I think me and dad have officially found a marathon to run... SBS Marathon in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is supposed to be one of the fastest courses on earth and beautiful, as it is next to a large mountain range and lake. I have spoken to one of my teachers who is a runner and he ran the half marathon there. He said the only hard part was that it was really cold, but the race itself is really really good.
What this marathon means now is that I have motivation to run. The past weeks, if I haven't been completely worn out by school or sports (or been in Cambodia), I have been up to run with dad early. All of which have been good. I can't remember a run, that wasn't a long run, that hasn't been unbearable or even "bad." All have been really good... even the short runs by myself.
The Friday I got back from Cambodia, not even an hour after I got home I was out the door again running in the rain. It was probably one of the most memorable runs I will ever have because, for one, I found a stride within me that I had never found before. It wasn't a fast stride and definitely not a slow one, but one that fits me... perfectly. I loved it, to say the least. Next was that simply, it was a run in the rain. If it is raining, I could run the circumference of the world... and then again. It gives me this special hype and seems to give me energy instead of take it away. My love for rain is unexplainable...
All I am trying to say about running is simply that I now have motivation, so waking up in the morning with the knowledge that I am close to running a marathon on the other side of the world that I am used to, is just amazing. And next is just that I have found a good groove, so when things start to settle down, like at Christmas, I will pick it all up and run whatever my body wants to take, which I like the thought of.
November 17, 2009
September 30, 2009
ACSIS Cross-Country Champioships
So I have been talking a lot about future and stuff... and not enough about present things. I probably just have not been talking enough in general. I am not big on "small talk" so this is difficult, but I like to write so I will try harder. Okay?
Well anyways, I was invited by a coach at ISS to run the cross-country meet at SAS on Friday. To tell the truth I was not all that excited. Before the race I remember wishing I was running a 100 miler rather than a 3.1 miler. Going into Friday I thought that it just might be the hardest, most grueling, fastest race I have ever run. Fast, hard, and especially grueling runs are not cool to me. I think it is more of an accomplishment to run as far as your body will take you rather than as fast. Put me on a road and say "run straight for as long as you can" and that would suffice. I just hope to never become ann Anton Krupika, where I probably don't eat enough, run 200 miles a week, and have no time for friends and stuff. I have to say that that man is just insane though. I do hope to be able to run as consistent as he does, but not as far and fast.
But anyways, I warmed up really well and felt great! I ran a few sprints and stretched probably 4 times. Me and dad have this routine stretch that we always do before a run and it takes like 10 minutes, so four of those will tell you how much I stretched. I drank tons of water the last two days or so and ate pasta for dinner the night before made by my mother. (It was good too :) ) You might think that is a little extravagant for just a 5k, but I was really really nervous. But for some reason when I line up on the starting line, those nerves completely disappear. I don't know why but they do. The race director blew the horn to start and off we went.
Because of my background in running, which is not a lot but much more than probably every kid there, I knew how to run a race. I started off slow, not going for show like everyone else did. I paced myself at the beginning, so much so that I thought after the finish that I could have run it faster from the start. Right at about 2k people started to get the idea in their head saying," Wow I started off too fast." About 3k I made my way to the second pack of kids, because their were, in fact, some incredibly fast kids there. About 4k the pack finally spread out to where I had no more people to draft off of and so I sped up a lot. I kept my teammate in sight the last kilometer and with about 1k to go, I caught up with him and said,"Dude let's go!" We started almost at a sprint until we hit the track. We caught up with and passed about 5 people in the process, and one guy stuck with us.
Then something happened that seems to happen every race I run. The last stretch of the race seems to be a "non-memorable" time where is does not matter how hard or bad I hurt, I pick up the pace and hit full-throttle. It's weird though because that last section of the race you already don't have breath but something hits you and when you start sprinting, you basically just stop breathing. I don't know if I am the only one that does that, but... Well I passed up my teammate and the dude that couldn't be shaken and hit the finish like in somewhere around 21 minutes. My previous 5k record was just under 23 so I definitely PR'd. I was happy and so was my teammate, Aurthur. Afterward, some SAS people through an ice-cold towel or my head and gave me a freezing cold 100 Plus to drink and I felt good. I finished 23rd out of something like 100 people and Aurthur finished 24th, seconds behind me.
I am pretty proud of what I ran, but I still hate 5k's, and I always will. haha
Well anyways, I was invited by a coach at ISS to run the cross-country meet at SAS on Friday. To tell the truth I was not all that excited. Before the race I remember wishing I was running a 100 miler rather than a 3.1 miler. Going into Friday I thought that it just might be the hardest, most grueling, fastest race I have ever run. Fast, hard, and especially grueling runs are not cool to me. I think it is more of an accomplishment to run as far as your body will take you rather than as fast. Put me on a road and say "run straight for as long as you can" and that would suffice. I just hope to never become ann Anton Krupika, where I probably don't eat enough, run 200 miles a week, and have no time for friends and stuff. I have to say that that man is just insane though. I do hope to be able to run as consistent as he does, but not as far and fast.
But anyways, I warmed up really well and felt great! I ran a few sprints and stretched probably 4 times. Me and dad have this routine stretch that we always do before a run and it takes like 10 minutes, so four of those will tell you how much I stretched. I drank tons of water the last two days or so and ate pasta for dinner the night before made by my mother. (It was good too :) ) You might think that is a little extravagant for just a 5k, but I was really really nervous. But for some reason when I line up on the starting line, those nerves completely disappear. I don't know why but they do. The race director blew the horn to start and off we went.
