Will I Be Ready To Run Tomorrow

In three weeks I will be anxiously anticipating my marathon debut. It will be October 9 the eve of the Chicago Marathon which I am running on behalf of sixteen year old twins, Elizabeth and Emily F as a member of Team GLASA. Tonight, I am anxious for another running reason. Tomorrow is the Chicago Area Runners Association's Ready To Run 20 Miler. It is not a race. It is simply an organized training run along Chicago's lakefront, but I am nervous about having to run twenty miles. It is difficult for me to find friends or runners able to go with me on long runs. As it is, many people in society lead busy lives so to find the time to go on long runs of double digit distances can be quite a chore. Add to that the responsibility of being a sighted guide for someone who can not see and it becomes a bit more daunting. I have plenty of friends who care about me who would want to help out, but arranging time in their busy schedules or having the comfort to be my eyes and communicating with me while running can be a scary proposition. As a result, I spend plenty of time getting my running in on a treadmill. I am still able to get my four, five, or six miles in, but since it is in a control environment, I do not get a chance to experience various weather elements or footing conditions that others do on their outdoor training runs which can make adjusting to them on race day all that much more difficult during the early stages of an event. I do not get a chance to run many double digit mile runs unless I register for ten mile races or half marathons. If I am able to sign up for these events, the next task becomes finding someone who is available or willing to be my sighted guide for these races. I sit here pensively typing this entry knowing in a few hours I will have an opportunity to run twenty miles guided by two individuals who will each run with me for ten miles. Rich Karnia and Jennifer Pfaff. I am sure both are also nervous since neither has ever guided a runner who can not see. On the bright side, this is an organized training run and not an official race. Many of the same pressures of race day will be present. For me, the fears of knowing I have not been able to get in a run of at least ten miles or more since I ran in the Soldier Field 10 this past May loom large. I have been getting in my miles on a daily basis, but not as many as I should to be properly prepared for the 20 Miler. Hopefully, I will make it through. On the positive side, running these twenty miles will teach my body what to expect come October 10. Yet, I also expect to continue running as often as I can putting in as many miles as I can so I will be in even greater shape in three weeks than I am today so maybe I will not be as nervous then as I am tonight. It is time to go make last minute preparations before going to bed. As the night before any race, I probably will not sleep much, but I am going to try so I can be as rested as possible to give it a solid try on Sunday morning.

GLASA Twilight 5K

Saturday, September 11, 2010 was the ninth anniversary of the terrorists attack on America. So many men, women, and children lost their lives on that Tuesday, September 11, 2001 day. So many individuals lost a loved one if not more. So many people display such heroism as they gave of themselves to help or save others. On this anniversary, the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association held its annual Twilight 5K benefiting the wonderful programs of GLASA. These include planning and executing competitive and non competitive sporting events for youth and adults with physical and visual disabilities. My first time running in this event was in 2009. As part of the Team GLASA Marathon Team for 2010, I was able to race in this event once more. This year, I was guided by Brett Petersen, a Ironman triathlete and triathlon coach. In 2009, one of my sisters ran in the event. She returned again this year and brought some family members along as my eldest sister decided to tackle her first ever 5K race as did my fifteen year old nephew.

There was a bit of a breeze as I arrived an hour before the race which began at 6p.m. I signed in, received my goodie bag, and met Brett. I am usually nervous before a race wanting to perform well, but knowing I am not in the best shape. This time, I was anxious because I knew my conditioning was the best it has been in four years so I was confident I would have a good race, but the expectations of a solid performance made me a bit scared. What if my finishing time was about the same as always? What if I did worse than normal? This was Brett's first time guiding so I figured he would require some time to adjust to having to communicate any needed information to me. I also knew it would take me a while to relax and trust him during the race. The beauty of this race is that the field is capped at 500 runners so once we would get through the initial congestion at the start of the race, we would have a fast wide open course on the streets of Lake Forest, Il.

