For the first time since last year, I went on a road trip for a marathon to benefit Operation Jack and Train 4 Autism. I ran Boston in April, but that was just for fun. I planned Utah Valley as one of two races I would focus on to help Train 4 Autism this year. We have a great new leader in Alicia Verburg and I wanted to go up to support her.

It was a fairly typical weekend compared to what I did last year. Actually, I’d argue it was easier than my weekends last year, because Salt Lake City isn’t very far to fly to and all I had to do running-wise was be the 3:40 pacer. By the time I got home on Saturday night, though, all I could think about was, “I can’t believe I did this every … single … weekend … for a YEAR!” I was exhausted. Wow. [Read more…]

Well, this is it — my last blog before I’m finished with Operation Jack. I won’t post again until I write my race report. So, rather than wasting five minutes of your day with my silly jokes, I’m going to tell you one last time why I’m doing Operation Jack and what I want to come from it.

Operation Jack is my attempt to run 61 full marathons this year to raise money and awareness for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism. I’m a marathoner and a father of three. Running marathons is something I do, although I never ran more than 10 in a year before 2011. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic, so I wanted to do something to make a difference. This was what I came up with. I’m through 60 so far. The 61st will be the Operation Jack Marathon on Sunday.

I came up with this idea to run all these races as my way of trying to make the world a better place. I’d like to think that everybody wants to make the world a better place. Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not going to sit here and say I’m 100 percent altruistic, but every since I started going to church with my family in 2008, it became increasingly important to me to not live for myself or care too much about myself.

Am I perfect in that regard? Heck no. I’m incredibly flawed. But I’m much happier with the way I approach the world and live my life. I enjoy running, but over time, starting in 2008, I wanted to use my running to do something for more than just myself. I wanted to make something happen. I want to make a difference. If I really think about it, I’m sure there’s a little selfishness in that regard. I mean, say I really made something big happen and made a lot of lives better. Well, maybe I’d have some kind of legacy. Who doesn’t want to be remembered?

But then Jack comes into play in that regard. I want Jack to be remembered. I want him to have a legacy. He’s going to have a tough time in this world. I look at him and get upset because he got robbed. He doesn’t get the same childhood I got, with friends and Little League and sleepovers and playing after school. He gets special ed and therapy and diapers. Me and my wife (his mom) Tiffany will always fight for him and do everything we can to help him along. But I’m realistic about his prognosis.

I mean, look at this video. He’s 7.

There are lots of bad things in this world that harm kids. But autism is what robbed my little boy of his fair chance. I believe that I’ve been led down the path I’m on for the past 36 years, and autism is what I’ve been called to fight. I hate it. I hate what it does to kids, I hate what it does to siblings, I hate what it does to parents and I hate what it does to families.

I want to see it eradicated from the world. I want researches to find the cause, I want researchers to find a cure and I want effective treatments to be developed. I’m not a scientist. I don’t have a lot of money to throw after this problem. But I do have one talent. I can run a marathon, and then run another one fairly soon, then repeat the process.

To me, it’s not a big deal. I can do it, so it doesn’t seem too difficult. But I’m aware that the average person gets some “wow” out of that, so I figured I’d find a way to use that God-given talent to help me fight autism. It took months and months of brainstorming, but this is what I came up with.

I’m fairly inward with a lot of my emotions. Writing this blog can be like my diary. I’m really numb to what my son goes through. I’m not in denial, and I’m 100 percent behind trying anything and everything to help him get better. Desperate times call for desperate measures and we’re desperate. But it doesn’t really seem real to me. It’s more surreal than real. I still think he’s going to come out of this. It’s tough for me to really process what he’s going through.

I know I hate autism, though. I hate hearing from people I went to high school with and learning that they have kids who have this wicked neurological disaorder. I hate autism and I’ll continue to fight it. I hate it. I think you get what I’m saying.

