tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21593229663887818272024-02-06T19:46:20.340-08:00Team KimmelThe Kimmel Family Marathon TeamStephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-18307140291767237982008-05-19T17:47:00.000-07:002008-05-19T17:48:16.190-07:00At the wall ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3hecfOl44LDI-T_URFtEzXkTttJzNNffxKgZIZI_97cSRvl23EZgtaJeB_3cKAizPqszTVugaRXjk0RfHoAZYKfLocDz5US8kCVaXgYOVD12XUdWX9vAJSfpJzUDF03T2rcbEP-KHyQ/s1600-h/bl080515.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3hecfOl44LDI-T_URFtEzXkTttJzNNffxKgZIZI_97cSRvl23EZgtaJeB_3cKAizPqszTVugaRXjk0RfHoAZYKfLocDz5US8kCVaXgYOVD12XUdWX9vAJSfpJzUDF03T2rcbEP-KHyQ/s400/bl080515.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202255397249701746" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-44136922737545996892008-05-12T19:10:00.001-07:002008-05-12T19:14:46.789-07:00A Pair of Cartoons<center>Waiting for Stephen to Finish<br></center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAOKbXvvC-JbdFi3uuxPSYttx2oM5YexSxwDm9SJEURUk5wGiwX9upH8_dcrW5Lrvyldy8eaAphiFGCA7eOq1pmVzx6VNy-qtPbe_FOQ8pARKaX0GU5YyVfilqM_XAm2WeEHtPBWbuLo/s1600-h/Last+Racer.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAOKbXvvC-JbdFi3uuxPSYttx2oM5YexSxwDm9SJEURUk5wGiwX9upH8_dcrW5Lrvyldy8eaAphiFGCA7eOq1pmVzx6VNy-qtPbe_FOQ8pARKaX0GU5YyVfilqM_XAm2WeEHtPBWbuLo/s320/Last+Racer.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199679640937781074" /></a><br /><br><center>Exactly how I remember the wall.<br><br></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhPPiUL2eMtDbe_jVf3OpyRIAF-prXzFg_UbW5iT8AbK6AqbyW9j0pJzdP16SvW3xHq7d-_SZ5BSgdyBu96U145M82FKcWiWGthA-jOyfnPMA9Azba5Ko2MRsr0TRjzKedcp5IcGr26Y/s1600-h/tested.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhPPiUL2eMtDbe_jVf3OpyRIAF-prXzFg_UbW5iT8AbK6AqbyW9j0pJzdP16SvW3xHq7d-_SZ5BSgdyBu96U145M82FKcWiWGthA-jOyfnPMA9Azba5Ko2MRsr0TRjzKedcp5IcGr26Y/s320/tested.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199679366059874114" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-35476331177926184422008-05-08T19:15:00.000-07:002008-05-08T19:26:48.545-07:00Finish the RaceA short video about John Stephen Akhwari, the Tanzanian marathoner who refused to quit the marathon in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics even though he had no chance to do anything more than finish the race.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hq3rOMnLGBk&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hq3rOMnLGBk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-19788597062543265232008-05-08T19:01:00.000-07:002008-05-08T19:07:56.203-07:00Mainstream movementI found this article to be pretty good in dealing with why we marathon. They attribute the start of the marathon boom to Oprah Winfrey running the Marine Corp Marathon in 1994.<br /><br /><blockquote>For runners like Alltucker, the journey will end four hours later. Or five, or maybe six. Long after the elite runners have headed home, people will keep crossing the finish line.<br /><br />For them, the Eugene Marathon isn’t about winning.<br /><br />“Finishing is the goal,” says Joe Henderson, a longtime running advocate and coach who has written 27 books on the subject. “It’s more a survival test than it is a race.”<br /><br />In 1976, 25,000 people finished American marathons. By 1980, there were 143,000. Last year, 412,000 completed the 26.2-mile race. And according to Ryan Lamppa, a researcher for Running USA, which tracks participation, the trend continues upward.<br /><br />“There’s a pent-up demand,” Lamppa says.<br /><br />What you’ve got is a boom. And now, for the second year, it’s come to Eugene, where we’ve run for decades. And where most of us are used to seeing those elite greyhounds glide over the trails, moving much faster than most people could ever hope.<br /><br />We know why those guys run, but what is it about the marathon that attracts the rest of us?<br /><br />“There’s not one answer,” Lamppa says.</blockquote><br /><br />Enjoy <a href="http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=98293&sid=7&fid=1">the full article from the Register Guard</a> of Eugene, Oregon about their marathon.