Nine month of adventure and happiness

Well, its now been 9 months and it has been wonderful. I can't imagine my life this great. Just like in any relationship its not perfect, but we learn to love, respect, communicate and understand each other. In doing so, it makes our relationship super great. Finding someone you love and who loves you back is an awesome feeling. I can't imagine my life better then this.

Love you lots....

Finding motivation

Well, it has been awhile and I have not really ran since October 11th. Trying to find my motivation to even workout has been an ordeal. Nothing is working....

I was doing so well the beginning of this year in all of my running then suddenly got burned out from running.

Starting next year.. I will see how I can get back.

Corn Maze 2009

Ruta and Danny on a bridge in the Corn Maze

Ruta and I and the Kids with Tyko

Ruta and Danny

This Halloween, we went for a fun thrill trek through the worlds largest Corn Maze. Ruta, I and the kids went off to get as many check points as we could. We even took our little beagle who came in handy finding our way around the maze.

18th marathon in Chicago 2009.. Fun.....

Ruta and Danny at the end of Chicago Marathon

My experience for this marathon was quite interesting. As all marathon, they are unique in their own way. At the start, not only did I realize I forgot my water Camel back,... but had no cash to buy water. I like to carry water with me, since I take small sips during the race. So I went to Dunken Donuts to buy 2 water bottles and realized I had no money. But through the kindness of a stranger who overheard me bought me the bottle of water. Very nice of her. Later I realize my MP3 was out of battery power. Ugh.. not only did I have to run for the first time holding a bottle of water but run with no music. My main means of inspiration and motivation. So, it now becomes down to the basics..... just me and the run. It is now a real mental challenge. I was also concern about running a marathon without having ran in 7 weeks. Since July's Leadville, CO Trail marathon, which is the second toughest marathon in the nation... I got burned out and lost my excitement for running.
I bumped into some running friends and ran with them for a bit.... as the mileage kept on coming.. I started to meet more old running friends and then more and more... It was fantastic. I bumped into so many people I know and ran with them and caught up with them. Runners that I have ran in Rome, Honolulu, Phoenix... they were there... running also. This now became a Social Fun run for me.
I took it nice and slow and easy, since I twisted my knee a week before and was also reserving energy for later. By mile 18, I ran into some friends who I ran in Honolulu and we ran together. One of the runners they were running with, was her first Marathon and she struggled a bit. Both the physical and mental pain. I was surprised I felt so good. No pain, no soreness, no wall. So, I stayed with her and got her through the finish line. I knew she could finish it. It was in her to finish. She reached her goal.
It seems that I was meant to run this marathon for the pleasure of it. Even though the marathon was not my best time and it was the slowest, it was more of a great social run for me.

Could not have asked for a better weather... good times

Chicago Marathon in less then 2 weeks

Yes.. here we go again.... my 18th marathon is just around the corner and for some reason.. I have lost my excitement for running. I am thinking that it probably has to do with running 7 marathons this year and now I am experience burn out.

Not sure how I will do but, if I do run, I will take it easy and just have fun with it...


Lets see how it goes...

Alien baby or elaborate hoax?

Alien baby or elaborate hoax?: "Is this bizarre creature an alien baby or just part of an elaborate hoax - and was it the cause of the mysterious death of the man who claimed to have caught and drowned it?"

Uncouth Facebook postings closing doors for job candidates

Uncouth Facebook postings closing doors for job candidates: "More employers than ever are researching job candidates on sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter in order to find out more about their activities and character. And, it turns out, many candidates are doing a great job of showing their potential bosses poor communication skills, inappropriate pictures, and even how many workplace secrets they ca"

Starved Rock adventure

Our little cabin

Speed boating, fishing and then picnic by the beach

Spend the weekend at Starved Rock rented a cute little cabin and then went speed boating, fishing and a nice picnic by the beach. Lots of fun... could not ask for anything more. The time just flew so quickly but it was very quite, peaceful.. just what we needed.

Sometimes I feel I need this for my bike

Try stealing this bike...hahahaha

RnR Chicago Half Marathon PR

Well... it was a great day to run today. PR it under 2 hours. The first couple of miles... my calves were burning and it was probably because I was doing it at 7:35 min pace... so I slowed down. The sun towards the end started to get more intense as I was running by the lake.

Overall.. it was a good and well organized race.

