People from across the country can’t often come to New Jersey (or nearby) for an author visit, yet people sometimes wish for signed and personalized copies of books – especially heart-warming stories of family, faith, love, compassion, and growth like Scattering the Ashes. (If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?)
I decided to give fans, readers, and everyone the opportunity to purchase a signed and personalized copy of my wonderful novel.
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Eleven twelfths.
One to go.
91.6% through what seemed, at times, and often, like a never-ending task.
***
I once thought that it might be fun to run every single day for an entire calendar year.
Continue reading “91.6”
It is great to be an author. It’s great to receive positive reviews for the books I write.
I just received the following e-mail regarding my novel, Scattering the Ashes:
“I want to let you know how much I enjoyed your novel.
I loved the characters and I could parallel Sam’s relationship with his dad to mine with my father in many ways. My father wouldn’t have thought to have me scatter his ashes, but if he had, Yankee Stadium would have been first and Cooperstown probably second.
The fact that so much of it happened in local NJ settings also added a nice twist.
So I wanted to congratulate you for a great job and thank you for the book. It was a fun read.”
It wasn’t quite as fast as I wanted.
I thought I might be able to hit 4:19:00, but don’t get me wrong.
It was a glorious day. It was a great day. It was wonderful.
My finish time was in the top 45% of all finishers, meaning I was faster than more than half of the people who ran the race yesterday. Not bad for a guy in his mid-50’s.
I had a great first half (just around two hours) but I didn’t feel as well in the second half and my pace slowed considerably.
The New York City Marathon is one of the highlights of the year for me.
I again wore a Superman shirt. It is awesome to have people yelling, “GO SUPERMAN!” to me as I run. They made me feel like a true superman.
The crowds yesterday were AMAZING. Start to finish, the spectators were so enthusiastic. It was awesome.
I LOVE THE NYC Marathon!
***
Since I am still running every single day this year, I did a slow 2.25 miles today. It felt good to be out there.
No… it felt GREAT!
Tomorrow is the New York City Marathon.
I just completed my 16-week training period with a slow and easy 2.80 mile run. That run put me at 680 total miles for the 16 weeks. I averaged 42.5 miles a week for that entire period.
I’m in my mid-fifties, but those 680 miles were the most I ever ran in any training period. My previous high came way back in 2007 as I trained for the Marine Corps Marathon. I did 674 miles in training that year.
Continue reading “TOMORROW!!!”
October 30, 2022
Earlier today, I had the honor of delivering the sermon as the guest preacher at Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, New Jersey.
I am always humbled when I have the opportunity to write and deliver a sermon at church.
Next week, I’ll share a version of this message at the Interfaith Service before the New York City Marathon.
Continue reading “Run In God’s Name”
October 27, 2022
***
I wanted to make sure I was correct so I counted and recounted and counted again.
Yes. Today was the day. I had it marked on my calendar so I assumed it was, I was sure it was, but I needed to check and double-check, and triple-check just to make sure.
I had to be certain about this.
300.
300 consecutive days of running!
Continue reading “300 Days”
Well, I did it. And I did it in grand fashion today.
For the first time since 2009 (and that was a long time ago!), I reached 200 running miles in a single calendar month.
I woke up today at 195 miles. I knew I needed a five-miler to reach 200. I got ready and I set out, as I always do, to reach my goal that day. My plan was to run five comfortable miles.
Continue reading “September = 200 Miles!”
September 22, 2022
You know how people get all upset when they start to see holiday decorations popping up too soon all over the place? Well, what would you think if I told you that there are only 100 days left in 2022?
Trust me. There are only 100 days left in 2022. Count them if you’d like.
When 2022 began, I set out to do the impossible, for me at least. I set out to run every single day, bar none. My goal was (is) to run 365 days in a row. My goal is to complete a calendar year without taking any days off from running.
Today was day 265. I have just 100 days to go.
Continue reading “100 Days To Go!”
September 18, 2022
I’m not quite marathon ready, but I am darn close.
Today was a huge success. I logged 17 miles. I did it rather quickly, at least for me, or for a guy in his mid-fifties on a hilly and challenging course. I ran the distance in 2:47:51.
Continue reading “17 Miles = (almost) Marathon Ready!”
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