Great Quote!

"John McCain has served his country longer in a POW camp than his opponent has in the United States Senate," California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "I only play an action hero in the movies. John McCain is a real action hero.

Click here for full story, and this landed in my e-mail box today:

Notice to All Employees

As of November 5, 2008, when President Obama is officially elected into office, our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new, inspiring issues of change and fairness:

1. All salespeople will be pooling their sales and bonuses into a common pool that will be divided equally among all of you. This will serve to give those of you who are underachieving a "fair shake."

2. All low level workers will be pooling their wages, including overtime, into a common pool, dividing it equally amongst yourselves. This will help those who are "too busy for overtime" to reap the rewards from those who have more spare time and can work extra hours.

3. All top management will now be referred to as "the government." We will not participate in this "pooling" experience because the law doesn't apply to us.

4. The "government" will give eloquent speeches to all employees every week, encouraging its workers to continue to work hard "for the good of all."

5. The employees will be thrilled with these new policies because it's "good to spread the wealth." Those of you who have underachieved will finally get an opportunity; those of you who have worked hard and had success will feel more "patriotic."

6. The last few people who were hired should clean out their desks. Don't feel bad, though, because President Obama will give you free healthcare, free handouts, free oil for heating your home, free food stamps, and he'll let you stay in your home for as long as you want even if you can't pay your mortgage. If you appeal directly to our democratic congress, you might even get a free flat screen TV and a coupon for free haircuts (shouldn't all Americans be entitled to nice looking hair?) !!!

If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies, you may want to rethink your vote on November 4th.

Koala / Luke's Houston Half Marathon

It's a lazy Friday evening here in the metropolis of Spring (and I can hear Waverly's practicing Christmas songs in the next room). Therefore, it is a good time to try and recap last weekend before I get involved in this one!

I thought about driving to Panama City Beach, Florida to watch Ironman Florida in person, but I'm going to pass. I ran for an hour last night at the gym and another 45 minutes earlier this evening (plus a short 10-minute spin on the stationary bike.)

After I was done with the Moonlight Bike Ramble, I went in search for a convenience store that was open to get something quick to eat. I found a Valero station open on Memorial Drive and then I headed back downtown to find a place to park. I then saw a myriad of people as I was waiting for Bill to make his way to setup the TWRC tent.

They included the following:

+ Doug Spence and John DiMarco - both of them did the Chicago Marathon, but didn't know that the other one was there.
+ Whitney La Rocca - the Striders' new president. Whitney is a very good friend of mine. We ran most of the Longest Long Run together in December 2004, and have been friends ever since. She's one of those individuals that I wouldn't hesitate to help out in a heartbeat.
+ Noah Matthews - a longtime Strider who was in charge of helping the other clubs with their tents and he helped Bill and I put up the TWRC tent. One of the nicest gentleman that you'd ever want to meet.
+ Lisa Ruthven and Stacy Stepler - the new race co-directors. Both have been Striders since I joined the club back in 2004. Stacy was in my Power In Motion group in the fall of 2004. Whitney had arranged for me to ride the course, but I decided against it and let Lisa know (as well as thanking her) that I wouldn't be doing so. Primarily because I hadn't taken the road bike with me for the Bike Ramble.
+ Lee Baughman - He told me that 992 of the over 2,600+ registrants signed up in the last three days before the race. Interesting. I told him that Bill and I would help establish a northside packet pickup point next year, if Luke's decided not to do so.
+ Jay Hilscher - Race director of the Texas Independence Relay.
+ Edwin, Cassie, Manny, Holden and Norman - It was a Battling Bloggers reunion. Just four more months until the annual rolling party from Gonzales to the San Jacinto Monument.

The people that I saw - even before the race - are almost too many to remember or recount. I'm very fortunate to know all of the people that I do.

When the race got started, I took off on my bike out on Allen Parkway. I caught up with the leaders as they were hitting mile 1. There was a pack of five of them (Wade, Armenteros, Colin Carroll, Jose Lara-who was running the relay and maybe Alex Moore). But the second mile required me to go up to the intersection because I gave Whitney my word that I wouldn't be out on the course without agreeing to a couple of provisions.

I saw the first 15 or so runners come back to the second overpass (heading back, first going out) and then I went to the other side as runners were going out on their first loop to see more people -- and that is where I camped out.

I saw a majority of the TWRC members - Nancy Prejean, Jim Braden, Stephen Smith, Vincent Attanucci (never saw Michael), Joe Martinez (but didn't see Missie), Mitch Hall (actually saw me first), Wayne Rutledge (he saw me first too) and Greg and Gena Alvarez.

I saw Edwin, Holden, Jessica, Norman and Cassie out on the course. Yes I'm guilty of taunting Holden that he was the fourth blogger (not counting Cassie). It is my job to motivate my TIR teammates. :)

I saw anybody and everybody - Madame President Anna Helm, Veronica Hoge, Russell Meyer and so on. I even saw Steven Karpas and gave him a shout out!

Cassie came walking back from the exchange point and she and I stood and chatted until we saw Manny pass us. We weren't paying attention for him on the return though and we thought that he beat us back to the finish line (as we walked back). We were right.

We saw Edwin start down the last overpass back towards downtown. I hollered at him that I could see Jessica. (Actually, I couldn't.) Lo and behold, no sooner had I said that, there was Jessica going full steam ahead down the last underpass.

I looked and Edwin was just going up the uphill part of the underpass. Cassie and I figured that Jessica would catch him, and she did!

Once we made it back in, I hung around the post-race party for a good long while doing what I do well - socializing. But I gather a lot of information that way too.

I talked to a lot of people. Kevin Regis and Rich Siemens were among the many runners that I conversed with post-race. I stuck around and got pictures to use for Footprints, Deer Tracks and whatever else they come in handy for. I'm already looking to do the same at the HMSA Classical 25K.

I love our HARRA Fall Series events, but I don't like running the triple concrete courses. I know why they have to be used - to minimize the amount of traffic that is shut down, etc. - but that doesn't mean that I have to like them. God bless those that do run them.

I helped Bill pull the tent down. Russell helped him get it to his vehicle. And it was north to go get Waverly from my parent's place after she went to Sunday School and church that morning.

Bill's Texian Road Warriors Note

Texian Road Warriors,

Check out TIR Race Director Jay Hilscher's race report from this past weekend's (Houston) Half Marathon. Jay was 11th overall and 3rd in his age group with a 1:15:38 with no warm-up at all ... not the best way to start a race, as he mentions in is report.

His report can be found at http://texasindependencerelay.blogspot.com/.

