Runner's High

I love the feeling before, or during a run when a rush of adrenaline hits and you feel you're able to climb new heights and run another 20 miles. Sometimes the high doesn't last that long, but I have had times where it literally did last 20 miles. Those miles, I'll never forget, the satisfaction afterwords is deep and personal. Runner highs come and go, sometimes more frequent than others. In recent years, I can't say I've had them as often as I had them in high school; even while running at BYU-Hawaii I didn't have such adrenaline rushes as often. But, recently, I felt a familiar feeling, and some would even call it a familiar physiological voice, saying "Go, just go!" My first runner's high in a long time. It was great! I didn't move with it quite as much as I could've because I had already put in a tough workout earlier that morning and didn't want to over train, but I did move with it for a good 30 minutes or so. As in times past, 6 minute mile pace felt like a jog in the park-synergistic and exhilerating. Not only is this a good sign that my body is responding well to training, but it also shows my heart and mind are in it for the long haul. Last night I registered for the Newport Marathon and bought all our plane tickets out to Oregon. There's no backing out now. It's either do it, or get hurt trying!

Daddy Daughter Time

Courtney left for her brother's wedding on December 29 until January 7. This gave Lucy and I plenty of time to have lots of fun. We went to the Children's Discovery Center, which she loved. While at the center, she was able to run around as much as she wanted, play with an innumerable amount of toys, displays and of course, "friends". For the New Year, Lucy and I had fun with sparkers and then went try to find other fireworks we could watch. Lucy fell asleep while walking in the stroller. Her New Year's Eve was pretty short. While Mom was away, Dad also let her watch many Christmas movies over, and over, and over again. You know you've watched way too many Christmas movies when you're singing, "One foot in front of the other, and soon you are walking cross the flo-o-o-or" and so on (Santa Clause is Coming to Town: The Original Christmas Classics). After only a few days, Lucy and I were able to quote pretty much every single line of every Christmas movie we own. We just didn't want to let the Christmas spirit go, nor did we want to catch "the blues". Well, Lucy and I did do some things that didn't involve T.V. We went on Daddy-daughter stroller runs every day! While my arms didn't like it so much, Lucy loved it! She said some unforgettable one liners like, "Faster Daddy, Faster"; or "He's a boy, I'm a girl" as a man rode his bike past us; and then there's "Castles Daddy, look at the pretty castles!" as we ran through the picturesque roads of University of Hawaii at Manoa. After one of our stroller runs through Ala Moana Beach Park, Lucy and I went to the beach. She had fun burying her legs in the sand and playing in the water. Many good memories were made. I've even decided to make stroller time an on-going tradition. One of my runs each week will be with the kiddos in the stroller so these fond memories will continue. My time with Lucy was lots of fun and peaceful, but is was sure nice to get Mom and Willie back too. Without them, life was just not complete.

The Newport Marathon Coming Soon

After much debate and struggle within, I've decided to commit to run the Newport Marathon on May 30, 2009. I was debating between the Newport Marathon and the Honolulu Marathon. The attractive thing about the Honolulu Marathon is that it's here, where I currently live in Honolulu. I could run at least parts of the course pretty much daily if I wanted to and there would be a couple of good solid packs of runners to race with. The only downside-it's on Sunday, hence the inner struggle. I have long since committed to not race on Sundays. I tried to talk myself into racing Honolulu because it's "so early in the morning and I'll finish before the sun is even up." But, I've decided I cannot accept this rationale, and therefore must resort to a different day at a different venue. I've been very interested in running the Newport Marathon for a long time, since 2006 really. The course is flat, fast and the weather is usually quite reasonable. There are only two downsides to Newport. The first is the level of competition. If you want to run a 2:35-3:00 hour marathon, the competition is great. But if you are looking to run sub 2:20, the Newport Marathon does not grant that. But, the winner of last year's race ran 2:22:47, which shows it is fast and that it can be done. I hope he runs again this year. The other downside to Newport is that it is so soon! Honolulu would've given me a year to get ready, whereas Newport only allots me 5 months or so. So, this may mean that I will have to race it this year, not being completely fit, and then race it again in 2010 when I'm more fit and go for a sub 2:19. I guess a third downside to Newport is the $$$!. If I were to race Honolulu, I could possibly take a top 5 finish, and earn some prize money, which would pay for a trip to the Boston Marathon. Newport does not offer a large prize purse and I have to pay to fly to the race. After thinking about it these factors, I realized that Honolulu just wouldn't work for me because I'd be second guessing myself the whole time, which wouldn't help me to a good finish anyway. This means Newport it must be. I am excited about Newport though. For one thing, my wife was born and raised in Corvallis, just 1 hour away and we can visit with lots of family. I worked in Newport for about 10 months just after graduating from my BSW so it will be neat to go there again. My training will have to be condensed but, I still hope to have a decent showing. Another great thing is that I graduate on May 16, which gives me plenty of time to vacation in Oregon and do some tune up workouts on the course. So, Newport Marathon, here I come!

Finally Converted to Blogging

Since Courtney has been such a faithful blogger for the last little while, I have finally committed to become a full-fledged blogger. I never thought I would say those words. We'll see if it lasts... By no stretch of the imagination am I a computer savvy person, which has made me apprehensive in the past to become a blogger. However, I find deep peace and satisfaction in writing my story. I've been watching my wife, and others, do some great and wonderful things with blogs, which inspires me to give it a shot. She also helped me realize that you don't have to be a computer genius to maintain a blog, you just have to write what's on your mind and keep people close, even if they are so far. So, here I am, a member of the blogging community. I've decided to become a blogger for a few reasons. First, I have been neglecting my journal a little bit-okay alot! My wife and children are the joy of my life, without whom life would lead to nowhere but selfishness and empty ambition. The least I can do is write my story for them- especially for my children, so they have an idea of what there Daddy was like when they were too little to remember. I hope when (if) they read this blog someday, they feel how much I love them. I pray they can look back with fond memories despite my personal hopes and dreams, and that they would take from my life's experiences and apply them to their own hopes and dreams. Second, there's something about writing things down that strengthens one's desire to follow through with resolutions and commitments, which will eventually result in progressive improvements. Speaking of resolutions and commitments, I recently decided to get back into hard training again. I know, this is like the third time in the last two years that I've done this! I would train for 4 or 6 months, and then life gets tough, and busy, and I let it go. I lie to myself and say that I don't miss racing, and that it takes too much time away from my family. But that's just an excuse. Courtney is a phenomenal support when I'm training. Half the time, she's practically kicking me out the door! The truth is that I haven't gone after my dreams, perhaps because I'd rather settle for the "unknown" instead of facing the chance of failure. So, this blog will also be a running journal that describes my running journey-hopefully to the Olympic Trials. To be quite honest, my confidence level is pretty low right now-but my hope is strong. The Olympic Trials seems so far away-only the best go. So, if anyone reading this sees me start to slip on my training, don't be afraid to send a one liner, or two, of chastisement! I hope that reporting on my blog will strengthen my commitment to train hard and to be the best Dad I can. So, there you have it. Enjoy!