OH NO!

As I hold baby Emily, I catch a whiff of unpleasantness. Carrie won't be home for at least 30 mintues, so I guess I'm on my own on this one. She is in a very good mood, so this shouldn't take but a second.

I pick her up and set her on her changing table, a small dresser about 3 feet high with a changing pillow on top of it, and all of her gear in a basket (wipes, diapers, powder, etc.) I pull off her shoes and pants and see that we have a "problem." Seems that Emily scored a victory over Mr. Pampers, and consequently over Mr. Onsie too. I realize now that I am going to have to strip her down and change all of her clothes. So I get the messy diaper off, and reach for the wipes....none left.

What do you do, when you have a half naked baby with poop all over the place and no wipes? Well, the wipes are in the closet about 5 feet away...do you see a bad idea forming in my head? I take one giant step toward the closet and grab the wipes and return to the table....wrong box. This box of wipes has clothes that she has outgrown. So I again take one giant step toward the closet locate the wip....OH NO, the baby rolling off the changing table!

I dove across the room and reached her just as she hit the floor. I was able to catch "most" of her, but she still took a bump. Did she break anything? Does she have a concussion? Is she breathing? All of this worry creeps up on me. Luckily, I caught enough of her that there wasn't even a bruise. She cried for about 30 seconds, probably more from my reaction than the fall. If I didn't feel bad enough, now I have poop all over me, her and the floor. I finally got everything cleaned up and she quickly returned to a very happy baby. As for me, I just want to apologize to her and have her say, "no big deal, I'm good."

As a parent, you are not allowed an off day or even an off second. I can only imagine what happens when they start walking.

All kinds of stuff

I guess this is my blog and I can post whatever I want. If you don't like it, then you can just be wrong.

1. Carrie turned in her two week notice this week and will go to part time starting the middle of April. I know that it will make things easier on her and ultimately will be better for Emily. I am just amazed at the pink mafia. There are tons of "good for you" and "it's best" type comments. Exactly how do they know? If I was to announce that I was quitting my job to take care of the kid, I can guarantee there would be lots of raised eyebrows. Why the double standard?

2. I realized this week that nothing is more polarizing that politics! I read through several arguments of people for/against the healthcare bill. One thing that I read a lot is that it is the "right thing to do", and that it "only affects the rich".

I believe that it is hard to take a moral stand for something that costs you nothing. The true beauty of giving is the sacrifice. If you will remember, David was going to create an alter to God and a man wanted to donate the land to David and the wood and supplies too. David refuesed and said, "[I will not] offer burn offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24)


If you truly believe that it is "the right thing to do" then how much are YOU willing to pay? If the answer is zero, then the double standard is revealed. If it is right, then you should willingly give! If you believe that the right thing to do is to give blood, yet you have never given, how much should I listen? If you believe it is right to give money to those without healthcare and you haven't given to these people, how much should I listen?

This is one thing that I struggle with. I know that I should be compassionate. I know that I should help others, and I know that I don't do enough. Truth is, we are ALL rich! If you are reading this on a computer or cell phone, then you are rich! (just ask the people in Haiti) It is just more comfortable to say "the rich" and define them as people who make more than me, fact is, I got a house, two cars, a computer, two TVs....I got more than most and chances are so do you. Should I give willingly, or should I wait for government legislation forcing me to give, or even better, shoud I support a bill that forces others to give! Even better?

3. One more healthcare bill note. Part of the bill will require all restaurant with more than 20 locations to print the calorie count on the menu, because this will improve healthy eating....hmmmmm. How did this work for warnings on cigarettes? How did this work for warning on beer/alcohol? Fact is, government can't save us from us. People are lazy and cheeseburgers are easy. By now, if you don't know that a bacon cheeseburger is bad for you, you got bigger issues. Of course it is, but I can drive through and get one and it tastes good.

I would love to know your thoughts on these things. If you have intelligent, well thought out comments, feel free to leave them. (remember, ignorance will be censored!)

March Madness

It's been a few weeks since the marathon and I've told the story of my run to dozens of people now. Most people agree that finishing a marathon is a monumental feat and the time doesn't matter. I agree....for other people. Had I been able to jog the whole thing or been able to give it my all, I would be happy, but I was hindered by something that I have never had to face. Cramps and dehydration ruled my run, not fatigue. Therefore, I am getting ready for another marathon. Not sure when or where, but I gotta do one to satisfy myself.