The gun sounded and we were off and running. Sure enough, we had to make our way through some early obstacles of people, but we were able to get out fast. At one point still very early in the first mile, Brett informed me that we were moving at an 8:12 pace. Considering that we were having to move in, out, and around some early traffic, we were making great time. In fact, we were probably moving at an under eight minute per mile pace. As we neared the end of the first mile we settled into a slower pace closer to 8:40. There was one aid station during this race at the 1.5 mile mark. We moved quickly towards the tables, grabbed our liquids, hydrated during a quick break, then began to move again. We crossed two miles and we were flying towards the finish line. My pace seemed to be getting slower as the early fast start seemed to be catching up to me, but Brett continued to encourage me insisting we were nearing the end. He motivated me to push myself and when I would feel strong enough, I would. Brett said we were a half mile from the finish and I struggled to push. I was moving much faster than I have ever moved in a 5K race, but I wanted to press on the gas and go. I found myself fading, but Brett kept encouraging me. Before long, we had reached the final shoot and we sprinted for home.. I gave it one last kick before the finish, but it did not feel like my typical final kick. It was a kick none the less which helped me cross the finish four minutes faster than any other 5K.

My sister who has raced many 5K events previously crossed the finish in her typical quick fashion. My fifteen year old nephew crossed in about twenty-five minutes. While my eldest sister proudly crossed the finish line in her first ever 5K! Because she and my nephew had never raced in a 5K before this one, I was happiest for them. All in all, it was a wonderful time for all who raced and raised money for a wonderful organization, the Great lakes Adaptive Sports Association.

Opening Night 4 Years Later

The stage remains dark. "Hello" by Evanescence plays for a minute then words are spoken. "A long time ago I fell in love, but I lost her. I hold on to the hope that I will be with her once more. She was my love. My eyesight." "Hello" fades out.

That is the opening to "In The Dark" my autobiographical piece whose opening night was four years ago tonight on September 8, 2006 at Prop THTR in Chicago, Il. This world premiere production was directed by Prop THTR co-founder and Artistic Director, Scott Vehill and took place a year after the piece was selected to be part of the New Play Fest where it was directed by Emily Lotspeich. Leading up to opening night, I was excited and confident because this was my story. I wrote and memorized it. Above all, I lived it! Yet I never in my wildest dream could have imagined that this piece could get so far. It had been a few years since I decided the radio industry did not want to let me in so I had better attempt something else, but what? Screenwriting. I took a thirty minute film script I had written for a script writing class in college and turned it into a full length. I attempted to create other pieces. I began taking acting classes when I learned the school offered courses in writing plays taught by G Riley Mills. I had never even considered writing plays, but I figured there were basic aspects of story telling in plays I could take and transfer to films. Within two months, I had written my first full length play and began on my second. Then G suggested I tell my story. Could I do it? Would there be any interest? Of course not! I have a boring life. Mr. Mills disagreed and insisted. I mentioned the idea to actor, director, instructor, Eileen Vorbach who immediately stated, "If you write it, I'll direct it." Ultimately, she did not, but the mere fact that she was so interested and believed in it and me, I had to write it. I began to craft the piece. After several months, I had a draft. I soon heard from G that he contacted friends at Prop who were in search of new pieces previously unproduced and told them his friend, Israel, had a special piece which he would be sending them for consideration. Before long, I heard that Prop was interested in the piece and then I received word from Emily Lotspeich that my show was selected and that she would be directing for New Play Fest.

After a successful showing as part of NPF, I waited for the call which eventually came when Scott Vehill expressed interest in moving forward with the project which he would direct. I originally viewed the piece as a one man show in the same vein as a John Leguizamo piece, but I began to think I would want others in the show with me. Laura Sturm, actor, director, instructor, whom I respect greatly insisted that considering my training with her and others, it would be best to have others in the show since it would allow me to play off of them in the various scenes. So I asked my friend, Madelon Guinazzo who jumped at the chance to play nine different female roles. For all the male roles with whom I would interact, Ivan Ortega was brought on board.

I had been in shows in grade school and high school. I had even been the lead in a second grade play, but this was different. People were paying to come see what I wrote and to watch me carry a show. Scott Vehill was marketing me as a young Al Pacino. There were articles in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times discussing how this piece was influenced by John Leguizamo. This was Prop THTR, one of the most respected theater groups in the city. This for me was the big time. How many people who start writing a film or theater piece ever finish the first draft? How many get it read upon completion? How many get it produced, star in it, and do so on a Chicago stage? On top of that, the fear of failing and embarrassing friends and family drives me so the pressure was mounting.

