Gil Can Run!A blog on Running and all the crap that runs through my head while doing it

Oct 31st Happy Halloween!

Indeed, even though I did not run today, it is a Happy Halloween. The All Blacks beat Australia to claim their third Rugby World Cup. The most of any other nation, and the first time a country has won back-to-back World Cups. A great feat that the whole of New Zealand should be very proud of. Other than that, my other sports team today did not do so well, Manchester United, score goals dammit!
Currently, we have a good amount of kids coming to the house to collect candy. Don’t see many homemade costumes like when I was a kid. Of course when I was young it was either something homemade or one of those awful plastic suits with the mask that would slice your face to bits. You were more horrifying once you got home and took the mask off! Death by a thousand plastic cuts.
So tomorrow morning is my third 5k of the year. I can’t believe I’ve only run 2 5k races all year. Hopefully this one will be my fastest. However, I noticed I’m carrying a couple extra pounds after not running most of the week. Oh well, hopefully it’s not too much.
So I close out October, I have my sub 4-hour marathon, I have run 11 races of marathon or greater distance this calendar year, and I am at 1272 miles (2047 km) on my way to my goal of 1500 miles (2414 km). I just have to average 114 miles the last two months. I should be able to do that, and maybe a little more. Although, at the end of November I will start a Holiday running streak. Which actually seems to lower my miles. But we shall see what happens.
I hope everyone out there is having a fun, but safe Halloween. Good luck to everyone in NYC or wherever they’re running tomorrow. Make sure to have fun, keep running, and remember if Gil can run, then so can you!

Oct 30th Friday night, the night before Halloween

Here I am just relaxing. I did not run, my butt is still not feeling right. Maybe a couple miles in the morning, maybe not. Who knows. Has anyone read Patton Oswalt’s tweets about the GOP Debate? Hilarious! It has me thinking, what would my stats and level be, if I got to write them down as a D&D character? Interesting, perhaps I should do an informal study and have people vote on what they think my stats, class, and alignment would be? I’m not a huge fan of the alignment system, but it is a thing.
I will consider this further over the weekend. I think I’m interested in feedback on this one, really. So yes, I will come up with some way of doing  this, perhaps.
Other than that, I have to get a long run in this week, try and stay on my marathon pace for most of it and see how things go. November is almost here and I’m so close to hitting all my goals. It feels pretty good. I got a nice reminder when the Shoreline Sharks delivered my prize for completing their streaking challenge this year. It’s running their three longest road races, the Savin Rock Marathon (or Half), the Hamden Hills Half Marathon, and the Gulf Beach Half Marathon. Another hoodie to add to last year’s, and it will help keep me warm and fuzzy all winter!
New York City Marathon this weekend, good luck to everyone who is running it, and anything else, and congratulations to anyone who got accepted to Boston, or will get accepted to Boston, I know they started sending that out today. Whatever the weekend brings you, and however Halloween treats you, have fun, keep running and remember, if Gil can run then so can you!

Oct 29th Episode 21 is here!

I ran today, even though I’m uncomfortable. So we talk about that pain in my ass, literally. Here is some information on piriformis syndrome, tests and stretches to help with it. I was thinking about what to do about not wanting your kids to binge on Halloween candy, and shocker, the answer is about getting the community together. Ive also been bothered by this girl that got beat up by a cop in the classroom, and I think it may have to do with egos. Check it out, and remember, if you like, share, and share liberally! Spread that shit around!

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Oct 28th Normally I only call a run due to weather if there’s lightning

