Great Post Race report....

i'm thinking we've got a good team here with Fun Guv subbing in a post race report.... but people where's the love? My bride needs a little feedback. i'm sure somewhere in my 10's of readers, or just 10, or less, someone could validate her.

Writing on validation, RR; glad to hear you are feeling better. The Vike's may cause a little less puking than the Perc's. i've been given both and i got a little woozie from the Perc, not a drug to take and then go to the office btw....

Vike's... not a big deal. i had the big ones and could still enjoy a beer or two. Not a recommendation mind you, just my personal experience.

Anyway, the race was fun. As i was hoping to PR, i set out quick. i didn't realize there would be a split mat and after looking at my watch, and realizing halfway took only 22-23 minutes, i knew a PR was in the bag. So, i slowed down a little, relaxed enjoyed the surroundings.

i was shooting for 50 minutes, but as i returned to Fun Guv and the kids, around mile 5 and ran over to high 5 Mack and Jimmy, it hadn't been 40 minutes yet. I was seriously flirting with breaking the ever elusise 8 minute mile mark.

Anyway the smoking thing is going good. i've noticed a slight increase in weight, but as long as i stay under 210 through this proccess, i'll be o.k. Also with the holidays on the horizon, i figure i can start the new year worrying about diet. i'd like to hit the Bayshore about 185-190.

Toughest thing about smoking...Monday mornings...after being in the bar all weekend tending, i seem to get itching for a smoke from all the exposure to smoke in the air.

Thanks for the support on the stopping, not sure if it's helped, but i feel faster.

thanks for reading

The Turkey Ran the Turkey Trot!!!

And it was a PR

Fun Guv here. Mike's schedule is just so jammed packed this holiday weekend he hasn't had time to post about his fabulous Turkey Trot experience. Someone has to fight with the outside lights & decorations and get them up, though the big challenge this year was not highlighting the 3' tall by 15' long pile of dirt in our front yard. I'm sure he'll post about it soon, it's driving him nuts.

Anyways....the trot info. He said the route was nice, he liked it and he got a nice sweatshirt for his efforts. There were a ton of runners this year, more than I think they ever imagined would run it ~ the fact that it was a relatively balmy upper 30s lower 40s end of November morning probably had nothing to do with it. His only complaint was the end of the race...1. you had to walk a little ways from the finish line and go inside Cobo Hall to get your post-race water etc and 2. they didn't have enough post-race replenishments available. He was only able to get water after waiting in a line. The power ade (or whatever brand it was) was all gone by the time he got there, it probably didn't help that they weren't overly securing the line and people who were there to meet up with runners were helping themselves. Plus the umpteen trillion 5K runners got there first and pretty much wiped it out. No offense, but don't you think those who ran 10K maybe needed the replenishment a little more than the 5K runners???? But other than that small thing it was a very well organized, nice little 10K.

His stats...he's quite proud of these....

10K total time 48:36 which equals a 7:50 mile (wahooooo!)

His split was 22:18

He was number 795 out of 4,968 overall 10K runners and in his age group # 102 out of 370

He was so darn speedy all I could get was a picture of him going by in a blur! This is just past the 5 mile mark ~ almost done!

Actually I do have another picture just before the 1 mile mark (it was directly across the street from the 5 mile mark, which is where the kids & I were sitting). Since he rode down to the race with my uncle and was going to have to come find us when he was done running we decided to bring a couple of our cowbells so we could ring them and he'd know where we were (pretty smart huh?) I told him we'd be right in front of either the State Theatre, the Fox Theatre or the Hockey Town Cafe, but when we got there I saw a huge open spot right on the curb on Woodward on the I-75 overpass, how could I pass it up? We were only right across a side street from Hockey Town, it's not like I was too far off.

The cowbell did it's job, he saw us! A couple of the other runners got a big kick out of it as well ~ notice the guy right behind him ~ Mike screaming that he needed more cowbell was also pretty amusing. Of course we got some really strange looks and questions from the people sitting all around us.

