Going Rogue

While I hate to admit it, Sarah Palin and I have something in common.  We have both gone "rogue".  She...by alienating a lot of people in her homestate of Alaska, by quitting as governor.  Me?  No, I am not quitting the race...unlike Palin...I like to see through to completion what I start (take that!).  Rather, I am finding my inner mountain man...and letting the facial hair grow, grow, grow....(ok - that really isn't as rogue as it might sound, but keep in mind I work in a professional services organization, and "rogue" facial hair isn't always seen as a good thing.)

In all honesty, I still look well kempt for the most part.  The goatee I started back in November was nice and trim until a month ago.  That's when I decided that if I was going to run in the Rockies, I needed to "be as one" with nature....blah, blah, blah.  Haven't touched the goatee with a shaver since then, and to my surprise, it has grown in pretty well.  Thicker than I thought. Darker too.  And with a patch of gray.  AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

No worries - it's distinguished....

Perhaps with another two weeks of this lack of grooming, I will begin to more closely resemble Jeff Gudeman.  It might be 6 years since he's trimmed his.  He is part of the ZZ Top succession plan. And at his advanced age of mid-40s, his gray is much more noticeable, mixing with some reddish bear fur.  So, I don't shave to honor Jeff as well.

There - you have the truth.  It's just that Going Rogue sounded cooler!

KEIYH

PS - tomorrow's blog will be Lynn's final thoughts about the run before we leave on Thursday.  I will provide my final thoughts on Wednesday.

PSS - Yes, I know you wanted a photo as proof.  Current as of a few minutes ago (courtesy of Brenda).  Quite the mug shot! Not only gray, but the bags may indicate a lack of sleep too!

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

In the 80s, The A-Team was a cult classic on TV.  Faceman, Murdock, BA Baracus, and Hannibal Smith.  At the end of each episode, Hannibal would light his cigar, and say "I love it when a plan comes together" as if he had known that all the chaos was just a smokescreen - the outcome never in doubt.  Well, I am about to light a cigar!

Since the early planning stages for this event, Lynn and I have spoken about the trip to Colorado, and how it would be great for the finish on Friday, August 27th, and the subsequent competitor awards dinner that night, if we could bring one of Emmah's parents there, to be a part of the celebration.  I know for years they have vacationed as a family in Colorado, and have a special affection for Colorado Springs, and visiting the Garden of the Gods, where they would take a family photo outside a gift shop there.  They've even had dreams of moving to Colorado someday.  Dreams that have been replaced perhaps by life's stark realities.

Months went by, but the plan was finally put in motion in July, when I reached out to Jeff and Julie via email to make the offer.  Fly one of them out, while the other stays in Joliet, IL to watch the kids.  Have that person take a rental car 2 hours to Beaver Creek on Thursday night, so midday Friday they can be at the finish line to be a part of what is surely to be an emotional moment.  That was the plan. 

I didn't hear back from Jeff or Julie for 3 days, and was wondering what they were thinking.  Little did I know, they were working on their own plan.  Their response was that rather than one of them fly out....both of them would be driving out for the finish.  Apparently neither of them likes to fly. Jeff's brother, Brian, and his girlfriend, would fall on their sword to watch 5 kids for a few days (say a prayer for them!). 

So, Jeff and Julie will leave Joliet sometime on Wednesday afternoon, August 25th, when the kids get home from school, and start an approximate 19 hours drive to Beaver Creek.  If all goes well, they have a hotels waiting from them along the way, and they should be at the finish line in plenty of time on Friday to see not only the leaders come across midday Friday, but Lynn and I (hopefully champions of the 80+ mixed category - ha!), sometime Friday afternoon.  And then they get to join us at dinner Friday night, where I hope all the other 118 teams will be aware of their journey, Emmah's story, and our friendship.  It is for sure to be one of the many highlights of the next two weeks - but this one will be the culmination of my plan that started nearly two years ago.

Ah...I love it when a plan comes together!  Where's my cigar?