I arrived at Prop in the middle of a performance of "Hizzoner" written by and starring Neil Giuntoli. As I waited for the show to conclude, a couple friends, Lisa and Sunshine, walked up to express their excitement and best wishes. Wow, this is really happening and there are friends here to watch it. When "Hizzoner" ended, I walked into the theater and was greeted by Mr. Giuntoli. We exchanged pleasantries and I voiced my concerns for my pending performance, but Neil offered some encouraging words of wisdom and prayed with me that I may be guided through the performance. Madelon, Ivan, and I were ready. An announcement was made welcoming audience members to the show then the lights went out and it was time to go. As the song from Evanescence played, Madelon whispered to me, "Thank you for giving me the chance to help tell your story." She then paraphrases my dear friend, Therese Rowley, by saying, "Now let's go show the world how a blind man sees."

The night was a special one for me as was the run and the feedback from audience members after each performance. A special thanks to the many wonderful people who believed in me on route to opening night. Scott Vehill, Stefan Brun, Diane Honeyman, Emily Lotspeich, Neil Giuntoli, G Riley Mills, Madelon Guinazzo, Ivan Ortega, and so many others who played a role in making this happen!!

My Guides For Chicago Marathon

Happy Labor Day to all my followers and readers!!

When I decided to take on the challenge of training for then running my first ever marathon, I knew there would be obstacles along the way. My longest road race to date was the 30K in Sugar Land, Tx last December. I coasted through the first fourteen miles at a steady pace, but the final four and a half were some of the toughest miles I have ever endured. I have been told that there is a saying that "The first twenty miles of a marathon are the first half of the race. The final six miles are the second half." As much physical stress as I will put on my body prior to and during the marathon, there will be plenty of mental stress to overcome. Another difficulty prior to race day is finding a sighted guide to run with me for the 26.2 miles. This is something about which most runners need not worry, but I must find someone to run with me acting as my eyes informing me of runners, obstacles, aid stations, turns, ascends/descends, or anything else along the course. I was pretty confident I had a friend lined up to be my guide, but it fell through so I kept looking for an opportunity to present itself. One friend did offer to ask some of his friends who were planning on flying to Chicago for the October 10 race, but I waited before asking him. The days passed. The training period became shorter and I knew I had to put the word out one more time and hope destiny smiled on me with some potential guides.

Destiny sure smiled as a few friends expressed an interest. One said he wanted to guide, but he knew going the full distance would be a tough task so if I could find someone to split the race with him, he would be up for it. That was a wonderful suggestion! I have never been a guide for a blind or visually impaired person, but I assume it can be quite challenging having to focus on running and breathing then to top it off, communicate with a person so he or she will be as well informed as possible during the race. It is a tough task to ask one person, especially one who has never guided before, to go the distance considering the physical and mental demands. I have decided to show my appreciation for those who offered to guide me for the Chicago Marathon by having two of them guide me. Each will run with me for 13.1 miles. This way both can be at the top of their game and will hopefully not feel overburdened by the responsibility of being my eyes. Thank you to those who volunteered and to those who asked around on my behalf in attempting to find me a guide. Special thanks to the two individuals preparing to guide me on October 10, 2010. Rich Karnia and Peter Mullen. Two men who have never guided before. It will be a memorable experience for all of us and 45,000 of our closest friends, fellow runners, and volunteers.

