tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27784146949157654572024-02-06T18:03:38.542-08:00The PiskunsWelcome to our rant/raves and letters of support as the Piskun run, bike or swim anything we can.Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-37713268172877813382013-05-02T19:22:00.002-07:002013-05-02T19:25:52.287-07:00Been a while. Maybe it's time to fire this thing back up!Marin Corp Marathon. My big race of the year October 2012. For the first time, I'm running for two reasons. One and I need to train for "something" and Two, I running to raise funds for Diabetes. Diabetes runs in our family... rampantly. <br />
<br />
My fund raising website. <a href="http://www.diabetesaction.org/goto/piskun">http://www.diabetesaction.org/goto/piskun</a><br />
<br />
So sibs..what are you doing this year?<br />
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- Christopher<br />
<br />Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-58494505564645683062011-05-01T20:16:00.000-07:002011-05-01T20:17:04.885-07:00Let's gear up for anotherLondon? Austin? St. Louis? Thoughts?SPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14365867531754961144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-3309322127996137212011-03-23T10:05:00.001-07:002011-03-23T10:05:53.146-07:00Great Quote of the Day:The challenge in running is not to aim at doing the things no one else has done, but to keep doing things anyone could do—but most never will.<br />
<br />
- Joe Henderson in The Complete Book of RunningMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218247909963294906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-33911881756706671452011-02-09T11:42:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:48:15.559-08:00New Orleans Half Courseer, it's like one street..... this should be an interesting run. <br />
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I also lost 5 lbs. yay. But we can thank a couple douche bag guys for that... Focus, Molly. Focus.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218247909963294906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-49143006020496398392010-11-10T18:20:00.001-08:002010-11-10T18:25:11.689-08:00Training Begins....again.....Okay -- Training begins again for me on Monday. Been sidelined with sick children. But, Chris' times are starting to piss me off. But, I'm not competitive or anything......As far as being the sandbagger -- not! Mean words, little brother! I wanted to do a 4:20 AND fell massively short. But, LA -- here I come. New Orleans is a mere stepping stone in my journey to beat 4:30. And, I KNOW, I can do it -- my running partner just finished NYC in 4:05. So, I'll be damned -- I can do it!! And, as proof -- Zac Brown just won a CMA for Free -- my Chicago Song. Just bought my new ipod since the nano completely sucked wind and failed me at my time of need. Nothing beats the simplicity of forward, reverse. Who the hell needs touch technology while attempting to run 26.2. Now -- the real question -- are we maintaining this blog or starting one for NOLA and LA??? Let's do it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-61537254946941735112010-10-20T19:33:00.001-07:002010-10-21T18:46:33.333-07:00What's Next...Well... here we go again folks... We're off again!<br /><br />2/13/11 - New Orleans Half Marathon - Betsy hits the pavement and I just may join her.. What a better way to turn 40! Running with my lil sis in "<span style="font-style: italic;">N'awlins</span>".. It's a rock 'n roll half and you know they serve up some great cerveza after this puppy.<br /><br />3/20/11 - LA Marathon. Molly, Jennifer and myself are registered. WTF? Yup, we're knocking them off left and right. Now starts the arm twisting.. who else is going to join us<span style="font-style: italic;">?</span> If you're reading this.. you're invited<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span class="f"><cite></cite></span><br />10/2/11 - Poconos 70.3 IronMan... Known as a "Tin-Man" 1/2 of an full Iron Man: 1.2 Mile swim (I do this before breakfast...really), 56 Mile Bike (I need a good bike) and 13.1 Mile run (that's it?). I'm doing this one for me, but would love company...<br /><br />- Christopher<br /><br /><br /><span class="f"> </span>Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-43284437300220655522010-10-18T18:41:00.000-07:002010-10-18T19:34:40.097-07:00Chicago Marathon - Results and Pictures !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKTjCsc5y8trDOm6CpWyi4mliRSOdmPAWWLTnLxZlZTm2aNQWzxCZ1E0U2nYji7imMwJyOW7gWQA1JyO-fmoe5TDBvYN0OXQkYtgsv7c_snYJ1eS6D3EQGT-I1Led1iq7DVZaK7RU5oo/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKTjCsc5y8trDOm6CpWyi4mliRSOdmPAWWLTnLxZlZTm2aNQWzxCZ1E0U2nYji7imMwJyOW7gWQA1JyO-fmoe5TDBvYN0OXQkYtgsv7c_snYJ1eS6D3EQGT-I1Led1iq7DVZaK7RU5oo/s320/IMG_1892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573641946392162" border="0" /></a>Our results!<br /><br /><a href="http://results.public.chicagomarathon.com/2010/">h</a><a href="http://results.public.chicagomarathon.com/2010/">ttp://results.public.chicagomarathon.com/2010/</a><br /><br /><br />Sally = 4:57:31 (awesome first marathon: must be the mile high air she trained in!)