Author: Bobby Rockers

the closest man will ever get to flying

I understand that this is basically old news to anyone who knows me but a couple months ago (April 26th to be precise) I ran my first marathon.  The reason I am posting this now is because I wanted to document some of the event/training specifics before I forget them or loose them forever.

This whole thing basically started almost a year earlier when a good friend of mine , Jack,  and I were discussing what it was like to accomplish such a feet.  Jack has run a dozen or so marathons and 1 ultra-marathon.  I told him I could never make a 26.2 mile run, which seemed like a reasonable expectation considering my admittedly slightly inebriated state.  Jack assured me that I could do it (assuming I completed the necessary training) which, evidently, seemed a simple task, considering his less slightly inebriated state.  Jack then offered me a carrot.  He told me that if I ever attempted a marathon (after completing the necessary training) he would run it with me.  Thankfully his wife remembered making this promise because Jack’s above mentioned intoxication kept him from remembering said agreement.

You can read here, here, and here for updates on each stage of my training.  Basically I had to start from walking.

After training for the Tulsa half-marathon I immediately started planning for a full marathon.  I went looking for a half-to-full training plan.  It was harder to find that I expected mostly because I wanted one that only had me running 4 days a week, which was the upper limit of time that I could dedicate to it.  Here is my 5 month training schedule.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Week 1 4 Miles 4 Miles 4 Miles 6 Miles
Week 2 4 Miles 4 Miles 4 Miles 8 Miles
Week 3 4 Miles 4 Miles 4 Miles 6 Miles
Week 4 4 Miles 4 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles
Week 5 4 Miles 4 Miles 4 Miles 8 Miles
Week 6 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 12 Miles
Week 7 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 8 Miles
Week 8 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 14 Miles
Week 9 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 8 Miles
Week 10 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 16 Miles
Week 11 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 9 Miles
Week 12 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles
Week 13 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 18 Miles
Week 14 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles
Week 15 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 20 Miles
Week 16 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 11 Miles
Week 17 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 22 Miles
Week 18 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 12 Miles
Week 19 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 12 Miles
Week 20 4 Miles 5 Miles 4 Miles 24 Miles
Week 21 2 Miles 2 Miles 2 Miles 5 Miles
Week 22 2 Miles 2 Miles Walk 2 Miles Marathon

The marathon I chose was the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon here in Oklahoma. The OKC Memorial Marathon is generally picked as one of the better marathons in the country and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Everything seemed to go smoothly (minus maybe the pasta diner, but those always seem a little “school cafeteria” like.) Jack came as promised, along with his family, and the result made the whole weekend feel like a party (again with mild intoxication.)

My daughter decided earlier in the year to run the kids marathon (25 miles of training in the months before the marathon and the last 1.2 the day of.)  So Jack’s wife ran with my daughter (and her newborn baby) on the kids 1.2 miler.  They gave the kids mini-medals just like the adult marathon and even had them finish at the same finish line (not particularly common for kids-marathons.)  Emily ate her body weight in finish line hamburgers and cookies.

There were a couple surprises for me.  First, I have almost no recollection of running the first 8 miles.  They were so exciting, so overwhelming, so enthusiastic that I was amazed when I saw the 8 mile marker.  Second, although I thought I had prepared for the wind… there was NO WAY to be ready for what happened.  We ran with our backs to the wind for the first 13 miles  or so (I had a 9 minute mile at that point) but when we headed into the second half we hit 40 mph winds coming off of Lake Hefner.  It was like that the entire way back.

OKC Memorial Marathon Finish

I started cramping up at the last quarter mile (as the course finished on a down-hill.)  Jack and I speed-up to finish and I can honestly say with all the excitement that I felt no pain.  It had been hours since they had run the kids marathon and I didn’t really hold out any hope that I would see anyone I knew but I was pleasantly surprised.  Jack’s wife, his newborn son, and my daughter were about 100 feet from the finish line.  I saw her and started getting tears in my eyes.  If you look at the picture above… that look I had wasn’t pain.  My daughter ran along the sidewalk, slipped past the rail barriers, and through her arms around me after I finished. Her first word were, “I am so proud of you daddy.”  My emotions poured out as I hugged her.  It was one of the best moments of my life.

