Jerry Dunn in Colorado
I'd like to say 'Thank You' to all the Colorado runners who joined me for portions of my daily treks; thank you to Accelerade for providing me an opportunity to work at what I love to do… run; thank you to Pearl Izumi for outfitting me with the best equipment out there; thank you to the folks at the Running Roost in Denver; the folks at Colorado Running Company in Colorado Springs; thanks to Bryan, Jason and Mark at Alan Taylor Communications in NYC; thanks to the media for thinking that what I do is newsworthy; thank you to Greg for coming out and taking photographs; thanks to my wife for her patience and understanding; and thanks to God for a healthy, happy life."
America's Marathon Man
Jerry Dunn
November 10 - Colorado Springs, CO
Temperature: 44/60
Weather: FANTASTIC!!
Running Time: Not counting
Road Finds: Slow day... 2 pennies.
It's great to be back in the shadow of Pike's Peak. I have fond memories of my time spent here in Colorado Springs in March and April. The weather today is unbelievable... what a way to start this 20 day adventure.
I arrived Colorado Springs Saturday evening, after stopping in Denver to pick up my Accelerade apartment on wheels... my home for the next 3 weeks. NICE... a Minnie Winnie. If you're looking for me, I'll be easy to spot... ACCELERADE logos cover all sides of the vehicle. If I'm not at "home", leave me a note with a phone number and I'll give you a call. I'd love company running... or a home cooked meal... or a romp with your dog, (I had to leave Baron, my white German Shepherd at home)... or just some conversation about running, fitness, or why I use and believe in Accelerade.
If you live in the Springs area, I'll be "live" at the 7/11 on S. Hancock from 7:30 AM til 8:30 on Tuesday morning. I plan to run a few miles before I hook up with LAZOR Man at the 7/11 for some fun on the air, and some giveaways, and then I'll finish my day's 26 afterwards. So if you want me to buy you an Accelerade, or if you want to run a few with me... See ya at the 7/11 on Hancock, tomorrow morning.
DAY ONE DUNN.
November 11 - Colorado Springs, CO
Temperature: 39/65
Weather: Another beautiful day in the neighborhood.
Running Time: 5:28:00
Road Finds: 11 cents and a Honda emblem.
I had some unexpected company today... Lynn ??. I dropped down off the main road to run on the trail for a while, knowing that a lot of local runners and cyclists take advantage of the incredible trail system that runs throughout The Springs, and sure enough, there were lots of friendly, smiling faces....attached to healthy bodies. Lynn happened to be getting on the trail at the same time and the place as me, so I said "Good morning... mind if I run with you for a while?" and off we went. She's just coming off an injury, but that hadn't stopped her from doing the Chicago marathon a few weeks ago. She's now planning to do the 1/2 at the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon next June... I'm always sellin' something, if it's not Accelerade, it's my Marathon Event. Anyway, we passed a few miles chatting and enjoying the glory of the morning, and then went our separate ways.
November 12 - Colorado Springs, CO
Temperature: 37/54
Weather: Partly cloudy and quite breezy
Running Time: way past 5
Road Finds: 18 cents... 1 dime, 8 pennies... nothin' fun.
Did a few early miles, as planned. Showed up for the KKMC radio broadcast at 7/11 on S. Union. Met up with reporter and photographer from the Colorado Springs Gazette... reporter ran a few with me and did the interview for tomorrow's paper while we ran. It was great to have some company... that's two days in a row, I could get used to this.
Today's route had me on in the Southeast quadrant of the city, and once again I encountered many familiar faces at the 7/11's along today's course.
It's almost impossible to train for something like what I'm doing. I just do "maintenance" miles prior to starting one of these projects and know going in that I'm going to be sore for the first few days... and after yesterday's run my calves were toast. When I woke up this morning, after 9 hours of sleep, I wasn't even hobbling on my way to the bathroom... of course in a motorhome, that's only 2 steps... seriously though, I felt good. Gotta have something to do with the Accelerade. Muscle recovery?... you bet your ????.
If it works for me, just think how much better you can feel after a hard work out if you just grab an Accelerade. Do me a favor, and yourself too... give it a try.
Talent is a gift... Excellence is a Choice. JD
November 14 - Colorado Springs / Pueblo
Temperature: 37/57
Weather: Unreal... in a good way.
Running Time: 5:30 to 11:30
Road Finds: 2 cents
Sorry about no "update" on Thursday. The run went well... a little colder than previous days and gusty winds, but nothin' I couldn't handle.
Today started with a few pre-7:30 warm-up miles and then I was joined by a friend of mine for the next hour. We passed the time and the miles talking about his new business and some ideas that I have for my next TOUR. For the remainder of the morning I took time at each 7/11 to say good bye to the store managers and leave them with an autographed copy of the article in todays Gazette. In addition to the mention of Accelerade, Seven/Eleven got some good play as well. After the run and a shower, I jumped in the Accelerade-apartment-on-wheels and headed for Pueblo.