Marathon Day Five weeks Away

I woke up today feeling fresh after a five mile run yesterday. I had a bit of discomfort in my left calf and right knee, but otherwise, I felt great. I thought to myself, it is one week away from the GLASA Twilight 5K in Lake Forest, Il, two weeks from the CARA Ready To Run 20 Miler, and Five weeks away from the Chicago Marathon. Really? Just five weeks away? The most miles I have ever run at one point was the Sugar Land 30K (18.6 miles) last December so the thought of twenty miles has been on my mind. The full 26.2 miles while in the back of my mind, had never fully come to the front until today. It was last November when Keri Schindler of Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association first reached out to anyone interested in running the Chicago Marathon in 2010 as a member of Team GLASA. She said we had about two months to mull it over, but I knew by the end of the email that I was going to run it. I then debated between GLASA and another charity, but ultimately stayed with my first choice knowing that I would have plenty of other chances to run for or be involved with that other cause, The Special Olympics Children's Charities. From time to time I have thought of the commitment I made to run a marathon and wonder why? Of course for a great cause. Still 26.2 miles. The dedication required to prepare is more than I have ever done in my life. Sure, in between-spring and fall semesters in college, I spent my summers dedicated to a work out routine where I was doing pushups, sit ups, bicep and triceps curls with a dumbbells, military presses and other resistance movements with a barbell, jump roping, and forms from Kajukenbo. I even tried out the Total Gym for a few months, but did not like it. Then there was my New Year's resolution to begin the 2004 year where I was going to work out five days a week performing all sorts of resistance training weight lifting exercises, pushups, sit ups, martial arts, and running. I ended up sticking to that resolution from January 2004 through June 2006 and only stopped because my autobiographical theater piece, In The Dark, went into rehearsal and production so I had to devote myself to rewriting as well as memorizing. In the first case, I was attempting to bulk up. In the second one, I was attempting to get as lean and sexy as possible. I did not have the pressures of a marathon looming. I have completed two triathlons and plan to do many more, but I am not a swimmer nor a biker. I am a runner. Yet even during my college years, I ran on a limited basis. During the two and a half years I was carving out a lean physique, I only ran about 3.1 miles a day and usually no more than sixteen miles per week. Now, I am running twenty, twenty-five, or thirty miles a week. Yet I think to myself that it is not enough. I am running more than I have ever run, but I do not feel it is enough. I do believe I will be showing up to the Twilight 5K, 20 Miler, and marathon in the best condition I have ever been for any previous race. I have been building my wind and conditioning like never before. I want to be strong. I want to run the longest race of my life knowing I have prepared the best I can. I want to feel strong down the home stretch and not find myself wondering how much better would I be doing right now if I spent more time running. Everywhere I read and everyone to whom I speak states the same thing that when it is your first marathon, the only goal should be to finish. You should never put a finishing time goal on the race. Simply cross that finish line. In my case, it would also be to remember that this marathon is not about me. It is about running for Team GLASA and on behalf of sixteen year old twins, Elizabeth and Emily Fideler, GLASA athletes who have benefited greatly from the programs and activities GLASA organizes all the time. I am running to raise awareness and money for GLASA and to tell people how their donations help Elizabeth, Emily, and others discover their self esteem and confidence. I am just worried that the physical demands will be too much and I will find myself fading the final miles. If I can keep running over the next five weeks and building leg strength with more weight lifting then maybe it will not be an issue come October 10, 2010. Five Sundays from today. I need to remain dedicated and keep pushing myself. Just five more weeks.

"I'm Spiritual, Dammit!"

From the moment I first heard Spike O'Dell on WGN Radio in Chicago I fell in love with his voice and style. Within a few months of being a loyal listener I knew I wanted to work in talk radio. From the time I was fourteen years old, I focused solely on that dream. My interest shifted from politics to sports. I would always do my homework quickly so I could listen to various local and national sports talk shows as well as broadcasts of college and pro games of all sports. I felt that in order to understand where I was going in my career I needed to learn who was successful and who were the men and women who paved the way for me in radio, television, and newspapers. If one day I would be upset at an athlete or coach for not knowing or respecting his/her franchise's history or that of the sport I better know and respect that of the media industry. I continued studying about media in college attending games, befriending media members, and constantly asking questions. After graduating college, I struggled to find an entry level job anywhere in the country, but I kept listen and studying.

I heard a woman on the radio named Jenniffer Weigel. I thought to myself isn't this Tim Weigel's daughter? Is she the same Jenniffer Weigel who is an award winning TV anchor and reporter? I listened. I liked her, but soon she was gone from that radio station. After some time, I heard her on another station. I was hooked once more. Having not held a job in radio for a few years at this point, I was sad because I could not reach out to Jenniffer to introduce myself, explain how I was a big fan, and interview her for my radio show. Soon, she was off the air again.