Jack and I crossed the finish line side-by-side.  We finished in just under 5 hours.  It is almost impossible to go through an experience like this  not be changed by it and, I am sure that it goes without saying, that Jack is like a brother to me now.  Whatever else happens to me I will now be able to call myself a marathoner.

Some of My Favorite Rules

The website 1001 rules for my unborn son got me thinking about some of the rules I have for my life. Thought I would put down my own and list some of my favorite from 1001.

  • There is always time for a lemonade stand.
  • Perfect at least one recipe, steak doesn’t count.
  • Obstacles are ways of demonstrating our dedication.
  • Don’t complain, just work harder.
  • Take the new guy out to lunch.
  • Never swing at the first pitch.
  • Carry a pocket knife.
  • Learn from criticism.
  • X never, ever, ever makes the spot.
  • When excusing yourself from the table, you need not give a reason.
  • Stand up to bullies. You’ll only have to do it once.
  • Become an expert in something.
  • Never turn down a girl’s invitation to dance.
  • Order the local specialty.
  • Learn to drive a stick shift.
  • Never side against your brother in a fight.
  • Memorize the Bill of Rights and your favorite poem.
  • Keep your eye on the ball and follow through. In sports and in life.

189. Learn to drive a stick shift.

where there is no path and leave a trail.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Haven’t heard this song in a long while. It is an old Boy Scout hiking tune that seeps of longing and sadness. Makes me miss camping on cool fall mornings:

The Happy Wanderer

I love to go a-wandering,
Along the mountain track,
And as I go, I love to sing,
My knapsack on my back.

Chorus:
Val-deri,Val-dera,
Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri,Val-dera.
My knapsack on my back.

I love to wander by the stream
That dances in the sun,
So joyously it calls to me,
"Come! Join my happy song!"

I wave my hat to all I meet,
And they wave back to me,
And blackbirds call so loud and sweet
From ev'ry green wood tree.

High overhead, the skylarks wing,
They never rest at home
But just like me, they love to sing,
As o'er the world we roam.

Oh, may I go a-wandering
Until the day I die!
Oh, may I always laugh and sing,
Beneath God's clear blue sky!

One Notebook to Rule them all

One of the rules of my organizational methodology is that everything that I write on paper goes into a single notebook. I keep a single notebook and each and every page is titled, numbered, and dated. Each notebook is numbered and range dated when finally filled. This means that I carry a notebook with me most of the time and, therefore, the quality of the notebook means a great deal to me.

Now I can already hear people screaming “MOLESKIN” to me; but the problem with Moleskin is that they are pretty darn expensive (remember everything I don’t type on the computer goes into this notebook… it can fill up VERY quickly) and they are generally quality overkill for something that basically holds todo lists and diagrams. Finally, Moleskins are really more about brand than need.

So my notebooks need to stand-up to punishment, not be too expensive, and have a useful layout that doesn’t make me feel like a third grader. The Foray Project Planner Notebook is EASILY my favorite. So for future reference (like when I need to order new ones:)

Where to buy: Office Depot

Description: These refillable notebooks feature smooth, white, premium bond paper and distinctive foil-stamped linen covers with high-quality double-wire binding. Each notebook contains perforated pages for easy removal as well as a date box on every page to keep you on track. There are 80 faint-ruled pages of 18-lb paper in each refillable notebook.

Item # 766134
Manufacturer # 99326FY
sheet size 8 3/5″ x 11″
number of pages per book 160
binding type wirebound
cover color Black
cover material 22 pt. linen 924 grain embossed
opening position right side
number of holes punched 0
paper ruling faint ruled
paper color white
paper weight 18 lb
acid free no
brand name Foray

Never Forget Today

Human pain does not let go of its grip at one point in time. Rather, it works its way out of our consciousness over time. There is a season of sadness. A season of anger. A season of tranquility. A season of hope.

