6 hour Run/Race in Rhode Island, Nov 15, 2010

I ran a 6 hour race yesterday. Did my goal of about 33 miles. Slower than last year but I am on the comeback trail. Here are some pre-race pictures of the beach area. It was slight drizzle and cloudy in AM and for half the race. The lens on camera was not wet. "Bubbles" in pictures duw to rain drops reflecting sunlight as they came down.

Our Bird Herman 17 years old- More Experience than Obama

Check out our bird Herman. He speaks softly and has a sharp beak. Is a good runner though we cannot find running shoes to fit his unique stick legs and toes. He is a frequent flyer and has crashed only a few times. Herman believes that the trillions spent by our govt are stealing seed from his tray.

My Race Schedule Oct 13, 2009 - March 27/28, 2010

This is my likely race schedule now, through end of March 2010. I am getting back in running shape and will set as a goal to be 15-20 pounds lighter, leaner, with more muscle mass and very high mileage training. part of the strategy is to run an ultra/trail (sometimes a road ultra) at least every 4 weeks, sometimes even a week or 2 apart. Cutting out junk food, and getting proper rest is key.

Races upcoming:

Sun, Oct 18, 2009
Six Hour Sixtieth Birthday Run
Kings Park, NY 8:30 AM
Scenic 2.1 mile loop in Sunken Meadow State Park, primarily on dirt paths, with several rolling hills and one bridge crossing. Time limit (hours): 6. Field limit: NA. Fee-pre:$ 30; $25 for those born in 1949. Fee-post:$ 40 after Oct. 12. Hi quality sweatshirt to every entrant; post race food and beer party. Annual: 10th
GLIRC, c/o Myron Bellovin, 101 Dupont Street, Suite 24, Plainview NY 11803, 516 349-7646 (w) Email: mybellovin@aol.com Web: http://www.glirc.org

Sun, Oct 25, 2009Sun
Bimbler's Bluff 50k
Guilford, CT 8:00 a.m.
The Bimblers Bluff 50k is an off road foot race through several woodland preserves in southern Connecticut. Consisting entirely of single track or forest roads. Time limit (hours): 10. Field limit: 150. T-shirts to registered entrants and finisher award. Annual: 2nd
Jerry Turk, 806 Durham Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, 203 376 2893
Email: jerry@mrbimble.com Web: http://bimblersbluff.com

Sun, Nov 15, 2009
Rhode Island 6 Hour Ultra
Warwick, RI 8:00 a.m.
Wooded, paved bike path with slightly rolling hills. Time limit (hours): 6. Fee: $40 before 6/1/09, $50 before 10/1/09, $60 before 11/13/09. Long Sleeve technical shirts, Awards to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place M/F. Annual: 1st
Robert Jackman, 1038 West Shore Road, Warwick, RI 02889, 401-477-3173 (h)
Email: ri6hour@yahoo.com Web: http://www.ri6hour.com


Nov. 28 or 29 : Run from Brooklyn NY to Franklin Lakes/Oakland NJ- 50-60miles Nov 29th

Sat, Dec 19, 2009
Seashore Nature Trail 50K
Virginia Beach, VA 7:30 a.m.
Flat dirt/hard pack sand trails, except about 1/2 mile pavement at start and finish. Tree lined, half jeep road and half 2 track. Time limit (hours): 9. Field limit: 250. Fee-pre: $75. Fee-post:$90 after Nov 29.
Tech T-Shirt to all entrants. Finishers award to be determined. Annual: 1st
Mel Williams, P. O. Box 2121, Chesapeake, VA 23327-2121, 757-531-9220
Email: ProfRunner@aol.com Web: http://www.tidewaterstriders.com

Sat, Jan 2, 2010
Phunt 50K
Elkton, MD 9:00a.m.
90% single track trail through rolling terrain, both forest and meadow.
Three aid stations. Time limit (hours): 8. Annual: 7th
Phil Nissen, 55 Knight Island Rd, Earleville, MD 21919, 800-949-1003 x5422 (W)
Email: philnissen@intergate.com Web: http://traildawgs.blogspot.com

