clear thinking and the tucking away of (for the most part) negative thoughts and mindset.

I've met new people, have more activities to do, go places more often and I'm enjoying myself more. And I've met (actually, I was tracked down by) a like mind who knows exactly where I'm coming from...and its made for a rather exciting past couple of weeks (and hopefully much longer).

What the future entails, I don't know but I'm eager for whatever is in store...it's gonna be bright.

Veruca Salt - The Gospel According To Saint Me

I wanted to live, so I pretended to die.

I had to shut down cash out and get buried alive.

Out of the black and into the daylight

You had to dig me out, dust me off and pull me off the cross and

Break me back open, break me back open, look inside

Break me back open, break me back open, shine a light,

It's gonna be bright

It's gonna get loud (it's gonna get loud, it's gonna get loud)

It's gonna get heavy (it's gonna get loud, it's gonna get heavy)

I wanna to kiss the ground and lay down the gospel according to St. me

I'm out of the vault (out of the vault, out of the vault)

Where no one can fault me (out of the vault, where no one can fault me)

I'm not a black box fort knox time to change the locks

And break me back open, break me back open look inside

You've got to break me back open, break me back open and shield your eyes

Yeah when you kick the door open, kick it wide open,

surprise, surprise, it's gonna be bright

Runnin' Summer 2017 Tour:

Summer Runnin', Should Be A Blast

I Got Three Twist Ties and a Paper Clip - Where it's at!

Like Addition to Calculus, I Got This

I'll Take the Three Leaflet Demon Clusters for $500, Alex

Red, White & BOOM - Goes the Microwave on the Beach

Costa Rica Randomness:

Red, White & BOOM - Goes the Microwave on the Beach

We are a little more than halfway through 2017 and July 4th weekend has come with ultimate signs of summer: grilling, cold beers, fireworks, my four year apartment anniversary (Holy crap, its been four years!) and melting your way to fun in the sun.

On July 2nd, I spent the day at Alum Creek State Park Beach swimming, catching some rays and enjoying the summer scene. Though part of that scene was interrupted for a short time. I took a picture of my view to brag to friends....sand, water, blue sky and whatnot. Then about ten minutes later, as the beach is getting more packed, this family trots in with a full table & chairs (no joke), umbrellas and - what I assume to be - their entire kitchen and plop down about 20 feet in front of me.

Top picture: my initial great view. Bottom picture: the view to

my right after having to move. They set up where the

yellow inner tube, above, had been.

I sat there astounded for a few minutes before dragging my towel and bag of maybe three things far enough to the left to avoid staring at the back of their heads the rest of the afternoon. I can see bringing such things for a picnic, but they decided to set up in the middle of a crazily crowded beach. I didn't dwell on it, but I have never witnessed such a douche like beach move. At least it didn't ruin my day.

Oh, and did I mention summer is also high time for training?

Now I don't know what I do would be referred to as training, but I think it fits the bill. I still see it as just getting back into running again, but since its been nearly a year - it may have moved up a notch. I started some upper-body resistance workouts on my own, though I did so by total accident. Searching through a cabinet in the laundry room/basement of my complex, I found a resistance band/tube which apparently had been left there some time ago (as in years).

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Not sure how I would use it, I played with it until I found something that made sense. I place my feet over top of the middle of the band, standing upright with my arms in the running position and holding onto the handles. Moving my arms back and forth I get the resistance right away without an exaggerated running form. I do a 300 to 400 count and I can feel it when I'm finished. I don't know if I'm being overzealous about it, but I have been able notice keeping form better on long runs which equates to more even splits. I am by no means a trainer - criminy, I'm barely a runner - but it has given me a bit of confidence boost regarding the 13.1 mile abyss I've been examining (September, stop staring at me!).

Independence Day morning at Olentangy Orange

High School.

This, along with some plank exercises I've been doing nearly every morning for the last two years (and did so totally on a whim), have helped tremendously regarding core strengthening. It has also absolutely eliminated the side stitch issue I was plagued with throughout high school and a little in college. Looking into being a "real" runner again, I was wanting to add some speed workouts. Though, from past experiences, these are better conducted in a group than by yourself. To cover this base, I decided on a shorter July 4th weekend four mile race: competition, speed and some fun.

The Freedom 4 Miler on Independence Day in Lewis Center would have both the start and finish take place in the Olentangy Orange High School Football Stadium. Our route would wind through the surrounding Orange Township neighborhood. Readying myself and scanning the crowd I see a number of Columbus Running Company folks as well as a plethora of Orange High School Cross Country & Track members. At the gun, it was difficult to keep things reeled in as those freakin' high school nuts went out like bottle rockets. I half heartedly went with them, but scaled back a bit into a comfort zone along side a Columbus Running Company member who looked to be about my age.

The Freedom 4 Miler super fun race route, in the
shadow of  Interstate 71 (the
Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati connector),
 just north of the Polaris Fashion Place
 mall area.

Out front were a handful of adults who knew what they were doing, then a number of prep runners and followed by a mix of us - including me. My first mile was too fast, but I did scale back a bit so it wasn't completely crazy at 5:38. It help to be in a group of folks to avoid the overthinking. Around two miles, our group began to thin out, but just enough to be by yourself, not completely lost. The halfway point came in at 12:00 on the dot.

It was weird, I felt sort of worn out (as it was humid & sunny) but I didn't have a problem with keeping a decent pace. This, I thought, would help in future running endeavors. The 5K mark put me at 18:36 and in my crappy eyesight of a number of prep runners along with an adult or two. Though, I didn't have the urge to turn it on and try to catch them. Rather, I wanted to pick up the pace to see how much of a negative last split I could generate. I didn't catch anyone, but I did end up reeling in several of the high school dudes.

