The Marathon Didn't Make Me Pee Blood

It was difficult. But I made it. Over a week out from my first marathon in Big Sur, CA, I'm here and for the first time reporting on the matter. How'd I get through it?

Michelob Ultra at the finish line. Ran and had casual conversation with a hot blonde for several miles -- whom finished only 3 minutes behind me. An ass slap from a female race volunteer, Monterey dentist and self-professed "horn ball" with 300 meters to go. And copious amounts of performance enhancing drugs.

My time: 3 hours and 4 minutes. That's about 7:02 pace per mile. 30th out of over 3,000 marathon finishers. I'll take it. https://www.runraceresults.com/Secure/RaceResults.cfm?ID=RCLJ2009

The course was amazingly brutal and amazingly beautiful at the same time. The tag line on the website, "Run Big Sur for the Worst Time of Your Life. And the Best." Not having run a marathon before I didn't have to worry about the former implication. The course was extremely hilly and the wind was blowing hard from the ocean. In the early miles, I chose to run it with others like a bike race. Drafting and trading the lead with other competitors. If someone cut me off or chose to go for a while without taking the wind and pace, I'd spit to the side, letting the wind carem my saliva onto the other person's face. I'm a douche bag.

Ok, not really. That happened once though. By accident. And I apologized and awkwardly offered to wipe it off.

The race was fantastic for the most part. It's the type of race suited for a guy like me -- great scenery, a bit of ADD, and a penchant for the type of vanity you feel with supportive fans greeting you at the mile marks. Although, this one lacked huge fan fair since it was on a somewhat isolated Central California Coast. I ignored the lack of fan fair and imagined I was at the Tour de France about to take the Yellow Jersey just to later have it taken away due to my aforementioned drug use.

In the end, finishing the race was one of the best feelings of my life. I actually gave a huge high five to a volunteer pulling race tag numbers. I've never been so proud to 'just finish' a race. But it was awesome. I'm just pissed there weren't groupies.

Traveling

Whenever I check out somebody's online profile, one of the most popular "hobbies" or "interests" I see is traveling. If it is not on your list, suffice it to say, it should. I've done a bit of traveling. Not nearly as much as a lot of people. But it's a priority, and it'll continue to happen.

Eagle Rock in Topanga
(where I ran today)

I'm motivated to write this because I ran a bit further today on a trail I've talked about before: Topanga Canyon in LA. The reason why this canyon trail is so cool to me is because it is geographically

centered between Malibu/Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean and what's often referred to as "the Valley." Topanga has a personality all its own, though. It's like a small Carolina mountain town. But if you run long enough and high enough you get to enjoy the Pacific and Valley view. It is amazing.

Now, I didn't have to travel too far to see this. At least not today. Last May, when I moved cross country from Florida, I did however. People who know me assume I came here for comedy, but I didn't. I came because there's opportunity I didn't have where I was. Yes, opportunity to strike it big in entertainment. But what's so much more appealing was and still is the opportuntiy I had to meet knew people and see some of the most amazing landscapes in North America and the world.

Next week, I'll be running my first marathon in Big Sur, CA. I chose this race, not for time, but for location. I may not even register for the race, because its expensive and I'm a baller on a budget. I'll probably camp Saturday night or even find a cozy spot to car sleep. Again, not running this for a killer time.

Sometimes finances and time can strap you, but we can still pick our best spots and go for them. Kill two birds with one stone...meet a friend half-way and visit a city you've never seen.

I'm not so self-assured to say that traveling is the ultimate learning experience, but if it is not, it has to be pretty high up on the board. Today on my run, I considered advice I've heard and advice I've given. The greatest words don't match actually experiencing something. Sitting in class is static. Experiencing provides retention and offers a truly unique translation of events that happened. Think back to a time when you visited somewhere cool. Now think back to a time when someone told you about some place you had never been to. Which do you remember better? Which one holds more meaning? Conjures up more vivid feelings?

I have a friend from Australia. An Aussie through and through. This guy is tough. When it comes to work, when it comes to partying. One time, after making a crass sexual remark in which I lol'd to, he went on to make an extremely profound statement. "My goal is to travel every inch of this Earth before I die."