I don't think the kids will be up to getting up at the butt-crack of dawn just to watch dad run again anytime soon. I honestly can't say I'd blame them ~ they look like a couple of homeless street people. But they did enjoy the parade and for being outside in the cold so bright and early they were very good and honestly didn't complain even once. Maybe we can make this an annual tradition in our house.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!






I dare you to watch the whole thing. You know I'll be listening to the whole thing at least once on turkey day....it's a tradition (one that Fun Guv just loves)

Here you go Scott, thanks for the tag.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
hmmm, should i shave?

2. How much cash do you have on you?
$140 ~ don't ask me why, i just do

3. What’s a word that rhymes with “DOOR?”
whore ~ it's the first thing that came to my mind and i was looking at my wife

4. Favorite planet?
:-( It was Pluto, those bastards...Planet of the Apes is pretty cool, Planet P had lots of MTV air play in the 80s with "Why Me", Interplanet Janet is a galaxy girl

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
Fun Guv

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
Stars & Stripes Forever

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Kiss Destroys Tiger Stadium, bummer Scott so sorry they ran out

8. Do you “label” yourself?
yes ~ all the world is a stage and we are merely players
or i guess in the simplest terms you label us as you see us...a jock, a beauty queen, basket case, nerd, the criminal. i guess that's how we see ourselves

9. Name the brand of your shoes you’re currently wearing?
i'm not wearing shoes, but the ones i just took off were my old Nike Air Pegasus

10. Bright or Dark Room?
yes, or actually a white room with black curtains

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
he needs to figure out how to use his cell phone and he's a great kisser

12. What does your watch look like?
It's shaped like RJ from Over the Hedge and has a ringed tail furry band that velcro's around my wrist ~ very chic

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
basking in the after glow of, you know, stuff

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
Welcome to Verizon Wireless

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
18 Mile & Hayes ~ right around the corner

16. What’s a word that you say a lot?
c'mon

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
Fun Guv

18. Last furry thing you touched?
Schubert

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
2 ~ caffeine & nicotine

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
what the hell is film?

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
still working on that, I'll tell you when I get there

22. Your worst enemy?
myself or my bride or bizzaro mike from the opposite universe or maybe just punctuation

23. What is your current desktop picture?
Schubert

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
i have a laptop not a desktop

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
fly ~ I'd rent myself out and make a million bucks
oh wait, how good am i at landing? don't want to be mr. hinkley on greatest american hero

26. Do you like someone?
i hate people

27. The last song you listened to?
The Freshman by Verve Pipe, it was on the radio

28. What time of day were you born?
I don't remember, it was so long ago

29. What’s your favorite number?
3 it's the magic number

30. Where did you live in 1987?
Tate Hall at CMU

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
sure

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
why? what is there to be jealous about? oh please, covet my life

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Room dad in Mack's kindergarten class. Didn't know anything happened until the kids went to music and we were told to turn on the tv.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
i don't know, it's never happened

35. Do you consider yourself kind?
well, i think you have to be cruel to be kind in the right measure so i guess that's a yes

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
my upper arm/shoulder

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
german would be good so i could finally understand the words to 99 luftballoons ~ i know luft is not really red. vulcan would be nice so i could understand what mr spock's first name really is
eskimo's have 17 words for snow so i'm kinda curious about that too

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
yes and that was a smart move on my part

39. Are you touchy feely?
i guess.

40. What’s your life motto?
eat drink and be merry for tomorrow at least ye may die ~ saw it on the wall of a sanitarium near where i grew up

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
there are no 3 things i have on me all the time, i'm a minimalist

42. What’s your favorite town/city?
traverse city

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
a soda ~ diet coke and a hershey bar with almonds

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
uh......you're assuming there was a first time

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
yes

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
she thought about crashing my 20 year reunion

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
you rat bastards, throw that in my face again, you know i'm adopted

but i do know my grandfather (not my great-grandfather) fought in the spanish-american war, he was born in 1870

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
a tux for the kings ball back in april

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
no

50. Have you been burned by love?
who hasn't?

Nitmos tag, you're up!

