Laps

This morning’s run was my “usual route.” I ran from the house to Loyola. This time I did four laps around the track. I estimate that this run is 2.8 miles. Not a bad start to the day.

My goal on the track was to work on speed. There was already a runner on the track when I got there. He passed me on the first lap. My goal was to make sure he didn’t pass me again until I was on lap three. I was able to keep a good pace, and on lap four he finally passed me. Seems like a rudimentary way to work on speed, but it worked for me.

Who needs bells and whistles?

:-)Charlie

$3 Water and an Inspiring Story

Yesterday morning I headed into the gym. First things first - I ran 2 miles on the treadmill and felt really good.

Before I went upstairs for my run, I stopped at the new and improved juice bar. I went into the fridge andgot a bottle of water. The guy asked me if I wanted that, because it was $3. HUH??? He went andgot me the $1 water. I said, "For$3 dollars, there better be some gold in that water." Geesh!

Also yesterday - I read an article in the paper about Gulf War vets who participated in the Chicago Triathlon over the weekend. These are disabled men, who have trained hard, and overcome a lot to be in the triathlon. One guy completed the course in over 2 1/2 hours. WOW! Really puts me toshame when I think about stopping a run at 2 miles.

:-)Charlie

Moving Day

Today was moving day, so no running for me. Tomorrow is another day though.

For those who don't know Chicago, I now live in the Rogers Park area. Rogers Park is the area of Chicago just before you enter Evanston. So I am the most northern point of the city. Loyola University Chicago(my alma mater) is in the neighborhood.

Rogers Park is very diverse...VERY. All types of folks live in the region. Crunchy granola folks - Indian immigrants - African-American - LGBTs. Everyone is here. My friend Krys keeps hoping attractive single straight men will move into the region. But those pesky gay men keep coming in. :-)

I lived in the area back in my undergrad days. So I am not foreign to the area.

I'll miss my old neighborhood, but I lookforward to new adventures.

I'd liketo give a shout out to my friend Sandra in B.C. Canada. Her blog:

http://hicharlie.blogspot.com/

Sandra is a walker, and getting fit. I cheer her on in her efforts. Drop by her blog, and give her an encouraging word.

:-)Charlie

Running in the New Hood

This morning I went for a run in the new neighborhood. I ran down to Loyola University, ran around their track a couple of times. I then headed back north. My goal was to run to the local coffee house. After a quick check on Mapquest, I learned the route I took was 2.6 miles. Not too bad.

Of course one of my roomies - Wil wondered why I didn't get up at 5 to run. Sorry Wil, I slept in. Maybe he can join me on my next run. :-)

One nice thing, at the start of my run, a woman walking down the street said, "Good for you!" I always like that kind of encouragement.

:-)Charlie

"Rest" Day

Iwould say today is a rest day, but I have been packing for my move. My back is sore. I am tired, and there has been very little rest.

I'll be back to running in a day or so. I need to map new routes. Shouldbe an adventure.

:-)Charlie

6 MIles

Somehow I had it in my head to run 6 miles yesterday. Never do that during a move. I was exhausted by the end of the day.

:-)Charlie

Amazing!

Well it took one day to pass my new goal for the AIDS Run! Thanks to all of you who have donated to this worthy cause. I truly appreciate it. I better stop with the goals while I am still ahead. :-)

Now let's see how far I can surpass the $400 goal.

:-)Charlie

Goal Reached

Thanks to everyone who has donated to the 2006 AIDS Run. I have hit my initial $300 goal. I feel so good, that I think I will up the ante a bit. I bet I can raise $400! So if you haven't donated yet, please feel free to stop at -

http://afc.aidschicago.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=418&srcid=396&frsid=308

All donations small and large are accepted.

Thanks,
Charlie

Another 3 Miles

Today I discovered a new toy on the treadmill. There is a toggle switch, and you can go between a jog and a run. It is excellent for interval training. I used it for the first two miles, then ran a hill program the last mile. I am working on increasing speed. While the goal of the marathon is to finish, I would like a decent time as well.

I know....I want it all!

