Dunn’s Daily upDates (March)
March 1 - Wednesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 33 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 49 / 65
Weather Conditions: Sunny, to partly Cloudy. Quite a change from the snow back home.
Running Time: 5:51
Road Finds: One penny, and an unopened prophylactic. (I don't know if I’ve ever spelled that word before). Not a very profitable day, but unusual. The most unusual thing about this find, was that it was in the only what you might call, "upscale" neighborhood on the course......the 5 or 6 blocks of Highland, as you approach Melrose. Whatevvvvver.
Comments: As you may have noted, today's time is the slowest of the 33 thus far. That's not good. I did a lot of walking, somewhat painful walking, I might add.
I have not run one mile since I left Vegas, and I was concerned about what might happen doing 26.2 after 11 days of rest......the situation with my right arch, that began bothering me just a few days before I left Vegas, quirked in about mile 14, and from that point on.......not good. And the pain in the right foot kind of kept my mind off the left foot, which doesn't feel all that great either. So I went from...."God I'm glad to be back on a course I know and like;" and greeting people on the street, to..."why am I doing this to myself?"
I hope ice, lots of ibuprofen, elevation and a good night's rest will get me ready for tomorrow. I have media commitments at 10 AM, and that's what I'm getting paid for.
So, to be a bit repetitious, what started out as a grand morning, doing what I love, turned into a mind game and a struggle to get back to the car.....BUT, I made it, and I'll live to run again......unfortunately, that will be tomorrow.
***
March 17 - Friday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 48 of 200
Location: Carlsbad, Ca.
Temperature: 52 / 67
Weather Conditions: Just like yesterday.
Running Time: 4:53
Road Finds: One measly penny. You know, I should be keeping a cumulative total...it would be interesting to see the grand total for the year. I'll get on that......I need another thing to keep track of.
Comments: It's late....I'm tired....I'll do a good recap of March when I get home to the peace and quiet of the Black Hills, and my office and my desk.
48 down....only 152 to go.
SEE YOU IN BOSTON!
***
March 2 - Thursday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 34 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 49 / 68
Weather Conditions: Beeeautiful.
Running Time: 4:46
Road Finds: 26 cents
Comments: After such a horrible flop on my debut run in LA, anything would have been better. But today was more than just better, today was great.
All last night, I had thoughts of how I could get out my contracts, how I would support myself for the rest of the year, what would people think of me if I "bailed out?" (Plus, my foot hurt like crazy). Suffice it to say, I wasn't all that eager to hear the alarm, or the starting gun this morning. BUT, if you haven't already figured it out....I'm somewhat "driven", and the things I start, I most often finish.
The body is a remarkably durable and adaptable mechanism. Mine responded miraculously (spelling) well to ice, elevation, ibuprofen, Tiger Balm, more food, a good night's sleep, kind words from my wife and 2 donuts this morning instead of 1. I began to run with only minor discomfort, and continued through the entire morning without any major problems.
Another contributing factor was that I had a media commitment at 10 AM, and I HAD to perform for the cameras....sounds a little weird, but I think it's true. Anyway, I did live to run another day.....and it was good.
Elaine arrives tomorrow night, so I will use that thought to get me through some miles tomorrow. (I haven't said much about my wife in these chronicles, but she is an amazing women....if you would like to know more, go to my SPONSORS PAGE, and her web address is at the bottom of the list).
Remember one thing.... It's not how high you are, it's "Hi, how are you".
Gotta Runn.....Jerry Dunn
***
March 3 - Friday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 35 of 200
Location: Laker Land
Temperature: 50 / 57
Weather Conditions: Overcast, with a slight breeze.
Running Time: 4:58
Road Finds: Another slow day...just one thin dime, and nothing else of any interest.
