Operation Jack

Fighting autism, one mile at a time.

Weekend Preview: Race #23

by 34 Comments

Well, it’s Thursday, which means it’s time for my weekend preview. Marathon No. 23 of the year is this Sunday, and it’s the closest race to my house — the Orange County Marathon. No flights, no travel, no adjusting time zones, and for the first time in four weeks, I only have to run one marathon!

If this is your first time here, I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 6 1/2-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. I decided I wanted to try to put my legs to good use and make a difference in the autism community, so I came up with this crazy idea of trying to run 60 marathons this year to try raise money and awareness for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism.

So far, I’m through 22 races without any major problems. I use this blog as an opportunity for people to see what’s on my mind, as if it’s interesting living vicariously through a guy who’s not going to do much more this year than run 60 marathons, work full time, raise three kids, hang out with his wife and tell bad jokes. That’s pretty standard stuff in my world. Zzzzzzz.

Anyways, on Thursdays I have my weekend preview, where I forecast my race and talk about a contest I have. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not too enthusiastic about this one. I’m kind of in a funk right now. I’m in a tough spot where I need to write this blog and write what’s on my mind, and normally I’m upbeat and positive and I tell silly jokes, but sometimes I just don’t have that in me.

I’ve struggled with depression in the past. It used to get really bad several times a month. For the most part, since I truly turned to God about two years ago, I’ve done a complete 180 and life has been wonderful. I thank Him for that, as well as for putting me in this position where I might be able to have a positive impact on a lot of people. But occasionally, something will trigger my depression and I’ll have a rough go.

And lucky me, that’s what’s going on this week, and it’s a total bummer, because it’s a home weekend for me. Three different things triggered it on Tuesday night, and while I’m angry about two of those things (and they’ll be taken care of), the depression is what’s actually causing my problems. It’s tough, because I realize when I’m struggling through this, but there’s really nothing I can do to snap out of it.

I prayed before I went to sleep last night to get lifted out of this funk. I went to sleep early, because I was tired, and Tiff woke me up with some good news about one of my kids that I’m going to keep private. When I woke up this morning, I was feeling a lot better. Still not 100 percent, but better.

So anyways, this weekend’s race. It’s the Orange County Marathon and it’s fairly flat and fast for a marathon course. It could get a little warm, and last year it was humid, so I have no idea how it will go. On this course last year, I went 3:11, which was somehow good enough for 14th overall. It’s kind of important to note that overall placement, because when 3:11 gets that, it’s a relatively slow day and there’s potential for a better time.

I’m racing my dad and my stepmom, who are both competing in the half marathon. They have treadmill workout times for 8+ miles and if they held those times, they would finish the race in 2:59. The adrenaline of race day will keep them rolling, but the challenge of the extra miles and covering the ground on the road instead of on the treadmill will make things a little more difficult. It should be a pretty close race between us. I could see myself going anywhere from 3:05 to 3:22 and I could see them going anywhere from 2:50 to 3:30.

First, though, I need to completely snap out of my funk and get motivated. If the race was this morning, I’d be running it in 3:50, because I can’t even imagine pushing and turning the wheels hard right now. I’m sure I’ll get there by Sunday. It’s just a matter of time.

I was going to have a bet with my dad and a promotion with you guys over my race with them, but I’m not going to do that. My heart isn’t in it to push for anything right now. I also typically have a contest where you guys try to guess my time by making a donation as your guess (you think I’m going to run a 3:07, so you donate $3.07 and the winner gets their choice of an Operation Jack t-shirt, tech shirt or sweatshirt).

I haven’t looked through the entries from last week, but I will and I’ll notify the winner. I normally do that for my Wednesday blog, but that didn’t happen this week. I’m not going to have the contest this week because I’m just not in the mood to be cheery and try to pitch it and after wasting away this opportunity to make something happen with this race with my dad, I don’t want to have my same old contest instead.

So I guess that’s it for today. I hate to write such a downer of a blog, but the whole point of writing these is for me to be me and give you a glimpse of what goes on in my mind as I go through this whole thing. This where I’m at right now. Sorry to not be so upbeat.

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  2. Human, eh? Nothing wrong with that. Sharing your struggles may just help others deal with theirs and that’s what life’s all about, right? Thanks for sharing and hope you are out of your funk sooner than later.

    Reply

  3. Don’t apologize! This may sound odd…but a not-so-upbeat post every once in a while is kind of refreshing, it reminds us that even someone who is doing something as amazing as what you’re doing still has bad days like everyone else.

    Best of luck this weekend – I hope you’re able to enjoy yourself…and of course beat you dad and stepmom 🙂

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  4. I concur with the rest, it’s ok to be human. We can’t always have our best face forward and it’s not always unicorn’s and rainbows. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it pours. Just have to keep the faith that god will not give you more than you can handle. I propose you run this funk out on Sunday, put your whole funk inside your legs and run it out… and with that I’m going to go submit my guess for this weekends time. Chin up Charlie… er Sam.
    xoxo

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  5. Who once said,”Life ain’t always beautiful, but it’s a beautiful ride.” Count your blessings for the things you DO have. Love you. 🙂

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  6. I concur with the rest, it’s ok to be human. We can’t always have our best face forward and it’s not always unicorn’s and rainbows. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it pours. Just have to keep the faith that god will not give you more than you can handle. I propose you run this funk out on Sunday, put your whole funk inside your legs and run it out… and with that I’m going to go submit my guess for this weekends time. Chin up Charlie… er Sam.
    xoxo

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  8. I’m with Jennifer, don’t appologize! Funny, I had a debbie downer post myself today. It’s not always sunshine and flowers and it’s okay to sometimes have bad days or weeks. I have faith that you will come through this strong and better, and like Morgan said, run it out this weekend! God has given you the ability to run 60 marathons this year for an awesome cause, now use it to your advantage to take care of yourself!
    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family today! Good luck!

    Reply

  10. This story was told to me by a friend who’s father (100% Greek) was told his told to him by his father (200% Greek.)

    The story is that during war as warriors and paiges would march to battle- they would write something on their foot with wine, soot or vinegar. A problem that was plaguing their life, a hope to survive, something to pray for. As the word disappeared with every step- they left it behind-so that when they went to battle their heart was clean. And when they survived they came home new and if they died they met God with a clear conscious.

    I was told that Phiddipiedeas wrote “Peace” on his foot as he ran across Greece proclaiming that the war was over.

    For my first marathon I asked my boyfriend to write my word for me. Something for me to either leave behind or fuel me through the miles. It was really neat to have something to think about other than “ow my hip hurts” for all those miles. After I crossed the finish line I stripped my sock and shoe to find the work “PASSION”. I now keep a scrap book of all the words he’s written.

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  11. This story was told to me by a friend who’s father (100% Greek) was told his told to him by his father (200% Greek.)

    The story is that during war as warriors and paiges would march to battle- they would write something on their foot with wine, soot or vinegar. A problem that was plaguing their life, a hope to survive, something to pray for. As the word disappeared with every step- they left it behind-so that when they went to battle their heart was clean. And when they survived they came home new and if they died they met God with a clear conscious.

    I was told that Phiddipiedeas wrote “Peace” on his foot as he ran across Greece proclaiming that the war was over.

    For my first marathon I asked my boyfriend to write my word for me. Something for me to either leave behind or fuel me through the miles. It was really neat to have something to think about other than “ow my hip hurts” for all those miles. After I crossed the finish line I stripped my sock and shoe to find the work “PASSION”. I now keep a scrap book of all the words he’s written.

    Reply

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