KEIYH

Our Secret Competitive Advantage

Earlier today I decided to check out the registration list for the Transrockies run.  As of today, there are 119 teams signed up to participate in the 6-day event, and another 50 runners competing solo in a 3 day 50-mile event (new this year to the TRR).  Upon further analysis (which took about 22 seconds, but it sounds good), I found there are 24 teams entered in the 80+ category competition (yes - remember, this is a competition, a race, a challenge of the fittest, a duel in the mountains, a battle of wits, a tactical and strategic event.  Well, you get the picture).  And with even more analysis (another 7 seconds to locate our names on the starting grid), I found that Lynn and I are the 2nd ranked team in this category!

Yes - that is impressive!!!  We aren't really sure how the TRR came up with the team rankings, but this set our spirits incredibly high, and we realize the pressure is now on us to deliver the goods on the trails.

What's that?  Alphabetical order?  Hogwash.  I'm sure they base this on a variety of factors such as age, previous running history, body fat content, ability to eat multiple oreo cookies in a sitting, blogging ability, fundraising, kids named Erika/Ryan, and a host of other factors.  All I have to say is look out team "Never Summer" we are gunning for #1, and  you are standing in our way!
And if we should be successful - that will put us in the prize money!!!  Which we are prepared to donate all proceeds to Emmah's Care.  Yes - that is special.  We do have a big heart!  Makes you really want to root for us to do well against those other 23 teams, doesn't it?

In any competition, athletes look for that "edge".  Something that will help them in the long run triumph over their fellow athlete. The littlest thing can make a difference between 1st and last.  So it is no surprise to those that know me that I have been working for months to find such an advantage.  I am going to share my secret with you, and trust that you understand and are supportive, and won't tell the other athletes.

The race is from August 22 - 27.  That means it starts on a Sunday, likely around 9:00 am MST.  But if you look at the countdown timer on the left side of my blog, you will see that as of now (as of this writing) I have the race for us starting in 7 days and 2 hours.  That means we will be on the course, climbing that first hill, on Saturday, August 21st around 5pm MST.  Sneaky, but a competitive advantage nonetheless.  Those extra 16 hours should give us a good 20+ mile lead on the field!!!  Go team 113 For Emmah!!!!!  Can I get an AMEN???

I'm feeling pretty good about where this is going, aren't you?  It is for a good cause, you know....

KEIYH

Peaking At The Right Time

How could this not be a great week?!  Lynn and I are officially in taper mode, meaning we get to begin to rest our legs from the months of training and run smaller distances in the two weeks leading up to the race - very cool!  A 6 mile jog Tuesday, another 6 on Thursday.  8 tomorrow, 12 Sunday.  That's like a walk in the park!!!

And then an article was written on us by a local freelance writer and appeared on-line and in the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday.  Added bonus!  Tells our story and how we came to run together and for Emmah.  Lynn saw it first - someone posted it on her bulletin board at work and she emailed me and said "It's HUGE".  I thought "great - huge as in what perfect timing to let people know about the run".  No - not exactly.  Once I saw it in the paper - turns out it is HUGE!!! As in it takes up 1/2 page of a newspaper that reads like the USA Today, and has a killer picture of two of the best looking runners you are ever going to see (so I've been told....).  Frame worthy, this article.  Now in the spirit of transparency - I had emailed the author (shameless plug for Melinda Johnston - she wrote an outstanding piece) a few weeks earlier after reading another article she wrote in the paper, and shared some facts about the run to see if she'd be interested in this story.  One thing led to another.  HUGE!!!

Of course, this all led to the opportunity to do one final push for donations to help the CNCF and Emmah's Care.  And we haven't been let down.  As of this writing, we are just a few dollars short of $5,000, with more coming in each day.  Who knows where it will end, but every dollar is going to worthy causes!  Love the big heart of everyone willing to help out.  HUGE!!!  If you are reading this and haven't donated yet, please consider doing so - it is easy - just pick a link on the right hand side of this page for either cause, or mail a donation to the address listed.

Finally, this leads me to a response received to the article that was sent out by many to family and friends this week.  I know this person has been following the story from the beginning, as she has a special connection to Emmah.  Emmah's gramma (Karen G) wrote back the following to my wife after reading Melinda's article.   (Note to Gramma - I hope you don't mind me sharing this.  It provides a HUGE emotional lift for us as a reminder of all that is important!)