First stop... Kinko's... found out yesterday that they offer free internet hook-up to customers bringing in their own laptops. Such a deal.
Looking forward to tomorrow's run. The Springs was nice, but I'm excited to explore some new territory... part of the adventure.
I'm thankful to still be able to do what I'm doing. I harken back to the day in 1991 when I was running across the desert in Nevada, headed for Washington DC, and realizing that this "runnng thing" was my Gift and that I should just keep doing it. Not always knowing the whys and wherefores, but knowing that if I continue on the journey, paying attention along the way, the finish line will be worth the miles.
So on that philosophical/spirtitual note I will be bid you adieu until the morrow.
FIVE DUNN - FIFTEEN TO DO
November 15 - Pueblo, Colorado
Temperature: 27/61
Weather: Another glorious day in Colorado
Running Time: 5:40
Road Finds: 3 cents and a credit card
5:00 AM wake up call. Drove to Laundramat..didn't open til 6. Checked in at 7/11 number 1, had some coffee, read the paper, did the crossword puzzle and went back to do laundry. Finished up more quickly than I thought I would so I decided to begin my run at 7 instead of 7:30. I really didn't anticpate any company since the article in the Pueblo Chieftan ran on Tuesday, but for some reason I left my route with the manager of the store and told her if anyone showed up looking for me, this is where I would be. My first stop was about 2 miles into the run at the 7/11 on 8th St. As I approached the parking lot I spotted a runner coming in direction and I asked: "Are you here to run with me?" She replied: "yeah, and so are they."
So, for the next 5 miles or so I had a group of local runners to keep me company.
I made the mistake of telling them that my route only measured 23.6 according to MapQuest and that I'd need to add a couple of miles at the end. Well, in an effort to keep from the drudgery of getting to the finish line and still having more miles to do, they pretended to get lost and led me on a rather circuitous (sp) route from one store to the next....thus leaving me with just the exactly correct number of miles to run after their departure.
As we were running past a city construction project I spotted an adobe brick with the work PUEBLO in bas-relief (that sounds more artistic than it really is, but makes for a good description). I said, "Man, I wish I weren't so far from the finish, I'd like to have that brick for a souvenior (SP). Well, when we stopped at the next 7/11, Mary showed me the brick. she had circled back and picked it up. One of the crew borrowed a marker from the clerk and the whole gang signed it for me. I asked the clerk to stick it under the counter and I'd be back for it later. She did. I did...now I have a very cool memento of my 6th day on the road,...in Pueblo. Oh yeah, I think I convinced at least half of the crew to come out to Deadwood next June and do the DMTM.
Six Dunn... Seven + Seven to go. Stay tuned....Denver tomorrow. - Jerry
November 16 - Denver, CO
Temperature: 32/55
Weather: The 'weather god' is on my team.
Running Time: 6 plus
Road Finds: Another 2-cent day.
Drove up from Pueblo yesterday afternoon. Located my starting point for this morning... not a good place to spend the night, for a number of reasons. Too much traffic; parking lot too small; and I have to say, not the most appealing part of Denver. Wisdom is the better part of survival, and I've been around long enough to know a few things about how that works.
Anyway, found me a spot; nuked another turkey dinner prepared just for me by my favorite chef, you guessed it....Marie Calender (SP); checked my route map for this morning and hit the sack early. (What an exciting life, this "spokesperson" gig.) I am reading a good book though....WILD AT HEART. All you males out there should get a copy... good stuff.
Today's excitement....I looked the keys in the motor home. It wasn't my fault, I swear. But I had to call a locksmith nonetheless. $65 later I'm back inside my cozy little cubicle...moving down the road, looking for that next "perfect" paking place.
7 DUNN...13 MO.
November 17 - Denver, CO
Temperature: 37/58
Weather: Sunny, sunny, sunny!!!
Running Time: 6 +, again
Road Finds: 1 cent and a golf ball.
Phew...long day today...so like wha's new, huh? Today was one of those days that started out with a bit of frustration caused by stuggling to get my bearings. (the city map of Denver is soo huge that I can't conveniently carry it with me, so I write out my route and draw a makeshift diagram of the street layout and hope for the best. I do of course have the exact address of each of the 7/11's, and I don't mind asking for help, so I DO always get where I need to be....it's just a bit frustrating at times.)
All in all a pretty uneventful day. Just one of those I needed to get behind me so I can get up and do it again tomorrow.
Dunn 8... an even Duzen to go.
Lookin' forward to the 26th... Elaine arrives for the Thanksgiving weekend.
November 18 - Denver, Colorado
Temperature: 28/61
Weather: They just keep comin'!
