finishing is your only option

"Finishing is your only fu*king option" This was my favorite sign at the marathon. Truer word were never said. and I am pleased to say that I did finish. It wasn't my fastest time ever. Heck - Katie Holmes beat me. But hey - I have the same finisher medal as her - and she has the same one as Lance Armstrong - and he has the same as the Kenyan who crossed the finish line 1st. So we are all equal. And I am excited as hell to have finished - my 3rd marathon.

The great thing about the New York marathon is the people. Hands down - the people. No other city has the crowd support like NY. "Hey - San Francisco - Bay to Breakers isn't the only race in that town!" My favorite Borough was Brooklyn. Heck - half the race is pretty much in Brooklyn. I loved the people cheering us on. The city is such a diverse town. But the great thing was - it didn't matter what your skin color was - religion (including Scientology) - or back ground - people cheered everybody on - in their own special way. One of my favorite sights was a gospel choir on the steps of their church preaching and praying away. It was marathon day!

As we approached the 4th street bridge I waved to the final remains of the crowd and yelled "Thank you Brooklyn!" As Jodi and I made our over the bridge - we approached one lone woman standing on the exit ramp. She calmly said "Ladies and Gentlemen - welcome to Queens". Then came the crowds. People came out of their homes to cheer. Partied at bars to cheer - and stood for hours to cheer. And who was running this race? Katie Holmes? Lance Armstrong? How about Jodi B and Big Jay? In 2000 I tried and failed my first marathon. On the eve of this race - I got a gift. A shirt that said 'Go Big Jay'. It became my marathon alter ego - and people love to cheer it. I'll be running next to a Steve - A Chuck - or a Jodi (ahem) and - oh sure- they will get cheers - - but people love to yell 'GO BIG JAY'. Granted - I spent way too much energy high fiving my fan base - but it was worth it.
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So it turns out we made several stops on the route. We made 2 bathroom stops - and quick first aid stop - Mile 11, 17 and 23ish we stopped to say hi to Lisa, Cronk, Anne and Shelly - friends from San Francisco. At Mile 15 we saw more peeps from San Fran - Peg and Craig - and made a quick stop for a quick hello. At this point I knew I was not going to break my PR - I was there just to soak up New York. When ever I am in New York - I feel as if I re-charge my battery - like Superman absorbing yellow sun rays.

Sadly Kryptonite hit me at mile 17. We stopped to say hi to our SF friends - and suddenly I felt dizzy and my left leg buckled. I grabbed some pretzels and a sip of water - and moved on. I hi-fived more big jay well wishers - hoping for a recharge. But energy was fading fast. We trotted on into the Bronx. A DJ welcomed us - "Big Jay - you in da Bronx now - welcome to the hood!" Mile 20 - my legs stopped. "No thanks", they said. Miles 20-26.2 was a speed walk - jog - slow walk type thing. Jodi got me through the rest. Pushing me just one more step. Mile 23 saw my friends the Braine family. Bill followed as we pushed on - and reminded me of the 1st time I ran NY. He met me at the exact same spot in 2004. Mile 25 saw my parents and my sister. My mom reminded me that they were standing there all day - and asked that I hurry up. Hello!?!? What have I been doing all day. My whole day was based on 'hurry up'.
Finally - - I saw the 26 mile sign - and some how I managed to muster the strength to fall .2 mile to victory. We collected our medals - our heat blankets - and made the mile long hike to get our sweats and exit central park (seriously - another whole mile). As we were walking back to our hotel - I texted a friend and said 'if I say I am running a marathon again to sop me'. But as my achy quads heal - I wonder - maybe one day again I will make the hike of 26.2 miles. And perhaps Big Jay will run through the streets of New York City another year. Perhaps - perhaps -perhaps.

People to thank:

1. all the people who supported my team fox efforts - especially the people directly effected by Parkinson's. I ran this for them.
2. All my friends and family who came out from SF, FL and NY to cheer us on. Knowing you were just a mile away kept me going.
3. The City of New York who just reminded me that I still do still love you.
4. And most importantly Jodi - who trained with me all summer. There are many hills to run on in San Francisco - but the steepest hill always lead home (she lives on top of a really steep hill - no really).