O.K., RR wants to know how i did a marathon and at a fairly good time and my lungs didn't explode.

It's a little tough to explain. i trained just like everyone else did. i just smoked. Totally dumb, i get that... and really, i kept waiting for some epiphany moment of lapsing into a coughing fit and throwing the smokes away, forever, well before my 20 mile run.

It never happened. As a matter of fact, i was so nervous before the marathon, i had a smoke at the hotel before heading downtown.

i'm as surprised as anyone about my time, but... i am a little bit taller than most runners, my strides are longer, i don't think i work as hard as say someone 5'6" to run the same distance. Sorta like NBA centers, a person can't train to be 7 foot tall.

i do recognize the problem and i am trying. Thanks for the support.

So, anyway, i hate traffic and rude drivers. We all do as we, runners, have to occasionally dodge cars, trucks, SUVs, etc...

i, like most i imagine, run on the sidewalk opposite of traffic so i can see traffic as it heads toward me whenever possible. So once again, last nite, here i am in the middle of a lit parking lot entrance to the local high school, and a stupid woman in a minivan slams on the gas to turn into the parking lot quicker than i can cross. i am partially through entrance before she starts her turn. Unbelievable....and frightening...

So as momentum carries me into the side of her minivan. i have two choices:

1, try to stop, unsuccessfully and run into the side of her van, face first, or;

2, throw my foot up into the side of her van and try to push back to avoid getting run-over.

Guess what i choose?

And yeah, i hate to admit, it felt a little satisfying to not only defend myself from physical harm, but to see the jump in the woman, and the van for that matter, as i kicked against the van to throw myself back.

it was a little louder than expected...

it left a little bit bigger dent than expected...

Cause i'm a little bit taller and heavier than a lot of runners, and i seem to go at a good clip...so i am reminded of two laws i learned from high school, oh the irony, physics class

Force= Mass X Acceleration

For every action there is an opposite but equal reaction.

As i continued along the sidewalk, i wondered how she would explain this to her husband. i just kept running. She didn't stop for me and i didn't feel like stopping for her.

"i hit a runner in the crosswalk, in a well lit area"

"So, you hit a pedestrian?"

"yeah"

"and you think we're going to file an insurance claim?"

Thanks for reading

RR....hope the scope goes/went well.

Back to Running

Yesterday was a wonderful 10 miler. My kind of run as the weather was a brisk 40 something out and the wind was out of the north.

So, off i go. Shorts, a running T, and a sweatshirt, out the door for what i hope will be about an hour and a half.

It's so amusing to watch the snow begin to fall in the middle of a long run. i wasn't sure what i laughed at more. The idea of running through another long winter or the looks on drivers faces as they drove by me. Some idiot out in shorts running North, against the wind, with snow falling.

Finished in about and hour and 13 minutes. That just sounds too fast, but i remember the time 10:55 when i headed out and the clock read 12:08 when i returned. That seems real fast to me and at the time it didn't feel like i was running faster. The route was my consistent 10 mile route for marathon training, and it had always taken at least 1:20 in the past.

There could be something to the notion of not smoking....except... i bartended and a huge group came into the hotel. All 20 something's, all sport biker's, all smoking and celebrating a birthday. Man... after an hour of inhaling 2nd hand smoke, i was going nuts... it was so unbearable... first chance i could i bummed a smoke...tasted like crap

Movin' On

Thursday, in addition to being the one day i can play Alice's Restaurant on our stereo, will be the Turkey Trot, downtown motown. Right before the parade. It should be a fun 10 k. As this will be the 2nd ten k i've ever done, i'm hoping for a PR. Fun Guv has an uncle who is going to run it. We're making plans to head downtown together. It'll be his longest race. He just started running and has done a 5k.

