Tuesday, November 11, 2008

THE FIRST STEP

Hi everyone...Last week...24 total miles and most of them on the bridle paths at North Chagrin Reservation.. This am, I began the week with a 4 mile....9:40 per brisk run in brisk 33 degree weather on the paved paths at the park. There was an inch of Snow on the ground. Other areas east of Cleveland got 6 to 8 inches.. Hello winter!!!!

This week, I will run a total of 27 miles with a long run of 10....The biggest concern I have for the 50k ultra will be getting comfortable on the trails down in Peninsula. I admit, I am not super familiar with them.

Had a good week controlling the food intake..(Sounds like I'm a manifold or something!!) Getting better on entering what I ate...I have a silly system of rating each day. Half Ironman is a very good day. Olympic is where I slid, but ever so slightly. Sprint is a day with missteps, but not a disaster. DNF is...you guessed it... a total blowout...no control...strap on the feed bag kinda day. Yesterday was one of those days... Most of last week was Half Ironman.

Cleveland sports fans are aware the Browns blew two big leads in the second half of each of their last 2 games. Jamal Lewis, the running back, whom I respect alot said that some guys kinda quit in the second half of the Denver Game. To me, thats inexcusable. Many of you who read this blog are dedicated to improving your fitness and racing ability. You have done marathons, and Ironmans, and other kinds of endurance tests. Quit is a dirty word. To think that pro athletes wimp out like that really gets me going and I would assume you feel the same way.

If those guys could live just one day as Rick Pashke, then maybe they would think differently. Rick had brain surgery a few years ago and as a result, lost most feeling in his left side. He has been training with Patrick Erdmann of Gemini Quest in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Pat got him to use bands at first to try to strengthen his upper body. Hand weights were tough to control and Rick banged his head a few times. Working with Pat, it seems like a miracle is taking place. Rick, who in high school was a baseball player has gotten stronger and stronger and a little more in control. He can stand up. He can push a wheelchair (with assistance) a few feet. His goal is to walk unaided. I featured Rick Sunday night and my point before showing the piece was that Rick was not a star athlete. He was not a well known pro athlete who had his games on t.v. and made lots of money. Rick is everyman. Rick is us. Rick has determination. Rick has fire in his belly to want to improve. He has had so many roadblocks during all this. But the Browns players who had a little misfortune in the second half of a ballgame simply gave up. I dare any of those players to watch Rick workout just once. I think they would have a huge attitude shift.
Have a great week everyone!!
Life's a Blast!!!!

26 comments:

Viv said...

Great job on the running JT! I love how to judge the eating with tri distances. LOL!

Go Rick! I hope his hardwork has him walking again soon.

Wes said...

Sounds like Rick is one of our heros :-)

The Lazy Triathlete said...

You know it people like Rick that should be heros. Not the overpaid babies who play professional sports. Even the real winners (those who quietly do their job and give back to community), aren't the role model to a lot of kids.

Great job on getting ready for the Ultra. I like your rating system for food intake. I may have to adopt something like that.

triguyjt said...

thanks for the comments....
today is a Half Ironman day...
Rick is an Ironman everyday guys!!!

Eric said...

That sounds like a throw down aimed at some of those Browns players. Maybe word will get around and they will seek out Rick for some inspiration....or turn their back to you in the locker room.

Bunch of pansies.

Sarah said...

I totally agree with Lazy Triathlete. It makes me sick how some of these pro athletes behave and think and how much they take for granted.

I wish they could be held more accountable for their attitudes and that somebody could show them how to be more inspirational and better role models.

Still, it helps that people like you give some attention to the real role models. Go Rick! Go JT!

I'm glad I don't have to run in snow. ;)

Keep up with the Half-Ironman days, you can do it! I'm trying not to eat anything after dinner, that's my goal right now...

Steph said...

I agree totally JT! I've worked w/ many athletes as an athletic trainer over the past few years, and the PROS are the WORST! They DO give up...and it is UNEXCUSABLE.
Rick is UNBELIEVEABLE! To me, people like Rick are THE Pros!
Keep goin' buddy!

Mike said...

GO RICK!

Kind of reminds me of my brother JT, I see him getting around better every time I see him He may graduate to a cane soon!!! No more walker, who wants that crap at 20 years old anyway?

My brother is psyched, I got him tickets to the CAVS on the 26th! My sister is coming in town to surpirse him as well!!! I hope the Q can switch our tickets to something handicap accessable! Wish us luck!!!

Great blog, I feel like I had a DNF day today. :( Eh, what can you do? Tomorrow's a new day!!! :)

Kim said...

I saw your feature with Rick on Sunday, very nice! Rick is a hero!

Marci said...

Nice job on the running JT!

Rick is definitely a hero and an inspiration :)

RunBubbaRun said...

NIce runs there, I'm sure you will be ready in time for the trail ultra.

I do hate seeing athletes crying about all kinds of things, giving up is just plain wrong, maybe they should just get paid less and maybe be less wimpy in the process.

Mnowac said...

Nice job on the runs it gets harder as daylight gets shorter. I like your rating system on the food intake. Hmmmm, I might have to adopt something like that when the time comes to drop the baby weight, much easier than calorie counting.

Shawn said...

Great story and thanks so much for sharing it.

My Dad is a personal trainer who specializes in 'special needs' training. He has one client who has MS and he has to lift him out of his chair and lay him on the bench so he can do presses. He has a lady with rheumatoid arthritis who's range of movement (before she started training) was from her chair to her front door - she could even go to the mailbox to pick up her own mail.

When I think of these people and what they go through... It makes me ashamed of the amount of time I spend on my couch - or the number of times I've said... "it's to hard" :|

Marcy said...

You guys got 6-8 inches of snow already?!? What in tha?!?

Thanks for the story :-)

Shawn said...

Oh - and I love your method of rating your intake for the day... I may start using something like that myself since I really want to drop 50lbs before my Tri :O

Missy said...

Yesterday was a total DNF for me, birthday cake and all. Seeing Rick reminds me to STOP WHINING when it hurts and I just 'don't wanna.'

Christine said...

Hi JT! I'm definitely an eating machine these days..haha. Love the inspirational story. Its easy to take for granted things like good health.

Unknown said...

Go Rick! And thanks for posting about that.

jahowie said...

I hate quitters!!! I can't believe that. I'm pulling for my Lions to go 0-16. At least that would be news worthy and guarantee them the first pick in the draft. Not that one pick will fix that team. LOL!!


Go Rick!! You are good people JT. :-)

Donald said...

How do you find all these inspirational people? I always love hearing about them. Thanks for keeping us all grounded.

triguyjt said...

donald asked how i find all the inspirational people...

a turbulent ocean washes over many rocks..some odd shaped and ugly...
but the rough water produce some beautiful gems...some gorgeous stones...

I meet the people who have had the waters beat them down...but they dn't give in to the waters....they become gems...then i tell their story

Trishie said...

Go Rick, go ! He (and a select few like him) are true heros.

Rainmaker said...

I love snowy runs!

Janet Edwards said...

Yeah, the idea of the pro athletes wimping out is ridiculous!

Rick is quite an inspiration!

The nice thing about the Buckeye Trail is that you only have to get familiar with about 9 miles because there is the 5 mile loop and an 8 mile loop which is just out and back. That said, definitely a good time to spend some time on those trails. If you need a guide, I can help ya out!

Janet Edwards said...

good idea not good time!

Anonymous said...

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments. We are the family of Rick P. and are interested in any sugestions or information that may help us reach his goal of walking unassisted. Please respond via this blog or at rickpaschke@yahoo.com