Life Cycle

From a recent email.........Hilarious!

The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get in the end of it?
A death.

What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, you know, start out dead, get it out of the way.

You wake up in an old age home, feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, then, when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You drink like a fish, party your ass off, and screw anything that moves - you've only got a few years left, so why not?!?

Then you get ready for High School. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a baby, then, you spend your last 9 months floating peacefully with luxuries like central heating, spa, room service on tap, larger quarters everyday, and then you finish off as an orgasm!

Myrtle Beach Marathon Report!

This is what happens when you PR at Myrtle Beach!

The marathon-a-month saga continues with an unbelievable adventure to the Myrtle Beach Marathon over the February 17th weekend. Our running group had a blast. Lots of stories to tell and I even PR'd with a 4:18!!

Here's some of the highlights (pics follow):

The Great Package Pick-up and Expo!- Held at the Marriott Grande Dunes Resort. What a stark difference this was from the disaster location last year.

The Mexican Party at the La Quinta!- This place was the pits this year! It began at check-in when our front desk host refused to give us an extended check-out time- wanted to charge us for it. I got one anyway by asking the much nicer front desk clerk who worked the graveyard shift......HA!!

But wait it gets better.....

In the room next to mine, a Mexican party went on all night long complete with loud drunks listening to loud Mariachi music. Sounded like there may have been a pinata involved also. Didn't hear any gunshots thank goodness. Now I'm no prude but come on muchachos I got to run 26.2 miles in the morning!

The Great Pasta Dinner!- Found our way to a little hole-in-the-wall place in Surfside Beach called Antipasta. This was recommended by the father-in-law of our running buddy David. THE FOOD WAS FANTASTIC!! Got dinner for two for under $20. Lot's of locals there and now I know why. Thanks David!

The Perfect Weather!- The original forecast called for a cold front to move through bringing plenty of rain. However, the temp at the start was in the mid 40's and not a cloud in the sky. Excellent conditions remained the entire run.

The Great After Party!- Had a wonderful after party in Holden Beach with friends (we missed you Ron and Wendy). The food, drink, and conversation was remarkable, not to mention the group threw a surprise 50th birthday party for me! Got lots of new hats to wear around the apartment. Thanks Kim, Colleen, Jon, Amy, Ricky, Sharon, and Layne for everything you guys did. It touched my heart. My hats off to all.

*************************************************************************************

Pre-race jitters at 0230 hrs! (The "Gather Your Chi" Ceremony)

Colleen made it to the start just in the nick of time! (L-R) Colleen and Amy


It was a crisp start!

(L-R) Me, Amy, and Kim before the start

Trying to do my best "Ricky imitation" somewhere along the course

BAM!

Headed into the chutes (and no I don't have a nipple ring! That's my mp3 player headset holder attached to my shirt.)

Presentation of the medal

Kim heads to the finish line

I finally found Ricky- he ran a 4:04 and was at the end waiting. Two PR's- not too shabby!

Found Kim in the chutes proudly displaying her well deserved medal

TIME TO CELEBRATE! Hey, turn up that Mariachi music!

Women love the hat and the red hair! (Amy and Me)

Just in from Mount Olympus- Layne!

Don't steal my hat! (Ricky and Me)

Social Planner and Scream Team Captain- Colleen "Popcorn" Hart with her better half Jon

You get two cakes when you turn 50...YIPPEE!!!!!!!!

The Gang (L-R) Amy, Kim, Sharon, Me, Ricky

.....and finally, thanks Matt Marshall!!

WHAT'S THE NEXT ADVENTURE?
Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon- March 26, 2006

Find out more details about this upcoming marathon here

A Message to the World Health Organization

THIS IS HOW YOU PREVENT BIRD FLU!!

eBay Sniping!

.....got some great deals on eBay this weekend- 4 ouija boards ( one was a wooden original from 1919!)and an Ainsworth laboratory scale.

I did all this by "sniping", which is done with special software that automatically places your eBay bid seconds before the auction ends thereby increasing your likelyhood of winning.

Ahhh, the thrill of the hunt and a successful capture! Life is good.......

Later,

SHIRT RUN!!

