There are times that nature humbles us. One of those days was last Sunday, the day of the 2007 Chicago Marathon. The marathon is held in October and typically sees temperatures of 40, 50, or 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This last Sunday at the start time (8AM), we were greeted by a temperature already in the high seventies. The day was bright and sunny and the humidity would be over 80 percent. All of this added up to a recipe for disaster. Before the day was over, runners would be subjected to a beating sun, high humidity, and temperatures reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
We all knew it would be a hot day, but I honestly didn’t anticipate what the conditions would actually feel like. Apparently many others didn’t anticipate either. The weather took its toll. All runners had slower finishing times (even the Elites were lagging last year’s finish by 5 minutes or so). 250 people were treated by medics along the course, 50 people hospitalized, and one man died due to a heart defect. My friends told me stories about runners passing out on the sidewalks, runners vomiting in alleys, and runners dropping like flies from the race. At noon (4 hours after the start), the marathon planners officially canceled the marathon due to the heat. Evidently water supplies and available medics were running short. Any runner who had not passed the halfway point by this time was stopped and bused back to the finish. Other runners who were further along the course were told to walk the rest of the marathon.
The heat also affected yours truly. I started out the race running with a group of people from my CARA training group. We busted out and hit the first few miles running at a 9:30 pace. Eventually I lost sight of the group at the second aid station in the mass of people. I had decided at that point that being sufficiently hydrated was more important than staying with the group. If I had to, I was perfectly prepared to run alone. At that point I think I settled in close to a 10 minute per mile pace. I felt pretty strong. I luckily ended up meeting up with my group again, but once again we would part ways. After that, I would only see individual group members along the way. I continued at the 10 minute per mile pace which carried me across Addison in Wrigleyville. I headed South through my home neighborhood, Lincoln Park, still going strong. In fact, I hit the half marathon distance at 2 hours 13 minutes which isn’t bad. I was feeling pretty good until shortly after mile 17. After passing that marker my body didn’t feel so well. Earlier even though I had good rhythm, I felt my heart rate starting to climb. It certainly scared me because I was wondering if I should drop out of the race or not. However, I continued on and did the thing that seemed most natural: I began to dump cups of water on my head as I passed the aid stations. I suspect I was overheating. This would definitely cause my body temperature and my heart rate to increase. The water seemed to help tremendously by cooling me down. However, even with this tactic, I decided I needed to slow way down and take a walking break in order to give myself some rest. I timed my walking breaks, not wanting to devote too much time to them. I decided that I would do intervals in order to finish the race. I would walk 5 minutes and then run slowly for 10 minutes. This seemed to work pretty well. However, each time it became harder to run. Evidently my posture must have been slouching because my mid/lower back muscles began to ache. Also I found it harder to breathe since there was pain in my back from expanding my rib cage.
I had run well during the first two thirds of the course. However, the last nine to eight miles were just brutal. At that point I wondered if I would want to run a marathon again. I wondered if I would ever finish. Despite this, I knew one thing at the time. At the very least, I could definitely walk my way into the finish. So I struggled through the colorful and festive neighborhoods of Pilsen (Latin flavor) and Chinatown. I struggled to run through the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology. However, no matter if I was walking or jogging slowly, I was still progressing. I had come to finish this race, and I would crawl across the finish line if that’s what it came down to.
When I reached Michigan Avenue and headed toward the finish, I was severely focused. As I ran, I breathed deeply to soothe the pain in my back and ribs. I stared at the ground in front of me, charting my progress by passing small landmarks like street markings. I was doing anything I could to inch forward. It was at this point before reaching mile 24 that the cancellation announcement came from police and marathon workers. For those of us this close to finishing, they just advised that we walk it out. I did for the most part although I ran some of it. It was a shame though because I felt I was gaining a second strength. I should have just kept running consistently. After what seemed an eternity, I finally neared the finish. I walked most of the way at a brisk pace hoping I could finish in less than 5 hours. I realized as I came closer that my goal was slightly out of reach. Obviously I was disappointed, but nevertheless I ran out the last 100 meters across the finish line with my arms held high.
Despite breaking down and walking a lot of the last 8-9 miles, I had done it. I had finished the Chicago Marathon. My chip time was 5 hours 00 minutes and 46 seconds. This wasn’t too far from my goal of a sub 5 hour marathon.
Honestly, completing the Chicago Marathon in these challenging conditions was the single hardest thing I have done in my life. To finish, you had to be a survivor; a person determined to keep moving forward despite the pain and the doubt. I questioned myself, but knew at the very least I would finish. It was this belief as well as the people supporting me that had kept me going.
When I arrived back at the CARA tent, I saw some of my group members. It turns out most of them also had a lot of trouble with the heat. In fact most of them finished in the 5 hour range as well. I also later found out that 10000 people chose not to run the race at all while another 10000 people started, but didn’t finish. Collectively 20000 people of 45000 never finished. As my Uncle said, “well at least you finished in the top half.” Considering all this, I realized that my performance hadn’t been that bad. In fact, it took a lot of guts and determination to even finish the race on a day like this. I can’t be disappointed about my effort and my toughness.
Overall, the Chicago Marathon is a magical experience. Never have I had the opportunity to see a whole city come out to support an event and the people participating in it. It was wonderful to hear the spectator encouragement (especially when they could shout out your name from your nametag). Also it gave me a chance to see some of the city’s neighborhoods and its people up close. I highly recommend this race as a goal for anyone I know.
As I close, I would like to give thanks to many people. First I give thanks to my family and friends who tracked my progress and sent messages of encouragement and support. I was truly surprised by the outpour you gave. It went a long way on race day. I also give special thanks to the people who made out on the course to watch me run and finish (my Dad, Sarin, Ben, Chris, Scott, David, Rich, Arjun, and Dhaval). It was a tremendous gesture. I also want to thank my CARA group members and our pace leader, Tom. They were there with me for four months of early Saturday morning long runs (including the 20 miler). Without them, I don’t think I could have ever arrived at the finish line. Finally, I want to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and spectators. They made this an outstanding occasion.
After the race, I walked home down Armitage Avenue with Scott. I was still wearing my running clothes, bib, and finisher’s medal. As we passed, stranger after stranger stopped and congratulated me. I realized then how great of an achievement it was to run this race. It was as though I was a new person who had emerged from the challenge. But in reality, I was the same person I was before. I had just discovered a bit more of myself along the way.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Dress Rehearsal
Three weeks. Three weeks time stands between me and the Chicago Marathon. I have trained and sacrificed the past three months in preparation for this day. Soon it will all be over, and the satisfaction of finishing will arrive.