I just got done reading the article, through my tears. I cannot tell you what it means to me to know that Ken thought so much of Emmah, as to do this for her benefit.



Ken has brought many a laugh and a smile to my face.....and now he surely brings a smile to my heart. I cannot express in words, my gratitude, to know that he is doing this for our precious Emmah. I know she will be smiling down on him and Lynn. Of course my hope and anyone else's is that one day this nasty disease can be wiped out, and no other family will have to endure the pain of seeing their child suffer and lose their battle. Emmah was a very strong and brave girl that would not give up, she fought until the end.


I was and am so proud to be her Gramma.


Thank you to the Bansemer family for all that you are doing for Jeff, Julie and the family. Ken's dedication is to be commended. We are truly blessed to call you friend.

Blessings and God's peace,


{{{hugs}}} Karen G

Enough said...
 
KEIYH

Six Months Later...

Time flies when you're having fun...
Time keeps in slippin', slippin', slippin', into the future...
There's no time like the present...
Time is a precious gift, when used wisely.

I hope everyone can take time today, out of your busy schedules, to remember the girl who moved onto a better a life six months ago, and to say a prayer for her family.  Time does not heal all wounds.

Gone, but not forgotten.

KEIYH

Don't Worry....Be Happy...

This past week I was in California to attend a few work related conferences. This is always one of my favorite trips as I get to reconnect with some great business colleagues and friends I only see once or twice a year. A few years ago, when I was fundraising for a Team-in-Training run, this wonderful group turned out to be my biggest supporters, both monetarily and with words of encouragement.

So it was no surprise this week that the topic of the TransRockies Run came up more than once. Some were aware of the upcoming event, and when we started discussing it, others were drawn to the conversation and had their own questions and reactions. I was able to share why I wear my KEIYH (Keep Emmah In Your Heart) bracelet. I discussed the “where’s” and “when’s” of the run…but more importantly…the “why’s”. This led to Emmah’s story, and more than once during the week, a misty eye was shared by many (myself included multiple times). This is a compassionate group, many with children, many who understand giving back (a core value of the Beta Alpha Psi organization we are a part of), many with a big heart, and many who want to help and asked me to send them more information – which I will gladly do.

But I had other thoughts throughout the week. I was wondering how I could talk about Emmah, and her parents Jeff & Julie, for so many months, without all the emotional feelings that came out this week, and I believe I found the answer.

Disappointment.

This journey is nearing its end, and I am disappointed that it can’t continue indefinitely. I have really, really enjoyed the experience of running more and farther than ever before, and tackling a new challenge. The thought of Emmah kept me going more than once on my long runs, an inspiration I haven't had when training for other runs. I have enjoyed talking about what lies ahead on August 22 – 27. And I have enjoyed the blogging every few days to bring another aspect of Emmah, Lynn, Jeff, Julie and myself to life for all those following along.

Don’t get me wrong now. We will all remember Emmah forever. This experience is a mere moment in time to celebrate the life of someone incredibly special. But my special way of remembering her and helping her family is going to soon end, and that…is disappointing.

Help me find a way to turn that frown, upside-down!

KEIYH

Am I Ready? Bloody Hell I Am!

Runners are a strange bunch.  Outgoing at times, introspective at others.  Able to shake off injuries to continue their pursuit of the oddest quests.  This post will be a short one.  Sunday morning I flew to San Francisco for a week long conference. Before flying out at 9:30 am, I got up early to put in some miles on the treadmill - 6 to be exact.  This was after an 18 mile day Friday, and a 19 mile day Saturday.  Sunday was to be 22 miles, but due to time constraints, I needed to split the run into two parts - one on each coast.

Unfortunately, I formed a blister Sunday morning, which I didn't realize until I was 3 miles into the 2nd leg of my run in SF.  Never fear, Superman is here.  Popped that blister near Fisherman's Wharf...and continued on my way for another 9 miles, feeling great to be able to run in 60 degree weather for the first time in months.

Of course, post-run I saw the true blister damage.  Curt Schilling's bloody sock from the Red Sox World Series victory a few years ago has nothing on me.  I may have lost a pint, but it didn't matter.  We are three weeks away from Colorado and as the Queen song goes..."Don't Stop Me Now"!!!

KEIYH