Because of my background in running, which is not a lot but much more than probably every kid there, I knew how to run a race. I started off slow, not going for show like everyone else did. I paced myself at the beginning, so much so that I thought after the finish that I could have run it faster from the start. Right at about 2k people started to get the idea in their head saying," Wow I started off too fast." About 3k I made my way to the second pack of kids, because their were, in fact, some incredibly fast kids there. About 4k the pack finally spread out to where I had no more people to draft off of and so I sped up a lot. I kept my teammate in sight the last kilometer and with about 1k to go, I caught up with him and said,"Dude let's go!" We started almost at a sprint until we hit the track. We caught up with and passed about 5 people in the process, and one guy stuck with us.
Then something happened that seems to happen every race I run. The last stretch of the race seems to be a "non-memorable" time where is does not matter how hard or bad I hurt, I pick up the pace and hit full-throttle. It's weird though because that last section of the race you already don't have breath but something hits you and when you start sprinting, you basically just stop breathing. I don't know if I am the only one that does that, but... Well I passed up my teammate and the dude that couldn't be shaken and hit the finish like in somewhere around 21 minutes. My previous 5k record was just under 23 so I definitely PR'd. I was happy and so was my teammate, Aurthur. Afterward, some SAS people through an ice-cold towel or my head and gave me a freezing cold 100 Plus to drink and I felt good. I finished 23rd out of something like 100 people and Aurthur finished 24th, seconds behind me.
I am pretty proud of what I ran, but I still hate 5k's, and I always will. haha
September 12, 2009
What's been going on in the world of Jakeb
Well, I technically don't have a world but the title sounded good. I have got lots of things going on or about to go on.
Running... I have not really been running. I got sick and have "actually" been out for 2 weeks or so. I have run the long runs necessary and a little in between but getting up in the mornings just got harder and harder. Tomorrow morning I will try to run 12 with dad. Hopefully it will all be well.
School is okay. Not really excited about the next two years. College sounds really good at the moment because the U.S. sounds really good at the moment. Thoughts of graduating early are creeping up in my mind and I am sure my parents are not ready for that. I really, really miss having great Christian friends to talk to all the time and do stuff with. In the school I am in, I can't find that. No one shares the same belief as I do and it doesn't help my faith all that much. But on the school note, I have way too much homework, or way more than I ever had in the U.S. and I do not like it one bit. I constantly have 1000 word essays to do and math homework every night and studying for a physics test or something like that. It feels like all the teachers are only thinking of themselves and that one class. When they think a few problems is easy to do in one night, they give us a few more, not thinking that we have 7 other subjects. I don't like to stay in my room for a long time, so I try to get to Starbucks when I have the money because it is some-what of a home away from home. Good coffee and sometimes a song that has come from the other side of the meridian.
Next, I signed up for a 5 day bike ride through Angkor, Cambodia where it is all country and a whole bunch of ancient temples and stuff. We ride about 20 Km a day to different sights. I wish it was more. One of my pet peaves is waiting on people slower than me. Not that I am fast, but I like to get where I am going. I guess you could say I like to do things my way. But I just hope we can ride an average speed and that their aren't a whole bunch of people that like to wine. That and I really hope we are nowhere near the city. I would hate to go to Cambodia to ride in the wilderness and hear some cars and motor bikes in the distance. Not fun at all.
And last but most likely first is Nepal. Mom, Anna, Dad, and me are all going to Pokhara, Nepal to experience the Himalayan Mountains and me and dad will do some hiking up to Poon Hill and some how end back down in Pokhara in three days. Not sure how it will all work out but dad has been and hopefully he knows his stuff. While we are not hiking, the whole family will be doing some shopping in Pokhara and some good eating as well. I hear they like Daal Bot their.
But that is what is happening at the moment. I also am trying to raise money for going back to Kenya. In order to do that I am trying to get quotes on a shirt so I can sell them to whomever wants to buy them. If anyone who is reading this wants one then comment please. You could be one of the firsts to have a really cool looking shirt designed by my completely awesome, artistic cousin Erin. Not sure how much they will be but I am sure you won't waste your money. I also except prayers... I really like prayers and so does God.
Well now you are caught up in the life of Jakeb...
Running... I have not really been running. I got sick and have "actually" been out for 2 weeks or so. I have run the long runs necessary and a little in between but getting up in the mornings just got harder and harder. Tomorrow morning I will try to run 12 with dad. Hopefully it will all be well.
School is okay. Not really excited about the next two years. College sounds really good at the moment because the U.S. sounds really good at the moment. Thoughts of graduating early are creeping up in my mind and I am sure my parents are not ready for that. I really, really miss having great Christian friends to talk to all the time and do stuff with. In the school I am in, I can't find that. No one shares the same belief as I do and it doesn't help my faith all that much. But on the school note, I have way too much homework, or way more than I ever had in the U.S. and I do not like it one bit. I constantly have 1000 word essays to do and math homework every night and studying for a physics test or something like that. It feels like all the teachers are only thinking of themselves and that one class. When they think a few problems is easy to do in one night, they give us a few more, not thinking that we have 7 other subjects. I don't like to stay in my room for a long time, so I try to get to Starbucks when I have the money because it is some-what of a home away from home. Good coffee and sometimes a song that has come from the other side of the meridian.
