14 till 26

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Kirk

Two weeks until the marathon… I ran the first 7 miles of the race course today (and back) with my training partner and then drove the entire course. The next two weeks is all about mental preparation. Physically, I am ready to go. I need to rest up, carb load, and stay hydrated and loose. I will be running a 10k on Thanksgiving morning: the Courage House Turkey Trot in Elk Grove to support rescuing girls from sex trafficking. Then the last group run with BeChange on Saturday – 8 miles.

I’ve mentioned the communing with nature that comes from some of the trails I have run on. Besides the rattlesnake I shared

killer chicken attacks runners

the trail with, I have seen deer, owls, bobcats (no mountain lions, but we were looking), and other critters along the trail. But nothing could have prepared me for the day we were attacked by a wild animal…. this one…

Now, before you think, “what, you ran from a little chicken?” Let me assure you that this guys was guarding his territory, which seemed to be the entire street and he was taking his defense very seriously.

I have heard what to do in case of a mountain lion or even a bear. I know how to handle dogs. No one has ever told me what to do in case of a chicken attack.

Dave and I were running and, as we passed the chicken, Dave said “look, the chicken is following us.” Then he ran to the other side of the street (and me – making me closer to the chicken, by the way) and announced “it’s still following us.” That’s when I looked over my shoulder and saw the rooster coming after my ankles and speeding up. I tried crossing the street – I actually said, “why did the chicken cross road?… to get to the runners!” That’s is when I realized that I was NOT going to outrun him. Chickens are deceptively fast. So, I did the only thing I could think of and did what I would do to any attacking animal – I charged and yelled. The chicken looked surprised and stopped. He cocked his head to one side and stared at us as we made our way down the road, without turning our backs on the killer beast.

There are no wild chickens in Oak Park. There are, however, elementary school children without health care… without school supplies… children who have never been more than a mile from their house and don’t have any hope of going to college… except for the hope you offer them by donating to Be Change. Please go to my website and help if you can.

 

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Loops, Out and Backs and Running Partners

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Kirk

Just two weeks from my first marathon and my training is going very well. We ran our last long run this past weekend and the mental barrier of running 20 miles is behind me. Now it is time to start easing up and saving energy for the race.

I have learned and seen a lot on this journey. I have met some great people and seen some great terrain. Not to mention this guy to the left who wondered across my path a couple of weeks ago.

The running community is a great group of people who are all passionate about the sport. Even people that you have never met become your friends out on the trail or road. Some bicyclists seem to not like runners very much and seem to think they are the sole owners of the American River Trail (which makes me wonder how triathletes get by), but everyone else I have seen on the trail has been like a long time friend.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the fact that I enjoy running alone or in a group. I have to say, though, that my performance (especially on long runs) greatly suffers when I try to go on my own. Training with a large group is even more of a benefit. The motivation and the camaraderie from running in a group is very encouraging.

I’ve also discovered the beauty of night runs, especially on the trails. Running at night with a headlamp and a dozen other runners (and my dog, Stout) is truly a rush. The sounds and sights (or lack thereof) of the night envelop the runner in an entirely different environment than the daylight provides.

A distance run generally presents with two option: a loop or an out and back. You could do a point to point, but that requires cars at both ends of the run and carpooling back and forth. Point to point runs are great, but usually more of a hassle and time consumption than we want to experience (although once in a while is still a great change). Loops have the advantage of starting and ending at the same place without covering any of the same terrain twice. To make sure you get the desired distance on a loop requires some planning, usually with a map. An out and back, however, comes with the advantage of starting off in one direction until you are half done and then turn around and head back. As long as you don’t have any problems (like injuries or equipment failures) the distance is easy to achieve. These are great for trail runs, since you can usually find a parking place near a trail head and then head out. The only draw back is duplicating your terrain, but then, if you are running far enough it really doesn’t matter and it is nice to recognize when you are getting close to being back at your starting point.

Truth be told, I have rediscovered the joy of running. On days when I don’t I miss it. I love the trails. I really enjoy running with a partner or group. I like loops, out and backs, point to points and running with my dog. I plan to just keep running.