To get to this point has been a journey of one thousand steps. It started in June when I tackled the first long run of six miles with my CARA group. The mileages gradually increased through the weeks, finally culminating in last Sunday’s long run. That day our group took on the twenty miler. When I want to put the twenty mile run in perspective, I think of it analogously. If the marathon is the big show or opening night, then the twenty mile run is the dress rehearsal. This is the training run that is closest in distance and conditions to the actual race. We never pass this threshold in our training. There are a few reasons for this. First of all, it has been concluded through previous training trial and error that if you can survive running just twenty miles, you can tough out the full 26.2. Secondly, it is always better to undertrain than to overtrain. Training too much usually results in injury. For most people, running more than twenty miles increases the chance of injury without adding much training benefit.
Honestly, I hadn’t given much thought to the twenty mile run in the weeks preceding it. I carried no anxiety over it. In fact, the realization that the twenty miler had arrived really didn’t hit me until a day or two before the event.
I arrived at the starting point, Foster Avenue, a little after 7AM. Since this was a large event that was open to the public, things were a little chaotic at first. However, after checking my gear and waiting in the restroom lines, I was fortunate to find people from my running group. The event was setup so that everyone was divided into starting waves according to their race numbers. Everyone in my group was divided all among the ten minute per mile waves. However, we all wanted to run together as we had the past three months. Luckily our fearless running leader, Tom, was also a pace leader in this twenty mile run. Unfortunately, he was precluded from running due to a biking accident which had resulted in a knee injury. So he was able to substitute one of his running friends into his pacer position. The plan then became to run together as a group behind this pacer regardless of where we were told to start. That’s exactly what we did. We approached the starting line and were told to wait by the CARA workers with the microphones. However in typical Team Run Amok fashion, our pacer just decided to take off and we all followed.
The course took us north initially from Foster to Hollywood. We then turned south and headed all along the lakefront trail toward the South Shore Cultural Center. At first it was chilly, especially while we were waiting to start. However, as the Sun emerged, things started to heat up considerably. For the first half of the run, we ran past the usual things we had seen through much of our training. However, once we reached the area around the loop, we didn’t turn back. We kept on going past the museum campus into the unknown territory of the south side.
I had never seen the south side of the lakefront trail before, but I was pleasantly surprised. I had never expected it to be that scenic or that beautiful. The south side of the path was more pristine and more natural than the more familiar north side. I loved it. At one point during the run, we came around a bend in the shoreline and saw downtown Chicago very far away over our left shoulders. It was one of those moments that just floored you. We suddenly realized we had just run from the north end of the Lakefront past downtown into the southern half of the trail. It was amazing.
We kept pushing on, coming closer to the finish. At about the seventeen mile point, our group began to disintegrate. Some people fell back at a slower pace, most stayed with our pacer, while others including myself decided to push ahead. Eventually I ended up with two other runners from my group.
Even behind the pacer, our pace had been quicker than our supposed ten minutes per mile. Realistically for most of the run, we had been burning at a 9:30 per mile clip. Now that the group had separated out, I was pretty sure I was approaching a 9 minute per mile pace. We kept pushing onward; at this point I began to feel some discomfort. The lower left portion of my right heel began to hurt as my foot was pushing off the ground. However, it wasn’t enough to stop me. I was going to follow through to completion.
My subgroup was quickly approaching the finish. We hit a bend in the path, at which point an event worker told us it was the home stretch. I figured at this point we were either a mile or half mile away. Sure enough, my two cohorts could smell the finish. They started to push even harder and faster toward the goal. I, of course followed suit. When we finally hit the final stretches, the leader of the subgroup went into an all out sprint leaving the two of us behind. Once again, I felt challenged and decided to give chase. I also went into a full sprint, staying behind him. We kept this up until we finally crossed the finish line. We were greeted there by our team leader, Tom, and other people from our group who had finished earlier. According to my stopwatch I finished in 3 hours 13 minutes (I stopped the watch while going through water stations).
It was a great feeling. We had finished the twenty mile run. The climax of training had been completed. It was time to relax and have fun.
After the run, we waited until the rest of our group finished and then went on to enjoy the after party. There was a live band, lots of running snacks, and even a few free beers haha. We all sat on the grass in the sun and talked amongst ourselves. We found out our leader, Tom, wouldn’t be able to run the marathon this year due to his injury. It’s really sad and disappointing. He is a marathon veteran, and he had been there all through the training to lead us. All it took was one freak car-bike accident to end this year’s mission for Tom. I thought back to last year when I wished I had run the marathon and then had to wait anxiously for this year’s race. However, my past situation pales in comparison to what Tom is probably feeling now. I decided that when I run the race, I will think of Tom and finish for him.
Overall, it was a banner day. The weather and scenery were awesome. The feeling of accomplishment was great. We could all go forward to race day with added confidence.
To get to this point has been a journey of one thousand steps. It started in June when I tackled the first long run of six miles with my CARA group. The mileages gradually increased through the weeks, finally culminating in last Sunday’s long run. That day our group took on the twenty miler. When I want to put the twenty mile run in perspective, I think of it analogously. If the marathon is the big show or opening night, then the twenty mile run is the dress rehearsal. This is the training run that is closest in distance and conditions to the actual race. We never pass this threshold in our training. There are a few reasons for this. First of all, it has been concluded through previous training trial and error that if you can survive running just twenty miles, you can tough out the full 26.2. Secondly, it is always better to undertrain than to overtrain. Training too much usually results in injury. For most people, running more than twenty miles increases the chance of injury without adding much training benefit.
Honestly, I hadn’t given much thought to the twenty mile run in the weeks preceding it. I carried no anxiety over it. In fact, the realization that the twenty miler had arrived really didn’t hit me until a day or two before the event.
I arrived at the starting point, Foster Avenue, a little after 7AM. Since this was a large event that was open to the public, things were a little chaotic at first. However, after checking my gear and waiting in the restroom lines, I was fortunate to find people from my running group. The event was setup so that everyone was divided into starting waves according to their race numbers. Everyone in my group was divided all among the ten minute per mile waves. However, we all wanted to run together as we had the past three months. Luckily our fearless running leader, Tom, was also a pace leader in this twenty mile run. Unfortunately, he was precluded from running due to a biking accident which had resulted in a knee injury. So he was able to substitute one of his running friends into his pacer position. The plan then became to run together as a group behind this pacer regardless of where we were told to start. That’s exactly what we did. We approached the starting line and were told to wait by the CARA workers with the microphones. However in typical Team Run Amok fashion, our pacer just decided to take off and we all followed.
