I dream of Reen

ok I did not dream of Reen but I had a weird dream I had to share.

I dreamt that Beth told my me about her grandmother would lives in wisconsin or I guess did. I find out from my mom that that grandmother was also her grandmother and beth was then related to me. Also that I was mexican. Which is weird since it was my great grandparents who came here from the Netherlands. My grandpas cousins came out to visit once and every thing. That was such a weird dream.

might as well face it your addicted to Lora

might as well face it your addicted to Lora - Robert Palmer

Ok. Thanks alot Lora. I am now Offically in the New York City Marathon lottery.

I road my bike about 2 miles last night since it was starting to rain and I thought it was going to be a down pour. I did remember though thanks again to Lora to do my Core muscle excerises. Does not help when you are drunk when you do them but I am sore this morning so I did something right. I did forget my breakfest in the toaster at home and stoped at Mcdonald's. my company does not have a cafe but I could store breakfest here I think. that might not be a bad idea really. Make some waffles, freeze them and then bring them to work. They are cheap that way. Since I got paid I also do not need to use my CC to get cash anymore. Working so so great.

Problem is without health insurance and if they want to take xrays it would cost me so much money. I am better off resting the foot and going latter if need be. I am trying not to lose any time with lose of movement by biking and hopely my Yoga which should help prevent injury later.

I was told by Julie A that I need to forget about this girl I like and I know she is right but its hard. Nothing worse than seeing the girl you like and you know she does not like you but you can not help it because she is so beautiful.

Also Julie A thinks Lora is a very cool woman and I told her "duh". :) I will be back running soon so mothers lock up your daughters and daughters lock up your mothers.

Greeting from Naperville.

I am a worker again. 4 hours down and 4 to go. Sounds like I will be ok here. I already like to make chances in some of the desktop issues. One reason is honestly I am more confortable there. A new line of work really makes me nervous. It will be ok though. My fears of having to work like every saturday is gone. Atleast they would not admit that to me today.

I am going to bike this evening. I hope I get to my house in time to change, get my bike ride over to the barn and maybe bike the course a couple of times and then go home. This way I can still be out there with everyone even though I can not run. Good news is I should be able to run with them on Tuesdays. I will not have to join the naperville running club yet. They scare me in a lazy runner so of way. 5k on tuesdays and 5 miles on saturdays. I only ran less than 8 miles a few times with the Alpine runners. Now I am not running at all but I will be soon.

July 1st I can see a doctor if I am not better by then. I will try to see Terry then but for now staying off it seems to be the best solution. Biking does help me out but I rather swim. Soon I can look into that also.

I remember some checks I got from discover card. I think I will just give myself the cash I need for the entrance to NY and hopely I will get in a beat Lance Amstrong. Also I am thinking about the route 66 marathon. This is the only year they are doing it.

Good, the bad, and the Lora

Good news

Biking. I found according to garmin that if I bike its basicly 2 miles biking = 1 mile walking and 3 miles biking = 1 mile running. This is based on total calories. it means that instead of walking 4 miles with Pat I just need to just ride my bike 8 mile which would actually take less time than to walk the 4 miles but not as fun.

to get the same as running on tuesday night I will have to bike for 1 1/2 hours on my own instead of running. I know now why people run. maybe since I so heavy and run so slow I do not miss alot of speed.

bad news. I did not see Reen today, and my foot hurts again. I should not even walk for awhile more. oh well. maybe it is broken. I just know I should not walk on it anymore. I am not sure if I will do the 5k on monday. I think I will but I will take it easy.

Lora well I saw her today. That was fun. I should have taken a picture since 2 of my favorite girls were running together.

Many people today did not like that the club might have given some money to help pay for the bus trip. I thought about this and I thought it would be a good thing to do. Really if the club has the money and can make sure the trip happens then they should encourage it. Maybe it does not seem fair but really that is how organizations works. you give money and you do not everything back from it. Now if the club paid for only 2 people to go then I would be upset but really I do not mind if the club help funds such things. The money needs to be handle wisely but every penny does not need to be used to help the person who gave it.

This weekend

This weekend I am so going to party.

Friday I get to pick up my packet for sunday.

Saturday I hopely get to walk again with reen. I walked on tuesday and things went very well. my foot hardly hurts anymore. I think if I loose enough I can run but I think I will take it easy for 1 more week. Hopely I will really try yoga this week.

