I like good people. I’ve been running across a lot of them since I launched Operation Jack. I was caught by surprise last Wednesday evening in yet another indicator that like it or not, Operation Jack is going to be a wonderful experience. OK, I like it.
Last Wednesday night, I was taking a minute to scroll through status updates on Facebook, when I saw an interesting bit of news my friend Kristy McLean was announcing:
Our foothill ranch Calif Yogurt Co. Will donate 20% in support of final night of www.bootcampforacause.com tomorrow night thu 9/10 – yay! More support for www.operationjack.com …so exciting!
That was news to me, but it was good news! So, a bunch of folks I know and a bunch of folks I don’t know went down, enjoyed some frozen yogurt and helped raise money for Operation Jack!
At California Yogurt Factory during the fundraiser last Thursday.
I went to high school with Kristy and now live about 6 or 7 houses up the street from her. She’s gone on a similar path with her fitness as me. She gained a fair amount of weight after her second baby, but took to eating right and working out, and really got herself into shape. When I say she really got herself into shape, I mean she really got herself into shape, winning a national Beach Body/Turbo Jam fitness contest and a pretty incredible prize that came along with it.
I remember the day she was announced as the winner, Tiff and I walked down the street to say hello and congratulate her. I don’t remember the specifics of our conversation, but I remember her telling us she was going to try to start something that would help people, and she’s done exactly that.
Along with fitness instructors Kerry Rocchi and Christine Bentley, she started up something called Boot Camp For A Cause, a boot-camp training program that raises money for charity. She’s helping people make lifestyle changes and get into shape while raising money for great causes. I knew a few weeks ago that Operation Jack was going to be one of her beneficiaries, but the frozen yogurt fundraiser caught me by surprise.
With Boot Camp For A Cause and Operation Jack, it seems like we’re both heading in the same direction. She was able to help me first with a random act of kindness. Someday, I hope I have a way to return the favor.
Running Update
I’m back on a nearly-full schedule. FINALLY. Ankle is pretty good, knee is getting better. I’m doing the things I need to do to get healthy and stay healthy. I have a green light to run 15 miles a day, plus a long run of up to 20 on the weekends.
Last week, I went 15-10-15-15 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I’ve been a little bit slow getting back into the swing of things, but I’ve been feeling kind of OK. The knee pain and ankle pain aren’t too bad.
I meant to go 20 on Saturday morning, but I forgot to turn my alarm on and Benjamin had a soccer game at 9 a.m., so when I woke up naturally at 4:52 (is it a problem if I’m waking up naturally at that hour?), I knew it was too late.
So, I went 21 yesterday morning. I was 11 seconds a mile faster than my 15 on Friday, which was 16 seconds a mile faster than my 15 on Thursday. Mentally, I felt great about the run. I wasn’t particularly fast, but I turned the wheels here and there just for fun. I’m thinking I’ll be comfortable with my condition in another two weeks or so. This won’t be tremendously easy, but it’s not supposed to be.
Oh, and stupid me, not icing yesterday. My knee feels fine, but my ankle was a little inflamed. I headed out, not sure what I was going to do. I had time for 15, but thought I might cut it as short as 6 and just keep it as an easy recovery run. I could feel a tiny little burn in my ankle, so I did the smart thing and shut it down after 0.37 miles. I hate taking rest days, even if it’s the day after a 21-miler or a 28-miler or anything else. But like I’ve been saying, I’m smart enough to know how stupid I am, and I did everything possible to force myself to turn back.
And lucky you — I wrote this blog since I was already up.
Ice Cream Update
Yesterday, I had a bowl of the praline caramel Dreyer’s we have in the freezer. Good stuff. My streak of ice cream or frozen yogurt is up to 82 consecutive days now. That fundraiser was perfect, huh? I’m going to send a couple of letters off to some chains to see if they’d have any interest in sponsoring Operation Jack. We need an official ice cream or frozen yogurt!
Video Of The Day
I don’t think I really need to say much about this one. Thanks, Chris Fales, for passing this along!
Have A Great Monday!
That’s all I have. Have a great Monday, if there is such a thing!