Next, I signed up for a 5 day bike ride through Angkor, Cambodia where it is all country and a whole bunch of ancient temples and stuff. We ride about 20 Km a day to different sights. I wish it was more. One of my pet peaves is waiting on people slower than me. Not that I am fast, but I like to get where I am going. I guess you could say I like to do things my way. But I just hope we can ride an average speed and that their aren't a whole bunch of people that like to wine. That and I really hope we are nowhere near the city. I would hate to go to Cambodia to ride in the wilderness and hear some cars and motor bikes in the distance. Not fun at all.
And last but most likely first is Nepal. Mom, Anna, Dad, and me are all going to Pokhara, Nepal to experience the Himalayan Mountains and me and dad will do some hiking up to Poon Hill and some how end back down in Pokhara in three days. Not sure how it will all work out but dad has been and hopefully he knows his stuff. While we are not hiking, the whole family will be doing some shopping in Pokhara and some good eating as well. I hear they like Daal Bot their.
But that is what is happening at the moment. I also am trying to raise money for going back to Kenya. In order to do that I am trying to get quotes on a shirt so I can sell them to whomever wants to buy them. If anyone who is reading this wants one then comment please. You could be one of the firsts to have a really cool looking shirt designed by my completely awesome, artistic cousin Erin. Not sure how much they will be but I am sure you won't waste your money. I also except prayers... I really like prayers and so does God.
Well now you are caught up in the life of Jakeb...
August 6, 2009
Kenya in One Word...
Oh Kenya. How can I explain Kenya to someone who hasn't been? It is impossible. I can't do it and I can't possibly put it into a few words for you, or it would be about 1,000,000,000,000,000 pages long. But I will try to give you a feeling or explanation of how I felt when I got there and when I left............... Overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in the condition Kenya is in, the condition of the people of Kenya, the condition of Segera and Endana. But through the midst of my awe in the way things were, I could see how I was sent and others were sent to help things that are to become there. I was overwhelmed in the endless possibilities that Kenya has to offer itself. Though it might be a poor country, it has a ton of potential and all I see there is what can happen rather than what has already happened.
So not only was I overwhelmed in what I could see physically, but God overwhelmed me with a huge since of Himself being in the people there. We are rich to the point of not being able to see God through our selfish desires, but because of the few things they have, they desire God everyday and let down their sorrows and troubles on Him to take care of. I am jealous. I am speechless about what I saw and can't quite say any more. God has worked through them so much and I feel that I came away with more by going to Africa than I could have possibly given them. What could I have given them. Materials??? Why??? Materials are good and all but they have God in full blast in that mission and community that I felt "overwhelmed."
So there is an attempt of what Kenya was like. I have stories but stories can't quite tell the precise feelings either. So I might pop one out every once in a while in my blog or something. There are definitely some funny stories that I will tell. But there you have it. The long awaited (maybe not) Kenya post. Sorry it took so long.
June 18, 2009
In Tokyo
So I am here on a plane, 35,000 feet in the air with the temperature like negative 50-60 degrees outside traveling over 600 miles an hour and I am comfortable in business class with flight attendants serving me coffee and sushi. If that is not overwhelming or unimaginable to you then there is something seriously wrong. Technology amazes me. I have been on more uses of transportation in the last 15 hours than I have in my life. But as every second goes by, every foot of distance, I am the farthest away from my home in America than I have ever been. It all started to be real to me very quickly as our first plane took off. Even though we were going in reverse, from Dallas back to Houston, the whole trip started to really creep up on me. I am not going on a vacation. This is a some-what permanent home for me and to say the least, I am so crazy excited. It’s hard to think that even though there may not be a physical marker to show that this is a new chapter in my life, God has completely showed me and made an emotional mark telling me that t
his is a next step and that I am going to love every bit of it.
But anyway, I will try to post this in Tokyo. Right now we have about 5 or 6 more hours before landing and I am jamming out to some Creed and Coldplay. House has kept me good company and especially Everybody Loves Raymond. The stupid flight only had 3 episodes though. Haha . The Pink Panther 2 was quite disappointing. I didn’t find it as funny as the first. I will write again after we land in Singapore and maybe post some pictures. The lady is walking around right now and I want more coffee so I am leaving. Man I am gonna hate couch after being spoiled in business class………….
I'm here in Tokyo... haha posting this post.
June 12, 2009
The Things I Got To Do Before We Leave
Ok so everyone has had a chance to say goodbye so far to mostly all of our friends and the whole thing is starting to be really real. Yesterday Tori and I said goodbye to all our friends that are leaving for Bigstuf (which happens to be the greatest camp on earth). I am not all that worried at the moment because I will see them in Kenya, but that will be the hard part... for me anyways. Being thousands of miles away from the people you have grown the most fond with for at least a year at a time is not that pleasurable.
I had the pleasure of running with Zach one more time, playing marbles one more time, laughing way to hard one more time, watching a funny movie (Rocketman) one more time, shooting the Bud n' Breader one more time (Zach will appreciate that one), having one more serious injury, giving Kyle one more big, over-longed sweaty, somewhat undesirable hug, getting a haircut by the one and only Jason Culvorhouse at Urbaneve, and calling Amy one last inappropriate name before we leave.