As I am packing, I am finding I have a lot of books about running. Does this make me a running geek? My sister gave me a good idea - creating a running scrap book. Once I am settled into the new place, I think I will make that a must do.

Also...I need to shame my sister into developing the pictures from the Sunburst Half Marathon. I want to see and share them.

:-)Charlie

Busy Time

While it may sound like an excuse, it is a valid one. I am moving this week, so my running time is limited. So I will have to do a long run once I have settled into the new place.

I was happy to run 3 miles today though. I feel good, and ready for work now....sadly it's the job I hate, but at least I have one job I like. :-)

For those who need a good pre-run meal, I highly recommend oatmeal. I swear by it. Plus it helps reduce cholesterol(sp).

:-)Charlie

Running and Biking

Today I ran 2 miles on the treadmill, and biked 2 miles on the bike at the gym. to be honest I really don't like the treadmill. All I do is run in place. At least with the bike I FEEL like I am going somewhere. I know...I know....there's really no difference.

Tomorrow my goal is a longer run. My first long run of the marathon training. The goal is 5 miles.

:-)Charlie

AIDS Run Reminder

I am getting close to my goal. I would love to smash the goal of $300. So please sponsor me in the 2006 AIDS Run.

http://afc.aidschicago.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=418&srcid=396&frsid=308

Thanks.

:-)Charlie

Up From the Ashes

I read this article, then I read the book. It is amazing that this man is still alive, let alone able to run.

From Runners World -

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-187-190-0-9818,00.html


Up from the Ashes

He is a track star from Burundi, training in Austin, Texas, for the Olympic Marathon. But to get there, he had to run for his life from the warlords who wanted to burn him alive

by: Gilbert Tuhabonye & Gary Brozek

If I just concentrated on my breathing, I thought, I could make the pain disappear. Sweat ran down my face and stung my eyes. The heat was relentless, and my tongue rasped across cracked, dry lips. The sound of my rapidly beating heart drummed in my ears, reducing my footsteps on the cinders to white noise. I just had to endure this pain for a while longer and I would be free. If I could just float above it, let my disembodied legs do what God had blessed them to do, I would push past the point when my mind said surrender.I love running with a passion, but I wanted this workout to be over. I had many other things on my mind than 400- and 800-meter intervals. I had prepared myself the best I could for the chemistry and biology examinations I faced the next day. Though I was a good student, I have never liked tests. Unless I passed, I would have to repeat year 13 of my schooling. I wouldn't be able to take the national exam that would earn me a coveted spot at a university in the United States. My mother and father had sacrificed much to send me 150 miles from my home village of Fuku, in Burundi, to this Protestant boarding school in Kibimba. For that reason, on the afternoon of October 20, 1993, I did not have a good workout. I had no way of knowing it then, but the chemistry test would seem positively benign compared with what would happen the very next day.The summer's presidential election had called into question everything I had once believed about my country and the relationship between the majority Hutus and my group, the Tutsis. For the first time since 1960, when the first free elections were held in Burundi, a Hutu was in power. You could not travel anywhere without seeing the green-and-white banners of FRODEBU. The Front for Democracy in Burundi was a powerful Hutu party, and my Hutu friends had told me that we Tutsis were going to see what life would be like now that we were no longer in power.The school's population was the inverse of the general population: Nearly 80 percent of the students and faculty were Tutsis. Tutsis have a long tradition of securing an education. For that reason, we have dominated government and education positions--a sore point among the less-educated majority. The appointment of Mr. Niyonkenguraka, a Hutu teacher, as headmaster had fueled my anxiety. He was from the same region as the Hutu president, Melchior Ndadaye, and the rumor that was circulating was that his appointment had been politically motivated.The next morning, when I awoke, I turned on the radio at my bedside. The resulting silence was the first indication that this day was not going to go as planned. Like many athletes, I like order and routine. When my routine is interrupted, I find myself thinking negative thoughts. With two big tests ahead of me, I wasn't happy to have the batteries in my radio go dead. Listening to the radio helped me relax. Instead of music, I heard nothing. No news, not even static. I noticed the light illuminating the dial. At first I thought the sunlight was playing tricks on my eyes, but when I put the radio beneath my sheet, I saw the dial's dim glow. In Burundi, when the national radio station goes off the air, that usually signals one thing--a coup.

