This Looks Like A Picasso!
Earlier this week, Jack surprised us this by giving us a hug spontaneously. This morning, he surprised again with his artwork. He's put some thought into what he's doing on there in the past, writing "BEN" (his brother's name) and drawing a clock. This was one of the better drawings we've seen, though, so I definitely took a picture! We continue to see progress with him. Maybe he's reaping a reward from all the work I'm doing?
Here's the picture he drew. He had a good morning. He stayed up in the playroom drawing and watching Up!, smiling and laughing the whole time. The past two mornings were filled with meltdowns, so this was a breath of fresh air!
He later drew a little hat, but he wrecked his drawing before I could get another picture!
I'm not talking about the weather — I'm talking about my racing. But unfortunately, that's going to force me to talk about the weather. I have a double this weekend, my second of the year, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Saturday is the Diamond Valley Lake Marathon, which is run around a big lake about 70 miles from my home. This is my third time running it, and both times I've run it, I've won my age group. I'd like to make it three-for-three.
It's definitely not going to be an easy run, though. The elevation rolls a little bit and there are a couple of short, steep climbs, but about 22 of the 26.2 miles are run on a dirt fire road. I'll end up with a few pebbles in my shoes, which isn't that big of a deal. I'm more concerned with the mud. It's supposed to rain, which will make it tough. You can bet I'll go all-out, though. I think I have a follower who's running a marathon on Sunday who's pledging a dollar for every minute faster I am than him in his race. I don't have this 100 percent confirmed, but I'll blog more about it on Monday.
I'll start my Super Bowl Sunday with the Surf City Marathon for the fifth consecutive year. Well actually, it used to be called Pacific Shoreline, and the first time I ran the 1/2, but regardless, I've made it a habit of working off my calories that day well before I consume them. I'm the official 3:30 pacer for the race on Sunday, so my goal is a 3:29:59. Last year, I was the 3:30 pacer and went 3:29:57 on my Garmin, 3:29:54 chip time.
I take pacing pretty seriously. If I mess up my own race, that's my own problem. But I don't want to mess up anybody else's race. I was only off the perfect time by five seconds last year, but I still hope to be closer this year.
What about 59 and an Ultra?
I got a crazy idea yesterday, but it's still in the infancy stages. I haven't even told my wife, which means she's going to get mad when she reads this and she'll call me and tell me I'm nuts. But I have a friend who's an extremely good ultra runner (he's run Badwater about four times, he runs 100-milers on a whim) and we were talking about Tahoe a little bit. The third day of the triple also gives you the option of a 72-miler instead of just a marathon.
So I was talking to him about us doing that together. I'm very passionate about raising money to help fight autism, and he's very passionate about raising money to build wells in Africa. I'm thinking that if we did this the right way, we could help each other do very good things for both causes. But I don't consider ultras to be marathons. Would I need to add another marathon to the schedule? Would I just call it 59+1? Am I just an idiot? I don't know. I'll figure it out at some point.
Pasta Dinner Saturday Night!
If you're running Surf City, or if you're in Southern California, come to the
Operation Jack pasta dinner on Saturday night! We can actually accommodate a few more at the door than I thought. I'll be there, Jack will be there, food will be there ... what more could you possibly want?
Ice Cream Update
For most people, eating ice cream five days in a row would be an unusual binge. For me, though, it's an indicator that I really messed up six days ago. I went with vanilla last night. Not glamorous, but it was good.
Thank You Deirdre Edwards!
I decided I'm going to try to thank somebody for something they've done for Operation Jack in every blog I write. So far, I've thanked Jake Rome, Erin Ruff and Danica Kooiman. Today, I'll thank Deirdre Edwards. She's always very supportive of what we're trying to do and she always spreads the word on the social media outlets I interact with her on.
Early on, she helped design flyers for me and was able to obtain 14,000 two-sided, full-color flyers printed on a nice card stock for FREE! Those have really helped quite a bit! Also, she volunteered to help me out with the dirty work involved with Saturday's pasta dinner, and I'm going to be working with her to help plan a future event.