Comments: Ever seen a Chinese peacock? What a gorgeous bird. I didn't see this colorful creature in the streets of downtown LA, but on the drive up the hill to Mt. Washington, where the friend with whom I'm staying lives, this bird walked right across the road in front of me. There happened to be an old lady crossing the street, and I queried her as the what kind of bird that was. I also asked if it was the only one. Her reply, "yes, although in the spring he sings his mating call, but no females ever show up. He's been here about 3 years. He's well fed, and has plenty of trees in which to perch, so he must be OK living as a single bird."
I felt good all during the run. I've determined that no running at all during my off days at the end of the month, may not be such a good plan. At the end of this segment of my adventure, I think I will try total rest for 3 or 4 days, and then just a few miles every morning (or afternoon) for the rest of the month. This is an experiment, so I need to experiment with different regimens.
Elaine arrives in just a few hours....we'll talk about that regimen another time.
Later, Marathon Man.
***
March 4 - Saturday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 36 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 49 / 65
Weather Conditions: Nice.
Running Time: 4:54
Road Finds: ZIP
Comments: Elaine’s plane was late arriving last night, so I didn’t get to bed until about midnight. Got up at the normal 4:45, and on the course by 6. (I have temporarily moved to a hotel near the airport, primarily for privacy with Elaine, but also to just be close to the airport for the sake of convenience.) Anyway, I ran well today. It’s so much easier when I have a “crew” person to carry my water, my Endurox R4, my PowerGel, and all the other stuff I normally have to carry in my fanny pack. And it’s doubly nice when that crew person is my wife. Went to the Y and showered after the run and drove around downtown until we found Phillippe’s, which is a very old restaurant located across the street from the train station. From there we went to the expo, where I spent about 2 ½ hours in the Endurox booth. One of the people that stopped to talk with me was Rick Henry. He is a man who is planning to run around the planet, seriously. He has it all planned, with major funding from FedEx and Adidas. He wanted to meet me because he figured we must be sole mates. We are going to stay in contact with each other.
So after the expo, it was mass at St. Basil’s on Wilshire, and dinner at the Royal Emerald, Thai restaurant. We were in bed by 8 o’clock. A good day.
***
March 5 - Sunday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 37 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, but it seemed like Seattle.
Temperature: below norm
Weather Conditions: Very cold. Raining like you wouldn't believe.
Running Time: N / A
Road Finds: Flooded streets. A gazillion discarded trash bags. A warm and dry McDonalds. Two angels in the form of human beings, who drove us from the McDonalds to our car.
Comments: Today was one of those days where nothing went right, and the sensible, intelligent part of my self won out over the bullheaded side.
The first indication that we were off to a bad start was that we got off course before we were even on the course. In other words, we got a bit lost on our way downtown, and then had to deal with finding our way through, or around the many blocked off streets to get to the parking lots that were accessible to runners. This would not have been so frustrating except for the fact that I was supposed to meet Tim McCloone from KCOP at 7:30, to do a live TV interview before the race. I did get there at 7:58, only to find out that we wouldn’t be doing anything until 1 mile into the race. (Something I forgot to mention, this is all happening during a very heavy downpour!)
So now we have an hour and forty-five minutes to wait until the marathon starts, and we’re already pretty wet.. and cold. We find shelter in the St. Bonaventure hotel lobby and stay there until 20 minutes before “gun time”. Back into the streets to stand and shiver with 20,000 other rain drenched runners.
So, we get to mile one, Tim is not there, but his motorcycle crew is there waiting for him to show up. So is one of his other stories of the day. Tim shows. The motorcycle takes off. Tim does the other story and I’m supposed to be interviewed immediately afterwards, and then Elaine and I can go on our soggy way. Just as we’re ready to start the interview the cameraman informs us that his camera is not working. He messes around with that until mile 3, where Tim is supposed to meet the Special Olympic Super Heroes for the 3rd of his 3 stories for the day. At mile 3 we wait about 10 minutes for the Heroes to show, and then we are informed that the camera is still not working and it will be 20 minutes before another can be delivered. Tim gives us the option of waiting or going on, and if we go on, he will try to find us later. His parting comment: “This is live TV, what can I say?”
