The Never Ending Sadness, Training Update, Spreading the Word & Hug Your Family Night

The Never Ending Sadness – Again, this morning I learned of another new Angel singing pain free songs of joy. As with all of my little buddies, my heart is saddened when I learned of them earning their wings, yet my spirit is overjoyed for John Eric Bartels. Sing a sweet song for us John; my prayers are with your family during these trying times.

Training Update - So far this week I have I have 22.4 miles in. Sunday and Tuesday had me at 6 miles each day, Thursday I got 8miles in and today I ran “treadmill hills” for 2.4 miles. I anticipate that I will have 30 to 32 miles in before week’s end; so far so good, no indication of muscle soreness or injury.

Spreading the Word – Early this morning I sent a query to the local monthly newspaper asking if they be interested in either publishing a press release or a short story about my fund raising efforts for the Band of Parents and the good work they and Memorial Sloan-Kettering are accomplishing. Well, checking my email later in the day I see a response from the editor. The editor, Lisa, stated that they would run my story in their June edition and that she’d be calling me next week for further information. Circulation for the paper stands at 22000 homes. Oh, I am so happy to get the word out on such good work, but not only that hopefully, this will bring more donations in for my “Little Buddies”

Hug Your Family – Friday is hug your family night; turn the TV off, and just be with your loved ones. Let them know how precious they are and how you treasure their being just who they are. Love them by spending time with them.

Before I go and hug my family, Remember, Please “Say Yes to Grandpa John” by donating the cost of a cup of coffee to the “Band of Parents. It’s easy to do, just follow my link and please be generous. You’ll never know just how much you are loved for donating. And if nobody has told that they love you, I will!

I love you for you just being you. Thank you for enriching my life.

God Bless

Gj

Grandson'sFirst Communion & My Run in NY.

I am sad to say that I have very few pictures of my grandson's First Communion, but here's Missus Gj and #1 grandson right after. Don't they make a beautiful couple.

Here is #1 grandson and #1 granddaughter. It's easy to see why no distance is too great to travel to see our grandchildren. So far...I guess we'll just have to move to NY.

Running: There is much beauty on the Erie Canal

Well, that about wraps it up for tonight. Remember "Say Yes to Grandpa John" and donate today to the Band of Parents. It's easy to do, just follow my link to their website
Rest Peacefully in His Arms .


Gj

PS: For some reason, (probably operator error) I am having problems uploading my pictures. Maybe with more practice I'll get better...Pleae forebear with me as I get'er right.

Sad of Heart –Blessed Spirit; Thankfulness; New York –Training

Sad of Heart, Blessed Spirit- Today on arrival home and opening of email what do I find? Another of my Little Buddies has gone home to be with our Heavenly Father. Such loss makes my heart very sad, I can only imagine how the parents must feel. Yet, amidst all this angst, my spirit rejoices knowing that Emily Adamson is singing pain free, angelic melodies of praise. My prayers are going heavenward for Emily’s parents and family. May they be given Peace which only our Heavenly Father can give.

Thankfulness - Today, I am thankful for being so blessed. This last weekend I had the opportunity to attend my grandson’s First Holy Communion. An aura of Holiness permeated the Sacristy as the elements were being readied. Looking over I noticed Justin looking on in awe knowing full well that in just a few moments he would be receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. And here am I, a very unworthy person to be witness such splendor.

As my grandson walked up the aisle towards the priest, his face was a glow; a radiance hereunto never seen by me before. Surly this was God’s love filling his heart, radiating outward a bathing calm of love to all. I was blest to soak it in.

New York – Training- We arrived around 5pm Friday night; we were ready to rest (sleep and snoring were all I thought of) after a 7 hour car trip. Yet, at 7am, Ol’ GJ was more than ready to run the Erie Canal. All were sleeping as I headed out for what I thought would be a 4mile run, not very long at all, just enough to get the blood pumping. Little did I know that the beauty of the morning would hypnotize me. My 4 miler soon became an 8 mile jaunt. All along the canal, folks, young, old, and lovers too were strolling along at this early hour. I was hoping that this would last forever, yet I knew I had to end it soon, since I had to ready myself for church; all too soon, my run was over.

Sunday’s run was almost a repeat of Saturday’s except I only ran 6 miles and took a few different paths back home, another beautiful day all in all. In fact any run make any day a good day. I was and am blest at having had the opportunity to run Erie.