And I use Jack as my driving force behind this. It’s important for me to always remember that I would have never done this if not for him. Anything that comes out of this would not have happened if he didn’t struggle with autism. I want to make what he’s going through have a purpose. That wouldn’t make it worth it, but at least it could accomplish some good.

That good I’m seeking isn’t just me having 61 medals to hang on the wall. It’s helping Train 4 Autism grow, which will help people raise money for small, local autism-related charities. Or the big charities, too. It doesn’t matter. All of us fighting autism are in the same fight, regardless of which charities we support. I want Jack’s autism to end up making things better for other kids. Helping Train 4 Autism grow is my first attempt at that.

When all is said and done, forget about my ice cream and cheeseburgers and travel mishaps. If there’s anything I want people to remember from everything I’ve done, it’s Train 4 Autism. Sometime down the road, when you cross paths with somebody impacted by autism who wants a vehicle to help raise money for a local charity, I want Train 4 Autism to come to mind. If you want to run a marathon someday and do it for a cause, I want you to think of Train 4 Autism. Train 4 Autism. Train 4 Autism. Is it in your head yet?

One other thing I want to stress while I still have a platform is if you have a child someday that’s slow to develop and you discover they might be on the spectrum, don’t delay with treatment! Denial only hurts your child. Early intervention is CRITICAL. Do not ignore warning signs!

So that’s it, I guess.

Train 4 Autism, early intervention.
Train 4 Autism, early intervention.
Train 4 Autism, early intervention.

I think you get it.

I’ll post a race report after the race on Sunday and I’ll blog next year, maybe twice a week or so. But for the most part, I’m done blogging my way through Operation Jack. It’s been an incredible ride and I appreciate you all following along. It’s been a huge test. I’ve failed along the way, I’ve gotten stronger along the way. Individually, it’s really been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it’s been awesome to have some many people along for the ride. And finally, I can see the finish line.

But remember, it’s not too late to spread the word on Twitter or Facebook, and of course, it’s not too late to make a tax-deductible donation! Pass this blog along — let’s make one last attempt to bring people in!

Remember, Train 4 Autism. Early intervention!

Last night while I was eating my dinner, my wife asked me how many different flights I took this year. So, I looked at my list of races and started counting. I remember when I took direct flights and when I changed planes. I had 124 flights this year. I’m glad she asked — now I’ll always know! Several of you have also asked questions and I have the answers in the third in a series of Q&A blogs. How’s that for a transition? I’d give it a C+ — it was kind of weak.

Real quick, just in case you’ve never been here, welcome! I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. I wanted to do something to use my running to make a difference, so I’m attempting to run 61 marathons this year to raise money for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism.

I named this endeavor Operation Jack, after my son. This year is almost done, as is Operation Jack. I’m through 60 of the 61 so far! And now, the questions …

This can’t be the end of the line. What’s next for Operation Jack
Well, I’d say a nap. From a charity standpoint, I have no idea. I don’t know what I’m able to do any more. I know people got behind me because of all the marathons I ran this year, but this stuntman thing isn’t something I’m going to continue. I’d love to be able to continue to build a base and get people to make something happen. I just don’t know what I’m going to do or how I’m going to do it.

I’m going to try to build my local Train 4 Autism chapter and I’ll concentrate on helping new chapters any way I can (Maine, that’s you!). And really, I’d love to do anything I can. But I’m turning in my Superman cape for my Clark Kent glasses. I don’t know what I’ll really be able to do. If anybody has anything they want me to do to help a charity, you know where to find me.

Individually, I’ll be running the Boston Marathon, then training for a summer 5K, then I’ll move back into marathon training for the fall. I’ll also spend a lot of time with my family!

Which Marathon Was Your Favorite?
I have to answer this one with five different marathons.

1. Boston. Best run of the year for me, best quality field of runners and they put on one heck of a race.

2. Humpy’s (Anchorage). Amazing run. Very scenic, quick course. If there is one race I could go back to and run with my wife, it’s this one.