A RAGBRAI-LESS Year

Ragbrai 2009

Well, as I promised.. no Ragbrai for me this year. After doing it for 10 years in a row, and after Last year fiasco with tremendous amount of people's petty stupidity, decided that I had enough and needed a break. Even my own team member came down on me with stupid Sh*t that really amounted to nothing. It is unbelievable how people you know can take things totally out of porpotion and hold you do it forever and ever. Let it go guys and grow up. Life is valuable to be crying over hitches, shower bags and t-shirt and who knows what else.

Well, next year, if everything goes right, I will be going with my girlfriend in style on an RV. I promise you it will be lots of fun. No nonense to deal with that is for sure.

RV for RAGBRAI 2009

Interior

Leadville Marathon Stats

Ok, here are some of the stats of the run in Leadville Trail Marathon... this marathon is not meant for time at all. This marathon is just for survival. You don't run this marathon to get your PR. There is no way. So, you can see that this was difficult as you look at my miliage. But take not, my last mile I kicked it at 8:15 min pace. Finally on flat ground.
You may click on the image to enlarge.

Map

Summary

Per mile

Elevation

Total Elevation

Leadville Colorado Trail Marathon

On The trail of the 2nd Toughest marathon in the Nation

Today July 11th was the big day for the 2nd toughest marathon. The temperature was perfect, the start was around 46 degrees. I have to say it was the toughest thing I have ever done. It was extremely difficult. For me it was more of the terrain then the altitude. The start of the marathon was at 10,200 up to 13,500 ft of elevation. The altitude did not effect me at all, since I have been in Colorado for a week before the marathon and got acclimated to the elevation. The toughest part of the marathon was from mile 10 to mile 13, climbing 3,000 feet in 3 miles. It took me 1 hour and 30 minutes just to do 3 miles. Reaching the summit of Mosquito pass as a storm was passing by. Going down, was much faster but more dangerous.. since the trail was littered by so many rocks. You mis step on one of them and you are down. I feel twice and almost sprain my ankle. A record number of people dropped out. Only 250 people ran this marathon.
This marathon was not only physcially challenging but also mentally challenging.. since you had to have a strong mindset and tremendous will power to continue. Storms started approaching one after another as I was running the second half of the marathon. Towards the last 6 miles.. I was alone. No one in front of me or behind me. On the last 2 miles, I finally approached Leadville and was very happy to run on solid ground. I was so surprised as I started to sprint the last two miles at 8 min mile pace. I can see the Finish line, it looked so lonely in the distance. As I approached the finish line, 8 hours later... I can hear the announcer say my name.

Can't believe, I surivived the 2nd toughest marahon in the nation and to drive the next day to Chicago, a 16 hour drive.

Whew... scractch that one off my bucket list.

Getting ready for the 2nd toughest marathon in the nation

Training run at 10,000 ft in Colorado

Well, i did my test run at 10,000 ft after spending almost a week in Colorado. Did some hiking, mountain biking and road biking and my breathing is good. I can tolerate the high elevation now without a problem. The marathon is tomorrow at 8am and I am not looking for time. I just want to finish it feeling good. This type of marathon is to do it and not for time. There is about an accumlation of 6,000 ft of climb during the marathon, topping at Mosiquito pass at 13,500 ft.

More later.

Mountain biking in Colorado... #1 in the Nation Keystone

It was a tremendous fun mountain biking down the mountain in Keystone at about 10,400 ft of elevation. Even though it is my first full day here, I was still breathing heavy and trying to get acclimated to the high elevation. I did better then Expected. There were a couple of sections that were pretty tough but I manage to escape without any injuries.

Wooo hoooo

Longetivty

I found a great article on the net


http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/live-longer-dan-buettner-text/1


Happiness could be the key
The effect of unhappiness on your body is about as bad for you as a smoking habit. An unhappy person is about three times more likely to die in a given year than a happy person, for a variety of reasons: suicide, chronic stress, illness. If we can extract happiness secrets from the happiest populations, like we did with Blue Zones, we will help people raise their life expectancy.

Birthday in Colorado

Well, for my birthday, Ruta and I went out to Keystone, CO, which is an hour and half west of Denver. We had so much fun. Even if it rained the whole day on Saturday, we still made the most of it. We had each other.. and that was all that counted in the end. We ended up ride an old fashion Railroad through the Rocky mountains. We Attempted to do some mountain biking but it was either way to cold or rainy to do it. It was the best birthday I had and its all because I was with the one I want, that made it even better.

