Hey all,

Finished strong today with my fastest 8-12 mile! I did 10 miles on the Saddle River Trail and the weather was great! I ran a new part of the trail today in Glen Rock. Added about a mile and a half to my normal rout. 

So week five was 18 miles since I skipped tuesday’s 3 mile run. Looks like great weather for this week so my Wed Thus runs should be good to go! I have a concert Tuesday evening so not sure what I will do about that.

Please spread the word and encourage people you know to donate to the campaign. No donation is too small! The Link to donate is on the side bar.

Today’s Random Running Thought: “Polka-Dots really stood the test of time…”

Word of the day: diligence ¹ |ˈdiləjəns|noun

 careful and persistent work or effort.

Unicorn(s) of the day:

Hi all!

Week 4 crept into week 5 because of the snow. Monday I did my long run (9miles) to end week 4 so I skipped my tuesday short run of 3 Miles this week. Yesterday I started week 5 with a 5 Mile run and today I will do the scheduled 3 mile. I have a 10 mile run this weekend and the weather looks great! So week 4 total miles was 16 and this week 5 we will complete 18.

Deep Thoughts while Running: Every now and then I think of some just plain weird stuff.  Sometimes it is very serious and some times it is just plain ridiculous:-) A very serious thought I had around mile 5 of my long run on Monday was about the Romantic Era Russian composer Tchaikovsky (personal favorite). It is more than rumored now that Tchaikovsky committed suicide in 1893 out of fear of persecution for his then very illegal homosexuality. I wondered how many times he had tried before and what legendary music we gained by someone talking him out of it or supporting him as he despaired? I also wondered what music/ballets/operas etc. were not written since he was only 53 and was not ill at his time of death? Not intentional but all the more reason to give to great organizations like the AFSP!  To read more about it you can check out this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/26/arts/did-tchaikovsky-really-commit-suicide.html?pagewanted=all

On the opposite side of the fence, On my run yesterday I wondered if certain duck species secretly think they are better than other ducks species because they have different colors but hang out together just to prove that they are not judgie? Hmmm…. 😉

Don’t forget to spread the word about running with Eddie and Freddy! link to the left

Word of the day: obstinate |ˈäbstənit|adjective

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

• (of an unwelcome phenomenon or situation) very difficult to change or overcome: the obstinate problem of unemployment.

Unicorn of the day:

Hey Kids!

I added an about me section to my blog too!

So this week was “complicated” in regards to training. I was scheduled to run Tues, Wed, Thus and saturday: 3/4/3 & 9 miles for week four of training. Well Tuesday was shot because I took 97 people to a hockey game;-) My fellow music teachers and I put together a group of 50+ 7th-12 grade students and performed at the Prudential Center in Newark before a NJ Devils game! The kids sounded great, everyone worked together and a good time was had by all:-) I did not get home until just before midnight so needless to say, no running on tuesday. My Wednesday run also got bumped because of lack of sleep and a Dr. appointment.

So, I ran 4 miles on thursday, which felt great because it was about 35′ an no wind. Yesterday I ran 3 miles, it was awful. It was too cold, very windy and I felt terrible. I was hungry and light headed by mile 3 and it was just no good. Yesterdays 3 mile run felt harder than some 8+ miles I have ran. But after training for a couple of races and reading Hal’s book I have learned to mentally discipline myself enough to focus on the long term. Some runs will feel great, some will not. Miles and times mean nothing, consistency is key! Listen to your body and do not risk injury. This is what is important. Given today’s flakes I will be pushing my long 9 mile run off until tomorrow. Even though I will be 3 miles short of the program it was a good week and missing a few runs here and there is no big deal. Be safe and try not to yell at anyone who tells you to “Enjoy the Snow”

To track my progress I use Runkeeper https://runkeeper.com. It has been a great motivator and it’s FREE! https://runkeeper.com/user/jkinne1/profile  it keeps track of your miles and allows you to encourage your friends along the way! So if you run or do anything active I reccomend it. Be my friend on runkeeper!

Word of the day- abstemious |abˈstēmēəs|

adjective

not self-indulgent, esp. when eating and drinking: “We only had a bottle.” “Very abstemious of you.”

Unicorn of the day-

More pics:

Hey Everyone, big thanks to Katie Hughes, Lara Chard #laracraft, Ashley and Phil Parker, Andrea Tokarik, Mariane Kerr, Jeremy Steiner & Janette Merril for their generous donations this week!

Eddie and Freddy found a way to donate to the campaign too! Today I set out to do my 5 mile run and right after completing mile one, crossing the on-ramp to rt. 287, I looked down and saw a soaking wet $20 bill stuck to the yellow line! Thanks guys for your donation! Today’s run ends week 3, total of 15 miles.  We received a bunch of donations and kind words this week which is really encouraging so I am very grateful for all of the love sent our way. So let me know if you have anything I can put on here or promote for you! For example -Check out our friend Lara’s hand made candles! I personally endorse their excellence in all areas of candle-ness! Seriously they smell awesome 🙂   https://www.etsy.com/shop/laracraftshop 

Word of the Day: fortuitous |fôrˈto͞oətəs|adjective

happening by accident or chance rather than design: the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous.