Very impressive, though. To take on a new sport at the age of mid 50 ish, like running. Sorta inspirational in it's own way. i thought taking on running at 37 was tough.

Luckily, he won't be kicking my ass just yet. i should have plenty of time to finish, grab a water, maybe a banana and settle in to watch and cheer for Uncle Earl to finish.

Thanks for reading

Football is just a game

This man was the entire state of Michigan. Everything good and bad, whether a MSU or UofM, or any...,everybody in between..., wrapped in a human body.




Rest in Peace

God Bless Bo

Not the best, but what really happened to Bo?

Confession of a Running Blogger

i'm not a gear-head. When it comes to my car and motorcycle, i usually have someone who is handy work on my machines. However, there is one thing i learned about engines when deciding on new pipes for the Harley. See, baffles not only restrict noise but also the air flow, hence loud pipes for after market piping, and so loud pipes do more than save lives, people may not see me, they will hear me. Loud Pipes provide speed.

If any machine is to operate faster. The faster air goes in, and the faster air goes out; the faster the machine.

Well, in this 101st post of my running thoughts of a runner, i've got to come clean to those who read this blog and do not realize that i started running, trained for a marathon, and completed a marathon while maintaining about a half a pack a day smoking habit.

It was just easier to keep smoking.

I remember a college vocal professor had a hand written sign posted on his office door. I never took music classes, but was a member of the music fraternity, ...sad....but social. Anyway, the sign read...

"you can be a smoker who sings, but you can't be a singer who smokes"

I guess some of that statement rings true, cause today i feel like a smoker who runs...

So i am in day 2, of not smoking. Day one was easy, today is a little rough. A big question right now. Is my addiction stronger than my commitment to running faster?

Holy Death Wish vs. Life Wish Scenario Bat-Freud!!!

Anyway, wish me luck, Great American Smoke Out is right around the corner.

Thanks for reading

Well...i had planned on detailing the factors that helped determine that the Flying Pig just will not work this spring. And i was hoping to do so in as diplomatic way as i could, to not incur the wRath of a Running Rabbit, 3R's, appropriate for referring to a school teacher, eh?

Since L*I*S*A let the news out, let me at least confirm that i will be unable to fly with the piggies this spring.

Two huge factors weigh real heavy. First, it is Fun Guv'nor, names ringing a little truer now, lol, and lowly little me, Mr Man,'s 12th anniversary of at least 4 or 5 years of happily being married,... to each other,... in a row

so that's a biggie. it really is and she did not ask me not to run in Cincy. But since she's just starting to run i don't want to burn her out with another big marathon.

The other factor is my daughter, Allison, whom i rarely get to see. She lives up north in the Traverse City area. Since the Bayshore is on Memorial Day weekend, it gives me an extra day in the oh so few and far between weekends and moments we get to spend together.

Now i'm not saying this is written in stone, but it most likely will not be my year to fly with the pigs. And of course, i reserve the right to have strange things happen which will allow for a change. It's my perogative...not as a woman, but as Bobby Brown!!! Not sure what this means, just go with it.

Another thing. L*I*S*A, great???? minds must think alike. So i'm thinking of updating my video's with some home grown Michiganders. And i think "turn the page"!!! Great tune. Bob Seger... Then i see the update of her blog. Good call, but...since i didn't want to appear redundant...or stalker-like...at a whole different twisted level beyond Blogshere,... Let's go with another not so recognized as a Detroiter, but really it makes sense if you've ever visited here... IGGY POP!!!

Next Posts.... Real appropriate if you know what Wednesday is....if not...good for you...besides the first day of Deer Season..... Confession of a Running Blogger!!!

Thanks for reading

First things first:

Gotta give some thought to running today. Fun Guv'nor seems to enjoy the new shoes. She is still working on a run/walk route of about a mile. Good for her. Seems like she has received lots of support from her friends around town.

Also thanks to the RBf'rs out there for the well wishing.

i did a little speed work today. My how many days in a row experiment, ended yesterday. Due to planning around life. It can't all be running, as much as we would all like it to be.

