Thursday, January 27, 2005
1.27.05
So, I started talking about why I run marathons ... It's probably a good day to pick up the discussion since it's raining in Houston and I'm going to run 3.6 miles this evening. Through the rain and the 50 degree weather.
It all started when I moved to Houston. I needed to get in better shape. Too many late nights on Sixth Street in Austin. Probably wore my liver out and I couldn't run more than 10 minutes without stopping.
I decided to run the Houston Marathon 5K in January 2001. The 5000 meters event is part of the Houston Marathon event that also features a half-marathon and marathon.
I trained for it - yes, I had to train for the 5K. I finished the 5k and while I was at the event that Sunday morning, I saw overweight people, obese people, and just plain fat people getting ready to go 26.2 miles. I'm not overweight. I'm probably underweight. If I were a child, I'd be in the lower percentile for the age. So, after seeing one fat guy after another begin the 26.2 mile course, I decided I could complete the race.
I set my goal for 2002. I trained. I ran. I walked. I worked out with a group. I ran 7 miles - that was the furthest I'd ever run. Then I ran 10. Then I ran a 20K (12.4 miles). Then I ran a 25K. Then I did the marathon.
I finished. In five hours and 23 minutes. My knee hurt. I was very excited to cross the finish line. It was how I'd envisioned it during the training. I hit the carpet and stopped my watch. Then I raised my arms like Rocky during that run in Philadelphia.
Then I said I'd never do it again. Never.
I had a Shiner Bock in the whirlpool after the event. Told Jennifer there'd be no more marathons.
I took six weeks off to rest my knee. I started to run again. Short, training runs. Keep up the cardiovascular fitness.
Then I started running with our morning guy. He runs because he likes to eat. And he likes to eat out. He can afford weekly engagements at The Palm. In order to keep his table and standing reservation, he runs six miles three days a week. He took a challenge to run the half-marathon in 2003. He also got a sponsor to pay him talent fees to train and talk about it on the air. I also got talent fees to train with him.
I ran the half-marathon in 2003 with very little training. Finished in 2:10.
Liked it so much I registered for the Austin Half in 2003. Finished that event in 1:55.
Then, while running at the beautiful University of Houston indoor track, I decided it was time for a marathon. Set my sights on San Antonio in '03. Finished that event with a time of 4:47.
And I learned something about marathons - it's a good reason to travel. Jen and I stay in a nice hotel, eat a good meal, and spend Sunday morning doing the race. We've had great getaway weekend to Austin and San Antonio because of the races.
I've also learned the marathon and half-marathon events are great for my personal psyche. If I can finish a marathon, I can compete in any business situation. I can compete in any academic setting. It makes you mentally tough and prepared to win. After all, the mental aspect of the race is the most challenging part of the event.
The New Orleans Half is at the end of the month. What a better reason to visit the Big Easy? Sunday morning race, brunch at Court of Two Sisters, followed by a Hand Grenade at Tropical Isle. After one, stress it again, one Hand Grenade ... it's off to Harrah's on the river. Can't wait for the end of the month - it'll be a great race. Allow me to be a guy for a second - the best part of this race might be the flashed we get along the course.
Coming up next on Fox News, more reports on the cultural war happening in America. We'll tell you how the homos in Hollywood are going to corrupt your kids. Then we'll force you to teach intelligent design in the classroom. While we're busy wondering about the sexual orientation of cartoon characters, former eastern bloc countries are figuring out how to be the destination for the outsourcing phenomenon.
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It all started when I moved to Houston. I needed to get in better shape. Too many late nights on Sixth Street in Austin. Probably wore my liver out and I couldn't run more than 10 minutes without stopping.
I decided to run the Houston Marathon 5K in January 2001. The 5000 meters event is part of the Houston Marathon event that also features a half-marathon and marathon.
I trained for it - yes, I had to train for the 5K. I finished the 5k and while I was at the event that Sunday morning, I saw overweight people, obese people, and just plain fat people getting ready to go 26.2 miles. I'm not overweight. I'm probably underweight. If I were a child, I'd be in the lower percentile for the age. So, after seeing one fat guy after another begin the 26.2 mile course, I decided I could complete the race.
I set my goal for 2002. I trained. I ran. I walked. I worked out with a group. I ran 7 miles - that was the furthest I'd ever run. Then I ran 10. Then I ran a 20K (12.4 miles). Then I ran a 25K. Then I did the marathon.
I finished. In five hours and 23 minutes. My knee hurt. I was very excited to cross the finish line. It was how I'd envisioned it during the training. I hit the carpet and stopped my watch. Then I raised my arms like Rocky during that run in Philadelphia.
Then I said I'd never do it again. Never.
I had a Shiner Bock in the whirlpool after the event. Told Jennifer there'd be no more marathons.
I took six weeks off to rest my knee. I started to run again. Short, training runs. Keep up the cardiovascular fitness.
Then I started running with our morning guy. He runs because he likes to eat. And he likes to eat out. He can afford weekly engagements at The Palm. In order to keep his table and standing reservation, he runs six miles three days a week. He took a challenge to run the half-marathon in 2003. He also got a sponsor to pay him talent fees to train and talk about it on the air. I also got talent fees to train with him.
I ran the half-marathon in 2003 with very little training. Finished in 2:10.
Liked it so much I registered for the Austin Half in 2003. Finished that event in 1:55.
Then, while running at the beautiful University of Houston indoor track, I decided it was time for a marathon. Set my sights on San Antonio in '03. Finished that event with a time of 4:47.
And I learned something about marathons - it's a good reason to travel. Jen and I stay in a nice hotel, eat a good meal, and spend Sunday morning doing the race. We've had great getaway weekend to Austin and San Antonio because of the races.
I've also learned the marathon and half-marathon events are great for my personal psyche. If I can finish a marathon, I can compete in any business situation. I can compete in any academic setting. It makes you mentally tough and prepared to win. After all, the mental aspect of the race is the most challenging part of the event.
The New Orleans Half is at the end of the month. What a better reason to visit the Big Easy? Sunday morning race, brunch at Court of Two Sisters, followed by a Hand Grenade at Tropical Isle. After one, stress it again, one Hand Grenade ... it's off to Harrah's on the river. Can't wait for the end of the month - it'll be a great race. Allow me to be a guy for a second - the best part of this race might be the flashed we get along the course.
Coming up next on Fox News, more reports on the cultural war happening in America. We'll tell you how the homos in Hollywood are going to corrupt your kids. Then we'll force you to teach intelligent design in the classroom. While we're busy wondering about the sexual orientation of cartoon characters, former eastern bloc countries are figuring out how to be the destination for the outsourcing phenomenon.
-30-
