Running Where Danimal and Sweetness Shined

Many boys and girls grow up wanting to play on their favorite team, with and against their favorite players, or on the same field, court, or rink as the great players they admire. As a little boy, I took clinics from Tyne Sandberg, Jody Davis, and many other Chicago Cubs players. and I ran around the Wrigley Field outfield. I even took several pieces of ivy from the outfield wall. I've been privileged enough to walk on the United Center floor where the Chicago Bulls play. I've sat under the basket, walked down the same tunnel as many NBA players and media members, I've walked by the locker room where Jordan, Pippen, and the rest of the players of the 1990s Bulls dynasty dressed, and I've been in the same room where many a press conferences have been held. I've never been on the Soldier Field playing area. Until now! The Fleet Feet Soldier Field 10 Mile Run Presented by Adidas will afford me the opportunity as the final stretch of this race runs into Soldier Field with the finish line being on the fifty yard line on the Chicago Bears logo. For those fans not close enough to see the runners cross the finish, they can watch it on the stadium jumbotron. Special thanks to Justine Boney of Fleet Feet for helping me iron out some issues in order to register for this event. On May 29, 2010, I will get that opportunity to run where Dan Hampton, Walter Payton, and many of others have displayed their hall of fame abilities.

Preparation Talent Destiny

I've heard a couple versions of the following formula. Preparation+talent+luck=destiny. Some times, the biggest portion of that is luck. It may be argued whether or not I have the God given ability to be an elite amateur athlete, but one thing is certain, when I am properly motivated, I display a dedication that few possess. When I decided to bulk up during my college days there was no stopping me. When I set my sights on losing forty pounds of that bulk to get sexy lean in order to regain my confidence and self esteem while having a reason to write scenes in my plays or films which would call for me to be shirtless to show off said physique, I stayed with a work out schedule which some said bordered on the compulsive obsession. Yet, I successfully reach my goals. That same drive was present entering 2010. Preparation and some talent brought me here, but lady luck eluded me as a week into the new year I suffered a lower back strain which eventually became such a debilitating experience I could not find a comfortable position whether I tried to stand, sit, or lay down. For over six weeks I faced the pain on a daily basis. It often moved up my back and even down my leg and all over my body. The pain was miserable. The days were hard. I had to stop all daily activities hoping rest would cure it. After all this time of simply living through the pain, it has stopped. I feel better. I can now return to working out and aiming for the athletic and physique goals about which I previously wrote in other entries. My first race of the year is set to be on the first Sunday in May. There is enough time to ready my body for that four mile race as well as the half marathon and ten mile run which also take place in May. I just hope I am lucky enough to remain healthy from this point forward so I can put my talent to the test by preparing on a daily basis to meet my destiny.

Doing What I Once Thought To Be Crazy

As far back as I can remember, my dad would watch every sporting event imaginable which was televised. If it's on TV, my dad is watching. He would always watch Chicago, Boston, and New York Marathons. 26.2 miles seemed other worldly. The athletes who did it race in and race out were amazing. Each time I watched a marathon coverage, my desire to run one would grow. The realization that I could never began to settle into my mind. By the time 2003 rolled around I had decided anyone who does that to his body is crazy. The months of training followed by 26.2 miles in one day is simply nuts. On top of that, I heard horror stories of runners collapsing, becoming dehydrated, hospitalized, and taking weeks to physically recover.

Fast forward to 2007. After a few years of watching Gina Lombardi's Fit Nation on Fit TV and coming across an interview and the story of Lokelani McMichael, I found myself wanting to some day try an Ironman. The last leg is a marathon. Well, I'm going to have to at least run a marathon individually first don't I? I had contacted Matt Miller of the C Different Foundation and he offered me a chance at running a half marathon. Within five weeks with virtually no training, I had run 13.1 miles in one day. I began to do more races. Then in December of 2009, I ran my longest distance to date when I ran the 30K in Sugar Land. More than anything, that experience made me that much hungrier for a marathon. Yes! I can run 26.2. I can devote myself to a dedicated training plan. I can tune up my body in preparation. I can do this on the same streets the great Paula Radcliff has dominated. On the same streets I walked as a young boy. I can run 26.2 in my home town of Chicago, Illinois! I previously had a chance to run a marathon in Fort Lauderdale but due to illness which prevented me from training, I reluctantly had to drop out. In the end, it's only fitting I make my marathon debut on my streets in front of my family and friends for a charity, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association,, who does such wonderful things for individuals who otherwise may not have a chance to enjoy athletic success. It is official. I am registered to run the Chicago Marathon on October 10, 2010. Is it nuts that I will put my body through this? If it is, I am proud to be crazy!