Total Miles for the weekend - 14 Miles
Total Miles for Today – 6 miles


I am having problems with posting my pictures so I'll post them tomorrow since I do have some chores to catch up on so I'll close for now

Don't forget to "Say Yes to Grandpa John." Please donate to The Band of Parents,it's easy, just follow my link to their site.

Thanks and God Bless

Gj

Loved Bunches; New Training tool and First Holy Communion

Loved Bunches: Wow how loved can a guy be? First and most importantly I am making several new wonderfully beautiful friends. Here’s a really big howdy to Janie, Charli and Katilyn. I can’t wait for the next race. I’ll be carrying your pictures around my neck for sure. And I am still trying for more…. I just have to be careful or I’ll be weighted down so much that I won’t be able to move (that’s OK too) Not only am I making many new friends, there might be something very special in the works as far as it relates to the “Say Yes to Grandpa John” campaign…I can’t really say yet as the particular are still be worked out...stay tuned.

New Training Tool: On top of all of that, my beautiful Bride, Missus Gj really surprised me yesterday…On arriving home from work I see this big box sitting in my “easy chair.” Well Sir, no one or no thing sits in Ol’ Gj’s (However, I do allow all of little buddies to sit in it anytime they want) easy chair. I grabbed that box and was about to say something when I realized that it contained a present for me and what a present it was. It was a Garmin 305, what a toy..oops training tool and I used it this morning on my five mile run. Whew it has all the bells and whistles: It mapped my run, recorded my heart rate; recorded my time and my elevation gain and loss. Here are the stats for this morning: Distance 5 miles; Pace 10:23; Calories Burned - 829; Avg. Heart Rate - 144; Total Ascent - 681 ft.; Total Descent -735 ft (hmm I must live in a hole?). There’s a lot more but I think that give you the idea. Yes, this really is one heck of a training tool. Thanks Hunny, it’s a wonderful present

First Holy Communion: Folks I’ll be out of pocket for the next few days as I’ll be attending my grandson’s First Holy Communion. I am so excited and to share that with him is a real blessing. Please look forward to the next update sometime around Wednesday of next Week. And remember please “Say Yes to Grandpa John.” Please donate to the Band of Parents – When? Now would be nice…

God Bless you.

GJ

A Quick Update: Our Newest Angels, Grandkiddies & Training

Our New Angels - As I stated yesterday, I had one Angel to add to my “Angel’s Rainbow” shirt. Well, today I learned that indeed not one, but two Angels are singing glorious melodic pain free songs for us. If I listen closely I think I hear them; can’t you? Tonight their names rest on our “Angel’s Rainbow” shirt: Courtney Saunders and Cooper Riley Proscia will run the next race with me. My heartfelt prayers are with the families during their time of sorrow.

Grandkiddies - I am so excited! Missus Gj and I are reading ourselves for a weekend trip to visit the grandkiddies in New York. This is a very special occasion for us as Justin, our grandson, is making his First Communion. I can’t wait to see them. I think the first thing I am going to do is tickle them both (granddaughter Erin J (after a lots of hugs and kisses of course). Well maybe not since they are becoming very big now since Erin is 9, and Justin 7. Oh well….I’m still happy.

Training - With all the happenings of late, I failed to keep all posted on my training. Since Saturday, I have logged approximately 16 miles, as broken down: Saturday – 5k Fun run, 3.1 miles; Sunday LSD (Long Slow distance), 8 miles; tonight 5 miles. Ever so slowly the miles will be increasing until I begin executing to my actual training plan as indicted at the bottom of the page.

Don’t forget the reason folks – Say Yes to Grandpa John

If not you, Who? If not now, When?

Slumber restfully in His Heart

Gj

Another Angel's name Added to my Angel's Rainbow Racing Shirt

I was going to write of yesterdays activities and how much fun Missus Gj and I had the Cinco de Mayo festivities. But all of that pales in comparison to the sad news I just received. Folks, my Angel’s Rainbow racing shirt is growing again. Today, I have the sad task of adding another name to it, and from what I hear another "Little Buddy" of mine is close to gaining his wings.

With honor, but sadness in my heart, I add the name of Courtney Marie Saunders, our newest Angel to my racing shirt. I will, for as long as I run, run in her memory and the memory of all who are now Angels and will carry their names with me.

We can spend billions and billions of dollars to take life, yet we can’t afford the research to eliminate this horrible and dreadful disease that claims far too many of our little ones, my “Little Buddies” as I fondly and dearly call them. There is something drastically wrong with that; let’s make the change needed We Can Do it! But it requires something of you, me..all of us.

