This post is rather a different kind of post from yours truly. The Cleveland Museum of Art is holding a selection “contest” to attend their first “tweet-up” to explore two asian art exhibits. Since 140 characters was not possible for this guy and my blog is not something I often post to I figured it was a better venue for my plea to the CMA of why I should be one of the fifty people selected. Here is my story on why I should be selected to attend this special event.

When I was a kid there was nothing more that I wanted be than an architect. More importantly I wanted to be Frank Lloyd Wright. I’d spend countless hours drawing houses and reading up on my idol. As anyone knows anything about Frank Lloyd Wright he amassed an impressive collection of Asian prints. His love of the art resonated in his designs throughout his career, but none more than his design for the Imperial Hotel in Japan. Through my studies of Wright it introduced me to whole new world that helped me immensely with my studies in fine arts in college. While I did not go on to become that architect I had wanted to be it was the young exposure of Asian art that still carries with me to this day as a graphic and interactive designer. I’d love to attend #GlimpsesofAsia to relive those young childhood memories and hear from experts in the field and become inspired for new projects.

Thanks.

Here it was April 29 a beautiful sunny day and surrounded by my wife, the kids, mother & father in-law, wife’s cousin and the cousin’s mom. I had been training since January specifically for this race. I got my fill of pasta. The moment was now. There was no turning back. 4:30 in the morning was going to be here soon after I close my eyes.

4:30. I’m up. I’m scarfing down Wheaties, a Cliff Bar & a 5 hour energy drink. Clothes all set. 5:45 out the door. Rain forecast of 90% chance. Nervousness sets in on the car ride over to race start area. Sprinkles start as soon as I’m out of the car. Then rain starts to flow. The entry into the pace “pig pen” is a cluster. One entry on the side directly where portapots are. Rain increases. Ear buds in. Relief, my race start was under a bridge. Keeping my drier for a little longer. I down a pre endurance drink. Music is set. Running app on my iPhone is set. Now just minutes from the shotgun blast start.

Shotgun blast. It’s on. It takes several minutes till any movement. It’s poring rain. Music is flowing into my ears equally as the rain comes down. Slow movement for the first half mile. It’s really wet. I use the sidewalk to get around puddles and people. Up the street to the bridge which is in view. Finally getting up to a decent pace. Oops, earbuds are getting drenched with rain. App is losing sync already. Crap! People are cheering me on through Facebook & Twitter. The big hill climb is now coming up. Oh boy. Crowd has thinned out more. Moving fast. I’m on a great pace feeling good. Rain is tapering off. Goody. I reach the turn to Eden Park which is where the fam is waiting for me. I loved seeing them there. The hill climb wasn’t bad so far. Shoes are a little soggy, but not feeling like it will amount to any issue. The hill climb continues up through mile 8. Beautiful course even if the sun isn’t shining. The crowd is still awesome. Love this race.

Stupid running app is so out of wack. Saying I’m 2 miles ahead of where I really am. Just not happy with that. I’m hitting every water/Gatorade station. It is humid out, but I’m still doing well. No aches or pains. Feeling good. Hyde Park is just ahead. The crowds are just awesome. Keeping me going. I know I’m staying hydrated because I have to pee. First time I’ve experienced this running. Quick stop on this well setup course and back into my pace. Still getting cheers through my phone.

Then I hit a wall. Some really steep hills. Ugh. I slow down. I’m past 16 miles now. I decide to eat my energy chews. I’m feeling a little better. Another hill. This one I walk up. Now for the back stretch where there’s Gu. Chocolate Gu? Are you kidding me. I almost gag on it. Running app now has me 3 miles ahead. I stop it. I can’t have this. I see family at 19! Gives me a little boost. Then I need to walk a little for a breather.

21.5 miles I see Kate! Oh how I needed that. A tear formed in my eyes seeing her. I’m back to moving faster. I can do this. The city is way off in the distance. The crowds are getting thicker. I team up with another gentleman who had been struggling earlier and we boost each other to keep moving. 24 miles down. Slow moving, but still moving. I was right on pace with what I originally guessed for my finish of 4 and half hours. Mile 25 and I pick up the pace. The crowds are thick along the sides. I’m nearing the end. Last .2 of the marathon and I see Kate’s Aunt Gretchen & Cousin Carrie and then I see my wife! I did it. The finish line! 4 hours 21 minutes!

I completed my first marathon. All 26.2 miles. I’m relieved. No injuries. I’m still walking. I’m filled with joy. What a feeling. Luckily Kate’s aunt & cousin found me to head me back to Kate. They both are nurses which they gave me check up on the spot to make sure I was doing okay. I can’t thank them, Kate & Kate’s parents enough for being there and for helping out. I couldn’t have accomplished this without them.

A special thanks to all who cheered me on and also for your words of encouragement. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I finished completely in the middle of the pack out of 4,295 runners. I’ll take that any day. Not bad for less than a year of training if I do say so myself.

My race results.

I’m still working on a major post regarding last week’s marathon in Cincinnati. It’s coming. I promise.

Sorry dear Internet that it’s been way too long since my last post. Almost a sin? I’ve been running, or rather training, a lot lately for that thing called The Flying Pig Marathon that I cannot believe is just around the corner on May 1st. Crap! That’s less than 2 months. In my training I’ve entered the ramping up distance stage. Just last Sunday I ran 16 miles. I’m not going to lie, training in the winter is brutal. Rain, sleet, snow, wind, slush, ice, animals I’ve experienced it all. I’ve stuck with it through the thick and thin including snowstorms. Just ask Kate about the frost that formed on me one night. Kind of funny in a way. I’ve even ran with strap-on cleats for traction. I think people have the wrong impression that I’m some deeply dedicated superman that’s tough as nails. Wrong. I’m just a guy that doesn’t know any better. I just don’t know what to expect for my first marathon. I mean 26.2 miles is a long freaking way. I know that if I don’t put the work in for this I will fail miserably. I don’t care about time. I just want to finish (not last). I have had PR (personal record) for 5k, 10k and 1/2 marathon recently and seem to be dropping below 9 minute miles steadily now. I’m not even pushing it. I’m feeling good. I’ve got the shoes, but now I need my clothes. Waiting on those until I can run in shorts and a tank. Just found out that the bib will have my name on it. That’s so cool. I hope to check back in with you all before the marathon. It’s almost here!

After running my first half marathon last month at the Cleveland Fall Classic I figured I’d take it easy through winter. There’s no need to push hard since my original plan was to finally run a full marathon in 2012. Boy has that all changed quickly!

I recently started receiving Runner’s World magazine and the January 2011 edition has an article listing the “first timer” marathon favorites. To my surprise Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon is listed as one of the top ten marathons for beginners. I kept going back to the page thinking about it more and more. It dawned on me that Kate has lots of relatives in the Cincy area and what better way to have a family gathering that didn’t involve a funeral or wedding than a marathon? That was that. I committed to running a full marathon a year earlier than planned.

I notified family and now on May 1st I will be torturing my feet and body for the greater good of bringing lots of extended family together in The Queen City. Training starts now. I sure hope I know what I’m getting myself into. No backing out now. I am officially registered to be one of the 16 thousand plus runners.

Stay tuned.