I went through more than a week with allergies/cold/feeling like crap and didn't run for seven days. Ugh....
But I'm back at it. Plus mixing in a little swimming and cycling.
Ran the last two days on treadmill, getting in four miles of intervals on Monday and 3.3 tonight. Did 20 more minutes on elliptical after that.
Got 10.5 miles on bike Sunday. Practiced dismounting the bike yesterday. Got a pic I need to put on here.
Swam Sunday and yesterday. That crap is hard. ugh...my lungs were hurting. Then today, my shoulders were pretty sore. ugh. ugh. ugh.
Swam around 120 meters plus Sunday and 200 yesterday. I was dying.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
shtuffff
Sorry for posting in two spots. Just wanted to share....
It's been a crazy, crazy week.
I was getting ready to do the Ride of Silence bike ride Wednesday night that Jeremy Webb put together. Two hours before the ride I got a call from my friend Andy Adams at the Lufkin Daily. He told me that Gary had passed away. Still stunned.
I did the ride and even wrote the story about it for the Lufkin Daily. I'm sure that's what Gary would have wanted me to do.
The next morning I get the paper and my story is right next to the story about Gary's death.
---
Also that morning I took my dad to the doctor for a colonoscopy. He was worried. His pastor (my father-in-law) showed up as did my dad's lady friend. I was way outnumbered. And they were loud and embarrassing. They talked about the heat, the humidity, the wind (it's apparently windier this year than in previous ones), mine and Donna's wedding (how her dad married us and he told me I could shake the brides hand - everyone in the doctor's office heard). I was dying a slow, painful death.
Dad was okay and then when we left we went out to the airport where his lady friend works as a cook.
We sat and talked with her for a while. We were talking about my brother's wedding and trying to figure out what year it was. I remembered that Donna was pregnant with Ashton at the time so I knew what year it was. I was talking about Donna being pregnant in the pictures and I think dad's friend thought I meant mine and Donna's wedding. I wasn 't sure, but she started talking about a couple she knew that got married and the bride was pregnant at the time of the wedding. She said they have a great marriage...geez.... I didn't know what to say so I said nothing.
I get home and tell Donna, and she's like, "Great, now she thinks I'm a slut." uh oh.
---
Friday I take my friend Tom to Houston to the doctor for a procedure on his hand. First I have to drive to Nacogdoches to pick up Astros tickets I ordered. They are at the Fed Ex office cause I have to sign for them and they missed me at home. Twice. I can't find the dang place. I drive around the loop twice before finally getting directions. Geez...
We're running 20 minutes late. I jump in the shower before we go. I drop a shampoo bottle on my toe. Blood everywhere....geez.... I have to take a first aid kit with us. When will it end?
---
Anyway, everything goes okay. I leave when he goes in at the doctor's office. Go to a Barnes and Noble. Finally, relaxed. Leave and stop at a Chick Fil A to eat a bite. Sitting there and the doctor's office calls and tells me he's done. Dang it, I coulda waited and we could ate somewhere good. Oh well.
---
Anyhoo....it's Biggio mini-helmet giveaway night at the game to the first 10,000 fans. We get in a looooong line. We are about 10 people back from getting in when they ran out of helmets. On way home, Tom tells me it's all my fault we didn't get the helmet because I drove around the loop 20 times that morning looking for the Fed Ex office. geez...
---
Saturday I'm talking with Jon on the phone. He asks me what time the celebration is. Meaning what time is Gary's funeral. I tell him the funeral is at 2. Celebration? What the heck? Never heard it like that before. It's a funeral.
So....the funeral begins with a guy playing a guitar and two girls singing with him. We all stand. They play three praise and worship songs. Just like Gary would like. Then the first of four people to talk about Gary starts talking about Gary's life. And telling stories.
Then it hits me. This is a celebration. Dang it Jon, you were right. Cool.
Lots of stories about Gary. All good. At one point I was wondering if this guy ever did anything wrong. Hmmmm....I really don't remember. Cool.