I'll be sending out regular updates about this year's effort to beat the Battleing Bloggers. While Juliee might be a little bit slower I think everyone else might be a bit faster this year, more than enough to make up the 42 minutes they beat us by.

New this year -

We have two flags to carry the first mile and the last mile
We'll have uniforms available and a few things that I can't mention since I copied Jon with this e-mail

Bill
(Thursday, October 30, 2008)

My response:

It was good to see Greg and Gena Alvarez, Scott and Tarrah Meyer, Doug Spence and Kim Hager and her daughter, Hanna, all on Sunday.

Two flags is nice, Bill. We're bringing two teams to the party.

John Laskowski, kick butt in Florida this weekend!

Jon

(Of course, Juliee will be delivering her and her husband's second child soon and John Laskowski will be competing in Ironman Florida tomorrow morning.)

Airtime from Moi?

Imagine my surprise of getting the link below e-mailed to me:

http://pinezone.lufkindailynews.com/media/804383

I'm sure that it took Mr. Quarles' breath away too.

See, nobody would believe me, that woman was right behind me!

Rewrite of Twas The Night Before The Elections

A less politically charged, but probably equally as true version.

'Twas the night before elections
and all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
with a cat in my lap
had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw the political boys

They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had thrown theirs away!

They snatched up my money
and quick as a wink
Jumped back in their Porsche
As my hopes began to sink

As they gathered their henchmen
Who were flying on by
I knew in a minute
I had to ask ‘Why’

For Fannie and Freddie,
For Exxon and Shell
Lehman Bros', Smith Barney
and others as well.

They took all my cash,
Emptied my 401k
And now they were laughing
As they all flew away.

So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
Will it really change a thing
when they have counted up the vote.

- Ron Berglund

(Well done, anybody else up for some clever versions?)

Palin at Penn State!

Where was JoePa? He's doing better in the polls than McCain is.

We Are ... Sarah Palin!

Twas The Night Before The Elections!

'Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!

' On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!

- Author Unknown

Moonlight Bike Ramble Report: Sunday, 10/26

I’ve wanted to do this event actually for a year or two. Having signed up for MS150 hastened the decision to make participation a reality this year.

Bill Dwyer, Beth Whitehead, myself and others did the Montgomery County Midnight Bike Cruise last August; however, the presenting organization – the Montgomery County Food Bank – didn’t continue it this year because of safety concerns in The Woodlands. (Which leads me to wonder how the city of Houston could allow this and make it pretty safe and The Woodlands can’t? Beats me.)

It was Bike Houston’s 36th annual event and it consisted of rides of either eight (8) or 20 miles. Seriously, why stay up in the middle of the night to ride eight miles? I didn’t even take my new bike because I didn’t know which streets we’d be going on and how lighted they would be.

I got down to the George R. Brown Convention Center and quickly realized that I was in another world. And one that I will I’m sure becoming more and more accustomed to. I registered and went through what we runners commonly know as “packet pickup”. Got another T-shirt! Yoo hoo!

There was one familiar person: Peter Manry of Other Brother. He was playing his usual tunes and having just a grand time – as Peter always seems to do. He told me that he would be at the turnaround spot on Allen Parkway for the Houston Half Marathon later in the morning and playing music there. I told him that I would probably be riding the course, but that was up in the air.

I waited around for almost 90 minutes before things began to get underway at 2 a.m.! You read that right - 2 a.m. I have no clue as to how many bikers there were, but there sure seemed to be a lot. On the street in front of the GRB, where the marathon used to finish, it went from about the middle all the way back to the Hilton Americas. Just full of bikes. They had a costume contest and a most creatively lighted bike contest. I even saw one girl dressed with a Penn State jersey. She said that she was from State College, Pennsylvania. I felt at home.

They started to let the bikes go at about 100-200 at a time. We went north to Rusk, made a left, and went to La Branch before making another left. And, of course, we hit about every single stop light all the way down to Alabama where we would make a right hand turn to begin our westward journey.

We took Alabama to Edloe. And it wasn’t until after we crossed Shepherd that you were able to get a little speed going or even a really decent rhythm.

Turning left onto Edloe meant that we would go over the Southwest Freeway. Yikes! That meant climbing a bridge! I think I’m going to have to learn about what gear to be in when climbing. I have a lot to learn. That was pretty darn hard, but the scary part came when I came flying off the bridge and needed to make the right hand turn on to Westpark.

My brakes will stop on the neighborhood cruiser, but they screech. And did they do so very loudly as I made that right hand turn. I was actually concerned that I wasn’t going to be able to keep from going into the oncoming lanes of traffic. But it was almost 3 a.m. so there weren’t too many cars around, thank goodness.

Ahh, familiar territory. Mile 14 of the marathon course and that meant the Westpark overpass. Now my bike has a 1-2-3 on the left handle bar and a 1 through 6 on the right side. Well, I had it in 3 and 6 so that I didn’t have to peddle as much, but I’m thinking that I shouldn’t have left it in those gears when I tried to climb the overpass.

I made it about three quarters of the way up before it was a pain to make it to the top. I actually wished I was running it. (I’ll forget that comment, I’m sure, come January.)

We went all the way down to Sage and made a right. This took us past Warren Moon’s favorite place when he lived here as the Oilers quarterback: the Men’s Club! Just beyond the Men’s Club, we turned right, by the Galleria parking garage, and back east to Post Oak, which we followed all the way to the Loop 610 Feeder Road.

There was a big rest area in that shopping center on Post Oak on the right that you run by when you’re doing the marathon. I stopped briefly, but still on the street, to drink some water and then started going again.

After making it to the Loop 610 feeder, we turned right on to Memorial.

When I was about at the mile 21 Houston Striders water stop, I had to get off and take a butt break for about a minute. I looked at my watch. I had been at it for about an hour, 20 minutes.

It was fun going down Memorial telling people that we were four miles from downtown as we passed by Tri On The Run. I figured most – not all - of this crowd wasn’t exactly the marathon types (or triathlon types either).

The last adventure was the Allen Parkway underpasses. The answer? Peddle like hell on the downhill to minimize how much you have to work on the uphill. I think I made it about 85% on both of them before I had to peddle. Not too bad.

Then near-disaster struck. Right around where the Hashers are in mile 25 of the marathon course, my chain came off. I couldn’t get it back on so I thought that I might be walking it all the way in. For some reason, on the second attempt, it popped back on. Relief.

I finished biking it on in getting back to the GRB in about an hour and 50 minutes.