1%

Today I decided to run at 6am rather than 6pm. It doesn’t happen too often – as I value my sleep. I have stated before I enjoy running at off times – like early morning-or in the rain – so I figured – why not. A lot of runners I know run so effortlessly. I am not one of those people. Every run I do takes a great deal of effort – and it is very rare that I ever have an easy run. 99% of the time – it’s hard. To me a 3 miler is just as grueling as a 20 miler. I feel as each step I am 2 ton Charlie pushing my way though. But today was different. Today was that 1%

I woke up at 5:45am- and put on my sneaks- grabbed my ipod – and took off. Funny thing about my ipod. I used to HAVE to have it with me. I needed have Joey Ramone yell “aye-oh – Let’s go!” to keep me on pace. Now – I just bring my ipod with me to use my Nike Plus and track my distance and pace. Other than that – it’s just me and my thoughts. For some reason ‘’Anchors away’’ was playing in my head. I think I must have passed a sign advertising fleet week. But I seem to have learned how not to run with an Ipod. Just hearing Bono singing about getting Vertigo in my head -- makes me beg for silence. Booming drums – or blaring base? Give me booming feet – and the sound of my breath. Or maybe I need to down load new songs?

The streets of North Beach were quiet. Just the sounds of my sneaks pounding the pavement split the silence. Once in a while I’d pass a merchant opening up for business. But once I hit the Embarcadero – that all changed. It was filled with runners. Almost like a track practice. Slow runners – fast runners – elite runners. One gentleman I passed had a 25 pound back pack on his back. The pack was tightened to be nice and snug on his back to avoid bounce and chafing. Wonder what he was training for? Some people said good morning- some people were lost in their thoughts. Me? I seem to have discovered that effortless run people talk about. The run seemed easy and quick – though the guy with the 25 pounder on his back eventually passed me. But I didn’t care. I got in a 5 miler –and it was the easiest 5 miler I have run in a long time.

Perhaps it was the non tired legs that a work day can give me. Perhaps it wasn’t carrying my lunch with me. Or just running on a full night’s sleep vs a full work day. Maybe the carbs I consumed the night before. Whatever the reason- I hope to have a good run tomorrow morning as well. I also hope to beat that guy with the 25 pound back. Seriously – what is he training for?

Any Port in a Storm

I grew up in a town called Wantagh on Long Island, New York. In this town lived a family named the Bakers. For some unknown reason the Bakers had the biggest sail boat you could ever imagine, in their driveway. No matter how big you are thinking - the boat was bigger. Each time I would pass this house -I could never prepare myself on the enormity of this boat. It towered over their home. To get it to their house - the Bakers needed a special truck - and if I recall- they had to adjust power lines in the streets. I imagine a slow painful process. I picture that once they got it in their driveway - they said it would take hell or high water for them to move it again. It's true. This thing sat for years. 5 years - 10 Years -20 Years - in their driveway.

Well my sister emailed me last night - and let me know that the boat has finally sailed -as it was gone. Bon Voyage Baker family - and have a safe trip. (Ps the odds of this boat being sea worthy is zero -but hey - any port in a storm - right?)

Pennsylvania 6-5000

Today I took the F-Market to work. This doesn't happen too often, as I usually walk - but I love the ride. The F-Market is a street car route in San Francisco that goes along the Embarcadero (San Francisco at her best). The trains used on this route are old retired, vintage street cars from around the US – and 1 from Milan Italy. Basically- it is a big ‘in use’ street car museum.

I tell you – every time I get on one in the morning- I can practically here The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra playing in the back ground. It’s so old school – I love it. The F-Market is one of the reasons why I love San Francisco. I sometimes feel as if I am collecting the trains. I often get excited when I discover a new train. I feel as if I am a kid finding a rookie card in a pack of baseball cards. 'Oh cool!! A New One! Look - San Diego!!'.

For the record - today I rode in on Philadelphia .

The longest mile

run
Originally uploaded by LeboRocks

This Saturday I ran 20 miles for my preperation for the NYC marathon. Ow. But all things being equal - not too shabby. If I had to do another 6.2 miles - I could have. Though I iwll admit - I was on the verge of wakling. It says I did 22 miles. I think my ipod/nike plus needs to be calibrated. 20 miles. Awesome.