In a final attempt to salvage this photo op for my sponsors, I give the camera man my Sprint phone #, and tell him to call us if they get their camera and still want to do the piece;..(I still haven’t heard the phone ring).
Bottom Line: I was so miserably wet and cold, not to mention having lost almost an hour of running time, I said to Elaine, “Let’s bail out”. Never having known this Harding County cowgirl, (a story for another time) to quit anything she started, I was surprised to hear her say “OK.” We talked it over for the next mile, and decided to call it a day. I’ll be back out there tomorrow doing number 37 for the year, and deal with the guilt later.
***
March 6 - Monday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 37 (still) of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 50 / 55
Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy, mild breeze
Running Time: 5:03
Road Finds: Some evidence of the aftermath of a marathon, but nothing like Las Vegas last month, when I found 300 gel empty gel packs and papercups. The clean up here was excellent.
Comments: Elaine and I were both still dealing with a bit of guilt, because as I said.....we are not quitters. We did the first hour together this morning, and then Elaine went back and cleaned up, and came back and picked me up at the finish. After reading the account of the race in the LA Times....main theme of course was the RAIN......we decided that we had in fact made the right decision. We spent the rest of Sunday getting warm; watching I.U. throw away a ball game to Wisconsin; watching the hometown Lakers wallop Miami; going out for a nice dinner; and watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire. (We never watch TV at home, so it's kind of a treat to lie in bed and "veg out" when we're away. Besides, it just felt great to be warm and comfortable and not wading through rushing water.) We spent some time discussing what we would have done had the other one not been here.....would we have gone on or not? We concluded that we would have made the same decision. We may be crazy about running, but we're not stupid. (Which reminds me of a book I just finished reading; BEAUTY FADES...DUMB IS FOREVER. It's by Judge Judy, primarily written for a female audience, but Elaine thought I would enjoy it, and as often is the case, she was right.) And you know, after all is said and done.....it was nice to have a day off.
More on the morrow!
***
March 7 - Tuesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 38 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 42 ;/53
Weather Conditions: Patchy clouds and a mild breeze. Great running weather.
Running Time: 4:59
Road Finds: Another fruitless day.
Comments: Not much to say about today. Just one I had to get done so I can move on to the next one. Tomorrow's run will be a change of scenery. I have a meeting with an exec at active.com in La Jolla at 1PM, and since La Jolla is just south of Carlsbad, where this whole adventure began back in January, I have driven down this afternoon, and will run the San Diego Marathon course in the morning before my meeting.
I'm really looking forward to both the run and the meeting....."this could be big time stuff"! So rather than wax philosophical about guilt, or consistency, or some other non-running related topic, I am going to spend the rest of the evening preparing for this meeting....boy do I sometimes wish I had an agent. More tomorrow from "Dunn Quixote" your itinerant runner.
***
March 8 - Wednesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 39 of 200
Location: Carlsbad, Ca.
Temperature: 51 / 59
Weather Conditions: Cloudy, breezy with some rain.
Running Time: 4:42
Road Finds: 1 cent.
Comments: It was nice to be back at the ocean. Apparently this course is faster for me than the LA course. My 4:42 today didn't seem to take any more effort than the 5 hour times I've been posting in LA. (Maybe it's going up and down all those curbs and waiting for traffic and the smog, that slows me down up there.
***
March 9 - Thursday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 40 of 200
Location: Carlsbad, Ca.
Temperature: 49 / 67
Weather Conditions: Beautiful.
Running Time: 4:57
Road Finds: Nothing of interest.
Comments: Much nicer than yesterday. The surfers were back. There were a lot more runners and cyclists today. I really enjoyed the morning.
