For four years I have been trying to make it into the NYC Marathon. Since I don’t have a qualifying time (3:10:59 or less) I have tried to go through the lottery. They have a guarantee set up that if you try to get in through the lottery 3 years in a row and you’re denied 3 years in a row the 4th year you’re guaranteed. Well, I tried for 3 years and didn’t make it in so this was the year! I found out how to secure my entry using that guarantee and I was all set. I usually take 4 months to train for a marathon and I pretty much have it down to a science with 1 long run a week (between 10-22 miles), 1 speed workout (on the track), 1 day of cross training (cycling), 3 days of moderate runs (between 3-9 miles), and 1 day of rest because your body needs to recuperate. But this year the first day of training happened to be when I was on the mission trip in the Bahamas, so needless to say I did not train while I was in the Bahamas. When I returned, I began working 4 days a week at Starbucks, 2 days a week at the church along with 2 nights a week for youth group and then Sundays. All of that combined for a very busy schedule not leaving a whole lot of time to run. When I get back from working an 8 hour shift on my feet at Starbucks the last thing I want to do is go out for a run, but as time when on this is what became necessary to have any shot at finishing the NYC Marathon. And finish it, I did. Here are some thoughts on the race.
When I signed up for the race I didn’t sign up for transportation to the starting line because I figured, it’s New York City, I love so close—why would I need transportation to the starting line? Little did I know that the starting line was over in Staten Island and the only way there was on the Staten Island Ferry or the official marathon transportation busses. Both of which needed to be signed up for ahead of time back in August. This brought me to have to head back to the expo in the city on Saturday (day before the marathon) to try and find a way to the starting line. The lady at the transportation desk said, “Everything else but the 5:30am bus from the NYC Library is sold out. Would you like that?” I think to myself, “No, I wouldn’t ‘like’ that, but that seems to be my only option, doesn’t it? Just slap that sticker on there and let me get going to figure out how I’m going to make it up at 4:30am to catch this bus.” Sunday morning came, I boarded the bus to travel to the starting line which then allowed me to sit on the ground under a large tent with about a thousand other people (we were split up by bib color). Cold. Damp. Early. Finally it came time to start and I was in the first wave at 9:40am. I was impressed with their punctuality—I think Mich
ael Bloomburg set off the starting cannon at 9:42. We left Staten Island, ran over the Verazano Bridge and onto the other 4 boroughs.
I was so impressed with the city of New York. I mean, I’ve always thought I’m bias towards New York City because it’s what I’ve grown up with and no other city seems to compare, but this even furthered that. There were people lining the streets for the ENTIRE 26.2 miles. Strangers cheering on strangers. Friends and family cheering on friends and family. Runners encouraging other runners. We were all in this together and we all genuinely want to see everyone finish. There were 50,000+ runners running this race and it was a really great and memorable experience.
I wasn’t fond of the finish line experience of walking through and getting the medal, the heat shield, a bag of food and then corralled like sheep for TEN MORE BLOCKS through Central Park until we were finally allowed out. Come on, we just ran 26.2 miles, I know that walking is necessary so you don’t really cramp up, but the marathon officials were border-line yelling at people who were sitting on the side. Excuse me, but we are the ones who just ran 26.2 miles and I think we’re entitled to a brief rest of we need it, thanks. That was uncool. But that’s really my only complaint. I was also very few brief moments as I ran by and then hurry to the next spot where they could see me. I know it must be a lot of work for them to do that, but it makes a world of difference for me and my morale. My official time was 3:56:14, which was good concidering I wanted to break 4 hours. With more training I know I could do better, so in the future I definitely want to run NYC again.