12 Angry Men

And so it begins. The time honored tradition of jury duty. There must be like 200 people here. The maximum capacity for the room is 315. We are pushing that for sure. Maybe more. The room is old and dingy and depressing. And as fate would have it - I get no cell service. I am willing to bet same will go for my Verizon air card, for my laptop. Swell.

I glance at my watch - 8:30 on the dot. At least I am punctual. The question is - will the court clerks be?

I choose a loan chair not in a row. It has a broken back - which is basically always in recline mode. That's fine for now. The room is defiantly warm. Perfect atmosphere for napping. Wonder if the court house offers free wifi. I did bring my laptop. I notice that I am not near a power outlet. I can only hope that the courthouse DOES offer wifi - and my battery reserves in my laptop is up to the task

It begins. Clerk announces shell take care of all of us at one time. I am shooting for a mass dismissal (this actually happened to me in 1998).

People are still piling in. More people than chairs. The jury support staff thanks us for our time and explains the process. The clerk - Jordan - is quite the comedian actually. Either he is very funny- or hates his job. I am going for both.

The video begins. I learn how the criminal justice system works. The video stars former jurors. I was hoping for a celebrity from law and order. Heck I would have settled for Bull from night court. Hmmmmm whatever happened to Richard Moll? Did you know ‘trial by jury’ is mentioned 3 times in the constitution?

There is a crazy guy here. He reminds me as the moyl from the briss episode from Seinfeld. He came in yelling about not being able to park (though I am convinced the yelling is his normal quiet voice). He loudly explained to all 300 of us there was no parking and he had to us a metered spot. This incident made us all laugh. He doesn't have a chair and is pacing back and forth nervously. Him I like and feel he'll offer something more comical as the day goes on (sadly – he never did anything funny or entertaining since the initial parking meter question).

After the video - we get a quick break. Jordan says at 9:30 they will need a lot of jurors. This could be it. Crazy guy seems to missing - but we are on break. He could be checking his car.

9:30 they announce that they have a computer problem and can't print out the roster for the jury. Wonder if I should help. Oh for the love of Pete - just reboot the thing.

Roll call asking for 100 jurors. Somebody’s name is Geronimo. Cool.

The called like 100 names. I was not called. Can’t tell if this is good or bad. As the 100 people leave one of the jurors comments that I have a twin. I look like somebody they know. Hmmmm –I bet one day I shall meet this twin and we will battle. Note to self – keep eyes out for twin.

I now take a seat at a table. The room does offer wifi. I am not near power –but my battery is at 95%.


I finally get called. – and after many hours dismissed. It was a case of the ice cream man French kissing an 8 year old girl. The prosecution asked if we had a problem with an 8 year old girl on the stand. I stated that I had a problem with the 8 year old girl being cross examined by the defense. I felt she had been through enough – and I couldn’t stand to watch the defense try to disparage her testimony. I also felt the defense attorney was a bit sleazy – and I would have voted for the prosecution just by the very nature of the case. Oddly it was the prosecution who dismissed me. Oh well.

All is FARE in love and war.

Here is the headline in today’s’ front pages on the San Francisco Chronicle:

No fare: cheats on Muni
Passengers who don't pay are costing the S.F. transit agency millions Muni losing millions as freeloaders catch a ride


To them I say – duh! The way Muni collects their fares is very similar to placing Halloween candy on your door step with a sign that says ‘please take 1’. I just recently started taking San Francisco mass transit more than ever. I am utterly amazed on how it works. As far as I can tell I pay for my ticket – walk on the MUNI or CalTrain – and yet nobody ever asks to see my ticket or proof of payment. Every once in a blue moon a conductor will walk through the Caltrain asking for tickets. I guess it’s this fear of getting busted that drives me to get a ticket every train ride. I now get a 10 ride pass and validate it each time before I board the train. I say 1 out of 10 rides a conductor asks to see proof of payment. Being a native New Yorker I used to take the L.I double R. (Long island Rail Road) into the city. While reading my paper or book –I would hear the train car door open and the conductor yell “tickets – let’s see them tickets’. Then he/she would take out a hole punch and punch all tickets and then place my ticket in the back of my seat. I would say in a 40 minute ride I would see the conductor at least twice. I am guessing he made his rounds based on some sort of zone system. I figure that this is rocket science to the Caltrain people. Their theory is – let’s not check for tickets and see how much money we make. Good plan.