They said it was supposed to be 20 miles. I have no idea if it was or not. It was just a different experience. I’m thinking that I would have been done a little bit sooner with the road bike, which would have been just fine. However, I didn’t want to drive all the way to Spring and back before the half marathon or try to keep up with it during the half marathon.

Good experience. Will I do it again? Perhaps sometime with Waverly, for fun.

Next: Houston Half Marathon report

Houston Running 2: The Duece

A while back, I had talked about establishing a second blog for the stats that so many people came to this blog originally for. I set it up last week.

Here is the address: http://houstonrunning2.blogspot.com/.

My first post was a disclaimer that said that my views - right, wrong or indifferent - didn't represent HARRA, Inside Texas Running, Runner Triathlete News, the Courier, Seven Hills Running Club or The Woodlands Running Club.

If there is something that you think that you would like to see there, please let me know. I made some posts today of all of the individuals that met the Chevron Houston Marathon qualifying standards in the first two HARRA Fall Series individual races.

MS150: "Will You Spot Me A Dollar?"

Here's the updated list of my attempt to raise the minimum $400 fundraising goal for the MS150 next spring -- one dollar at a time!

1. Nancy Walk, October 24, 2008 (Of course, my Mom!)
2. Waverly Walk, October 25, 2008
3. Tom Hoge, October 26, 2008
4. Veronica Hoge, October 26, 2008
5. Child #1 Hoge, October 26, 2008 (Yes, I'll get names soon enough!)
6. Child #2 Hoge, October 26, 2008
7. Flicka "The Cat" Hoge, October 26, 2008 (Yes, we'll even take money from the feline set!)

Thanks to everyone who helps me meet my goal!

Obama: 'Redistribution of Wealth' is the Goal

I've pretty much stayed out of the fray, but this primarily is why my vote on Friday went to McCain.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/10/27/obama-2001-radio-interview-bombshell/

According to the interview:

- Obama wants to redistribute the wealth in this society.
- He wants/needs to reinterpret the constitution to do it.
- The founding fathers are in the way of this goal.
- The only concern is how to do the redistribution, not whether to do it.

Oh and...

- the Warren court, arguably the most liberal court in the last fifty years or so, wasn't radical enough!

Busy Sunday!

This is a very, very brief report because so much happened today that it might take me a few to completely recap it. Wow!

1. Moonlight Bike Ramble (downtown Houston, 2 a.m.)
2. Houston Half Marathon
3. Light The Night Walk The Woodlands

I did the first, watched the second and had a small part in the third.

Busy, Yet Really Good Saturday ... So Far

It will be a lot better if Penn State wins this evening over Ohio State. Go JoePa!

Actually, I should clarify that this is football since the Nittany Lions' women's volleyball team is No. 1 in the country. The men's volleyball team, who is the 2008 defending NCAA national champion, gets their season underway on January 8, 2009 in Hawaii. (No, I won't be there.)

I was up at 5 a.m., showered (there is one HARRA runner who I can tell you running by them during a warm-up that they don't!) and was on the road by 5:35 a.m. to Lufkin.

I went to participate in the Stay on Track Fun Run 5K that benefitted the Angelina Coalition. They are a non-proift organization that spearheads Angelina County's efforts for the drug-free awareness activities as part of Red Ribbon Week. Donna Quarles Studio & Gallery - Edwin's wife - was a bronze sponsor of the event.

Edwin and I texted much of my drive to Lufkin only for me to get out of him that he had forgotten to pick up his bib number for tomorrow's Houston Half Marathon. So Cassie was going to bail his butt out ... and now he HAS to come to Houston and run tomorrow.

They had a 1-mile for the kids and some adults, followed by the 5K. It was $15 for the 5K and $20 to do both. I wanted to save myself for the 5K so I made $5. :)

In talking with Edwin, he helped the organizers out with making sure the course wasn't a repeat of last year's 3.6-mile adventure as well as positioning volunteers from a county judge's Drug Court offenders along the route that went through the woods behind a lake.

The course was multi-terrain and started behind the city-run Ellen Trout Zoo. (Who knew Lufkin had a zoo? Well, apparently Dana-Sue Crews did. But that isn't completely fair. She's from Nacogdoches.) It was two loops that went around Ellen Trout Lake and into some woods behind the lake. It really was a very different, enjoyable but challenging course. One of the most difficult spots wasn't any one of the number of small inclines, but crossing the rail road tracks for the Z&OO Railroad. [I think Edwin was taking a picture of my first traversing of the rails. I hope he pressed delete.]

I finished the 5K in 29:31.48. I think the course turned out to be a little short. Edwin thinks that the RD didn't have the finish line back farther than what was set up for the 1-mile event. He suggests that it might have caused about a 30-second difference.

I really hadn't tried to push myself recently so it was good to try and do so, especially in the cooler weather.

After we crossed the little bridge and jumped over and through a pair of railroad tracks, we pushed towards the finish line. The guy who probably won it (he looked a little like Sean Wade) told his wife - who was behind me - that there was about 200 meters to go. I heard her (or thought I did) behind me so I decided to go as hard as I could. I held her off and never saw her come up in my peripheral view. (I told him thanks afterwards!)

I got a couple of bananas and had some water, walked back to my truck and then headed out to Kit McConnico Park. This is where the Quarles family was as Ashton and Jenna were playing soccer on two different fields - at the same time! So Donna watched Ashton the first half of her game and then went to see Jenna play in the second half - and vice versa.

And as fate would have it, neither parent saw both of their kids score goals. Jenna or "Lulu", with Edwin watching, scored two goals, while Ashton scored a goal in front of Donna. Jenna, who's six years old, is a pretty talented soccer player and did an incredible job of controlling the ball down the field a number of times. Wow! Edwin told me that she's been invited to participate on a tournament team next weekend and had practice this week.

Good stuff for both daughters on the last game of their regular season! I had fun watching them play. The best line from Jenna, "Here Dad, hold my trophy!" :)

It was really good visiting with Edwin today. It was worth the trip.

It just goes to show how blessed I am to have the friends that I have. I'm very thankful for everyone that I can call a friend.

I left the Park at about 10:45 a.m., called and talked to Bill Dwyer for a little bit and I was soon back on the Highway 59 South, listening to Texas Tech start to beat up on Kansas on the radio. I stopped to get a bite to eat in Cleveland with my destination being another park -- Carl Barton, Jr. Park in Conroe.

I would meet at 1 p.m. with the race committee for the Bill Crews Remission Run 5K, slated to be on Saturday, January 31, 2009. This is a date that you want to put on your calendar now and make plans to have fun! That is what this event is going to be all about: fun!

It will include running on the bike trails that were developed by GHORBA and the Texas Trail Doctors, part of the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife.

