2012 ... Bring it, baby

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Yeah!

Bring it! Bring it on!

I am ready!

I do not care that I start the year injured and facing surgery! It's an opportunity to regroup before I attack the coming challenges of the year.

Bring.
It.
On!

Today, I ran in the Resolution Run 5k to benefit Paul's Place in Baltimore City. We ran 5k in Patterson Park. I came in with a 27:49 and that pleases me. Even better, I got She(WMBO) to come out to walk it! I am so proud of her! She even asked if they have a 5k in Phoenix in two weeks. (They do not.)

After we went to the hall in the cellar of St Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church for chili and corn bread (and it was good!) we headed back for the car. The nearly 60ºF day suddenly turned chill, the ky darkened and just as we got in the car, the skies opened. It's going to be cold tomorrow and even colder on Tuesday, colder still on Wednesday. Hey it is Winter.

As we were coming off I-95 to our street, we had to stop the car:


So how cool is that on the first day of the year? It must be good luck. I cannot imagine it was bad luck.

While driving, She(WMBO) was asking me about my schedule for this year. She asked especially about San Antonio Rock and Roll. I allowed as how it was two weeks before Thanksgiving meaning two trips to Corpus and Tulsa was the weekend before, I might instead run in Tulsa then drive to meet her in Corpus Christi (where Dr Dani would be living next year) for thanksgiving. She suggested I run San Antonio, hang at Dani's house then drive up to Tulsa the next weekend and run there too.

Well, why not? indeed. Fly to Corpus, run in San Antonio (2.5 hours), go back to Corpus, drive to Tulsa (2 day road trip and I am always down for a road trip) run and drive back to Corpus for turkey then fly home.

Sounds like a plan. One round trip flight and a road trip.

So my dance card for 2012 is filling fast:

Arizona RnR 1/15
Surgery 1/20
No race in February -- recovery
USA RnR (DC) 3/17
Unidentified race in April. Arbutus 5k was last weekend last year.
Maryland Half 5/6
MCVET 5k and 10k 5/27
Hope's Heroes 5k Cross Country 6/2
Bel Air Town Run 5k 6/3
Celebration Triathlon 6/23 (Maybe, depends on recovery for swim training)
Arbutus 10k 7/4
Unidentified August race. Maybe Boordy Vineyards 5k cross country
Philadelphia RnR Half Marathon 9/15
Baltimore Running Festival (half? full?) 10/14
San Antonio RnR Half 11/11
Tulsa Half (full 26.2? Ultra 26.5?) 10/18
Unidentified Corpus Christi Turkey Trot 11/22 ... maybe.
Celtic Solstice 5 miler 12/15 or 12/22

So 2012 better just watch out for me!

I am coming at you ...

... at a full run!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SLEEPYDEAN 1/3/2012 1:05PM

Your attitude is contagious! I've got a lot on my plate right now, but my January fitness/well being goals are shaping up quite nicely! Your race schedule is rather envious as well. Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNFROG79 1/3/2012 8:24AM

2012 is your year, no doubt! Report Inappropriate Comment

SNUZSUZ 1/2/2012 4:55PM

I love the rainbow on the first day of the new year! What a sign of a promising great year! Good luck with your surgery, and praying for a fast and complete recovery! Good job on all your upcoming races! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEBBYFROMMT 1/2/2012 2:35PM

Great! Sounds like she(WMBO) is getting into this! Also, if you want a race in April come up here! Icebreaker race in Great Falls is April 22. Report Inappropriate Comment

MARVEEME 1/2/2012 8:53AM

See Tim run. Run, Tim, run! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTLEM 1/1/2012 11:40PM

You certainly sound positive, so great stuff. Awesome rainbow, yes, a good luck one for sure. You will have a busy time of it. All the very best. Report Inappropriate Comment

Resolutions?

Saturday, December 31, 2011

I learned something long ago.

I make no resolutions for that way there be tigers.

I can't resolve anything about drinking, or smoking, or cheating on my wife because I don't do those things. And I have no desire to start, either.

And resolutions about cussing? Well, we all know those are bullsh¡t.



Resolutions should be positive, realistic and attainable.

"I resolve to learn how to speak Spanish fluently in 2012."

Yeah! No. It would be nice, but it ain't happening unless I move to some place where Spanish is the only language spoken and I will starve if I don't learn how to communicate. But Rosetta Stone and three nights a week at the community college will not do it for me. Not realistic.

"I resolve to lose 15 pounds by April."

Then in February when I have only lost 5 pounds I get discouraged and give up. Besides, it's a negative resolution.

"I resolve to start up that small business I have always wanted."

In this economy? Not attainable.

Instead, I like to set goals. Goals are fungible. I can swap them around and replace them as I need to. I once had a goal to run marathons and to steadily improve my time so I would qualify for Boston. I discovered that that goal was not realistic because I get bored out of my skull by the time I reach 16 miles. The final 10 mile becomes all about "Geez, will this ever end?"