My meeting yesterday with http://www.active.com, was good. Tim Scott, the Sr. VP and I are going to meet again next Friday, at which time we will formalize some kind of an agreement for the remainder of the year. I will be glad when I have enough financial backing that all I have to do is run, eat and rest. But when you're doing something as outrageous as running 200 marathon distances in one year, it's sometimes hard to get people to commit. Who knows, I may end up with only a 160, or a 175.
Gotta eat......and soak the feet.
***
March 10 - Friday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 41 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 50 / 68
Weather Conditions: It's a California kind of day......I love it!
Running Time: 4:55
Road Finds: Well, today I found one of those "umbrella hats". They are popular at state fairs, carnivals and those "down home" kind of outdoor events. My guess is that this one was left over from Sunday. I tried it on, but it hurt my head, and it just didn't do a thing for me. I deposited in the next open trash can.
Comments: Well, now that we are down to George W. and Al, I have a great idea for deciding which one will be our next leader. Since each of them has run a marathon at some time in their lives...WHY NOT? I will train them both, via ' the internet. We will target the Marine Corps Marathon in late October, and the one with the best time gets to be president. It seems like as good of a standard as any for choosing between the two of them. My money is on A.G.
I realized yesterday that I am 1/5 of the way to accomplishing my mission. 40 times 5 equals 200, simple enough. So I've reached a milestone....at least in my mind I have.
Today was another good day. Tomorrow starts the beginning of the last week here in LA, so each morning when I am running, I can remind myself that "this the last Saturday, or Sunday, that I will have to run the LA course". One of those little mind games that we long distance runners use to get through a few miles.
So when you're out there for your long weekend training run tomorrow or Sunday, think about me out here in LA, and send me some prayers or good vibes, or something positive.
Later....Marathon Man
***
March 11 - Saturday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 42 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 52 /70
Weather Conditions: A bit warmer at the start, and heated up enough for me to get a good sweat goin'. Felt good
Running Time: 5:04
Road Finds: Today I found the time to be thankful for all the good things in my life. My health. My wife. My Mom. My friends. The many things that make each day an exciting adventure.
Comments: Life is good. Expect a miracle. Be the master of your destiny.
And STAY FIT....DON'T QUIT!
***
March 12 - Sunday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 43 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 54 / 71
Weather Conditions: It's southern California, what can I say. I can say it's 100% better than last Sunday.
Running Time: 4:53
Road Finds: One nickel, and nine pennies.
Comments: I started and hour early this morning..(5:12) so I could be finished in time to go to church. My host for the month attends the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. This church....temple is more like it...was built in the late 1800's, and it is a magnificent edifice. It rivals St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. It also has one of the largest pipe organs I have ever seen...or heard. The message was motivating, and the music was excellent. (This choir is preparing for the 67th annual Bach Music Festival next Sunday, and the piece they did this morning was awesome.)
After the service I had lunch with Brian, my host, and have come home to watch the "pairings" for the Big Dance...NCAA tourney, for those of you who may not be college basketball fans. I'm getting psyched up for next weekend, when there will be 64 college games between Thursday morning and Sunday night.....and having grown up in Indiana, it's mandatory that I be interested.
Today's run was good. The only glitch was that having started an hour early, my usual 10 mile aid station....the Olympic Cafe...was not open yet. (And I had been fantasizing about a pancake for the last 4 miles...oh well.)
Later. Running Dunn
***
March 13 - Monday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 44 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 53 / 69
Weather Conditions: Hazy, with a slight breeze.
Running Time: 5:04
Road Finds: "See a penny, pick it up. All day long you'll have good luck" I hope that works. It seems to be so far. I made it through another one, and I only have 4 to go here in Los Angeles.
Comments: I have another meeting with active.com down in La Jolla, later this week, so I think I will drive down very early on Thursday morning to Carlsbad, and finish up the last 2 of this month back by the ocean. That course is not the MOST beautiful I've ever run, but it is a pleasant change from LA.