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-81539208927529786582008-05-07T18:52:00.000-07:002008-05-07T19:45:26.316-07:00All you have to do is give it all you've gotWhen I first started marathoning, I set four cascading goals. <br /><br />First, I would finish the race. Given what I know now, that seems like something of a silly goal. I've finished every marathon I've ever started. Perhaps the goal is understandable when you consider elite runners who have staggered to the finish, struggling to finish at all. I take my inspiration from John Stephen Akhwari, a marathoner from Tanzania in the 1968 Olympics. In what has been called the greated last place finish ever, Akhwari struggled on and completed the race long after the race had been won and the last other runner. He was quoted as saying "My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish." <br /><br />The second and third goals were a bit less dramatic. I wanted to finish the race officially, ie, in under six hours. It was only later that I discovered how much of a challenge that is for so many walkers. As I carried through my training, it became increasingly clear that wouldn't be much of a problem. The third goal was to beat Ronald William's time of 5:35. <br /><br />The fourth and final goal is the one that still eludes me. I wanted to finish a marathon in under five hours. Folks who should know said that was an extremely aggressive goal and the fact there aren't many sub five hour marathon walkers bears them out. But as I have continued, I have closed in on that goal. My first Boston Marathon was, at the time, the closest I had ever gotten at 5:06:53. It was nearly three minutes better than my previous best. And perhaps the thing that bothered me about that as much as anything was fairly trivial. Kalyn had told me that she was certain that I would break five hours at Boston and I had failed.<br /><br />So when the opportunity came up to do Boston again, it was like a second shot at redemption. I had just come off my worst marathon performance since the second race in Phoenix and analysis made it clear where the problem lay. I had trained less for Phoenix than I had for any race. That and the fact I couldn't drink their sports drink meant that I was doomed from the outset. So for Boston I trained harder than I had ever trained. I made absolutely certain that I wasn't going to be dehydrated again. I knew the course. I knew what I had to do. I was ready.<br /><br />I follow the training schedule and race advice set out by Dave McGovern, a world class racewalker. He breaks the race into three parts. The first ten miles are all about discipline. Establish the pattern. Set the pace. Do not go out too fast. And that was what I did. My first ten miles went exactly according to plan. The second ten miles is about maintaining focus. You know you have the hills coming. They are the last great obstacle. Maintain. Hold the pace. Concentrate. The second ten miles were a little slower than I had anticipated but not horribly so. By the time I got to the last stage of the race, I knew I was closer to doing five hours than I had ever been. <br /><br />Perhaps it was like Deena Kastor said in the movie, The Spirit of the Marathon. The smallest thing can make the marathon either a great race or a disaster. What went wrong was the smallest of things. I thought I was on Heartbreak Hill one hill too early.<br /><br />In McGovern's approach to the last few miles of a marathon are all about giving it your all. When I thought I was over the crest of Heartbreak Hill with just six miles of downhill to go, I picked up the pace. It immediately became clear that it was too early because there was another hill there. Not a problem, I told myself. Drop back to hill climbing pace and gun it again when I was really over it. But perhaps that was right or perhaps the damage had already been done. Just before reaching the top of Heartbreak Hill my thigh cramped and I had to stop to work it out. A few seconds lost. Perhaps a minute. Perhaps two. I pressed on and once over the top, I accelerated for real. Three miles to go and the math is obvious. It is the closest I've ever gotten but unless I kicked it up to 10 minute miles, I'm not going to make it again this time. I go through this mental arithmetic every time. Normally, I've abandoned all hope long before this point. I accelerate but it just isn't there. Another cramp. Another stop to work it out and now I know it is impossible.