I also had goals for 2012 to participate in at least one mud run and one Olympic Distance Triathlon. Those are put on hold until I recover from a torn rotator cuff. The Triathlon, 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run, might be only a dream anyway. I would have to be able to complete the swim in 55 minute to even be allowed to go on. So far, my best 1.5k time is 62 minutes. And that was before I got hurt. More training, another time.

New 2012 goals include, recovering enough to participate in a Sprint Tri (1k swim, 17.5 mile bike, 3,4 mile run) in late June. And to run several Half Marathons and work my time down closer to 2:00. I am currently at 2:21 official and 2:10 unofficial.

And if I miss those goals. Well, I have all year and I will have fun trying.

How about weight loss goals?

This time last year, I was at 154.6. Today I weighed in at 169.6. Astonishing! 15 pounds up in one year. I ate healthy. I ran ... a lot! ... and biked and swam. I did strength training. And yet I gained 15 pounds. No, it's not muscle gain. The problem is, in spite of how healthy and fit I am, I ate too much and probably too much of the wrong stuff.

So my goal is to lose back by going back to eating smarter. I have a goal weight in mind (153), but things like recovering from my rotator cuff injury may hamper reaching that goal. So I will do as well as I can.

I would love to join in some of these 5000 miles in 2012 (96+ miles every week) and 10000 pushups (27+ every day) in 2012 challenges, but the truth is, I am not sure how soon I will be able to get started. Maybe I will prorate them when I do get restarted.

So I resolve in 2012 to make no resolutions.

That's one resolution I have kept for the last 35 years.

+++++++++++++++

How did I do with my 2011 goals?

I ran a total of 19 events in 2011.

I had a goal to run one event a month, but I missed February and March (none were convenient) and August (I had to cancel the one race I signed up for because of an emergency and it was in the last weekend.)

I had a goal to run a triathlon, half marathon, and marathon.



I did all three that plus a second marathon. Got me sone medals! I also ran a 15k, a 20 miler, and a duathlon. I ran a daily double, too -- a 5k followed up immediately by a 10k.

I had a goal to maintain my weight through 2011.

I did not meet that goal.


Happy New Year, all. (Yes, that's Baltimore.)

(This is blog #145)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DEBBYFROMMT 1/1/2012 2:37PM

Happy New Year! I LOVE the pic with the medal!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

HEALTHY1JESS 1/1/2012 8:02AM

Happy New Year! I have a similar issue with resolutions and like to set goals instead. Best wishes for your year! Report Inappropriate Comment

KENTUCKYWOMAN 1/1/2012 4:13AM

Happy New Year Tim, and I think you have done very well indeed. Report Inappropriate Comment

MARVEEME 12/31/2011 11:49PM

Happy New Year, Happy New You! Report Inappropriate Comment

PIXIEMOM13 12/31/2011 10:39PM

Nice! 2011 was a year I had goals,not resolutions.. and I made them attainable because I was sick to death of failing at things I resolved to do. I'm thinking of writing my own 2011 wrapup blog and a few goals for 2012. Report Inappropriate Comment

BLUE42DOWN 12/31/2011 10:34PM

Very nice. And thank you for an interesting word to go look up that I hadn't heard before (fungible). That's actually a nice concept for goals - to have them be adjustable to alternatives of equal value. Report Inappropriate Comment

This is a SparkStreak Day

Friday, December 30, 2011

On August 28 I posted a blog. Today is the 125th consecutive day that I have posted blogs. If you get all Mr or Ms Smartypants on me and look at my dates, you might see a couple or a few where it looks like I skipped a day then posted two the next. Those would be ones where I hit "Post Blog Entry" after midnight on ablog I started working on earlier. No cheats. Honest.

Some days, like today, I have posted more than once, so I am fast apporaching blog #150.

And I will admit to at least one occasion where I posted a blog about nothing just so I could keep the streak alive, but hey, I posted something.

I need a life.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MOTLEM 12/31/2011 8:14PM

Well done with your streak! It never entered my head to start a streak for a daily blog. That's cool. Wish I had've done that as I must be heading up to 400 daily joke blogs now. Bit late to start streaking, eh. Happy New Year! You're still in yesterday around 20:13pm whilst it's 12:13pm New Years Day here in Tasmania. Report Inappropriate Comment

DEBBYFROMMT 12/31/2011 1:55PM

So funny! I don't blog very often because I don't have anything interesting to say! But yours are always interesting and many entertaining! Wow, coming up on 150! How far do you plan to go? Report Inappropriate Comment

BURNIN-UPTURTLE 12/30/2011 11:40PM

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A heart warming story from Las Vegas

Friday, December 30, 2011

Monasteries have changed their missions with the times. At one time they would copy Bibles and prayerbooks, and now some actually operate like a CopyCenter. Other orders which once practiced animal husbandry now train guide dogs.

