Going through some old journal notes and found the following, dated above. I was 29 years old when I wrote this twenty six and a half years ago, things haven’t changed much. Penned just days after being fired from my 11th job in 9 years. Possessing a high school diploma and a bad attitude concerning authority others would assume to impose. Nope, not much has changed at all. I would embark on my collegiate career a few months later….
Brainstorming. I must come up with some sort of business idea. My current situation leads me to realize my opportunity. I will be best suited and happiest in a health related occupation. Preferably one in which I can maintain my own level of fitness as part of the job description. Ideally I will come up with a form of self-employment. My experiences in the work force for the past ten years have been forcefully indicative of the fact that I am not cut of the necessary cloth for shift work, or the petro chemical industrial field in general. Enthusiasm tempered with realism is the order of the day. The negative aspects must also be dealt with. The feelings of frustration and despair, while not overwhelming, are apparent at times. It seems these feelings are also accompanied by a sense of urgency.
This then is how I kick started my decision to live by my own rules as much as possible. Knowing that I could and would never indenture myself as a life paradigm. I still call my own shots but these days there is no frustration or despair. Nor urgency. Thank you my dear sweet Linda.
Another working title for next week’s Christmas Classic: “Fifty Ways to Beat Your Runner”.
Congratulations to the Good Mates that traveled to Bend this past weekend. Team Nebraska finished 40th team overall (28th in 2011, 22nd in 2012). XC Club Nats are always my favorite race of the year. The best clubs from around the US take the best of their best to compete for bragging rights. The part I like is that no matter what part of the country the teams come from, they are the creme de la creme of their local running scene. Club Nats are the Biggest Pond and the Really Big Fish always find their way to the top of the food chain. A great motivator to see how you rank nationally, and excellent opportunity to come home a little humbled. Ashley Miller reports “wiping out hard at 3K, strained a muscle and called it quits.” Smart girl.
Congratulations to my old (58 years) buddy Joe Melanson for his age group win at the Sugar Land Finish Line Sports 30K in a stellar 2:02:24 (6:35 pace). His lovely wife Billie Kay (60) was 2nd in her age group in 2:42:38 (8:43 pace).
Team Iowa RunAblaze has announced their athletes of the year, this from my old buddy Cal Murdock:
MALE runner of the Year – Jason Flogel
Personal records and injuries don’t mix, usually. Jason had a PR first part of the year with a Dam to Dam 20k in 1:05:46, Grandview/Dubuque 4 mile in 19:33 (a strong effort!), Grandma’s Half-Marathon in 1:06:34 and Bix-7 in 35:40. Injury followed as Jason took off late summer and all of the fall racing season. The Loras College grad highlight of the season is easily the sub-5 minute pace Dubuque race. Jason was the 2012 winner of the award.
FEMALE Runner of the Year – Danna Herrick
What better bookends than 2 top notch marathons. Danna was edged out of 1st at the Lincoln Marathon by 6 seconds in the spring as she scored a PR 2:44:16. In the fall with gusty winds at the NYC Marathon she slowed just 3 seconds to run a 2:44:19. She set a 1 minute PR at Shamrock 8k/Chicago early in the season running a 28:01. She ended the season winning Living History Farms. Danna was the 2012 winner of this award.
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