THE WRESTLER

Extremely well made yet sad movie. A very, very well made commentary on wrestling, recovery, remission and loneliness all put into one very good movie.

Mickey Rourke is all that and then as Randy “The Ram” Robinson. How did he not win the Oscar for best actor? His character is amazing and no “high level” actor could have come close to pulling off what he did. In fact, if someone like a Nicholas Cage did end up playing the role the film would not have been nearly as good as it was.

Definitely an adult film (and I have some issues with that) so not something for the younger audience to be watching.

Amazing film. Just amazing!

MARCH RUNNING

The Marathon training schedule really upped my miles for this month.

Total Miles Run - 143.77 (according to mapmyrun)
Days of Running - 19
Longest Run - 20.25 miles
Approx. calories burned - 18,828

Year to Date Miles - 370.66

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

For movie goers everywhere get a pen and put down Oct. 16, 2009. This looks like one cool movie. Granted it took Spike Jonze and Co. almost four years to complete the project but from the first look, it could be quite an amazing film. This was one of my favorite books so please, please don't suck as a movie!

AMAZING (or CRAZY!) RUNS

Which one would you be interested in doing?

1) The Volcanic Sprint

The sleepy town of Buea in the Southwest Province of Cameroon hosts Africa’s most grueling footrace: the Mt. Cameroon Race of Hope, a marathon-length sprint 10,000 feet up a live volcano, and back down again.

To conquer the mountain, racers must overcome some of the cruelest conditions in sport: temperatures fluctuate 50 degrees, altitude sickness claims the weak, and loose volcanic stones can cause serious injury, and even death, as runners fly back down the mountain.

2) Running the Sahara

On February 20, Charlie, Ray and Kevin touched the Red Sea, just a few hours before sunset. Their quest had lasted 111 days and taken them through 6 countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt. By the team's daily GPS record, they had traveled over 4,300 miles (6,920 kilometers). They fought through injury and extreme fatigue to reach their goal, which changed them forever.

3) Beyond the Epic Run

In February, 2000, a couple left home in Switzerland to run around the world...alone. A small crowd of friends and family gathered in the morning hours in the shadows of the Matterhorn in Sion, Switzerland. They were there to send Serge and Nicole Roehteli off with great fanfare to begin what would be an epic journey. With Nicole as his sole crew support, following him on a motorcycle towing a small trailer, Serge was setting off to run over 25,000 miles, on six continents and through 37 countries.

A RACE LIKE NO OTHER

If you are interested in running in any manner, you must read this book.

In comparing it to a current TV show the book is a hybrid of “24” and “Lost” mixed into one. It tells the stories of a handful of runners as they pass through 26.2 miles of pavement in one of the largest marathons in the world.

Running the New York Marathon is something of folklore and this book does a wonderful job of capturing all that encompasses what a marathoner feels the day of the race as well as the training that goes into finishing one.

A most excellent read!

ANYONE HUNGRY?

Just a sample picture of many food offerings at -
This is why you are fat.

SPRINGSTEEN vs. U2

I got to thinking about my two favorite musical acts and the NCAA Tournament all in one moment. The NCAA Tournament gives us a champion each April while Bruce Springsteen and U2 give us great music all the time. But who gives the best music. Using a method that similar to the NCAA Tournament let’s take a look at who is the best in bracket format --

Story Telling Song bracket – In some way every song has a story behind it but there are songs that actually tell that story. A rock opera if you will. Springsteen 8-plus minute songs “Outlaw Pete” or “Thunderoad” are great examples. U2 has “Pride In the Name of Love” about MLK, Jr. Springsteen wins this category because he has more story telling in his songs.

Slow “love” song bracket – Springsteen has two options for this bracket – “I’m on Fire” and “Secret Garden” but neither song really compares to what U2 has to offer in “One” “With or Without You” or “All I Want is You” … Needless to say that U2 wins this bracket rather easily and I’m going with “One” on this choice.

Best Song Not Released as Single bracket – So this song never made the Billboard Top 100 list because, well, it was never released as a single. Digging a little deeper into the b-sides and non-radio hits of these two can be quite interesting. Springsteen has some classic stuff like “She’s the One” “American Skin” “Land of Hope and Dreams” while U2 has a solid list like “40” “If God Will Send His Angels” “Yahweh” … This bracket goes to Springsteen by a narrow margin. Besides this guy is on the verge of releasing his second four-CD set of written but not recorded music.