But oh this won't be the last of any of these for sure... (sorry Amy)
June 8, 2009
The Start of Something Great.
Dad and I were talking one day while running about a certain event and how some people take it as the beginning of something great or the end of something great. Moving was, at one time the beginning of something great, a new chapter in life, a next step in this journey called life. The point is coming, though, where moving seems as if the end of something. The end of a chapter. I can’t bear the thought of leaving my friends. But this can’t be the end of my relationship I have with every one of you. I have been thinking about what friends will leave me and move on and who will keep in touch for years to come, but I don’t want to think about that. People keep asking me,” Are you sad or excited?” and the truth is I am way completely excited. Excited about too many things that I am worried I will be disappointed. But the truth is also that I am getting to a low point about leaving everyone behind in America. It seems like a heavy weight is pushing me down to my knees.
Then, the other day I was doing a devotional, and a verse popped up that said,” Do not worry about anything, but instead pray about everything.” So these last few days I have tried hard to lay everything down on God. I went to 6:33 and the service was great! It got my mind going about why I am a Christian and why I believe what I believe. This gave me hope and lifted some of those weights off my shoulders. Then came the party after 6:33. We played and had such a good time that it only further showed me what I would miss. But it also showed me that I have some incredible friends who, no matter what direction we go in, we will always keep in great touch and continue to have a great time. So now, with this new found encouragement and trust I have in God, my point of view has changed. The move is a start of a new chapter because whether I like it or not, this is my next step with God, and in order to continue my walk with God, it has to happen. Things are starting to look bright again.
June 2, 2009
June 1, 2009
Start of a New Thing
So Tori is the one who got me started in this but I want something fun to do...sooooo. I am going to post a daily photo on this blog... I may slack off a lot sometimes but it is a challenge and something to do and it sounds fun. At the moment it becomes an obligation I will quit.
Here is the first photo and quite an awesome one too.
This is my new Macbook
May 18, 2009
Oh the Bare Essentials
So I was thinking of things that I needed to pack to take to Singapore today and I, playfully, tried to narrow it down to just a few things. I thought of books. I hate reading so I shot that one right out of my head but then the Bible popped up in my head. Then I thought of clothing. One or two pairs of clothes would do me some good. One to wear, one to wash. Then I thought of music. I could not exist without any music to listen to. So I thought that the guitar was an instant #1 pick but it is too big. So I told myself that an ipod would do just fine, but then again I am trying to narrow it down a bit. So I immediately decided that I would take U2's "How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb" album with me. I picked this one because musically, I love U2, and lyrically, I love their lyrics, and rockily (haha) there is some rock. Then I thought about companionship. I could not do without a good friend. So I would have to take a friend with me, and oh, of course something to do with that friend. I thought about the greatest times I have ever had with my friends and that would be something along the lines of a Frisbee. So I would take my Frisbee for me and my friend to play with. Then I thought of the other side of me. The side that is fully content with being alone and what I like to do when I am alone. Immediately, without one doubt in my mind, running was the top of the list. So running shoes hit my mind. But who says you have to run with running shoes on? So I thought of running clothes... but who has to run with a shirt on? So running shorts was my top option.
So here is my list of essentials:
- Bible
- 2 pairs of Clothes
- U2
- A Friend
- A Frisbee
and...
- Some Running Shorts.
And the awesome thing is that I already have packed all these things... and too much more.
So here is my list of essentials:
- Bible
- 2 pairs of Clothes
- U2
- A Friend
- A Frisbee
and...
- Some Running Shorts.
And the awesome thing is that I already have packed all these things... and too much more.
April 29, 2009
The Irony in Service
So moving to Singapore will bring more than one hard times. Mostly it will be leaving people that will be the hardest. but if there is one thing that I will miss the most, though impossible to choose, it will be Brazos Pointe Fellowship. Now I don't want to sound like an adult or anything but I am writing this post to point a little irony.
We started attending BPF right when we moved here and right as the church was starting. I grew up in All Stars (the children's ministry area) watching a few of the older guys and girls teaching us about God. My path with God started in those days, and it was not a mistake.
I hit the 7th grade and went into the Student Ministry. In these times God started really working with me. He put a desire in my heart to learn guitar, and also the desire to love on little kids. This is where I started to get active in serving in places like the children's ministry play area for the toddlers, All Stars, and eventually joined the student band. And the ironic part in all this is that these are the areas I will miss the most. It is the places I chose to serve in. How funny that is that God lead me in that direction and helped me become active in the church and for some awesome reason the place you would think I would be glad to leave is actually the place I will miss. I love playing guitar with the whole student band. They are amazing and they are a part of what I will miss most. All Stars. I loved working in there because of the kids. Not just the kids sitting and watching but the kids from 1st grade all the way to 12th grade who served with me. The atmosphere every week was a sense of comfort and happiness in the fact that we could just relax and worship God and hopefully spread that all to the kids.
I just really came to this realization today, how powerful serving is. I have never been so happy to do something for the Kingdom of God so willingly, but now I am also starting to come to the realization that we really don't know what we have till it is gone. This week is my last time to play with the student band at 6:33 and May 10th is my last time to work in All Stars. I just hope and pray that these last times I go through serving at BPF will be totally amazing and that I will connect with the full emotion and the extent of how amazing doing this for God is. I know for a fact that serving does not stop here though.