The infamous town of Mangum, NC

WOW, The Mangum Track Club put on another very successful shirt run this past Saturday (1/28/2006). All total we had 63 runners with 23 new members inducted. That brings the membership to 190 and covers runners in 11 states plus DC. Race Director Mark Long and all the volunteers did an outstanding job as usual.

Read about this most unusual track club by following the link below:

http://www.mangumtc.org/

Man, that's a lot of shirt runners!

Fine looking bunch of newbies!


Ron

"The Professor" Frank doing what he does best- socializing with all the good looking women (That's Colleen "Popcorn" Hart having a grin)

Race Director Mark Long (L) talks with Ron after the run

Happy Birthday Boogieman! Not bad for 105 years old!

New Charlotte Members (L-R) Jennifer, David, Amy, and Clay. Way to go guys!!


The whole Charlotte gang (L-R Front row: Marc, Jennifer, David Back row: Chuck, Clay, Ron, Kim, Colleen, and Amy)

UPCOMING MARATHONS- MYRTLE BEACH MARATHON IN FEBRUARY, BATAAN MEMORIAL DEATH MARCH MARATHON IN MARCH, BIG SUR IN APRIL

2006 Disney Marathon "Goofy Challenge" Race Report

YEAH BABY!!

Wow, 2006 got off to a great start as the marathon-a-month club headed to Disney World for the inaugural running of the "Goofy Challenge Race" (half-marathon on Saturday followed by the full marathon on Sunday). Our group decided that wasn't goofy enough so we kicked it up a notch and also run the "Chicken Little" 5k race on Saturday as well- BAM! We did a total of 42.4 miles in two days and ran through all four Disney Parks. Some people suggested we should have gotten the "Dumbo" award.

Personal Friend of Mine, Donald Duck

The starting temperatures were uncharacteristically cold for Florida- 34 degrees on Saturday and 33 degrees on Sunday. Not too bad since you warmed up after you got started. I saw my fair share of Disney characters throughout the parks and it helped to stop and grab a quick picture, laugh, and be a kid again.

Avast Me Hearties, I'm Hooked On Runnin'

I was pleased with my times and maintained a 10-11 minute pace both days. I achieved the goal of going the distance and bringing home all four medals. Man do they look great!

Our group finished up by spending the entire day on Monday cruising the parks and riding the rides. We must have walked another 13 miles at least! There were so many new rides and of course the classic ones. I especially liked the Aerosmith Rock-n-Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror.

FROZEN WITH TERROR!!

Special thanks to Greg and Bree, hardcore Disney freaks, who knew the park like the back of their hand. Their expert knowledge allowed us to hit all the major attractions, avoid the long cues, and finish up at the Magic Kingdom in time to witness one remarkable fireworks show.... Oops sorry, illumination. Simply amazing!

The Whole Gang (L-R) Sharon, Ricky, Me, Greg, Bree, and Ron

A Cool Ending To Another Remarkable Running Experience


NEXT ADVENTURE- The MYRTLE BEACH MARATHON

er, ahh.... Does Pixie Dust Help with Chaffing?

Quick........ Jump up and down, spin around, flail your arms in the air! I'm headed to Disney World on Friday with friends!!

As part of the marathon-a-month tour, I'm headed to Orlando, Florida to run the "Goofy Challenge" this weekend at Disney World. Here's how it works. On Saturday we run a half marathon followed by a 5k then get up early Sunday and run the full Disney Marathon. INSANE!! All the runs go through the park and doing three races earns me four medals including the first ever Goofy medal! Should be fun.

Right now the plan is to tour the park on Monday and enjoy some rides before traveling back to Charlotte on Tuesday. Stay tuned for pictures and a follow-up race report.

WOOHOO!!!!!!! Get the Epsom Salts ready.......

/rant off

Later,

Remember.........

"If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" -Albert Einstein

OH, MY HEAD HURTS.........

........Is it over yet? I mean is it the New Year yet? And where the hell did all this confetti come from?

I'll ponder that later but now I need an antidote. Maybe this will help?

BRING ON THE NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

Hope everyone has a great 2006!