Did I Mention...

No, I didn't, so let me mention it here. Over the weekend I bought a pair of size 36 jeans!!!

Let me say that again - SIZE 36!

Just think at one time I was a size 54.

Oh MY GOD!!!

:-)Charlie

Back to Training

I have already logged 6 miles this week. I've been running the Lakefront Path. I won't be able to do that too often, once my move happens. I will have to find new and exciting journeys to take on my runs.

I felt good outside running, even with all the other runners and bikers out there.

I'm also trying to get back to better eating. After the half marathon, I let myself get slack with the eating. I didn't gain weight, but I was not making the best of choices.

No running today. It's a 12 - hour work day, so I will be busy enough without working out or running.

:-)Charlie

I Am Powerful...

The three words in the title of this post hold a lot of meaning to me. Through the course of my running, I have learned how much my body and mind can take. This became clear to me while I was training for the Sunburst Race. The half marathon was a test of my physical and mental abilities. In the end I realized I am powerful. No, I'm not Superman, by any means, but I am powerful in the respect that I can move ahead, improve myself, and become a better person, physically, mentally and emotionally.

"I am powerful..." is also the theme CARE uses in their campaigns to further the cause of reducing poverty, and helping those less fortunate around the world to be more self sufficient. For those who don't know, CARE is one of the world's largest organizations which fight poverty, disease and suffering.

From their website:

CARE tackles causes of underlying poverty so that people can become self-sufficient. Recognizing that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change.

I first became acquainted with CARE during my graduate school days. I was studying in Brussels, and one of our field trips was to CARE International's headquarters. I learned about what they do, and the programs they create to achieve their goals.

During my graduate work, I interned with CARE in their Chicago office, helping their Advocacy division. Through the CARE Action Network (CAN), CARE donors are educated on the issues which impact developing nations (i.e. clean water, HIV/AIDS, women's health). In turn these people discuss the need to help developing countries with lawmakers.

CARE provides the tools necessary for people in developing countries to become "powerful."

So what does CARE have to do with my running? I have found my running to be an empowering force for me. I would like to use my passion for running, and combine it with my passion for helping those in need. To that end I am starting a personal campaign to raise awareness and money for CARE through my running.

My initial attempt will be the Rock and Roll Arizona Marathon in January. This will be my first attempt to complete a marathon - 26.2 miles. I chose a flat...and I mean flat course to get me through this. I am starting my marathon training this week.

In the next few weeks I will announce a monetary goal I hope to achieve, and how you can donate to my cause. I will also, from time to time discuss programs and issues CARE is working on. I hope you will find the information useful, and will see how much need there is in our world.

For more information on CARE, I encourage you to go to their website - www.care.org

For information on my marathon, you can visit www.rnraz.com

I think this will be a fun and very challenging experience for me. I will use the "I am powerful..." theme to carry me through(hope CARE does not mind my adopting their theme as a mantra).

Please feel free to leave messages, ask question, or just comment.

Thanks,
Charlie

2006 AIDS Run

I thought about what my next run would be, and I have decided to run in the 2006 AIDS Run/Walk 5K. This will not be a race, but a run for a cause I feel very strongly about.

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago organizes this event every year, and the proceeds are split among AIDS charities throughout the Chicago area.

I am dedicating my run to my friend Dave WAgle, who died in 1994. Dave and I went through middle and high school together. We reconnected years later when I learned he was ill. I treasured the time I spent with him. We would do lunch, go to movies, have coffee or just hang out. It was at a point he needed a friend, and I was happy to be there for him.

I would love it if any of you could sponsor me in this race. My initial goal is to raise $300. However, I would love to raise more.

Visit my AIDS run site to make a donation.

http://afc.aidschicago.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=418&srcid=396&frsid=308

Thanks,
Charlie

Welcome!

After my successful blog about my training for the Gay Games and Sunburst Half Marathon, I thought I would create a general blog, so I can detail all my running/weight loss efforts. Please feel free to add comments, ask questions, and just enjoy reading my entries.

:-)Charlie