Rock climbing in the Red River Gorge

Down in Kentucky climbing with five guys, all better climbers than me.  Went to Muir Valley today, Drive by in the Southern region yesterday, and started at roadside.  Got on some 10’s and an 11 today.  Some sends, some hanging.  Good stuff, fun spending a full week.  I’ve been able to work at the cool now lounge at Miguel’s for a bit each day, which has been great.  Rest day tomorrow.  Good times!  Some scary leads, and some very sore forearms and torn up hands – all part of it.  Having  a great time – weather is perfect.

Climbing, Sailing, Partying

Yesterday I sailed my boat from Monroe Harbor, Chicago to Hammond/Crowleys where she was pulled out of the water by a huge machine and placed on her cradle for the winter. My Dad and boat partner came with. We had a gorgeious sail down, 12 knots out of the east, reach. Nearly rana aground as my dad pointed out a buyo and I watched the depth gauge go from 20 to 6.6 in a few seconds – gave it the quick “coming about!” and no problems. Unfortuantely a few nights before the boat “Jason” was lost on the rocks very near to there, at night in 10 foot seas and 30+ knot winds. They lost a man overboard and in an attempt to recuse him were blown into the breakwall. 3 of the four crew perished, even though all had life jackets on. Dangerous business, this sailing. We will miss the ship and the sailors who were lost, our prayers go out to them and their families. Sobered our trip up a bit, and also increased our appreciation for life and adventure and the opportunities we have. We managed to get he boat pulled out of the water even though no other boats were pulled that day – my dad sweet talked them and had a positive atttude., amazing.

Last night went out with all of Lisa’s girlfriends, and me, was a blast, they are all so cute and fun and happy.  We were out until about 1 and all were dressed up, me and five girls, good times.

Got a wedding tonight of a good buddy, we ran around together when we were both very single.  Should be a blast.  Tomorrow I take a group from church mountain biking, sounds like about ten of us.  And then tomorrow evening I’m off to the Red River Gorge for a week of climbing!  I can’t believe it – I’ve never spent so much time climbing, we’ll see if I get bored or super-into it or what, or just totally enjoy myself.  We shall see!  Picked up a new pair of climbing shoes today.  Looking forward to it.  All is well.

This Four Hour Workweek book has had an impact – I’m trying out this work-to-live idea – we shall see how it goes.  Also booked a flight to China – my buddy has a bunch of guys trading for him over there, so he got them to fly me over there for a week in December.  If anybody knows what to do in Beijing, tips area ppreciated!

Climbing at Jackson and Draper’s Bluff

Over the weekend I went down to Southern Illinois to climb – we had a great time.  I’m so much weaker of a climber than I used to be, but still had a bunch of fun.  Got on some 9’s and 10’s – and struggled with them!  Arg!  So frustrating after they used to be easy for me.  I got sketched out being way off the deck and barely above mmy last bolt – used to not bother me near as much.  Gotta get out more than once a season.  Next week I’ll be going to the Red River Gorge for a week, so I’ll be a bunch stronger I’m sure after that.  I’d like to give up climbing – but it’s pretty addictive.  I’m thinking get one more 5.12 under my belt, then I’ll be ok with stopping.  Though I probably won’t  

Hailstorm in Chicago

Massive hailstorm here in Chicago today. Lasted all of five minutes but was extremely loud and noisy – and I’m sure painful and expensive for those outside – yowch! Took me away from my work with all the banging on the window. Was funny tosee all the people in the fed across the way all staring out their office windows too – makes one feel a bit of a number. Gotta make good on my escape plan and get much more free time and more time in nature! Climbing trip this weekend will be fun fo sho, then a week in Kentucky will be even better.

Chicago Marathon 07 from a (Team In Training) runner’s perspective

I thought this was a pretty amazing email from Lisa, post-marathon.  I cried when I read it, I’ll admit it.  It was a hell of an experience.  Keep in mind when reading she did the run with Team In Training, and eight months ago the longest run of her life was less than a mile.

Hello friends and family!

WOW! There is so much to say about the race this weekend that I don’t even know where to begin. Many of you I’m sure have heard about the incredible heat and humidity on Sunday (I ran past a bank around mile 16 that said 91 degrees on the sign). Also, I’m sure you have heard about how many people dropped out, were taken to the hospital, or just plain decided not to start. The newspaper is saying about 10,000 decided not to start due to the extreme weather and that over 10,000 of those who did cross the start line either dropped out early or were asked to leave the course by race officials after the race was officially CANCELLED due to the heat. Speaking with other runners, it seems that the number of people who were unable to finish is even higher because race officials asked those who were escorted off the course to cross the finish line in order to log into the computers the fact that they were off the course (via the timing chip on their shoe). Many of those who did not finish were elite or preferred runners (those who qualified for early starting corralls) or veterans of many previous marathons. The weather was just incredible debilitating. The group of girls who I usually run with from Team in Training started strong, but by mile 6 many were dropping back and started walking because of the heat and the lack of water and gatorade at the aid stations along the course. The “pace leader” for our little group, who was trying for her 9th marathon, had to drop out at mile 11.