My final mile was completed in 5:55 giving me a finish, a 4 mile PR for me, of 24:35. The course was nearly completely flat, but quite winding. Keeping some of those preps in sight helped to determine direction. Before leaving, I loaded up on bananas and a variety of bagels - which is a mistake. I'm a bread person and could have eaten so much more, but I stopped after getting some cross eye looks. There, too, may have been a handful in my bag as well.....I have NO IDEA how they go there.

Hey, I'm only human.

That gray blur at the finish, its me.

I was happy with the results, more importantly I was satisfied my thee day old shoes worked out well. I couldn't feel the road as much since these have actual tread on them and aren't disintegrating, also I was able to focus on pace and keep it up without paying for it later. Oh, and Columbus' Channel 6 was on hand for their morning show. A college buddy of mine is a producer for the show and by total happen chance he caught me on camera from the studio. He didn't know I was going to be there, but after finding out went through the tape and discovered my finish....I do exist!

Decent finishers medal

and cool blue t-shirt

to boot.

So, I'm headed to Costa Rica for vacation in eleven days and it couldn't be approaching at a better time. My upstairs neighbor, St. Rick - The Klepto, was plunging his sink the other day and like clockwork I could hear my sink gurgling and expected him to come crashing through my ceiling. Nothing came up, but it made me nervous. Returning from work that afternoon and I find both kitchen sink basins overflowed with water (along with a wonderful stench) and a pool of the run-off is covering my floor. Our new, and certainly frustrated, landlords arrived quickly to examine the mess. This time, it wasn't Rick's fault.

My welcome home prize - it made its way across the counter,

into the drawers and the cupboards below. Everything

needed to be washed and cleaned.

The building is old and main drain for the eight apartments essentially exits one iron pipe. This past weekend a whole slew of folks were here to open it up....and they found it packed with a black sludge, 30 to 40 years of drain waste.

It was replaced quickly, though once the water in my sink went down, I had the tar-like sludge remnants in my sink and it stained everything black. It took the vast majority of a jug of bleach and other cleaners (and scrubbing like my hair was on fire) to return everything to its original condition.

It makes me afraid as to what may happen when I'm gone for a week. My friends Jen & James will be checking in on my cats (Whiskey & Jameson) in my absence, though with what has taken place in the last few months I can imagine returning home to find the cats replaced with a pair of fainting goats named Rocky and Bullwinkle and somehow only I would see a problem with it.

Oh, and something fun took place in June. Back in March I told you about the interesting street corners I run past and cool down on everyday. Each run, since starting again in August 2016, my cool down turn around has been at the corner of Pleasant and State not far from my apartment. Glancing up at these street signs had helped ease the goofy thoughts regarding the odd way a relationship ended abruptly just after the start of the year, as well as general daily frustrations. They remind me to find my "pleasant state" and move beyond things of which I can't control.

East Pleasant & South State,

just south of my Marion, Ohio

apartment.

Even if I haven't had a bad day or something on my mind, I made sure to peak at the crisscrossing signs as a simple reminder...that is until Friday, June 23rd. On a six-plus mile run, working on pacing for the future half marathon, I finished feeling great. It was exciting to know I could run at a 6:40 pace and still have plenty left in the tank. As I go about my cool down walk, I start hypothesizing about how that would equate to a 13.1 mile adventure. Heading north back towards my apartment and bouncing half marathon ideas in my head, I stop suddenly: something is different.

Turning to look behind me, I noticed I have walked down the street and made the turn to head back and did so without looking at the companion Pleasant and State street signs. I'm past them to the point the only one sign I can see (and read) is Pleasant. I stood there for moment before a broad smile crawled across my face. For the first time since January, January 23rd to be exact, I didn't look up and I didn't need to - I had moved far enough down a different personal path that I could let go, but let go of what? I don't know...but I could feel it.

....did I just find my pleasant state?

Doc Robinson - It’s Over

AT FIRST I WASN’T SURE IT WAS OVER 

BUT NOW I’M LEFT WITHOUT A DOUBT 

WE TRIED OUR BEST 
TO FINALLY SETTLE DOWN
AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT SOMEDAY WE’D GET SOBER
THE LONG NIGHTS GOT THE BEST OF US 
NOW WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF LUCK 

WE KEEP ON BREAKING 

KEEP BREAKING APART 
WITH THESE CHANGES 
DEEP CHANGES OF HEART 

AND AS THE SEASONS CHANGE WE GET OLDER 

WE DRIFTED OFF INTO THE BLUE 

TRIED EVERYTHING TO LET GO OF YOU 

SOMETIMES I MISS YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER 

BUT I’M STILL HERE AND YOU’RE STILL GONE 

THE SHOW IS OVER, TIME TO MOVE ON 

WE KEEP ON BREAKING 

KEEP BREAKING APART 

WITH THESE CHANGES 

DEEP CHANGES OF HEART 

NOW WE’RE WAITING FOR THE SKY TO FALL 

THE FINAL CURTAIN CALL 

YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR 

NOW IT’S OVER 

STILL SECOND GUESSING FROM THE BEDROOM FLOOR 

IT DON’T RAIN IT POURS 

WE’LL NEVER KNOW FOR SURE 

BUT IT’S OVER 

WE KEEP ON BREAKING 

KEEP BREAKING APART 

WITH THESE CHANGES 

DEEP CHANGES OF HEART

Runnin' Summer 2017 Tour:

Summer Runnin', Should Be A Blast

I Got Three Twist Ties and a Paper Clip - Where it's at!

Like Addition to Calculus, I Got This

I'll Take the Three Leaflet Demon Clusters for $500, Alex