For the longest time I used to run with music, then I stopped in college because all the races I was entering had banned iPods. Then I actually went to these races and the officials weren’t doing anything about the people listening to music. That being the case, and for the fact that I picked up the Nike + running software and chip for my iTouch, I was going to listen to music once again. And let me tell you, it’s really helped. It keeps me focused on something other than “where’s the next mile marker?” “why does my knee feel like that?” For those of you wondering what music it takes to keep me occupied for 26.2 miles, here’s the playlist:
“Empire State of Mind” Jay Z featuring Alicia Keys
“Tiffany Blews” Fall Out Boy
“Coyotes” Jason Mraz
“Top of the World” All American Rejects
“If I Never See Your Face Again” Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna
“Real World” All American Rejects
“Midnight Show” the Killers
“America’s Suitehearts” Fall Out Boy
“Swim” Jack’s Mannequin
“Dark Blue” Jack’s Mannequin
“Sirens” Angels and Airwaves
“Absolute” The Fray
“Stab My Back” All American Rejects
“Forgiven” Relient K
“The Mixed Tape” Jack’s Mannequin
“Come Right Out and Say It” Relient K
“Gives You Hell” All American Rejects
“I’m Waiting” All American Rejects
“Lost+” Coldplay
“I’m Ready” Jacks Mannequin
“Dirty Little Secret” All American Rejects
“She’s My Winona” Fall Out Boy
“Call to Arms” Angels and Airwaves
“The Dynamo of Volition” Jason Mraz
“Believe” All American Rejects
“Mr. Brightside” the Killers
“All These Things That I’ve Done” the Killers
“Rite of Spring” Angels and Airwaves
“Harder to Breathe” Maroon 5
“Move Along” All American Rejects
“Through with You” Maroon 5
“Apocalypse Please” Muse
“Heaven” Angels and Airwaves
“Devastation and Reform” Relient K
“I’m Taking You With Me” Relient K
“Bite My Tongue” Relient K
“Space” Something Corporate
“Only Ashes” Something Corporate
“Up and Go” the Starting Line
“Decisions, Decisions” the Starting Line
“This Ride” the Starting Line
“Until the Day I Die” Story of the Year
“Razorblades” Story of the Year
“Reinventing Your Exit” UnderOath
“It’s Dangerous Business…” Underoath
“Young and Aspiring” UnderOath
“The Clincher” Chevelle
“Still Running” Chevelle
“Tug-o-War” Chevelle
“You Have My Attention” Copeland
“Darwin, Jesus, the Devil and Me” Damion Suomi
“Heartless” Kanye West
“Time of Your Song” Matisyahu
“King without a Crown” Matisyahu
“Emotional Drought” Chevelle
“Say This Sooner” The Almost
“I mostly Copy Other People” The Almost
“Southern Weather” The Almost
“Viva la Vida” Coldplay
So here we are, the Yankees up 3-1 in the World Series against the Phillies. When the Phillies made it to the World Series and won the first game my phone was lighting up with texts from my friends who are Phillies fans and my Facebook wall, the same thing. Trash talking left and right. Talking about sweeping the series even after the Yankees won the second game (how is that even possible?). Since then, after the Yankees won game 2, game 3, and game 4 I’ve heard nothing. Not a word. If you’re going to say the types of things that have been said when the Phillies beat the Yankees, hold on to it, OWN IT, keep it up through the series. At least you’ll go down swinging. And I’ve chosen to be the better person and not count my chickens before they hatch in not trash talking until the World Series is securely won by the Yankees. But here’s my real deal with Phillies fans.
ames their team the “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.” Seriously, you’re either from LA or you’re from Anaheim. They’re a good 20 miles apart, so they need to just cut the tie with LA and go with Anaheim. For Game 1 tomorrow night the Yanks are putting Sabathia on the mound and the Angels are pitching him against Lackey. Not bad. Game 2 is Burnett for the Yanks and Saunders for the Angels. Game 3 we have Pettitte and Weaver out in LA. And that’s as far as it’s forecast. I’m definitely not saying this is going to be a walk in the park. The Angels have a good team, they’ve played well this year, but I do think that the Yankees are just that much better. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series goes to the 6th or 7th game. Let’s just hope this nor’easter up here in NY doesn’t wash out the first 2 games of this series! I already think it’s a bit much that the World Series now goes into November. 