<br /><br />Jennifer = 5:03:46 (if you read all the posts from Jennifer about how she's suffering and isn't going to make it... pffst... As our father would have said ..."sand bagger")<br /><br />Molly = 5:23:25 (Nice time, also first marathon)<br /><br />Christopher = 5:45:20 (Dead last, finished with a smile on my face and headed straight for the beer tent)<br /><br />Pics! 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margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d0Jrk0eeZ0H3_iing3Qpr6GJS4mHKsvhZYbAa-ndEYndb2palCVrnDDtoyNE3OTrPQOD0iTLHKyTrgksNa0cJp3KAcIhyeIQX3Hzg3LGqQBx7SVPZV9AjR3IYU3vVupg3s-Kl6_8tFk/s320/IMG00142-20101010-1344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529571636456235954" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLJWkRg7XOKUZy17Qx4nw6TAVI-5Rxy7eQN6WSpTlA3Xz4_haC_ww2hkrGN1HeDKxWGFegPJ89k3FivmLAoMREeydhiuNZjjKka04K8sYgyBTWF11tVCnp8Z4hATTlF7BXHtXGyVR_ew/s1600/IMG_1871.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLJWkRg7XOKUZy17Qx4nw6TAVI-5Rxy7eQN6WSpTlA3Xz4_haC_ww2hkrGN1HeDKxWGFegPJ89k3FivmLAoMREeydhiuNZjjKka04K8sYgyBTWF11tVCnp8Z4hATTlF7BXHtXGyVR_ew/s320/IMG_1871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573357037882450" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ig7ptLA7tP8QHKoMvqDooX5gX0kuq5W4_nXaxPnWxI7yYN5pM1oxah0CpQivQUZEZli1OMJ2VVy_yJCFB-IHHWJyVfdfEUaZM0FVbn6ZCSzM4zVCyJV6-8m14Uu3RjZ8FUBN_N2A00E/s1600/IMG_1872.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 102px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ig7ptLA7tP8QHKoMvqDooX5gX0kuq5W4_nXaxPnWxI7yYN5pM1oxah0CpQivQUZEZli1OMJ2VVy_yJCFB-IHHWJyVfdfEUaZM0FVbn6ZCSzM4zVCyJV6-8m14Uu3RjZ8FUBN_N2A00E/s320/IMG_1872.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573952341749170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny49vc0YnY1XoxMEuLxq2of7Av8w_W5qiwtk0YGCOQIIEcGvbjftk8a-yqknxgO61mIDfVxogIEsZFpzNDE0pynrkIs1AD1Qp-E6SAEHwxoK8JD3Z-M8d2w7uiYmW58dCLEG2mTObFAs/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 529px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny49vc0YnY1XoxMEuLxq2of7Av8w_W5qiwtk0YGCOQIIEcGvbjftk8a-yqknxgO61mIDfVxogIEsZFpzNDE0pynrkIs1AD1Qp-E6SAEHwxoK8JD3Z-M8d2w7uiYmW58dCLEG2mTObFAs/s320/IMG_1885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573496025011042" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///E:/Piskun/Pictures/20101013/IMG_1803.JPG" alt="" />Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-35653442654945187992010-10-13T17:40:00.000-07:002010-10-13T17:49:40.141-07:00The Bug: New ChallengeHowdy,<br />I've been bitten... I have the "bug".. bad. I'm depressed now that we rocked Chicago... What the hell am I supposed to do now?<br /><br />Answer: Something else dummy<br /><br />Molly may have just given it to me... LA marathon, March 20th, 2011.<br />(http://www.lamarathon.com/) . <br />Point to Point run and basically downhill ???? Hmmm.. while the hell not? Avg max temp = 68 degrees in March. A nice 5 months away... perfect for a new training program...<br /><br />Sibs... what do ya think? We can all crash at Molly's place (shh.. haven't asked her yet).<br /><br />I'm also toying with the idea of a tri... seriously thinking about the Lone-star 1/2 iron-man in April @ Galveston... anyone up for that?Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-58643639778214802872010-10-11T20:55:00.000-07:002010-10-11T20:56:33.731-07:00We Rocked It!! Four 4 Wally Rules!Quick post -- we did it! We all finished. Yahoo! Okay -- off to get my aleve and some sleep. More later!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-89560021122656019562010-10-06T18:10:00.000-07:002010-10-06T18:20:03.695-07:00Marathon JittersI've been told this can happen... seems it has come true. A Blasts of posts from my sisters losing their F'n minds.<br /><br />We've all put in the miles.. no one is cheating here. I've seen the Nike+ posts. We're ready and rested. I'm enjoying the excitement and cannot wait to see you all this weekend.<br /><br />Tonight I'm relaxing and going to veg in bed, fire up my laptop and watch a movie that got me moving on this marathon idea in the first place. If you have not watched this movie.. do so. It'll inspire you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/85354/spirit-of-the-marathon">http://www.hulu.com/watch/85354/spirit-of-the-marathon</a><br /><br />Oh yea.. here is the site to register to track us: <a href="http://www.textinterface.com/pls/text/TF_BACM_DT">http://www.textinterface.com/pls/text/TF_BACM_DT</a>Christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-59018769817610597582010-10-06T17:39:00.000-07:002010-10-06T17:54:48.143-07:00Wow. It's 4 days away!FUCK!<br />
<br />
Sorry Mom, but it's all I can really type to sum up all my emotions right now. I'm scared. Like out of my mind scared.<br />
<br />
People say to me in response, "WHAT!?! How can you be scared of running? You've been running for 8 months straight. Frankly, I'm sick of hearing about it. You are going to do fine!"<br />
<br />
You know what I want to say to that?<br />
<br />
Well. My mother reads this so I'm not going to tell you. (see above for an example)<br />
<br />
