2011 ING MIAMI HALF MARATHON

Rambling through the streets of downtown Miami and South Miami Beach while participating in the ninth annual ING Miami Half Marathon went quite well this year. Extremely well, for the matter!     

The weather was perfect for running, the crowd was massive yet friendly, the scenery was awe inspiring, and we completed our 13.1 mile journey without so much as a blister, cramp or fatigue.      

Wanting to better last years’ time of 3:03, I found it necessary to pick up my pace somewhere between mile marker 7 and 8. Having had only two hours of sleep the night before the demanding event, Jan chose to maintain the pace that we had set during the first seven miles. She was wise in doing so.     

My choice to run more and walk less the last 5 miles resulted in a finishing time of 2:46. Jan came in shortly afterwards in a respectable time of 3:01.     

Uninjured and unscathed, we eventually wiggled our way through the hordes of finishers and spectators, having our picture taken by the marathon people just before exiting the runner’s area in beautiful Bayfront Park.   

 Breakfast with our friends at IHOP afterwards rounded out another fantastic day in sunny South Florida. We are now waiting for the 10th annual signup blitz promising cut-rate registration costs.   

 Next year will be our tenth year in a row running the ING Miami half marathon, an event that has become an annual postscript to January’s Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon.

2011 ING MIAMI MARATHON EXPO

NEIGHBORHOOD TRAINING WALK/RUN

TRAINING WALK IN THE PARK

The below videos are only one example of our ongoing marathon training.

These particular videos were shot January 20th, 2011 in our county park.  We walked only five miles that day, no running, yet we still averaged a walk pace of 14:51 per mile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x44Xp_Ixesw 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GU8ApKhvyc 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrXhVEHBzPM 

PERFECTLY GOOFY

Remaining Perfectly Goofy comes relatively easy for some people.  I’m one of those people!  Please don’t take me wrong, I most definitely felt mildly tired at some point during this month’s two-day, punishing event.  It’s just that being goofy and staying goofy, even perfectly goofy, happens to be my natural self.

All joking aside, this year’s Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge in Walt Disney World was my easiest.  And I believe it was Janet’s easiest as well.  With no injuries to speak of to hamper our walking and running, and never missing one long or intermediate training run prior to the January 8^th and 9^th event, we basically cruised through most of the 39.3 miles.

Unlike last year when we had to endure snow and freezing rain, this year’s weather was perfect.  With temperatures ranging from 39 degrees to the mid-sixties, and not a hint of rain (or snow), one couldn’t ask for better running weather. 

And just what is the Goofy Challenge?  

Disney World’s “Goofy” challenges anyone to run/walk a half marathon on Saturday and then a full marathon on Sunday.  That’s 13.1 miles on Saturday and then 26.2 miles the following day. 

We’ve taken on the challenge the past six years and succeeded in accomplishing the mission each time, but not without discomfort and pain.  Having walked and run with large blisters, throbbing back aches, knee discomfort and injured ankles, we can rightfully say that we have endured many excruciating maladies and miles.

Will we do it again next year for the seventh year in a row?  Janet is wavering with her decision, but I have a feeling that she won’t want to miss out on all the suffering.  In fact, we may consider adding on a 5 kilometer race one day prior to the Saturday and Sunday challenge.

Then we could call ourselves “Goofy” and "Dumbo."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M34ZXR88qMU 

                        

2010 JOSLYN JOURNAL

25^th Wedding Anniversary

One of many 2010 highlights was our 25^th wedding anniversary, celebrated in magical style in Walt Disney World running the inaugural Wine & Dine Half Marathon.  We are aiming for another 25 happy years and beyond.

And speaking of running, once again we completed Disney’s Goofy Challenge, all 39.3 miles of magic and smiles.  Okay, we admit it.  There was some grimacing in between those smiles, especially since we ran the back-to-back events in below freezing temps and snow flurries.

New on our participation-sports repertoire were a triathlon and a duathlon, run in Aug. and Oct. respectively. 

Ohio/Tennessee Vacation

During the month of May, we vacationed in both Tennessee and Ohio.  So that all of us could be together, we transported Diane to Lynda and Brian’s home in Ohio and then drove her back to Tennessee after a magnificent time was had by all.  While in Ohio, Bob had the pleasure of riding with his grandson, Brandon, in his police car during his afternoon shift.

50^th and 69^th Birthday Celebrations

Disney World appears to be the place for celebrations during the year 2010. We celebrated both our birthdays simultaneously, touring all four Disney theme parks.  From EPCOT’s relatively new ride, Soarin’, to most of what the other three theme parks had to offer, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves hopping from park to park with our season passes.