Sat, Jan 9, 2010
Watchung Winter Ultra 50K and Marathon
Springfield, NJ 8:00am
3 loops of the White trail (10.3 miles). Time limit (hours): 8. Field limit: 100. No amenities, no awards, no dinner, self supported. Annual: 2nd
Rick McNulty, POB 127 Mount Tabor NJ 07878, 973-627-2575 (h)
Email: rmcnulty13@gmail.com Web: http://sites.google.com/site/wwultras/Home

Feb 2010:
Maine- Sandy Neck beach 50K Feb 2-4
Feb 15-17 : Run from Brooklyn NY to Franklin lakes/Oakland NJ- 50-60miles Feb 15-17

Sat, Mar 6, 2010
Seneca Creek Trail Marathon and 50K
Damascus, MD 8:00 a.m.
Fairly benign single track dirt trail with some hills, The March weather tends to be the major factor. Time limit (hours): 8. Field limit: 350. Fee:$ 20. Annual: 7th
Ed Schultze, 516 Paradise Court Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877, 301-258-0281
Email: edschultze@comcast.net Web: http://www.senecacreektrailrace.com/

March 13th: 30-40 mile training run (adventure run) venue TBD with buddy(s)

March 27-28 2010: Pinelands NJ 100 Mile Race
First ever 100 mile trail race in New Jersey! Need family participation (crew) and friends, as this race is un-aided!

History of My Running in Brief:

When I was 28-34 years old, I raced 5K in 15:35, 10K in about 33:10, 13.1 miles in 1:14, 15.5 miles (25K) in 1:28+ and marathons, well I don't even want to post the times.

Priot to that, In middle school, high school and college I was a track and cross-country runner, emphasizing the middle distances where I had some regionally competitive times in the NY/NJ/CT/PA regions. I am running for 43 years and my legs still work OK.

Needless to say I had to take different paths and though I always ran some, by the time my 2 kids were born (son when I was 31 years old and Daughter when I was 33), I was already on "maintenance". By 40 my times began to decline as I got involved much more in our kids sports and other family things. That was great and the cycle of life requires it I feel. By the time I was 50, my "kids" were in college and I began to take interest in running more again. I decided to try ultra-running.

I trained for 3 weeks after about 10 years of running only maybe twice a week, upped my mileage instantly to about 60 per week, and ran the JFK 50 in a relatively slow 11:34.

Business drivers also have played a role in my racing and training. So it has not been all roses since I began my "comeback". I am 57 now and have gotten over a 2.5 year long problem with "heel spurs"...that "plantar facia" thing. During that time, I hobbled through races on trails in pain. Then one day, 2 years ago, it left me!

I was fine! Last year, I ran a race every month and sometimes only 1-2 weeks apart, and ran a 9:41 for 50 miles, and also under 5 hours for 50K. I was 2nd in USATF 50K in the over 55 years age group.

This year, I have not raced much but that is now changing. I had a dismal July and August of almost no serious training (business needs and work anxiety) and ran the Northface 50 in DC in a slow time on almost no training. Now I am back for sure.

I am pointing for a 100 mile race at the end of March. Also inventing the term "adventure running"-as these can be very long (30-60 mile) training runs with a friend/buddy or two where we take a whole day and go inter city/town/state just for the fun of it. I would like to try a few of these in place of actual races leading up to a 100 mile run.

Signing off for now- Rich

Nancy Pelosi After Cosmetic Surgery Under ObamaCare

My 50K/31 mile Race (Sandy Neck Maine) on sand dunes and beach in 2008

This race was very interesting and fun. All 31 miles was run on soft sand. Could not get footing. 40 mile per hour winds on beach that day (Feb. 2) - Great post race food, and nice bunch of fellow runners. Great workout.