The course took us north initially from Foster to Hollywood. We then turned south and headed all along the lakefront trail toward the South Shore Cultural Center. At first it was chilly, especially while we were waiting to start. However, as the Sun emerged, things started to heat up considerably. For the first half of the run, we ran past the usual things we had seen through much of our training. However, once we reached the area around the loop, we didn’t turn back. We kept on going past the museum campus into the unknown territory of the south side.
I had never seen the south side of the lakefront trail before, but I was pleasantly surprised. I had never expected it to be that scenic or that beautiful. The south side of the path was more pristine and more natural than the more familiar north side. I loved it. At one point during the run, we came around a bend in the shoreline and saw downtown Chicago very far away over our left shoulders. It was one of those moments that just floored you. We suddenly realized we had just run from the north end of the Lakefront past downtown into the southern half of the trail. It was amazing.
We kept pushing on, coming closer to the finish. At about the seventeen mile point, our group began to disintegrate. Some people fell back at a slower pace, most stayed with our pacer, while others including myself decided to push ahead. Eventually I ended up with two other runners from my group.
Even behind the pacer, our pace had been quicker than our supposed ten minutes per mile. Realistically for most of the run, we had been burning at a 9:30 per mile clip. Now that the group had separated out, I was pretty sure I was approaching a 9 minute per mile pace. We kept pushing onward; at this point I began to feel some discomfort. The lower left portion of my right heel began to hurt as my foot was pushing off the ground. However, it wasn’t enough to stop me. I was going to follow through to completion.
My subgroup was quickly approaching the finish. We hit a bend in the path, at which point an event worker told us it was the home stretch. I figured at this point we were either a mile or half mile away. Sure enough, my two cohorts could smell the finish. They started to push even harder and faster toward the goal. I, of course followed suit. When we finally hit the final stretches, the leader of the subgroup went into an all out sprint leaving the two of us behind. Once again, I felt challenged and decided to give chase. I also went into a full sprint, staying behind him. We kept this up until we finally crossed the finish line. We were greeted there by our team leader, Tom, and other people from our group who had finished earlier. According to my stopwatch I finished in 3 hours 13 minutes (I stopped the watch while going through water stations).
It was a great feeling. We had finished the twenty mile run. The climax of training had been completed. It was time to relax and have fun.
After the run, we waited until the rest of our group finished and then went on to enjoy the after party. There was a live band, lots of running snacks, and even a few free beers haha. We all sat on the grass in the sun and talked amongst ourselves. We found out our leader, Tom, wouldn’t be able to run the marathon this year due to his injury. It’s really sad and disappointing. He is a marathon veteran, and he had been there all through the training to lead us. All it took was one freak car-bike accident to end this year’s mission for Tom. I thought back to last year when I wished I had run the marathon and then had to wait anxiously for this year’s race. However, my past situation pales in comparison to what Tom is probably feeling now. I decided that when I run the race, I will think of Tom and finish for him.
Overall, it was a banner day. The weather and scenery were awesome. The feeling of accomplishment was great. We could all go forward to race day with added confidence.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Lollapalooza 2007
This last Sunday I went to Lollapalooza with my roommate and some of his friends. Overall, I was pretty glad that I attended. I had always had a sense of regret from last year when I didn’t go, especially because my favorite band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was headlining.
This year, I also didn’t initially plan on attending even though my second favorite band, Pearl Jam, was headlining. However, this all changed in the matter of a few moments. A few weeks back, my roommate, Scott, said he knew some people going to all three days. He had then decided to go on Sunday, the day Pearl Jam was playing. He asked if I wanted to go. I checked out the lineup and saw some decent acts were playing that day (Modest Mouse, Amy Winehouse, and Pearl Jam) and decided that this would be worth paying the price of admission.
I had some trepidation about going to the festival because it turned out that Sunday was really hot and humid. I remember last year there was a lot of fanfare concerning how hot it was during the day and people lacking water, etc. So this was in the back of my mind. However, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I imagined. Don’t get me wrong, it was really hot and sticky, but it wasn’t something that a little water couldn’t cure. Plus even though there were lots of people there, it didn’t feel or seem to be overly crowded.
So we started off the day listening to Amy Winehouse. I had really anticipated this one since I had become enamored with her voice as of late. Overall, I thought her performance was really good. She shows a lot of range in her styles, and I love her retro throwback (50s/60s jazzy lounge) sound. I think her voice is great, and that it sounds refreshingly different from most acts today. Scott made the keen observation that Amy kind of sounds like Lauryn Hill (another one my singing favs). I had never really thought it about it, but I think there’s some truth to it.
We then wandered and listened to a few other acts (Kings of Leon, the Wailers). Finally we settled in and listened to Modest Mouse. This show was a little harder for me to appreciate as I really don’t know their songs (with exception of “Float On”). However, it sounded pretty good as well.
Finally, we ventured across Grant Park one last time in order to get positioning for Pearl Jam. It had been four years since I last saw them at a killer show in Indy. One thing was certain from the last time I had seen them play; PJ knows how to rock a live performance. I would definitely say they were one of the best acts I had seen live, if not the best. Well this show didn’t disappoint either. They pretty much played two hours and went through a decent range of their catalogue. Also Eddie Vedder was his usual funny, wisecracking self.
From what I remember, PJ played songs like “Not for You”, “Corduroy”, “Given to Fly”, “Daughter”, “State of Love and Trust”, and “World Wide Suicide.” For me, probably the highlights were when they busted out the old favorites from their first album, “Ten”, with “Evenflow” and “Alive.” The whole crowd was singing along to both of these classics.
PJ came out on stage twice for encores. During the first one, Eddie pulled out “Betterman”, for which the crowd sang the entire first verse alone. Then for the second encore, Ben Harper joined the band onstage to sing an anti war song. Finally, PJ, Ben Harper, and a decent amount of people from the audience were onstage rocking it to a frenetic cover of Neil Young’s “Keep on Rocking in the Free World.” It was a fitting ending.
Once again PJ put on a great show. It’s sweet to see them live. I was kind of disappointed they didn’t play “Yellow Ledbetter”, but how can I complain too much really. I definitely recommend seeing them if you have the chance.
This year, I also didn’t initially plan on attending even though my second favorite band, Pearl Jam, was headlining. However, this all changed in the matter of a few moments. A few weeks back, my roommate, Scott, said he knew some people going to all three days. He had then decided to go on Sunday, the day Pearl Jam was playing. He asked if I wanted to go. I checked out the lineup and saw some decent acts were playing that day (Modest Mouse, Amy Winehouse, and Pearl Jam) and decided that this would be worth paying the price of admission.