Lucid

This is the final weekend to see "Lucid" at the Athenaeum Theatre featuring my friend, Laura Shatkus as Becky. I first met Laura about six years ago when we took several acting and movement classes together. She quickly joined a growing list of classmates and artists such as; Rani, Madelon, and Amanda whom I respected greatly and hope to one day earn their respect. Years later, I gathered some artistic friends to hold a reading of my first full length screenplay. Laura read the female lead, a character based on a real life woman with whom I was in love. Laura truly brought that character to life in a way I could never have imagined. There was one scene where the two male leads are talking and one of them makes a sarcastic remark which received a few chuckles from my friends, but Laura burst out laughing in a way that let me know the joke had hit the mark. I was most impressed that I could make her laugh in such a way. In that moment, Laura had such a beautiful sexy laugh that it made me think, that is exactly how the female lead in this screenplay is suppose to sound. Laura is this character! While I'm confident I earned it a long time prior to then, it was that singular moment when I felt I had arrived and earned Laura's respect as a writer and artist. Prior to then and since then, I have seen Laura in several performances and she is always at the top of her game. All live performance lovers need to experience a performance of Laura's wonderful talents on display!

Lucid. Thursday-Saturday 8p and Sundays 3p For more info

www.diamanteproductions.com

Savage In Limbo

This is the final weekend to catch "Savage In Limbo" at Village Players Theater Studio Theatre. Besides seeing a terrific show put on by a great cast and crew, one can witness the leadership and vision of director, Jacque Lueken. I first met Jacque when my theater piece, "Life Of Cards" was selected by Prop THTR as part of the New Play Fest in 2007. Jacque was named the director of my piece for that workshop. Many writers write the piece, hand it off to the people who will carry it through the next process, and get out of the way. I prefer to be as involved with every aspect of my shows. Some projects I write. Others I write and act. Still others, I write, act, and direct. Although these are my "babies", I see myself as a consensus builder requesting others involved with any and every aspect of the piece feel free to give thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. I want all to feel free to express what will get the best out of talented individuals. From my initial conversation with Jacque, we were on the same page. In fact, she made me feel at ease. Still very much a young writer, I find myself some times hesitating to push the boundaries of accepted societal norms as a responsible playwright should do, but Jacque insisted I embrace my voice and be willing to push as hard and as far as I can in order to evoke a response from artists and audiences alike. In the short time Jacque commanded my piece I could see the vision and impact she could bring to a show. I knew right then, I wanted to work with her more in the future. I also knew that it was up to me to take the next step in improving the piece to ensure that the next time an audience sees this piece it will be of much better quality. If I am so lucky as to have Jacque direct this or another of my piece then I owe it to her to bring forth a better script to enable her to push herself in getting the best out of her abilities as a director while getting great performances out of the cast. What Jacque can do has been on display with "Savage In Limbo" and now this is the final weekend to see her mastery on this show.

www.villageplayers.org

Caroline Stepping Up

In August 2008, the night before the Chicago Triathlon, I sat in a restaurant in downtown Chicago engaged in conversation with a young woman named Caroline who stated, "It's nice to see you smile, Israel. You have a beautiful smile. I would have never guessed it last month." The month before, I met Caroline in New York during the weekend of the NYC Tri. Apparently, she tried to engage me in conversation several times throughout the weekend, but I never responded. She asked others, "What's up with that guy?" She was told that Israel was nervous. NYC Tri was his first ever triathlon and he was having a nervous break down about the one mile swim in the Hudson River because he didn't know how to swim. A month later, I was laughing having a wonderful time. As time has gone on, I've been lucky enough to get to know Caroline a little better and she makes me smile all the time. Usually, in disbelief. Caroline is a great person with a kind heart. She is intelligent, beautiful, and athletic! When most people are getting dressed for their New Year's Eve parties, she is getting in one final work out on the trainer. When others are toasting in the new year at midnight, Caroline is in Time Square crossing the start line for a 5K. From what I have observed, Caroline doesn't so much train for specific events or season, but she instead lives an athletic healthy lifestyle enabling her to be ready at a moment's notice for any athletic event anywhere in the world. Although, it is a word used quite frequently, Caroline is an inspiration!

Caroline recently participated in the Empire State Building Run where participants start at ground level and race to the top floor. One of the more famous events in Chicago is the Hustle UP The Hancock. In late March 2010, Caroline will fly to Chicago to race up the stairs of four buildings making up The Presidential Towers to raise funds benefiting the American Lung Association. It is a wonderful cause from such a wonderful woman. For anyone interested in reading more on the cause, event, and Caroline, please visit and tell your friends and loved ones to visit:

http://ala.convio.net/site/TR?px=3085501&fr_id=1330&pg=personal

Every 6 Years I Get Inspired!