Superman 1964 - Values of a different era, and an example to follow now.

See a photo of an icon of my childhood. The 1964 Aurora edition of the actual model that was sold in hobby stores- "Superman Breaking Through The Wall". I lost long ago the model I built as a 12 year old. I have regained this model, an actual professionally assembled 1964 model- the real thing! One like this now sells for over 200 times what it cost in 1964 (it cost $0.98)- yes, 98 cents back then.

Why is this important?
1 Old Superman Comics- we're talking 1936 - 1968 presented a strong set of values to kids of right and wrong.

2 Super heroes came in all sizes, nationalities, planetary origins, male, female- and abilities. They were all equal to the readers who loved the simple stories of heroism, compassion, honesty, bravery, and respect....the wrong doers always faced justice....ie., "The Justice League of America", or the "Legion of Super Heroes".

3 Superman in this model broke through the wall! Something long distance runners speak about doing in marathon and ultra-marathon races!

In any case, I was lucky enough to pick this model up at a fraction of what one would pay for it now in 2009. It is a 45 year old memento and brings back memories of childhood heroes, though fictional characters. What they stood for was very real.

PS: I still have about 100 copies of various DC Comics of that era, preserved as well as possible in plastic sleeves. I was the original owner of these and still keep them. Most are 45-50 years old.

If Congress and President Obama ran a footrace or were race directors..What would happen?

What would we have if our current Government in power were runners? Or were race directors?

1 If Nancy Pelosi ran a footrace, say of 10 miles, she would call everyone who finished in front of her a Nazi.

2 If Charlie Rangel ran a footrace of 10 miles, he would "jump" into the race in the last 100 yards hoping no one would notice that he does not appear "taxed".

3 If MSNBC, CBS, CNN published race results, they would publish the last 10 runners finishing as the first 10 and call everyone in front of them "cheaters".

4 If the NY Times published race results, they would realign results to depict those who trained, adding time to their finishes based on amount of training, and subtracting time from those who did not train, to even the playing field.

5 If Barney Frank and Harry Reid had oversight of the race, they would permit widespread cheating, taking cars, cycles, getting a lift, cutting the course, and claim that those who did not cheat did not understand the purpose of the race.

6 If Barbara Boxer was race director and a runner asked, Ma'am, can you help me with my number, she would yell, "I have spent years working to be addressed as "Madam Race Director".

7 If President Obama was Race Director, he would charge extra race fees to all runners finishing in the top 30%, on a pro rata basis, the better we finish the more we pay, stating that he is trying to level the playing field for future events so additional less competitive runners will run for free and the top runners pay for all expenses.

8 If Nancy Pelosi was a runner in the 10 mile race, she would arrive 2 hours late and claim that the race officials lied habitually about the starting time, after receiving a published venue about the time, rules, and process for the race numerous times prior.
Had to do one on Nancy 2x!

9 If Acorn officiated the race they would invite off the street non-runners/ strangers, assign each a runner's name and number, and provide the post race meals, trophies, shirts, prizes to the non runners who assumed the identity of one of the actual runners.

10 If White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs were announcing race results for Obama, he would first profess no knowledge of the race, then when pressed, say, the President feels that we all won the race. He would also claim that Obama encourages race directors to allow medical marijuana as a finisher's prize.

11 If Tax Cheat Sec'y of Treasury Tim Geithner had to organize the race results he would completely mix up all finishing times from runner's names and later claim it was an accounting error. He would also claim that the Runners Code is like the Tax Code- nobody can understand it even with a Harvard degree.

12 If Ex Green Jobs CZAR, disgraced radical bigot Van Jones were in charge of the race, he would claim that some ethnic groups expend more oxygen and excrete more CO2 and other waste when they run and should be assessed damage payments when they ran through specific inner city residential sites.

13 If Katie Couric, News Anchor and had to discuss highlights of the race, she would interview the winners and ask if they knew about the "Race Director Doctrine" that the previous administration had created. When pressed that there was no such thing, she would quickly turn to baseball.