---
Today, I get up early. Don't go to lake with Donna and girls and some of our friends. Ya know, I just ain't a fan of the lake. Kinda wanna be on my own today.
I ran an hour, rode 10.5 miles on bike, swam a little. Left to get a paper and then went to cemetery.
Talked to mom.
Told her about Gary. Uh, like she didn't know.
I sang. Horribly. Sang part of Amazing Grace to her. Told her I'm sorry that my singing sucks.
Told her I miss her. Told her dad is having fun. She should be happy.
Told her to tell Gary....right then I choked up...couldn't talk. Finally, told her to tell Gary we'd do lunch one day.
It's been a crazy, crazy week.
I was getting ready to do the Ride of Silence bike ride Wednesday night that Jeremy Webb put together. Two hours before the ride I got a call from my friend Andy Adams at the Lufkin Daily. He told me that Gary had passed away. Still stunned.
I did the ride and even wrote the story about it for the Lufkin Daily. I'm sure that's what Gary would have wanted me to do.
The next morning I get the paper and my story is right next to the story about Gary's death.
---
Also that morning I took my dad to the doctor for a colonoscopy. He was worried. His pastor (my father-in-law) showed up as did my dad's lady friend. I was way outnumbered. And they were loud and embarrassing. They talked about the heat, the humidity, the wind (it's apparently windier this year than in previous ones), mine and Donna's wedding (how her dad married us and he told me I could shake the brides hand - everyone in the doctor's office heard). I was dying a slow, painful death.
Dad was okay and then when we left we went out to the airport where his lady friend works as a cook.
We sat and talked with her for a while. We were talking about my brother's wedding and trying to figure out what year it was. I remembered that Donna was pregnant with Ashton at the time so I knew what year it was. I was talking about Donna being pregnant in the pictures and I think dad's friend thought I meant mine and Donna's wedding. I wasn 't sure, but she started talking about a couple she knew that got married and the bride was pregnant at the time of the wedding. She said they have a great marriage...geez.... I didn't know what to say so I said nothing.
I get home and tell Donna, and she's like, "Great, now she thinks I'm a slut." uh oh.
---
Friday I take my friend Tom to Houston to the doctor for a procedure on his hand. First I have to drive to Nacogdoches to pick up Astros tickets I ordered. They are at the Fed Ex office cause I have to sign for them and they missed me at home. Twice. I can't find the dang place. I drive around the loop twice before finally getting directions. Geez...
We're running 20 minutes late. I jump in the shower before we go. I drop a shampoo bottle on my toe. Blood everywhere....geez.... I have to take a first aid kit with us. When will it end?
---
Anyway, everything goes okay. I leave when he goes in at the doctor's office. Go to a Barnes and Noble. Finally, relaxed. Leave and stop at a Chick Fil A to eat a bite. Sitting there and the doctor's office calls and tells me he's done. Dang it, I coulda waited and we could ate somewhere good. Oh well.
---
Anyhoo....it's Biggio mini-helmet giveaway night at the game to the first 10,000 fans. We get in a looooong line. We are about 10 people back from getting in when they ran out of helmets. On way home, Tom tells me it's all my fault we didn't get the helmet because I drove around the loop 20 times that morning looking for the Fed Ex office. geez...
---
Saturday I'm talking with Jon on the phone. He asks me what time the celebration is. Meaning what time is Gary's funeral. I tell him the funeral is at 2. Celebration? What the heck? Never heard it like that before. It's a funeral.
So....the funeral begins with a guy playing a guitar and two girls singing with him. We all stand. They play three praise and worship songs. Just like Gary would like. Then the first of four people to talk about Gary starts talking about Gary's life. And telling stories.
Then it hits me. This is a celebration. Dang it Jon, you were right. Cool.
Lots of stories about Gary. All good. At one point I was wondering if this guy ever did anything wrong. Hmmmm....I really don't remember. Cool.
---
Today, I get up early. Don't go to lake with Donna and girls and some of our friends. Ya know, I just ain't a fan of the lake. Kinda wanna be on my own today.
I ran an hour, rode 10.5 miles on bike, swam a little. Left to get a paper and then went to cemetery.