Folks, I invite you to join me today in this fight, and say yes to my “Say Yes to Grandpa John” campaign by donating just the cost of a daily cup of coffee to ”The Band of Parents” who with a working relationship with the fine doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are doing the research to fight on. Soon I will have my PO Box where you can send your donations to (to help me reach my Goal), but until then please follow my link to the Band of Parents and be Generous in your Giving to them.

IF Not Now, When? If Not You, Who?

God Bless You

Grandpa John

Interesting Day - The Post Office, a Stress Echo Cardiogram Test, & More

For those of you who visited us before you’ll notice that a few changes were made to the blog’s format. I am going to keep it this way for awhile to see how it works for us. I might have to tweak it here and there a little, but hopefully we have a good layout meeting our needs.

The Post Office: As mentioned at the bottom of the page (How to Donate), I should have had a PO Box by now for mail in donations. Well, can you believe that Redford’s Post Office doesn’t have one open slot? Not to worry though, I was informed this morning that I am on the waiting list and should have a box within two weeks. But hey, don’t let that stop you from donating; just follow the link to the Band of Parents and you’ll be all set to go!

The Stress Echo Cardiogram: For those of you not in the know, about 3 years ago I experienced what I thought to be a significant cardiac event. Well, I wasn’t’ surprised! I weighed in around 250 pounds and I had been smoking for well over 40 years (yes I started very young and was a full blown smoker by age 14). After 3 days in the hospital and after much testing it was found that I did have 2 blocked arteries; 50% each, not enough by protocol to warrant stents. Testing also revealed that I had really bad GERD, Acid Reflux. As I was being told all of this, I remembered the day I came to the hospital…I had a cigarette in the parking lot (Hey, I might be in the hospital for a day or so.) and that thought just sickened my stomach, I had had enough! I entered the hospital December 16, 2005, and that was the last day I ever smoked a cigarette. And to this day I don’t miss them one bit. Anyway, back to the stress test.

I am not sure just how long on the treadmill is considered good, but after I was prepped and given my first EKG and the ultrasound (echo?) of the heart they put me on the ol’ mill. Going and going and going, I told the EKG and Ultrasound techs that I was a runner and just started training for an ultra marathon after a 3 month layoff. (I owed Missus Gj big time since she supported me through 2 marathons last year. So, I remodeled the kitchen for my hunny). And on I went for a total of 15 minutes. That means I went through 5 - 3 minutes cycles wherein each cycle means the treadmill increases in speed and elevation. Now the tech told me that the machine maxes out in 21 minutes and that he was impressed with my 15 minutes. I told him next year if I did not max out, I get at least 18 minutes in. My doctor should have the results in about 5 to 7 days.

More: The more tonight is this: Turn the TV off, grab your hunnys hand and look them in the eye and tell them how special they are to you. Putting your needs aside for tonight, talk about anything which is important to your partner. Give of yourself to them totally for the next hour or two…you’ll be glad you did.

I’ll be right there hunny…

Gj

The Half Marathon Just Whooped ME!

Honesty must prevail. I did not break two hours, nor did I even come close to matching my best time of 2:06. My chip time was 3:03. Yep! That’s right, 3 hours and 3 minutes for 13.1` miles…Oooah disgustingly slow! I will not offer excuses. I did not run my best race. However, I did identify some weaknesses that were within my control. But first, I will identify those which were not.

1. The trail was mostly a single path and if you were behind someone slower than you, you were just, well, stuck until you could get enough room to pass them on the trail.

2. The scenery was just too beautiful. Many times, I lost focus and slowed down to enjoy creation, many smaller inland lakes, streams, meadows and Really Big Hills...I cant’ wait to run the course again.

Within my Control:

1. Not conditioned for the rigors of the trail course; inexperience in trail running - my first trial race
2. Need more Hill training. Hills -heck they were mountains (not but It sounds good eh?)
3. Pacing need to have better control over my pacing
4. Better hydration. Need to hydrate more often

That’s enough. I think you get the picture. Regardless of my time, I really enjoyed the course and its demands. I can’t’ wait till next year. To get the most enjoyment, I think I’ll just have to run the Full marathon.

In the future I must remember to carry a disposable camera, least I fall and break my good one; a happening which Missus Gj would hold me in contempt I am certain. . Because of that fact, I only have a few pictures of the starting line and couple of my running buddy and me afterwards. On to the races (Did I mention the really Big Hills?)