14 If Dems in Congress all were in the race running, they would "spend" all of their energy, carbs, in the first 25% of the race, running too fast, spending too much, and also jump, dance and tumble (things that do not get you to the finish line), leaving no energy left in their budget to complete the race, hoping that future generations of runners will take up the burden of finishing their run.

15 If Dems in Congress, Al Gore, and Global Warming nuts were organizing an inter nation race say against China, Japan, India, and other industrialized nations, they would force our USA runners, each to wear 10 pound weights on their ankles, give them no water, and make them start 10 minutes after the race gun was fired, condemning all USA runners who could not keep up with the the competition.

If you have more you would like to see, send in your suggestions. No promise that I will publish them but will consider them.
Rich

Obama's Energy Plans and the Left-Wing Hoax

President Obama recently stated that the essence of the Cap And Trade the use-tax on conventional energy users, you, me, anyone who drives a car, any US company, that uses oil or gas to heat/cool one's home, or uses electricity produced from coal or oil or gas fired electrical generators, was to "make conventional" carbon emission producing energy use MORE EXPENSIVE, THUS MAKING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES "CHEAPER". They must have missed Economics 101 as it was not part of their reduced academic course load. Making one thing more expensive does not make the other "cheaper" if the other is inherently not a viable alternative.

The premise is that Solar, Wind, Turbines on Ocean Tides, and even "Cold Fusion" will be made cheaper/viable if the Government overtaxes businesses and individuals like you and me for using conventional energy sources. Of course we know that non-economically viable sources of energy will stay non viable near term. And the USA, people and businesses will be poorer for not being able to compete in world markets, as we lose our assets and jobs/businesses and see our standard of living degenerate vs the rest of the industrial world. Remember, China, India and other industrial nations will take NO part in this quackery!!

This is a crazy premise on Obama's part, an ignorant and fundamentally incorrect premise. Alternative sources? Solar? Wind?, Ocean tide turbines?- These are non-viable sources for mass production of energy because they are much to expensive to build, use, maintain, and produce too little energy for the cost, making them impossible, in the near future, to use for you and me and businesses that need to turn a profit, compete with China, India and other industrial nations not engaging in this energy quackery, though the investment value of soon-to-be billionaire Al Gore, and other politically connected individuals and companies, into otherwise non-viable corporations (their buddies) producing so-called "clean" energy will soar because our Cap and Trade tax dollars will be given to their companies and investments. This is sort of reverse wealth transfer from hard working middle class to the far left-wing wealthy!!! (The Friends of Obama Elites).

As for "Cold Fusion", recently headlined by NBC or CBS, showing a guy, I think in his garage who claimed he achieved a net electrical gain, as a possibility with technology breakthrough, this form of energy production was disproved in the 1950's by prominent scientists as it requires MORE energy to make the fusion reaction happen than is actually produced by the fusion reaction!! ...Unless you can produce conditions of Absolute Zero temperature- no electrical resistance (I believe that is minus 273 degrees, which of course takes no energy to produce that condition, right?!!) Perhaps we should place the fusion reactors on the Moon and run wires to Earth?????...Yes I think I am on to something here!!!!!!!

The liberals have nixed aiming for offshore oil drilling, clean coal technology, or additional nuclear fission(that every civilized and some un-civilized nations are or are planning to build), and even hampered natural gas production. The liberals WANT the Global Oil Cartel to raise prices and do not care if Exxon, and other oil companies reap extraordinary profits ar our expense by price fixing as they have done for many years as shown recently in the price hikes and no words from Obama.

In evaluating any of this Administration's programs the same truths prevail:
1 The programs are a matter of propaganda, as perception is far more important than the reality of success....like the Fusion reactor guy...perception of a breakthrough.