Talked to mom.
Told her about Gary. Uh, like she didn't know.
I sang. Horribly. Sang part of Amazing Grace to her. Told her I'm sorry that my singing sucks.
Told her I miss her. Told her dad is having fun. She should be happy.
Told her to tell Gary....right then I choked up...couldn't talk. Finally, told her to tell Gary we'd do lunch one day.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
my friend
I lost one of my best friends yesterday.
I've known Gary Willmon for more than 20 years. He was a co-worker for a while at the Diboll Free Press weekly newspaper back when it was at its best. Gary was an editor there while I worked there as sports editor.
We worked there together for a while in cubicles right next to each other.
I'd been there a little more than a year and at that time it was really just the two of us that were responsible for the weekly content.
It was a month before Diboll Day, the bi-annual city-wide celebration, that Gary went into the hospital. I don't remember if this was when he found out he had Chrohn's disease or not. But I know he was there out for about a month.
I had to handle all the fall sports coverage and all the Diboll Day coverage, plus do all the layout for those pages. I was in over my head, but I made it.
Gary was a little fella. Never weighed more than 120 pounds or so. And never looked like unless he was on some kind of steroids for a while and his cheeks got puffy.
He was always upbeat, never said anything bad about anybody. Never wrote anything bad about anyone.
Donna reminded me today at lunch, when we were with a group of his co-workers from the Lufkin Daily, of the time he came back to the office in Diboll after having been chased by some big truck driver.
If I remember correctly, he had inadvertently cut off a truck driver and made the guy mad. I'm not sure if they actually exchanged words. But I do know that when he got back that he told us that he'd driven around town for a while to make sure he hadn't been followed. He was worried that since our office was right off Hwy 59 that the driver might have spotted him or his car as he was getting to the office.
I had left the Free Press to teach at Diboll High School and had been there for a year and a half when I took over as sports editor of the Lufkin Daily News. Gary had been the sports editor there before he came to the Free Press. Weird how it works sometimes.
I remember he wrote me one of the nicest letters I've ever received. How he knew I'd do a good job at it. Knowing he had confidence in me felt great. He couldn't have been any nicer.
Gary was a great newsman, a great friend.
I'll miss hearing these two things:
* Hearing him finish his 5-second prayers over lunch with "Amen, dig in."
* Hearing him say, "Dude, call me, we'll do lunch."
---
I went to visit Gary at the hospital last Friday. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone look as bad as I thought he did. His face was jaundiced and he was hooked up to many things.
I knew he was bad.
I got the call from my friend Andy yesterday around 5 p.m. Two hours later I was to participate and write a story about the Ride of Silence, organized by my friend Jeremy Webb.
Andy told, "Gary died a little while ago."
Couldn't say anything. I felt like I was punched in the stomach. No breath.
Just walked around numb.
Called to tell my dad.
He told me I should just go home.
Then I remembered I couldn't go home. I had to write a story for the Lufkin Daily about the ride. I know those guys there so I get to do some freelance work. I knew I had to go.
Their photographer showed up for the ride.
At some point I thought that that's what Gary would want me to do. To do my job. To write the story. To write a story about something great a friend of mine had put together. To give some praise where it's due.
That's what he would do. I know it is.
---
At the bottom right of today's front page of the Lufkin Daily there's a story about Gary's death and a number of quotes from former co-workers. There's one from me.
To the left of that story is a my story about the Ride of Silence.
It's an honor that I get to share that part of today's paper with him.
---
Gary Willmon
Ride of Silence
I've known Gary Willmon for more than 20 years. He was a co-worker for a while at the Diboll Free Press weekly newspaper back when it was at its best. Gary was an editor there while I worked there as sports editor.
We worked there together for a while in cubicles right next to each other.
I'd been there a little more than a year and at that time it was really just the two of us that were responsible for the weekly content.
It was a month before Diboll Day, the bi-annual city-wide celebration, that Gary went into the hospital. I don't remember if this was when he found out he had Chrohn's disease or not. But I know he was there out for about a month.