Running Time: who knows
Road Finds: 4 cents
Crazy day... 10 miles pre 7:30 so I could be available for "sampling" and radio promotion. Stayed at that 7/11 til 8:15. Drove to next radio station for "in-studio" interview at 11:00 and ran about 8 in that neighborhood. I was scheduled to do "live" TV at noon, but was called at 11:30 and told that I'd been bumped by Michael, as in Jackson. I guess "they raided" his ranch today. That's more important than me drinking Accelerade and running my ass all over Denver? I don't THINK so! Oh well. So, I went out and finished the days miles. You've probably heard of double workouts... this was a triple, and I didn't much care for it.
Tomorrow will be better.
Dunnine....Eleven left.
November 19 - Littleton, CO
Temperature: 30/67
Weather: Unbelievable
Running Time: just under 6
Road Finds: zip
Had trouble getting out of the chute this morning. Slept til 5:24... usually up at 4:45. Took a long time with the crossword puzzle.. stalling, not that I didn't know the answers. But once I got out there, it was a good day. Lots more open spaces today than the past few, plus I found a bike path running parallel to Platte County Road... this makes for more "mindless" running, you know, no traffic, no curbs. Met a couple of dogs out with their humans and was able to get rid of the remaining dog treats in my fanny pack.
All in all, a fun day... once I got my butt out the door... remember that next time you're stalling.
Oh yeah... HUMP DAY. 10 DUNN....1O MO TA GO. Jerry
November 20 - Westminster/Denver, CO
Temperature: 30/65
Weather: Boy, oh boy, another beaut.
Running Time: 6 plus
Road Finds: 4 cents and an old-guy-hat. One of those you'd see on a retired guy in Florida.
Maybe the most exciting day... a detour and a bit of bushwacking involved. This was due to my failure to look closely at the city map. Detour wasn't so bad, just had to run a about a mile out of my way. this was on my way out, so I was aware that on the way back I would encounter the same how-do-I-cross-the-Interstate-w/o-going-miles-out-of-my-way situation. I figured, "eh, I'll find a way". Well, of course I did... I "found" myself running with traffic on the shoulder of the Interstate looking for a way to cross... and there it was..a culvert under the entire 4 lanes. It looked a bit muddy, but mud seemed better than miles. Okay, so I'm bent over to about 3/4's of my natural heighth, slopping through mud in my new WHITE Pearl Izumi's, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel....literally. Here comes the exciting part, the first thing I see as I exit the tube is two Policemen in full SWAT Team uniforms, including machine guns. Then, I spot 5 more teams of 2 SWAT dudes, a big PO-lice van and guys doin' STUFF. My first thought: "so how cool does this look?..these guys are doin' a raid or somethin' and here I come runnin' out of culvert, right into the middle of all this....whatever. So, as is my practice when I encounter other pedestrians when I'm running, I said... "Good morning." There response: "Sir, you can't run through this parking lot." All righty then... "how 'bout I just go that way?" "Good idea."
I checked this morning's paper, but didn't see any report of SWAT team activity. So, who says I'm not havin' a good time here in Denver.
Leben Dunn... Nine to go.
November 21 - Englewood, CO
Temperature: 17/35
Weather: Chilly but sunny
Running Time: UNDER 6
Road Finds: 2 pennies and a nickel. (first 5-cent piece)
Today's route took me through some pretty up-scale neighborhoods, thus, not too many 7/11's. In fact, a total of 4 was it for today, which is part of the reason for getting in under 6 hours. The other part was the cool weather. (Most previous days I've dressed for the coolness of the morning, and then been over-dressed and too warm for the last couple of hours). Also, I found a trail connecting Arapahoe St. to Broadway (about 3 miles) which eliminated my need to slow down for traffic, curbs and other inconveniences encoountered while running on the streets.
All in all... one of the better days thus far.
DOZEN DUNN... ATE MORE. Jerry
November 22 - Washington Park, Denver, CO
Temperature: 19/29
Weather: Winter has arrived in Denver. 8 inches of snow.
Running Time: just under 6
Road Finds: one thin dime
Washington Park... outer loop... 2.6 miles... ten laps. After 2 laps, John and Jane arrived to do Accelerade sampling. I did number 3 while they set up the tent and then they alternated running laps with me through lap 8. It began to snow, get windy and get colder at the begining of lap 6. By the time I was finished there was a couple of inches on the ground... it's still coming down. So, in hindsight, I made a good choice to stay off the roads today... it would have been dangerous. Lots of dogs in the park today... sure do miss Baron. He loves to run with me in the snow. Lapping up mouthfuls as we run along... snorting when he gets it up his nose... what a great running buddy.
The Accelerade sampling went well today. Actually better than at the 7/11.
If you're ever in Denver and need a running store, there's only one place to go... The Runner's Roost. Dennis, Nancy, Paul, Karen, Vicki, Kim and (I forgot one name) are great folks... and I don't say that just because they let me take showers in their downstairs facility, although that has endeared them to me, but their just genuinely nice people.
