7May2008
Posted by Julie Hurley under: Julie Hurley.
It’s still weird for me to see Saturday, May 10 written out on email or on the calendar. It’s a date that I never thought would get here, let alone arrive so very quickly.
It’s sort of like a due date…you wish and wish and hope for the day to JUST GET HERE ALREADY! But, now that it’s almost here, a little anxiety starts to creep in. Because, although the rewards are so very great after the “feat” is finished, the actual experience of it may be a little (ha!) painful and scary.
My awesome husband surprised me with a Garmin Forerunner 305 for Mother’s Day and The Big Race. I was debating whether or not I was going to continue running long distances (more than a 5k) after the RBR. I think that I will. I’ve discovered that 6-9 miles is a great distance for me that I feel good about running without totally killing myself. And, with the Garmin, I think I will be able to track everything on my computer, so I’ll be able to keep great records of my runs and be able to look back at all I’ve accomplished.
April 30 was the day my son was bit, and the date came and went while we were in Orlando. I’m glad we weren’t home for it. I had to mention it to my family — they had no idea or at least hadn’t been thinking of the actual date. That date has been eternally seared into my mind. It’s amazing how much time really does change things. I’ve posted a link to some pics of Bodin and Reese from our trip. Bodin looks so big to me! He’ll be three in July, and I’m looking forward to the day when he is able to decide if he wants to run with Mom or not. Right now, he tells his friends that I “go fast” and that “Mom runs.” I kinda like that.
Reese really hasn’t yet experienced summer in a jogging stroller yet. I’m curious to see how she likes it. She was between two and eight months when I ran with them in my double jogging stroller last year. I’ve attached a pic of her at the Shamu show at Sea World. After mowing through a bag of popcorn (the girl loves to EAT!), she really enjoyed herself — until she got soaked. Then she was just pissed.
Better go.
Bye for now.
LINKS TO PICTURES:
Reese in Orlando
Justin and Bodin in Orlando
Bodin in Orlando
Reese and me in Orlando
Very Happy Reese
7May2008
Posted by Mike Dopke under: Mike Dopke (Coach).
The big day is just around the corner. Are you ready? I hope you are as excited about this race as I am. It has been a long and cold winter of training but it is about to pay off for each of you. We have trained in just about every weather condition Mother Nature could throw at us. It looks like she is going to be kind and reward us on Saturday. You are all going to do great.
People run this race for a lot of different reasons, and mine has changed throughout the years. The first time I ran was to lose weight. When I started running I was 25 pounds heavier and needed to find a way to drop some donuts. I figured that training for and completing the Riverbank Run would help me achieve a healthier lifestyle. I had no idea at the time how I would change not only physically, but as a person as well. I owe a lot to this race.
There is nothing like the feeling that you get standing at the starting line. If you could somehow harness the energy in the air it would light a city block for at least a week. If this is your first time then you will soon know that feeling for yourself. Take a good look around and soak it all in. You have earned it.
I have met many great friends through some affiliation with this race. It has been a springboard for several more races including the marathon, but The Riverbank Run still is and will always be my favorite. We are so blessed to have this great race right here in our own community. My training for next year will start as soon as I cross the finish line this year. Call me a lifer. I’ll see you all Saturday.
7May2008
Posted by Matt Stargardt under: Matt Stargardt.
I was reflecting today about the work that we all have put in since being named a “road warrior”. Here are the stats that I have come up with.
2 pairs of running shoes
314 miles of long runs (22 long runs)
22 Saturdays waking up when I should have been sleeping
37 Treadmill runs
915 Miles training (including long runs)
100658 Calories Spent
Starting Weight 187
Ending Weight 179.5
I’m ready to go.
Matt
Road warrior or not….if you are running Saturday you have certainly paid your dues this year …..I’ll ask a favor…….Post up below with your own stats. I’m just curious…….example Dopke could list 2 casts.
5May2008
Posted by Steve Kelly under: Steve Kelly.
Those little suckers can get sore can’t they?! I’ve been stretched a couple times at my chiropractor and took some time off and the hip feels better. I did a slow four miler this afternoon (beautiful day!) and I hardly noticed it. Different story when I’m done, but knowing it’s just another one of those fun things runners get I’m not worried. My thanks to Harrison Chiropractic for all their help as I’ve trained.
Funny side note, when discussing it with Dr. Shafer he mentioned it would probably hurt going up hills. I had to laugh. What doesn’t hurt going up hills?! At least this new pain mixes things up a little. Maybe my knees will hurt less as my hip steals some attention. As a matter of fact I may slam my finger in a car door at the start of the race to detract from the hip. Come to think of it, if you see me and have the equipment, tase me bro!