I met with Frank Rizzo and the entire Crews family. We walked the blue and the yellow trails that seemed to be more than the 3 miles for all three (3) of the trails combined. We have three (3) months and a week to make this happen very successfully; however, we have a large group of committed volunteers that included Bill, Jill Mills, Rick Ames, Lisa Henthorn, Jim Braden, George Roffe, Sandra Sutherland and myself.

It is going to be a "hash-like" and very fun 5K. There'll be a band and lots of games for the kids - as well as a shorter run for them. A little something for everyone in the crowd. Please mark the date on your calendar and plan to participate.

I'm starting to crash a bit. Busy, busy day tomorrow. I'll see a lot of you at the Houston Half Marathon and no, I'm not running it!

My New Ride!

I rode this evening for about 45 minutes in my subdivision. I can enjoy the sport with a nice piece of equipment like this. The guys - Ken and Herb - at Bike Lane were great in making sure I understood everything, including the shifters for the gears. Sweet stuff!

Pretty Productive Day

Last night, I ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill and rode the bike for 15 minutes while I'm trying to work through the final stages of a blister on the bottom of my left foot -- the remnants of Marathon 2 Marathon last Saturday.

Nonetheless, Friday was a fairly productive day as I got done the following:

+ Took Waverly to school so that she could be at their Special Effects choir practice at 7:30 a.m.
+ I then went across FM 2920 to Tomball (with a little help from Bill Dwyer on the phone as to where the polling place was) so that I could cast my ballot in the '08 presidential election.
+ I came back FM 2920 and down Steubner Airline so that I could go and take of the state registration for my truck that was way overdue. How overdue? I was driving around with a "03 08" sticker.
+ I then headed over to Kuykendahl and south of FM1960 to Midas where I had my oil changed and got the truck inspected. Yes, that was overdue too. But that was just "06 08". I know: Not a great example.
+ I stopped and had breakfast at IHOP at 10 a.m. on FM 1960 near I-45.
+ After I was full, I stopped in and saw Ken at Bike Lane about a road bike.

I came home, got a few things done and took a little bit of a nap. Then in the afternoon, I clicked off the following items:

+ Stopped at McDonald's in Spring to connect to wireless and submit my time and expenses.
+ Dropped my expense envelope in the mail at the Spring post office.
+ Drove down the Hardy Toll Road, over to I-45 and down to Allen Parkway to go to Luke's Locker on West Gray to pickup a packet for a Woodlands Fit member and register Jay Hilscher - yes, the TIR Jay Hilscher - for the Houston Half Marathon on Sunday.
+ I came back up, got Waverly and we went to James Coney Island to get something to eat.
+ Then I went back to Bike Lane to pick up my new Red Canondale! (I also saw some guy named Bill Dwyer there ... with his camera!)

So, why would I need a road bike like that?

I have something called the MS150 in my future.

Yes, I signed up last week (primarily because the company that I work for, CSC (or Computer Sciences Corporation), is putting a team in. And since the Tour de France team that the company sponsors had the Tour de France winner, I thought now would be a good time to take on the challenge.

From the Battling Bloggers of the Texas Republic, there will be Cassie, Manny, Joe, Jessica and myself that are definitely doing the MS150.

So if you can "spot me a dollar" for the MS150, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks to the creativity of "Dirtrunner" Rick Cook, that's going to be my goal: How many people can I get to give me a dollar to reach the minimum $400 fundraising goal?

Waverly Mania!

Alright, alright, I have the answer to Cassie's Janet (Jackson) Mania! Waverly Mania!

Last Sunday night, Bill Dwyer donated $20 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to hear Waverly sing at LLS' pre-event "Sing With The Band" party for this Sunday night's Light The Night Walk (for which I'm doing start line announcing: TIR-style I'm told, but without the gong!)

I wonder if the Jagermeister flag in the background will hurt her if she decides to run for public office in 2025. (I'm pretty positive that Waverly is already taller than Sarah Palin.) This was at Papa's Ice House in Spring on Sunday night.

This was her second time to sing with a live band behind her. She really did a great job. She was incredibly poised and sang with confidence. Now she needs to have about six to 10 songs that she can sing on demand so that she can step in to a situation like this on the drop of a hat.

The young lady to Waverly's left is Kelly Peters, who is a freshman at Sam Houston State University. I think she was really helpful to Waverly before the red-headed princess sang.

Weekend Reset

I'm in Jackson, Mississippi this morning and I'm hurting a little.

I have a fair-sized blister on the bottom of my left foot (kind of where the one from two weeks ago was) that makes walking normally a bit of a challenge. I guess it is a reminder that I shouldn't be walking as much as I have the last two marathons. Would you agree? :)

I saw Rick Cook on Sunday afternoon in The Woodlands before I went to our Remission Run 5K meeting and I told him that I doubt that I would be a go for the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco. He said he wouldn't believe me until he heard from me on Friday. I'm thinking that the dream to run all of the Texas road marathons in a single running season may be going by the wayside.

If this blister doesn't go away, it is a definite; however, chances otherwise are about 95%.

Congratulations to Ron and Karen Berglund of Kingwood as they finished the Denver Marathon on Sunday in 5:42:45 and 5:44:43, respectively.

I went on Sunday afternoon to try and look for (and subsequently buy) a road bike. However, Bike Lane (at FM 1960 and I-45) was closed. I'll be there on Friday. I need to make a decision and start getting some saddle time as soon as possible. No, there's not an Ironman (or a Half one, at that) in my immediate future, but something that is a significant challenge for me. More on that later.

I got back from west Texas on Sunday morning, went straight from IAH to church and then went home a took a little bit of a nap (especially knowing that Penn State was still No. 3 in the college football rankings.). Little bit equalled about three and a half hours.

After taking care of a few things, Waverly and I met Dana-Sue Crews, Sandra Sutherland, Jim Braden, Rick Ames, Jill Mills, Frank Rizzo and Lisa Henthorn to discuss details about the Bill Crews Remission Run 5K at Carl Barton, Jr. Park in Conroe on Saturday morning, January 31, 2009.

It was a good meeting at Papa's Ice House in Spring and it led right into the Light The Night Walk Pre-Party that began at 6 p.m. (which I was invited to by Bill Dwyer).

The event, benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, was a prelude to the actual event next Sunday night at Market Street in The Woodlands. With kind words from South County YMCA marketing director Roxanne Davis and Bill, I will be introducing the teams as they begin their walk to commemorate those who have lost their battle with blood cancers and celebrate those who have battled the cancers and are still on the winning side. (For those of you who were at TIR, it will be a little bit more of a formal introduction - like was planned - but without a gong!)