I had some trepidation about going to the festival because it turned out that Sunday was really hot and humid. I remember last year there was a lot of fanfare concerning how hot it was during the day and people lacking water, etc. So this was in the back of my mind. However, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I imagined. Don’t get me wrong, it was really hot and sticky, but it wasn’t something that a little water couldn’t cure. Plus even though there were lots of people there, it didn’t feel or seem to be overly crowded.
So we started off the day listening to Amy Winehouse. I had really anticipated this one since I had become enamored with her voice as of late. Overall, I thought her performance was really good. She shows a lot of range in her styles, and I love her retro throwback (50s/60s jazzy lounge) sound. I think her voice is great, and that it sounds refreshingly different from most acts today. Scott made the keen observation that Amy kind of sounds like Lauryn Hill (another one my singing favs). I had never really thought it about it, but I think there’s some truth to it.
We then wandered and listened to a few other acts (Kings of Leon, the Wailers). Finally we settled in and listened to Modest Mouse. This show was a little harder for me to appreciate as I really don’t know their songs (with exception of “Float On”). However, it sounded pretty good as well.
Finally, we ventured across Grant Park one last time in order to get positioning for Pearl Jam. It had been four years since I last saw them at a killer show in Indy. One thing was certain from the last time I had seen them play; PJ knows how to rock a live performance. I would definitely say they were one of the best acts I had seen live, if not the best. Well this show didn’t disappoint either. They pretty much played two hours and went through a decent range of their catalogue. Also Eddie Vedder was his usual funny, wisecracking self.
From what I remember, PJ played songs like “Not for You”, “Corduroy”, “Given to Fly”, “Daughter”, “State of Love and Trust”, and “World Wide Suicide.” For me, probably the highlights were when they busted out the old favorites from their first album, “Ten”, with “Evenflow” and “Alive.” The whole crowd was singing along to both of these classics.
PJ came out on stage twice for encores. During the first one, Eddie pulled out “Betterman”, for which the crowd sang the entire first verse alone. Then for the second encore, Ben Harper joined the band onstage to sing an anti war song. Finally, PJ, Ben Harper, and a decent amount of people from the audience were onstage rocking it to a frenetic cover of Neil Young’s “Keep on Rocking in the Free World.” It was a fitting ending.
Once again PJ put on a great show. It’s sweet to see them live. I was kind of disappointed they didn’t play “Yellow Ledbetter”, but how can I complain too much really. I definitely recommend seeing them if you have the chance.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Best of What’s Around
Through college and some of high school, I have always liked the Dave Matthews Band. From his first major studio release “Under the Table and Dreaming”, the leadoff song was always a favorite of mine. That song, “The Best of What’s Around”, has very good lyrics, some of which stick in my mind.
“Turns out not where but who you're with
That really matters”
A lot of times in my life, I am reminded of those lyrics. There have been times when I thought if only I could be in a certain place or location, that my life could be very different. Or we as people think that if only we could be anywhere other than our present location, we would feel better. We think that such a shift would remedy some of our problems. However, over the past few months, I have come to realize that isn’t necessarily true. Things may always look promising in other locales, but really every situation and setting has its advantages and disadvantages.
The fact of matter is that it isn’t so much where you are, but who you surround yourself with that determines your quality of life. When you have a good, strong base of friends with whom you can stay active and involved, you feel happy. In any place without these friends, I think a sense of loneliness and dissatisfaction sets in. You can’t run away from this feeling.
When I think about life, I tend to think in terms of experiences. Especially experiences involving time spent with my best friends. In fact these are my happiest times. I recall the memories of traveling Europe with my best friend from college for three weeks, playing a round of paintball with my hometown boys, hitting up IU for little 500 with two of my best friends, going on a Cedar Point road trip while in high school, eating out on Sundays with my fraternity brothers, walking along the beaches in Mexico with my uncle, and drinking with my work friends on Lake Michigan until sunrise. All these things make smile and feel fulfilled.
When I want to epitomize this kind of moment, I think back to a movie scene. The end of the movie, “Sleepers”, has a scene where five childhood friends gather in a private room of a New York bar. They drink, tell stories, laugh, and even sing together. It’s the last moment they are all together before their lives diverge or ultimately end. However, I can’t help but think about the coziness of the situation. Everyone is immersed into the present moment and the comradery. It’s one of those moments that I wish I could recreate in my life and bask in forever. It’s also a rare movie moment that almost makes me cry. It’s such an awesome scene, but it’s bittersweet. Observing this situation makes me think about how fortunate we are to have good friends and people in our lives.
“Turns out not where but who you're with
That really matters”
A lot of times in my life, I am reminded of those lyrics. There have been times when I thought if only I could be in a certain place or location, that my life could be very different. Or we as people think that if only we could be anywhere other than our present location, we would feel better. We think that such a shift would remedy some of our problems. However, over the past few months, I have come to realize that isn’t necessarily true. Things may always look promising in other locales, but really every situation and setting has its advantages and disadvantages.
The fact of matter is that it isn’t so much where you are, but who you surround yourself with that determines your quality of life. When you have a good, strong base of friends with whom you can stay active and involved, you feel happy. In any place without these friends, I think a sense of loneliness and dissatisfaction sets in. You can’t run away from this feeling.
When I think about life, I tend to think in terms of experiences. Especially experiences involving time spent with my best friends. In fact these are my happiest times. I recall the memories of traveling Europe with my best friend from college for three weeks, playing a round of paintball with my hometown boys, hitting up IU for little 500 with two of my best friends, going on a Cedar Point road trip while in high school, eating out on Sundays with my fraternity brothers, walking along the beaches in Mexico with my uncle, and drinking with my work friends on Lake Michigan until sunrise. All these things make smile and feel fulfilled.
When I want to epitomize this kind of moment, I think back to a movie scene. The end of the movie, “Sleepers”, has a scene where five childhood friends gather in a private room of a New York bar. They drink, tell stories, laugh, and even sing together. It’s the last moment they are all together before their lives diverge or ultimately end. However, I can’t help but think about the coziness of the situation. Everyone is immersed into the present moment and the comradery. It’s one of those moments that I wish I could recreate in my life and bask in forever. It’s also a rare movie moment that almost makes me cry. It’s such an awesome scene, but it’s bittersweet. Observing this situation makes me think about how fortunate we are to have good friends and people in our lives.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Chicago Lakefront
Of all of the places in Chicago, probably my favorite destination is the Chicago lakefront. It’s peaceful there, exhibiting greenery and natural things. People there are active, usually enjoying the weather or relaxing on the beach. I feel that when a person lives in the midst of urban congestion, this is a place where he can forget all of that. It’s not too far of a stretch for me, considering that I was born and raised in Indiana among vast plains of fields and forests. So most of my life, I have dwelled in the countryside, and I have grown accustomed to wilderness and the feeling of space that comes with it. To me, I guess that’s what the lakefront somewhat resembles. It’s like a memory of what it is like to be around natural things. Perhaps it is a reminder of what it’s like to be around home.