I went on to write a few theater pieces one of which was my autobiographical play, "In The Dark" in which I starred along side Madelon Guinazzo and Ivan Ortega at Prop THTR in Chicago. Midway through the show, Madelon and Ivan would ask me some questions about losing my sight and adapting to my circumstances which would lead into opening the floor up to audience members to ask questions. One woman asked a question about my relationship with my father and I answered. After the performance a friend asked "Did you know that the woman who asked about your father was Jenniffer Weigel?" Thee Jenniffer Weigel? She was here? She was watching me? After all the years of wanting to meet her and introduce myself. It turned out that Jenniffer and I had two mutual friends if not more one of whom, Therese Rowley, ultimately brought us together and I was finally able to tell Jenniffer how much I love and respect her work. She had published a very successful book, Stay Tuned: Conversations With Dad From The Other Side which she then turned into a one woman show "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" which has been a smashing success in Chicago. Now she is releasing her follow up book, "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" which has been receiving rave reviews. She is an award winning journalist, a fine actress, and quite a story teller. She will be telling stories and autographing her latest book on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at the Wilmette Theatre at 7:30p.m.

For more information and to order your tickets, please log on to:

http://www.wilmettetheatre.com/events.html

Ready To Run CARA 20 Miler

I have previously mentioned how as late as seven years ago I was watching the TV coverage of the Chicago Marathon as well as listening to some interviews both leading up to the race and after it and the more I heard about some of the physical issues people had during training and after the race the more I became convinced they were crazy for putting their bodies through that. I decided at that point I would never do that to my body. Life is an interesting ride. Around this time, I was working on a scene for acting class with my partner, Rani, and during an exchange where I was telling her that I was so tired from working out, she replied with, "You work out?" "Doesn't it show" I asked. She played it off and said of course it did, but the damage was done. It was also around this time when my long time friend, Sunshine, told me that my hulking body building physique was a turn off. She insisted it was disgusting. If I wanted a sexy physique, I should aim for one similar to Bruce Lee. Another friend, Lisa, agreed. Well, of course. What a fool I was! I remember watching Bruce Lee movies with my dad. I loved Bruce growing up. My fascination and ultimate motivation to study martial arts was because of him. Thus began my transformation.

Every time I worked out I had to fight the urge to increase the weight I was lifting. I was aiming for lean and sexy. Then it hit me. Since I write plays and films, I should always make sure to write myself into the pieces even if just a quick cameo and I should make sure my character is shirtless or wearing some tight shirts to show off that physique. Of course, I would have to dedicate myself to working out and getting lean so I could feel confident and comfortable in those scenes. Before long, I was watching Fit Nation hosted by Gina Lombardi as well as Insider Training hosted by Gabrielle Reese and I was even more motivated to continue to pursuit. I saw an interview with Lokelani McMichael who at eighteen years old was the youngest woman to ever complete and Ironman Triathlon(2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). I wanted to try this.

I had my conversations with Rani, Sunshine, Lisa serving as inspirations. I also had Bruce Lee, Gina, Gabrielle, Lokelani, and Ironman. Of course, I could not forget potential appearances in plays and films where women and men would possibly swoon over my physique. I hooked up with Matt Miller and the C Different Foundation and I began to race. I was swimming, biking, and running on the streets of Fort Lauderdale and New York. I was getting leaner and sexier. Then in November 2009, Keri Shindler of Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association inquired if I would be interested in running the Chicago Marathon in 2010 as a member of Team GLASA. Yes! Seven years after thinking those individuals must be crazy I am about forty days away from making my marathon debut in my home town race. As a member of Team GLASA I also get an opportunity to run in GLASA's Twilight 5K on September 11. More recently, I was offered a chance to take part in Chicago Area Runners' Association's Ready To Run 20 Miler on September 19. Then the big race on October 10. Finding guides proved to be a bit challenging, but this world is filled with great people who are ready to help at the drop of a hat. For the 20 Miler, two individuals have stepped up to guide me. They are two wonderful individuals who are willing to help even though I have never met either of them. Rich Karnia and Jennifer Pfaff. Each will guide me ten miles during the race. Neither has any previous guiding experience, but both clearly have hearts of champions. It is the last big training run prior to the marathon. I hope to dig down deep and make Rich and Jennifer proud. They will be the reasons I will be able to get out there. I hope to be the reason they have a memorable fun experience.