So the whole bay area mass transit system is a bit disjointed. You have Caltrain – which is a straight shot from San Jose to San Francisco, making stops along the way. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) goes from the Airport to San Francisco to the East Bay (pretty much a straight line - -though it does branch off in the east bay) (Also - - please note – I can write a whole book on why I hate BART and their issues). The one thing BART does right is ticket collection. I pay for my pass – slide it through the turnstile – turn stile opens – I walk through. And then there is Muni. Muni consists of:

55 bus lines (several using articulated buses);
16 trolley bus lines (several using articulated buses)
5 light rail lines. These lines, collectively known as Muni Metro, run articulated light rail vehicles. The lines include underground, grade-separated, and street-running portions
3 cable car lines; see article San Francisco cable car system
1 streetcar line (using heritage streetcars) known as the F Market

The light rail is really the subject of the Chronicle article. All the others, I think, have significant fare collection practices. So the light rail can be anywhere from a 1 to 5 car mini-train. Depending on where the station is – sometimes there is a fare machine – sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes there is a guy at your station during peak hours – sometimes there isn’t. And other times you can buy a pass on the first car. But all in all there are no checks and balances to the proof of purchase. Once in a while a transit officer walks through the train asking to see proof of payment.

It seems to me that the only way MUNI makes money is by wishing for the best. It is my wish that MUNI finds an answer to their problem. Maybe like making all riders enter from the first car – and the conductor checking passes or collecting money like the bus. But that is crazy. I wish MUNI well. But unless they change their way– they’ll lose – and wonder where all their Halloween candy went. And who does this hurt the most? Me - the honest. (please note – one day I didn’t have any money on me and I was late for work – I bored the MUNI and prayed to all that is holy that I would not get caught. I didn’t)

Running in the Rain

I pretend to be a runner. I am not athletic by any means. In high school - the only sport I lettered in was Bowling. I was on the Jr. Varity team -- in fact I WAS the team. Not to say I carried the team. It is more to say I was the only team member. All the good kids were on the varsity team. None-the-less - I took my black and gold “W" on Sports night and displayed in proudly in my bedroom growing up. Many-many years later - I took up running. I have completed 2 marathons in just over 5 hours. Not even close to qualifying for Boston – but times I am proud of anyway. Though you would think that takes a great deal of athleticism to run marathons, I say it takes more. I say it takes a great deal of conditioning and determination and heart. Those I got. Athleticism? Not so much. Some people describe running to be grace like - or running like a Gazell. I feel is if I have 2 bricks tied to my feet. Each step is slow and sluggish - but yet I enjoy it. In fact I love it.

One of the things I enjoy most about running is the people watching you get to do while logging in the miles. I’ll often go running early in the morning or in the rain. Sometimes a combination of work or procrastination keeps my run start time at 8pm or greater. These 3 types of runs I like the best. Why? The people you meet. By nature I find runners to be friendly. Always giving that runners nod or smile when we pass. But I find the runners in the morning/evening hours or rain are more friendlier than most. It’s as if we are in our own little club – and the fact that we are out there in less-than-perfect conditions makes us special. These people give the best hellos on what should be a lonely run. And to them I say thank you. And to the beautiful blonde running in her sports bra and short-shorts that I passed in the rain last week – I say an extra thank you. (I just felt a jab from my girlfriend in my ribs - owwwww).

My ideal job

The other day I was walking through the Charlotte airport - and I saw a young gentleman who could pass for a young Barack Obama. I couldn't help but be a little jealous. Oh - no - I don't want to look like Obama. But one of my life long goals is to be a celebrity impersonator. Out there in the world is my doppelganger. I hope he will one day run for a high political office - say even the highest - President. I could then retire form my job and entertain birthday parties and Bar-Mitzvah's. I don't ask for much - but if anybody see's a candidate who slightly resembles me - I ask that you vote for the fellow. His point a views may be different from what you would hope for in a president. Or perhaps - he is the in the wrong political party than what you subscribe to. But -none-the-less - I beg that you still vote for my twin -- please do not crush my dreams.

Thanks!