I run there every weekend. At first I ran by myself and now I run with a large group of trainees preparing for the Chicago marathon. Usually when I am there, I am not only exercising, but also soaking in the sun. All of this combines to make me feel good and pleasant.
When I run by myself, sometimes I dissociate my thoughts (actually a less than desirable running practice). During these occasions, I build and build into a natural kinesthetic rhythm where I let my mind settle into a meditative state. In this state, distances and time feel as though they were nothing. No worries enter my mind. I feel focused.
In contrast, I now find that I am making tons of new acquaintances when running with other people in the CARA marathon training program. We talk about many things as we pound the trail together, dodging snobby bikers (haha) and other obstacles. I find this makes the long distances of 9, 10, 13, and hopefully 20 miles disappear much quicker and more easily.
So no matter the situation, I feel good and comfortable when I on the lakefront.
I run there every weekend. At first I ran by myself and now I run with a large group of trainees preparing for the Chicago marathon. Usually when I am there, I am not only exercising, but also soaking in the sun. All of this combines to make me feel good and pleasant.
When I run by myself, sometimes I dissociate my thoughts (actually a less than desirable running practice). During these occasions, I build and build into a natural kinesthetic rhythm where I let my mind settle into a meditative state. In this state, distances and time feel as though they were nothing. No worries enter my mind. I feel focused.
In contrast, I now find that I am making tons of new acquaintances when running with other people in the CARA marathon training program. We talk about many things as we pound the trail together, dodging snobby bikers (haha) and other obstacles. I find this makes the long distances of 9, 10, 13, and hopefully 20 miles disappear much quicker and more easily.
So no matter the situation, I feel good and comfortable when I on the lakefront.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Training Day
Today I officially kicked off the process of training for the 2007 Chicago Marathon. A few weeks ago after some deliberation, I decided to sign up for the CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) marathon training program. Today they hosted their super seminar at UIC medical school. Basically they gathered alot of speakers on a variety of topics such as nutrition, injuries, stretching and strengthening, training programs, and running form. Honestly, it was an information overload. I have never heard so much in one day about technique, stretching exercises, or all of the bad things that can happen to you while running a marathon.
Also true to past form, this running event also allowed me to make the acquaintance of new people who were randomly gathered there as beginning marathoners. As the next few weeks come, and I start my long runs, I can tell I am going to meet so many new people and hopefully form some good bonds as we train together. Ultimately, I feel that the decision to do this was a good one.
One highlight of the event was that I finally had the opportunity to hear Hal Higdon speak about running and the training program. He was pretty energetic for an older guy and I thought he had a great sense of humor in his speaking style. Overall he was a well polished presenter. As I listened to him, I thought about what it must be like to be a legend like Hal. To have run so many marathons (over 100), write for Runner's World since the 60s, and write books like Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (a good read for aspiring marathoners). His training programs at halhigdon.com are almost the de facto standard, and I am sure his book has inspired many people including myself to attempt this great feat. Sometimes its funny how one man's efforts can have such a wide effect. I really admire his work.
Finally, at one point, the presenters played video highlights of last year's Chicago marathon. Just seeing the menu looping sequence of all the people crossing the huge starting line gave me chills. It is clear that this will be the biggest race I have ever been involved with. It's really amazing that all of these people (all ages, shapes, and sizes) set out to accomplish such a demanding task. People there talked about how completing the first marathon and its training was a powerful experience. If I can pull it off, I am hoping I will be able to say the same thing.
Also true to past form, this running event also allowed me to make the acquaintance of new people who were randomly gathered there as beginning marathoners. As the next few weeks come, and I start my long runs, I can tell I am going to meet so many new people and hopefully form some good bonds as we train together. Ultimately, I feel that the decision to do this was a good one.
One highlight of the event was that I finally had the opportunity to hear Hal Higdon speak about running and the training program. He was pretty energetic for an older guy and I thought he had a great sense of humor in his speaking style. Overall he was a well polished presenter. As I listened to him, I thought about what it must be like to be a legend like Hal. To have run so many marathons (over 100), write for Runner's World since the 60s, and write books like Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (a good read for aspiring marathoners). His training programs at halhigdon.com are almost the de facto standard, and I am sure his book has inspired many people including myself to attempt this great feat. Sometimes its funny how one man's efforts can have such a wide effect. I really admire his work.
Finally, at one point, the presenters played video highlights of last year's Chicago marathon. Just seeing the menu looping sequence of all the people crossing the huge starting line gave me chills. It is clear that this will be the biggest race I have ever been involved with. It's really amazing that all of these people (all ages, shapes, and sizes) set out to accomplish such a demanding task. People there talked about how completing the first marathon and its training was a powerful experience. If I can pull it off, I am hoping I will be able to say the same thing.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Thoughts on 300
A few weeks ago, I finally ventured out and saw the movie, “300.” Overall, I liked the movie, especially the visuals. For being a 60 million dollar movie, I thought the computer generated graphics were impressive. Also the choreography of the battle scenes was spectacular. I really liked the usage of slow motion during the skirmishes. It added a nice artsy touch, making the scenes a “ballet of violence” as other movie critics pointed out. It kind of reminded me of when “The Matrix” debuted and showed us the visuals of “bullet time.”
The compelling part of “300” lies in the sacrifice of the Spartans and the other Greek soldiers. One has to wonder what drives men to willingly choose to die. The easy way out in their situation would have been to surrender or least to retreat. Withdrawal would have been a move that many would have deemed wise. However, as Doestevsky once mentioned in “Notes from the Underground”, the fascinating thing about humans is that they don’t always make the rational decision. Humans are rare creatures in that they can purposely choose to respond irrationally. If we assume that humans are almost always guided by self interest, personal gain, and the drive for survival, the Spartans last stand seems foolish. They knew they were going to die. What did they stand to gain from giving up their lives?
Looking from a military strategy perspective, the Spartans’ and their allies’ last stand was to buy time. They would delay the Persian army enough in order to provide cover for the forces whom retreated earlier from the battle. Ultimately, the battle of Thermopylae also bought time for all of Greece. Since the Persians were delayed on the order of a week, the city of Athens was allowed to evacuate. This eventually led to Greece uniting its forces and decisively beating back the Persians’ invading force.