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Proposition Picks

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Kirk

Several of my friends and readers have asked about the whereabouts of my typical proposition recommendations. I have posted my thoughts about two of this year’s propositions (30 and 32) in my post from September 28 in detail. As usual, I have read the texts of the propositions and try to see past the ads that misrepresent to voters what they will really result in. My thoughts on the others, as far as I have them, are presented here.

Prop 30 – increases sales tax and income taxes on high income earners. The presented purpose is to support schools, however, the text of the law creates NO NEW ACCOUNT and, in fact places all of the increased revenue in the hands of the very politicians that have been mismanaging the state budget for years; in the general fund to be used as the legislators dictate. Recommendation – NO

Prop 31 – Increased accountability and forces a 2 year budget. Recommendation – Yes

Prop 32 – Stops unions from taking money from employees without consent to use for political support. CTA and other unions are trying to convince voters that this law prevents unions from supporting political causes while allowing private industry to continue to do so. The key fact is that a business owner uses his own money or money from his or her company to support what they choose, while the unions take money from employees and use it, in many cases, to support political causes contrary to the employees’ whose money they are taking. Recommendation – YES

Prop 33 – Allows consumers to change insurance providers and transfer their ‘good driver’ discount with them. Recommendation – Yes

Prop 34 – Repeals the death penalty in California. Recommendation – vote your conscience.

Prop 35 – Increases penalties for human trafficking convictions. Recommendation – Yes

Prop 36 – Modifies ‘3-Strikes Law’ to reflect the original intent. Currently, an individual with two violent convictions could get a life sentence for a non-violent conviction. The law would change to only give a life sentence to those with three violent convictions. Recommendation – Yes

Prop 37 – Requires labeling of genetically engineered food. In my opinion this is a waste of money. Recommendation – No

Prop 38 – Increases income taxes to provide funding for schools. This proposition is vague at best. It seems to be poorly written and gives more money to the politicians that have been mismanaging it. I don’t trust them. Recommendation – No

Prop 39 – Restructures corporate tax laws to require companies to pay taxes based on where their business is done, rather than where they have their corporate headquarters. Eliminates the advantage of placing the headquarters of a company outside California when their business is done in the State. Recommendation – Yes

I hope this helps you all make informed decisions. Happy voting!

Posted in economy, Education, Election 12, morality, Politics | Comments Off on Proposition Picks

Just 16… Or 20

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Kirk

Ask any long distance runner how far they are running and they will probably answer “just __ miles today.” It is sort of the runners’ version of trash talk, but it also feeds the runners’ motivation.

As our training runs get longer I had to change my attitude. This week we were scheduled to run 16 miles. In preparing mentally I had to sop thinking about how far it is and start thinking that it is “just 16 miles.”

Wednesday evening I turned my ankle at the beginning of my 8 mile run. When I stepped in the hole or on the rock I could feel my ankle turn and the side of my foot roll over onto the ground. My first thought was “this could be bad,” but it was immediately followed by “oh, good, no pop.” I ran the 8 miles and iced later. The next day I bought a brace. It’s too close to stop training now.

Today we started on our 16 mile run and it grew to almost 20. A little sore, but overall, feeling pretty good.

I haven’t given up on completing my first marathons and I haven’t given up on raising money to help the students of Oak Park either. I know times are tough and money is tight for all of us, but this makes it all the more difficult for lower income families to provide so much for their children. Please help with whatever you can by going to http://grouprev.com/kirkmcmorris and contributing to my cause.

The marathon is just 26 miles. The kids are worth it.

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Sudden Gradual Change

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Kirk

Two and a half years ago I bought a new pair of running shoes and started running around my neighborhood. I trained for and ran my first 5k and then ran another with my daughter. I knew I needed to be in better shape and to lose a little weight. I was motivated by my health and the belly that was beginning to make it difficult to see my toes.

A year later I started running with my friend David Bry. He pushed me to run a little further and a little faster. I did it just to keep up with him. He talked me into running my first 10k just 10 months ago. I was content with my new distance, but really enjoyed running on the trails. Since then I have completed two 10+ mile trail runs and a 5 mile run, in addition to another 5k.

I recently discovered running at night. Strap a head light on and hit the trail! I also started running with my dog, Stout, who is 7 months old next week. Somewhere along the 7 mile run I did last Thursday night, I realized I simply love running.