3. Oklahoma City. I loved it for everything it was about. It was a great tribute to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and they pulled it off really well.

4. Marine Corps (Arlington, Va.). Great race, great support, amazing military presence. I loved this race, it’s a must-do for any marathoner and it’s a great race for a first-timer.

5. Operation Jack Marathon. No idea how it will turn out, but it will be one that I always remember, no question.

How do you train/mentally prepare for all these marathons?
To do something like this, high mileage is probably the best way to train. When I peaked with my mileage in 2008, I was running 100+ miles every week. I ran 26-30 miles as my long run at least three times a month or so. Attempting to run 61 marathons isn’t something I knew I could do, but I was confident it was something I could reasonably go after. The one big difference between my training and the 61 is that I’m going all-out every time when I race. It makes recovery difficult, but I’ve always recovered fairly well, so I knew I could probably do it.

On a weekly basis, I take it easy. I don’t run much more than six miles at a time. I’ve run 10 or more miles maybe five times this year aside from the marathons. If I’m feeling good, I’ll go to the track and do a speed workout to keep the wheels turning. If not, I’ll just ride the bike at the gym. I have to walk that fine line between getting exercise mid-week and staying as fresh as possible for the weekend. For the most part, I feel pretty lazy about my workouts six days a week.

Mentally, it’s tough. There have been a good 15 or 20 times this year that I’ve woken up and thought, “Man, I really don’t feel like running a marathon today.” That can be pretty tough, when you have to run a marathon. But I don’t have much choice, so I just do it. In those races, I usually lose focus and run poorly. Sometimes, I think about running fast, listen to upbeat music during the week and get myself excited to turn in a good performance. But really, when you’re running 61 marathons full speed in a year as an amateur on top of everything else you’re doing, it’s tough to find that motivation at times. It becomes a job.

How did you stay injury free?
I was blessed. I mean, I don’t know what else to say. I took 10-15 ice baths during the year (not enough), I stretched pretty regularly and I was reasonably trained for it. My injuries were minor (IT band flareups in my right leg, tendinitis in my right leg), and while they were painful, they didn’t threaten my ability to complete the races.

I did my best listening to my body, but really, I think I just have some kind of genetic makeup that helps me recover well and keeps me injury free.

What course that you ran this year will you never run again and why?
Lewis & Clark in St. Charles, Mo. It was the last running of that course, so there’s no option for me to run it again, but it was absolutely the least exciting course I’ve ever run. Nothing but … I don’t even remember. Maybe a couple of neighborhoods, plus some industrial areas I think. I couldn’t think of anything while I was running it other than, “this is the most boring course I’ve ever run.”

Are you satisfied with the way Operation Jack turned out?
Content? Yes. Satisfied? No. I say content, because I view the year as a gain for Train 4 Autism. Not only in the short term, but I also think there will be long-term benefits. But I’m not satisfied. It’s not like me to be satisfied. I’m hard on myself and I think I could have done better. There are things I would have done differently that would have made the year more successful, so no, I’m not satisfied.

Is there a course that you will run year after year after discovering it this year?
I don’t have the budget to run anything year after year. But if I did, it would be Humpy’s up in Anchorage. I loved that course and I could take a trip up there every summer, no question.

Is there a course you missed out on this year that you wish you could have run and hope to run in the future?
New York City! I really, really want to run that course someday and run through all five boroughs. I know it does a great job showcasing the city, which in my book is the most interesting city in the country. I want to qualify my way in, so I need to run a sub-2:55. I’m a little ways away from that, but I’ll get there.

When you look back at this year, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
The first thing that comes to mind is the first race of the year in Kingwood, Texas. That’s where it all started. I can’t believe I spent an entire year doing this and I’ll always think back to how it all started there on that nice run on New Year’s Day. In a broader perspective, I think the first thing I’ll always think of is going in and out of airports every single weekend.

I think that’s enough for today
I still have more questions on the list that you guys gave me. If there’s anything you want answered, let me know. I’ll see you back here tomorrow, probably with a few more Q&As. Have a great Tuesday.