In essence, what they are saying is correct. I have been running, I have prepared, I am ready. However they are not necessarily addressing the concerns I have regarding my up-coming MARATHON run. That's right, I said MARATHON. I mean, as legend has it, a man DIED at the end of 26.2 miles. (Though that may have been proven historically false) Irrelevant! 26.2 is still a sh*t long way to run. A sh*t long way to tell your mind everything is alright... just. keep. going.<br />
<br />
Since January 17, 2010, the day I signed up for the Chicago Marathon I have been preparing for the moment just four days away. To date, I've run 3 half marathons in a race setting, and in training have run 14, 16, 18, and 22 miles. Textbook says I'm prepared.<br />
<br />
And this is what my mind tells me:<br />
1) You SUCKED at those 22 miles. You walked 5 of them!<br />
2) Remember how hard for a time you had in Austin? Ya, it's going to be like that....but worse.<br />
3) Nan-uh-nan-uh-nan-uh! Your foot injury is going to be a prob-lem!<br />
4) Dang, you haven't even run a mile since your last long run? Ha! Your training is probably half what it used to be.<br />
...and so forth.<br />
<br />
Damn, my mind is MEAN. Then again, Betsy could have told you that.<br />
<br />
Bottom line is, I'm scared of not finishing. I'm scared of disappointing myself. I'm scared my mind will get the better of me and not me it. I'm scared that one of my siblings is going to do better than me. (Uh, did I say that out loud?)<br />
<br />
At the end of the day one thought, one word, brings it all back into perspective. PISKUN. WE are doing this for him. It's us out there. Not just me. All of us, together. <br />
<br />
Jennifer, the oldest.<br />
Christopher, the man.<br />
Sally, the strength.<br />
Molly, the punk.<br />
Betsy, the rock.<br />
Mom, the cheerleader.<br />
<br />
It's funny what happens when you are hesitant, scared, and anxious about an inevitable event. In this case the marathon. Your mind quickly reviews all the times in your life you've felt similar and reminds itself the outcome. For me, the only other time in my life that I can remember being this freaked was when I was six years old. Ironically it was in the exact same city I sit today.<br />
<br />
My family took a trip to Los Angeles for Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. I couldn't tell you much about Disneyland other than I remember loving Space Mountain and thinking the Matador was the scariest creature to ever have lived; and as such, questioned why it even lived in Disneyland at all. But the moment I remember like it was yesterday, was that yellow, one loop roller coaster. You know, the one that is a straight line that suddenly shoots you up, through one loop and back...backwards. I remember staring at it. Shaking my head. "NO WAY! Nun, uh. I'm not going on that! No, daaaaaaaaaaad!" being two seconds away from a complete meltdown. <br />
<br />
"You're going." He replied. "Piskun's try everything once."<br />
<br />
Needless to say, I LOVED every second of that ride. I believe I made my brother ride it with me 3 straight times that day. Today, there is no ride I won't go on...at least once.<br />
<br />
Funny. I feel the exact same tantrum brewing today. The same adamant refusal to try something so daunting and dangerous, so unfathomable. I just want to run away (figuratively of course) from the task. But at the same time, I hear that phrase... "Piskun's try everything once."<br />
<br />
Jennifer, I couldn't think of a better phrase for our custom made, black and yellow running shirts. In fact, I think Dad would cry to see we've embraced his yellow/black life-long obsession.<br />
<br />
26.2 to go. This one's for, as Chris would say, you Pop!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218247909963294906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-49679424105200202362010-10-06T16:45:00.001-07:002010-10-06T16:57:02.906-07:00Jennifer's Playlist -- No particular OrderThe official race song is Beautiful Day by U2. I always start mine with Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. I won't part with tradition. Other than this first song -- here is my list, in no particular order since I put the pod on shuffle:<br /><br />Wide Open Spaces -- Dixie Chicks<br />Remedy -- Black Crowes<br />Born to Run -- Bruce Springsteen<br />Off the Wall -- Michael Jackson<br />Love Story -- Taylor Swift<br />Beer for my Horses - Toby Keith and Willie Nelson<br />Better be good to me -- Tina Turner<br />Billie Jean -- Michael Jackson<br />Beat It -- Michael Jackson<br />Live LIke you were dying -- Tim McGraw<br />Single Ladies -- Beyonce<br />Never Wanted Nothing More -- Kenny Chesney<br />Time for me to fly -- REO Speedwagon<br />September -- Earth wind and fire<br />Wanna Be Startin' something -- Michael Jackson<br />Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel<br />The Best -- Tina Turner<br />Thriller -- Michael Jackson<br />A Change Would do you Good - Sheryl Crow<br />Brown Eyed Girl -- Van Morrison<br />I will Follow - U2<br />Hit me with your best shot -- Pat Benetar<br />Kiss a Girl -- Keith Urban<br />Mercy -- Duffy<br />Suspicious Minds -- Dwight Yoakum<br />I gotta feeling -- Black eyed peas<br />Don't stop