Most Spiritual song bracket – You have the great spiritually moving band of all-time in U2 and then there is Springsteen. I nominated “40” from U2 to go against “Jesus Was an Only Son” by Springsteen and without question U2 wins this category hands down.

Pure Rock Song bracket – Here’s what I boiled it down to … it’s either U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” or Springsteen’s “Born to run.” Obviously both bands have a lot of good choices for a solid rock song but this bracket is scored a push.

So there you have it when you break it down scientifically between this two fine musical acts, you have exactly what you expected a stalemate of awesome music.

NCAA TOURNAMENT

I never like my picks after the first time through my bracket. Then after making some "corrections" I dislike my prediction even more! Here's my thoughts:

SWEET 16
Louisville over Wake Forest
Michigan State over Kansas
UConn over Purdue
Memphis over Missouri
Pittsburgh over Wisconsin
'Nova over Duke
UNC over Gonzaga
Arizona State over Oklahoma

Elite Eight
Louisville over Michigan State
UConn over Memphis
Pittsburgh over 'Nova
Arizona State over UNC

Final Four
Louisville over UConn
Pittsburgh over Arizona State

Champions - Pittsburgh

A sampling of thoughts:
* UNC's Ty Lawson isn't 100% and that equals trouble for the Tar Heels
* I was really torn between UConn and Memphis in the Regional Final
* Arizona State matches up well in every game I have them in and they take out the injured Tar Heels because of their stud point guard James Harden
* I can't believe I have three Big East teams in the Final Four!
* Purdue is a dark horse Final Four candidate

RADFORD HIGHLANDERS

So my beloved Highlanders got a 16 seed and have to face UNC in the first-round. Who cares that no 16 seed has ever won a game in the NCAA Tournament. I'm pumped for my alma mater! Bleed the Plaid!!

Radford vs. UNC
Thursday, March 19

Greensboro, N.C., 2:55 (EST)

SHARK IN THE WATER

This kind of makes me re-think the idea of doing a triathlon in the Pacific Ocean. I'm never watching Jaws again!

RUNNING "BLIND"

If I am ever upset about a run that I have done or a goal that I have accomplished isn't met or I don't finish a race as well as I wanted PLEASE remind me how beautiful running can be with this story:

Blind high school runner, and her team, are a sight to behold

BAD COMBO

Marathon Training and Being Sick ... Really Blows.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

U2 TOP 10 ON LETTERMAN

#5 is a personal favorite ...

NO LINE ON THE HORIZON

For the past two weeks I have gone back-and-forth on the latest and greatest u2 album. I know that I like it and would recommend it to anyone interested in buying it. The back-and-forth comes into play with the idea of how much I like it. Was it just good? Great? Excellent?

Rolling Stones gave it a rare five-star review while Time Magazine called the album “confused” among other adjectives. My particular favorite review came from the Chicago Sun-Times which called the album “true gospel.”

The album is definitely a change in mood from their last two albums, but like any great band (yes, U2 is a GREAT band) you must re-invent yourself from time-to-time. Old and stale are not two words that I would use to describe this bands musical sense. This album may not have as much of a “hard rock” edge recent releases but the lyrics are extremely well thought out and borderline phenomenal.

The more I listened the more the lyrics really drew me into a very thought provoking mood. The bass lines, guitar riffs, drum beats are all really solid but the lyrics, more than any album since Achtung Baby, are the heartbeat of this album.

Take for example Magnificent:

Magnificent
Magnificent

I was born
I was born to be with you

In this space and time
After that and ever after I haven't had a clue
Only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice

From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

Want to take a guess about what Bono was thinking about when he wrote that song? It only takes one guess. Or how about this little snipet from Stand Up Comedy:

God is love
And love is evolution's very best day

You get the picture at this point. The lyrical nature of this album is fantastic from song number one till the final song.

TRASH TALKING & SPORTS

On the Soapbox …

As Jay Bilas so eloquently said, “just shut-up and play.”

Last night there were two very prime examples of what makes athletes idiots – trash talking. The fans didn’t pay good money to see two (or more) athletes jaw away at each other. Nobody watching from the stands really cares about what individual battle these athletes have going on amongst each other. There isn’t a stat in any box score anywhere that keeps trash talking score.