I had to handle all the fall sports coverage and all the Diboll Day coverage, plus do all the layout for those pages. I was in over my head, but I made it.
Gary was a little fella. Never weighed more than 120 pounds or so. And never looked like unless he was on some kind of steroids for a while and his cheeks got puffy.
He was always upbeat, never said anything bad about anybody. Never wrote anything bad about anyone.
Donna reminded me today at lunch, when we were with a group of his co-workers from the Lufkin Daily, of the time he came back to the office in Diboll after having been chased by some big truck driver.
If I remember correctly, he had inadvertently cut off a truck driver and made the guy mad. I'm not sure if they actually exchanged words. But I do know that when he got back that he told us that he'd driven around town for a while to make sure he hadn't been followed. He was worried that since our office was right off Hwy 59 that the driver might have spotted him or his car as he was getting to the office.
I had left the Free Press to teach at Diboll High School and had been there for a year and a half when I took over as sports editor of the Lufkin Daily News. Gary had been the sports editor there before he came to the Free Press. Weird how it works sometimes.
I remember he wrote me one of the nicest letters I've ever received. How he knew I'd do a good job at it. Knowing he had confidence in me felt great. He couldn't have been any nicer.
Gary was a great newsman, a great friend.
I'll miss hearing these two things:
* Hearing him finish his 5-second prayers over lunch with "Amen, dig in."
* Hearing him say, "Dude, call me, we'll do lunch."
---
I went to visit Gary at the hospital last Friday. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone look as bad as I thought he did. His face was jaundiced and he was hooked up to many things.
I knew he was bad.
I got the call from my friend Andy yesterday around 5 p.m. Two hours later I was to participate and write a story about the Ride of Silence, organized by my friend Jeremy Webb.
Andy told, "Gary died a little while ago."
Couldn't say anything. I felt like I was punched in the stomach. No breath.
Just walked around numb.
Called to tell my dad.
He told me I should just go home.
Then I remembered I couldn't go home. I had to write a story for the Lufkin Daily about the ride. I know those guys there so I get to do some freelance work. I knew I had to go.
Their photographer showed up for the ride.
At some point I thought that that's what Gary would want me to do. To do my job. To write the story. To write a story about something great a friend of mine had put together. To give some praise where it's due.
That's what he would do. I know it is.
---
At the bottom right of today's front page of the Lufkin Daily there's a story about Gary's death and a number of quotes from former co-workers. There's one from me.
To the left of that story is a my story about the Ride of Silence.
It's an honor that I get to share that part of today's paper with him.
---
Gary Willmon
Ride of Silence
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
random crap about me
Cause I got tagged and I fell to peer pressure yet again:
1. I highlight my hair, but I still have a pair.
2. I will run shirtless in a race if it's hot. I ain't scared. I've seen worse. Lots worse.
3. I'm jealous of Joe Carey.
4. I don't like to be bothered on Sunday afternoons during football season. At all. Seriously. Especially when Cowboys are on. I will not answer the phone.
5. I like to order books that apparently I'll never get around to reading.
6. My dad is a 73-year-old playa. And I'm impressed by that. Well, sorta. Sometimes it makes me tired.
7. I'd rather watch my Seinfeld DVDs than most anything on TV.
8. I'm really not sure how I lived without Tivo.
The Rules:
Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to read your blog.
I tag, well, anyone that wants to participate. I looked to see who hasn't been tagged and I feel as if my online social network is no better than Adrienne's. geez...i'm a loser.
Maybe Barbara and June. Or Jon. If there's anything left about Jon that we don't know.....
1. I highlight my hair, but I still have a pair.
2. I will run shirtless in a race if it's hot. I ain't scared. I've seen worse. Lots worse.
3. I'm jealous of Joe Carey.
4. I don't like to be bothered on Sunday afternoons during football season. At all. Seriously. Especially when Cowboys are on. I will not answer the phone.