Sunday of course is the big race. 30 miles. ok its not a race but just biking something called the drive.

Monday though is the big race. Elgin fox trot and its an alpine circuit race. I will be there walking the 5k really. I might try run/walk it. I was told I need to run this weekend by Lisa, and see how my foot is feeling. As long as she does not touch it I think I will be ok. She is pretty cute but really hurts my foot. I do not think I can do the 10 miler. its too soon for that.

infinite nature

"If the forms of this world die, which is more real; the me that dies or the the me that's infinite?" - Albert Markovski

Well my weekend is over. Was it all cracked up to where it should been? did it live up the the hype?

Well It was cool being in cleveland. I know alot of people had issues with the marathon. I think I will try to run it though. Amtrak had a station there and it was close to everything so you do not need a car. Indy had the same kinda thing but the station was on the opposite side of town so if you tried to get there the same day you really needed a car or you would walk 13 miles to the start line which is not good on marathon day unless you want to turn the marathon into a 50 miler. Indy I I could have had my parents picked me up so it would not bad that way.

Well during the race I was alot sadder than I remmebered. I know last year at this time I had the lakeshore marathon. The famous marathon with the extra mile. I know a marathon for me is hard and I am quite sore after one but not being able to do the marathon for me is harder than running one. it is quite depressing even though I was glad I could be there for most of the people when they crossed the line. I tried to wait for Julie B when she finshed. I had to get going because of when the game started. I knew she would make it. One thing I learnt about Julie is that she really alot better than she gives herself credit for. I missed her finsihing by 2 mins. I missed 3 of the alpine runners finishing. watching people finishing a marathon for over 3 hours can be pretty boring. This is the first time I ever saw anyone other than the people right in front of me finishing the race.

It was good to see haight again. We have not seen each other in sucha long time.

My dad thoight it was funny for a bunch of runners we all looked dead.

this weekend I learnt alot of things about myself. I think it was good that way. Plus first time I had any trip with anyone but my parents or school. It was fun and interesting and I think I will do it again but I hope to run the actually marathon next time or I may not go.

Tales from the Road

Well here we are in Cleveland. We miss Lora very much. Life on the Bus tough. It is a long ways. There are movies and talking. Oh what is a boy to do. I only got 4 hours of sleep so I was in trouble. Its getting late in Cleveland but I am not tired. I took sleeping drugs so hopely soon I will sleep. The expo was really crowded. I got a free shirt and its nice to mention my ms in comp sci and get a free shirt. yeah me. Nothing like gettting a free shirt to sign up for a college in Cleveland. After dinner Kirt, Bernie, Haight, and I went to the baseball game. Its weird going to a game where I I have no team to route for. I really wanted pittsburg to win since well I know a girl there and I like the national league more. Plus I figured it may in someway help the White Sox. I know the cubs really do not need any help this season.

It has been fun but I really really really wanted to run the half marathon. I considered teh 10k but I figured it was kinda pointless.I mean why hurt myself for nothing. Lisa, Beth, and others said not to run. Lisa from athelico did say I could b ut it would not be a good idea. Beth said there will be other races. She is right. I am glad she is there to stop me from doing something stupid.

Good news I am below the 300 lbs mark. I am well on my way. Mary was right I think
I will be able to where my XL race shirts by next sno fun run. Well maybe not b y then but I will be well on my way.

I am glad some people are here and I wish others were here also. I am taking lots of pics so I hope you will all get to enjoy them soon.

What about Bob?

Today I went to Athelico. There I saw Bob. I talked to bob for awhile and he is really messed up. Knees have problems, feet problems, and like leg muscle problems. He is getting better but its taking awhile. Thanks to Beth for giving me the competmenty thing. I lost mine after the meeting. Of course like beth, she did yell at me some but she was also so helpful to me. All of these at no charge which was really good. She yelled at me for forgetting some of them things she taught us and that I was not strenching as much as she wanted us to sterch. My injury seems to be results of lack of stretching or atleast enough of it. It is strained tendons. She said it is possible it could be the S word ( stress fracture) but she highly doubts it since I can walk 4 miles on it and it has no problems.