Speaking of the Texas Independence Relay, I got a chance to see John Laskowski and meet his wife and son at the Light The Night event. John is now two weeks less from doing his first Ironman at IM Florida. Even though he's a Texan Road Warrior ... he has busted his ass in preparation (he had completed an 80-mile ride earlier that day) and will certainly be deserving of the Ironman designation when he finishes.

On the other hand, one of our new Battling Bloggers, Niki Bellnoski, will be attempting her first 100-miler next weekend at the Cactus Rose 100 in Bandera.

Finally, at the LLS "Sing With The Band" event, Bill made a donation to hear Waverly sing Taylor Swift's "Tim McGraw" and she hit a home run! She looked like she was right at home on stage and her hand on the microphone.

I'll have pictures later on in the week or unless Bill gets his posted on his blog before!

M2M Finish: Hans did have a beer at mile 24!

Actually, I didn't have the auto focus on so he needed to know to fine focus it.

Before The Race Pictures from Marathon 2 Marathon

Hans and I, of course, under the M2M steel frame. We didn't start under it, but we did finish underneath it in Marathon. Yes, the start of the race was just along side the road.

This was right by the race start! Again, Hans and I did Marine Corps Marathon in '04 close to the Arlington National Cemetery. Interesting irony.

Austin's Mikail Davenport finished the race in 2:17:46.

People milling around just before the start. The girl with the headband finished in 5:53:14. She and two women that finished 40 seconds behind her caught me at the mile 18 water stop. I think the first girl - 22-year-old Jenny Garnett of College Station - was running her first marathon. One of the other two women - 28-year-old Cary Dupuy of Austin - was also doing her first one. The two new runners finished 1-2 in 20-29 and Dupuy's pacer finished 3rd in 30-39.

No. 46 was immediately in front of me until mile 12-15 and she ended up catching and passing Hans.

Bad As Boise: Marathon 2 Marathon Race Report

I figured I might have been a little bit more ready for today's marathon, but it appears as if maybe I wasn't. I did NOT, however, post another DNF.

Oh, don't get it into your head that I was strong and never thought about it. I did think about it, but I didn't. I really would have been disappointed in myself in having to tell Waverly another time that I DNF'd.

I also know that this will sound really odd, but the Leadville Heavy Half (15.4 miles, start at 10,200 and go to 13,2-something and change) last July 7 - three days after another half marathon at 6,000 feet above sea level, a drive to Yellowstone, being in the Park all day and then driving back to Denver, was easier than today's marathon.

One website says that Alpine is the fourth highest city in Texas at 4,480 feet while Marathon is 8th at 4,045 feet. They must have measured this at the top of the hill behind Sul Ross State because I recall one downhill right at the 13-mile mark and then again at mile 20. And while this course, 26.2 miles of roads between the two was remote, there were some pretty nice views.

So, I'm avoiding the painful (well, the blister underneath is painful too) but my finish time was 6:07:30. My fellow Seven Hills Running Club member Hans Jaegar finished third in his age group in 5:25:35. He described the course as a "bitch" and Adrienne, yes, he had a beer when they offered it to him at mile 24. I don't think they were Hashers, but they were at the same mile marker that they are at the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Hans said he always like going to races with people that he knows that are slower than him! He and his wife, Linda, are wonderful people. Linda stayed back three different times in the first half of the race to make sure that I was OK. She also came to check on me once in the back half, but I found out later that Hans just wanted to know if I was close so he could start walking. He started at 17. I started earlier.

The thing on this marathon is that my body took a beating and I just revolted and said to myself, "Not today." I really don't enjoy walking these things, especially after running all but one mile of Oklahoma City in April. But I don't do events as to whether the course is tough or not. I do them based on 1.) can I get there?, 2.) can I get there as inexpensive as possible?, and 3.) does it not interfere too much with my family and work commitments.

My friends from the Tornados Running Club did well today in the half marathon. Vaughn Gibbs and Jen Brown won their respective divisions in 1:15:33 and 1:26:17. The half marathon course is probably just slightly easier, but not by much, than Huntsville, which means that Adrienne needs to have Jen on her target list for an invited runner spot in the 25K or 30K. Jen probably won't 3oK if they - the Tornados - do another winter marathon as a group.

That's all for the moment from Fort Stockton at 4:03 p.m. On to Odessa and the hotel!

Pre-Race Pictures From Marathon 2 Marathon

This sign is seen heading south on FM 385 out of Fort Stockton south towards Marathon.

The event marathon banner. I got into town at about 4:30 p.m. I had stopped in Fort Stockton to check a few e-mails after getting on wireless at McDonald's.

This is what it looks like from mile 24 into the small town of Marathon.

Fellow Seven Hills Running Club member Hans Jaegar and his pre-race meal for in the morning: Large cup of coffee, six white powdered donuts, orange juice and a Three Musketeers bar. When I asked him if he was serious that this was his pre-race meal, he said he had his worst marathon ever in San Antonio the one time he didn't.

We miss Ken being out here. However, I realized today is two weeks shy of four years ago of seeing Hans and Ray Alexander in the middle of a sea of people at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. before my very first marathon. I told him - and Ken via e-mail - that I saw them out of the middle of nowhere then and that at this race, we'll be among few people in the middle of nowhere!

A group of Tornados Running Club members are supposed to be here, including Leno Rios and Jen Brown, as they are running the race to memorialize the loss of Cody Smith - a fellow club member who died of an accidental drowning this summer.

It is 8 p.m. here at the Best Western in Alpine. The alarms are set for 4:30 a.m. to be up, showered, dressed and the drive to Marathon (so I can leave immediately from there after the race) - only to be bussed back here for the start. Time for bed!

Marathon's Marathon Next Week

By MARK GLOVER
Marathon News Leader

MARATHON – The Sixth Annual M2M foot race, sponsored by SandRidge Energy, is set to run Saturday Oct. 17. (I think it is the 18th) The starting whistle will blow at 8 a.m. (Blow? That's basketball.)

Last year, 196 runners competed in the 26-mile Boston-qualified, nationally sanctioned race. (I guess that means that last .2 miles aren't sanctioned.)

“People who come out here to the race, want to come back, and that’s important,” M2M Committee Chair Marsha Roberts said. “It’s great to fill up the hotels during race weekend but my goal is get people back. Repeat customers are good for the economy.” (I'll make a trip there every weekend from Houston. Sure.)

There will be a spaghetti dinner prior to the race at the Marathon Community Center. Plates are $8 and it starts at 6 p.m.