I experienced this again yesterday, while competing in my first 1/2 marathon. Along the way I bested my 5k, 10k, 5 mile and 10 mile times and completed the 13.1 miles 30 minutes faster than I expected. The more I ran, the better I felt and the faster I ran.

I have lost 30 pounds, changed my goal weight twice, and changed my time and distance running habits and goals. A couple of weeks ago I ate a hot dog and, when the mustard fell out the other end (as it always does) I was happy to see that it landed on the ground and not on my shirt. I have met new friends at the Folsom Trail Runners and at BeChange. I will get up at 5 am and drive 40 minutes just so I can run on a 4 mile trail as the sun is coming up.

I am sure the change has been gradual, but it suddenly became noticeable to me. I am a runner! And I love it!

I am still training for my first marathon (California International Marathon) on December 2nd and on track to reach that goal. I enjoy the reaction I get from people when I tell them I ran 12 or 13 or 15 miles over the weekend. They always ask “why?” I just smile.

What I enjoy most is the runners’ high, the euphoria, that comes from running until I can’t feel my legs and I have the sensation of floating over the ground; the sights and sounds and smells of the early morning or late evening joining with the rhythm of my breathing and my pounding heart. I love running with a group of other runners or in the solitude of being on a trail with no one but my God and His amazing creation (and my dog) around me. I often run with music, but I also enjoy running without it. Sometimes I put the headphones in and leave the music off.

Speaking of change… I hope more of you will help me help these kids in Oak Park. It is a great cause and so much is needed there. Even a little bit helps, so please donate what you can and forward this on to others who might be able to help. EVERY penny goes directly to help the kids. All administrative costs and hours are donated. https://grouprev.com/kirkmcmorris

Truth Be Told, I’d run anyway, but I might as well run for a reason and make a difference.

 

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“Oh CTA, ‘there you go again'”

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Kirk

The biggest problem with the California Teachers Association is that they attempt to use our children in an attempt to blackmail us into paying for their liberal causes. If you happen to lean left, this may be OK with you, but I think it is fairly obvious that their political agenda is much more important to them than are teachers or students.

The CTA support of propositions 30 and 32 illustrate this pretty effectively.

Proposition 30 is a tax increase for high income earners, but also a sales tax increase (supposedly temporary, but I’ve never seen one that is). The CTA is telling us that there will be mid year cuts to education if this is not passed. The truth is that there may be. I didn’t say the blackmail was a bluff. However, the wording of the proposition does not guarantee the funds raised go to education. They go to the general fund, which means it can be spent any way the legislature chooses. The legislature has mismanaged our money so badly, I just don’t see any reason to give them any more. Not only that, increasing sales tax always leads to less buying power and lower consumer confidence. Raising taxes has never had the effect of improving the economy.

The CTA opposes proposition 38 because it does not have the automatic guarantee that mid year cuts will be avoided, but, in fact, the current budget was not approved based on the passage of proposition 30, so it’s failure shouldn’t affect the current budget… I point again to the blackmail.

Proposition 32 limits the ability of unions to take workers’ money and use it for political contributions. Again, if you lean left, you probably don’t mind how the CTA spends the money they collect from teachers to support liberal candidates and causes, so, like the CTA, you might want to vote this down. The argument of unions is that wealthy individuals and corporations can make large contributions, but this takes away the political voice of the unions.

Here is the key difference… wealthy individuals and corporations are spending individuals’ money to support causes and candidates they believe in. Unions, on the other hand, take workers’ money and spend it how the unions want to, regardless of what the workers themselves may want to support. More conservative teachers, for example (I know we are rare, but we do exist), have our dues taken from us to support liberal politicians and legislation aimed at increased government, taxes, and social programs. Not to mention the CTA’s role in taking away parental rights for parents of students in public schools. We are told we can “opt out” of the political contribution part of our dues, but it never ceases to amaze me that when they calculate the part of our dues used for “contract negotiation” it always comes out that the political part is a very small slice – of course, those who get the money are the ones who get to determine this, hmmm. They also make certain that those who “opt out” are not protected if there is any legal action against them.

Truth be told, the propositions determine who gets your money and what they can do with it. I suggest you read them and decide for yourself. I’m voting “NO” on 30 and 38 and “YES” on 32. I’ll decide where my money goes, not the CTA.