I started strong and felt good through the first 7 miles, but then I too started feeling the heat and dehydration. It seemed like we were sweating out fluid faster than we could get it in. A HUGE thank you to Nikki Meyer (soon to be Mrs. Nikki Orlav!!!) who ran miles 4 through 10 with me. If not for her, I think I would have been in MUCH worse shape at the halfway point than I already was. (By the way Nikki, Kathleen who said she was going to stop at mile 6 ended up finishing the race!!!)

I had seen my parents, my sister, my aunt and uncle and Tom twice before mile 4 and according to them I looked like I was having a great time. And I was!! At that point I still felt great. However, when they saw me right before mile 13, things had changed a bit. I didn’t wave, I don’t think I even smiled, I just pointed at Tom and gestured something to the effect of “GET IN HERE NOW!” I was hurting, my lungs felt like they were going to explode, I wanted to lie down and cry and give up. It seemed impossible that I would be able to keep moving for another 13 miles! But Tom stuck with me and we power walked from mile 14 to mile 25!!! That’s right, Tom walked almost an entire half-marathon by my side, encouraging me and trying to keep my mind off of the pain in my legs and the dissapointment in the fact that this race was not turning out the way I had dreamed. Around mile 18, we found out that they had cancelled the race. The way we found out was a cop on a bullhorn yelling “THE RACE IS CANCELLED. STOP RUNNING. GET ON A BUS. THE RACE IS OVER.” My gut response was, “Thank God someone is saying that it’s okay for me to quit,” but then the reality that I had spent the last 8 months preparing for this set in and I was determined to finish, even if it meant walking the whole way. Pretty much everyone around me felt the same way and we made our way towards the finish. Thankfully, I made it past the point where the race officials forced people off the course and back towards the start area. I was still in a lot of pain, mostly because I hadn’t trained to WALK and I also hadn’t trained to be on my feet that long. I felt very sorry for myself and on the verge of tears for about 2 miles. Then someone in the crowd yelled “Come on Lisa, you’re running for a cause!” I had my name on my Team in Training shirt and lots of people had been cheering me on by name along the course, but this lady reminded me that it was my choice to be out there. The people that I had raised all this money for don’t get to pick when they’re in pain. They’re in pain all the time and they fight the pain all the time. I had to stop feeling so sorry for myself that this wasn’t turning out the way I wanted and finish it! And it worked! As soon as I gave the pain a purpose, I felt a lot better and was able to enjoy the rest of the race.

My two goals for the race were 1) To finish and 2) To run the last mile. And I achieved them both!! At mile 25, I started running again and was able to run the last 1.2 miles over the finish line in 5 hours 59 minutes and 12 seconds!!! It felt great to end the race on my terms even though it had been such a crazy day with so much confusion and so many unexpected turns. I feel very very lucky to have been able to cross the finish line and complete the whole course. Everyone who had the courage to start the race deserves serious bragging rights for many years to come. We survived Chicago Marathon ‘07!! And like Kevin said, if we do it again, chances are that it will be pretty easy to beat our time

My family: Mom, Dad, Kelly, Barb, and Kevin, also deserve SERIOUS bragging rights. They probably walked 10-15 miles all over the city to cheer me on and keep my spirits up. They went downtown, north side, south side, west loop, and everywhere in between. Mostly walking because there were no taxis to be found. Thank you guys for your never ending support and for making the trip to Chicago to see what we all though was an impossibility; Lisa running. You guys were the ULTIMATE cheering squad not just for me, but for everyone competing with Team in Training. I love you guys!!!

My friends, Alli, Erin, Laura, Gabe, Mary K, Jennie, Tanya, Karyn, and Lauren, thank you all so much for being out there and cheering me on. It made the difference to have friendly faces who were so excited to see me out there. Thank you for all your support during this training season. Thanks for being supportive when I was drinking water this summer and you were taking shots. Thanks for not thinking I was crazy for trying this (or at least not saying it to my face )

Mr. and Mrs. Trimmer, Michelle, Scott, Brooke, and Courtney, thank you guys for driving around the race course crammed in a car with two kids under 2 years old to cheer me on!!! That is an incredible feat! It meant so much to me to have you there. Thank you also for your encouragement these past 8 months and never doubting that I could do this!

Ali and Megan, thanks for convincing me to go to the first info meeting for Team in Training and convincing me that this was a good idea I am so proud of you girls! Chicago 08! I’m betting it snows.

Nikki, thank you so much for staying by my side during that horrible stretch up Inner Lake Shore Drive with direct sunlight beating down on us and not a wisp of a breeze to be found. 6 freaking miles, you are amazing. Thank you thank you thank you!