I am thinking of walking the Cleveland marathon. yeah walking. :) I do not think that will be hard for me to do. not sure if its a good idea but I feel confident about it. She did not say I should not do it but advised me to wait a week before running on it. She does agree though I should test it out some and if that test passes then maybe try for it. She does think I can run the 10k even though I would be better off resting for one more week still. it is not too bad normally and only really hurts if I press hard. it does not hurt when its moved but does hurt when there is pressure on it. It has been like 3 weeks for recover so far. but without putting weight on it its hard to tell if its getting better.

She had my buy some orthonics because I have high arcs, and gave me streches to do. claves and hams are tight but the quads are in good shape.

I think I will go for a test walk on thursday. Hopely Lora will give me some good advice.

to 26.2 or not to 26.2 that is the question

my foot feels good tonight. I only walked 2 miles though. It still kinda hurts but not too bad. Tomorrow will be the real sign. I have been holding ou hoping and praying that it will be ok. I think I still might be able to do cleveland. its only 26.2 miles and if I hope to finish it in 8 hours I will be ok. It will not too alot of pressure on my foot. I know I can do the distance the question is will I hurt after it and if so how bad. The real question is will I really hurt myself if I push it. Do I want to run cleveland more than the steamboat race in Peoria. winning an age group would be cool but getting on the bus with a marathon medal would also be cool.

No Julia A tonight. its too bad since I had a cool dream about her last night. I have only dreamt of a few of the alpine runners. Sorry Lora and Reen you still have to wait. Last night I thought about swearing off women completely. I was so upset with there whole gender lsast night. I am feeling better about them today I guess. Tuesday night will do that to a man. Cindy Jo said I ahve to be a good boy on the bus. hehehe when am I ever a good boy? Even if I had to hang out with Pat and not run I will still ahve fun I think. I wonder if Haight is going to run anything. yes Lora this is the time you go well yes Todd he is or yes Todd he is not. :) I do no like that the fact it will be like 1 month since I have seen Lora. I so want to hear some of her stories like what the heck happened while you were gone.

If I get stuck with walking with Reen on saturday morning because I pushed it would be cool also. I miss running with Reen. I will not run with John this year I think since he wants to sub 5 this year. I would like to get into the 4 hour mark myself but I have a few lbs to go for that. my 3 lbs of cheese cake this weekend has not stoppped me either.

Told Beth that Lora said she was not going. She was surprised and sadden. See everyone loves Lora.

Not sure what to do about this girl I like. I got a sign that she does not like me that way but I do not know. there is jsut something about her. not sure what to do.

I have no idea.

I have no idea about biking. today I got a new bicycle seat. my butt was hurting from sunday. the new seat is alot more cushioning. That helps alot. I have no idea how fast I should ride or how slow I should ride. I ave about 12 mile an hour. I stuggle to avg faster than the elite marathoners can run. It really amases me how fast they can run. I gladly support them with my racing since its amasing how fast they can run.

I know a hybrid slows me down but its ok. my heartrate is usually between 124 - 155 which is good since that is my fax fat burn and helps with my cardio rate also. whatever it takes to be a faster runner. The girl I knew from college did well at ice age 50 miler. next year I hope to run that with her. whatever it takes I will do it. unless I find the right girl and get married but I hope she is a runner.

I wish I knew why Lora will not join me. Is it because I smell? am I too slow for her? is it because my foot mioght be broken but I am still thinking about the cleveland marathoin because why run the half when you can run the full.

Graduate

Last night my family and I watched "rumor has it". It was an interesting stories based on a novel who's movie I love "The Graduate". Now I am the graduate, or I guess really post graduate. It was fun though being the big man on campus and not talking my size either. Sure the 8 new doctors were bigger but I still felt special. I remember when I was getting my undergrad how I was impressed by the graduate students. I was so happy I would get my undergrad that I figured I never get my master's degree. I graduated in the bottom 50% of my high school class. I failed out of my first college. Today I graduate with my master's degree. Even on the day of my graduation for my undergrad I was not really sure if I would really be graduating. I did not find out until about 1 week later that I did graduate.

opps should ahve done this sooner

http://www.media.niu.edu/

Saturday 9 am. If you want you can see me. stay tuned tomorrow night for the pics.

I heart Alpine Runners

ok I wanted a profile pic so they suggested adding it to your blog finding location and deleting it. so I decided to add it and leave it. This is the pic from my very first marathon. There is the legendary Rachel. Chicago 2004 finishing time 6:08:05. That was back in the day when I used to finish over 6 hours. I was proud I was only 8:05 off pace for my first marathon.