Since the marathon, I have been sick three separate times, so training has been slow, plus we got snow...again. Exactly how does this global warmining thing work? Hopefully, I'll be able to kick this last bout and get out running again soon. I know Banjo is getting stir crazy in this house, she needs to run!

Emily is growing a developing. She has started to crawl which isn't a good of a thing as I thought. It just means that we have to keep an closer eye on her now. She can get from one end of hte room to the other in a hurry. Hope everyone is doing good. I'll try to write more again soon.

Done!

The last stretch of the marathon seemed to be the easiest. AP rejoined me to go across the line. There was the final left turn, then you could see hundreds of people on both sides of the street cheering, laughing, and enjoying a perfect day. AP points out Carrie and Emily. They wave, smile and take pictures. By now, my legs are on fire and I've been trying to run on my heels so my calf would stay stretched. (notice the picture. You can tell I am running funny to accommodate my calf.)

When the finish line was visible, you could see the crowd, you could see the large balloon arch, and you could see the finish line. At that point, I really felt like I was going to cry. I don't know if it was from the physical pain, or the emotional joy, or countless things in between. Because I am too proud, I held back and made a mean face, because I am a MAN. Maybe I'll punch a wall later!

I crossed the line, the announcer said my name and I FINISHED! Just as I crossed, a nice lady says congratulations and puts a medal over my head. Carrie and crew came over, congratulated AP and me as we all walked to get free stuff. As a finisher, I got a nice shirt, and a bag of samples and stuff. AP tried to get me to go to the medical tent to get an IV of fluids, but again I am too proud. I've earned this pain and I've earned this hurt.

Notice the picture, not a drop of sweat on me, AP is wet and shiny, I'm dry as a bone! I finished a marathon. I was good enough to realize that I can do it, but bad enough where I gotta do another and keep it together.

Random Marathon Things:

* There are hundreds of volunteers that make this race possible. People handing out water, people handing out medals, and countless other that help you through all 26.2

* There are dozens of people along the route that are just well wishers. Not associated with the marathon, but people who live along the route that root for and encourage everyone.

* Running with a partner is the best thing you can do to run a marathon

* Running with a partner is the worst thing you can do to run a marathon

* Having family and friends to support me is the only way I could have realistically made it. A friendly face along the way is better than a strong wind at your back (but I would prefer both)

* There is no chance that the weather could ever be that perfect on race day.

* If you ever run one, wear the shirt the next day. I got a couple of extra, "congrats" at lunch and at the grocery store on Sunday.

* I'm not sure I whether I would have finished without AP, but either way, I was glad to have him. He was both a coach and a friend on the course. He served our country in Iraq, so he was already a hero to us all, but he was my personal hero Saturday.

If anyone is in the mood to run one, I can't encourage you enough. Provided you do the training and have realistic goals for yourself, it is a life goal that can be crossed off and never taken away. I feel like a boxer that got beat up for 12 rounds, but got hooked on the sport! I'm running again tomorrow...6 miles. Wanna run?

Miles 20-26.0

AP and I said goodbye to the wives and my sister and headed north to the finish line. This stretch included some really pretty parks. Almost all of the run was along blacktop or concrete, but there was a stretch along a paved trail in a park. Luckily, there was not very many people running with us because the path was narrow and there was a dropoff to get around people.

At this point AP looks over at me and says, "Brad, you're not sweating anymore." For those of you who have played sports with me know that nobody sweats like I do. I rubbed my forehead and it was like sandpaper with salt, but very dry. Also at this time, I started seeing spots. When I would look at something white or shiny (like a street sign), the image of it would last for several seconds like I had image burn in. I'm not doctor, but that can't be good.

I feel like the spots were a result of low blood sugar. I ate a light pasta dinner Friday night and skipped breakfast that morning. This stretch is around 12:30-1:15, so I had gone 18 hours with no food other than jellybeans and GU. Maybe the decision to not eat was a bad one. I was so scared of an ugly "bathroom" incident that I wanted a clean system before I ran.

Clearly the lack of sweating was a result of dehydration. I just couldn't replace fluids at the rate I was losing them. I drank 1-3 cups of water at every water station (and there were about 20), but clearly I need more. There is one more common issue that accompanies dehydration....cramping. Suddenly, I start hopping on my left leg as my right calf clenches up. At one point, I don't stretch out the cramp just to show AP, there was a deep "hole" in my calf from the back of my knee down to my upper Achilles area where the muscle just tensed up. For the rest of the race, I could no longer jog more than 60 seconds without stretching my right calf.