<br /><br />But John Stephen Akhwari calls to me. Dave McGovern's words call to me. All there is left to do is to set another goal and give it all you've got. If I'm not going to finish in five hours, I want to at least be able to see the finish line in five hours. The Boston course turns onto Boylston about 4/10ths of a mile from the end. At that point it is a straight shot to the finish line. I'm walking at my lactic threshhold when I turn the corner just seconds ahead of my new five hour goal. <br /><br />I've been monitoring my heartrate throughout the day and it has been right where I wanted it to be the entire time. With the finish line in sight, my thoughts are, "Here we go. Lactic Threshhold be damned. Heartrate be damned. Leave nothing on the course. All you have to do is give it all you've got."<br /><br />And I do. The last 4/10ths of a mile are a flat out sprint. No pause. No letup. Pass these runners whenever possible. Nobody passes me. Not now. Do not stop. Do not slow down. There's that tall Coast Guard officer. Catch her. Catch her. Push. Push. Push.<br /><br />I turned onto Boylston at almost exactly five hours. I did the last 4/10ths of a mile in 3 minutes and 44 seconds or about 9.5 minute miles. I have walked faster but not often. And while I didn't catch the Coast Guard officer, I did set a new personal record. 5:03:44, more than three minutes off the previous best.<br /><br />And nearly four minutes slower than my goal. Perhaps a course without a Heartbreak Hill or Wellesley girls to distract you right when you need to be concentrating. Perhaps with even more training. Perhaps. But for today, 5:03:44 is good enough.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-83567321236708477092008-04-25T21:31:00.001-07:002008-04-25T21:32:49.723-07:00It all starts here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5067Vmbvhawfq6WzBinXyrnPvT46DlamZX9DJ6Gkfaqk53ILdNT5ahm6-mFxDtIt2Z8Anlx9LOdaqCQHN96IVznnCocP4Rks4KdiJaqD5kuOzRv8F-LTfqHZKQBOtwY2dbV_9ixPisz8/s1600-h/p_00006+(2).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193407248686989874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5067Vmbvhawfq6WzBinXyrnPvT46DlamZX9DJ6Gkfaqk53ILdNT5ahm6-mFxDtIt2Z8Anlx9LOdaqCQHN96IVznnCocP4Rks4KdiJaqD5kuOzRv8F-LTfqHZKQBOtwY2dbV_9ixPisz8/s320/p_00006+(2).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br />Need I say more?Jon Kimmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15013093028265031589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-99064389792366632008-04-25T13:20:00.000-07:002008-04-25T13:25:31.822-07:00The other Team KimmelAs it turns out, our Team Kimmel isn't the only Team Kimmel out there. The other <a href="http://www.hopkinsoncology.com/news/archive_details.cfm?documentid=559">Team Kimmel</a> is a fundraising team for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer at John Hopkins that will be doing the Baltimore Marathon in October. I'll be keeping you posted about how they are doing toward their worthwhile goal.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-37789739934238636182008-04-25T13:14:00.001-07:002008-04-25T13:19:12.344-07:00Boston Marathon Pre-Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0kcKaxbfFE3z9BmBVt0ITYtoFr_jV3sIRQzqimqmtQ1rRLXRbp1NasUscjAQNtABqQQPGOORlCupDhihBZ_x_gCejf14ZcAzFbSdP4Gn6k-O9wW50gB6Df8qzqdypwyx9nCiQGyivRM/s1600-h/IMG_7278.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0kcKaxbfFE3z9BmBVt0ITYtoFr_jV3sIRQzqimqmtQ1rRLXRbp1NasUscjAQNtABqQQPGOORlCupDhihBZ_x_gCejf14ZcAzFbSdP4Gn6k-O9wW50gB6Df8qzqdypwyx9nCiQGyivRM/s320/IMG_7278.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193279818204885298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXU0qI86Td-p_i6RDPzYs6ILBCiRUBSTgsrxk2IbT4DV-ClOPd7UfJiNx8o3eIlvTZnLTYegW3cNsL3M72avAUGrg5sqv0dbeuF-qVcW7kQ2mMHcKM3G3LiSHjgMAooNZiBY3j3e_1fQ/s1600-h/IMG_7284.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXU0qI86Td-p_i6RDPzYs6ILBCiRUBSTgsrxk2IbT4DV-ClOPd7UfJiNx8o3eIlvTZnLTYegW3cNsL3M72avAUGrg5sqv0dbeuF-qVcW7kQ2mMHcKM3G3LiSHjgMAooNZiBY3j3e_1fQ/s320/IMG_7284.