The title is true, except today. I just did not feel like running in high winds and cold rain. So I stuffed my run, plus and extra day’s rest can’t hurt. Tomorrow afternoon I will get out and about for a few miles, and then see how we’re feeling for Sunday’s race, and determine if I’ll do more on Friday or not.
On the good news side of things, we have our first Nog of the fall, yes indeed, Egg Nog spotted and purchased at a local store. Yum! I am an Egg Nog fan, if you aren’t down with that, then I have two words for you…figure them out yourself, I’m not going to give you everything! Particularly if you don’t like the nog.
I suppose we should pay some lip service to the “debate” on TV tonight. I don’t watch these things, they’re not debates. Nobody actually debates any meaningful ideas. They don’t, they just look for the best soundbyte or best visual for the night to determine who won or lost. They’re not saying anything that will actually change anyone’s mind, at least not in my estimation. They tell you who to blame, and what they’d do to punish those people to make you feel better. It won’t actually fix anything, but I suppose if you’re of the mind to think other people are to blame for your lot in life it would make you want to vote for the person who blames the right group, that you feel so aggrieved by. And that’s a modern Republican debate, in a nutshell, who’s to blame, and what they will do to punish those people.
Until we have a candidate that says “What the government does is important, but we need to look to our communities, to our neighbors to help each other out, that’s where the power is, that’s where we have to build from.” Until that happens, nothing will get done for the average person. The fact is, the only thing that’s ever moved the lower classes up and got things done to help us, are things we’ve done, organized, together, as a group of communities coming together to force the power brokers, the people in high places, to treat us better. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, each time, the “little people” have always, either intentionally or mistakenly, left out several other communities that have also wanted and needed to join in. We need to do a better job of that. But the fact is, no change is going to come from Washington D.C., or London, or Paris, or Berlin, or Rome. The change is going to come from your community, municipal, region\state, elections. It’s going to come from groups of neighbors, active in their communities fighting for what is best overall. It takes participation. and the reason so many of our politicians talk in soundbytes, or miss the point, is they know they only have to capture a small segment of the population with their message to win. Simply because we don’t participate.

With that, I bid you to have fun, keep running, and remember if Gil can run, then so can you!

Oct 27th I rested again today

My legs have been tired again, so I said, forget it. I have my miles on target, and beyond for the month, and I’d rather be fast and injury free on Sunday, as I run a 5k at Platt Tech. It’s a flat course, so I’m going to go for a PR. If I do beat it, I won’t beat it by much. But being it’s been a long, and by far the toughest, year in my short time running, I think discretion is the better part of valor at this point. January I will take a nice long, much-needed break, but for now I have to stay healthy to hit all my goals for the year.
I think I also have to set a goal for job hunting. Goals seem to work for running, why can’t they work elsewhere? There is a part-time gig back in radio, and news in fact, in my area. I should probably look into that. But I don’t want to be in radio full-time anymore. The pay isn’t good and the hours can be hellish. There was a time when my heart was really into entertainment and being the very best on and off the air as I could be. Meaning my on-air and my production stuff (I’ve always been the same amazing person outside of work). But my heart just isn’t with it anymore. Getting laid off and seeing everything I worked for years to create get picked apart in the span of a couple months, just because the “economy crashed”, was too much to take. We had strove so hard to make talk radio that was worth listening to. Not like the conservative “infotainment” that passes as talk radio; real, informative, smart, fun, interesting talk radio. We had started making it cool again, our rating book that last time was really great, we had hit our first goal, and we were going to really start making people tune in for something special, but the corporate powers-that-be took it all away in the blink of an eye.
It’s one of the many reasons I don’t like corporations. But that’s alright, I won’t get into that. All I know is that I don’t want back into radio on a permanent basis. But if I can pass some time and make a few extra bucks doing some rip-and-read news, I’m good with that. Well, I need to go send in an air-check and whatnot. Whatever you’re doing, have fun and keep running, remember that if Gil can run, then so can you!

Oct 26th Not your typical Monday

All I want to talk about is running. And this will be short. I went out, I ran, I still am keeping a good pace. My knees and feet are a little sore, I need new shoes, but money is a little hard to come by right now, thanks to all this insurance nonsense with the house. I hope everyone’s Monday was fun and productive! Either way, Have fun, keep running and remember, if Gil can run, then so can you!

