My bum around shoes were retired from my previous half marathon adventures. It has *some* mileage on it.

I have new shoes and am running again
dommy.com/ihaterunning/

I’m glad shoes can’t talk, this one might just complain all day long.

This morning I used the communication tools the American Diabetes Association is providing us this year to send out about 80 some emails with my plea for sponsoring this year’s run. And did a lot of people respond quickly! Thanks to everyone who has responded early, and I am well on my way to reaching my fund raising goal (I actually bumped it a bit).

But the best moment, was when the CEO for the organization I work for, the New Media Consortium let everyone know who works for us:

In case you are interested, the NMC will match any staff gifts to sponsor Alan. Just send me a copy of your donation form and we will submit an equal amount. It is in all of our interests for all of us to practice healthy living, so I am setting this precedent of encouraging such action among us.

Of course, this is 100% totally optional and completely up to you. If you do contribute, any information about your sponsorship will be held in full confidence.

We are only a 10 employee organization, so that is quite a generous thing to do, thanks Larry! and thanks to my colleagues who step up to sponsor my effort.

Everything that happens like this is what compels me to get out and run when I don’t feel like it

I’m in San Francisco for NMC meetings but the running schedule continues with a beautful 30 minute session along the Embarcadero.

Stay tuned at dommy.com/ihaterunning

This was my best pace yet since training started, I might only slightly hate running now… subject to change

Ah now it works. Yay.

I’d had spurts and stops of running, none more than a week at a time. I have started kayaking, which is fun and good upper body work- here’s where I’ve been:

View Alan’s Kayak Spots in a larger map

and I am getting my mountain bike back into working order this weekend.

But… my health numbers have not been the greatest over the stretch (poor eating, lots of travel, etc) and my A1C numbers have been above where they should be. I need to lose that thing I keep bumping into when I bend over to reach something (e.g. my gut). And lately I have been seeing a few floaters in my left eye (I had a big round of laser treatment in 1993 for diabetic retinopathy).

A running routine, when had one, was the best stretch of fitness I ever had.

Yet, I never really found the elusive high feeling, and I marvel at people who look so damned happy and cheerful as the run (past me). Whatever.

I have been getting emails from Coach Dave about Team Diabetes and I’m thinking its time to join back up, and aim for the half marathon on January 17, 2010.

And in reading the current issue of Wired about the Nike Experiment (Nike+), I just purchased online a new pair of Nike shoes and the sensor, so I can do the Nike+ full data capture and training programs that will work with my iPod Touch.

Revving up. Maybe some power of suggestion. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running. I Love Running.

So I am starting with some really short runs, and relying on audio podcasts to keep me distracted. I’m also trying to get out once a week for some kayaking on a lake.

But keep it under your brim for a while. I have no plans to run a race or anything close to that.

I am thinking about running the Runner’s Den 10k in early February, maybe a Grand Canyon hike with friends in March, and cracy enough, some others are trying to talk me into the Las Palomas Sprint Tri-athalon in April… but if you think ihaterunning then you have to know i reallyreallyreallydespiseswimming and not only that, dont have any place to practice.

Variety is it.

For catch up, yesterday I did the 3 miles of the Ralls Road loop, its got those killer steep hills you get coming and going. Felt good, but sore to finish. But I did.

By the time I got dressed and failed to get my MP3 player working (out of juice) I noticed it was raining,

The Excuse Train conductor was lifting a foot off the brake.

So I said WTF, strapped on my old running shoes, and left the iPhone at home, so was tuneless. Just went for an easy loop around the Strawberry neighborhood, nothing flat, lots of up and down little, but steep, hills. Byt the time I got out there, full fledged snow was falling in big chunky flakes.

So I went about 1.3 miles and opted to walk the last hill home.

There, put the train back in the station.

Check out the Hey Camp Glyndon group.

If someone has a better logo, please send it my way. That is the best I could whip up on short notice. And find some old photos! Who still has a t-shirt?

Who would have guessed, they are dropping these conditions for 2009 according to an email I just received:

Alan,
Thank you for your previous comments regarding the Medtronic Global Heroes program and its guideline related to runners with diabetes. As you know, under that guideline, runners with diabetes older than 40 who were diagnosed with diabetes more than 15 years ago were ineligible to apply.

As promised, Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. and the Medtronic Foundation committed to review and re-evaluate this guideline following the close of the 2008 program applications. We thought you would like to know that we are removing this guideline for the 2009 program.

Of course, runner safety remains the primary concern of both Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. and the Medtronic Foundation. However, our organizations agree with feedback from the Global Hero selection committee that the current application and registration process ensures runner safety without applying the age restrictions.

Future selections will rely on an applicant’s personal running and health history, along with that runner’s physician approval, as the primary determinant, not age or disease longevity.

Again, we thank you for your feedback and interest in this program. We hope you will consider reapplying, or refer others that would enjoy the Global Heroes experience.

i doubt it means much for me as I am for now, retired from running, but felt it was worth sharing with a bit of Hallelujah.

Yep, I truly hate running. still