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193279826794819906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFHlKx6bWaLOjXuYHhXWQiUfaKrsFvzIYcNpIV9m32roiAZw3mkzjz4yFqj28IKGJyqYP0I6hL4JZaHrahp_ooc4PF4L538SI_0NRp0B_H8SdmZyL2S_R7mSG_hrWaTU6HZdACi1Lryk/s1600-h/IMG_7306.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFHlKx6bWaLOjXuYHhXWQiUfaKrsFvzIYcNpIV9m32roiAZw3mkzjz4yFqj28IKGJyqYP0I6hL4JZaHrahp_ooc4PF4L538SI_0NRp0B_H8SdmZyL2S_R7mSG_hrWaTU6HZdACi1Lryk/s320/IMG_7306.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193279835384754514" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-9273949739633138872008-04-03T19:31:00.000-07:002008-04-03T19:37:04.412-07:00Boston Stuff and Awesome Rob<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZETG6hnTEebE0Nc3y7x4O8PEIyM7Z7QZlkk3CFpV4f1TazEW9ptygcM6MAWQtM80XP3lyd8UG1g7fBDF3FhZbMQQAz-GNk1elZVo8zF8h8vAKhsNoaDqJv-n5PRFXYutBlPFX6c0OYs/s1600-h/IMG00029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZETG6hnTEebE0Nc3y7x4O8PEIyM7Z7QZlkk3CFpV4f1TazEW9ptygcM6MAWQtM80XP3lyd8UG1g7fBDF3FhZbMQQAz-GNk1elZVo8zF8h8vAKhsNoaDqJv-n5PRFXYutBlPFX6c0OYs/s320/IMG00029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185212663622634434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomu8KeoyXboAp9IoG_wB7zmTkNiXScl7vG1fT3ooSzKvf2SBNXsvg7_FbDzgGNjJVDIk3GmxE4Q3G49rBQJxp8o-szXcdtrFTeUjjDM6ANIegoQnrIn1C-58lKsYWKoVcF4URmyhBI2U/s1600-h/IMG00028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomu8KeoyXboAp9IoG_wB7zmTkNiXScl7vG1fT3ooSzKvf2SBNXsvg7_FbDzgGNjJVDIk3GmxE4Q3G49rBQJxp8o-szXcdtrFTeUjjDM6ANIegoQnrIn1C-58lKsYWKoVcF4URmyhBI2U/s320/IMG00028.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185212667917601746" /></a><br><br />Robert showing his awesome new Boston Marathon jacket and his general purpose awesomeness.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-74640446922850522872008-03-28T16:38:00.000-07:002008-03-28T16:39:48.889-07:00Boston StuffI received my Boston stuff in the mail today. It's official...bib number 6512. We leave in 3 weeks...I'm getting excited.Jon Kimmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15013093028265031589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-79660597284522457262008-03-27T18:06:00.000-07:002008-03-27T18:08:27.076-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddSvMHPpmHIB7DbeKdm0JwLEseVOpxT6LhPHAIYTrHiGw10j3WuTeNOJNuF-iXa1H5ceGqJ-gfGzr6XEhdQnJ0C31I-KNlOdAaJHedRvf2r69D86VdDIjVe-ys8gXLZ8v12pRchauYf4/s1600-h/PEPTSuRelays08%25201402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182593083555401186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddSvMHPpmHIB7DbeKdm0JwLEseVOpxT6LhPHAIYTrHiGw10j3WuTeNOJNuF-iXa1H5ceGqJ-gfGzr6XEhdQnJ0C31I-KNlOdAaJHedRvf2r69D86VdDIjVe-ys8gXLZ8v12pRchauYf4/s320/PEPTSuRelays08%25201402.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Jon Kimmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15013093028265031589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-3329483564273022702008-03-27T17:54:00.001-07:002008-03-27T18:04:34.461-07:00Steve's big moveThis is a picture of Steve about to overtake his nemesis, 12 year old Kelsey Burns. It looks like he's having trouble getting around her, and she's looking over her shoulder to fend him off.Jon Kimmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15013093028265031589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-12406315427022227252008-01-18T16:33:00.000-08:002008-01-18T16:35:02.765-08:00Spirit of the MarathonExtended trailer for the documentary featuring many marathoning greats.<br><br /><br><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-8XSit8XyeM&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-8XSit8XyeM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-21902244421526260552007-12-01T15:49:00.000-08:002007-12-01T15:52:59.716-08:00The Day After the MarathonThis is a British commercial saluting those who ran the London Marathon.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-hCuYjvw2I&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-hCuYjvw2I&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />This is why we stretch.