In all my days swimming, playing basketball, volleyball, and all my training runs, I've never had a cramp...ever. I proudly stated that I never stretch, because I never needed too. Well, leg cramps are for real! So now I am trying to run more on my heels to force stretching as I run. Sadly, I couldn't enjoy the downhill part of the race. When running downhill, you don't stretch your calf, because the slope reduces the stretch, so I cramped up more during the "easy" part.

Meanwhile, I am trying to stretch every 60 seconds, and AP is really wanting to go. He is still staying with me. I can only imagine how frustrated I would be with someone if I was being slowed by them to this extent, but he wouldn't desert me. I must have said it 10 times, "just go ahead, I'll be OK." - I lied. By now, I was carrying a Gatorade bottle that we would fill up at every water station, but I was too hobbled to carry it, so AP was carrying it for me. If you carry a half full bottle, the water sloshes and makes it twice as heavy. Not usually a big deal, unless you are 23 miles into a run.

Finally, AP and I limp past the 25 mile mark, 1.2 miles to go and he finally takes off without me. I was fine on my own. At this point, we we in downtown and you could see the crowds start to cheer for you. Then I get to the 26th mile. 0.2 miles left.

The last .2 miles and post race next....

Miles 13.1-20

It's all down hill from here.....

Even though 13.1 is the technical half way point, we are still heading south. Right at mile 13.5, I look ahead and see a nasty hill. I know you think it may be topographically impossible, but these 7 miles were all uphill, even though we crossed the turn around point. To me, the half way point is when you start moving toward the finish line this is the "turn around point." - about mile 17.5. Mile 13.5 and mile 20 are the same point, as you loop back. It is also very depressing to see people run past you. Those guys are 6.5 miles ahead of me!

After mile 17.5, we are heading back to the finish line. At this point, I am only running every other minute. I would jog 60 seconds then walk 60 seconds. Somewhere prior to hitting the TCU campus, we saw a bunch of frat boys handing out tiny cans of beer. What kind of idiot would drink a beer while running a marathon? So I grabbed one! AP told me that it was a horrible idea, but I couldn't' pass up the comedy of the situation. I'm running 26.2 miles and toward the end, I thought how funny it would be to blog that I drank an 8 oz beer. I managed a swallow, maybe two before I realized that AP was right...horrible idea. Not only does it not satisfy your thirst, the carbonation blows up in your stomach. I am now tired, sore, hot, sweaty, and am either going to burp or throw up! Luckily, I was able to burp out all of that air and then I quickly tossed the beer out. Actually, AP carefully placed the beer on one of the cones that guarded us from traffic.

Comedy aside, I'm really deteriorating. Toward the end of this stretch, I have surpassed my longest training run, and I can tell. I'm really starting to break down. AP is a rock, he is encouraging me and all but carrying me to each mile as I beg him to "just go on, I'll be OK"

As we approach mile 20 we see the Carrie and Emily again. This time the AP and Brad posse has grown by 2, AP's wife, and my sister. Apparently, there was some fun at my expense. My sister reminded me that I said, "I really don't you understand just how bad I feel." - not a typo.

Miles 20-26 coming soon.

Miles 6-13.1

Shortly after mile 8 all of the half marathoners peeled off and the field got very thin. AP and I said so long to our third running partner and we headed further south while he got to turn back north.

At mile nine, I was able to muster the first smile I had in a while. Carrie was on the side of the road holding Emily high on her shoulders. As I approached, Emily was wearing a shirt that said, "Run Daddy Run" - Love, Emily. (how great is my wife, I didn't know she had a sweatshirt made)

Carrie provided us with some Gatorade, jellybeans and some Gu (runners gel). What a welcome site. To be running next to a sweaty man, chasing mostly sweaty men and a few sweaty women, I got to see my wife and baby. That really provided us with a spark. Our pace has slowed at this point, but we are still moving at a decent pace. At 13.1 miles, our time was 2:25 (still on pace!)

Between mile 10-13 something happened. I didn't see him, but I'm pretty sure someone tackled me, and beat the heck out of me. I started getting sore, tired and sick. AP is a warrior and wanted to go, but I was melting down quickly. Without him, I really could have quit at the half way point, but he kept me going.

2nd half updates to come.