believin' - Journey<br />You can't stop the beat -- hairspray<br />Poker face -- lady gaga<br />Any way you want it -- journey<br />Don't stop til you get enough -- michael jackson<br />solsbury hill -- peter gabriel<br />dancing queen -- abba<br />dancing with myself -- billy idol<br />son of a preacher man -- dusty springfield<br />A little less conversation -- elvis<br />we got the beat -- go-gos<br />welcome to the jungle -- guns n roses<br />i melt with you -- modern english<br />super freak -- rick james<br />blister in the sun -- violent femmes<br />it's raining men -- weather girls<br />hold on loosely -- 38 special<br />caught up in you -- 38 special<br />Free -- zac brown band<br />the departed song -- drop kick murphies; for betsy<br />up against the wall redneck mother -- jerry jeff walker<br />amarillo by morning -- george straight<br />some song by the muse -- that's for molly<br />it's tricky -- run dmc<br />Waking up in Vegas -- katy perry<br />rehab -- amy winehouse<br /><br /><br />my ipod just died -- no idea of the others -- but i have 6 hours of songs -- because it might just take me six hours. ugh!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-89618502074732369102010-10-06T16:41:00.000-07:002010-10-06T16:43:40.938-07:00Track your numberSiblings --<br /><br />Do not forget to load up your family members and friends [ie, our support team] on the track the runner option on the official marathon site. It's super easy to do. That way, they can follow us and know where we are -- that is, assuming I wear my chip. # days and counting. It's here. Are we ready? Let's do it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-46329706294255909912010-10-06T16:38:00.000-07:002010-10-06T16:41:46.925-07:00It's official -- I'm freaking out....can I really do this?Okay -- I am a bit freaked. And, I should not be - this is my third marathon. But, I am WOEFULLY underprepared for this event and pretty down in terms of motivation. I was so pumped -- as you will see from my posts below -- prior to this week. I knew I had my long run in the bag -- yet, I am finding it hard to get pumped for this run. I have done next to nothing in terms of excercise for nearly 2 weeks. My left knee is killing me -- giving out on me when I walk stairs or carry my children. I am going to so slow that I am seriously contemplating not wearing my chip. Please -- help, send the alarm, help me get pumped. Help me get in the mind-set that I can rock this marathon. That I can take on Boston. That I can finish and finish with pride. I am counting on you followers -- help me rock it!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-5124473749566629742010-10-05T18:27:00.000-07:002010-10-05T19:14:30.326-07:00Updated Playlist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAOklzGk0FqODIPaydv885Uf9hbo9uaSiVzh-BiAcTJk7ulu7Yet0M_zMZkMIigtp2xVFZVAko_xJLJNEuVsclNWATRrGcrf3z_q0idEhwTPLaPMgslF0w15-9QIAHal_l3NfBu3E-nI/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAOklzGk0FqODIPaydv885Uf9hbo9uaSiVzh-BiAcTJk7ulu7Yet0M_zMZkMIigtp2xVFZVAko_xJLJNEuVsclNWATRrGcrf3z_q0idEhwTPLaPMgslF0w15-9QIAHal_l3NfBu3E-nI/s320/untitled.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524748449268344210" border="0" /></a>Bored and since I'm not allowed to really run or do anything "hard" this week... I'm going a bit batty. So I've updated my playlist for the big day...<br /><br /><br /><br />Ordered them by artist -<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith<br />Thank You - Alanis Morissette<br />Hand in my Pocket - Alanis Morissette<br />Hey Jude - The Beatles (I just might sing this out loud while running)<br />In a Big Country - Big Country<br />I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas<br />Let's Get It Started - The Black Eyed Peas (#1 in the list for sure)<br />Pump It - The Black Eyed Peas<br />I Miss You - Blink-182<br />Three Little Birds - Bob Marley<br />Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams<br />Surrender - Cheap Trick<br />Three Little Birdies Down Beats - The Chemical Brothers<br />Send the Pain Below - Chevelle<br />The Red - Chevelle<br />Woohoo - Christina Aguilera (stole this from Emily)<br />Viva La Vida - Coldplay<br />One - Creed<br />Have you Ever Seen the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Run Forest Run)<br />She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult (Just Love this song..)<br />You Might Die Trying - Dave Matthews Band<br />Louisana Bayou - Dave Matthews Band<br />Personal Jesus (Pump Mix) - Depeche Mode<br />Guitars, Cadillace - Dwight Yokem (Great shit kicking song)<br />My Way - Elvis Presley (If I can time it so I round 26 on this song... be very cool)<br />Lose Yourself - Eminem<br />Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida<br />Everlong - Foo Fighters<br />Our Lips are Sealed - Go Go's (no one can turn off this song)<br />Know Your Enemy - Greenday<br />You and Your Heart - Jack Johnson<br />Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z<br />Voodo Child - Jimi Hendrix<br />Pink Houses - John Mellencamp<br />Hot N Cold - Katy Perry<br />Tik Tok - Ke$ha (Molly...)