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-48033682200898645702007-11-30T19:25:00.001-08:002007-11-30T19:27:07.627-08:00Another Marathon Cartoon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9BGzh_hYaGBkxq3TPgc2CVFMRwnB0HpQR01lEwVIQER5oYk3NaCZsHek-QIS7VhugenQ7tFO9bvLCZMsMWiOVZDOvnB-STUfnKe106RrUdJi-66RGCWGhrJBs1PrRmB6Yhwm5GAJpg8/s1600-r/Fear+of+Failure.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bbBtzFPpM8KHmHsoj-oHGudw93oBptJsHdLfhO2xR35yZd2MooN7VuIITK7ViGiWbK45mH08-ZSzkgvtQyFI2tdcUW7P-I3agA0H8ue9B0h10CN6_BRLWlL7jbJt9EBpYvj-mvduQiA/s320/Fear+of+Failure.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138840719466943762" border="0" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-91471744249220440802007-11-29T19:04:00.000-08:002007-11-29T19:10:57.472-08:00GoalsOne thing I like about running is the ability to set and achieve goals.<br /><ul><li>First, there's finish a marathon</li><li>Then, finish a marathon in a semi-respectable time (say 4:30)</li><li>Then, personal bests (4:30, 4:00, 3:30)</li><li>Then, qualify for Boston (3:10)</li><li>Then, qualify for the Olympic trials (2:22 hahaha)</li></ul><p>Of course, at some point I'll have to squeeze in an Iron Man triathalon as well...</p>CrMenacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495211116301588238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-81696677021195462382007-11-27T15:34:00.000-08:002007-11-27T15:58:56.394-08:00Twin Cities to Boston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ib9PfSjGchpQo0PbvPpx1nFHgqAmL5B7itNjfY-ZlgKqkJVmB5yxENRGOA2eljS-ba6TGLs4BhOckVtQcEDyiYFKPCn-1uTc_Khn3Lk5lJiGrcZTryYjMuw8HPW79jxOQpBvWyYMfQZ5/s1600-h/15936-964-014f.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137673454862068386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ib9PfSjGchpQo0PbvPpx1nFHgqAmL5B7itNjfY-ZlgKqkJVmB5yxENRGOA2eljS-ba6TGLs4BhOckVtQcEDyiYFKPCn-1uTc_Khn3Lk5lJiGrcZTryYjMuw8HPW79jxOQpBvWyYMfQZ5/s320/15936-964-014f.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Because this post is a bit long, which means you may not make it all the way through, here is the key message: Donate to my Boston Marathon effort. The link is located <a href="https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=225656&lis=1&kntae225656=28CF9D4981A7468180D367BE77893FD9&supId=192821729">here</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now, in case you are interested in continuing on:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The Twin Cities Marathon was my first marathon ever, and one of my first running events ever. Prior to that I had essentially been a couch potato for the previous four years, since the time when I ran a half marathon (I was courting at the time so I would do anything). Before the half marathon I had more or less been a couch potato since high school. Athleticism had always seemed like too much trouble to me.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But in 2007 I set a new year's resolution to run a marathon. The primary motivation was weight loss (another resolution was to lose 25 lbs -- I ran the marathon but didn't lose all the weight. The marathon was actually the only one of five resolutions I fulfilled), and the fact that my relatives 20+ years senior to me could do it and I couldn't. So I hit the pavement. I didn't try to run fast or too hard. My basic goal was to just get on the damn treadmill (or path) four days a week and put in the mileage. This turned out to be pretty tough. It's hard to stay motivated that long, and there are a million excuses not to run any given night, especially when you have an intense job with long hours.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Furthermore, my training was always a bit precarious. I'm a bit heavy and I sweat a lot. I often had a hard time in the heat, much better time in the cool. My 14 miler in the heat was tough. My 18 miler in the Florida heat and humidity was tough. My 20 miler in the Boston cool was easy. So there was a good chance my performance would be impacted by the temperature on race day. But Minnesota in October was sure to be nice and cool so my confidence was high. What did we get? The hottest TCM on record... and I was barely able to make it through the half marathon before I shifted gears to run/walking (I later abandoned all pretence of running altogether, and walked for a few miles. I started running again at the end).