Oct 24th It was a big Saturday

So I started out with a little run. Nothing really exciting, save I stayed on pace for 10 miles (16.1 km).  Which is good, I mean that’s almost halfway right? Hahaha, of course those 16 miles are so difficult, but hey, I’m feeling good.
Other than that, I hung out today and then had to drive up to Massachusetts to see a play my father’s church was putting on, and my father was cast in. It was a production of Arsenic and Old Lace, and they do a play every year, and usually my step-mother is the female lead. My father, while he has been the crew before, has never acted. I was apprehensive. I wasn’t sure if my dad would be able to remember the lines, or if he had any acting ability, to be honest. I mean he’s a funny guy, but acting is a whole different ball of wax. I know, I’ve been there and done that. But, in the part of Teddy Brewster, he was a natural. For those who don’t know, Teddy is the crazy brother who believes he’s Teddy Roosevelt. Now what makes my father good for the role is he is a huge history buff and fan of Teddy Roosevelt, he has a very Teddy Roosevelt look to him, and given it’s a large part of the comic relief of the show, it fits right in with his jocular personality. So it was enjoyable to watch and I was glad to see my father have so much fun and do so well. I wouldn’t cast him as Macbeth, but he can be Teddy Brewster any day.
I drove up with my sister and oldest niece, and on the ride back there was a major accident on the highway, so it took a while to get home, hence the lateness of my posting this. Folks, nothing that happens on the highway is worth your life, and nowhere you need to be is worth it either. Please, stay calm and drive sensibly and responsibly. Also, if you are too tired, or in any way not fit to drive please take your time, rest up, or whatever you need, before driving anywhere. Wherever you are going, whomever you are meeting, whatever is happening, they will understand that you waited to be safe. I always get very bothered when I come upon an accident scene, took often I see a tarp pulled up over a vehicle with too many emergency vehicles around. Today that was not the case luckily, but the vehicle was on its roof, and there was still a passenger, thankfully, buckled into the seat. Once again, no place you need to be, is worth you or anyone else’s life. Please THINK and drive!
I haven’t decided if I will run tomorrow yet or not. I may not. I need a rest, I want to run Monday and so I make take tomorrow off. Plus, the first of this year’s Manchester Derby is tomorrow, United v City, GGMU! (Glory, Glory, Man United) and the second Rugby World Cup Semifinal between Argentina and Australia is happening (Go Jaguars!). New Zealand held on and played strong, if sloppy defense and beat South Africa 20-18. South Africa only scored on penalties, as the All Blacks kept them from the try line (goal line in US Football parlance), through grit and determination. It was an exciting, if frustrating at times, match. When a team gives up 6 penalties for 18 points, it understandably is frustrating. The All Blacks committed more penalties in the first half than they had in the entire Quarter Final match the played against France. But in the end, they prevailed and will defend their Rugby World Cup title against tomorrow’s winners.
An exciting day to be sure, and tomorrow will be as well. With that I leave you. Have fun, keep running and remember, if Gil can run, then so can you!

Oct 23rd Nothing doing today

I did not run, I was not planning on it, so I just took a day to rest. Got myself Assassin’s Creed Black Flag and Unity to catch myself up on the series. Playing them now. If they are good, and I can finish them in 7 days, I can return them to Gamestop and get Syndicate for much cheaper, as I will get full price back for these two! Haha, gaming the system a little I know. I have a busy weekend of training runs and family obligations.
But I have friends who are out running this weekend, to everyone running Marine Corps, Bristol to Bath (Inaugural Race, go Al!), Ghost Train, or anything else at any distance you’re running this weekend, best of luck, I know you have this and you are ready! I am jealous and awed by all your accomplishments. Way to get out there and do your thing. It’s all very cool, and I hope I get lots of pictures in my feeds of smiling faces, food, beers, friends and everyone having a great time!
In the meantime, I suppose I will give you some levity. given the seriousness of all the political bullshit that’s been happening and the fact that people in America have to endure a torturous 2 year election cycle for a Chief Executive, that has been made into a 4 year one by the presumptive nomination of a particular female former Secretary of State, this just came across my Facebook feed. Apparently, Hillary knows something about this whole Fugazi mess(follow this link it’s hilarious!), and she’s not being honest about it! Secretary Clinton, please stop leaving us in the Waiting Room! I am a patient boy, I suppose.

Also, and I hate to rehash a joke I just used on my personal FB page, but I heard Bernie is a Minor Threat! Oh, the punk rock music puns are flying now!

Someone, show this to Ian MacKaye, he needs a good laugh!
OK kids, have fun, keep running and remember, if Gil can run, then so can you!

