Team World Vision

Here is a video I came across about Ryan Hall and his running for a purpose. Hard to believe that people live in these conditions.



Let me know what you think.



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Now playing on iTunes: Morcheeba - Fear And Love
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New IMS marathon

I recently received an e-mail telling me about a new marathon that will be run in the West Valley. It is called the IMS Arizona Marathon scheduled for February 15, 2009. for some time now I have felt that the West side of town needed some new races as there is a good base of runners out here, and maybe I will be wrong but the route this race is to be run on does not inspire me to jump up and register. There will be plenty of open fields and vacant lots to look at as you go by. And by open fields I don’t mean pristine, beautiful desert either. I mean vacant lots with scrub and dying vegetation. But it does end at Westgate which could be kinda cool, especially if they are able to get the finish in the Cardinals stadium or in the Coyotes arena.

I know that the views are not reason to run a race and I am sure that this race will do well; perhaps I may even run it next year (maybe as training run for the Sedona Marathon) 2010 as I still have my ban on running first year events (too many experiences with being a first year race guinea pig).

So, if this sounds like something you would like to try or you want to check it out for yourself go to http://www.thearizonamarathon.com/, and if you are one of the first 500 to register you will get the 2 for 1 special (as long as you know someone who will run with you).

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Learn to like the pain...

Some days are much tougher than others for me to get out for my daily run. Today was one of them. My lower back and right hip were both in agony when I got up today to get ready to go run. It was so bad that I almost did not go, then told myself that I would go about a half mile to see how it felt, then decide. The initial first few steps were killers; I almost stopped then, but continued on. At the half mile point my hip had loosened up and my back was starting to get with it. I then remembered that my physical therapist Melissa told me that there would be times like this and that the running would actually be good for it. I was glad that I continued on.

After the deluge last night the air was crisp and cool, the breeze picked up the desert scents and spread them around for all to smell. The morning after a storm is the best time to run in the desert.

Bats were flying everywhere this morning; I have never seen so many in one run. It was crazy, as they will dive bomb you from the tops of a tall saguaro cactus or a light pole, then pull away from only a few feet above your head.

I have seen a coyote on my last two runs. I was driving home last week thinking that the construction out in Vistancia had driven them further out in the desert or up in the hills. It was good to see them, it was also good to see that they had a fear of me and they are not becoming too domesticated. I also saw a road runner out by the canal; I haven’t seen one of those out here in a long time. Well enough with the nature report.

I hope to update soon with some upcoming races in the area. Until then, keep running and maybe I will see you out there.


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Now playing on iTunes: Augustana - Stars and Boulevards
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