Today though, i went for what started as a little 4 miler. Don't you know as i passed the local high school, i couldn't resist the track and did two laps at 1:35 per. No Yasso 800 here, just a lap, a minute rest and another lap.

Then, a nice run home.

OK.... if you only read for running, go ahead stop here.....

I gotta admit to being tired today from staying up late and watching the voting results. i couldn't be happier. See, even though everything i did or didn't vote for, didn't go my way, i'm very happy with the end results. hint hint...that's called a compromise, Georgie-boy

It's totally short lived as they're all crooks, but give me a day or two to enjoy the feeling of hope. Cyncicism will reign again soon enough, but c'mon give a happy day.

Cause, i love my country and the freedom it allows, and so i present the ultimate compromise....

KID ROCK!!!!

Why Kid??? O.K. unpause the video and i'll explain....

Well, he's an eastsider, and a metrodetroiter. His guitar player is a former classmate from Traverse City. He represents the Detroit area well. We are a little red-necky, we love cars and we love our home and Detroit. We can talk bad about this area, but out-of-towners, keep your mouth shut.

This video was shot at the State Fair Parking Lot. See the State Fair is the oldest fair in the US. i remember listening to Kid on the radio the day the video was shot. He had a couple request: monster trucks, bikers, hot chicks and American Flags. This video was to be shot in detroit on a chilly autumn day, and it was a celebration of the good things in Detroit.

Not bad for a parking lot, on the edge of detroit. Real close to the trendy areas of Royal Oak, Pleasant Ridge and Huntington Woods.....

Maybe not... i love my area...but please, out of towners, take a look at the real State Fair neighborhood.

This is my wife's favorite blog, after all the RBF'rs of course, and a reason to cry over the fate of my home. As wonderful as Chicago was, and is; it's such a reminder of what Detroit used to be, and how hard it will be to come back.

Anyway, i nice shot out to Russ. Thanks for Stalking and commenting on the blog recently. Another Bayshore runner. Good For you. Even if i do flying pig something tells me to go "up north" that weekend. Maybe to just lend support. Hell, i might still run it......

Thanks for reading

Fun Guv'nor converts to Running Mania!!!!



Behold, the shoes!!!

Now, like any american husband, i have invested numerous dollars on trendy exercise equipment. As a matter of fact, i have most likely spent less than most, so numerous is an overstatement. We have no eliptical coat racks, or stationary drying racks. At worst, i have a solo-storage rack for whatever holiday decorating materials are upcoming. We also have one adjustable step-stool, which came with an aerobic VHS tape. At least the box said there was a tape, can't say i've seen it.

Anyway, i think the shoes are great. You gotta love shopping for shoes, and being able to chat with the clerk about her olympic tryouts, 100+ mile weeks, running Chicago in about 2 and a half hours vs 4:10:17 and Lance Arm-not so-Strong- as he thought he'd be, all while being helped in a totally postive commitment to help a new runner, in this case Fun Guv'nor, get started in a positive manner. Holy Run On Sentence Batman!!! You ain't seen nothing yet!!!

FG's gonna take the new shoes out for a run today and see how they feel.

Alas, i have voted. i get to bitch. For the first time i can remeber i actually voted for 2, that's right 2, republicans. So, although i favor liberalism, i try to see the forrest through the trees and vote as an independent. Or is it trees through the forrest, i always seem to confuse my metaphors.

As i looked a the ballot in Michigan, it occurred to me, if i wanted to, if could have...

...voted in a manner, that ensured we could all have jobs as independent sales reps, meeting our up-line over coffee at Denny's, and taking the occasional hunting trips together paying our extra stamp for a Dove license, and with that extra money generated and not being used for DNR and Conservation, and it could be used to provide additional funding to schools, and where all the white male teachers can pad their pensions, and since no new science supplies are needed as we now teach intelligent design where else will the money go?

At least i know where to get my new closet organizer...

Thanks for reading...