I often repeat that statement in my head randomly. It sticks out. It is a simple, yet bold statement. And I often think, "why is it so bold? It's so simple." Because, the word "travel" has so many levels. A word that can rearrange itself from verb to noun. And instead of explaining what I mean, travel for yourself. Keep doing it.

Gomez, See the World: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKJJRnuCwF4

St. Patty's Day - A Little Less Cynical This Time Around

This morning I parked my car on Washington Street by the Venice/Marina Del Rey pier. I was meeting one of my runners for a long run. As we caught up on our walk out to the beach, we walked past several bars and restaurants where local Venetians and those just looking to experience "Deliverence 2" were hanging out. I'm kidding of course. The eclectic culture in Venice is a great experience (just watch out for head lice).

Anywho, I've always looked at "holidays" like St. Patrick's Day with heavy cynicism. Historical remembrence is one thing. Getting hammered by consuming 6 car bombs, 3 Guinesses, enough green beer to satisfy a University of Georgia frat party, and then going home with a girl who looks like Raggedy Anne is a totally different thing.

Nonetheless, I took to it a few different thoughts during the natural lulls in conversation that go on during a long run. Instead of the natural comedic cynicism that resides in me, I thought about Homer Simpson. Just go with me on this. A brilliant quote from Homer, "Alcohol: the cause of-and solution to-all of life's problems."

Now, maybe you're not a drinker (albeit, after reading my blog, you may decide to be). However, the idea that many do use alcohol as a way to blow off steam (I know a doctor who rarely drinks, but after a difficult day in surgery, he will polish off a glass of scotch and hit the sack) maybe isn't such a bad thing? Especially, now-a-days. Financially speaking, St. Patty's day isn't a bad time to hit the bars...when else could you get $.99 shots in LA? Ok, maybe cinco de mayo, but that's to the same point.

The most important reason why I'm shining a positive light on the green holiday this year is because of the comradery I hope it's bringing to people. No, we haven't busted out the bread lines yet, and hopefully, we don't come close to it. But 1-in-4 Americans are jobless, while many others dabble in part-time jobs and spend the heart of their day virally spreading their musings to folks ;)

In many ways, the celebration of holidays is really the celebration for the act of celebrating. To live. To make food. To satisfy those tiny urges we have to throw a party or cook a dish and consume what someone else has created. To give and receive and hopefully, to return the favor. People behaving positively.

Turning back to running, it reminds me of that scene from "Without Limits," the movie highlighting the life and times of American distance running icon, Steve Prefontaine. There's a scene in the movie where all the runners, including Pre (played by the talented Billy Crudup), are sitting in the bleachers of Hayward Field holding a team meeting before the season is set to begin. The legendary coach and Nike Co-Founder, Bill Bowerman (played by the man, the myth, Donald Sutherland), begins a discussion on team hair cuts and how long the length of hair should be--alluding to the pride and physical demonstration in which the team should represent their school, each other, and themselves with. ("Without Limits" Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O4W7u_wMzY)

Bowerman: What's the standard for how long hair gets before it's offensive?

Pre: It's a completely arbitrary length.

Bowerman: Right.

Pre: So is the length of a meter.

Bowerman: Does that make a meter race unfair?

Pre: Of course not. Not when everyone agrees on what the length is.

Bowerman: Then lets all agree. (Pause) No one on the team will have hair longer than his dick...which means everyone gets a hair cut, except Bob.

Pre: Why except Bob?

Bowerman: God's will, Steve.

More than just an elaborate dick joke, the conversation between Pre and his coach make a brilliant point, and an inference to some of the basic premises of the "social contract" theory originally sprouted from philosophers: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract (that's right, Wiki research)

I think it applies on this day. We all wear green, we play games, we cook Irish meals, some of us drink our asses off, but underlying it all, is a sense of togetherness. A sense that celebrating to celebrate has a greater purpose than what may be advertised on the beer signs outside of restaurants. Hence, why I have let up on making smart ass personal asides when I meet someone who declares how proud they are to be Irish when the furthest they've ever come to visiting Ireland is Dublin...Dublin, Georgia. Ok, maybe not all the way.

Song in my head: Holiday From Real, Jack's Mannequin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-89ECq0Ut4 (sorry, this is a VH1 edited version)

Off to tutor and drink Bud Light with green food coloring.

Justin