First came the Syracuse/Seton Hall Big East quarterfinal game. During a hotly contested postseason game, things can get a little “hot and heavy” on the court from time-to-time during this portion of the year. However, when your team is making a good run and playing well just hit your shot and hustle back and play defense. There’s no need to wag your tongue on your opponent, stare them down or whatever you feel like you need to do to “intimate” them. Act like you’ve been there before

Then, at the end of the Lakers/Rockets game freakin’ Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest decide to have a little one-on-one chit-chat as if the other eight players on the court don’t matter. And by chit-chat they weren’t exactly making post-game dinner plans.

Often times this is what is most wrong athletes. It all goes back to some level of narcissism. You are not bigger than the game itself. You, as an individual, have no worth without your team. Two facts that many of these athletes forget all too often.

Please, for the love of all that is good in sports, just play with your mouth shut.

NCAA BOUND!

After an 11 year wait, my beloved alma mater is returning to the NCAA Tournament!! And, oh, how sweet it is!!!

As current starting forward Kenny Thomas said after Radford defeated VMI to claim the school's second ever Big South Tournament championship, "Finally, Radford isn't little ol' Radford for once."

Live it up Kenny and Highlander fans everywhere! For at least a few moments, our school isn't just a small school tucked away in SW Virginia. We are one of just 65 teams playing in the biggest sporting event in the world!

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering is a privilege. There was a point WAY back in my life were I thought of volunteering as something completely. It was duty because you were told to do. Isn't that so form of oppression when you do something against your will? Anyway ... I digress because there are these questions about volunteering that continually pop into my head.

What is the intersection of volunteering publicly and privately look like? OK, here's another view of that thought with that question - what if individuals and/or groups didn't "brag" about how they volunteer?

For example, what if the cameras and news reporters didn't show-up when a local group decides to donate food, serve a meal or write a check to a non-profit that was in need? What does the intersection of Matthew 6:1-2 and Matthew 5:14-16 look like?

This is something that I struggle with. It brings me great joy to advance the Kingdom of God by volunteering. There is just a little "extra something" behind using your strengths and abilities because you want to without any reward. Who needs the extra reward anyway?

If your motivation for volunteering is for the reward (whatever that may look like for you) please stop volunteering. Seriously just stop and figure out what needs to be done to begin volunteering for the right cause and right reasons.

MIKE LOCKERT

Each day is a new opportunity. Each moment is a moment to be an optimist and look for the best in each situation. Every choice you make can make you little bit more happy.

In the nearly seven year I knew Mike Lockert, this is how he lived his life. That is how I will remember him. Last week he suffered a heart attack and died in his sleep. He was 43.

I will never forget his silly laugh that made everyone him laugh. We shared so many good times together. From rooming together during at the mid-season Midwest League All-Star game, sharing laughs after watching a Notre Dame hockey game, reminsicing about the Silver Hawks in the early morning hours at Coveleski Stadium, traveling to and from business meeting ... the list goes on.

It is sad that he is gone. He was such a good person. He made this world a little bit better with his smile and fun loving attituide. Mike you are missed but not forgotten. The legacy you have left with those you interacted with is more than positive.

Thanks for the good times my friend. Thanks for the memories!!

DAVID GOGGINS

I was introduced to this guy here – here. This guy is a freak. And that is a compliment!

Last night ironman and ultra-marathoner David Goggins was at Caltech to talk about all the races he has run and why he is running them. His story is 100% incredible. He is either a testament to the true spirit of humanity or just one crazy nut job. Judge for yourself:

A “typical day” for him:

3:00 a.m. – Run 15-20 miles
7:30 a.m. – Bike 25 miles to work
Morning – Work (Navy Seals Office)
Lunch – Run 60-90 minutes
Afternoon – Work (Navy Seals Office)
7:00 p.m. – Bike 25 miles back home
8:00 p.m. – Dinner/ Weight Training
11:30 p.m. – Sleep

Sounds like fun, right?!? The guy has a resting heart rate of 32. Most people his age (he’s 34) have a heart rate around 65-70! He consumes over 8,000 calories a day to offset his exercise regime.

His story is absolutely amazing and you can read about him more in-depth – here. He is raising money to help the children of parents who were killed will serving in military get through college. He has been raising money and doing these ultra-races for about four years now. With his help, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation has put 266 kids through college.

While the entire evening was a blast (I could have talked to this guy for hours), there was one thing that he continued to harp. He kept talking about the “one second decision” … There will be one second in an given situation that will define success or failure. You have one second to decide to quit or go forward. You have one second to decide to give 100 percent or give less. That one second can make you or break. His one second decisions have proven to show that the human spirit is much stronger than the body leads on.

“Show No Weakness”