Outta my Monday Moanin' Mind (i sooo miss reading Bob Talbert)

i've been putting in a lot of miles this weekend. It's been great to run with no thougths of an future marathon or race. i think i'm done with organized running for the year. It's getting a little chillier. So now it's just run for the enjoyment and health.

i've done 4-6 miles every day for the last 3 days and i think i'm gonna push to see how many i can do in a row. i think three more as Thursday starts at 7:30 and goes straight through to midnite.

Needless to say, some quick hits on my thoughts while running:

Being an adopted child let me say that Madonna; kiss my a$$. You want to adopt, great, but i'm not buying the way you are going about it. Also, drop the fake accent. Nobody from Rochester Hills, has that accent. Angelina; i think you've done some great work in Africa, and i believe you have the best intentions. Unfortunately, if adoption becomes trendy for the privelaged, how de-humanizing can it become?

Also, from an adopted viewpoint, Tom Cruise; Kiss my a$$, too. Glad you have a new child, but to call the experience you're greatest moment? Why not call your adopted children, second class siblings, cause where do they stand in your experience as a parent?

My parents are my parents, my sister is my sister, end of story.

i ran mile with the Fun Guv'nor Saturday morning. Run/walk, that's ok. It's been fun.

Kudos to John Kerry for sticking to his guns and not allowing the neo-con chicken hawks, to pervert an apology out of him. Rush, go back to attacking people with parkinsons, and popping pills. Bill, i'm an SP and proud. Go back to your sexual harrassment problems and then tell me how you are founded on christian principles. Unless, your principles deal with crystal meth and homo-erotic rundowns. Mr Kerry, had you shown this same conviction two years ago, you'd be president today. So, not huge kudos, but keep trying to pull the extreme right back to a center. It's getting hard to be so far left.

And being left, let's say hooray to the state of New Jersey. Going back to my viewpionts on gay marriage. i don't view this as legislating from a bench, but making sure eveyone is treated equal. Also why i favor AA policies, alas to the plight of the poor white man. We've had it so rough throughout the history of this nation.

And, regarding the bible, which i am slowly still working through. i found a passage, not sure if it's in Psalms or Isaiah as i'm reading both which says something like; Beware of creating laws that limit the freedoms and favor a group of men, or something like that. It's not a quote, but i'm noticing a different God, as i read the bible, than the one preached about on Sundays, by evangelicals who seem to know that their flock doesn't seem to read.

Lastly, i had lunch with an attorney friend last week. As the elections are soon we discussed our political viewpoints. Thoughout our pleasant conversation we really hit on some middle ground, with regards to fiscal and social policies. Our argument on the middle ground was if our middle ground was left or right. He thought my opinions were soundly based on conservative, although not to the extreme right, values. While i found his beliefs to be liberal, but much more liberal than todays liberals in office.

i think if we had had a beer or two, instead of lunch, we would have solved all the worlds problems.

thanks for reading

So a little construction. No major changes. Just moving and adding and updating my profile.

It's not done yet, but soon.

Anyway, here's the deal.

Flying Pig Marathon is my 12th anniversary, ooops. I mean c'mon 12 in a row, that's the sweaty sock year right???

Now Fun' Guv'nor is totally cool with the occasional running weekends, and believe me, would normally love a weekend someplace new, yeah stunning Cincy, whoo hooo, how 'bout a tour of WKRP, oops tours, that was York PA.

Another positive, ok the only positive to missing the flying pig, is that i would most likely spend the entire weekend singing that damn theme song.....

Baby, if you ever wondered, ....wondered.... whatever became of me, I'm living on the air.....

Oh yeah, someone get me a pickaxe to take out my minds ear.

But stinky runners not quite = romance, Cause i'm such a romantic

Anyway can we make a marathon weekend hold a little romance? Probably not.....

But if everyone pleads with her, she needs validation too, RR.

So it may be the Bayshore

Anyway more to come, still a little dust and sawdust around the keyboard from the rehab

thanks for reading