Zach: Day 27 of 10,220 (Monday re-cap)

    Congratulaions Chris Smelley for being named SEC offensive player of the week!  Somebody check the thermostat in hell.

     Congratulations Placido Domingo for your ground breaking performance at the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza. There was controversy surrounding the performance, because many activists believe Domigo was exploiting the pyramids in an irreverent manner.  Luckily he was able to stun fans and silence critics with riveting performances of hit songs such as "Lamento di Federico" and "Gia nella notte densa".

   Today's run was an afternoon affair through a place that I once knew well, but now hardly recognize.  I parked the Avenger at the new Greenville Drive Baseball stadium which is a miniature replica of Fenway Park with a Green Monster and all.  In front of the stadium they relocated the boyhood mill village home of the most famous member of the 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" , "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.  Everyone in Greenville including myself and Tommy Lasorda maintain that Joe is innocent.  My great grandmother was a Jackson who lived in the mill village and my Papa always said that we were related so to me its a matter of family pride.  I began my run down the West End of Main Street through what used to be hood.  My former highschool is located a block away and it was also smack dab in the middle of the hood.  However, Greenville has revamped the entire area with a beautification campaign and now it looks completely different.  It's kinda like in the Whoopi Goldberg classic, "Sister Act", when they start planting flowers in old tires, except instead of planting flowers they built condos. 

   I continued my run up Main Street wearing my Under Armor  Gamecock t-shirt, black Nike shorts, Aassic Shoes, and mid calf Nike socks.  I then took a right and went over the new suspension bridge that hangs over the Reedy River.  I see Jennifer Kleckly's Dad's new restaurant.  I wonder how she's doing?  I end up taking a long detour off of Main Street.  On this detour I pass a friendly Mexican who looks at me, snaps his fingers and yells,  "¡Ándale! ¡Ándale."  I give him a point and shout back "¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!" to complete the tagline of everyone's favorite Mexican Mouse, Mr. Speedy Gonzalez, another fellow runner who we hold in very high regard here at runningfor28years.squarespace.com.  I eventaully made my way back onto Main Street and continued my run to E. Washington Street.  I then turned around and ran back to the Avenger, passing new restaurants and shops all along the way.  This place has really grown up.  When I reached the Avenger I had run roughyl 2 miles.  I got home, knocked out 55 push-ups, and went to see Greg Kinear's new movie about the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper, "Flash of Genius".  It was tragic yet uplifting.  I don't wanna ruin it for you, but I think its definately worth checking out.

Zach's quote for the Day: 

"I copied (Shoeless Joe) Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen, the greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter." - Hall of Famer Babe Ruth

 

 

Zach: Day 26 of 10,220(Sunday Re-cap)

  Happy Birthday Luther Rembert Baker!!!!  Alot of you may be asking yourself who is this guy?  Well, he's my dad, and he turned 54 on Sunday.  In celebration of this momentous occasion I returned to Greenville, the place of my childhood, for the first time since February.  It was good to be home.

  Congratulations to the Fightin' Gamecocks for your W over the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday!!!!  This was first quality victory in quite a while and will go a long way in restoring confidence to the team.  Chris Smelley finally looked like an SEC quarterback with his three td passes for 327 yards, and the Gamecock faithful got to meet our next eventual Sunday Receiver, Jason Barnes, who had 2 TD catches and one of the most amazing one handers I've seen in quite a while.  Spurrier also smiled on his talk show for the first time in two years.  Next up:  Kentucky.

I arrived in Greenville on Saturday and immediately accompanied my parents to their gym, the life center.  My dad likes to walk on the treadmill so I hopped on , cranked up the conveyer belt, and began my run atop the treadmill beside the birthday boy while sporting my new underarmor gamecock t-shirt, Nike shorts, and new aasic shoes.  My parents fully support the streak and bought me some new gear.  Thanks guys!  I really appreciate it!  During my run my dad and I had some male bonding time which is always nice.  I also really enjoyed having someone to talk to.  I've never run with anybody else, but it was much easier and more pleasant.  I easily cranked out 2.048 miles.  I then completed 55 push-ups and went to visit mamma at the pool.  She freestyle stroked to the end of the pool, popped up wearing a swim cap and goggles to inform me that she had in fact just completed 32 laps, but she was not yet finished.  Good Work mamma! 

