One reason I’ve done well with running is because I’m competitive. I’m not very athletic (shoot, I’m not athletic at all) and I don’t have any natural speed, but I’ve done pretty well. It’s because I push myself and I like to see results. The point of telling you that is back in the day, when I was a chunky 8th grader who cheated on the mile in PE and couldn’t beat out a grounder to left field, my competitive fire was obvious in my performance on the math team. Yeah, math team. I’m a geek. I’ll get to that in a minute.
Today’s Run
Well, I ran 10.1 yesterday, worked about 30 or so minutes doing all the stretches and exercises my physical therapist wants me to do, then spent some quality time with the foam roller and the stick. Oh, and I iced in the morning and in the evening and ate some ibuprofen. Ankle and knee are getting better and I’m not as worried as I was a few weeks ago. I’ve never been worried about running the marathons … I’ve just been worried about having to slog my way through them due to injuries. My dad is a little overprotective about this whole thing, and has asked “what if” a few times — what if I hurt myself, what if I’m too fatigued, etc. Unless I’m in a hospital, I’m there. But I’d prefer not to limp!
Anyways, the schedule for today was seven miles, per physical therapist (voice of reason) Jan. I ran with some running friends I haven’t seen in about six weeks because of my injuries, so it was good to see them. They went 5.74 on a loop at an easy pace, so I tacked on 1.26 hard at the end. I went up a hill, down a hill, up a hill and back down a hill, and really got the ticker going. I feel like I’m a car that’s been in the garage for a little while, and I need to floor the accelerator a few times to get the old, dirty exhaust out. I’ll get there. And for the most part, I’m feeling pretty good.
What Is Operation Jack?
Just in case you don’t know (if this is your first time here), I’m a marathon runner and a father of three young children. My middle child is severely autistic and in his honor, I’m going to try to run 60 marathons next year to raise money and awareness for a charity called Train 4 Autism. I’m the president of the South Orange County chapter, and I really want to help build strong chapters all over the country. This blog is my daily voice, I guess. I don’t know if y’all want to run these marathons vicariously through me, read my lousy jokes or try to figure out what goes through my mind. Whatever it is, the visits are increasing, so I should probably keep it up.
Ice Cream Update
I went with whatever the Praline Caramel flavor is we have in the freezer. It’s pretty darn tasty. I kept scooping more and more into the bowl, but my ball and chain wife told me it was getting to be too much, so I put a little back. I should have had a second bowl. It was incredible. And it marked the 70th consecutive day that I’ve had ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Sam: Junior High: Math Team!
Yesterday, I promised I’d tell the story of how I owned the county competition for the math team in eighth grade. That was more than 21 years ago, but it still gets me as fired up as much as a math contest possibly could.
Those of us in the math club had practice after school. Advanced algebra, geometry, logic … you name it, we went through the drills. As we closed in on the county competition, we took a test to determine who would represent the school, who would be the alternates, and who would be the losers who wouldn’t have the privilege of getting up early on a Saturday morning to go take a bunch of math tests with nerds from all over the county.
On the 40-question test, I choked. I only scored a 25. I knew I was better than that. It was disappointing. I mean, scoring 25 on that test isn’t something one of the cool kids in school would have been able to do. This stuff was at least 10th-grade level. But 25 was one less than what one my classmate Doug scored to earn the last spot on the team. I couldn’t believe that Doug beat me out. He brought his A game, and I apparently brought a broken slide rule. I begged for a re-test. I told the coach (well, teacher) that I’d beat him by 10 and she knew it. But she told me that if that test was on the day of competition, he would have scored higher than me. I folded when the pressure was on, and that was my problem.
But, I got to go as an alternate and compete individually. When I got to the competition, I felt like a little bit of an outsider, because I wasn’t really on the team. I was just there competing solo. But another junior high was one member short and needed somebody to compete. My teacher asked me if I wanted to compete for the other school, and I said sure — it would give me an opportunity to make it real. I aced the test that was the equivalent of what we used for tryouts, scoring something like a 37. I think Doug probably scored in the low 20s. I knew I’d smoke him.
There were various tests and exercises, and one of them was a speed round, where they’d show a problem on a screen and the first person to buzz in would get to answer and get points. In my round, I was representing the junior high I didn’t go to, and sure enough, Doug was representing my school. Every time I answered a question right, I was hurting my actual school, because I was shutting Doug out. But I was on a mission to prove that I was The Man. I probably answered 8 or 9 of the 10 questions. I was money. I was like the basketball player who drained 3-pointers on seven consecutive possessions. I was in a zone, and nobody — not Doug nor any of the other people who probably make a lot more money than me now — could stop me.
When all was said and done, I finished second overall in the county individually. The top two teams and the top two individuals advanced to state, so I got to go. My new team members, a couple of ditzy girls, weren’t very good at math, but I was still able to help them surge to fourth place. It was pretty cool showing off my skillz like that, but despite being such a great numbers guy, I couldn’t get any digits. Anyways, my school finished in third and was so close to second that my shut-down of Doug in the speed round almost certainly kept the team out of second. My points instead of Doug’s would have absolutely netted my school a higher finish and a trip to state. But that didn’t happen — I went individually while my classmates stayed home.
State was tough and the competition was incredible. I didn’t do too well. But I was there. I made it to the show. And my team that didn’t want me? They had to stay home and sleep in that Saturday morning. So yeah, I rule. And I’m a dork.
Happy Birthday Uncle Micah!
I have an uncle (well, I have a few, but you know what I mean). His name is Micah. Today is his birthday and he checks in here frequently. I hope he has something better to do on his birthday than read my blog, but just in case, happy birthday!
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Video Of The Day
OK, it’s college football season now. I’m a K-Stater and I love my Wildcats. This play, from 9/13/97, is probably the most amazing play I’ve ever seen. I was lucky enough to see this one in person from the press box. Michael Bishop broke about four tackles, threw the ball across the field from 23 yards behind the line of scrimmage while being hit to convert a 3rd-and-40 or so. About three people reading this blog actually care about this play. I’m one of them … I know you are too, Fritch. Looking forward to seeing you on the 19th!
Is That Enough For Today?
I hope so, because that’s all I’ve got. See you tomorrow!
Ben Delaney says
I was waiting for the first K-State video post of the college season. Pretty incredible play, but then again what else do people in Manhattan, KS have to cheer about.
Eric Raines says
That play is sick, can’t believe I haven’t seen it before. Epic blog quote of the day:
“…despite being such a great numbers guy, I couldn’t get any digits.”
Dan Merker says
I care, too. But I was actually able to cheer, since I wasn’t confined to the press box like you suckers. I can’t believe we almost lost to Ohio. And I can’t believe our program sucks so bad now. Looking forward to this weekend, and to making it out for the UCLA game!
Janeen Oliver says
Made me think of some Rhianna lyrics: “til the game ends, til the clock stops, we gonna post up on the top spot.” I was asked to be an Academic Decathlete… I turned ’em down in favor of cheerleading and elite choir. Go figure 😉 Thanks for the story!