And Tom, thank you more than I can say for being my rock through the second half of the race. I don’t know if I would have finished without you. You kept me focused and kept me sane. Kept reminding me to smile, even though I was shooting you death glares at the time for being so upbeat when I was feeling so crummy. You never complained once, never said that you needed to stop, gave me extra water, bananas, sponges and gatorade along the way, carried a backpack full of extra supplies for the first 5 miles you walked with me, and in general were the best support system I could have asked for. You win the man of the year award in my book! You are amazing and I love you!

To everyone else who donated to Team in Training, called, texted, and emailed me after long runs and the week before the big event; to everyone who called and emailed yesterday after the race with congratulations; THANK YOU!!!! A million times over, THANK YOU. There is no way that I could have STARTED this race without you. I was able to cross that start line because you all believed in me. I can’t tell you how much your support means to me. I am so so blessed to have so many people who care about me and who are so supportive. You are the people that make marathoners look good. You are the reason we run. We cannot do it without you!!!

Well that’s all folks. Again, thank you. I’ll think about maybe doing another marathon after I’m able to walk up and down stairs again and when my toenails grow back Until then, I’m happy with this one!

With love from the finish line,

Lisa

Hot Chicago Marathon 2007

My girlfriend did the marathon Saturday. It was crazy – so emotional for everybody, including myslef and of course her and her family as well.  Was her first one.  It was so hot, she was so exhausted emotionally and physically and mentally, at mile 13 she waved me in – I ended up walking/running with her for like 10 or 12 miles, she ran the last 1.2 on her own.  It was such an amazing experience, so much pain and excitement and human suffering and persistence and endurance.  And so much giving – many people who lived right on the course were giving away water, oranges, pretzels, cheers, and good luck.  It was really something to experience.  And we got to go through all these parts of Chicago I never knew existed, Pilsen with the Salsa dancers all decked out in their fancy dresses, UIC, Taylor street/Little Italy, IIT, amazing.  People were passed out every so often, and they eventually told everybody to walk, the race had been cancelled.  At a certain point they cut everybody off and made them walk straight to Grant Park, skipping 6 or 8 miles.  And I gotta tell you, walking and a bit of running for 10+ miles with no training isn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done.  Wet shoes from all the open fire hydrants made for some blisters and my hips and calves are sore today – motivation to get into shape.  Great mountaineering and hiking training.  What a great experience – so proud of Lisa for making it through the whole thing.  And a yummy Ruth Chris celebration afterwards.  What a day!  It was very cool how it brought the city together, and how lots of Lisa’s and my friends and both our families got involved and watched and texted and emailed and called and cheered Lisa on.  And met her in so many places on the racecourse with no little expenditure of effort.  Very moving and impressive.  May have brought a tear or two to my eyes…  but I’m still a tough strong fella!  Ha!  An interesting story Lisa tells about how she perked up a bit and finished – the Team in Training sort of motto is that the runners are choosing the pain – cancer patients don’t get a choice and suffer many days.  Lisa made a decision to stop feeling sorry for herself during the hardest part of her race – and it made all the difference, a mental switch and she was good to go and determined to make it, and she did.  Excellent!!

Mountain biking, Sailing and the four hour work week in Chicago

The season is winding down here in Chicago!  I’m maxing it out – took about 12 people from church out Saturday.  4 pukers, all girls which was strange, not normally like that.  Then we got into an anchorage, grilled out, swam, everybody felt better.  Then back to the harbor.  hugely successful day for the True Adventure ministry, met some very cool people that I’m sure will join us on future expeditions and adventures.   One guy has a plane he flys to go climbing – good guy.  Need to get on a trip with him to the Red. 

Sunday got out mountain biking to Pelos with 2 buddies, Jon and Kevin.  Jon was horrendously hungover, I thought he was going to die – still drunk when he got in the car.  Turns out his dog had been hit by a car the previous day -  ouch, he was bloodied up but ok.  The ride was great – gorgeous day, lots of single track, and on mostly trails I hadn’t been on before, which is amazing as I’ve been there probably 50 times to ride.  Great day, new bike performed well.

Then yesterday went sailing for lunch to think over “the Four hour workweek” and fill out some of the sheet – Tim Ferriss is amazing – lives my dream – he’s a firecracker, filled with energy, and asks so many of the right questions and articulates so many thoughts I’ve had about life, love, happiness (= excitement).  what would you do that would excite you?  Every day?  The last time I really felt like that was traveling around the world for six months – hoever it’s been 7 years since then.  I need to do some more stuff, the city doesn’t give me life all the time.  Wilderness and adventure and experiences do.  The guy I report to for True Adventure always asks “What would give you life”.  Great question.  do stuff that gives you life, excitement.  I’m working on it.  got much of my work streamlined, more to go.

Then yesterday night too 2 girls from church sailing because we didn’t have enough room for them Sunday.  Was a blast, they are hardcore christians, which is all good, from my hometown, and totally game for adventures.  They’ll be coming to more trips.

Looking into the personal assistant thing out of India – we’ll see how that goes.