Funny back then I had no idea what Alpine Runners were. I did not know of Julia A even though she lived like 2 miles from me. Heck I never even went to Big Apple Bagel before them. I almost left them behind for Peoria where the streets are paved in gold. Money wise it was no the right call but I think for my future it will be. but I would have to do 10 hours of programing on the side in order to try to get developer job later if I could even get one then.

Now I know some of the best people. I have hopely the best job. Soon I can find a girl to be my wife since well you need a job to get a wife.

BTW FYI I heart huckabees is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Tuesday night is drunken night

ok I had a lot to drink tonight.

Reen: thanks for the offer of walking but I will be walking in De Kalb. I am going to graduate. infact I have to go up there on thursday and make sure I get my gown because I am not on the oringnal list to graduate. Stupid paper work.

Lora: if I was not graduating and my foot did not hurt, I would so be up there. Beth used the S word tonight but said maybe I get get someone to check it out for free. You got to love Beth. It would be kinda ironic if Julie A and I both had fractures on the same side of the body because she was toying the idea of walking the ice age 50k and so was I.

I plan on doing a triathlon this year. In fact I figure I will try to do the same one that Lora will do. I figured it will be fun, and I think I can totally take her. If I lose oh well I will see her in her swimsuit. :). I am bad I know. Actually I have to find one I can get a finishers medal in. I would like to do an iron man but I think I am a little early on that. I figure my first running race was a marathon so I might as well make the iron man my first triathlon. Maybe I still will be but it would not be this year. I did find out about a group who does 100 miles every weekend. that would be good training but I do know I need to get a decent road bike and lose atleast 79 more lbs. I am at 21 lbs total. Julia A gave me some more tips on how to lose weight so I will try to do them. When I am lean and mean Lora will go yeah I used to run with Todd but now that he is in the 4:30 min group he does not even know who I am. :) kidding your in the top 10 reasons I do not want to move. ok not really not made that list but maybe I should. Either way you will be in the top 10.

Julia A did say I could stay at her place for things like the chicago marahton and that would be so much fun. Maybe I will have to move just so I could do that. :). Plus then maybe I can sabotoge valde and I finally beat him. Nah for me I realise it just a matter of time. When he is 80 and I am like 79 I will finally take him.

I ran 3 miles and walk 1. my foot hurts some now but not as bad as it was. It is getting better but not sure if it will be better by cleveland. I am not signed up and maybe I will wait. it would not hurt.

I did not ride my bike today because of the rain. only 25 min in like the last 14 years so I figured I would take it slowly. if I am serious about a long tri and I ahve the money I might get a road bike but for now my hybrid will do.

Saturday and Monday

Saturday.

Well saturday afternoon John and I went to the driving range. It was so much fun. I liked it alot. Connie made dinner for us and it was great. We watching tv after that and it was so good. Korean food is just so good. Connie was out running that was so good. Hopely John and I will get to play more. Funny he loves my driver. It keeps a person from slicing and it really works. John's fancy driver sucks compares to my crappy $12 driver.

Sunday I went to the Village Cycle sport on sunday. They did not have the size I need so I went to the one in Elk Grove Village. I stopped at the japanese mall on the way. So they had my bike but it was in a box. :( poor me. So I had to go there today and try out the bike. I did find I think I can fit some road bikes or atleast I would be close. So I had to decide which to buy. Hybrid or a road bike. I went with the hybrid. I figured one it was half the price, and would be less dangerous for me plus I can go anywhere with it. Atleast pretty well.

I was cool though it was biking and I could feel the wind against me as I was biking 20 mph at sometimes. I almost could bee caught for speeding. :) I travel almost 5 miles in 20 mins. hehe. I did have to put the chain back on the bike at the 9 mile water stop. hehe I so just started out on my ride. It has issues shifting gears sometimes. I think its new and might get better soon. aleast I hope so.

Haight is going to kill me

this continues my series about people who want to kill me.

Monday morning I get the details of my second job offer. This job is located in Naperville. So will I have to move? who knows. Time will time. I will be able to tell you all more details tomorrow. he wants to kill me because I can run with Lora and he can't. I think it has someting to do with wanting to sleep in on saturday mornings. :) This depends on taking my dream job vs the other job.