frustrating. The spider web, if you’ve done it, just might be one of the most frustrating things EVER, especially with mosquitoes and gnats flying around your head. But these kids, they kept at it until they got it. And us leaders had to do all of the elements with the students, and there was some really great teamwork and bonding going on. I was very impressed and encouraged with it. The afternoon brought on the high ropes course which was probably what I was most nervous about. More specifically, the one where you have to jump off the platform that’s like 40 feet up on a tree and reach out to try and grab a trapeze. I can do the ones where you have to walk across a long that’s 30 ft up between 2 trees and pass someone going the other way, but jumping off something is a different story. Sure, you’re harnessed in…but tell that to your mind when you climb all the way up there and look down to see you’d be a pancake if anything went wrong. But just as the students pressed on through the low ropes, they all at least tried the high ropes. Some were more nervous than others, but they all stepped out of their comfort zones and took some huge leaps.
ater was a little chilly but felt very refreshing when it would sneak up and crash over the side of the raft. Around noon we stopped at this little beach on the side of the river and Adventure Bound cooked us some lunch. But not just PB&J, this was the real deal. Ribeye steak, teriyaki chicken, salmon, mmmmmm. They did it right. They said that they also do a rafting trip 9 times/summer down the Dead River which is 12 miles of straight class 4-5 rapids, whereas the river we rafted was about 6 miles of class 4-5, and about 6 miles of “swimmers rapids” where we could jump out and have the current carry us downstream. I think I want to check out the Dead River trips for next summer. And seriously, how cool does that sound, “I rafted down the dead river.”
g the walls with plywood and working on framing and covering the roof. There was a 2nd house where we repaired the cement columns the house would sit on and begin to form the floor. This took a lot of work, quite a bit of measuring and remeasuring, a ton of nails, and the gracious patience of Next Step’s own Dennis. I think Dennis came out of the womb swinging a hammer. He’s very good at what he does and is able to teach those who have never swung a hammer before in their life and teach them until they are comfortable with it. He had way more patience than I could ever have. We got a good deal of progress done on these houses as well and we left feeling that for the time we had working we had accomplished a lot. And let me tell you, it was only by the strength of God we were able to wake up morning after morning and get back out there. I also must mention how encourged i was that I hardly heard any complaining from our students. Sure, the heat brought out some irritations every once in a while but we all worked and put every ounce of effort we had into it and took out our complaints on the cement.
ll, and so I was excited to see what they had in store for DCLA.
ood times. The excitement quickly ended when I found out my car was locked in the lot I parked it in…but that’s another story for another time. 2) Went to ANOTHER Yankee game with Pastor Sam on the 4th of July which was a lot of fun. Of course, the Yankees won again—actually, in the bottom of the 12th inning by a walk off single from Jorge Posada. Hip Hip, Jorge! 3) I was rehired at Starbucks. I worked at a Starbucks in PA for 3 years while I was in college, and the one a couple towns over up here just rehired me. It’s been some long shifts, but I’m making some extra money with free coffee on the side.
ey’re walking over the rubble that was once their house. When Andy Zipf came to play some songs for our last Sr High Fusion of the school year he said something along the same lines. In the words of Jack Johnson, “why don’t the newscasters cry when they read about the people who died? At least they could be decent enough to put just a tear in their eyes.” I’m not going to lie, I often watch the news because it makes me feel more connected to the world and what’s going on, but recently I feel it’s made me a little jaded. There are people bearing some pretty tough news and they say it all with little to no emotion at all. How do they do that? I also noticed yesterday on CNN.com the first 10 stories were all about Michael Jackson while number 11 was reporting that 8 US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan in the previous 2 days. Ok. So. I realize that Michael Jackson had a large impact on the music culture, he did a lot for the African American community, and all of that. I really do think that’s great. But it bothers me when there are so many other, and I say with little hesitation, more important stories that have more of an impact on our world. There are wild fires in California, there are US soliders being killed in the wars our country has engaged in, there are children being killed in Uganda, our nation is in an economic crisis—it’s not that I don’t care about things like the death of Michael Jackson, but when it overtakes the news and that is what is focused on, there’s a problem with that.