• informal happening by a lucky chance; fortunate: from a cash standpoint, the company’s timing is fortuitous.

Unicorn of the Day: Makin it Rain!

Hey Kids,

It is week Three! I beat the weather and ran 3 miles yesterday in Rutherford right after school. I also learned a powerful lesson involving sweat, cold weather and laundry. I left my running shirt and gear in my back pack after Saturday’s run up in CT where it proceeded to freeze. I then just threw it in my car forgetting about it until yesterday where it had spent the day warming up in my office. After school I opened the back pack to get into my running gear and the smell was… Well lets just say I’m glad I had another long sleeve to wear for yesterdays run. I have 4 miles today, three tomorrow and my weekend long run is only 5 miles this week:-)

Special thanks to my great friend Mark Spinney, My Brother Travis and his GF Rachel Patti, My Mom Diane and my In Laws Bob and Pat Olson for their generous donations this week. I have received a number of really encouraging donations to the AFSP so far and I am proud to say we just hit 5% of our $5000 goal today! 100% of the donations go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and honor the lives of Eddie Griffin, Fred Fiume and all who have experience with suicide. Thank you to all who have donated so far! The campaign will remain open until the Day after the race May 2nd so spread the word!

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=957438

Word of the day: -Endeavor |enˈdevər|(Brit. endeavour )

verb [ no obj. -try hard to do or achieve something: he is endeavoring to help the Third World.

noun-an attempt to achieve a goal: [ with infinitive ] : an endeavor to reduce serious injury.

• earnest and industrious effort, esp. when sustained over a period of time: enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavor.

• an enterprise or undertaking: a political endeavor.

Unicorn of the day: Dedicated to David Bowie

Hi all,

Thanks to Patty G. and Erin L. (NJ Marathon Finisher!) for their donations to my personal campaign for the AFSP! See the link below to donate!

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.personalCampaign&participantID=957438

Last year I read the book Marathon by noted trainer Hal Higdon.

I followed his Half Marathon program for the last one I did and it was awesome! I felt great come race day and ran 13.1 in 1:56 with my last 3 miles being my fastest. Except it was a halloween theme race so some zombie kid jumped out from behind a tree and scared the BeeJeezez out of me and two other runners in mile 10. Almost punched him in the face, any how I digress.  It was a Superhero Event in Morristown but most importantly I felt great the whole race so it was a really enjoyable experience which I credit Hal’s training program for. I highly recommend the book for anyone looking to do a half marathon or the full at any level. The programs and advice for novice runners like myself is really excellent, encouraging and on point. Im attaching a link to his website as well. I will put it in the side bar of my site once I figure out how to do that 😉  Week Three starts Tuesday! Don’t forget to spread the word about Running with Eddie and Freddy and support my campaign for the AFSD!(link at the bottom of the page.)

This is his Novice I training program for the marathon.

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

Marathon Training Schedule: Novice 1 (cross means cross training 30-60min, though I honestly usually skip it)

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.personalCampaign&participantID=957438

Word of the day (Supplied by my Ma)- Eclectic |iˈklektik|adjective

1 deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources: her musical tastes are eclectic.

2 ( Eclectic )Philosophy of, denoting, or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any recognized school of thought but selected such doctrines as they wished from various schools.

noun- a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

Unicorn of the day:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cranbury-park-gallaher-estate-norwalk

Week 2 Done- 15 miles total.

Did my long run for the week today in Norwalk CT, 7 miles. I ran from my in laws to Cranbury Park. I did 3.5 miles or so of trail running. The trails are narrow and not the best for running but I had a blast. I met a bunch of dogs and got lost a few times. In the park is Gallagher Mansion which embodies a very Downton Abbey look and feel to the building and grounds . Additionally there appears to be a pretty awesome disc golf course on the property as well. One of my favorite things about this running thing is I love to explore and find new places and this place did not disappoint, I’m looking forward to going back there again.

Word of the day- Ethos

noun

1.

Sociology. the fundamental character or spirit of a culture; theunderlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices ofa group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period:

In the Greek ethos the individual was highly valued.

2.

the character or disposition of a community, group, person, etc.

3.

the moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character’saction rather than his or her thought or emotion.

Dog of the day:

Unicorn of the day!

Hey Kids! I did not get to run yesterday. I did get a physical though and “I’m healthy as a horse, not a drip”- Chip Douglas

I will do 5 miles today to make up for the 3 miles I missed yesterday.

Please spread the word about my fundraising campaign for the AFSD- Running with Eddie and Freddy! (below)

 http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.personalCampaign&participantID=957438

Word of the day is –conscientious |ˌkänCHēˈenCHəs|adjective

1 (of a person) wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly: a conscientious and hardworking clerk.

2 relating to a person’s conscience: the act does not provide exemption from service on the basis of personal conscientious beliefs.

ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from French consciencieux, from medieval Latin conscientiosus, from Latin conscientia 

UNICORN OF THE DAY!