Well, it took three months, but I have my first major airlines crisis. I got an email from JetBlue this morning telling me they’re canceling my flight back from Boston due to some kind of scheduling issue. I’m getting a refund, but that one-way was only $149. I looked for acceptable alternatives this morning, but there’s nothing less than $627 right now that gets me back that night. Part of me thinks it’s irresponsible to spend that much. But I also have a race in Virginia two days before. Do I miss that one, too?
I think I’m going to keep my eyes open and hope I catch a break. I’m definitely going to be on the phone with JetBlue today, trying to see what they can do to help me. I didn’t have time to call this morning and that email wasn’t too apologetic.
I guess I’m pretty mad about this. Not so much at JetBlue. I’m really mad at myself. I mean, I knew April 1 was coming, and this was the best April Fools I could come up with? Weak. Very weak. I’m going to Boston. I have no flight problems.
Autism Awareness Day Is Friday!
April 2 (Friday) is Autism Awareness Day. I know a lot of you are here for all sorts of different reasons. Some of you are in the autism community, some of you are runners and some of you heard about what I’m doing and are curious. Whatever your reason for following along, I know you believe in the cause and support what I’m aiming for.
So, I’m hoping that you’ll help with Autism Awareness Day. If you’re on Facebook, go to the World Autism Awareness Day page and become a fan. They have an image for you to use as a profile picture for a day. Do that and make a post on your wall or change your status to explain what you’re doing. If you’re on Twitter, send out a tweet or two letting people know. You can also wear blue and tell people why you are.
Heck, I don’t know. I’m no expert in all of this. But you can do what I mentioned with Facebook and Twitter, wear blue, and poke around the World Autism Awareness Day website for ideas. If you weren’t going to do anything, but you are now to support what I’m doing, I really appreciate it. PLEASE let me know!
Guess My Time!
I have a weekly contest now where you can win an Operation Jack t-shirt, tech shirt or sweatshirt. To enter, guess the time you think I’m going to run in the form of a small donation. For instance, if you think I’m going to run a 3:10, donate $3.10 as your entry. To make a donation, click here or click on the “DONATE NOW!” link on any page on this site. The person coming the closest without going under is the winner. If I choke and go too slow and everybody bids under, it’ll go to the person who comes closest.
Last week, the winner was Katey Williamson. It was one of those choke weeks, where I thought I’d go 3:13 or so and I went 3:20. But she got herself a prize for $3.17!
To help you guys, I write up an analysis of my race to let you know how I’m feeling and what I expect to run. Wow, what a smooth transition. Give me a Pulitzer.
Race Preview: Train 4 Autism Marathon Series, Race 1
This weekend, I get to stay home! I’ll be running the first of the three races I’m putting on with local race director Charlie Alewine as part of the Train 4 Autism Marathon Series. It’s a fairly flat course in Huntington Beach, 10 laps of a 2.62-mile course. It sounds kind of boring, but I’m pretty excited about it, because quite a few folks are coming out and participating to support the cause.
I ran a marathon on this course last November and went 3:29:05. But I was totally out of shape, fighting my back from a five-week layoff last summer due to a sprained ankle. I felt good for the first eight or so miles, but I ran out of gas. I’m expecting this to be completely different, though. I’m in shape, and I’m really determined to get a good run in. With back-to-back 3:20s, I’m in dire need of a confidence boost and I’m going to do my best to combine conservative and aggressive like I did in Tampa earlier this year.
This course is flat enough to be considered flat. There’s a small incline at one point, but it’s maybe a 10-foot climb? It’s really nothing, and you get it back coming down, because it’s a loop. The course is primarily on road and sidewalk, but there’s a small portion that’s on dirt. That dirt is packed hard enough that it won’t slow me down at all, unless there’s rain this week that makes it muddy. I’m still not particularly worried.
On tough part about this race is that I’ll run the bulk of it on my own, since it’s such a small field. When you do that, it’s tough to stay motivated. But that clock will be my motivator. I really, really want to go sub-3:10 and get back on track mentally. I have seven races in April and I want to attack them with confidence.
So, I’m going to go out and try to hold pace between 7:10 and 7:15. I should be able to get into a rhythm and hold my stride. I always think I can run faster than I really can. And I think I can go 3:10 on this course. I’d like to go sub-3:16 and BQ. I’ve surprised myself a few times this year, especially with my success in Carlsbad and my struggles in Napa.
If I’m betting on myself, I’m going safe with 3:16, because I’ve run poorly lately and my legs were heavy on my run this morning. But I’m gunning for sub-3:10. Take that for what it’s worth.
That’s All I Have For Today
Have a GREAT weekend, everybody! I’ll post a race report at some point on Saturday. Please, please, please, support Operation Jack and try to guess my time!
Chris Stores says
Well, you had me going! I’ve actually had a similar problem. A couple of years ago I booked a flight on Frontier to get home from the Missoula Marathon (I drove out with my sister in law). Then, a couple months before the race, Frontier canceled the route to Missoula altogether. The thing was, they didn’t even bother to tell me about it. I saw a news article about it on the Missoula paper’s website and ended up having to call Frontier myself. They booked me a flight on United instead at no extra cost to me, so it all worked out, but thanks for the heads up, Frontier!
Katie Abdolhosseini says
You totally had me on the flight thing! I was going to put you in contact with a fellow bloggy who works for the airlines, too! Hahaha! Thanks…my first one for the day.
Goodluck this weekend – you’re going to do great. Just wish I lived in SoCal to come out and run with you ๐
Zach Earl says
I’m excited about the race on Saturday too! So you’ll have at least 1 person to run with for half of it at least. ๐
adair renning says
OK, you got me too! I was getting ready to start looking up flights and fares for you!! Wish we were going to be there this weekend so Asia could run too, but we’re not coming back out until mid-May. Have a great race!!
Laura Sullivan says
oohhh…good one sammy boy. but, honestly, i wouldn’t be surprised if you had flight problems now… ๐ — i hope u don’t and all…but, i won’t be surprised to hear about it…
Kris Nicholas says
Here I was feeling bad for you, way to go!
Jake Rome says
Damn Sam. April Fool’s jokes are no good if you give them away at the start! Next year, save it for the end of the blog post.
Jeff Goodman says
You should have said you were running Boston in drag and calling yourself Samantha! ๐
Layla Bohm says
This is what I get for only reading the preview in my e-mail! I don’t get time to read blogs until after work, so, um, yeah. You got me.
Erin Ruff says
Ha ha! You got me. I was ready to mobilize a campaign OPERATIONGETSAMBACKFROMBOSTON. Glad I can rest easy!
Ben Delaney says
Wow, is that all you got? You are sitting on a plane every weekend for the past 6-8 weeks and THAT was all you could come up with? Flight problems from Boston?! I am speechless. Might even cancel my trip to the OJ race on Saturday…. Just kidding Fels. Can’t wait for Saturday. Gonna be a great day.
Denise Willer says
Placed my bet!
Wearing blue for all of the lives touched by autism today and thanks for all that you do!
Matt Wilson says
Sam, I am a runner and a father of a little girl with autism. She just turned 7 two days ago, and with Autism Awareness Day, those that know me well have directed me toward your blog. You are an inspiration, obviously to others, but also very much so to me. Thank you for doing what you are doing. I know that you are making the world a better place not just for Jack but for my little one as well. Thank you.