Proceeds from race weekend benefit the Marathon Chamber of Commerce. Last year, the chamber was able to donate $2,500 from the race proceeds to help complete construction of the Marathon Community Center.

An awards and post-race party will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Marathon Motel. (I'll be in Midland by then. Although Hans and Ken should be winning awards by then too.)

Craig Carter and the Spur of the Moment Band will provide entertainment.

Volunteers are needed for three water stops at Miles 8, 20 and 22. Help is also needed at the Finish Line to hand out water, ribbons and to cut-off the tracking chips from the contestants’ shoes. (Contestant? Hmmm ... sounds like we're going to be on the Price Is Right.)

Two hundred running bags will be handed out during the event. Those interested in having their printed advertisement placed in the bags should contact Marsha Roberts at Trans-Pecos Bank.

West Texas CrossRoads Marathon Race Report

This has been edited since I had a short, three-paragraph post from Saturday afternoon.

I've had a day to reflect on things - and to deal with a blister underneath my left foot - and am back in Spring getting ready to fly out to Jackson, Mississippi tomorrow for work.

If you caught this post originally, you'll already know that I had my first DNF in a long-distance race. It's bothering me a little bit; however, at the time, I made the right decision to stop.

The good thing out of the whole trip is that I got the chance to spend about six and a half hours with Bill and Jerri Cannon - a couple who used to be my junior high, senior high and singles Sunday School teachers at North Freeway Baptist Church and North Park Baptist Church. They've been in Midland for two years. It just doesn't seem that long. It is kind of what my heart needed. Not so much after registering a DNF, but just that they are faithful Christians and are an inspiration to me. God has truly blessed their lives.

The church that they belong to - CrossRoads Fellowship - is the organization that hosted the marathon. And they did an outstanding job!

The only negative is that some volunteers from Odessa College left their water stops at mile 17 a little early. I was prepared though as I was carrying a water bottle. But I was sharing with the race director after I DNF'd that when they grow and they have people participating that take advantage of the 7-hour limit, he'll have some people voicing some concerns (if that happens again).

The course was approximately five miles in and through a subdivision on the south side of FM 191, which runs between Odessa and Midland. (Yes, we ran to Midland and back.) And then it got out on the 191 service road heading east to Midland. At about 8.5 miles, the half marathoners turned around and headed back to the church. Marathoners pressed on.

Somewhere around mile 11 or 12, I learned from a gentleman on a motorcycle with the race that myself and another gentleman were two of the last individuals on the course. When I caught up with him, I said, "Hey, I hear that it is just you and me out here now." (Actually, we learned that there was one other person behind us a couple of miles.)

I knew that it was dry in west Texas. I also knew that it was probably going to get a little warm at the end (and I wore a hat the entire time to stave off any major sunburn.) I didn't count on the wind though.

In the first six to seven miles, it was a light, cool crosswind that made the race enjoyable.

Going in, I did not have the miles underneath my legs and I was wondering about the wisdom of running an hour on the treadmill - albeit at a slow speed - Thursday night. But I figured if I could run steady at about a 12-minute per mile pace, I could register a 5:12 marathon to get career marathon no. 20.

Here are what the splits looked like:

Mile 1 -- 10:54.49
Mile 2 -- 11:25.64 (22:20.13)
Mile 3 -- 11:41.29 (34:01.42)
Mile 4 -- 11:36.44 (45:37.86)
Mile 5 -- 11:33.62 (57:11.48)

The first five miles went through a couple of fairly upscale neighborhoods with very, very wide streets - and folks that were probably still in bed from Friday night's Permian-Odessa High game.

Mile 6 -- 11:30.45 (1:08:41.93)
Mile 7 -- 11:42.24 (1:20:24.17)
Mile 8 -- 11:48.48 (1:32:12.65)
Mile 9 -- 11:53.71 (1:44:06.36)

The half-marathoners turned around on the FM 191 service road somewhere between mile 8 and mile 9. I was still feeling pretty good at this point. I really wasn't trying to look too much at my watch, but when I did I was pleased.

Mile 10 -- 12:00.12 (1:56:06.48)
Mile 11 -- 12:05.19 (2:08:11.67)
Mile 12 -- 12:00.83 (2:20:12.50)
Mile 13 -- 12:27.95 (2:32:40.45)
Mile 14 -- 12:28.59 (2:45:09.04)

At the halfway point, I saw Andy with Run Far from Austin that was at the 5K in Aledo in April on a Saturday morning and then I saw him the next day in Dallas at the Rise and Shine 5K.

We were just about to Midland at this point. When you got to mile marker 14, you were making a right hand turn off of FM 191. I got a Gu at the aid station and took the time to get it in me and wash it down with some water.

Up to this point, things were still going pretty much to plan.

Mile 15 -- 14:08.65 (2:59:17.69)
Mile 16 -- 12:52.35 (3:12:07.04)

Mile 15 I took the time to get the Gu in and at the start of mile 16, I got a volunteer to fill my water bottle up. I went back under FM 191 and began the trek west back to Odessa.

When I started to run towards the water stop, I realized that it was going to be futile at that point to try and run against the headwind so I made a willful decision to just begin power walking it. I did the math. 3:12 plus 12 minutes per mile times 10 was 5:12, but that was going to be unrealistic. So I added 30 minutes (at 3 minutes per mile more) to get to 5:42 and I was able to live with that.

Mile 17 -- 15:00.90 (3:27:07.94)
Mile 18 -- 14:54.24 (3:42:02.18)

First two miles were going according to plan. During mile 16, I noticed a helicopter flying around. Not a military helicopter or an air ambulance, just a regular one. I knew that President Bush was going to be in the area, but I was surprised to think that *that* helicopter might have been part of the plans. I noticed this helicopter during this mile too.

Mile 19 -- 16:12.11 (3:58:14.29)

Sure enough. About half way through this mile, Air Force One crossed behind me as it went from the north to the south towards the Midland airport. Pretty cool.

Mile 20 -- 15:16.81 (4:13:31.10)
Mile 21 -- 15:43.82 (4:29:14.92)

I think it was during mile 20 that I saw the presidential motorcade, but I couldn't be sure. Remembering that President Bush was once a runner, I decided that it would be time to run a little bit again, picked up my walk to a shuffle and waved through the three black Popemobiles towards the front of the motorcade and waved.

The finish was coming into sight mentally, but the wind was really taking its toll. Weather Underground reported that the wind at that time was 19.6 mph with gusts up to 29.9 mph

I actually sat down at the aid station for 2:35.04 and got some food in me -- 4:31:49.96.