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So six months of hard effort ended in disappointment. I knew I could do better. So I had hardly gotten home from the Twin Cities when I decided to run another marathon, and the sooner the better. How soon? 6 months seemed reasonable, which conveniently tied to the timing of the Boston Marathon.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Except I'm not fast enough for Boston, so I had to enter as a charity runner. The charity of choice was the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and I have committed to raising $6000 for them. Dana Farber is an excellent research center that is well considered in the Boston area. Please consider donating to my website <a href="https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=225656&lis=1&kntae225656=28CF9D4981A7468180D367BE77893FD9&supId=192821729">here</a>. Thanks in advance!</div>CrMenacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495211116301588238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-12767864847737883462007-11-26T20:00:00.001-08:002007-11-26T20:02:40.094-08:00Jon in Tulsa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8xcL_mK2x5BOnwSNI0Rw_b9PhK9LYyH2gxhdx85nBn1Jw2vOrYOpGI9TCz4TUgEM7tq3FCnuLYccPotCLuKSaA3A0blmdL9hXDfj-HzWPTtfc0XC6rI4gAHbMT5zPRRWo0vNJH6pSqs/s1600-h/Jon+in+Tulsa.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8xcL_mK2x5BOnwSNI0Rw_b9PhK9LYyH2gxhdx85nBn1Jw2vOrYOpGI9TCz4TUgEM7tq3FCnuLYccPotCLuKSaA3A0blmdL9hXDfj-HzWPTtfc0XC6rI4gAHbMT5zPRRWo0vNJH6pSqs/s320/Jon+in+Tulsa.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137365309999058850" border="0" /></a>This is Jon setting a new PR in Tulsa running the Route 66 marathon. Obviously he is enjoying himself a bit more than he was in the Twin Cities Marathon in the previous picture.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-1676112607564782212007-11-26T19:50:00.001-08:002007-11-26T20:03:27.163-08:00Two Team Kimmel Finishers at Twin Cities<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxmZHfINzpW9PGaT3JwnBVUdZGx37ZMCF1Xn3ssu-gCjX7PCTyNlPAh5WJHSMbUpCboulU4IwJNq645aMaq1OSqeBQGKMwf1T-6pzh5Lf2FkidyvkpiHnFcYByB68hMIo0hrunMRmAyQ/s1600-h/Jon+%26+Dan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxmZHfINzpW9PGaT3JwnBVUdZGx37ZMCF1Xn3ssu-gCjX7PCTyNlPAh5WJHSMbUpCboulU4IwJNq645aMaq1OSqeBQGKMwf1T-6pzh5Lf2FkidyvkpiHnFcYByB68hMIo0hrunMRmAyQ/s320/Jon+%26+Dan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137362754493517714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is one of those rare shots where you can see two team members at the same time. Dan is on the far left of the picture just a few seconds behind Jon who is finishing. Jon is busy reminding himself that he paid good money to do this and that he is having a good time.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-29771176432338391312007-11-20T19:01:00.000-08:002007-11-20T19:02:47.569-08:00My favorite Boston Marathon Video<object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0oeVRurcd34&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0oeVRurcd34&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Yeah, I know. It's a commercial. I like it a lot anyway.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-81656042074403703292007-11-19T19:30:00.001-08:002007-11-19T19:32:04.615-08:00Marathon Cartoon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd3B2uNPjZ5-REGgU3IA2zv2W-fHdIGmQri4ymtlYFu5OI6HsC1FiIG_rWCXDfp1FLZtlMuLL50pCO1cRUdVqjkyC0ga80wJsZRXIzw3iY0x3cS2JYwLpvQb5dYTwNqnTXX1z3EfSJIw/s1600-h/You+Didn%27t+train.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd3B2uNPjZ5-REGgU3IA2zv2W-fHdIGmQri4ymtlYFu5OI6HsC1FiIG_rWCXDfp1FLZtlMuLL50pCO1cRUdVqjkyC0ga80wJsZRXIzw3iY0x3cS2JYwLpvQb5dYTwNqnTXX1z3EfSJIw/s320/You+Didn%27t+train.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134760030081945474" border="0" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-22540842517277026302007-11-19T19:26:00.000-08:002007-11-19T19:29:08.025-08:00Jon finishing Austin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb39JjU5BRr5p8KfLUy-VDV29wpibgOHMZG2Wlhy7E4ShTRYALKj4wvP4D2nO0_EaZN0OoVHGFddsSG_9lkJC2hyphenhyphen8OgLBDEL5rmuAVszDmG2evt7hVO0UbKTkjtL3AC92iy2R3dfYdKOg/s1600-h/Jon+-+Austin.