2 All of Obamas's programs from Cap And Trade, to Government Take over of Healthcare,
to the infamous, failed Economic Recovery (AKA "spending for government welfare programs and left-wing friends including Acorn!"), to the take over of US Car Companies, Banking System, and intrusion into corporate markets that have wasted our tax dollars and made matters worse, are about this: TAKING MONEY FROM HARD WORKING FAMILIES IN AMERICA, AND GIVING IT TO CRONIES, POLITICAL ALLIES, AND THOSE WHO SIMPLY DO NOT WANT TO WORK HARD. Now you may ask why???? would he do this?- #3 below

3 It is The Administrations PLAN to make us poorer. The Economic, political, media and Hollywood elite would be OK- they would gain, the poorest would not be poorer and the hard-working middle, would be far worse off.

This Administration, aided by a left-wing propaganda machine in NY Times, NBC, CBS, and many other government controlled media propaganda groups is about perceptions, and has a total monopoly on Congress and the Executive branches at this time.

Obama's thirst for creating false perception even goes to his personal side, showing him as some sort of athlete when the reality is that he cannot play basketball, cannot throw a baseball-in a recent game, he threw the ball in like a 9 year old; And he definitely cannot run. All that would be OK as not everyone has athletic interests, except that he and the liberal media do portray him as an athlete.

It is all about maintaining the perception of positive programs and personal attributes as Obama, takes this country away from its people, polarizes us all, and advances us to a totalitarian dictatorship, and toward the loss of our economic, social, traditional, religious freedoms, and trashes our Constitution and Bill of Rights, something most of his supporters have never read.

If Obama's Programs and Congresses Progams were a human footrace, a long distance running event, they would be equivalent to forcing the highly trained runners to start a Marathon (26.2 mile race) 20 miles back, running 46.2 miles, while lesser runners can start at say mile 16 with only 10.2 miles to run- the "best!!!" runners finish in the back, while the connected political elites place bets on the guy running only 10.2 miles.

Though he is 12 years younger than me, I would gladly engage in a such a footrace against President Obama of say...15-50 miles to dispel the myth about his athletic ability, and happily wear 2 pound ankle weights strapped to each of my ankles, to handicap me much in the same way he wants to handicap all hardworking taxpayers in this Nation. In this case, I would still win as I am so certain he would not last 6 miles at any reasonable pace. Perhaps his radical cleric mentor who lobbied to get him into an ivy league school would argue that I must wear 5 pound weights to make it fair!

It is becoming clearer that this Administration's leaders have a world view that demeans and destroys America, and that the real target end state is something they are not saying outright, and is far more radical than most of their supporters have understood. More about that some other time!

For now we must plan every legal and morally acceptable way to present our alternatives and push for these by voting out of office any government official who sides with the destructive programs of the "Change" administration.

Taking pictures around our family pool

Took a few pictures of plants and shrubs around our pool today as seen below:

There are a variety of plants from spruces to palm trees and flowers in pots and in garden. The pool area has a relaxing effect on anyone who wants some peace and quiet..almost like a vacation area on our grounds.

July 4th Trail Ultra in NY Finger Lakes

These 2 photos The top photo of the shoes caked with clay and mud that gets everywhere on your body and clothes AFTER a very difficult 31 mile race on mud trails that were difficult to walk on without sinking in or falling down, as the course was rained on for days before and even the night before the race. Race began at 6:30 AM and most trails were deep mud or under water. Very slow pace resulted from this mess, but it was a great workout as preparation for the 50 mile race I am doing in 2 weeks in Maine (Great Cranberry Island).

The shoe photo at bottom is actually the same shoes after being cleaned thoroughly and literally washed in a washing machine. They came out looking new again.

In any case July 4th race was a great event as was the post race cookout on our campsite. Good thing we had new tent and equipment that kept us dry during the rainy night before the race began. I came out of this race well and stronger, with no injuries and only minor strains. On to my 50 mile race on July 18th in Maine.