Mile 22 -- 16:06.19 (4:47:56.15)

Before I made it to this mile, a gentleman came out to meet me and brought a bottle of Gatorade. I was already past the point to where I could ingest a lot more fluid without getting severely sloshed in the stomach. We chatted. I told him that I had friends that went to CrossRoads. He asked me who, of course, and when I told him, it turned that he and his wife were in the same Sunday School class as my friends, the Cannons. It made me feel better altogether mentally, but physically I was wearing down.

Mile 23 -- 17:54.89 (5:05:51.04)

During this mile, I saw a law enforcement vehicle pull to the shoulder of the feeder road that I was moving on. I said to myself that if I made it to him before he pulled away that I was going to get him to take me to the finish.

I could feel myself start to slowly fall apart. I was getting weaker. When I was first able to see the mile 23 water stop, I could tell that it was a unmanned station at that point. Once I got there, I stopped. I thought to myself that if I would go to the next mile marker and there was nobody behind me to see me if I fell or collapsed that there would be nobody there to notice.

That is what caused me to take my bib number off and wait for somebody to come and get me.

Was it disappointing? Sure. You bet it was.

Was it worth pushing myself only to end up in the hospital? Absolutely not. I don't normally think that way; however, it was in the options on the table at that point and I needed to consider that possibility.

So there you have it, the anatomy of my first DNF!

Picture from West Texas CrossRoads Marathon

Not really sure where I remember this being taken at. But I'm sure it is heading east from Odessa to Midland. This was the best of four pictures!

After seeing this picture here early on Friday morning, I may make an adjustment in what I'm going to wear on Saturday in Alpine.

FOTRC and Ten For Texas, November 15

(This message will go out in eDeerTracks tomorrow and clubs/coaches this weekend. --JW)

Friends of the Running Community realizes that the change of Ten For Texas from this Saturday to Saturday, November 15 has thrown a curve into the racing plans of many.

Ten For Texas is a very well done race that represents most of our hometowns to the rest of the greater Houston area running community.

The bottom line is that it *is* one of our hometown races.

While many of you may be heading to participate in what will prove to become Texas' largest marathon and half marathon, Friends of the Running Community invites you to join us in volunteering to man a water stop during Ten For Texas before you drive to the Expo in San Antonio (for the Rock 'N Roll Marathon), pick your packet up and rest for the race.

And in case this pleasant appeal wasn't enough for you to consider helping us, we have an additional caveat:

Volunteer to work a Ten For Texas water stop with Friends of the Running Community *and* run all three races of the Montgomery County Triple (to be announced) and yes, your pine cone award will have four (4) pine cones!

Please help us continue to give everything we can back to our local running community.

Bill Dwyer and Jon Walk
Friends of the Running Community, L.L.C.

Note from Seven Hills RC President Niki Bellnoski

The 30th annual Huntsville Half Marathon was a success! It came and went so quickly; I can not believe it is already over. The months of planning paid off well; all the participants seemed to be pleased. To all of you who pitched in, I can not thank you enough for your commitment to your responsibilities.

Ken (Johnson) - Even though I held title of race director, this was not a one man show. You put in many months of work as well and gave me plenty of guidance.

Curtis (Barton) and Philip - Awesome job on the course! You guys had a lot of pressure on your shoulders. The course could not have been marked any better. Where you saw potential problems, you found a way to ensure no confusion.

Kathy (Cook) - You've got registration down pat! Everything about it; race day packet pick up, race day registration and race day chip distribution was perfectly organized and carried out. Thank you for doing it year after year.

Millie (Langwell) - Great job! You had another huge responsibility to ensure participants had plenty of water and Gatorade! You did a great job rounding up good volunteers too. Be sure to thank them. Also thank Norman for his help with the trailer and tables.

Jon (Walk) - Thank you for adding that personal touch to our race. I know the participants appreciate the recognition.

Waverly (Walk) - Fantastic start to our race! We enjoy having one of our own lead us in our National Anthem.

Bill (Dwyer) - Thanks for the cones and the help that you always offer! I know the cones helped Philip and Curtis tremendously.

Karen Felicidario, Ben Harvie, Hans Jaeger, Marilynn Johnson, Jan Parks, Chantel Langwell, Deanna Langwell, Colton Langwell, Lavonne Zaiontz - Thank all of you for the various ways you contributed to making Saturday happen. You all pitched in and helped where it was needed, at the moment, then proceeded to help elsewhere as assistance was needed.

I know that I have left many people out, please forgive me! Saturday was a success because of all the hard work everyone of you put into it! I sincerely thank you!

Niki Bellnoski

Bill Crews, 5 Years and the Remission Run 5K

Five years ago today, on Tuesday Oct 14, 2008, I was sitting in my room waiting to hear from Bill. He was at Dr. Blackwell’s office in Tomball to get the results of his MRI on his shoulder. Being swimmers, of course, we thought we’d hear that he’d torn his rotator cuff and needed surgery. Then, just before 10:00 a.m., Bill called me and spoke the words that would change our lives forever, “It’s Cancer.”

Only two days later, he became a patient at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. That’s where we discovered that he had stage four blood cancer. That’s where we spent the next 2 ½ years going through cancer treatments. That’s where I plan on spending part of my day today, just having coffee and thinking and praying.

As most of you know, it only took three months of very intensive chemotherapy to get Bill into remission, but because of the severity of his disease and the fact that it’s completely incurable, he spent six months in very aggressive treatment followed by two more years of less aggressive treatment. After that last treatment in July of 2006, he had to continue to have very regular tests. You see, as of right now, the monster disease in his body is not dead. It’s simply sleeping. At any moment, on any day, it could wake up. We are not afraid of it though. And through all of this, our faith has increased. Our hope is strong. And we’ve met some of the most amazing people in the world because of lymphoma.

In January, we plan to celebrate Bill’s remission by proving to lymphoma that it has not won its attack on our family. On January 31, 2009, we want you to celebrate five years of remission with us at the first ever Bill Crews Remission Run, a 5K event for the whole family. We will even have a 1k race for the kiddos. This race is tentatively scheduled for 8 a.m. at Carl Barton Jr. Park in Conroe. For those running the Chevron Houston Marathon, you will have had plenty of time to recover by then. For Team in Training, Woodlands Fit and other clubs, you might enjoy this as a “reunion” run for your groups. Please get it on your calendars and even if you’re not a runner, please sign up anyway (walkers welcome!).

Following the race, we’ll have a victory celebration in honor of Bill and many others who have or have had cancer. We’re celebrating remission while at the same time, fighting for a cure. You see, we long for the day that the ugly monster will no longer be sleeping, but DEAD. We want the cure! That’s why all the race proceeds (100%) are being donated to the Hagemeister Research Fund at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center- funding vast research into curing lymphoma and other cancers.