However, when looking at the battle, the deeper ramifications should be considered. The Greek warriors stayed in order to show their resolve and their dedication to their way of life. They wanted to show the Persians how far men would go to protect their own sovereignty and culture. It was rare, because in this instance, men were sacrificing themselves for the preservation of abstract ideas rather than just pure wealth and material.
Many would say that in the face of overwhelming odds with each individual’s death staring him in the face, the natural reaction would have been to bargain with the enemy or else retreat. The natural move would have been to preserve one’s existence instead of just throwing it aside as a gift to posterity and country. However, the Greeks choose to betray their own flesh rather than their principles and ideals. It was because of these principles (determination, honor, and integrity) that they could not back down. Their ideals of democracy would have died had they submitted, because then everyone would have considered the ideals as frivolous and because the Persians' culture would have stamped them out. However, the fashion of the soldiers’ sacrifice provided true value and legitimacy to those ideals. It showed individuals were willing to give something very valuable in order for those ideals to survive.
The sacrifice at Thermopylae arguably saved Greece from being wiped from the annals of history. It also sent a ripple through time that culminated with the founding of the United States and thus the rise of the western world. This chain of events was the ultimate realization of the burgeoning ideals for which the 300 and their allies sacrificed themselves long ago.
The compelling part of “300” lies in the sacrifice of the Spartans and the other Greek soldiers. One has to wonder what drives men to willingly choose to die. The easy way out in their situation would have been to surrender or least to retreat. Withdrawal would have been a move that many would have deemed wise. However, as Doestevsky once mentioned in “Notes from the Underground”, the fascinating thing about humans is that they don’t always make the rational decision. Humans are rare creatures in that they can purposely choose to respond irrationally. If we assume that humans are almost always guided by self interest, personal gain, and the drive for survival, the Spartans last stand seems foolish. They knew they were going to die. What did they stand to gain from giving up their lives?
Looking from a military strategy perspective, the Spartans’ and their allies’ last stand was to buy time. They would delay the Persian army enough in order to provide cover for the forces whom retreated earlier from the battle. Ultimately, the battle of Thermopylae also bought time for all of Greece. Since the Persians were delayed on the order of a week, the city of Athens was allowed to evacuate. This eventually led to Greece uniting its forces and decisively beating back the Persians’ invading force.
However, when looking at the battle, the deeper ramifications should be considered. The Greek warriors stayed in order to show their resolve and their dedication to their way of life. They wanted to show the Persians how far men would go to protect their own sovereignty and culture. It was rare, because in this instance, men were sacrificing themselves for the preservation of abstract ideas rather than just pure wealth and material.
Many would say that in the face of overwhelming odds with each individual’s death staring him in the face, the natural reaction would have been to bargain with the enemy or else retreat. The natural move would have been to preserve one’s existence instead of just throwing it aside as a gift to posterity and country. However, the Greeks choose to betray their own flesh rather than their principles and ideals. It was because of these principles (determination, honor, and integrity) that they could not back down. Their ideals of democracy would have died had they submitted, because then everyone would have considered the ideals as frivolous and because the Persians' culture would have stamped them out. However, the fashion of the soldiers’ sacrifice provided true value and legitimacy to those ideals. It showed individuals were willing to give something very valuable in order for those ideals to survive.
The sacrifice at Thermopylae arguably saved Greece from being wiped from the annals of history. It also sent a ripple through time that culminated with the founding of the United States and thus the rise of the western world. This chain of events was the ultimate realization of the burgeoning ideals for which the 300 and their allies sacrificed themselves long ago.
Monday, March 19, 2007
No Shame
As expected, Purdue dropped the second round NCAA tournament matchup versus Florida, 74-67. However, with this loss, there is nothing to be ashamed of. As I posted previously, I said I would be impressed if Purdue put out a great effort. They didn't disappoint. Purdue took it right to Florida and played their hearts out. We enjoyed a consistent lead in the first half (7 points at one point in the game) and ended up leading at the half by 2 points. In the second half, we had the lead for probably 10-12 minutes. Then we clawed back from 5 to 7 point deficits to lead again at the 7 minute mark, 49-47. Ultimately, Purdue could not withstand a flurry of free throws made by Florida, the clutch inside play of Al Horford, and missing their own free throws. Despite fading some in the second half, Purdue never gave up and kept it close.
The physicality of the game was best summarized by Josh Peters in his Yahoo Sports column. Here is the excerpt:
"The Boilermakers gave Florida a taste of Big Ten basketball, and it went down about as well as Castor Oil. A plodding tempo. In-your-face defense. The kind of body slamming usually reserved for a mosh pit."
Landry finished the game with 18 points and 10 boards against the bigger Florida frontline. His effort was inspiring, so much in fact that he earned the respect of Florida stars, Joakim Noah and Al Horford. All three players embraced on the court after the game. It was almost as though Noah and Horford were warriors showing respect for a worthy fallen opponent. Noah later went on to say "I give [Landry] a lot of respect. He's a warrior. There was not a single play when he gave up going for the rebound or for the shot. I feel bad for him because I know how hard it is to lose in the tournament."
Teague and Chris Kramer also played well each finishing with 14 points.
Personally, I would like to take time to thank the seniors for this season. Landry and Teague had great performances throughout the whole year. They were really the catalysts for this year's turnaround. When Purdue fans look back, Teague and Landry will be seen as the firestarters, the guys who brought Purdue back. Hopefully they both can continue their careers professionally.
This game only reaffirms the future is bright for Purdue. Matt Painter and his staff are good. They are good tactically, good at developing players, good at motivating players, and so far good at getting some recruits. Purdue as a team improved substantially as the season progressed. Also Purdue's nationally ranked recruiting class comes in next year. If they can gel with the mainstays, Purdue will be tough once again.
One last thing, Purdue recruit E'twaun Moore and East Chicago Central takes on IU recruit (top 5 talent) Eric Gordon and Indy North Central in the 4A title tilt next Saturday.
The physicality of the game was best summarized by Josh Peters in his Yahoo Sports column. Here is the excerpt:
"The Boilermakers gave Florida a taste of Big Ten basketball, and it went down about as well as Castor Oil. A plodding tempo. In-your-face defense. The kind of body slamming usually reserved for a mosh pit."
Landry finished the game with 18 points and 10 boards against the bigger Florida frontline. His effort was inspiring, so much in fact that he earned the respect of Florida stars, Joakim Noah and Al Horford. All three players embraced on the court after the game. It was almost as though Noah and Horford were warriors showing respect for a worthy fallen opponent. Noah later went on to say "I give [Landry] a lot of respect. He's a warrior. There was not a single play when he gave up going for the rebound or for the shot. I feel bad for him because I know how hard it is to lose in the tournament."