   I rambled around the gym lifting a weight occasionally, but I am becoming more disenfranchised with the brotherhood of the weight lifter as I become a more enthusiastic runner.  After my dad completed a solid hour of power walking he hopped off the treadmill to join me in shooting some hoops.  My dad was my church league basketball coach my whole life.  He was famous in the Greenville County church league for his Bobby Knight style coaching tactics.  We began throwing the baseball, football, and going to Carolina games before I could walk, and he taught me virtually everything I know about sports.  What a great gift to give your son.  Thanks dad.  I love you...Yeah you big guy!   After he warmed up I challenged him to a game of P-I-G.  There was never a clear cut winner because we both shot about 5% from the field, and somebody has to make a shot in order for the game to progress.  We were both pretty rusty, but I don't think the goal was regulation height so that might have affected my shot.  Afterwards we went to grandma's house for food and drink.  It was a good day.

Zach's quote for the Day:  The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.  ~Thomas Jefferson

Kevin: Day 32/10220

Happy Birthday Taylor Hicks!!!

Many of you "soul patrol" fans already know Taylor's current whereabouts, but for the rest of America, wondering, "Hey what's up with T. Hicks?" The T-man is currently on Broadway starring as, "Teen Angel" in Grease. Taylor's hair turned gray when he was 14. His American Idol Winners album is the lowest selling of all time.

Today in history:

1826: "Granite Railway" the first chartered railway in the US begins service.

1982: Cats open on Broadway and runs for nearly 18 years before closing on September 10th, 2000.

Day 32. I woke up at 8:15 and immediately threw on a Gonzaga hoodie and black Russel Athletic mesh shorts. I wasn't prepared for how cold it would be and had to toss on my hood within minutes of being outside. My hands were freezing for the first 5 minutes or so of the jog. For as good as I felt yesterday, I felt equally as bad today, incredibly sore.

I ran through Bethesda to Regal Theaters and back establishing 25 push ups before my shower and 27 after.

I called Zach this morning to check in on him, not because I doubted that he had been completing his 1.5 /50, but just to make sure he would be posting, he will. During our conversation we discussed how we would celebrate upon completing the first year out of the 28. We also discussed in the 50 days leading to the culmination of our 28 journey, a possible cross-country running tour. Suggestions for either are appreciated. Thanks everyone for your ongoing support!

I saw one dog today.

Kevin: Day 31/10220

Happy Birthday Svend Karlsen!

Svend is a Norwegian strongman who took home the title, "World's Strongest Man" in  Zambia in 2001. His catch phrase which he oft grunted after exerting himself to the extreme is, "viking power!!!!" I guess Vikings come from Norway....

Today in History:

1582: Due to the implementation of the Gregorian Calendar, this day is skipped in Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Spain. I knew I had some Italian in me. This has to be the reason I got off to such a slow start today. This day didn't even exist for my ancestors in 1582...

1889: Thomas Edison shows his first motion picture.

1979: Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit the White House.

Day 31. Night JOG! TBC... I took off around 7:00 down Wisonsin Ave. It was an absolutely perfect night for a jog and an even better night for a jog wearing a bandanna. When I got to Harrison Street by the Fox News headquarters I hung a left. This is a great time of year for running through neighborhoods as houses are beginning to be decorated for Halloween. I didn't see anything spectacular, fog machines etc..., but I saw my fair share of pumpkins. 

I weaved my way towards Connecticut Avenue and headed back towards home. I kept a great pace today. When I got back in the door I completed 51 push ups.

I saw three dogs today.

Kevin: Day 30/10220 (Re- Cap)

Day 30. Hello gang. Sunday morning  I established 50 push ups, 6 of which were with claps in between. I had an awesome run starting around 11:00 from my house to Jesse's. Along the way I ran into a couple young chaps who were taking pony rides through the street.

I got home around 12:00 and quickly prepared myself for the Skins vs Philly game at 1. At halftime of the Skins game I had to head to Georgetown Prep to coach my 75lb

Pony B football squad in a 4:00 showdown against Montgomery Village. . We lost 6-0. On Saturday we won 6-0. Our record is now 2-2. (+ 1 game we were leading at half that was canceled because it was too hot. 

I saw 6 dogs on this jog.

Kevin: Day 29/10220

Happy Saturday Gang! I'm off for a jog on this beautiful fall evening. I went to Nebraska Avenue and back, maybe 4 miles, not sure. I have showered and just completed 50 push ups. off to dinner! TBC...

