I never really know who’s coming here, so I don’t know if people reading this are first-time visitors or if they’ve been coming around since I launched the site in July 2009. So, I always have to throw in the italicized paragraph explaining why anybody might be interested in reading. Today, that’s really important because without the explanation, there’s no good reason to read about the Operation Jack Marathon.
Jack (of “Operation Jack”) is my 8-year-old son. He is severely autistic. He wears diapers. He doesn’t talk. He has a lifetime of struggles ahead of him. I am a marathon runner. And in 2010, I wanted to do something to make some good come out of the lifetime of struggles he’s facing. I wanted to find a way for him to have a positive impact on the lives of others, even if he never knows it (and he probably never will). So, I created the Operation Jack Autism Foundation. I ran 61 marathons in 2010 (yeah, I know, sometimes that was more than one a week). And I kept on figuring out ways to raise money. So far, Operation Jack and related efforts have grossed $140,000.
OK, that was the required paragraph in italics and it’s very important to this blog. Because last week, we settled on the date for the third annual Operation Jack Marathon.
DECEMBER 26, 2012
Now you know. I have to update the website. But mark it down. And go like the race on Facebook to make it easier to keep in touch with you.
Oh, the Operation Jack Northwest Challenge in Portland is going to be on December 22. I’ll be there. We’ll have satellite races and satellite runs on December 29. I’ll be at a satellite race somewhere on December 29. Not sure where at this point.
One thing about the satellite runs. I’ve been kind of lousy at sending out medals and shirts sometimes to the satellite runners the past two years. But it supports a great cause and the medal was really cool last year (if you have a medal from last year, please comment with your thoughts so everybody knows!) … we’re going to do something great again last year and GREAT NEWS: my mother-in-law is going to handle the shipping, not me. So you’ll get your stuff on time. I’m terrible in this department. I admit it and I feel terrible about it! Y’all support me, I can at least do what I’m supposed to do, right?
Jack Update
If you read yesterday’s blog, you know Jack ate a Twizzler and we were worried about what kind of impact that would have on him. Sunday night wasn’t the greatest, but yesterday went well. PHEW. I’m not as big of a loser as I used to be.
Running Update
I hate talking about me. I feel so … I don’t know. Me, me, me, me, me. I hate being that guy. But it’s my blog and those of y’all who have tuned in over the years know I run a little bit here and there and I guess most runners who have blogs talk about their running. So here’s a quick running update, because I haven’t talked about running here in months. I ran a 5K here in Colorado on Saturday. It was tough. I’m no good at 5Ks, plus they’re hard — you’re really sucking air by the time you’re done with them. And there’s no oxygen up here!
The race was a local 5K to benefit my kids’ elementary school. Small-town race, but the winner went 15:30ish and there was a 2004 Olympic marathoner from Romania, so there was some talent in the race. And there was also me. My A goal was to break 20. I would have been elated. I wasn’t expecting a ton out of myself, but that would have been a good moral victory for me, since it was my first hard run at altitude and my PR is only 19:20. Well, all I could manage was a 20:14. But it was a good workout and I felt pretty decent about the run. And, I’m now officially Kohl’s Fastest Dad (Kohl is the school). So I won a $35 gift certificate to a local butcher called Norm’s Meats, plus a free Road ID. Gotta love small towns, huh?
Words You Thought You’d Never Hear Me Say
There’s a marathon here in town. I don’t want to run it. But my wife is making me. So I guess I will.
It’s true! I swear! My goal right now is to qualify for the 2013 Boston Marathon. I get one crack at it, June 9 at Utah Valley. I’ve run Boston every year since 2008 and I love it, like, more than words can explain. But if I don’t qualify at Utah Valley, I won’t be able to make it next year. To date, I’ve run 99 marathons. The next one is going to be a nice, round number, but it’s not that big of a deal to me. It’s a big deal to my wife, though, and she wants to see that 100th.
She can’t make it out to Utah Valley. But there’s a race here in Denver called the Colfax Marathon on May 20. It’s a no-brainer. I have to run it. She wants to be there and then bake a cake for me or something like that. It totally interferes with my training for Utah Valley. But she’s the boss. And really, for how supportive she’s been for me and this running problem I have, I’ll run it if it makes her happy.
So yeah, there’s a marathon here in town. I don’t want to run it. But my wife is making me. So I guess I will.
And then I’m going to go run Utah Valley and give it everything I have to qualify for Boston. PR or ER!
OK, that’s it y’all. I had one other thing, but the word count is getting too high. I guess I’ll throw that in there tomorrow. Happy Tuesday!
Brandon says
Hey Sam, I’ll give a big shout out to how awesome the medal was last year! Much better than other ones I’ve gotten from much bigger and more expensive races!
Jason D. says
Doublin’ up on the medal props — that was one cool medal! Unique, cool, and it stands out amongst the others. Plus, it has meaning behind it. What more could you ask?
BTW – the gift certificate for the butcher reminds me of the time I sang at my grandparent’s church in SE Missouri… someone gave me a side of ribs as a “thank you.” The best.
Rachel says
The medals were awesome – high-quality, unique design. I also have to comment on the quality of the shirts; it is the best cotton T-shirt from any race (and I have run big and small races) and I love wearing mine around town promoting the race.
Heather says
Blargh on that date. I suppose I’ll have to settle for a satellite run instead of volunteering.
Congrats on being Kohl’s Fastest Dad, despite the lack of oxygen!