Chilly Run....but...

It was important to me that I run today. I wanted to just get out and go. For 35+ minutes I ran in my area. I even ventured into a subdivision, just to see what it looked like. Nice run. It was chilly though. Temps were in the upper 30s this morning. It was sunny though, and it felt good to get out.

I thought a lot about what I wrote yesterday. I have been in a self pity mode, and I need to get out of that. I know it's crappy for me, but it must be worse to read about it. Yikes! I am forming a running plan in my head for this week, and we will see how that goes.

Still it felt so good to be out there. It was a slow run. Lots of rolling road to run on. I think this slows my time quite a bit. Very different from flat Chicago. My time was 35:38. Not fast my any means. I did enjoy being out there, and I think that is what made the difference.

Charlie

Tiger Woods and Me

Yesterday I ran a total of 5K on the treadmill at the gym, and off in the distance I watched the TV which was focusing on Tiger Woods. As I watched, I thought Tiger and I have had a similar year. No no no ..... I don't mean I am recovering from a scandal of cheating with a dozen skanky ho's. I'm talking about our careers - his is golf, mine is running.

Tiger's professional year was horrible - no wins, missed cuts, and a lackluster Ryder Cup. I found myself out of shape, ran a lackluster half marathon, and felt like I needed to regroup, but was not sure how. So now both of us need to put 2010 behind us, and look to the future. It's clear I need not only goals, but I need a plan to achieve those goals. I think I know the goals I want to achieve, which I will talk about soon. How to put the plan together is another story. I know I can't have another 2011 running wise, like I had in 2010.

I know I want to do one marathon, and at least 2 half marathons. Which ones are up for grabs with Boston out of the picture. Thoughts anyone? I could use some advice.

Charlie

No Running of Late

Sorry for the lack of writing. I have not run this week. A combination of things - my work schedule, some pain in my legs and feet, mostly from the long hours at work and I have a bit of lethargy. Most it has been the first two reasons.

My legs and feet are sore from the 8-10 hours of standing I have been doing, for 10 days in a row. I think it has caught up with me. Ugh!

The lethargy is an emotional issue. I really felt let down after the news about Boston. So now I have to try to get some inner energy to get back to running.

Charlie

Meeting Meb

Today I had the privilege to meet distance runner Meb Keflezighi. Meb won the 2009 NYC Marathon and the Silver Medal in the Marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was at our store for a book signing of his memoir. Approximately 100 people showed up at our store to meet Meb. He was only supposed to be in our store from 3- 4:30. He stayed until way past 5 to make sure everyone in line had a chance to talk with him.

I am always in awe of the successful runners who meet the public. There is little to no attitude. They are genuinely happy to meet their fans and supporters. Meb was as kind as could be. He was a little late getting to the store, but when he did, he apologized to the crowd, and very quickly went into the line and shook everyone's hand who had been waiting. Class.

I was "bouncer." I was the end of the line, and had to tell anyone who came in after 4:30, that the line was closed. Thankfully, I didn't have to bounce anyone. Of course being at the end, meant I got to have the last moment with Meb.

He was very nice. I told him I was sorry he didn't defend NYC this year. He told me very quietly and nicely, "I run over 70 miles a week. Some days I have good runs, some days I have not so good runs. In the end it's all good." What a great attitude to have.

Now I need to read his book.

Charlie

Dream Deferred

Last night I came to a painful decision, but one I feel I had to make. I am going to decline Charity Teams generous offer to put me on another charity team for Boston, and go with their initial decision to put me on the top of the wait list for MDSC.

As I have made more than clear, running Boston is the ultimate marathon for me, as it is for so many other runners. The charity I run for has to resonate deeply for me. While I have a connection with the Dick Beardsley Foundation, it does not have the impact for me that a charity for Down Syndrome has. I want to be sure that my niece Sabrina, and so many just like her have as bright a future as possible.

I may in fact still run Boston, and I am going to train like I am, but for now the dream is deferred. Is it bad I want someone to drop out of the team so I can have that spot?