Employment & Retirement

Janet celebrated her second year of employment with Wal-Mart in September and Bob celebrated his eighth year of retirement in May.  Surprise, we didn’t travel to Disney World for those two milestones. 

Our Pets

Gigi and Santana, our two kitty cats, continue to rule our household - and we love it.  They are quite a pair, full of life and random acts of kitty mischief.

Biking & Swimming

Countless miles were amassed in our condo’s swimming pool this past summer, along with over 2,000 road miles while training on our new bikes.  Jan rides a newly refurbished Bianchi road bike and Bob rides a new 2011 Felt Z6 road bike.  We are both members of Team Memorial and Team Bike Journal bike clubs.    

Dolphin’s Stadium Flag Holders

Prior to the Dolphins/Bears football game Nov. 18th, we held onto and helped wave the huge American Flag that covered the entire football field during the pregame show.  What a thrill it was being down on the field with the cheerleaders and football players, and an even bigger thrill to be a small part of the flag presentation and national anthem.

In conclusion, we could add volumes to this newsletter, but space doesn’t allow it.  Suffice to say that we are happy, healthy and active - and we wish the same for all of our friends and family.

Here’s hoping that each and every one of you has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Bob, Janet, Santana and Gigi                           

PLEASE LORD, HELP ME ENDURE!

What I would like to write about has absolutely nothing to do with running, walking, swimming, biking or exercise in general.  Instead, it has everything to do with logic and perhaps endurance of a different sort.  Not the type of endurance an athlete needs to complete a marathon or a century bike ride, or maybe an extended distance swim in rough seas.    

The endurance I’m going to talk about is more challenging, more defined, and downright necessary.

I’ve never looked at myself as being naïve.  Far from it!  On a scale from 1 to 10, my awareness level would be around a 9.  I’m pretty much aware of my surroundings, local trends, even newsworthy happenings.   It may be factual that I don’t get out as much as I used to, but I’m far from being a recluse.

After thoroughly enjoying a day with my beautiful wife in Walt Disney World Orlando during an impromptu one day get-a-way, we had an occasion to stop at one of the turnpike’s notorious rest stops while driving home.  Tired and somewhat sleepy, my thinking was that if I had a hot cup of coffee then driving home safely without falling asleep at the wheel was basically guaranteed.  Just the mechanics of drinking the coffee was enough to keep my mind sharp and my eyes wide open.

I was thrilled to see that there was no line at the rest stop’s Dunkin Donuts.  Waiting in lines I detest, a dislike that was generated when serving my country as a sailor in the US Navy.

Noticing the many types of coffee listed on the large menu above and behind the counter, Café Lait, Café Breva, Café Latte, Café Macchiato, and Cappuccino, to name a few, I clearly put in an order for one medium-sized regular coffee.  The young lady nodded, gave me an affirmation smile, and then commenced to pour my coffee into one of Dunkin’s popular Styrofoam cups. 

No line, great service, and the exchange of money and coffee went well.  Life was good – so I thought.

Upon taking off the Styrofoam cup’s lid just before climbing into my truck, I noticed cream and more than likely sugar in my regular coffee.  “Damn,” I thought.  “How in the world can someone mess up an order for regular coffee?”

Cautiously walking back inside the rest stop with my wife by my side, I presented my creamed coffee to the young lady that prepared my coffee and explained to her that I ordered a regular coffee, not coffee with cream and sugar. 

You won’t believe her response!

According to her, and confirmed by another nearby server/employee, when someone orders a regular coffee, the servers have been instructed to automatically add cream and sugar.

(I’m thinking increased incidence of diabetes)

Okay, I admit to not frequenting Dunkin Donuts shops or coffee shops in general.  We prefer to buy our coffee grounds at the grocery store and then drip or perk our own coffee – costs being the main reason.

Perplexed and shocked at her reply, I then asked her if I were to order a cup of water would all Dunkin Donuts employees add something to my water?  Her reply was a resounding "No."  “Why then,” I asked, “would you add sugar and cream to a regular coffee unless the customer specifically asked for something to be added?”

“That just the way we do it,” was her shrug-of-the-shoulder reply. 

I’m now going back to the before-mentioned logic and endurance.  I ask God every day to help me endure the illogical stupidity of the human race.  At times, more often than I would prefer, I don’t believe He answers that prayer.  I’m quite sure He has more important matters at hand.  But darn...

In conclusion, if I ever stop again at a Dunkin Donuts shop along Florida’s turnpike, or anywhere for that matter, I will eagerly specify one medium-sized regular coffee – BLACK.

The pleasant young lady did exchange the creamed and sugared coffee for a hot cup of black coffee, and she did it with a smile. 

God love her, and God help us all.
Enjoy your coffee!