One last weekend recap, finally! I took my last trip of Operation Jack this weekend. It was a tough weekend for me, because I had so much going on behind the scenes, but it’s over and done with, and I can move on now.

Real quick, just in case you’ve never been here before, I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. I wanted to do something to make a difference, and I want Jack to have an impact on the world, so I’ve been attempting to run 61 full marathons this year to raise money and awareness for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism.

I named the endeavor Operation Jack, after him. If not for his autism, I wouldn’t have attempted this. So I know that anything I do through all this running to help Train 4 Autism, or really, anybody, wouldn’t have happened if not for him. So, I know that through his struggles, he’s making the world a better place, even though he doesn’t know it and he probably never will.

Yesterday, I ran marathon No. 60 of the year, and to put it mildly, I was THRILLED with how it went! I ran a Boston qualifier in Jacksonville. My time, 3:14, wasn’t the greatest time I’ve ever run, but I really wanted to find a way to dig deep enough to pull out a BQ in my 60th marathon of the year, and I did just that. Click here to read my recap.

Misc. Pictures From The Weekend
There’s a few pictures from this weekend I really liked and I’m going to share.

I’ve got another picture a little farther down in the blog.

I have a video, too. Last Friday was Jack’s holiday presentation at school. This video is a perfect example of why I love my wife. She doesn’t care about anything other than what’s best for Jack. In this case, she saw that he wasn’t dancing the way he should have during the presentation.

She didn’t care what anybody thought about her jumping up on stage to get him going. Last year didn’t go too well, and that wasn’t going to be the case this year — she made certain of that. She’s one tough, proud mama, and nothing will get in the way of her and what’s best for Jack. Period.

Down To The Wire
OK, it’s THIS WEEKEND, y’all! Operation Jack Marathon and Operation Jack Satellite Run — who’s not in? If you’re going to be in Southern California, come on out and join us! If not, we could use more people everywhere for the satellite runs.

Either way, you’re going to get the race shirt and the medal! So register … NOW! The list of satellite participants is missing a few. I don’t think I’ve updated it since Saturday. I’ll get to it later today.

No More Travel!
As my flight was touching down and landing last night, I was thinking about there would be no more travel. I felt like a kid getting out of school on the last day when I checked out my hotel yesterday, my last hotel of the year. Like a geek, I tweeted, “Cue Annie Lennox: ‘No More Hotel Rooms.'” I don’t think anybody got it.

I had a few hours to kill and I got to hang out at a sports bar and watch some football with two people I featured in my race report. That was about the first time I’ve gotten to chill after a race all year. I felt like it was a nice, little reward after a long, long year. And the Chiefs won!

When I checked in my rental car, it was my last time going through that routine, too. That was kind of weird, too. No more of that, either. It sounds kind of dumb, but I’ve checked in more than 50 rental cars this year. I have everything down to a routine and that’s one routine I won’t have any more.

And then finally, the flying. I used to be afraid of flying. Nothing fazes me now. I think taking propellor planes through thunderstorms this summer sealed the deal on that one. I got an upgrade to first class on the first flight, from Jacksonville to Atlanta. That was cool. The benefits of frequent flyer status!

I’m pretty superstitious, and for the last flight, I chose seat 13A. I would have never done that in the past because of the number 13, but when I picked the seat, it was in a preferred row (the benefits of frequent flyer status!), the aisle was taken and the middle was open. I knew that if I took the window, it was pretty likely that nobody would be in the middle. Sure enough, that seat stayed empty, I put my backpack under the seat in front of the middle and had plenty of legroom. I figured out the routine, I got over the worries, and now I don’t have to do it any more.

When we touched down, I was thinking about how it was my last flight of this whole thing. But there was no real sadness or excitement. It just was. But I had a ton of obstacles getting home. First, we had to wait on the tarmac for a gate to open up. At this point, it’s 10:30 Pacific time and I had been up, without a nap, since 1:45 a.m. Pacific time. I’d spent 6 1/2 hours on two flights, plus I’d run a marathon. I was tired and wanted to get home!