Charlie

The Questions of the Day

Last night I found out I was turned down to run for MDSC for the Boston Marathon, but I have the chance to run on one of a couple teams. One organization I am familiar with, but would need to raise $5,000. The other, I am learning about, and the fundraising is $3000.

I am also feeling intimidated about the course.

So here are the questions of the day:

Can I successful complete the Boston Marathon?

Which organization should I represent?

Should I do Boston?

Trust me, Boston is a dream of mine, but now I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thoughts?

Charlie

Quiet Run

Today I just wanted a quiet run - no music, no traffic, just running. I headed to the cemetery and found most of that. Ironically there were quite a few visitors in visiting today. I'm sure they found it odd that a 40something guy was running by. I kind of smiled as I thought of it.

Still it was a quiet run. The weather was nice - 50 degrees and partly cloudy.

The goal of this run was to run and clear my head. When thoughts came in, I just pushed them out. I did not want to think about anything. I did 2.8 miles, and felt good. I did an easy pace, and was pleased with how I felt.

I think there are days we need quiet runs. Eventually I am going to find a place which really takes me away from it all, so I can be totally at peace during the run. The peacefulness is healing if you are going through stress at home or work. It also gives you time for reflection if that is what you want. I suggest a run where you clear your mind. I think it can do some good.

Charlie

Run Back in Time

Yesterda morning Mark and I were in Bloomington, IN - home of Indiana University, and my home in the mid to late 80s. We were in Bloomington to celebrate my birthday. Being in Bloomington was a step back in time, and I wanted to go on a run which meant something to me. Mark and I headed towards campus.

Running towards the campus center, we passed IU's Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgernder Student Support Services Office - http://www.indiana.edu/~glbt/ In 1988 I was elected president of OUT, a fledgling LGBT student group. My election always surprised me, because I had only attended 3 meetings, and now I was in charge. YIKES! My election kicked me into the world of activism. In addition to to being OUT president, I would chair the committee which brought the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt to Indiana for the first time, and I briefly served in student government as head of LGBT concerns.

From 1988 - 1990, my goal was to make sure gays and lesbians were a part of the university's community. We successfully got sexual orientation into the schools code of student ethics and anti-discriminatory policies. We created pride week. We created Miss GAY IU, a fun drag contest/fundraiser. We fought the military's anti-gay policies. We also wanted an office where gays and lesbians could go to for resources, support, meeting spaces, etc.

A day earlier, Mark and I toured the office, and it was emotional for me as I saw one of our goals turned into a reality. One of the director's of the center was so nice and talked with me. She made a point of telling me, "Without you, this would not be a reality." That is very nice of her to say, but it was the work of efforts of me, and the people who succeeded me, who made that center a reality. Running by the office gave me a sense of pride, and some emotion.

We continued on our run and did a lap around the fountain which is in front of the Fine Arts School, the IU Auditorium and the Lilly Library. My best memory of that area is when the campus went nuts over the 1987 IU National Basketball Championship.

From there we headed along the road behind the union. Those who have seen the film "Brealing Away" will recognize it as the seen where Dave is chasing down the girl of his dreams on his bike, and she is on a scooter, all so he can return a dropped notebook to her.

Finally we headed down Kirkwood Ave, a main food/bar area in town. Bars such as Nick's and Kilroy's are legendary to IU grads. It also a cultural center for the town of Bloomington.

All in all we ran 2 miles, but with all the memories, it seemed like a long run back in time.

Charlie

Save Some Time to Dream

Last night we went to the John Mellencamp concert here in Indianapolis. First of all, if he is coming to your town - go see him. He is a true rocker, but his songs really resonate. One of his songs on his latest album is "Save Some Time to Dream." The song speaks to the inner voice that tells you to take one day at a time, and make sure you are making the most of each day.

We tend to get lost in our day to day lives that we need some time to appreciate the life we have. Today is my 48th birthday, and this song spoke to me during the concert. I am going to take this time to show some appreciation for people in my life who have made an impact on me. I do not mean to leave anyone out, but I wanted to share some people with you - I mean no slight.