The Trail map outlining the elevation or where the big hills beat me up.

It was a cool April morning. A chilly breeze was blowing off the lake as we waited for the race to begin. Here's Ol' Gj & his running buddy Joanna waiting for the race to begin.

Getting anxious we surveyed the starting line.

The early starters got off without a hitch, next up the brave regulars

.

I didn't get any pictures of the regulars-I was busy cheering them on.

An hour later it was our turn..The start went as planned. Since there were so many of us half marathoners, a staggered start was used. Since we were cold, we complained about the extra wait, but to no avail. Little did we realize that the staggered start made a whole lot of sense, especially after we saw the hills (I did mention the hills didn't?

The first few miles were quite uneventful, save for a young lady who might have hurt her ankle or maybe, worst broke a bone (we prayed not). But a good looking hiker offered to carry her out; the day was saved (hmmm.. this is mushy stuff that love stories are made of).

Then it happened, the first of many hills. Actually, there were many hills, but I only remember three of them. The first round of "Biggies" was around Mile 5 and lasted through mile 7 or so. As I approached its base, I knew I was in trouble when looking up I could not see the top. This was not too mention that we runners had come to a walk to scale this mammoth beast, one I named "The Matterhorn"

As we reached the plateau, our walking turned into a slow jog as we slowly began our descent, which only last for a minute or two, or so it seemed. And therein around mile 9, my eyes beheld and even more ugly brute....Could the gods have designed a hell more befitting us runners? Me thinkest not, since they must have thought us profane for even being in their domain. Again we were reduce to a crawl..a fate worse than just stopping for going ever so slowly one becomes clumsy..Blam. I tripped over a root of minor dimensions. Stumbling I fell forward, but recovered shortly before hitting the ground. It was sight to behold I am certain as I was told I looked like a gosling trying to take flight for the first time. Out of frustration, I named this one "Mt. McKinley" Why? I don't' know.

Miles 10 and 11 were rather like a little flat land wherein some lost time could be made up, OR so I thought! MILE 12 revealed itself to be Beelzebub for sure. The god of Hell..can it be he found us? A fate worse than death..up, up up we crawled; skinned knees and blistered hands was our sentence. But we did not quit....For all too soon like an airplane on approach we began to land, just a short tenth of a mile to go. Noticing the camera man standing to the side of the finish line, I did what any good runner would do. I straighten up , stuck my chest out and ran like a banshee on fire. I made it! I finished the run for Austin. My heart raced as I thanked the volunteers for their help; then I realized although I didn't even place, the prize was mine. I finished..Ohh the name of the last hill? Why, it's Mt Everest of course (Again I don't know why).

I really had a great time at the race, but folks you know the real reason why I ran. Double click on my picture and take a closer look at my shirt; you'll see Austin's name, one of my little buddies. I am raising funds for the Band of Parents for neuroblastoma research ..Won't you please

"SAY YES to GRANDPA JOHN" and as a minimum donate the cost of a cup of coffee today?

As Tony the Tiger would say " You'll FEEL Great" if you do.

In His Arms...

GJ

Race Day Prayer

Dear Lord,

You know that my best time for running a half marathon is 2 hours 6 minutes and 50 seconds. However, today Lord I ask that you grant me special blessings and give me the strength to run my race in sub two hours; give me the wings of an eagle and the legs of deer that I may run, no fly, with a speed hereto unknown to me and not get weary. I ask this not for me Lord, but to honor the memory of my buddy Austin Melgar

Also, Lord early this morning I heard some sad news about John Eric Bartels, Please comfort John Eric and his family and bless them with Your Peace this day.

Finally please allow all to open their eyes to see the wonder of your majesty by giving me the strength to achieve my ultimate goal in helping to find a cure for neuroblastoma.

Grant this I pray – Amen.

Grandpa John

Too Great a Loss - Dedicated to Austin Melgar.

Losing a loved one is never easy, especially when it’s a young child. I wish I had the magical potion that would heal such wounds, but I don’t. Yet, being a man of faith I know where it can be found: Wrapped in the arms of true love itself - God.

May God Bless the Melgar family always and in all ways, especially during this most difficult of times and may His Peace flood their hearts. I know that Austin is looking down from Heaven, smiling and saying to us: “Please don’t cry, I am in His arms now. I wait patiently for you and look forward to our reunion…”

Grandpa John

I dedicate my first race of the season this Sunday, April 27, 2008, to the honor and memory of Austin Melgar.