We started attending BPF right when we moved here and right as the church was starting. I grew up in All Stars (the children's ministry area) watching a few of the older guys and girls teaching us about God. My path with God started in those days, and it was not a mistake.
I hit the 7th grade and went into the Student Ministry. In these times God started really working with me. He put a desire in my heart to learn guitar, and also the desire to love on little kids. This is where I started to get active in serving in places like the children's ministry play area for the toddlers, All Stars, and eventually joined the student band. And the ironic part in all this is that these are the areas I will miss the most. It is the places I chose to serve in. How funny that is that God lead me in that direction and helped me become active in the church and for some awesome reason the place you would think I would be glad to leave is actually the place I will miss. I love playing guitar with the whole student band. They are amazing and they are a part of what I will miss most. All Stars. I loved working in there because of the kids. Not just the kids sitting and watching but the kids from 1st grade all the way to 12th grade who served with me. The atmosphere every week was a sense of comfort and happiness in the fact that we could just relax and worship God and hopefully spread that all to the kids.
I just really came to this realization today, how powerful serving is. I have never been so happy to do something for the Kingdom of God so willingly, but now I am also starting to come to the realization that we really don't know what we have till it is gone. This week is my last time to play with the student band at 6:33 and May 10th is my last time to work in All Stars. I just hope and pray that these last times I go through serving at BPF will be totally amazing and that I will connect with the full emotion and the extent of how amazing doing this for God is. I know for a fact that serving does not stop here though.
April 21, 2009
Ode to the Greatest Running Shoes on Earth
So these are my old running shoes. I cannot tell you the right name of the pair but I know they are Adidas. I quit running in them at about 350 miles and as you can tell, they were a good pair of running shoes. I just had to do a blog post over them. They will soon become mowing shoes and have actually made it to work shoes already. This is a picture of them. I have stitches in them because of some huge holes that formed. That means I definitely used them enough.
April 17, 2009
5K PR- Gator Gallop. 15 minutes.
My family (who, is unknown), and I are going to run the Gator Gallop tomorrow. I haven't run this in like 2 years and this is the race in which my present PR is held. I can't remember the last 5k that I did but it has been over a year and 5ks have brought me nothing but displeasure every time I run one. But for some reason this is always a good one. Since it has been many years since my PR, I am sure I can break my last one ( 24:17 ). This one is not fun to look at because I know that I can and have beat it, just not officially. In the Bayou City Classic 10k, my 5k time was just over 23 minutes, so I am hoping for around 22 minutes or maybe even under...
There is only one catch. I have only run 3 miles this week. I have no worries though because I successfully ran 40-41 miles last week so I needed the recover after my 15 miler on Saturday. but whatever.
This was an overly extensive blog post to tell you that I am running a race tomorrow and I want to PR a way out-dated PR. So I hope it goes well.
There is only one catch. I have only run 3 miles this week. I have no worries though because I successfully ran 40-41 miles last week so I needed the recover after my 15 miler on Saturday. but whatever.
This was an overly extensive blog post to tell you that I am running a race tomorrow and I want to PR a way out-dated PR. So I hope it goes well.
April 8, 2009
Excitements of Singapore
Dude! Singapore! It hasn't quite hit me yet. I am moving half way across the world. Like the farthest I can possibly get from Texas, and this huge thought won't hit until we start to pack. I have been searching some trails to run and it doesn't look like there is a whole lot, but more than Lake Jackson for sure! All we have is the Wilderness, which is in horrific condition, and the McClean trail, which is what I decide to run if I don't want to get up in the morning. Dad and I, if we want to run a trail, end up running behind houses in high grass. And I guarantee that we are the only ones because of the lack of hard beaten trail.
I am excited about high temperatures, tropical climates, easy transportation, new cultures, and probably at most, the food. I love Chinese food, I love Indian food, and I have never tried Malaysian food, but I am sure it is good too. I can't wait to hit the Hawker Centers and suck some bone marrow and eat sharks head.... not really... but Anthony Bourdain made it look good! I don't think that it is all gross food though. I think they have pretty normal food too, so I am not labeling them as the gross food country because that wouldn't be right. The budget for eating is unknown to me right now, but I am pretty sure we will be eating out a lot. Can't wait!
I am crazy pumped about the school I am going to. Anna and I are both going to ISS, and no we will not be spending our time at the "In School Suspension." This is not correct. International Singapore School. It has a different type of curriculum than American schools that, I think, will fit me better. It will be more challenging but I will understand and learn more. It is also a fun-looking school. They have a basketball program that I will probably join. I don't know if I will be much better or much worse than them, considering I am from America. But we will see. I don't know if basketball will mess with me running like it did all through Jr. High and Freshman High School. But once again, just like everything else about Singapore... we will see.
I am excited about high temperatures, tropical climates, easy transportation, new cultures, and probably at most, the food. I love Chinese food, I love Indian food, and I have never tried Malaysian food, but I am sure it is good too. I can't wait to hit the Hawker Centers and suck some bone marrow and eat sharks head.... not really... but Anthony Bourdain made it look good! I don't think that it is all gross food though. I think they have pretty normal food too, so I am not labeling them as the gross food country because that wouldn't be right. The budget for eating is unknown to me right now, but I am pretty sure we will be eating out a lot. Can't wait!