<br />My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson<br />Mr. BrightSide - The Killers<br />Somebody Told Me - The Killers<br />Shadow of the Day - Linkin Park<br />One - Metallica<br />Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue<br />Rockstar - Nickelback<br />Closer - Nine Inch Nails<br />Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails<br />Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious BIG<br />Crazy Train - Ozzy<br />Just Like a Pill - P!nk<br />Baby I'm a Star - Prince<br />Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen<br />Wake Up - Rage Against the Machine<br />Lunatic Fringe - Red Rider<br />Gimmie Shelter - Rolling Stones<br />It's Tricky - Run-DMC<br />The Spirit of the Radio - Rush<br />Rocket - Smashing Pumpkins<br />Jet Airliner - Steve Miller Band<br />Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan<br />Rapper's Delight - The Sugarhill Gang<br />Just to See You Smile - Tim McGraw<br />Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw<br />Jump - Van Halen<br />Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve<br />Gettin' Jiggy Wit It - Will Smith<br />How Do U Want It - 2Pac<br />Caught Up in You - .38 Special<br /><br />- ChristopherChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-37855719829822370772010-09-29T21:19:00.001-07:002010-09-29T21:47:02.772-07:00Chicago: InformationHowdy,<br />I put together some information for all of us. I've also made copies of train schedules, start/finish area maps, observer and participant guides that I'll bring along with me.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Accommodations:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Presidential Towers</span> (Christopher, Emily, Jennifer, Sara?, Sally, and Justin)<br />Address: 555 West Madison, Chicago IL 60661<br />Phone: 866.273.0973<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Hilton Chicago</span> (Mary Ann, Betsy and Molly)<br />Address: 720 South Michigan, Chicago IL 60605<br />Phone: 312.922.4400<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Expo / Packet Pickup: Friday 9a - 8p & Saturday 9a - 6p</span><br />Place: McCormick Place Convention Center: North Building, Hall B1<br />Address: 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Directions:</span> - Public Transportation (From Apartments):<br /><ol><li>Take a cab to Wrigley square (North Michigan Ave & East Randolph Street)</li><li>Take Train ME (Metra Electric) South - Millennium Station to McCormick Place Station (7 Minutes) - Departure Times (assuming Saturday) - f = flag stop: must signal conductor to stop (9:15a, 9:20a f, 10:20a, 11:15a, 11:20a f, 12:20p, 1:15a f, 1:20p, 2:20p, 3:05p f, 3:10p, 3:30p)<br /></li><li>Walk west towards McCormick Place Convention Center</li></ol><ul><li>Train Return: North - McCormick Place Station to Millennium Station (9 Minutes - Departure Times (assuming Saturday) - (9:51a, 9:59a, 10:51a, 11:51a, 11:59a, 12:51p, 1:51p, 1:59p, 2:51p, 3:51p, 3:59p)<br /></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Notes</span><br />Participant guide is your confirmation ticket, don’t forget it<br />Must pickup packets before race: No race day pickups<br />Get packet, then go to D-Tag Verification stations to test it<br />Get participant bag. Need this bag to check in your stuff on race day, also has the T-Shirt!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:100%;" >Holy Crap, Need Stuff:</span><br />Nike (Niketown) - all the running crap you need: 669 North Michigan Ave (take a cab)<br />CVS stores are everywhere downtown - one block north east from Presidential Towers on West Washington and Clinton:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:100%;" >Dinners:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Friday</span><br />Topolobampo - Mexican (Rick Bayless) @ 5:30p<br />445 North Clark Street - take a cab<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Saturday</span><br />Café Spiagia @ 7:00p<br />980 N Michigan Ave - take a cab<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Sunday</span><br />Table Fifty-Two @ 5:30p<br />52 West Elm Street - take a cab<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:100%;" >Race Day</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Race Starts @ 7:30a</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Directions:<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">- <span style="font-size:100%;">Public Transportation (From Apa</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" >rtments)</span><br /><ol><li>Walk east to North Clinton, Walk North on Clinton to West Lake (3 blocks or about 10 minutes)</li><li>Clinton-Green Station (L train) - look up!