You can't have a list like this unless you have your parents on it. Joe and Nancy Colpaert gave me the foundation for who I am. They taught me right and wrong, and I hope a bit of common sense. I have learned lessons from their successes and their failures. Growing up was not always easy. My family had to cope with the loss of my brother, and never really healed from that. I did learn through that about being strong in the face of adversity.

Anne Colpaert, my sister, has shown me what grace under pressure is. Raising three kids, especially one with Downs Syndrome is a challenge. I know she has her hard times, but she demonstrates so much grace under that pressure. She has such a good heart, and puts that goodness to excellent use every day.

Mark, my partner, and my love. He came into my life when I felt love was not going to be happening for me. We have had so many challenges in our relationship. No one will mistake our life together as easy, but he has the ability to help me cope, and breathe when I need to breathe. In a life full of chaos, the lesson to breathe is an important one. I love him so much.

Chris Runge. I am sure this will shock the heck out of him(if he reads this). He was the very first person I came out to. I was scared. I was not sure if I was ready to talk about being gay, especially since I was not 100% comfortable with who I was, but he put me at ease, and reassured me that I was fine, and nothing in me had changed, I had just learned more about myself. That first coming out experience made it so much easier for me as time went on. I am forever in his debt.

Marshall Shore has taught me about being FABULOUS! I met Marshall while I was Indiana University. We became friends, and to me he is the gay brother I always wanted. He is a truly unique individual, with a sense of style that is a cross between 1945, 1950, 1984, and today - it works trust me. He has been a shoulder when I have needed one. He has been a New York Adventure when I needed one. He has been an all night slumber party when I REALLY needed one - and yes we would stay up and talk about boys. He showed me that there is always time for fun.

Herb Kelleher and Teresa Everheart would not seem like a likely pair. The former CEO of Southwest Airlines, and my former partner in crime at the airline taught me two valuable lessons: have a strong work ethic, and show loyalty to those in your work/personal life. Herb is a man with an incredible gift of humor, but he is all business. Teresa has the best work ethic I have ever seen, and she is the one person you want in your corner when the chips are down.

If the last two people I mentioned taught me about work ethic and loyalty, Bill Morrison taught me that working in tandem is also key to business success. Bill and I are very different. He is just a straight good ol' boy from Missoura, and a bit of a wise ass. Working with him at Fleet Feet though reminded me again and again the importance of team work. You can't be successful in business with are good team. Bill is a terrific teammate. He pitches in and get the job done, and makes sure you are on task as well. He does it all with a smile, and inappropriate joke or two, and a touch of sarcasm. Trust me, it works.

Kay Morris of Marathon Kids has taught me the importance of sharing your passion to better people. She has taken the simple idea of running, and has preached the gospel that through running our children can have a healthier life. She does it all with that Texas charm and determination. She is a model for how you take your idea and transform it into a project which can benefit so many.

Support systems are so important in your life, and while I have many friends and loved ones who support me, I am in awe of Krys Hanson, and her ability to be supportive to so many. She will hug you when you need it; scold you when you need it; feed you when you need it; and just let you be when you need it. While I know how to do all of that, she is a reminder that the people you need in your life are not always the ones who will tell you what you want to hear, anyone can do that. She will tell you, and do for you, what you need.

Mike and Kris Bierman. I have known Kris since my early days at Indiana University. She and her family more or less adopted me. My college years were not always easy, but she was an important part of making them fun. Her family always made me feel welcome and a part of the clan. She met Mike, fell in love, and I had the honor to be part of their wedding. Over the years we have met up at various key moments in our lives. Mike is the guy you can have a beer or glass of wine with and just talk. He is good natured, a devoted family man, and always willing to help a neighbor or loved one. They have three kids who are all incredible.

Lately I am re-learning an important lesson - courage. Mike has been battling Cancer for some time now. He has his good moments, and he has his bad moments. I have never seen fear in his eyes. While he might disagree, he is what courage is all about - facing your hardship head on, and not letting it know it is getting to you. Kris has done her best to match that courage. I know it isn't easy, because she has told me how hard it is. They have strong faith that God will see them through this, no matter what the outcome. That faith can only enhance that courage. I have no idea what the future holds for them. I do know that they are surrounded by love and support, and again, that can only embolden them.