Saturday I walked with big John. it was nice. 4 miles and my foot really did not hurt. I could feel it at the end but it really did not hurt. My foot is getting better but the fact it still bothers me bothers me. Cleveland is a few weeks away and I want to run the marathon there. Man.

Once I get my bike I will be back to training. this sucsk because all the measurements says I should fit a 63 cm frame. that would be huge because I could go road then and not have to get a hybrid bike. I want something that I can use in races. I doubt I will do alot of trail riding or atleast something a well worn trail. Bike path in chicago is all paved. I doubt I will go on less than the gravel like trail. I should be ok I guess either way. I just hate to spend money on something I will later regret. I will admit I think I might get the nice seat for it because the road bike seat is not very confortable. I want something I can do some distance with. You know me I love distance. I figured by summer's end I like to do a 100 miler on the bike. Then I can go Wow Julia A your amasing.

Lowest of the low.

I am down to my des moine marathon weight. I am down from 324 to 305 and soon to join the ranks of the 2 hundreds. :) ok I might be a little dehyradred so that could explain it. I been working hard. possible new job in a new city. need to look good for the ladies and if I stay well I am sure Lora would like to see a hot todd. :).

I have decided on my Bike and now I jsut need to go and buy it. I like the idea of getting one. I always wanted to do a triathlon ever since I watch the exscape from alatraz trialhton. You know though if I do this the first one I will want to do is a half iron man. Its in my blood.
I think that will be about the same as a marathon. maybe like a 50k.

I saw a cheap bike today for $75 but it was a moutain bike and honestly I think it was too small for me even though I was suppose to be short of its size. then again I think a 63 cm road bike is suppose to fit me also. I need a 69 I think. I need to double check that with this tuesday guy.

no ice age for me because I get to attend my graduation. Cleveland will rock unless my foot still hurts. either way I will have fun on the trip.

I feel pretty, oh so pretty

Well I had a good day. Walking really did not hurt me at all. Beth things I might have bruised the foot since well the laces are tied there its located. It does not really hurt if I jump on it which is a good sign also. I remmeber that from the marathon training program. I think I will buy a bike anyways since well I want one and I need to impress my dear sweet friend Lora. Maybe it will not be the fastest bike but hey its me.

Found out this weekend that a girl I like no longer has a BF. Not sure if I should make a move. She is older and very pretty. I am younger and might be moving. I only have 1 shot left or I have to move. I do not want to date someone and be apart from them. Not like I feel I would have a shot with her anyway. oh well time will tell.

Lora is going to hate me

Lora is going to hate me and I am going to be kicked out of the Alpine Runners

I did a very very very bad thing today. I was looking at bicycles. maybe it was the pain in my foot. maybe it was the idea of being able to save money by biking around Town. Maybe it was the idea of doing a triathlon. I really can not say. I saw one and thought about being it but I need to get a few people's opinopns on them. I try not to talk to them because well they are bikers.

I sat on a hybrid bike today and it actually fit. I went looking at road bikes but for $1000 I can get a bike that fits a little better than the one I have now. Hybrid is about $350 and it fits. I felt kidna funny on it. I was not sure the best way to turn around and I really did not want to fall while riding a bike that was not mine. Worse yet was a stores bike.

I may go back and get it. I think riding a bike might be fun. In future I can get my nice road bike, but for now something cheaper would be nice. Plus 2 bikes are ok too own also.

When a man loves a woman

I am sad. my foot hurts today. hurts pretty bad. Its not the foot that has been other but its the other one. If I press in the spot then I am in pain. Ouch. I am sorry. I been icing it so I hope that helps. I did not walk and I am glad for it. I hope it goes away soon. I really hope it does. I been icing it alot. know my feet were in trouble before that race but my right side has been giving me problems and not my left. Man this is crazy.

hopely tomorrow will be better. if it feels better I might try to walk about 4 miles with Pat. We can talk about the race on saturday but otherwise I will just see them at Yogi's.

Marathon results are up.

Todd 5:57:35.3 13:39/Mile

not bad at at all. At Chicago I was aiming for 5:45:00 but run walk method is not good if your not used to it. this day I jsut ran until I could not run anymore. one of my high school best friend's dad beat Beth by 30 secs. How fun is that.