</li><li>Take Pink Line: Direction = Loop (5 stops) to Adams/Wabash Station (~ 6 minutes) - (5:12a, 5:27a, 5:42a, 5:57a, 6:12a, 6:27a, 6:40a - then every 12 minutes after 6:40a)</li><li>Walk East towards South Michigan (Can’t miss it from there)<br /></li></ol><ul><li>Train Return: Take Green Line: Direction: Harlem/Lake or Madison/Wambash (next station) - Runs every 12-13 minutes before 12:00p: every 10 minutes after 12:00p<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:100%;" >Misc Crud</span><br />NBC 5 local TV station will have coverage<br />SportsRadio 670AM will have coverageChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-19571993102970182802010-09-26T09:56:00.000-07:002010-09-26T10:18:53.963-07:00A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to 4 Miles......This may be fall in the category of "you had to be there" or it was "better in person" but I"ll do my best to describe today's fun times during my run:<br /><br />1. Started the run with Run DMC's "It's Tricky." This is the song that is scorched in my mind as my brother's -- Chris. So, when it started -- I started to smile and laugh out loud. Forgetting that I had my music blasting at full volume -- note to self: full volume is necessary; you have no ability to think of anything else when the music is so loud it fries your brain and numbs your senses to feel any pain or any other emotion other than loud music......I digress -- so, forgetting the volume -- I"m sure the people around me thought that I was more than a little insane when I said -- and probably yelled -- this one's for you Chris.<br /><br />2. Usually, on short runs -- I notice the things immediately in front of me, rather than wander beyond 10 feet. Today, I decided to notice shirts people were wearing. Found some great ones -- these were my top three today:<br /><br />A. A running shirt that said: Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Seems like all I do these days. So, I liked it. Very Fitting.<br /><br />B. A pack of fast as crap runners running toward me on the trail. Maybe 15 girls in the pack. All cut, all young, all fast as shit. First thought -- depressing. Second though -- damn they are fast. Third thought -- there is a shit load of them. Fourth thought -- damn they are young -- high school. Fifth thought -- Oh, they are the UT Cross Country Team...hmm, am I that old that I think college girls are high school girls...eek. Then, out of the corner of my eye -- I see it. A really killer t-shirt -- maybe I notice it because she is the only one in the pack of hard-bodied, pre-having-birth-of-twin bodies to be wearing a shirt. It says: KICK ASSphalt. Hmm -- bout sums it up. I'll be kicking 26.2 miles of it in two weeks from today! Very Fitting once again!<br /><br />C. Now -- the best shirt of the run. It was at the end, I had just finished. Walking back to my car. Let me set the visual. Little man in stature; big man in belly. Maybe a taller danny devito with more hair and tortoise shell glasses. Earnestly walking around the trail.......When I say big belly -- it's exactly that -- a big belly. Clearly, they guy eats his fair share of pasta.....Clearly, he needs to be walking the pasta off......Then I see his shirt: huge letters. White shirt, black letters -- kind of like those old Wham shirts from the 80's or those ACA Joe shirts from the 80's [I am fully aware that I have just dated myself, massively -- but you get the picture]. It says: Fat Ass. I almost choked on my gum [yes, I run with gum, sorry sally -- keeps the pace]. I laughed so hard. I had to go up to him and tell him that I loved the shirt. His explanation: "I love it, too. I wear it because you gotta have a sense of humor out here. Too many of these folks take this exercise stuff too seriously. I hate it [exercising] but obviously have to do it. Might as well has some fun with it." He owns the t-shirt kiosk in Barton Creek Mall -- he told me the other shirts he wears on the trail -- I cannot repeat them on this public forum. He wears them to get comments and break up the monotony of the trail. I had a great laugh and I think he did, too. <br /><br />Two weeks from today! Let's rock it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-84215877014237766942010-09-20T08:43:00.001-07:002010-09-20T08:46:37.696-07:00Tips for TravelThis may be a no-brainer but be sure to carry all of your running gear in a carry on. Also, be sure to bring multiple weather items -- for very cold to warm; some type of cover; whether it be a baseball cap or coolmax rain jacket for rain, etc. Also, if you are on the fence for new shoes -- now is the week to buy them and do your taper runs in them to be sure no rubbing and to break them in. You can use your old one's as back ups to give to our sherpas -- in the event of rain [nothing worse than running 26.2 in soaking shoes the entire way] or otherwise. Be sure to pack flip flops or tevas for after the race and dinner that night. Your feet will thank you for it! Go to goodwill and get your throw away jackets. Be sure to pack running gloves -- if it is cold, your hands will thank you for it. Love each of you! We are going to do this! What keeps me going is that picture at the end with all of us holding our finish medals, wearing our mylar blankets, and someone posting to facebook that we rocked it! love you. jpjUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-18919605819365010532010-09-19T15:51:00.000-07:002010-09-19T16:22:31.756-07:00Reflections.....We are exactly 21 days from the big day. As I think about this milestone approaching, I reflect on the following random topics:<br /><br />1. There is something to be said for running the streets of your city in the pre-dawn hours. You get introduced to facets that you did not know existed. Such as, deer eating grass along a very busy highway; the smells of kitchens gearing up for the morning crowd--some smells good, some smells not so good; police officers going over their nightly call logs while drinking coffee; how people take care of their property -- from the pristine to the dilapidated; the various shapes of runners -- all shapes and sizes and the one you least expect to pass you does; how nasty the single sex bathroom is in the 7-11 at Manchaca and Dittmar [perhaps it gets cleaner in the day....one would hope so]; trains that take FOREVER TO PASS so you can keep running; geez....and the list goes on.....