Going For Goofy

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Going for Goofy Next Weekend

My twitter handle @goingforgoofy was birthed in 2009 when I first completed the Goofy Challenge at Walt Disney World.

And I kept the name because, truthfully, I am a little goofy. And I search for some goofiness in everyday life. Sometimes I think a little more "sideways" than other people, and I attribute that to an innate goofy spirit.

Next Thursday night I will board a red-eye (#3 in 4 weeks!) to Orlando. I will meet up with my Mom (Hi, Mom of 2009!)

We will vacation for six days at Walt Disney World, and during our weekend there we will complete the half (together) and full (just me) marathon.

But this year's race will be different from any I've ever run. The half, as stated, I will complete with my mom. Together, I am confident we will do so in under 3 hours. Despite some setbacks in her training, she has put in the time and gotten the important long runs in. I look forward to our pre- and post-race retreat package as well! Mom and I do NOT skimp on anything when we go to Disney.

Up until a couple weeks ago, I'd planned on running Sunday's full marathon at a chill pace. It would be a cruising of 8:30min/mile or so with stops to snap pictures. But then my friend, Chris, had a setback in his training.

Chris was my first marathon coach, my recent co-coach and triathlon "advisor" so to speak. And most importantly, he is one of my closest friends. Living in California, away from East Coast-based family, Chris is one of the central members of my California adoptive family. This is a guy who took 5 days off work and family to travel to Idaho with me for my first full Ironman. He dealt with my psychosis as I grappled with 140.6 miles, and to this day, still deals with the fallout :)

For those of you who don't know why Chris's twitter name is @Run2SaveLives, please read. I cannot due justice to the reasons why he has dedicated his life to wiping out cancer. His own words - about his father, daughter and family - will shine some light on his quest. Post-Goofy, Chris will complete the 2011 Lavaman Tri with Team in Training on his way to full Ironman #3 - IM Wisconsin in September.

So when Chris fractured his tibia, and was banned from running - including the Goofy Challenge - I was bummed. But he decided to stick with the races, and is choosing to walk them. And I because friendship will trump footsteps any day, I am privileged that he's letting me walk the full marathon with him. No chill running. Just a day of booking it, step by step, through the Happiest Place on Earth.

We are both Team in Training coaches, and we guide half and full marathoners in Los Angeles along their own journeys. We advise experiences runners, novice athletes, runners, walkers, and anyone who wants to believe that they can push boundaries and change their lives. I'm excited to walk this marathon because, for the first time in my five-year running career, I will understand what it takes to "not run" a marathon - that persistence, drive and heart it takes to WALK the event.

I could not be more excited to get myself over to Florida. No doubt I will be on twitter all day with race reports from myself, my mom, chris and a host of twitter folks listed below. I look forward to meeting you all and sharing the 2011 Half/Full/Goofy Experience!

Tweeps at Disney - follow them for updates on the weekend!

Chad @unlessyoutri
Jennifer @jenn_if_er
Colin @runwicked
Kristin @kristincool
Javier @javier1280
Lisa @bemadthen
Andrea @drefrench
Bonnie @bonnieg88
Brett @mrbrettyoung
Stan @goofy57runner
Jefferson @therunningman23
Elizabeth @fiftyforbilly
Brian @RunJBadRun
Lee and Isis @RunningCouple
Michael @AZ_Michael
Kimberly @Kimberlyrunner
Lynne @duckyislost
Dee @deeFSU
Jenn @DisneyGirlinNJ

Thursday, December 30, 2010

10 Miles in Connecticut

The most serious charge which can be brought against New England is not Puritanism but February.
- Joseph Wood Krutch

I planned on a four-day vacation in CT to see my family, but the #snOMG storm of 2010 cut my trip short by a day. It wasn't the February grey I remember growing up under, but a couple days of chilly weather renewed my appreciation for Los Angeles.

Home

Thankfully, my mom and I planned to do her final long run for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on Friday. We ran 10 miles around a nearby town that, according to my mom, is much flatter than where we live because it is in the CT River Valley.

I brought my blackberry along the two-hour run so that I could capture New England in the frigid (read: 30 degree) weather. Below are some of the shots I captured.

Half of our run took place at a new community trail along the CT River

The trail along the river and into the woods was mostly gravel - good for the knees

Where I grew up, this part of New England, is very quaint and congregational

Nature, up close

The Connecticut River

Open Spaces

We headed into a more populated area for a couple of miles before returning to the trail

We returned back to the car, conveniently parked at Panera. Bagels and coffee before heading home

Next weekend, my mom will run her second half-marathon. She started running about 6 years ago, and completed her first one, also at WDW, in 2008. After the half, and after I complete the full (more later on how I will be walking the full with my good friend, Chris), we will vacation at Disney for another couple of days. The perfect week!

Monday, December 20, 2010

20 Miles in the Rain!

Encouraging folks to run long distances, like 20 miles, is a tough challenge. There are doubts, concerns, and fleeting worries that stand in the way of completing the goal. Throw in some insane California weather - Rain Rain Rain!!! - and it makes for a tricky Sunday morning.

But that was the challenge of this weekend. Our TNT folks training for the PF Changs Rock 'n Roll Marathon on the third week in January had a 20-mile run scheduled. I knew I needed to lighten the mood a little.

Across the twitter-verse, my friend Lisa was in Texas, longing to be in Los Angeles (don't know why though, given the rain!). I had joked a while ago that we should "Flat Stanely" her for one of our runs.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the words of Joey Tribiani: "Put your hands together!"

So for our 20-mile workout from Santa Monica to Brentwood and back, we brought @bemadthen along for the ride! Below is the picture journal!

What a suprise, look who joined us!

Wow, look at the size of this Pringles can

Channeling Rhianna - Umbrella, ella, ella, ella...

Go Team! 4 miles to go!

Swim time!

Choppy Water in Santa Monica. Let's get back, BeMadThen!

Lori, Tom and Louise's victory tunnel

Westside!

Post Run Ice Bath!

For those of you who joined us on the journey via twitter, thanks for playing along!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

2010 Honolulu Marathon

Last weekend I was in Honolulu, HI to coach four Team in Training participants to their Hawaiian Marathon victories.

The best things in life aren't things. - Art Buchwald

It was an amazing day. I was joined by my close friend, Lori, who assistant coached the race for the seven hours we were out on the course. Lori is training for her own personal best marathon this January, and she is on track to be the top fundraiser for all Team in Training participants across the nation. Her story and her website is here.

Pictures speak a thousand words. So enjoy the ramblings below.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Lobby