As I struggled to complete to 30K on December 13, 2009 in Sugar Land, I experienced a familiar calmness, fire in the eyes, and determination in my heart. It helped me gut out 18.6 miles. More important, I knew something special was out there beyond the horizon. I had experienced this twice before and began to wonder whether it had come back. In 1998, I co-hosted a radio show on the student station with my friend, Iva-Marie. In late March, Mr. B, a dear friend, joined us in studio. At one point we began to compare each other's height and weight. I was the shortest and weighed the least of the three so the other two mocked me. Mr. B said, "This guy will blow over in a light breeze." Iva-Marie said, "This is so embarrassing. Usually the guy is bigger than the girl." While it made for good radio and was all in jest, I took it to heart and determined right then that no one would ever mock me again for being so scrawny. I was going to build up my body like Schwarzenegger. The spring semester ended and I went home for the summer. The next day, May 9, I woke up, stared out my window to a bright sunny day, and began to plan out my summer work out routine. Before long, August would be here and I could not waste a single day. I had very little knowledge about fitness, bodybuilding, and nutrition, but I was going to make this happen! I watched the Rocky movies and tried those routines. A couple hundred pushups, a couple thousand sit-ups, and jump roping should help me bulk up. Outside of a couple ten pound dumbbells, I didn't have any heavy weights, but those ten pounds should be fine if I do several hundred reps. Of what? I did not know, but I would experiment with moving and twisting my arms in various directions and hope they help me. I would eat anything and everything figuring I needed it. I did not know my exact weight when I started, but I assumed it was about 123 pounds. By August, I weighed 153. When I returned to campus, my friends especially female ones, were very impressed. Mr. B even remarked, "Whoa is that Arnold? What happened to Antonio?" I was not satisfied. I wanted to get bigger! My goal was 165. I continued lifting. My clothes did not fit me anymore and some said I was fat, but I insisted I was bulking up. 161 and proud. The following summer I followed a similar routine, but went down to 147 pounds. I needed to climb back up. I aimed for 175 pounds. For many years, I chased that dream until I tipped the scale at 171 pounds. It was the fall of 2003 and I was closer than ever before. I proudly boasted to my friend, Sunshine. Unexpectedly, she said the bulk look was disgusting. Instead, I should attempt to achieve a lean physique such as that of Bruce Lee. I asked another friend, Lisa and she agreed 100% with Sunshine. Around that time, I was working on a scene for acting class with my friend, Rani. As we recited lines from the scene, I held her in my arms and she rested her head on my shoulder. I made a comment about how sore I was due to my latest session and she popped her head up and asked, "What? You work out?" I half smiled and asked, "Doesn't it show?" She leaned her head back as though to study me up and down and after a long pause she said, "Uh, yes, of course it does." She then rested her head on my shoulder again as we resumed with the scene. Her reaction was the final straw. I had to alter my philosophy and approach. Starting on January 1, 2004, I resolved to work out five days a week. In addition to the pushups, sit-ups, and ten pound weights, I now had access to a treadmill and a bench and barbell so I could add leg extensions, leg curls, bench press, bicep curls, military presses, and other exercises. I watched shows and read online articles on fitness and nutrition. Maybe this new inspiration would be short lived, but I was going to make the best of it. Most important, I would fight all urges to do exercise which would add mass and bulk. Less weight. More reps. Lean physique machine like Bruce Lee! I surprised myself when I was able to keep that resolution the entire year. I tried again in 2005 and I maintained it all year long once again! Then in 2006! My bulking 171 pounds went down to a lean 130 pounds!! Male and female friends all raved about my physique especially whenever I would take off my shirt. Yet, due to my theater and film writing and performance commitments, the training slowly stopped and I have struggled the last few years in trying to refocus and recommit myself to a routine. Then on the course of the 30K, I found myself feeling those sparks. That flicker of excitement which came over me in 1998. Those same emotions which came about to begin 2004. Now, it is 2010. I wonder if this is destiny. I did not realize until just a few days ago, but these emotions of determination and inspiration seem to touch me every six years. While those five friends may not realize it, their words changed my life. Iva-Marie and Mr. B pushed me to push myself. Knowing what I know now about my work out and eating Sunshine, Lisa, and Rani saved my life and health. This year has yet to be lived, but I feel it in my heart, I am going to experience something tremendously special as I once again aim for that lean physique and seven percent body fat!!