<br /><br />2. There is something to be said for your itunes hitting the right songs, time after time -- even though you have the tunes set on shuffle. I knew I had Saturday's run within the first two songs -- Started with Blister in the Sun and then I will Follow -- the two songs that stand out in my mind during my last Chicago Marathon. This is in stark comparison to my 4 mile run earlier in the week when I hated every song in the cue and wanted to throw the ipod in the lake! '<br /><br />3. Amazing what running does -- for every good day; you have a bad. You just have to remember to keep going. With any luck -- Chicago will be a good day. <br /><br />4. Further explanation on Number 2 above -- during a desolate part of the marathon [of which, very few exist given the crowd support] -- there was this lone guy with an amp and his electric guitar. He was singing blister in the sun. I needed a pick me up at the moment and by george -- in the middle of the barren warehouse district was this lone soul supporting the runners. He could not have known but he made my day. I LOVE that song. College years came back to memory. Anyway, During the last .2 of the marathon -- as we entered the grand stands -- I will Follow was blasting and the crowds cheering. I will Follow was one of my favorite dance tunes in college. I could not have ended the day any better. So, to start my run -- the one that I was dreading and fearful of finishing-- with these two song randomly selected by my ipod -- heavenly intervention. I knew I had it from the get-go! Hope to repeat that feeling in Chicago.<br /><br />5. October 7, 2001 -- my first marathon. The Chicago Marathon. A mere few weeks after 9/11. There was a question of whether the marathon would even run. It did. We ran. We finished. At mile 18, the USA started bombing Afghanistan. I'll never forget it. One of the guys running near us must have been listening to the radio as opposed to tunes [we were not doing either] and he shouted it -- oh my, we are bombing Afghanistan. We all stopped. What did this mean? Is the marathon still going? As quickly as we stopped -- it was not lost on us that we were staring directly at the Sears Tower from the furthest point from the Tower -- it stood high in the skyline. As quickly as all of these events took place -- we all realized that they only way to get back to the start was to continue running. So, run we did -- but quietly. Almost surreal. Someone started singing Amazing Grace and we all joined in as we ran. I'll never forget that moment or the fact that while folks were losing their lives -- I was free to run and to run carefree. And, run we did.<br /><br />6. One must have a marathon song -- in light of my notes above -- I have been searching for that "it" song. I finally found it. It's an unexpected tune. Not heart-pumping or energetic. It's actually mellow in comparison to the songs on my Chicago marathon playlist. But, it hit a cord with me -- particularly in light of note number 4 above -- it's Free by the Zac Brown Band. Something about it - it just fits for me. It makes me want to stretch my arms out to the sides and run with careless abandon -- much like I felt at mile 18 in 2001-- until the reality of the challenge at hand came back to focus -- shit, I still have 8.2 miles to run! <br /><br />7. There is something to be said for the fact that when I hit 13 miles -- folks will have already finished the marathon; and many of them! <br /><br />8. There is something to be said for the Mind-f*** that happens when you hit 26 miles. You know you are there but you still have .2 to go. You can see the finish but are not there yet. Your legs are dead; energy depleted; soreness is setting in......Nothing can prepare you for the adrenaline rush that happens. Your body takes over and you go -- whereas. you have battled your mind the entire run and this is the one time that the body says f***-it brain, I'm going for it and get the f- out of the way. Pardon the vernacular -- but that is exactly what happens and exactly what you say to yourself or think regardless of whether you cuss outside your head or not. And, for that last .2 it's you and finish. Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie may be running right next to you and you will not notice. Your focus is keen and you go, go, go. Just remember -- to look up before you cross so you can have a picture of you smiling as you kick this milestone out of the ballpark! <br /><br />Chicago 2010 -- We're ready for ya! Wally, you done good. Take us the rest of the way. Go Piskuns Go!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-55503152390227459312010-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:002010-09-14T18:00:02.888-07:00Home StretchI'm terrified guys! And normally when I become terrified I run....figuratively. Yet I find it ironic that now, being the most terrified I can remember being my only job is to run...literally. <br />