I am crazy pumped about the school I am going to. Anna and I are both going to ISS, and no we will not be spending our time at the "In School Suspension." This is not correct. International Singapore School. It has a different type of curriculum than American schools that, I think, will fit me better. It will be more challenging but I will understand and learn more. It is also a fun-looking school. They have a basketball program that I will probably join. I don't know if I will be much better or much worse than them, considering I am from America. But we will see. I don't know if basketball will mess with me running like it did all through Jr. High and Freshman High School. But once again, just like everything else about Singapore... we will see.
April 1, 2009
This is a Blog Post
This blog is crazy. I don't post frequently. But I never quite understood how much "frequently" is. Some post 5 times a month and others 5 times a day, but I can't ever think of anything to write about. So that sort of brings me to another point about my blog. It can't really make up its mind about what it is. It could be an adventurous blog, it could be a running blog, it could be a guitar blog, or it could be a blog about how much I like to cook, but none of these seem to satisfy. I don't know why. I don't want to blog about how much I ran or that I can cook an apple pie and I feel like I blog about those things because those are the types of blogs I like to read or that those are the things people want to hear.
Oh and I hate blogging about experiences because people really don't want to hear about my fun times. Or that is what I always think whether it be true or not.
So I am faced again with a problem. I don't even know what to say. I just went brain dead. I mean I like to blog but I can't seem to find a topic I like to blog about. I even feel like this whole venting thing on the blog is stupid feeling but whatever. hehe
So if you want to hear...
I ran 31 mile last week. None felt horrendous or painful. This week is rest and next week I will run 40 miles. I have everything planned out and it shouldn't be too hard.
I finally convinced B&H to just rip into that bag full of 2inch cords I have needed for my pedal board, and now I can actually use it instead of staring at it on the floor. It's funny though because they only had colored ones so I have one bright blue cord and 6 black ones.
Kenya flights and all other stuff is paid off. I can now start to save up for either a new guitar amp, a new bike, a macbook, a Navara Bike, or whatever I want. Phillip got me thinking about guitars again after his newest purchase. I haven't brought the idea up with the parentals yet.
I made an apple pie last night at 9 P.M. without measuring cups or recipes. It turned out magnificent but the problem is that I don't want apple pie anymore. hmmm...
Oh and I hate blogging about experiences because people really don't want to hear about my fun times. Or that is what I always think whether it be true or not.
So I am faced again with a problem. I don't even know what to say. I just went brain dead. I mean I like to blog but I can't seem to find a topic I like to blog about. I even feel like this whole venting thing on the blog is stupid feeling but whatever. hehe
So if you want to hear...
I ran 31 mile last week. None felt horrendous or painful. This week is rest and next week I will run 40 miles. I have everything planned out and it shouldn't be too hard.
I finally convinced B&H to just rip into that bag full of 2inch cords I have needed for my pedal board, and now I can actually use it instead of staring at it on the floor. It's funny though because they only had colored ones so I have one bright blue cord and 6 black ones.
Kenya flights and all other stuff is paid off. I can now start to save up for either a new guitar amp, a new bike, a macbook, a Navara Bike, or whatever I want. Phillip got me thinking about guitars again after his newest purchase. I haven't brought the idea up with the parentals yet.
I made an apple pie last night at 9 P.M. without measuring cups or recipes. It turned out magnificent but the problem is that I don't want apple pie anymore. hmmm...
March 20, 2009
Cars and Camping... Both Sweet!
Get off the road!!! I now have a driver's license and love it. It won't be for long though because I can't drive in Singapore but whatever.
More importantly (I think) I turned 16 on the 18th of March and let me tell you, it was sweet! First off I was camping with awesome friends with awesome names in which I can't spell. I was invited by the Waguespacks to go with them to Bastrop Lake and it was so much fun. Other than the freezing cold weather the first day, I had a great time. We kayaked, fished like no other, biked and popped as many tires as there are thorns on the ground. I had my birthday while I was there and Mrs. Waguespack made an awesome peach cobbler that I couldn't stop eating. I had an incredible time with everyone there and can't wait for another camping experience!
Having a car means a few things...
- I can go get coffee whenever I want (just kidding, but more often than not)
-I will become very broke due to this new coffee intake.
-I can retire my bike until... I can save up enough for an awesome road bike
- I can go run anywhere! I don't have to take the usual walk down the road and start at Sycamore thing. I hate routines.
-My trail running career can start. I just have to find some.
-I can drive to work instead of bugging my mom to pick me up every day.
-I can rev the engine in this little Ford Ranger since it is a standard. I am excited. Standards are fun but complicated. Oh and by the way I will not be revving my engine because I hate it when people do that when they drive by a pedestrian! Geeeeeeeez...
-I can now drive to the deer lease instead of hitching a ride and changing everyone's plans because of my school. (I have not talked this one over with my mother)
-Appearances at local ultimate Frisbee games will increase.
More importantly (I think) I turned 16 on the 18th of March and let me tell you, it was sweet! First off I was camping with awesome friends with awesome names in which I can't spell. I was invited by the Waguespacks to go with them to Bastrop Lake and it was so much fun. Other than the freezing cold weather the first day, I had a great time. We kayaked, fished like no other, biked and popped as many tires as there are thorns on the ground. I had my birthday while I was there and Mrs. Waguespack made an awesome peach cobbler that I couldn't stop eating. I had an incredible time with everyone there and can't wait for another camping experience!
Having a car means a few things...