I saw several dogs today.

Zach: Day 25 of 10,220

   Happy Gameday!

  Congratulations Vanderbilt on being the tenth SEC school to host ESPN Gameday!  I'm pullng for you against Auburn.

I told you I was taking it a little bit easier today.  I ran on 1.6 miles on the treadmill while watching ESPN Gameday and wearing khaki Columbia swim trunks, a garnet Sam's Corner t-shirt, and Nike sneaks at my gym.  I saw an interview with Nick Saban.  He's worth every penny of his salary.  The guys a winner, but I suspect he might be doing something illegal in his recruiting practices. 

When I got back to the restaurant I ate a hearty breakfast.  You gotta have a good base for gameday.  I then came upstairs and completed 50 push-ups.  Its time for a shower, a little bit of work, and some football.  Go Cocks!!!!!!!

Zach's quote for the Day:   

"I hit it again because that shot was a defining moment, and when a defining moment comes along, you define the moment... or the moment defines you"  Roy "tin cup" McAvoy (Kevin Costner)  Tin Cup 1996

Zach: Day 24 of 10,220

      Congratulations Haile Gebrselassie for breaking your own marathon world record on Sunday by 7 seconds!  The 35 year old Ethiopian won the Berlin Marathon defeating 41,000 other runners in  2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds, despite an ailing calf.  Wonder if he ever takes a day off?   

     I woke up this morning around 5:00 and couldn't go back to sleep.  I don't know why.  I'm not sick or feeling ill.  I just woke up.  I was thinking about an early morning run, but I walked outside and the sun's not up yet and it is freezing out there.  So I came inside and started surfing the web.  I read every gamecock article in today's State Paper and Taylor Swift's bio for some reason.  Her favorite album for a road trip is Pyromania by Def Lepard and she's not going to college so that she can focus her energy on her music carreer.  Good decision.  Today's run will undoubtedly be an morning affair.   TBC...

I talked to Kev on the phone as a was making my way to the bike path that runs along 17N.  Today I ran to the oyster shell recycling center wearing a yellow Sam's Corner t-shirt, Nike sneaks, black nike shorts, red calf high socks,and a white Nike head band.  Disaster almost struck right out of the gate when I stepped on a pine cone, and could feel my ankle slightly turn.  Luckily no injury was sustained.  I must be more mindful of where I step.  I don't remember the oyster center being so far down the path, but it was almost to Murrells Inlet.  When I finally reached the dirt road I made an eager left to see what oyster shell recycling was all about.  When I got about half way down the quarter mile dirt path I noticed a big pile of oyster shells on my right.  I guess that was it?  Kinda anti-climactic.  However, I did not get discouraged and continued down the path which led all the way to the waters of Murrells Inlet.  When I reached the bank I stopped and walked around for a bit.  This area is actually in Huntington Beach State Park, and it was one of the more secluded places I have run thus far.  I don't know if I was legally supposed to be there, but I saw a multitude of sea birds and a variety of leaping fish.  Then all of the sudden a sea gull dove down in the water to grab some lunch.  Huntington State Park is famous for its pluff mud, swamps, and gators.  I ran around for a while to see if I could spot a gator, but there were none to be seen. We shall meet soon enough noble alligator.

  I then began my run back to the car.  As soon as I got back onto the bike path I noticed an old shirtless man running up behind me.  I had already run roughly 2.8 miles and was experiencing some fatigue, but I am a young spring chicken.  I cannot be passed by some old timer.  So I pick up the pace in an effort to lose the man.  I look back once...I have distanced myself.  I look back a second time the old man has vanished.  I continue my run to the car stopping briefly for a light stretch of the quadricep.

   I have run hard this week.  Michael Cartin and Clark Ellis are comming to the beach tommorrow for a visit and to watch the Cocks and the Rebels battle it out on Pay-per-view.  This weekend's runs will be lighter.

Fifty five push-ups complete.  It is time for a shower and a glass of OJ.

Zach's quote for the Day:     "People call me the Bry man; I'm the stylish one of the group. I know what you're asking yourself and the answer is yes. I have a nick name for my penis. Its called the Octagon, but I also nick named my testes my left one is James Westfall and my right one is Doctor Kenneth Noisewater. You ladies play your cards right you just might get to meet the whole gang."   -Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) "Anchorman: The legend of Ron Burgundy" 2004