Operation Jack takes a lot of work from a lot of people. I run myself into the ground, but I can't do it all on my own. It's nice to have people like Deirdre in my corner!
That's All For Today
Have a great weekend everybody! Geaux Saints! And relax a little more than I will!
Comments
Posted by Kim Bouldin, 2.7.10, 7:17 a.m.
Good luck today!! I am sure you will do awesome!!
Kim
Posted by Rachel Boyd, 2.5.10, 3:57 p.m.
Picture is awesome!
As for the Tahoe Ultra Triple, it sounds great; you know the RD...but it is pretty nuts. But if you do it, it counts as a marathon for OJ since your original plan was for 26.2 that day and you would be taking on an additional 46 miles. I'll leave my words of caution for another day. Have fun this weekend!
Posted by Erin Ruff, 2.5.10, 1:30 p.m.
Oh, and LOVE Jack's artwork!
Posted by Erin Ruff, 2.5.10, 1:29 p.m.
I'm thinking you already starting reading "Born to Run" if you are planning an ultramarathon this year amongst all the other craziness. Don't blame me for putting those thoughts in your head!
Posted by Katie Abdolhosseini, 2.5.10, 10:09 a.m.
Awesome picture Jack!!
You're gonna do great Saturday! I ran a trail half mary last Saturday in the mud and it was a blast! Good luck and good luck on Sunday! Go Colts!!
BTW, the Tahoe Tripple with the 72 miler is just crazy. FYI, if you didn't alreayd know this...they start the night before and run through the dark. It is not really "legal" for Les, the race director, to get permits for that race so it's kind-of a go on your own. There also isn't much race support out there. There is an offical start of course, and you meet up with the regular full people in the morning with their start.
The first year I ran Tahoe it SNOWED! All the people who ran the ultra 72 froze. I ended up in the tent in shock from the cold, along with about 5 other guys who had tried the 72 miler. So, just some things to think about. That Saturday you would run one full, take a break and start again for a 72 miler that same night! Lots to think about! But, I am sure, if there is anyone who could pull that off it would be you Sam!
Again, good luck this weekend! And Happy Friday!!
Posted by Deirdre Edwards, 2.5.10, 9:01 a.m.
Ha, my plan worked. You know the only reason I offered to help on Saturday was so that I would be mentioned here - mission accomplished! ;)
Seriously though Sam, you make it really easy for people to want to help, your energy and passion for your family is contagious. I am honored to help.
As for the ultra - ya your crazy but sounds like a good plan to me. And to run an ultra with Gundy, now that would be cool.
Posted by Ben Delaney, 2.5.10, 9:00 a.m.
See you Saturday and Sunday. Have fun in the mud, if the rain ever gets here, at Diamond Valley. I will do my best to see you off on Sunday. Don't want to speak too soon, but at least you should get more sleep this year the night before Surf City then you did last year.
WHO DAT!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Posted by Deirdre Edwards, 2.5.10, 8:55 a.m.
Ha, my plan worked. You know the only reason I offered to help on Saturday was so that I would be mentioned here - mission accomplished! ;)
Seriously though Sam, you make it really easy for people to want to help, your energy and passion for your family is contagious. I am honored to help.
As for the ultra - ya your crazy but sounds like a good plan to me. And to run an ultra with Gundy, now that would be cool.
Posted by Jen Morgan, 2.5.10, 8:54 a.m.
For some reason the idea of you running an ultra amidst this whole run a marathon a weekend this year didn't really come as a surprise. You're nutters Sam but we all still love ya! Run on and raise the awareness!!! :)
Posted by Brian Thompson, 2.5.10, 8:35 a.m.
Good luck this weekend!
Posted by Jamie Fellrath, 2.5.10, 8:29 a.m.
How is it that an ultramarathon wouldn't count as a marathon? It's like a marathon on steroids. Of course it would count - and add to the growing legend that is Operation Jack!
Read "Born to Run" again (if you haven't read it, do it!) and go for it!
Of course, that's easy for me to say... I'm not running it myself.