Posted in Education, Election 12, Politics | 1 Comment

Furthest I’ve Ever Run

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Kirk

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It’s been a couple weeks since I have updated you all…

I have been persevering through my training… Some days better than others. Most people have at least heard of ‘the wall’ in running a marathon, but there walls to go over or through in the training process as well.

When my alarm went off this morning at 5 to go on my 12 mile run, my first thought was “why?” There are so many reasons to run, and several not to, but the runner must overcome the reasons not to run and focus on the reasons to just keep running.

I run because I am almost 50 years old and I have gotten sadly out of shape. If I want to live long enough to enjoy retirement and grandchildren, I have to be healthier. In the past year I have lost 25 pounds, so far, and I will be in the best shape of my life. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis, but it’s cheaper than a Ferrari.

I run because I love to challenge myself and accomplish things I have never done before and, in this case, something I never thought I could

I run to help the kids in Oak Park who can’t afford health care and school supplies. You can help with that by going here https://grouprev.com/kirkmcmorris and donating to the cause.

So I got up and ran 12 miles today and I’m glad I did. Being on the trail before the sun comes up and watching the sky become light is a beautiful way to start the day. Today had an added bonus as we happened upon several men out for a bike ride before church who stopped at sunrise to pray and thank God for the day and we stopped to pray with them before completing our run.

So I ran further this morning than I had ever run before in my life… And next week I will run a little further.
.

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Distractions

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Kirk

After running the 7 mile race last weekend I succumbed to the business of life and to some distractions that really interfered with my training this week. I didn’t run as much as I had hoped and my core work was severely lacking, as well. Today I ran 9 miles with the Folsom Trail Runners along Folsom Lake. I was able to keep up and ran the whole way. It looks like I am still on track with my training, despite my lax work ethic this week. Next week is a 10 mile run, as I continue to ratchet up towards my 26.2 in December, so I better step up my performance this week.

On the fundraising front, I have 4% of my goal. In the coming weeks I will have an chance to meet some of these children that I am running for. The important thing is to help these kids get the things they need and, hopefully, give them an opportunity to break the poverty cycle they are trapped in. You can help too… https://grouprev.com/kirkmcmorris

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On Our Way…

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Kirk

I felt slow this week!

The Insanity workouts seem to be building up my wind, but the muscles are sore and I just can’t generate any speed while I am running. Then again, I ran 7 miles at Run On The Sly this morning and did it in only 4 minutes more than my 10K (6.2 miles) from the beginning of the year. I even ran the last mile in 7:36 while focusing more on form than speed (thanks Shaun T)… lift those knees, tighten those abs!

My training dilemma at this point is whether to work through the Insanity AND keep up with the running and hope (trust) that when the Insanity 60 days is over, I will have gained strength and endurance. Or, do I lay of the Insanity a bit so that I can make sure I complete the training for the marathon? Hmmm! Not sure yet, but I did end up skipping a couple of days of Insanity this week. For now I will continue to both as best I can.

I know I have several friends also training for the CIM… let me know how you are doing.

On the fundraising side, I see that a couple of friends have donated on my be change site (https://grouprev.com/kirkmcmorris). Thank you for supporting this great cause. Maybe we can’t change the whole world, but we can change this part of it and it won’t take very many of us to make a big change. I can’t wait to see what we can do together.

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Week One Done

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Kirk

Although my running remained about what it was, adding Insanity this week definitely stepped up my over all training. I can’t keep up with Sean T yet, but I did notice an improvement in my running form, I believe is caused by the ab work included in the Insanity workouts. The other thing I noticed was the added stress on my body increased my need for food and for naps.

Running the marathon, even improving my physical condition, is not the main point, however.

There are kids in Oak Park who have never seen a dentist… who do not have the supplies they need for school… who do not believe they will ever have the opportunity to leave their neighborhood for any reason, let alone go to college. We can help them. We spend so much effort, time and money helping people in other parts of the world (all worthy causes to be sure), but we sometimes forget those in need right in our own back yard. Over the next 140 days, I am committed to raise $3000 (enough to provide much needed support for 3 children). My part is to raise awareness by running a marathon. Your part, dear readers, is to pledge your support on my fundraising page (https://grouprev.com/kirkmcmorris). I promise to come through and finish my first marathon. Please be generous in your giving to help these kids.

Posted in Education, Sports | 1 Comment