–Robert Veninga

I was on my way to work when I heard about the first plane.  I remember thinking it was probably an accident, like the plane impact on the Empire State building.  I passed by Tinker Air Force Base on the way; it was guarded but nothing too crazy.  The second  plan crashed into the second building and I remember thinking that we would be going to war with someone.  I called my wife and told her not to leave home.  Being a state employee they told us to go home ourselves.  Passed by Tinker again… there was a tank, several 50mm Brownings, and lots of concrete barricades.  I almost enlisted right there but they wouldn’t let any non-military traffic into the base (my wife didn’t find out about that till a couple years later… she was not happy.)

I got home, hugged my wife and daughter, and cried…

College Football

Ever year I talk my wife’s ear off about College Football.  Not that anyone who knows me didn’t already assumes I talk my wife’s ear off.  One of the re-occurring topics that I cover every single year with her is “my favorite College Football uniforms.”  So here is my top 10 list.

  1. Penn State – Home uniform (blue and white.)  Clean, simple, and easily the best looking team on the field when they are at home.  Penn State is the gold standard of College Football uniforms.  Wannabe look-alike: Georgia Southern.
  2. Notre Dame – Home uniform (blue and gold.) Maybe I like dark blue but seriously, how can you not love a uniform that needs no logo on it’s helmet and has actual gold mixed into the color.  Wannabe look-alike: Notre Dame… in green.
  3. Oklahoma – Home uniforms (Crimson and Cream.) Oh common, you knew this was coming.  The simple logo, the striking colors, and the lack of unnecessary shoulder or helmet stripes.  Classic, simple, and gorgeous! Wannabe look-alike: Alabama.  OK, maybe it should be Alabama withe OU the wannabe, but this is MY list and OU crimson is waaaaaay better than boring old Alabama crimson.  Plus I have ALWAYS hated the number on the helmet thing!
  4. Michigan – Home uniform (maze and blue.)  The winged helmet is classic and the colors are bold without being annoying.  Wannabe look-alike: Delaware.
  5. Auburn – Home uniforms ( orange and blue.) If you have to have tons of stripes on your uniform, you would be hard pressed to do it as well as Auburn.  I love these colors together.  The simple logo helps their cause as well. Wannabe look-alike: Illinois.
  6. Army – Special events home uniforms (black and camo!)  Seriously, have you seen these uniforms?  They are amazing!  I mean, do you really want to play football against a team that looks like they could pull out AR-15’s right after the game.  I would give a wannabe but I can’t think of anyone, anywhere, that look like them.
  7. Texas – Home uniforms (burnt orange and white.) It is really really hard to pull off looking good in orange.  Texas is the only team that I know of that can do it. Wannabe look-alike: Tennessee.
  8. Navy –  Home uniforms (blue and gold.) Solid color helmets really do wonders for a uniform.  Navy is basically another one of those “classic” uniforms.  I really love blue and gold for football.
  9. USC – Away uniforms (cardinal, gold, and white) I hate USC, but I have to admit that they look dang good.  One of the few teams that looks better away than at home, the white adds something to the color scheme for me.  Good looking logo as well.  But I still hate them!  Wannabe look-alike: Minnesota.
  10. Georgia Southern – Yes, I know I just complained about the numbers on the helmets, but Georgia Southern does it in BLUE!

And Just because they probably need to be smacked.  Here are a few of the worst.

  1. Oregon
  2. Air Force
  3. Boise State
  4. Rhodes Island

Chaos, with better lighting

We are time travelers. Moving through the universe forced to experience it through the lenses of history. Not simply limited to our memories; our very senses can experience only what has already happen, not what is currently happening. The clock for the whole of the universe it is measured by the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) and while trivial, on our microscopical level, it is yet undeniable. The sun we look at is 8 minutes old, the stars hundreds (or millions) of years old.

The implication of this is nothing short of awe-inspiring. If we could instantly travel 2000 light years away from our planet (and had a telescope large enough pointed back at our planet) we could see Jesus walking the earth. In this way the universe has a memory more thorough and more complete than any computer or human has ever had. Nothing is forgotten, nothing is lost, nothing is missing; it is just getting harder and harder to put the picture back together in a way we would recognize it.