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb39JjU5BRr5p8KfLUy-VDV29wpibgOHMZG2Wlhy7E4ShTRYALKj4wvP4D2nO0_EaZN0OoVHGFddsSG_9lkJC2hyphenhyphen8OgLBDEL5rmuAVszDmG2evt7hVO0UbKTkjtL3AC92iy2R3dfYdKOg/s320/Jon+-+Austin.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134759025059598194" border="0" /></a><br />Jon qualified to run Boston with his performance at the Austin Marathon. This is him at the finish line with the Texas state capital building in the background.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-32095878566017482972007-11-17T18:32:00.001-08:002007-11-17T18:36:31.637-08:00Twin Cities MarathonHere are a couple pictures Andrea took during the Twin Cities Marathon.<br><br>Stephen<br><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErhQY21P7JLYtfaxB0fOukLHKaWwuL5eby3qJqOoN-SugepHRJdZZ2vXwVO9Su0ng9l2Aqazn_k1MArk38MnLTBICewtPvci0C_wW7A_RJW3QUsgtT6ahO5BqujPynBYfmuoKmDoZSHk/s1600-h/Stephen+TCM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErhQY21P7JLYtfaxB0fOukLHKaWwuL5eby3qJqOoN-SugepHRJdZZ2vXwVO9Su0ng9l2Aqazn_k1MArk38MnLTBICewtPvci0C_wW7A_RJW3QUsgtT6ahO5BqujPynBYfmuoKmDoZSHk/s320/Stephen+TCM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134003256844390226" /></a><br>Robert<br><br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0d8VM5scHq75zbxjcTxL63u12eJZgQCVDU1Npn93CAhkNVVzfjCrsMbTrwUO3oRrrcY9buI5QykrPWK6U1OmX6rEeL3oyPgwbimtVRt9pcP5uPl-tz8CZBmhcwkYUKIiAZkT2cZBX44/s1600-h/Robert+TCM.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0d8VM5scHq75zbxjcTxL63u12eJZgQCVDU1Npn93CAhkNVVzfjCrsMbTrwUO3oRrrcY9buI5QykrPWK6U1OmX6rEeL3oyPgwbimtVRt9pcP5uPl-tz8CZBmhcwkYUKIiAZkT2cZBX44/s320/Robert+TCM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134003115110469442" /></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-10194593783059601052007-11-16T18:19:00.000-08:002007-11-22T18:21:40.585-08:00Stephen's Twin Cities ReportHaving Jon, Dan and I all doing the Boston Marathon this year apparently inspired Robert to take up marathoning himself. He called me and asked if he had time to train for a fall marathon and if he did, would I come do the race with him. The answer was obviously yes and so the question was which marathon to shoot for. A quick survey of the marathons in the Boston region came up with a number of perfectly fine marathons but casting a wider net came up with the gem of the collection: Twin Cities in Minneapolis- St. Paul. Robert had lived in the Minneapolis area and the Twin Cities Marathon is Dan’s home marathon. So the decision was easy and it was quickly decided that Twin Cities would be the second Team Kimmel race. <br /><br />For a while it looked like there would be five of us as Dan’s daughter Elizabeth was also going to do the race. But late in the run down to the race, Elizabeth got the chance to take a part in a travelling stage show and the opportunity was simply too good to pass up. Ultimately we settled on four.<br /><br />We selected a training program for Robert and the three of us had no end of “helpful” advice for him. The biggest problem he had was crashing at about 15 miles. At first we thought it was a classic “wall” problem but he was consuming plenty of food so we tended to discount that. Ultimately the problem was that he sweats profusely. Once we worked through the dehydration issues, his training went much better,<br /><br />The day of the race was warm though not as warm as some training days I’ve done in Houston and not quite as warm as the disappointing race I had done in New Orleans. The original forecast was for rain but that never happened and I have never been as disappointed at not getting caught out in the rain. Fortunately it did get cloudy toward the last half and that was greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Perhaps saying that Team Kimmel does a race together is over stating the case. We do the same race at the same time. Dan and Jon are so much faster than I am that they start in an earlier corral and I never see them until the finish. Unlike Boston, however, we did do our warm-ups and set off for the race together and that was good. It was warm enough though that all of us went to pre-race staging area ready to race which was a first for me. When the time came, Robert and I went to the second corral with the slower racers and Dan and Jon went to the first corral.