Blue Cobalt and Brown Discus in Home Aquarium

We have a 90 gallon freshwater aquarium that must be cleaned and maintained better. Seeing today one of the few truly challenging Amazon Freshwater fish that rivals the colors of the marine fish still surviving in this aquarium reminded me to work on this tank soon.

This Discus is about 5 years old and has stunning colors. We must revitalize the tank and get 4-6 more of these fabulous fishes that grow to about 4 inches in diameter and are very intelligent Ciclids.

Universal Health Care

Before the Nation has another big government spending (permanent) program slammed in its face by big spending forces in the Legislative (Congress) and the Executive (Obama Administration) branches, please consider the following.

• Healthcare amounts to about 20% of the total money spent by all Americans each year.
  That will be added to Government spending and our taxes.
• Presently the following Government run programs are "bankrupt", Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, due to government corruption, Congress appropriating the assets for other non approved programs, mis-spending and fraud at the level of execution in the Federal, State and Local elements of each program. The Government cannot manage anything well...so why would we give them more of our money and economy to manage?

Now Obama and the left-wing Congress who only have eyes for welfare spending and spending for the lobbyists and their companies who put them into office, will take the money from all hard working Americans, those of us who have paid taxes faithfully each year, and give it into waste that will likely double the spending for Healthcare and provide far less in benefits for most Americans.

Is this Democracy? Most of us believe that all Americans should have some form of coverage. However the "system" does not need to be fixed for most Americans. Let us change it for those who need incentive and structure, and in a manner that provides incentive and true transparency in execution.

President Obama promised before he was elected and then again on April 15Th 2009, that taxes would not be raised for any American families earning less than $250,000 per year. That already is a lie, as over 2 trillion dollars has been approved in the overall "Economic Recovery" (Spending) plan that is over and above our annual budget. Add to this a comparable amount for Universal Healthcare, and it is clear that the money simply does not exist.

Already lobbyists are converging on Congress more than ever for their piece of the pork. Democracy will fail if we allow this to happen. Additionally, when we consider how the upcoming Energy Bill (Cap and Trade) will also have a negative effect on our economy, as it penalizes US based businesses, and citizens, possibly being added to Government takeover of Healthcare, Economic Recovery spending, Bailouts for failed corporations, it is clear that our futures are under attack by an ideology based group of incompetent legislators in the left-wing controlled Legislative and Executive branches of our government.

We cannot allow this to continue.

I would urge all whom I can to write, email, see your Congressional representatives, State Representatives, Local and all whom you can, to tell them that you will be watching how they vote and act when the Universal Healthcare bill is voted upon. There are answers to this problem in the Private Sector, as discussed by Mitt Romney and executed in his tenure as a Governor. Surely we can come up with a plan that is not yet another power grab by Congress and the Whitehouse.

Ultra-workout Turtle Rescue

I recently was finishing a 22 mile training run near my home and found a very large snapping turtle in the middle of a well-driven street. It was half a mile from nearest water due to heavy rains that caused its movement. This specimen was about 20 inches in diameter, about as large as they get in the Northeast, and about 50-60 pounds weight. These turtles can inflict nasty bites and have tempers to match their size and bite. However, they, as all of the creatures in the wild, deserve to have a good habitat.

My son, Andrew and I used a 50 gallon garbage pail to capture it and brought the fabulous specimen to the nearby reservior, where it swam away gracefully. Above are several photos of this "guy" swimming away.

I did not complete the final 1/2 mile of my run. This positive experience will keep me fleet of feet in my planned 50 mile race on Sat. July 4th in the Finger Lakes region of NY State.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

This blog will be about individual pursuits of excellence, family life, conservative viewpoint, our Nation's greatness, personal interests such as trail ultra-marathon running, professional interests, and about those who are making our Nation great.

We will present a viewpoint to the current state of our Country's government, economy, international scene, domestic scene and offer support to any who are working to improve, as well as counterpoint views and actions that we do not agree with.

Rich