To know more about the Remission Run and the research fund, please visit our website: http://www.remissionrun.org/ and until registration opens (we will send out another email when that happens), please mark your calendars and plan to be there to celebrate life with our family!

Love & Blessings,
The Crews Clan
Bill, Dana-Sue, Morgan & Dylan

Tame Political Funny

On television today a Democratic operative pointed out that when Barack Obama holds a rally 25-30,000 people show up, whereas when John McCain holds one he only draws 10-15,000.

The Republican spokesman replied, "That's because McCain's supporters are at work."

Race Start National Anthems

I was pulling into the Rite Aid to pick up some water before getting to the office in Jackson this morning when I heard a song from the new country group, Lady Antebellum.

It reminded me that they would be singing the national anthem at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Well, she sang a song with Rodney Hayden at the end of the Texas Independence Relay so I guess that was good enough for Waverly to snare a repeat performance at the 30th annual Huntsville Half Marathon on Saturday morning.

She's going to work with her choir director, Michael Feris, on Friday during their before school S/X practice to touch up on the song so she can do an excellent job on Saturday. If you're of that ilk, please keep Waverly in your prayers as she performs.

If you aren't running it, the Seven Hills Running Club needs your help in volunteering on the course. Vice president Ken Johnson told club members this week in an e-mail that he's expecting more than 400 runners! Wow! Some of it comes as a result of Ed Chance and FEMA's unfortunate thrashing and subsequent postponement of Ten For Texas.

Me? I'll be in Huntsville bright and early at 6 a.m. on Saturday and will be doing finish line announcing - testing my knowledge of who all I know without having to look at a list of bib numbers and names. Should be fun!

A Letter From Out of the Blue

I don't do the things that I do to get communications like this, but they definitely make me smile. As you'll read, this is regarding work (like covering running and triathletes) that I did from 1994 to 2001 in covering Texas private and parochial high school athletics. -- Jon

Mr. Walk,

My name is Kenneth Bethune. In high school (1997-2001) I spent more time at your private sports website than doing my homework. Google made their 2001 index available in honor of their 10th birthday. The first thing I searched for was your WalkSports.com website. Forgive me for doing further research, but I was curious about what you were doing these days.

I just wanted to thank you. In a lot of ways your website made me really appreciate the value, of obscurity, of small school and more importantly private school sports. I attended St. Mary’s Hall, and participated in numerous SPC competitions. My former high school coach is now the AD the John Cooper School. After graduating from Schreiner University I moved to the DC Metro area, where I coached at a small orthodox Jewish day school. I am currently in law school in Oklahoma City (I have to say that private schools do not seem to be as present here, as they were in either Texas or DC). One of the career possibilities that looks more and more attractive as each day goes by is to get into Athletic Administration/Coaching at the TAPPS or SPC level, or some equivalent out of state. That interest started long ago, and was definitely fueled by your website.

I’ve always been a big fan of history, and your website had as much information about private school sports history as could be found then, or since. I understand the reasons you got out of the ‘game’ in the manner you did, and I appreciate them, but I think it was much more important that you did what you did. I played on more than a few mediocre sports teams in high school, but even then, I wish some of our outstanding players could have been memorialized. You did more than most could, and I always got lots of enjoyment from your work.

I hope all is well.

Kenneth Bethune

Kenneth N. Bethune
Juris Doctor Candidate, 2010
Oklahoma City University

CrossRoads Marathon: Good to go!

I'll have to take out the headlamp and the flashlight, and put in a hat or two. (Wonder if it would be in appropriate to where the yellow Bikini Bottom Track Club hat that I have from the ING New York City Marathon as I finish a race at a major church? I know the answer .... lol)

Here was this morning's e-mail from race officials:

"Good morning everyone. We received great news five minutes ago. The Secret Service has given us the go ahead to have all of our races as planned! So we are back on the original schedule and course for everything. My deepest apologies for any inconveniences or heartburn. Thanks for praying for us! Regards, Reggie"

I guess Bush figured that this was one more thing that he was going to get blamed for. Off to the airport and Midland!

West Texas CrossRoads Marathon: At a Crossroads!

I come home from Jackson, Mississippi and the gym to this e-mail:

"I can't believe I am having to send out this e-mail. Here's what's going on:

"President Bush was originally scheduled to arrive in our area earlier today, but ended up staying in Washington due to the financial crisis. So his trip to Midland is rescheduled for Saturday .... Marathon Day. As of less than an hour ago (5 p.m.), I learned that the Secret Service has told the Midland County Sheriff's Office and Midland Police that they want all roads on the President's route (including portions of our half and full marathon routes) blocked no later than 9:00 a.m. Saturday at which time no foot or vehicular traffic will be allowed. Of course, the duration of the road blocks will be kept secret.

"We have contacted our Congressman who has been working with the Secret Service and the President's "lead people" to try to get a different route for the President's motorcade. So far no luck. So we have contacted the Secret Service directly to explain the huge consequences of not choosing a different route or at least leaving the routes open until our runners can clear checkpoints. We were promised a call back from the Agent, but we haven't received the call yet.

"We felt we needed to share this information with you as early as we could, even though we don't know actually the status of the races. This allows you to weigh the risk of coming to Odessa rather than having us keep you in the dark until we know all the answers. Of course, the 5K is unaffected by all this .... and we could still identify an alternate route for the half marathon and possibly the full marathon. We will keep you posted as information becomes available to us.

"Regards, Reggie Baker"

First FEMA and the Montgomery County Commissioners mucking up Ten For Texas and now the President doing the same for a marathon (the first one of the Texas season). Too bad Bush hadn't given up running or this wouldn't be happening.

Then this e-mail came in at 8:30 p.m.:

"Matt and I have come up with a solution that may work out if the Secret Service guys won't give us access to the course for the half and full marathons after 9:00 a.m. We can start the half and full races at 5:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. and everyone would pretty much be off the course before the 9:00 a.m. road closures. That way we can still salvage things for those attempting Boston qualification. We're still thinking through the logistics ... Like aid stations .... We may have to settle for one every two miles, etc.

"Thought this might encourage some of the runners who were really looking forward to a qualifying race .... We will do everything we can to still make it happen. By the way ... if you're into praying, this would be a good time.

"Reg"

Well, I'm carrying a headlamp, a hand-held flashlight and boys and girls, I'm starting at 3 a.m. It will just be a warm-up for the Texas Independence Relay.