As I said at the start, I am leaving people out, good people who taught me good lessons. But I would be remiss if I did not show some appreciation.

Today we are heading to Bloomington, IN. This will be a profound trip back in time for me. I will write more about this later. For now I leave you with this - life is short, but it should be long enough to have a good life, and to be thankful for not only what you have, but who you have in your life.

Charlie

I Don't Care About Color

Yesterday I helped an elderly woman whose doctor recommended she come to our store to get a good pair of running shoes. She had various issues which made it very difficult for her to walk. He doctor advised her that a running shoe would give her the support she needed.

I sat down with her and went over her foot history, and then began work with her. She worried she would need a wide shoe. She a wider right foot due to a foot break a few years ago. I brought out three pair, and she tried each one. She took a lot of time with each shoe, and was worried that she was taking too long. I told her she was fine, and she should take the time she needs.

The last pair worked for her, and started to smile. She told me she wasn't in any pain. Now the pair she liked were kind of greenish. Initially she asked about color. I told her they only come in the one color. She told she didn't care about color as long as her feet felt good.

She had tried foot wraps, insoles, lifts, etc, and nothing helped, until she found a pair of shoes that fit her well. She echoed something I say to people pretty often - we only get one pair of feet, we need to treat them well.

Yup.

Charlie

Did Not Feel Good at the End

I wanted to run today for a couple of reasons. I want to run 3 miles, and I wanted to feel better. I was not in a great mood this morning. I think part of it was still thinking about my mom. Another part was I feeling down for various reasons....partly because it is my birthday this week.

Typically I feel fine turning older. This time around I feel a bit - eh - about it. No, not a mid-life crisis. Just not feeling my usual self about it.

So off I went on a run at the gym. I worked pretty hard at the run. Sweat was pouring off me. I was listening to Pheddipidations. Steve Runner was not in a great mood during the podcast, so I had to stop listening, because I did not want one middle aged, middle of the pack runner, to influence another with a down mood. So....I switched to music.

The run was fine. I got my 3 miles in. I quickened the pace today, but I still felt - eh.

Charlie

Thoughts on the Day

Lots of things in my head that I want to share today.....

New York City Marathon was today. Three fascinating stories came out it: 1) Shalane Flanagan of the U.S. took second, highest place for an American woman since 1990; 2) Marathon legend Halie Gebreselasse retired after dropping out of the marathon at mile 16; 3) Edison Pena of Chile finished the marathon. Pena was one of the Chilean miners trapped for 69 days earlier this year, and he ran a 10K down in the mines every day he was down there. All three are amazing stories.

This was Flanagan's first marathon. She has a great future in the marathon. Gebreselasse does not need to prove anything else in his sport. He holds the world record, which I believe will last for some time. Pena showed that in his most desperate moments, running can be something which pulls us through the hard times and rewards us.

The day would not complete if I did not mention it was the 13th anniversary of my mom's passing. This is always a sad day for me. I dedicated my run to her this morning. I went to the nearby cemetery and ran a couple loops for 25 minutes. As I ran, I thought about times mom and I shared. I miss those moments. I also am sad that she never got to experience my running life. I know she would be very proud of what I have achieved. I miss her so much.

Charlie

Thoughtful Gesture

This morning was the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. I ran it last year as many of you may remember. That day was a special one, because I ran with the support of Mark and friends. At the end of that race, my good friends' Kris and Mike's kids ran with me to the finish, making the day extra special.

What is it about Monumental Marathon Day which makes wonderful things happen? This morning a small group of us met at the running store to head over and form a cheer section along the race route. At one point a group of ladies came in. This was no ordinary group of ladies. These were the Princesses in Training. They are a group of church ladies who meet at the local McDonald's for Bible Study, then head off for a run. Some run, some run/walk. All of them want to be more fit, and enter races.

