Oh, what a weekend. I’m exhausted. I’m not as young as I used to be. This one really wore me out and I don’t even want to think about my next trip out, which is in three days. Wow. I’m writing this on the plane back from Philadelphia. I want to take a nap, but I don’t have time.
Real quick, just in case this your first time here … welcome! And to fill you in, I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. I’m attempting to run 61 marathons this year to raise money and awareness for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism. So far, I’m through 55. And a couple of ultras. I would absolutely not be doing this if not for him, so I know that his autism is making the world a better place.
I ran the Philadelphia Marathon yesterday (read my recap here). It wasn’t my best or fastest marathon of the year, but I felt like I gave it my all, considering my lousy physical condition heading into the race.
OK, my weekend.
Would It Have Been Faster To Drive?
I left for the airport from the Thanksgiving celebration at Ava’s school. Really, there’s no point in putting that in here other than I wanted to post a picture!
Me and my owners.
My flight from LA to Philadelphia on Friday was at 2:10 p.m. I got to LAX a little before 1 p.m. I was flying through Atlanta, arriving at 9:25 p.m., then hopping onto a 10 p.m. flight scheduled to land in Philadelphia at 11:57. I would have been asleep by 1 a.m. and had the opportunity to sleep in and recharge on Saturday.
I’ve been sick for close to a week and I’m feeling fairly miserable. Nothing helps quite like sleep. I’m guessing that no sleep isn’t a good thing when you’re sick?
We were about to board the flight when they announced that the captain issued an order preventing people from boarding due to maintenance issues. Hey, no complaints from me on that! About 30 minutes later, they announced that the part we needed had to be flown in to Atlanta. The flight was now scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
I was flying Air Tran, which has various partners and hubs. They told us they had rescheduled everybody’s itinerary. I had a lunch to go to at noon on Saturday in Philadelphia, so I was afraid I’d miss it. I waited in line until 4:30 and found out I was indeed on that 9:15 p.m. flight, arriving in Atlanta at 4:12 a.m. My flight to Philadelphia was scheduled to leave at 8:55 and arrive at 10:51 a.m. At least I’d make the lunch.
While I had time to kill, Operation Jack supporter Jake Rome came and picked me up and showed me the course for the Operation Jack Marathon. I took a picture at the finish line!
I can’t wait to get back there! 34 days!
I got back to the airport, ate some Burger King, hopped on my plane and got about three hours of lousy sleep while listening to my iPod. I was a zombie when I got to Atlanta. My mom lives there, so I had arranged with her to meet me at the airport for breakfast. I’ve only seen her twice this year, and once was an unexpected visit there when I got bumped from a flight and had a long layover.
Earlier this year, we gave her one of our dogs, because she can provide her with a much better life. Something about empty nest vs. three kids, including one with a disability. So my mom showed up with Holly, we visited for a couple of hours and I went and boarded my flight. If you noticed, there was no nap in all of that.
Me and Holly.
I couldn’t sleep on my flight, but I finally got to Philadelphia at 10:50 a.m. Eastern time, 20 hours after I left my hometown to drive to LAX. A friend of mine picked me up and we went back to her apartment. We chatted for about 10 minutes max before I left for the lunch I had to go to. After that, I walked to look for a certain souvenir for my oldest son (couldn’t find it, though), then went to the expo and walked around for a little bit, but I felt numb and faint from the exhaustion.
I sat down on a concrete floor, leaning up against a wall, letting my friend do a little shopping. She came and got me, we walked back to her place and I took a nap for a couple of hours. I couldn’t tell you the last time I was that exhausted.
I Finally Missed Something Important
I’ve done a pretty good job of not missing things this year. Despite jetting all around the country, I’ve been home for all the birthday parties, birthdays, my wedding anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day fireworks, trick-or-treating, first day of kindergarten for Ava, back-to-school nights for the kids, Benjamin’s only goal of the season in soccer, etc.
I’ve been away a lot, but I’ve made a lot out of the time I’ve been home. This Saturday was Ben’s last soccer game — his team was in the playoffs and this was the championship game. There was a good chance of rain, and if the game got postponed, it would have been played either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
I kept my eye on the forecast and there was a a 70 percent chance of rain. I was hoping I’d luck out on this one. I was texting with my wife Tiffany about the weather. It rained all night, but it stopped in the morning. But then it started again and it was pouring pretty nicely. I’m on the email distribution list with Ben’s coach and I was waiting eagerly for that cancellation email.
But 90 minutes before game time, he let us know that it was still on. I was hopeful that they’d cancel the game, but I was getting kind of anxious. Tiff was texting me pictures of the downpour and I couldn’t see how they would possibly play the game. I was cautiously optimistic.
They got out there, and there were teams playing another game. At that point, I knew I was going to be out of luck. They were doing whatever they could to play the games. I was so bummed knowing I’d miss the game. This was the first big miss of the year for me and it really made me sad. I know I’m doing what I’m doing for a good cause, but that doesn’t make it any easier to not be there, especially when Ben begged me to make it to the game earlier this week.
The game went on and Ben’s team won, 2-0. I got pictures of the trophy presentations and they all had a blast. That was going on at the same time I was leaning up against that wall while sitting on the concrete floor at the expo. For lack of a better word, it sucked.
Oh well. I’m glad they won.
Pretty bittersweet for me to get this picture of Ben getting his trophy, because I wasn’t there.
Other Misc. Stuff
I ate a cheesesteak for lunch yesterday. I guess that makes up for not having pizza in Chicago. Also, I’m just sneaking this in here to see if anybody actually reads this whole thing, but I was born on November 22, 1974. Now you know.
This was my lunch yesterday. It kind of made up for not getting pizza when I was in Chicago.
The Long Road Home
On October 31, it took me 4 1/2 hours to fly home from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles. Yesterday, apparently there were really strong headwinds. It took us about 2:15 for the first leg of the flight back, Philadelphia to Chicago. Chicago to Los Angeles took FIVE HOURS. I can’t even begin to tell you how tired I was.
At least I had the best seat on the plane from LA to Chicago.
That’s All For Today
Like I mentioned, I wrote this on the plane last night. And I was tired. And I needed to take a nap before driving home. So that’s all for this one. I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Maybe?
Shelly Overton says
Happy Birthday Sam! I hope you have a restful (for one who has to go to work on today after an exhausting weekend), peaceful, (for one who is so ultra busy), awesome, great, fantastic day! Make it yours!
Rachel Boyd says
Happy birthday! Hopefully you get some rest this time and I know you will get some time with Ben in which he can give you a play by play of the game from his perspective.
Heather Gonzalez says
Happy birthday! The weather was lousy Saturday, I don’t know how they managed to play soccer… bummer!
Christina Lee says
Happy birthday Sam! Great to meet you in Philly!
What was the souvenir you were looking for? Maybe I can help?
Brandon Wood says
Happy Birthday Sam! Yes, I did read the whole thing, old man 🙂
Ally Phillips says
Happy Birthday!!!!
How did I not know y’all had dogs? What kind is Holly? She’s darling. That’s so nice that she could stay in the family and live with your mom in Atlanta.
Hope you’re having a great day! And are slightly recovered from your crazy exhausting weekend.
Ally Phillips says
PS. I meant to say, that picture of you, Ava and Tiff is precious!
Melissa Gillespie says
Happy Birthday, Sam! Sorry you missed the event and were so tired. Almost done.