5. I like to order books that apparently I'll never get around to reading.
6. My dad is a 73-year-old playa. And I'm impressed by that. Well, sorta. Sometimes it makes me tired.
7. I'd rather watch my Seinfeld DVDs than most anything on TV.
8. I'm really not sure how I lived without Tivo.
The Rules:
Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to read your blog.
I tag, well, anyone that wants to participate. I looked to see who hasn't been tagged and I feel as if my online social network is no better than Adrienne's. geez...i'm a loser.
Maybe Barbara and June. Or Jon. If there's anything left about Jon that we don't know.....
Monday, May 12, 2008
5-plus
Got in 5-plus miles this evening.
Hate to say it cause I know I'm gonna get scolded, but I'm still having trouble with my knee. Played racquetball for about 1 1/2 hours this morning and my knee was a little swollen. Ran tonight anyway.
I know, flaxseed something-or-other, pollenate oil, or some shizz like that....some Theragesic (3 layers like Grandpa Joe), etc, etc, etc.....
Anyhoo, run felt good. But knee does not look so good. ugh....
It even pops ever now and then.
Is it possible I'm getting old? I hope not.
Hate to say it cause I know I'm gonna get scolded, but I'm still having trouble with my knee. Played racquetball for about 1 1/2 hours this morning and my knee was a little swollen. Ran tonight anyway.
I know, flaxseed something-or-other, pollenate oil, or some shizz like that....some Theragesic (3 layers like Grandpa Joe), etc, etc, etc.....
Anyhoo, run felt good. But knee does not look so good. ugh....
It even pops ever now and then.
Is it possible I'm getting old? I hope not.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
runnin' in Galveston
Took a spur of the moment trip to Galveston Friday evening. I was exhausted and really didn't want to go anywhere, but two little girls were very persuasive.
Go to the San Luis Friday night about 10. First time to stay there. I like it. A lot. Will go again. Anytime.
Ran about 10 miles Saturday morning on the seawall. May have been too much as my legs were pretty sore all day. The pool helped. As did some refreshments.
---
Got in a few miles this morning, but not sure how far. Ran out for 20 minutes, and got back to the San Luis a minute quicker. Not sure how as I was running into a pretty good breeze.
I love running near the ocean.
Go to the San Luis Friday night about 10. First time to stay there. I like it. A lot. Will go again. Anytime.
Ran about 10 miles Saturday morning on the seawall. May have been too much as my legs were pretty sore all day. The pool helped. As did some refreshments.
---
Got in a few miles this morning, but not sure how far. Ran out for 20 minutes, and got back to the San Luis a minute quicker. Not sure how as I was running into a pretty good breeze.
I love running near the ocean.
Monday, May 05, 2008
ughh...
My left knee was sore and a little swollen last week so I took it slow for a few days.
Ran only three miles Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Two of those days were on treadmill.
Knee felt good enough with no swelling at all so on Sunday I ran 12-plus miles. Felt pretty good. It was nice outside and I coulda gone longer, but decided to stop.
Played some racquetball this morning and went out for a 45 minute run this evening. About 30 minutes in, I felt a pull on the back side of my knee. Caused me to stop. I walked for a few minutes, but felt okay enough to keep running.
Ran about 15 more minutes to get in the 45.
But...now my knee is significantly swollen and I'm icing it.
ugh.......
---
Oh yeah, I'm in the lottery for NYC, which was my first-ever marathon in 2004. Also, I registered for the Houston Marathon. Gives me stuff to shoot for.
Ran only three miles Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Two of those days were on treadmill.
Knee felt good enough with no swelling at all so on Sunday I ran 12-plus miles. Felt pretty good. It was nice outside and I coulda gone longer, but decided to stop.
Played some racquetball this morning and went out for a 45 minute run this evening. About 30 minutes in, I felt a pull on the back side of my knee. Caused me to stop. I walked for a few minutes, but felt okay enough to keep running.
Ran about 15 more minutes to get in the 45.
But...now my knee is significantly swollen and I'm icing it.
ugh.......
---
Oh yeah, I'm in the lottery for NYC, which was my first-ever marathon in 2004. Also, I registered for the Houston Marathon. Gives me stuff to shoot for.
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