A couple months ago they came to our store, and asked for a shoe clinic. I gave them a clinic on shoes, and fit every one of them for shoes. I had not seen them since. This morning they made a point of coming to the store to find me. They had a gift. They chipped in and got me a Starbucks Card as a way to say thanks. I was very touched.

When they came in, each of the told me they did not have a lot of money to spend on shoes, so I found shoes which would meet their needs and budget. I knew they were saving to enter the Disney races. So for them to spend money on a card for me, means a lot. It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture, and I am humbled by their gift.

I am a lucky guy.

Charlie

3 Miles - Feeling Good

I have to say, today I felt really good during my run. I ran at the gym. First on the track, then on the treadmill. The treadmill run was good, because I got to run on various inclines. I love track running though.

There was nothing spectacular about today's run, though my main goal was to be in the 12:15-12:30 pace. I succeeded, so I felt very good. My pace was 12:16.

Thoughts today on the run focused on what I would do if I did not get into Boston. I need a Plan B. Any ideas of marathons I could run instead?

Charlie

Climb Every Mountain - Ford Every Trail

Been busy the last couple of days. Yesterday we headed to the gym after work. My goal was to power walk for 30 minutes on an incline. I walked for a total of 30:31 minutes and walked 2 miles at inclines ranging from 3% to 5%. I walked my butt off. I did not waver from my pace. I was sweating up a storm at the end of the walk. I wanted to kick in the hill work. I want to gradually up the incline, and eventually the pace.

Today Mark and I headed on a 1 hour run on the Monon Trail. LOVED IT!!!! We ran 4.1 miles and had a great run. The weather was perfect. Temps were in the 40s/50s. I felt very comfortable on my run. I didn't push anything, and felt good for not running an hour in a while.

Later this week I have another run planned. Mark is hoping we can get one in tomorrow. That would work for me.

Charlie

Running and the New York Times

Every year it seems, the New York Times like to piss me off. They seem to do it around NY Marathon time. Maybe this is the only time the fine folks at the paper think about running. In the future....my suggestion is lay off the articles where you are trying to make a point, because it strikes me that you are clueless.

Last year they wrote about slow marathoners - the 4+ hour folks. They worried that the popularity of marathons for people who run 4, 5, 6 hour marathons were taking away the presige of the event. Remember how angry I got? I'm still angry.

Now they write this article -

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/health/23patient.html?scp=1&sq=running%20shoes&st=cse

The article makes the case that yes, you do need a good fit, but the cheap shoes are just fine. You don't need high cushioned, more expensive shoes. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Geez Charlie, stop talking like a guy who sells running shoes." Nope....this is not about buying high priced shoes. It is about getting the right shoe for you.

Do you need a $180 shoe? Maybe, maybe not. I don't need a $180 shoe. Someone does though, and for that person, that shoe is ideal for them. What if you don't have $180, and that shoe works? Well now that is a different story. If you don't want to pay for the shoe, try to figure out what worked on that shoe, and then find a lesser priced one. By lesser priced, I don't mean the $30 special at the outlet store. That is an old shoe, and it will do more harm than good.

Let's say you like the Asics Kayano. It works for you, but it is $130. The Asics 2100 series is very similar, and is less cushioned, and is $100. Oddly enough I have customers who will tell you the $100 shoes feels better than the $130. Terrific.

Here is another thing which the article mentions which pisses me off. They indicate that the higher priced shoes, with more cushion, could lead to injury. I promise you that most of the people who come in with injuries, and blame the shoes, soon are telling me what really happened, and it wasn't the shoes' fault. One man in particular in the past has blamed the shoe "I made him buy"(you know that is not true), gave him a stress fracture.

The real story was he went on a 15 mile run in shoes he had never run in before, on rocky terrain. Was it the shoes' fault? I think it had more to do with what he did. Still he wants to blame the shoe and me....fine.

If the NYT wants to write about running, that is great. The sport needs the exposure, but not at the expense of writing stuff which makes it sound like they are breaking Watergate wide open. Come on.

Charlie

Early Morning Run

I made Mark kick me out the door this morning for a run. I told him if I didn't run this morning, I had not business trying to train for Boston. His response - go run! Out the door I went on a chilly October morning.

