One week and One hell of a year!

It's one week till the new york City marathon. The gamut has been run both physically and mentally already and I am peacefully content for the upcoming run. It's a fantastic opportunity to reflect when training for a marathon. There are a lot of quiet miles out there with little to do but put one foot in front of the other and think. This has been an incredible year already and there are still 2 months left. Thus far it has included a new job, cross country move, 2 marathons (and their 17 weeks of training each), and getting married. It's been anything but normal most days.

With the marathon in sight and little to do but try and sleep and eat well, I feel like I am getting my first chance to really take it all in. It's truly been one wonderful experience after another. I was talking with Bill yesterday and able to to put my finger on the most incredible common thread. Not one of these big events has occured because I was unhappy where I was at. I came to love Chicago before I was give the chance to come home to my long loved Denver. This has been the case each time. I am humbled and grateful when considering this

It still makes me laugh to remember vividly telling friends a couple years ago, "I think I want to try a marathon because I just think I could."

As far as the NY trip coming up, I am excited. I think it will be a lot of fun. I have reflected long hours on the wall I hit in the Minneapolis marathon and feel confidant I can adjust. Plus, it's New York! This race is so big, it's nationally televised and broadcast in 135 countries. It makes me laugh that this habitual smoker, often sporting combat boots is about to be in a nationally televised sporting event. Life takes some fun twists.

If anyone is interested in tracking the Stupie, my number is 39833,

Butterflies and excitement

I don't mean to sound repetitive but it's tough to have my mind on anything but New York right now. I did my last 20 mile run yesterday and it was rough. In theatre terms that would be a good sign for a great openning but this isn't theatre. Ever since Chicago's marathon last year, I've been hooked, but lately running has been tougher. I hope to meet my goal but am nervous of not having it in me. Overall, I just want to enjoy it. I can't seem to shake the butterflies. Any advice?

Getting Ready for New York

It was like whiplash coming back from the wedding and jumping right into the height of my training schedule for New York. The last couple weeks have been some tough mileage and this is my last big week. So far so good. The two experiences I have had with marathons have been so different with Chicago and Minneapolis. One was effortless and the other I hit a big wall. I enjoyed both, but for very different reasons as well. I am mostly trying to remind myself to have fun with this. It would seem to me that if I can do that, good results will come. I may actually be able to break the 4:00 mark. My training runs have been all over the boards as far as predictions on what I can do as far as time goes, but I know if I am having fun, that is the most important thing. It also seems from experience that the crowds will be a fantastic help.

For the few interested I am posting the link to the NY marathon broadcast info. It's nothing shy of amazing to me that I will be in an event that is broadcast nationally. Here is the link: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/broadcast_schedule.htm

That's it for now, off for my "short" run of the week, 5mi. I know the course in New York is tough, so I am trying to get out and hit the hilly roads nearby. Hopefully the combination of embracing the hills and alttitude of training at altittude will give me some strong endurance for the Big Apple.

Looking for suggestions for a shirt to wear. If you have an idea, let me know.

Married

I am thrilled to report the wedding went wonderfully. Thank you to everyone that made it out to Ohio and to all that sent such wonderful well wishes. Tiffany and I were blown away by all the fantastic people and moments that have happened in the last several days. It truly was a day that will be remembered fondly for a very long time. I want to say a special thaks to Adam, Scott, Cody, Nate, and Chip for being the best groom's men I could have ever hoped for. I also wanted to say thank you to Jack for honoring us by performing the services. They were perfect!

I am humbled and grateful for everything.