Michael, Michael He's Our Man...

If He Can't Do It, Izzard Can?!? It has been brought to my attention (thank you Michelle) that should I run into trouble in my endeavor, the hilarious Eddie Izzard is readily to pick up the gauntlet. He has recently been running the equivalent of a marathon-a-day for over forty days. He has traveled all over his native England raising money for charity.

Is this guy challenging me to a fund raising? Don't make me kick your behind Eddie...only kidding. Its quite admirable what he has done and how he's doing it.

My Arch Enemy Sends A Salvo Over the Bow

My nemesis (not really) the rain is supposedly rearing its head Thursday and Friday around the area of the race and of course there are chances for thunderstorms Saturday. Bring it on rain.

Sleep It Does the Body Good

I read somewhere once (wow that's narrowing it down right) that you need to increase your sleep by 15 minutes for each mile you add in your running. Now I must admit I have not been doing that all along during these past few months. I think what I did is the norm. Run, steadily increasing miles, and get as much sleep as possible. As much sleep as possible in reality means the same amount you have been getting. We all have to work and take care of kids and go shopping and simply take care of life's little things. I also think that one of the great benefits of the taper is to catch up on all the missed sleep. I have been quite proficient in it and it has been wonderful.

By my calculations I have six more days of blissful sleep before the blessed event.

The First Step

Last night, following our Deep Water Running Class, we (Michelle and I) met up with Elizabeth and Alex. Not only are they coming down to help and support but being filmmakers they will be documenting the whole shebang. As my wife predicted I loved it...being filmed and talking about the entire adventure. Its nice to simply talk although there is still much to discuss on film as well as off.

When we were done playing around with the camera we got down to a bit of the technical aspects of what will need to happen the day before, and the day of. As what usually takes precedence on trips, expeditions and adventures of all lots we got to food and it sucked us in. It seems like we all have very particular tastes or dietary needs. It will be quite a tasty trip even if it isn't memorable (and who would believe this isn't going to be memorable.)

The Clock Is Ticking

The Summer is over. Labor Day has passed. Now the clock has begun counting down to the race. At time it seems a bit daunting but most of the time it provides me wit a sense of peace. All the training is finally coming to an end. The training in itself is/was a journey of epic proportions. More miles, more weight carried, more trial and error with shoes and supplements and sports drinks than ever before. Quite an interesting time period.

Now I taper and wait and pray.

If At First You Don't Succeed

My plan this week as I documented was to run 12/17/12/20 (those are miles people) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Monday was fine was Wednesday morning and afternoon. The mornings I was running ten and then having a quick two mile jaunt around lunchtime. Wednesday evening we were supposed to once again have our Deep Water Running class. The previous week, as I said, the pool was closed and we had been trying since then to reach the instructor just to find out if we were having class this week. We had no luck reaching her until of course yesterday late morning. So we rearranged our days in our head and I prepared to head into the city. Michelle told me her swim bag was in the hallway and asked me to bring it. "No problem," I said.

I finished up work and headed out the door. The Palisades was clear and so was the GWB and also the West Side Highway. I headed to the parking garage and parked. I'm a regular now so the guys know me. I grabbed my bag and headed down 50th street. Doh!!!!!! I forgot Michelle's bag. No bag, no class.

So I ran six miles today. Stinky. This was going to be such a wonderful 12 mile day with Friday to rest. Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Its September... Bye Summer

As excited as I am to jump into race month I always have to stop and pour a little out for my hommie Summer. Summer always has and probably always will provide plenty of fun and adventure. It may seem like you didn't do jack squat but stop a minute. I think the same thing all the time but when I actually review the past three months I can start running off a litany of things I have seen and done. Not that I am going to do that but of course I can and I bet you can do.

There was a time when we all got out of school for close to three months that was magical. It always seemed like perfection. We might think that since we don't get that anymore its not so much fun. Did you ever think that during the summer unless you were leaving town with your parents you really spent most of the time just hanging out with your friends doing a whole lotta nothing but being stupid. Now I ask you is there anything that stopped you from doing the same thing this summer?

Yeah thought so. Stop a moment and pour some out for your hommie Summer and get ready for Fall (you can do the exact same thing only with more clothes on).