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28 days and counting. My training has taken me to 16 miles. Finished those in 2:26 and change. This was also 6 weeks from marathon day. I was so ahead of schedule, I decided to take an off week, make sure I wasn't over doing it to the point where I would injure myself before the actual run.<br />
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After the off week, I began to hit the pavement again on a rare Monday night, dodgeball timed perfectly in its off season to allow another night to run in my final month of training. Feeling good and ready to begin the final stretch for what seems like a life time of training, I started my 'speed' run like a bullet, pacing at 6'20 for the first half mile. I came upon the one hill, which is about two blocks long at a about a 20 degree slope and slowed it down to save room for the remaining 2 miles. I completed the mile at just over 7' (my best mile yet). Just as I passed about 1.5 miles a sharp and profound pain under my left foot shot through my whole left side and I had to stop running. It felt as if I had walked...no, ran...and landed right on top of a fist size rock. I didn't remember run over anything that woudl make the type of pain I had. But I just walked home and though everything would be better tomorrow.<br />
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It's now been 10 days. The foot is still feeling a bit odd in some shoes, i.e. boots/heels, but I think I can start the runs again.<br />
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So I dive back into training this week. <br />
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<i><b>THIS IS IT!</b></i><br />
the last remaining training schedule is as follows:<br />
<br />
Tuesday: 4 miles - speed run (sub 8min miles)<br />
Wednesday: strength training/cross training<br />
Thursday: 7 miles (2 m warm up - farlek 800m 10K speed, 400m jog - 1 mile cool jog)*<br />
Friday: REST<br />
Saturday: 14 miles (easy pace)<br />
Sunday: Cross train/strength train- 3 hours<br />
<br />
Monday: 6 miles<br />
<br />
Tuesday: 4 miles - speed run (sub 8min miles)<br />
Wednesday: strength training/cross training<br />
Thursday: 9 miles (2 m warm up - farlek 800m 10K speed, 400m jog - 1 mile cool jog)*<br />
Friday: REST<br />
Saturday: 18 miles (easy pace)<br />
Sunday: Cross train/strength train- 3 hours<br />
<br />
Monday: 4 miles<br />
Tuesday: 6 miles - speed run (sub 8min miles)<br />
Wednesday: strength training/cross training<br />
Thursday: 10 miles (2 m warm up - farlek 800m 10K speed, 400m jog - 1 mile cool jog)*<br />
Friday: REST<br />
Saturday: 20 miles (easy pace)<br />
Sunday: Cross train/strength train- 3 hours<br />
<br />
Show me yours sibs, please!Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218247909963294906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-23408605058694277522010-09-09T17:44:00.000-07:002010-09-10T04:32:22.687-07:00PlaylistsI really need to change my run play-list.<br /><br />Instead of trying to figure out some great songs... I thought I'd just steal yours. Share your favorite run song (anyone reading this).<br /><br />Sisters: add them all to your play-list for Chicago... It'll help remind us of each other, take our minds off ourselves and the misery of how bad our legs feel.<br /><br />My favorite run song is "You Might Die Trying" by Dave Matthews Band from their DMB Live Trax, Vol 13 album (live).. It's one of those songs you "lose" in your head and by the end, you're hauling... not to mention is a long one at 10+ minutes. Worth the $1.29 from iTunes.<br /><br />- ChristopherChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-46641258691478302602010-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:002010-09-05T10:41:07.685-07:00Rock On!Please, oh please say this is it. No more hot-spot! Ran 14 miles yesterday and the leg feels awesome... as if running MADE it go away. It's confusing, but I'll take it. Really hope to get somewhat close to my schedule again. Yesterday was supposed to be 18 miles, but 14 will do when I haven't run more than 6 (yes 6) miles at once since mid May.<br /><br />- ChristopherChristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019074719346133207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-82344803621045595912010-09-01T15:46:00.001-07:002010-09-01T15:46:28.487-07:00QuestionWill I want to do a half marathon 14 days after this full? It's uber easy...virtually all down hill.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218247909963294906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2778414694915765457.post-61741292949990814232010-08-27T19:08:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:09:07.183-07:00Running, Running, gone!43 days and counting!! Let's do it to it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0