Teague and Chris Kramer also played well each finishing with 14 points.
Personally, I would like to take time to thank the seniors for this season. Landry and Teague had great performances throughout the whole year. They were really the catalysts for this year's turnaround. When Purdue fans look back, Teague and Landry will be seen as the firestarters, the guys who brought Purdue back. Hopefully they both can continue their careers professionally.
This game only reaffirms the future is bright for Purdue. Matt Painter and his staff are good. They are good tactically, good at developing players, good at motivating players, and so far good at getting some recruits. Purdue as a team improved substantially as the season progressed. Also Purdue's nationally ranked recruiting class comes in next year. If they can gel with the mainstays, Purdue will be tough once again.
One last thing, Purdue recruit E'twaun Moore and East Chicago Central takes on IU recruit (top 5 talent) Eric Gordon and Indy North Central in the 4A title tilt next Saturday.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
March is the best time of year
The month of March is probably my favorite time of the year. The primary reason for this is because the NCAA Division I basketball tournament takes place during this month. The tournament is the biggest and most exciting event in America. There are so many games to follow , and everyone has a reasonable chance at predicting the outcome which makes it very accessible. This last thing in itself gives everyone a stake in the tournament. What other event captivates the attention of so many fans and even their grandmothers? Many are in interested in all the games since each has an effect on their prediction. The excitement is increased because of the nature of the tournament format and the game of basketball itself. Basketball is inherently a game of runs and flows. A team may have a huge lead, but there almost always is a chance to make a comeback. The game goes back and forth and is usually very unpredictable. The other great attribute is the fact the tournament format gives us rare matchups between majors from vastly different power conferences as well as between the good mid-majors and the majors. Since it is not a series format, but rather a one and done game, anyone has a chance to knock off any team on a given night.
We are in the midst of the first four days of the tournament, which I think are the best. In this span, the most games are played simultaneously. Also we usually see the crazy upsets of the first and second rounds. I almost feel the final four and the championship game are anticlimatic in comparison to the first four days.
Anyway now on to Purdue basketball. Purdue pulled out a great win on Friday night to stay alive. They outhustled and overwhelmed Arizona with their toughness. Also Purdue really slowed the game down and forced Arizona to play half court. We imposed our will on them. It really shows that sometimes talent and athletic ability alone cannot win games. It is a combination of many factors. A few of those factors are desire and effort. Friday night Purdue overcame Arizona's edge in athleticism and talent with heart, toughness, coaching, and determination. It was a great win in the Painter era. Hopefully more great things are on the way the next few years.
Purdue now gets the matchup with possibly the best team in the nation, Florida. I don't think realistically Purdue will win the game. Florida is a very complete team and definitely has the inside edge on Purdue. However, anything can happen since the game is a tournament game. Personally, I like these desperate situations. Instead of dread, I look at this as a great opportunity to give one of the best teams your best shot. This is a chance to leave a lasting impression. I am already proud of Purdue's turnaround this season. I will be more impressed if they give Florida all they can handle tomorrow afternoon.
Go Purdue
We are in the midst of the first four days of the tournament, which I think are the best. In this span, the most games are played simultaneously. Also we usually see the crazy upsets of the first and second rounds. I almost feel the final four and the championship game are anticlimatic in comparison to the first four days.
Anyway now on to Purdue basketball. Purdue pulled out a great win on Friday night to stay alive. They outhustled and overwhelmed Arizona with their toughness. Also Purdue really slowed the game down and forced Arizona to play half court. We imposed our will on them. It really shows that sometimes talent and athletic ability alone cannot win games. It is a combination of many factors. A few of those factors are desire and effort. Friday night Purdue overcame Arizona's edge in athleticism and talent with heart, toughness, coaching, and determination. It was a great win in the Painter era. Hopefully more great things are on the way the next few years.
Purdue now gets the matchup with possibly the best team in the nation, Florida. I don't think realistically Purdue will win the game. Florida is a very complete team and definitely has the inside edge on Purdue. However, anything can happen since the game is a tournament game. Personally, I like these desperate situations. Instead of dread, I look at this as a great opportunity to give one of the best teams your best shot. This is a chance to leave a lasting impression. I am already proud of Purdue's turnaround this season. I will be more impressed if they give Florida all they can handle tomorrow afternoon.
Go Purdue
Monday, March 12, 2007
NCAA Tournament and weekend thoughts (Greg Oden please go pro next year)
This was a pretty solid weekend. Friday, my beloved Purdue Boilermakers claimed victory over Iowa in the Big Ten tournament. Purdue played with alot of energy and as I predicted, Landry and Teague would not be held to another bad performance by the Hawkeyes. The woodshed beating we gave Iowa was the exclamation point and really helped solidify our case for an NCAA bid.
Saturday, I again attended Big Ten Tournament action at the United Center (this time with the Abate brothers). We were treated to their favorite team, the Ohio State, going up against my fav, Purdue. Purdue played really tough and like the other meetings this year hung with Ohio State for 30-32 minutes. However, Ohio State shut our scoring down the last 8-10 minutes and pulled away eventually for a 11 point victory. Landry played really well and showed some versatility going up against superman center, Greg Oden.
Oden just changes the game. He was really the huge reason why tOSU beat us down the stretch. I liken him to Shaq because he just has what I call a "Black Hole" effect on the game. He draws so much attention as well as the opposition's worries. Oden alters people's shots physically and psychologically. He cleans up alot of rebounds. He finishes well in the post. He does so many things that just affect the game. He is a master of intangibles, and the fact of the matter is that his teams just flat out win (look at Lawrence North HS in Indiana). No doubt lingers in my mind that Oden is better than Kevin Durant and should be the #1 NBA draft pick if both players declare. Oden is just a rare player that comes out maybe every 10, 20, or maybe 30 years. It's players like Oden who are the foundation of championship teams and perhaps basketball dynasties (see Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin) . Durant is good and statistically more flashy, but players with his skills and game come every few years (if not every 1 or 2 years).
Oden had a monster put back dunk on Purdue over Landry and Teague in the game. It was in a way his heralding. The announcement that yes, the basketball superman had just busted out. It's just a shame this highlight reel had to come against my team. All I can say to Oden is that I hope he goes on to success in the future and that hopefully that success will be with an NBA team next year. I don't think the rest of the Big Ten could deal if he comes back for another college season.