So, given the weather conditions, my plan is to go back to Wash Park tomorrow and do 10 more laps... in the opposite direction, just to unwind a little bit.
Pretty boring report today, but hey, some days are just like that. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
DUNN 13 OPPONENT 7... looks like I'm winnin'.
November 23 - Washington Park, Denver, CO
Temperature: 2/12
Weather: Yep... COLD!!!, and Sunny.
Running Time: who cares?
Road Finds: Lots of dogs playing in the park
Awoke about 3:15 AM and realized my heating unit was not working... inside temp = 42 degrees. Inside sleeping bag... a toasty 98.6. I fired up the engine, cranked the the thermostat up to 75, (I usually leave it at 60 during the night) and the heater decided to work. I often wonder how many other athlete, product spokes-persons have as much fun earning their mega-bucks as I do... I'm guessin' not many. (Did I say mega-bucks? I think I misspelled it... meager-bucks. Hey, I'm not complaining... it beats a real job... I think. Anyway, I did a few miles in downtown Denver before the TV spot. I absolutely love running big city streets before dawn, and especially when there's fresh snow... really, I'm serious about this. No cars, no people, that eerie kind of silence that freshly fallen snow lays over everything... YES! While waiting to go back to the studio, had a long chat with Jim, security at the station, and realized once again how lucky I am and how important it is to stay in shape. Long story short... Jim was climbing, took a 60 ft. free fall onto a slab of granite, broke his back and forearm, and lived to tell about it because, as the doctors told him, "If you weren't a body-builder, a runner and as fit as you are... you wouldn't have survived this." So, I'm lucky because nothing like this has happened to me, and more aware than ever that staying fit has more implications than we can imagine.
From there I went to Washington Park and did my laps. The winter landscape was breathtaking... or maybe it was the 5 degree temps... whatever - it was a good day to be alive and runnin'.
November 24 - Aurora, CO
Temperature: 18/50
Weather: Skrunchy to Slushy
Running Time: Just enough
Road Finds: Ditto
Overdressed... got really warm before the day was done.
Uneventful... just another day at the office. Headed for Boulder for tomorrow's run.
November 25 - Boulder, CO
Temperature: 30/44
Weather: Sunny and cool
Running Time: 6 plus
Road Finds: Zip on Tuesday... Wed., bungee cord and doggie float toy... for Baron.
I'll give a full wrap up Monday night's meal hosted by Alica and John Mahoney, and attended by a great group of runners and kids... food was awesome... first homecooked meal in 3 weeks... yum!
Tuesday morning... Siga, Alicia and Jacob, Tracey and Chris from Iowa all joined me for a few miles.
Okay, for the few of you who are following me here at AcceleradeColorado.com... I gotta go pick up my wife at the airport, and for some reason that seems more important than a detailed report of today's activities... I'll fill in with "stuff" in a day or two.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I'll be at the Turkey Trot in Denver tomorrow in Washington Park.
December 1 - Spearfish, SD
This is a wrap-up of Thanksgiving Day, Friday and Saturday. On Thursday, Elaine and I spent quite a few hours back in Washington Park. I was scheduled to go to Greeley, but given that the 30th Annual Turkey Trot was being held in Wash Park, and the anticipated number of runners and walkers totaled over 10,000, I decided that having the Accelerade van parked on the course and forcing all 10,000 runners/walkers to pass by it would be the best publicity we could have. During one of my breaks, I climbed atop the Accelerade Beast and did what I love to do... "worked the crowd." Thursday night, Elaine and I put on our finest duds and had dinner at the Tuscany restaurant at LOEWS Denver, our hotel. Quite nice.
Friday morning I was scheduled to travel to Ft. Collins to hit the 8 stores located there, but instead, I went back to Washington Park... I like that place. After that day's run, I returned the motorhome, picked up my bride and we headed downtown to the Brown Palace Hotel for a glass of wine. For those of you familiar with the Brown Palace you know that it is over 100 years old and just drips of turn of the century elegance... not to mention that Elaine and I had one of our first dates there, so we had to pay it a visit.
Saturday morning found me at the appointed 7/11 on S. Broadway, just in case any of my "fans" showed up to run with me, but as usual... no one. Elaine and I did a few miles, drooled over some new cars... (south Broadway is the car dealers haven of Denver), and then hopped in the car and hightailed it to Ft. Collins. I made to 6 of the 8 stores and then we proceeded on to HOME. Got in late Saturday night and slept in on Sunday morning.
All in all the 20 days in Colorado were great. I met a lot of people, made some new friends and new contacts, gained a couple of new sponsors, drank a lot of Accelerade and won over some new customers to the product.
20 DUNN... NUNN TO GO
America's Marathon Man - Dunn Quixote
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