Oct 22nd Episode 20 fresh for you to peep, plus recipes

So there it is! 20 episodes. I get a little off the tracks, I get interrupted and had to edit, and we end up talking gun control. Because I’m pissed dammit! But we also talk about running, and how I did this week. I even ran today! We talk some entertainment, and I had an idea for when I finally get my ass down to Southern Italy, which is where I want to be. We also talk potatoes and  ketchup. Recipes to follow. Also, who out there knew I could juggle? So check it out!

Here’s the ketchup recipe, and you can do what you want to do to make it your own:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped medium
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 28-oz can tomato purée
• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add in the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add in the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato purée, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, salt, mustard, cloves, allspice, and cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened to the consistency of ketchup, 45 to 60 minutes.
2. Place ketchup in the jar of a blender and purée until completely smooth.
3. Wash and dry saucepan, then place a fine mesh strainer over top. Pour ketchup in the strainer and, using a spatula, force through all of the ketchup.
4. Taste ketchup and adjust seasonings if necessary. Pour ketchup into a jar, seal, and store in the refrigerator for 3 weeks up to a month.
   

The Potatoes are even easier!

• 2 potatoes
• salt

     1. Peel and julienne potatoes
     2. Bring water to boil, add salt
     3. Boil potatoes for 2-3 minutes
     4. Drain potatoes and lay out on baking sheet, place in freezer until frozen
     5. Bring your frying oil of choice to temperature, and deep or pan fry as you prefer until golden brown.

Totally simple! Make sure to enjoy  these fine treats together!

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Oct 21st Apparently “Take it easy” has lost meaning to me

So I went out, and I said “tonight, I’ll take it easy” and the next thing you know I did this. I felt good, so I just kept moving. Tomorrow, I will try to just go at the pace I want to run for Philly. Since I’m still too fast. I guess it’s true, once you recognize the decisions you are subconsciously making, you can change them and change what you’re doing. What’s upsetting with this is I wanted to run Branford this year in under 40 minutes and I failed miserably. Granted, out and back down State St is flatter, but still, this was just a training run.
Other than that, my day was simple, argued with some friends over gun control, seriously folks, enough with the guns already, clearly more aren’t helping. Also had a nightmare about an ex friend. Here’s the thing with me, and a song I heard on the run got me thinking about this. When I am rejected, when someone judges me “not worthy”, it’s not ego that makes me hurt, it a desire to absolutely destroy that bridge. Pouring some gasoline and striking a match is not good enough, no pillar can be left standing. It’s just not cool.

I was wearing the shirt a couple episodes ago, and I’m telling you these guys are great! And they’re great to run to, and cool people too. So All For Nothing, definitely worth checking out.
I suppose I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it’s Back to the Future II day. Not many people are mentioning the II. In the first Back to the Future, they went to 1955, it was the second movie they went to 2015. Technically speaking, yes Doc Brown came back from 2015 at the end of the first movie to pick up Marty and Jennifer, but nothing happened in 2015, and we weren’t told the date. So that’s that.What I’m waiting for is to see what comes of Running Man by the time we get to 2017. Anyone remember that dystopian action flick from Arnold Schwarzenegger?
And in other news, I read tonight that they’re “rebooting” Rocky Horror Picture Show for TV. Not only will I not watch that, I would probably seriously consider cancelling my cable subscription over that. I cannot think of a worse idea. The whole point of Rocky is to go to the theater and act like a clown with a bunch of other like-minded idiots, who want to basically mock a horrible film, starring some lovely people who went on to star in great TV Shows and Movies. It’s a shame, a tragedy, that they would do something like this and take the greatest interactive theater experience of all time and try and cash in on it, by trying to win over a bunch of gen-xers with some nostalgic crap. Which, I admit has been very successful for them. But this is just too far. I would try and call these tv execs and tell them how I feel, but they probably live in castles, and as we know, castles don’t have phones, asshole! So let’s hope there is enough internet outrage to kill this project before it has a chance to get off the slab. On that, I leave you, on to tomorrow and another fine day! Have fun, keep running, and remember, if Gil can run, then so can you!