One such Order near Las Vegas has a most unusual mission.



Every casino has their own chips minted for them and Bellagio does not honor chips from Caesars Palace. And yet people will put chips from various casinos in the collection baskets and plates and poor boxes all over town. Some leave them as tips in restaurants and for cabbies. It is very inconvenient for these recipients to go from casino to casino to cash in their assorted chips.

The monastery in question, after nearly closing about 25 years ago because their sheep herding wasn't paying enough to support even their dwindling Brotherhood, found a new mission thanks to the keen mind of their Superior, Brother Alvin. He saw a need and he found a way to fill the niche.

They help all the churches and synagogues and mosques in town as well as the underpaid service workers by coming around every week and buying the assorted chips from them at face value less a very small fee. The fee is enough to run the monastery and to return something to the poor and homeless of Las Vegas. They sort the chips out and cash them in at the proper casinos. Everyone is happy and they even spread a sense of ecumenism in town. No one who calls the monastery is turned down regardless of their faith; Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim, even a Buddhist monastery are among their clients, as are cab companies and small restaurants all over town.

The Brothers have been performing this service now for about twenty years. They are a fixture in this otherwise uncaring city. Now, every week houses of worship and small businesses all over town look forward to the arrival of ....

Brother Alvin and the Chip Monks.

tinyurl.com/BrotherAlvin

(rim shot)



Gotcha!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TYKXBOY 12/31/2011 5:37PM

Gah! You got me with this one. Should've saved it for April 1! :) I was all ready to tell my wife about this place, too. Report Inappropriate Comment

DEBBYFROMMT 12/30/2011 10:34PM

Here I was buying this. Got me! Report Inappropriate Comment

HONBAD 12/30/2011 8:54PM

hahaha that's a good one! Report Inappropriate Comment

Surgery scheduled, keys missing.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

We set the Surgery up. 20 January 2012 I will have my rotator cuff fixed. But the doctor gave me good news. No problem running the Half Marathon in Phoenix AZ on 15 January. And, as soon as I want, I will be able to start walking. Give it a few weeks before I run, but I should be ready for the USA Rock and Roll Half Marathon (or full since I paid for it, but I am thinking not so much) on 17 March. I will also be able to get on with strength training ... just no military presses, maybe forever. We'll let physical therapy lay out restrictions.

At least this is all happening at a time when I should be taking it a bit easier. It will give me time to rest up from a very busy season.

Next race for me it the Resolution Run 5k in Patterson Park, Baltimore City on New Year Day at a very civilized 2PM.



Last week, I got home from running errands, ordered the boys to unload the car (Dad's arm hurts, gimme a break. Usually I do it myself, I'm old, not invalid.) and set my keys down. The next morning I grabbed my list and headed for the door. But my keys were not where I expected them. I look in all the likeliest and unlikeliest places I could think of. I *know* they are in the house.

I just don't know where. I now have to be hyper careful of the spare set. Lose those and it's a very expensive bill from the locksmith.

Maybe when we put Christmas away they'll turn up. They *were* decorating the tree when I came in.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GARDENCHRIS 1/3/2012 11:11AM

Best of wishes for a successful surgery! The Physical therapy will be the hardest part of your recovery! I'm up to about 98% of full use of my arm, so do everything they tell you to! Report Inappropriate Comment

HEALTHY1JESS 1/1/2012 7:51AM

Best wishes for your upcoming surgery. I'm so glad you'll be able to participate in most of your healthy activities! It'd be great to know somebody else running the DC Half marathon (although I'm just doing the relay)...even if I don't see you, just to know there's somebody else out there in addition to my hubby will make me feel even more motivated! Happy New Year! P.S. I hope the keys turn up! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLUE42DOWN 12/30/2011 11:57AM

Thank goodness to know that you'll be able to mostly maintain your activities with a rest period! I really hate losing something like that, when I'm positive I must have put it down here. Sometimes I do the old "retrace my steps" routine, trying to position myself where I would have been and walk the way I walked. Other time I disover them knocked under or behind something, having been careless when tossing them somewhere. Hope you're able to find them. Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNFROG79 12/30/2011 8:04AM

Missing keys drives me crazy, I hope they turn up soon. Good luck on your surgery! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRACYZABELLE 12/30/2011 2:58AM

best of luck with the surgery! We found all kinds of stuff in our decoration box, lol Report Inappropriate Comment

DEBBYFROMMT 12/29/2011 10:18PM

Every now and again I lose mine and it drive me crazy!!! Will be thinking about you and praying for you on the 20th! Good vibes your way. Report Inappropriate Comment

AIMLESS07 12/29/2011 10:14PM

I HATE losing my keys. It's such a hassle. I hope they turn up for you. I am running the Houston Marathon on the 15th. Good luck on your race and I hope your surgery goes smoothly. Report Inappropriate Comment