So after the loss, I was sweating out selection Sunday. However, with North Carolina and Florida taking care of the upstarts (NC State and Arkansas), I was breathing easier. All of the drama was put to rest, when early in the brackets I found Purdue was set to face Arizona in the Midwest 8 vs 9 matchup.
I am so elated because this is a huge stepping stone in bringing Purdue basketball back to being competitive. Even if we lose the game, we will have great momentum for next season. The future really looks bright. Alot of the credit for this amazing turnaround goes to Matt Painter for being a good coach and to Landry and Teague for their awesome final seasons. Hopefully we can knock off Arizona. Then we could most likely get a shot against defending champion Florida (I love suicide missions).
Regardless of the tournament outcome, go Purdue.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Pregame Thoughts - Purdue vs. Iowa - Big Ten Tournament
I had a pretty good day considering that I went to the opening round action of the Big Ten tournament instead of going to work. I attended the opening day since I had projected Purdue to be in the lower half (6-11) of the seeds. However, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. Purdue earned the five seed and now plays on Friday. So now I find myself anxiously anticipating a Friday afternoon matchup between my beloved Boilermakers and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
First, let's examine the backdrop for this matchup. After many frustrating seasons (at least the past four), Purdue has turned in a good effort this year. They find themselves 20-10 with a Big Ten regular season record of 9-7. In the preseason there were some good wins over Oklahoma, Depaul, Virginia, and Missouri. In the Big Ten, we creamed Michigan State and Illinois, had a nice win over hated arch rival Indiana, and split the series with Michigan. This is a marked improvement from the past. David Teague and Carl Landry have been outstanding for Purdue this season coming off of major knee injuries. For once, I think the ship is righting its course. Not only has Purdue had an awesome year relative to the recent past, but they bring in a nationally ranked (top 10) recruiting class for next year. So naturally, I am optimistic about the future of Purdue basketball.
With that said, tomorrow's game is pretty important. Lose and Purdue is looking at the NIT. This is an improvement, but why settle for less? At this moment, Purdue finds itself on the bubble in regards to NCAA tournament consideration. If Purdue can pull out this victory, I think they have earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. A victory won't be easy. Iowa killed Purdue a few weeks back in Iowa City. Plus we all know Steve Alford's Big Ten tournament record and the fact that Iowa needs to win the tournament to get in.
Despite all this, I remain positive about the game. It's on a neutral court and I don't think Iowa can hold Landry and Teague to bad games twice in a row. If Purdue wins, this will be a major accelerator in terms of momentum for next year. It would also be a date that many Purdue fans could look back upon and see as a turning point in our basketball fortunes.
Go Purdue.
First, let's examine the backdrop for this matchup. After many frustrating seasons (at least the past four), Purdue has turned in a good effort this year. They find themselves 20-10 with a Big Ten regular season record of 9-7. In the preseason there were some good wins over Oklahoma, Depaul, Virginia, and Missouri. In the Big Ten, we creamed Michigan State and Illinois, had a nice win over hated arch rival Indiana, and split the series with Michigan. This is a marked improvement from the past. David Teague and Carl Landry have been outstanding for Purdue this season coming off of major knee injuries. For once, I think the ship is righting its course. Not only has Purdue had an awesome year relative to the recent past, but they bring in a nationally ranked (top 10) recruiting class for next year. So naturally, I am optimistic about the future of Purdue basketball.
With that said, tomorrow's game is pretty important. Lose and Purdue is looking at the NIT. This is an improvement, but why settle for less? At this moment, Purdue finds itself on the bubble in regards to NCAA tournament consideration. If Purdue can pull out this victory, I think they have earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. A victory won't be easy. Iowa killed Purdue a few weeks back in Iowa City. Plus we all know Steve Alford's Big Ten tournament record and the fact that Iowa needs to win the tournament to get in.
Despite all this, I remain positive about the game. It's on a neutral court and I don't think Iowa can hold Landry and Teague to bad games twice in a row. If Purdue wins, this will be a major accelerator in terms of momentum for next year. It would also be a date that many Purdue fans could look back upon and see as a turning point in our basketball fortunes.
Go Purdue.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Big Ten Basketball: Awards
Here are my honors for this season of Big Ten basketball
Player of the Year: Greg Oden, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Mike Conley (only because Oden is POY), Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Oden, Ohio State
First Team All Big Ten
Greg Oden, C Ohio State
Carl Landry, F Purdue
Alando Tucker, F Wisconsin
Adam Haluska, G Iowa
Drew Neitzel, G Michigan State
Second Team
D.J. White, F Indiana
Kammron Taylor, G Wisconsin
David Teague, G Purdue
Mike Conley, G Ohio State
Geary Claxton, F Penn State
Conley is most underrated player in the Big Ten. It was tough not to have him on the first team. However, he is competing with Drew Neitzel. Personally, I think the key to stopping tOSU is not suffocating Greg Oden, but shutting down Conley. He is the floor general and adds much to the game with his numerous skills.
Player of the Year: Greg Oden, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Mike Conley (only because Oden is POY), Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Oden, Ohio State
First Team All Big Ten
Greg Oden, C Ohio State
Carl Landry, F Purdue
Alando Tucker, F Wisconsin
Adam Haluska, G Iowa
Drew Neitzel, G Michigan State
Second Team
D.J. White, F Indiana
Kammron Taylor, G Wisconsin
David Teague, G Purdue
Mike Conley, G Ohio State
Geary Claxton, F Penn State
Conley is most underrated player in the Big Ten. It was tough not to have him on the first team. However, he is competing with Drew Neitzel. Personally, I think the key to stopping tOSU is not suffocating Greg Oden, but shutting down Conley. He is the floor general and adds much to the game with his numerous skills.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Intro
So it finally happened. I have joined the ranks of the bloggers. The past year I have observed the blog postings of my friends on the facebook which inspired me to start my own. I also read an article in the U.S. World News and Report that stated that starting a blog is one of the fifty things to do in order to make yourself more happy. Well seeing those can't miss benefits, how could I resist the temptation. Finally, I hope by having this I will be able to once again sharpen my writing skills. I have written on and off the last six years, but I was never in the zone like I was back in 11th grade English with Mrs. Strickler. I guess you always need a good coach to coax the best performance.
Anyway, as my blog title indicates, I don't plan on ensuring my posts tie together in some great unified theme. My hope is to just write when I feel moved to do so. To write on topics, observances, and insights just as they come to mind. Hopefully this will be the start of something exciting and fun.
Anyway, as my blog title indicates, I don't plan on ensuring my posts tie together in some great unified theme. My hope is to just write when I feel moved to do so. To write on topics, observances, and insights just as they come to mind. Hopefully this will be the start of something exciting and fun.
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