More later.

Next stop.... Leadville in July for the 2nd toughest marathon in the nation at 10,000... more details later...

Great day in Chicago today

So there are days... where you have work to do, but the spirit is not into. I decided to take a bit of break by the River.

This was taken by my new Palm Pre phone... great quality.

Woooohoooo

San Diego Stats

Here are some of the stats from the San Diego marathon

At the marathon

Route

Summary

Lap per mile

San Diego Marathon 2009 Update

During the Race

Ruta and Danny during the race

After the Race

Ruta and Danny ... at last done

Woke up early enough to get to the race but for a unforseen reason there was an unexpected traffic jam to the parking lot. Who would have known that. We decided to park at the finish line area. Since the finish and start line where in 2 different area. We finally were able to get into the parking lot. We were in a mad rush to get to the start line that is via a shuttle bus. I knew we were going to be late.. so there was no reason to panic. Since our starts when we cross the start line activating our chip. I arrived about 18 minutes after the race started. Which was fine. Ruta waved my good bye and I went on my way. I started to warm up on the first mile. My breathing felt smooth, I felt great. The weather was overcasted with a slight mist in the air, around 57 degrees. My entire esences felt great. No stomach, breathing or body issue. I felt good. I knew Ruta was going to wait for me at mile 12. I was a bit concern how she was going to find her way , being in a new city is never to easy.
I got to mile 12 and still felt great. Gave her a hug and went on my way. by mile 20, I started to feel a bit of cramping in my stomach. I stopped to use the kypos. It helped. Got a call from Ruta that she was going to be at mile 22. Wow, that was a great surprise. I felt an increase of energy...so I sped up and met her there. She said, later on, that I looked better then I did at Mile 12.
At around mile 23, my right calf started to cramp up and that is a big indicator that it is time for me to get new shoes. I finished it in about 4:30. Not my best but not my worse. But I would have to say it was one of my best just because I had Ruta there to support me and knowing that she was there was such agreat feeling. she was so awesome. I know it was so tiring for her but she is such a strong person that she hung in there.

That night I treated her to a great Sunset 3 hour dinner cruise on the Ocean and celebrated our 3 month and my 16th marathon

more updates later

The San Diego 2009

Ruta and Danny in Hollywood

It was so much fun in San Diego.  On the first day we decided to drive up 2 hours to Hollywood and drive around and visit some famous sites.  Walk of fame, some malls and drove up near the Hollywood sign.  It was a good day.  We always have a good time no matter what.   

More later. 

Bike the Drive 2009

The start of Bike the drive

Ruta on the bike cruising Lake Shore Drive

It was a great day for biking on the drive today. Ruta, first time on the bike in so many years.. got on it and did 23 miles.. 10 of them were really hard with a headwind of almost 21mph.
I am so proud of her.. she did awesome and not to be sore the next day or the following day is even more amazing. Great job Ruta... wooohooo

I had a good ride also... it was a beautiful day.. perfect for riding.. beside the wind. It was great.

D

Another Run with Running Away

Summary

Per mile pace

Another fun run with Running Away... here are my stat... Even though this was my first time running in the heat.. I did ok... but my legs felt like piece of brick....

Over all. not to bad

Danny

Boulder, Co High Altitude training.

The Route

Elevation

Summary

Just being silly

Running at 8800

Well, attempted my first training at high Colorado, near Nederland north of Boulder, CO. Tamara was on the bike for support as I ran. The first 3 miles.. I labored my breathing. My heart rate was about 165 at a 10 min mile pace. While my normal is about 8:30 at about 130. It took me about 3 miles for my lungs to acclimate. My head was pounding and my breathing was labored. I had to stop about 6 times in the first 3 miles. After that, I started to feel better and start cruising faster.

It was fun... beautiful day.

Great Run with Running away

Summary

Map

Per Mile

Well, I have to say this was the first time in a month that I actually went out to train outside. I had a great fast run with Running Away Store. I was much faster then I thought. I have to admit I was very sore the next two days. But overall it was a good run

D

When there is a will there is a way

Camping and picnic fun

Even though the weather was chilly and windy.... we still had our picnic.
We had such a blast. Set up our tent. We had such a feast... 2 different types of cheese, Hard Salami, 4 different types of olives, crackers, french bread warmed on the camp stove. A bottle of Pinot Grigio.
We also had fundu chocolate and strawberry and mango. But we were so stuffed.

Yes.. good times