<br /><br />The people standing around waiting for a marathon to start are universally friendly… at least at the back of the pack with me. One lady who started with Robert and I comes to mind. The most distinguishing thing about her was her Pipi Longstocking hair and I don’t even want to think about how long her hair would be if it weren’t bundled up in those enormous pigtails. Robert, Pipi Longstocking and I were all trying to stay with the five hour pace guy. One of the things you always have to be cautious about is starting out too fast and it was abundantly clear that I was too fast going with Robert at the start. So early on, I warned him against going too fast but sent him on his way. <br /><br />After a couple of miles, I was doing better so I stepped up the tempo. About the ten mile point, Dan’s hasher friend Dog spotted me and told me that Robert was about a quarter mile ahead of me. Just before the half way mark, I caught up with him and the five hour pacer. I was doing well and Robert was beginning to fade and I was confronted with the problem I had pondered before. Should I hold back to stay with Robert or should I do my own race? Right, wrong or indifferent, I decided to do my own race so after a mile or so with Robert I left him and continued on the pace I had settled on. Shortly after that I caught and passed Pipi Longstocking and the five hour pacer. I overheard her complaining that a walker had passed them. I loved his response, “More power to him.”<br /><br />In part because of Robert’s dehydration problems, I adopted a strategy of double drinking. I took a cup of gatorade and a cup of water at every aid station. That strategy held me in good stead as the race went on. I have never seen as many racers in distress on the side of the road before. I’ve never seen marathon racers move aside so an ambulance could get through before. Clearly many of the racers weren’t ready for that kind of heat. <br /><br />The last six miles or so of Twin Cities is a generally uphill section of Summit Avenue in Saint Paul. And it did start to slow me down. The five hour pacer, who at this point had no racers with him, passed me again and a few minutes later so did Pipi Longstocking. She gradually pulled away from me and I never saw her again. About mile 22, though, a walker stepped out of the crowd and walked with me for a half mile or so. Very friendly fellow from the area and I regret that I’ve forgotten his name. I did have other things on my mind. Twin Cities seemed to have more of these interesting characters along the road than most races. Besides my walker, there were a pair of ladies dressed as nuns holding vaguely obscene signs. And of course early on there was a huge black man playing the tuba to the racers. Turns out that was former all pro defensive lineman Alan Paige.<br /><br />While I generally only beat about 20% of the field, I finished ahead of more than a third at Twin Cities. The extra drinking held me in good stead and while my time wasn’t my best overall, it was my best in those conditions. <br /><br />Twin Cities likes to claim that it is the most beautiful urban marathon in America. They are probably right.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159322966388781827.post-90031561678506146612007-04-17T18:40:00.000-07:002007-11-19T19:33:09.880-08:00Boston Picture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pqUS-YIbMulpGG2SuvQT33txwDndrp-d7lxAM6yqvwxGZUb2qhE4KL5iBVVdK4gE2iHVLzW3jsiysqEyOESJPokdCRE4qyydHOJ9fgiP6hPiimjUERd2BAYdtZvkWIB3suoaBHHqLQc/s1600-h/100_0286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pqUS-YIbMulpGG2SuvQT33txwDndrp-d7lxAM6yqvwxGZUb2qhE4KL5iBVVdK4gE2iHVLzW3jsiysqEyOESJPokdCRE4qyydHOJ9fgiP6hPiimjUERd2BAYdtZvkWIB3suoaBHHqLQc/s320/100_0286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134005090795425634" border="0" /></a><br />Team Kimmel after the 111th Boston Marathon.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00764250815099294603noreply@blogger.com0