- I can go get coffee whenever I want (just kidding, but more often than not)
-I will become very broke due to this new coffee intake.
-I can retire my bike until... I can save up enough for an awesome road bike
- I can go run anywhere! I don't have to take the usual walk down the road and start at Sycamore thing. I hate routines.
-My trail running career can start. I just have to find some.
-I can drive to work instead of bugging my mom to pick me up every day.
-I can rev the engine in this little Ford Ranger since it is a standard. I am excited. Standards are fun but complicated. Oh and by the way I will not be revving my engine because I hate it when people do that when they drive by a pedestrian! Geeeeeeeez...
-I can now drive to the deer lease instead of hitching a ride and changing everyone's plans because of my school. (I have not talked this one over with my mother)
-Appearances at local ultimate Frisbee games will increase.
March 11, 2009
Pedal Board and Running Stuff
Pedal Board-
This is my pedal board. I just resently added a new pedal (COT50) that was given to me by Phillip who originally taught me to play guitar and has pretty much recomended every pedal on my board. I just upgraded from a junky power supply made up of a bunch of cords to a Dunlop DC Brick. I like it because it is small and it gives me the POWER. Here is The Board...
Running-
In running news, just for fun, I am going to see what my body can handle. I won't hurt myself I promise (dad). But after spring break I am gonna run a 30 mile week, and then keep raising my milage with a week in the middel of each to rest. I don't know how high I will go but I know my limits. I just want to see if I am 100 mile worthy someday.
March 9, 2009
Texas Independence Relay
Well TIR... that was the funnest challenge. TIR, for those of you who don't know, it's a 200 mile relay with twelve ( we had eleven) of the best teammates ever! We have organized legs to run and two vans for each team so while one is running, the other can rest.
Me and dad showed up at our team captain's house, Cassie, at around 4 o'clock. We headed out for Gonzales for the start of Texas independence Relay. Gonzales is the supposed location for the first shot of the Texas Revolution so it was appropriate that we started there. As a team we ran the epilogue and Holden took off from the start to run his first leg. I ran midday Saturday... a 5 miler. This run was fast because of a tail-wind and the scenery was unchanging. High grass and the occasional farm. Then I handed off to dad.
My next run was a 5.5 miler at midnight and because it was so dark, I couldn't tell how fast I was going so I ran hard. This run was eerie and I didn't like it a whole bunch. I had to cross the Colorado River and the police were supposed to be stopping traffic but they didn't go very far into the bridge which was about a 1/2 mile across. So as I ran I waved my arms and directed traffic myself, screaming at a few cars to slow down so I wouldn't plunge into the river 30 feet below. I handed off to dad once again.
The 3rd leg that I ran of four was a small 2.3 miler so I decided to run it hard but just enough so that I could run my last leg. I finished in around 16 minutes so about 7 to 8 minute pace. Oh and this one was at about 5 in the morning. Not much to this run except for a little bit of directions to remember. After a couple more people finished, our van took off to Cassie and Manny's house to take showers and sleep for a few hours. This was vital to how my last run went. Thanks Cassie
and Manny!!!
My 4th and final run was a 6 miler and man this one was brutal. I started off hard and led a guy for about 1-2 miles. Then the heat set in. It was about 80-85 degrees- much too hot to run in. I felt dehydrated and was swimming in sweat and then God showed Himself to me. I saw dad in the distance with water and Gatorade. I took a few sips of Gatorade and ran with the water making only one stop for it. Without the water and the energy the Gatorade gave me, that run would have HURT. The next 4 or 5 were great except for the fact that this leg was almost untouched by direction. But once again God helped. The first time I needed direction, the guy I was leading knew which way to go, but he took off later. Then I was by myself needing direction and there was a man on the side of the road who told me that he saw runners in the direction I was going, which meant well. THEN I was about to keep going straight when I was supposed to turn and my van with my teammates in it was where?! On the side of the road! The pointed with their fingers in the direction to turn and I was on my way again. The last time I was approaching the next turn and I didn't know it so I stopped and looked around. There was a man in the van who screamed me some directions and I went and told him thank you a whole, whole bunch. So God was a huge part in how I ran and how I found direction in this run, which is an incredible metaphor for life. Not only did He give me energy to finish but He directed me in the right path and to Him I owe it ALL.
So anyways, I caught up with the person I had led the first mile and finished just a little behind him. I handed off to Cassie with a grimace as I slowed down to a walk. Cassie did great on leg 39 and dad did incredible too on leg 40 to finish off the race. We took pictures and ate pizza and had a great time at the finish.
I just want to say that I could not have handpicked better teammates or better runners. Everyone I had on my team ran because they loved to run and had a great attitude the whole way. I have no complaints whatsoever. The whole team ran great and even fast. We beat last year's time by over an hour! Wow! Do the math... that's pretty incredible. But really thanks to everyone cause I had an incredible time and can now say that that was the funnest running experience of my life. I would really love to do it next year but there will be a big ocean in my way, and a plane ride of no sleep with 20 miles of running and no sleep wouldn't go great together. Here are a few things I learned over the past weekend...
-God shows Himself to you in many random times but also at your greatest times of need.
- Trail mix is a great pre-run/post-run snack.
- Make sure you stop at the port-a-potty the leg before you run or the next runner might sneak up on you.
-The Kolache factory never tasted so good.