But, my phone had died. So when we got into the terminal, at about 10:45, I had to charge it for about five minutes. I needed to call Tiff, because I knew she’d be worrying about whether or not I’d landed safely. Wives are funny like that. So I waited. And called her. When I fly out of Orange County, I park for free at my brother’s work, which is about 1/2 mile from the airport. Lucky for me last night, when I finally got outside for the walk, it was pouring. Then, I got to my car and changed my windshield wipers. I bought new ones on Friday night, but didn’t change them outside my house in the rain. I knew the right place to be would be inside the covered parking garage Sunday night. I just didn’t know how tired I’d be.

Finally I got on the road and drove cautiously through the rain, walking through the door about 11:40 — 22 hours after I woke up in Jacksonville. Tiff asked me if it had sunk in yet that there was no more travel, but it hadn’t. It’s still the same as normal right now — I just traveled home from a marathon and I have a race this weekend.

But I’m getting close. And I’m definitely tired today!

That’s All For Today
I need to get to the office. Y’all have a great day. I’ll be back tomorrow to finish up those Q&As.

If you’ve been around here at all, you know I like to talk about my wife, Tiffany. Today, I’m going to do that one last time for the year, because it’s her birthday. It’s a birthday I’ve been thinking about for a while because of a promise I made about 10 years ago. I haven’t fulfilled the promise, but I’m optimistic she’ll forgive me.

Real quick, just in case you’ve never been here, I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. To try to make a difference and help him have an impact on this world, I’m attempting to run 61 full marathons this year to raise money for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism.

So far, I’m through 59 of the 61. Only two to go. But none of this would be possible without Tiff. As I tell everybody, we’re like a NASCAR team. I’m the driver, so I get the attention. But she’s the crew chief. Jimmie Johnson gets nowhere without his team. I get nowhere without her.

Anyways, about 10 years ago, we were walking into a mall here called South Coast Plaza. At the time, we were both working, we had a mortgage of just $700 and we only had two mouths to feed. We were saving money, building up our investments and doing well. That’s when I made the promise.

By the time you’re 35, we’ll be millionaires.

A couple of times over the past several years, she joked around and told me she was coming up on 35. I kept joking back that we still had a little time. Even right now, I’m still thinking that technically I have 364 more days.

But no, I didn’t get us there. Heck, just last week, I checked and saw that we only had $740 available to write checks with. The reason I checked was because I got a call from a credit card company telling me our $750 payment bounced. Ah, the joys of not being a millionaire!

I’m sure you guys know by now I set high standards and chase big goals. When we were at the mall, that’s what I thought we could do, and that was the goal I set. She laughed and told me she’d believe it when she saw it, but I truly believed that would be the case. I love Tiffany and feel it’s my responsibility to make sure her journey through life is as wonderful as possible.

But I don’t think I’ve failed at that just because we don’t have a big bank account. We have three kids and a tight-knit family. We don’t have a huge house, but we have a great home. We struggle through everything together, but we’re proud of our “us against the world” mentality. We have our faith that things will get better and we know it could be worse. It’s all the cliché stuff, but it’s all true. We know chasing money won’t get us anywhere, so we don’t do that. I still want to provide her with a comfortable life, but that’s not anywhere close to a be-all, end-all for us.

We’re not millionaires, like I promised. But we’re still best friends. I still suffer through watching reality shows with her because that’s better than being in another room watching ESPN by myself. She still laughs at my jokes and then tells me I’m not funny. And of course, we have the kids. We both always wanted to have a family, and we didn’t know what to expect, but we have our family and we’re thrilled about that. As we always say, we’re just glad we get to ride this roller coaster together.

I really hope she has a great day today. I also hope she has a great day tomorrow. And then again the next day. If she does, I’ll know she has what she needs.