Blessings to all of you for a great run on Saturday! Getting ready for the broadcast on Saturday we’ve uncovered some amazing stories. In that elite list of stand outs are you fellow Road Warriors. I am proud of each of you and am honored to be your teammate.
5May2008
Posted by Nick Katsarelas under: Nick Katsarelas.
My son had a baseball game this past Friday that ended at about 7:30 p.m. I hadn’t eaten since lunch, and was famished and thirsty.
I was so hungry in fact that you know how, in cartoons, a really hungry wolf will gaze upon a sheep and it morphs into a steaming lamb chop? Or he looks at a hen and it turns into a fully baked whole chicken on a plate? Or he sees a dachshund not as a dachshund but as a string of sausages? Well, nothing like that happened to me. I’m just saying I was really hungry.
So after the game, we headed to Vitale’s. It was a long and stressful week at work, so I was anxiously awaiting my Molson Canadian. When it arrived, I took a small sip, sat back, and kinda zoned. A few minutes passed, and Pam said, “You’re staring at your beer. What’s going on?”
I’ll tell you what was going on: I was savoring it. It was cold and refreshing , made in the finest family tradition dating back to the 1700s. And when you’re thirsty for a beer, nothing quite matches the pleasure of that first sip. (As it turned out, I eventually took a few more sips. By the time we had left, I sipped my way through two-and-a-half Molsons.)
Just the way I savored that beer, I’m savoring this week. It’s the last week of being a Road Warrior. It’s the last week of specialty training from coaches Terry and Mike. It’s the last week of the 2008 Road Warriors team. It’s the last week of being catered to by Brooke and Kirsten.
We’ve all trained as RWs for more than five months. All those memorable training runs in subzero temps, gusts, inches of snow, inches of ice, and driving rains. All that speed training, first at the “Y,” then on the streets of EGR, and then on the track. Those were the days!
(By the way, my recap of our workouts in the previous paragraph? That’s an example of what we call “selective memory.” Let’s not kid ourselves. At the time, it was a friggin’ bitch!)
I’m just very thankful to have had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m SO looking forward to Saturday, but I don’t want this week to end.
I’m savoring every moment.
2May2008
Posted by Julie Hurley under: Julie Hurley.
I was in Florida from April 27 through May 1, and I had written a blog that I could have SWORN I posted, but apparently I have not.
Anyway, quick update: I was having some foot pain and got in to see a sports medicine doc. She put me in a boot in case it was a stress fracture, and I had a bone scan done. I was stress fracture-free and was given the ok to run if I didn’t feel any pain. I managed to do 10 miles last Saturday in the amazingly strong wind, and I felt ok. The day after the race we left for Florida (Orlando) where I managed to run a few times. Wow! Was it ever nice to run in shorts and a t-shirt again! I felt about five pounds lighter. I’m sure the tan helped, but still…
My pretty little purple toenail didn’t want to fly back to Michigan, so I’m down to 9 and 1/2 toenails for the Big Race. I was worried that it was going to hurt while running, but I’m fine. I still can’t believe it’s a week away! I’m getting excited and nervous. My family and I are trying to figure out the logistics of getting everyone there (including my two kids) for the start and finish of the race. I don’t know if that will be possible; I’m just hoping everyone will be there when I cross the finish line. Thankfully, my sister and her husband live right on Lake Michigan Drive, so there house will be a meeting place for everyone.
My brother-in-law is running the 25k, my mom, sister, and dad (right, Dad?!?!) are running the 5k. I ran into a very nice couple in the Orlando Airport on our way back, Brian and Kristina (so didn’t spell that right!) and their two adorable little boys, and learned that Brian is going to run the 25k. Hey you two…if you read this, I’d love to arrange a play date with our kids if you’re willing. My email is juliehurley04@gmail. I was also wearing a Bryon Center Bank 5k t-shirt on our way home, and a gentleman saw it and said that he had run that race. He was planning on doing the 5k. I’ve learned that the running community is such a nice group of people. I think it’s because running makes people happy - literally and scientifically. Those endorphins are something else!
I’m sad that this journey is almost over, but I’m so glad and thankful to have been a part of it. I’ve made new friendships that I think will last a long time, and I’ve learned that I can do most anything I want to if I put my mind to it. So cliche, but it’s true. If you are doing a 5k this year and have ever thought about doing the 25k - just go for it. I don’t know what it feels like to cross the finish line yet, but I do know how I feel after a good 14-mile long run. So danged proud of myself and amazed that I actually did it. It’s a great feeling, and if this group of Road Warriors can do it, than anyone can do it.
Bye for now…