I'm looking forward to getting home on Saturday, but as I'm writing these words I remember what I read in this morning's LA TIMES sports section....a quote from one of my favorite people, Phil Jackson: when asked what is the secret of his success....."move with the flow of life, and when you do, extraordinary things will happen." Which in turn reminds me of a book I read back when I was a hippie, (like Mr. Jackson, I suspect)...the book was BE HERE NOW, by the Dali Lama. AND, when I remember to live that way....present in the moment....things always do seem to flow.
This Phil-osophy is one of the ways I am able to do what I'm doing....as I run each day, I am thankful for the gift of movement, and excited about the things around me....wherever I find myself.
***
March 14 - Tuesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 45 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 52 /70
Weather Conditions: Yesterday was hazy; today was very hazy.
Running Time: 5:09
Road Finds: No money, no hats, nothing.
Comments: I felt like I was running faster than yesterday, but ended up just a bit slower. Maybe it was the piece of French Toast I had at my 10 mile aid station......the Olympic Cafe. Usually I just have a coffee or a juice, but today I was hungry.
All in all a pretty uneventful day.
One more here in LA, and then I will wrap it up down in Carlsbad on Thursday and Friday.
I still need lodging in Boston next month. Specially in the downtown area. Any and all leads would be appreciated.
Later.....the marathon man.
***
March 15 - Wednesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 46 of 200
Location: Los Angeles, California
Temperature: 51 / 68
Weather Conditions: I guess it was smog. Or at least a very damp fog. The sun penetrated slightly about 11:00.
Running Time: 4:49
Road Finds: Black Jack...translated = 21 cents. Rather interesting though...I saw the penny, and almost didn't stop. When I stooped (ouch) to pick it up, there was a dime..and then I saw another dime. (see comments)
Comments: This "blackjack" or "21" incident caused me to go off on one of my philosophical tangents.
"If you stop to pay attention to the little things, like the penny, you never know what else may turn up as a result of being willing to take time for the small things in life". This also reminded me of something that my late stepfather, Amos Lovevess (now that's a down home name if you've ever heard one) used to say....."Take care of the pennys, and the dollars will take care of themselves." Suffice it to say that Amos was a depression era survivor; a 31-years-for-the-same-company blue collar worker; who when he passed away, left a safe deposit box full of U.S. Savings Bonds dating back to 1944....his own little stash that no one in the family even knew existed. (I should be so frugal).
In a broader sense, the 21 cent thing is kind of like the "stop and smell the roses along the way" philosophy......take time to live, to enjoy the simple things, and the rewards for that can be 20 fold.....and not necessarily in terms of finances either.
I try to remember this simple concept, but often times I allow my own sense of self importance to overshadow what is really important in life, and that is our family and our friends; our health and our happiness; and our respect for others, no matter who they are.
Well, I'm finished with the streets of LA. Tomorrow morning I'm getting up at o'dark 30, and driving down to Carlsbad. I will run that course in the morning, and again on Friday Morning. I have a business meeting in La Jolla on Friday afternoon, and from the conclusion of that meeting until I leave LA at 5 PM on Saturday, I'll be watching March Madness. Yes, I am a Hoosier at heart, and I still love college hoops. I have come to dislike Bobby Knight as a person, but I really like some of the kids playing for him this year....so they're my team.
***
March 16 - Thursday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 47 of 200
Location: Carlsbad, Ca.
Temperature: 54 / 68
Weather Conditions: A little cloudy with a sight breeze coming off the ocean, but that was only a factor from 13 to 15 miles.
Running Time: 4:39
Road Finds: 3 cents.
Comments: I love this course! At least relative to LV and LA. This morning's time is the best of this month's series. I started a little bit early after driving down from LA. AS soon as I finished this morning, I checked into my motel; turned on the TV; and settled in to the March Madness madness. I'm set for the rest of the day.
I wrap it up here in California tomorrow....I'm ready for a break.
***
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