-Don't eat a spicy sausage roll before you run. You fart the whole course... which isn't completely a bad thing for so many reasons.
-Take the camera everywhere. Mom you don't know how many good shots you missed.
-I learned more about Texas history in the last 200 miles than I did the whole 7th grade. I will be promoting this run to all schools... just kidding.
-Oh and if you want to learn all of Texas history summarized without having to take a whole grade of it, just go to the San Jacinto Monument... it's all written on the dang thing. It would have been a great cheat sheet.
-I sort of understand what kind of sleeping issues you would have in a one hundred mile race which I thought was crazy cause you were staying active... but I now know that you can run and want to fall asleep at the same time.
-My dad is nuts for running his last leg in all black clothes in the middle of the day. I surprised he didn't shrivel up into a raison. That dude is a crazy runner and a very good one at that.
and...
-Watch wear you stretch because you just might be sitting in an ant pile. Ouch...
Me and dad showed up at our team captain's house, Cassie, at around 4 o'clock. We headed out for Gonzales for the start of Texas independence Relay. Gonzales is the supposed location for the first shot of the Texas Revolution so it was appropriate that we started there. As a team we ran the epilogue and Holden took off from the start to run his first leg. I ran midday Saturday... a 5 miler. This run was fast because of a tail-wind and the scenery was unchanging. High grass and the occasional farm. Then I handed off to dad.
My next run was a 5.5 miler at midnight and because it was so dark, I couldn't tell how fast I was going so I ran hard. This run was eerie and I didn't like it a whole bunch. I had to cross the Colorado River and the police were supposed to be stopping traffic but they didn't go very far into the bridge which was about a 1/2 mile across. So as I ran I waved my arms and directed traffic myself, screaming at a few cars to slow down so I wouldn't plunge into the river 30 feet below. I handed off to dad once again.
The 3rd leg that I ran of four was a small 2.3 miler so I decided to run it hard but just enough so that I could run my last leg. I finished in around 16 minutes so about 7 to 8 minute pace. Oh and this one was at about 5 in the morning. Not much to this run except for a little bit of directions to remember. After a couple more people finished, our van took off to Cassie and Manny's house to take showers and sleep for a few hours. This was vital to how my last run went. Thanks Cassie
and Manny!!!
My 4th and final run was a 6 miler and man this one was brutal. I started off hard and led a guy for about 1-2 miles. Then the heat set in. It was about 80-85 degrees- much too hot to run in. I felt dehydrated and was swimming in sweat and then God showed Himself to me. I saw dad in the distance with water and Gatorade. I took a few sips of Gatorade and ran with the water making only one stop for it. Without the water and the energy the Gatorade gave me, that run would have HURT. The next 4 or 5 were great except for the fact that this leg was almost untouched by direction. But once again God helped. The first time I needed direction, the guy I was leading knew which way to go, but he took off later. Then I was by myself needing direction and there was a man on the side of the road who told me that he saw runners in the direction I was going, which meant well. THEN I was about to keep going straight when I was supposed to turn and my van with my teammates in it was where?! On the side of the road! The pointed with their fingers in the direction to turn and I was on my way again. The last time I was approaching the next turn and I didn't know it so I stopped and looked around. There was a man in the van who screamed me some directions and I went and told him thank you a whole, whole bunch. So God was a huge part in how I ran and how I found direction in this run, which is an incredible metaphor for life. Not only did He give me energy to finish but He directed me in the right path and to Him I owe it ALL.
So anyways, I caught up with the person I had led the first mile and finished just a little behind him. I handed off to Cassie with a grimace as I slowed down to a walk. Cassie did great on leg 39 and dad did incredible too on leg 40 to finish off the race. We took pictures and ate pizza and had a great time at the finish.
I just want to say that I could not have handpicked better teammates or better runners. Everyone I had on my team ran because they loved to run and had a great attitude the whole way. I have no complaints whatsoever. The whole team ran great and even fast. We beat last year's time by over an hour! Wow! Do the math... that's pretty incredible. But really thanks to everyone cause I had an incredible time and can now say that that was the funnest running experience of my life. I would really love to do it next year but there will be a big ocean in my way, and a plane ride of no sleep with 20 miles of running and no sleep wouldn't go great together. Here are a few things I learned over the past weekend...
-God shows Himself to you in many random times but also at your greatest times of need.
- Trail mix is a great pre-run/post-run snack.
- Make sure you stop at the port-a-potty the leg before you run or the next runner might sneak up on you.
-The Kolache factory never tasted so good.
-Don't eat a spicy sausage roll before you run. You fart the whole course... which isn't completely a bad thing for so many reasons.
-Take the camera everywhere. Mom you don't know how many good shots you missed.
-I learned more about Texas history in the last 200 miles than I did the whole 7th grade. I will be promoting this run to all schools... just kidding.
-Oh and if you want to learn all of Texas history summarized without having to take a whole grade of it, just go to the San Jacinto Monument... it's all written on the dang thing. It would have been a great cheat sheet.
-I sort of understand what kind of sleeping issues you would have in a one hundred mile race which I thought was crazy cause you were staying active... but I now know that you can run and want to fall asleep at the same time.
-My dad is nuts for running his last leg in all black clothes in the middle of the day. I surprised he didn't shrivel up into a raison. That dude is a crazy runner and a very good one at that.
and...
-Watch wear you stretch because you just might be sitting in an ant pile. Ouch...
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