I headed on my 2.6 mile trek along 96th St. This is rolling terrain. The first half is generally uphill and slower for me, the return, downhill and quicker. I was feeling "lumpy" this morning. I feel like I am carrying an extra 25 lbs, and it is not a comfortable feeling. Still I put my self pity behind me, and off I went. The rolling uphill part of the route did not feel labored, which is a good thing. Oh I huffed and puffed, but now that I have done this route, my body is getting used to it, so it does not seem do hard.

I got to the Starbucks, and I thought, ok....time to head home. Some cars buzzed by me, but at this time of morning, it was dark, stars will still out, and really no one was around. As I went by the small airport, I did think all the flashing runway lights looked cool.

As I headed home, my one goal was to be faster. I was. It took me 16:03 to get to the half way point, and 15:29 to get back. Not too shabby. I wanted to run about 30 minutes this morning, so it was all good.

I felt great on the run, and could have done a little more - if only I didn't have to get to work.

Charlie

Cemetery Run

Yesterday I tested a theory of mine - running in a cemetery. I wondered the other day if people ran in cemeteries. People I work with told me they do it all the time. So I tried it. I had a nice run.

Here was what I thought: the road in the cemetery is not busy, so I can relax with few to no cars going by; the grounds are lovely; it is peaceful; and in the case of this cemetery, it is a gently rolling road. I liked it. I wondered if anyone would stop me and ask what the heck I was doing. Grounds people watched me, one waved. No one wondered what a 47 year old guy was doing in a brisk wind running through a cemetery.

The peacefulness of the cemetery gave me time to think about things. Mostly my mom was on my mind. It was 13 years ago to the day I had my last conversation with her. A few days after our talk, she had a stroke, and would die within days. So I thought about that last conversation she had with me. I told her I was thinking of taking a trip, but worried that now was not the time. She reminded me that I needed to see as much of the world as I could, and should not let anything stop me. I got a bit emotional on this run.

The run itself was very slow, as I was just taking in the area, and trying to figure where to run - lots of roads to choose from.

I will add the cemetery to my routes, as long as no one seems to mind.

Charlie

50 Minutes - It Works

Today was a bit of a departure for me. I used the alarm feature of my watch instead of timing a mile. I set the alarm for 50 minutes, and I ran. For the first two miles I ran on the track at the gym. I felt good during the run. I wanted to stay focused on what I FELT was an even pace. When I stopped my track portion, I had run about 12:35 a mile. That was what I was shooting for.

The treadmill was a bit harder work. I wanted to run on a rolling hill program. My highest incline was 2.5%. I worked a little harder at the treadmill portion, since hills were involved. I felt darned good though. When the alarm went off, I saw I ran 4.07 miles. My pace was 12:17 a mile. I bit quicker that I wanted, but I can live with it.

On the run, I thought about my niece Sabrina, and what I hope to accomplish for people with Down Syndrome with my marathon(once I find out I have gotten an entry). I thought about how I might approach my fund raising. My sister will help in Florida. I have a letter to send to friends asking for donations. Of course I will share all of that with you readers when the time comes.

At the end of my run, I was tired, but felt I could have gone another 10 minutes. My next run will be a shorter one, then I will tackle a 1 hour run later in the week.

Charlie

Fishers Run Part 2

I realized after I finished writing my initial post that I neglected to talk about what was on my mind during the run. Simple - Boston. I got a book this week where a multi-time runner of the Boston Marathon has written a guide to the course. Of course I focused on the chapters which involve hills.

I thought about hills as I was running up one, and his advice to look down, and not at the top. From his standpoint look at what you still have to climb can make things mentally tough for you. Looking down focuses on the here and now. I tried that, and really it made going up seem easier. Whether it was easier is not the point. I seemed easier.

I think this plays a lot into the mental games we have to do when we run a marathon. For a challenge like Boston, it is both a physical and mental challenge, especially with the difficult route. Might as well start doing what I need to do for my mind as well as my body.

Charlie