365 Opportunities + 1

 Everyday is another day for an opportunity. An opportunity comes along and most of the time we let is pass us right by. Don't let it get by you today....catch it and make it yours! 

2016 is a leap year so you get one extra day......what absolute fantastic thing will come along on the 29th of February?

Share what your opportunity was today......and what did you do with it.

Eugene Thompson

ET This I Believe

Mackinac Island Adventure - Day One (part one)

So I have wanted to visit Mackinac Island forever. My wife wasn't as familiar with this destination but I knew she would love it. Visiting the island and staying at Grand Hotel is one of my bucket list items. Unlike many of our trips this was meant to be a real vacation........err well mostly. I still get other stuff in too no matter where I go. I just cannot help myself.....it's in my nature.

I was aware of Mackinac Island ever since the 80's when the movie "Somewhere In Time" came out with Christopher Reeve. Nearly the entire movie was filmed on site. In the movie the hotel hadn't been renovated so it didn't capture by attention....especially as a teenager. It was more of the science fiction aspect of time travel that really had enticed me. It was until much later when I found out about the island itself and the characteristics of Grand Hotel itself that made me want to visit.

So the initial reason to travel to Michigan was to first see our niece graduate from the University of Michigan. Second, for my wife to see her sister, they hadn't visited for a long time. That was a real need for her......and yes, we might as well take a few days to hit a bucket list item......oh yeah, and another marathon!

So to start off the trip we had made all the arrangements. The trip was to start off with several days on the island ( the only time we could really incorporate), graduation and family time....and then wrap up with a marathon. I was beginning to worry about the Hotel. As I dug into the reservations I began to find out more of Grand Hotel history and how everything worked. The first hurdle was that they officially did not open until May 1......and we intended on being there a few days before. They literally do not open! I'll share more later but we were able to register as they take only a few before hand.....we made the cut!

The next hurdle was all the scheduling. It was a mess! Here is the run down of what we had to do to make this VACATION work:

Fly to Detroit

Take a puddle jumper to Pelgram which is closer to Mackinac Island

Rent a car to drive to Ferry (the only way to the island)

Put the car in storage at Ferry station (no cars allowed on island)

Stay on island

Take Ferry back

Drive to Ann Arbor for graduation

Find a motel room open......yeah right

After graduation drive to Kalamazoo for Marathon

Run marathon

Drive to Detriot to fly home.

I'm tired just thinking about all of that again. The flight was pretty normal, nothing special or dramatic. That is always a good thing. Often times I have something to share about my flight but not so much this time. Arrived in Detriot early and then caught a little puddle jumper to Pelgram. Yep it was a puddle jumper! Straight forward flight here as well.

When we got to Pelgram we knew we were in the boondocks. If you don't know what boondocks are then if you look it up in the dictionary it will list the city of Pelgram next to it. We got out of the plane and walked down the steps across the Tarmac to the building terminal. A small building with a feeling of woodsiness about it. We grabbed our bags from the smallest baggage claim in the world and headed over to the car rental......there were three of them......really!?

So my philosophy of renting a car is that you almost always pick the economy version....unless of course there is a special need or you have more than two people expected to travel in the car. Inevitably the car rental won't have that type and up grade you. It happens to me nearly every time. They always ask to upgrade the insurance and I already have enough insurance to cover me on my trips. This time the nice gentleman asked if we wanted to upgrade because we had a Spark. He asked me if I knew what a Spark was and of course I said I did because I didn't want to give away that I had no clue or did I want to pay for any kind of upgrade. Well shortly after I found out what a Spark was......it is only half a car. Only one small bag fit in the trunk and the other in the back sit.

We hustle down to the Ferry where we will store the car during our stay on the island (remember no cars allowed). There isn't a lot of time because the ferry's schedule this early in the season is sparse. We really don't want to wait too long and miss spending time in and around the hotel. The spot on the map where we take the ferry looks like it exists primarily just because of the ferry. It looks like a really neat tourist area but again not much time to waste. We saw a hot dog building that was out of this world. Maybe IONIC could design their expansion plans.

We get everything set and jumped on board the ferry as it made its way through the ice bergs......yes really! The water is so cold that large chucks of ice hasn't broken up yet and the boat has to go very carefully as it departs from the pier. We sit on top out in the open.....note to self don't do this on the way back....it's freezing cold. We can see everything as we make our way across the sound towards the island....our home for the next several days.

to be continued

Run Eugene Run

For a bit of clarification for those who have asked about Run Eugene Run: many of you who know me well are aware that I have struggled with diabetes and its effects for a number of years. This new venture is in response to my victories and my struggles. 

About three years ago I was frustrated with the continued decline and failure to make positive progress in managing my diabetes. I had gained weight on the medications, felt terrible, lacked energy and more. The frustration finally reached a level that I refused to continue on the same path. So I made a change. 

I began a diet, lost nearly fifty pounds and then began running. In January of 2014 I completed one of my most important bucket items, running a full marathon. My wife and I joke about the first half marathon I did in 2008. Afterwards I was so pleased with myself I granted myself a week of vacation and no training. That vacation lasted over four years. Well I was bound and determined not to repeat that, so I ran five more marathons before the end of the year. A total of 600 miles with all the training. I recently went back to the doctor and she called me her hero. You don't know how good that made me feel. No only was the weight under control but my blood sugars were all in check and I was able to reduce some of my medication.

The last three marathons in 2014 were performed within six weeks of one another and required travel. New York, Colorado and back in Virginia. I finished it but boy was I tired. I wanted to see how my body held up to the running and travel before I made my 2015 goals. The first was to share my story with others. I wanted to encourage others with the same disease that they too can accomplish great things. There just doesn't seem to be as much awareness regarding diabetes as there are with other causes. I began sharing my story on Facebook and Twitter more recently. I write and repost blogs about food, diet, exercise and ways to help reduce some of the effects that diabetes does to your body.

Oh yeah, and the big 2015 goal? I'm pushing to complete 14 marathons this year and a 1000 miles. This last weekend I completed marathon number six and hope to get number seven this weekend in Michigan. That will get me half way to my goal and over 25% of the mileage. At each race I have been able to share my story and encourage others. Sometimes it's been on the jumbo tron at Disney, or talking to others at the expo before hand. I talked with others at the start line and even had a conversation while running down the road. That is the most important goal I can accomplish.

I have a website currently under construction and continue to write in my blog. I'm behind writing right now since I've done three marathons and one half marathon over the last four weeks. (That's if I'm able to finish the one on May 3rd - 1/2 marathons don't count) I appreciate all the encouragement and support everyone has provided. I started a fund to help support these goals that is posted below if you care to contribute. I hope to make this a national charitable cause and bring awareness and cures to all those seeking.

I'm not fast. I'm not spectacular. I'm just regular ol Eugene trying to make a little bit of difference in someone's life. Thanks again to all my friends. I appreciate everything.

Eugene Thompson

RUN EUGENE RUN gofund.me/idg4vk

Oh HILLS! Raleigh Rick n Roll

Well I just completed my fifth marathon this year. And I must say that it was a little bit rough on the hills of Raleigh North Carolina. I mean there were a lot of hills. They started off immediately but I was prepared. I knew there would be SOME hills but didn't realize the entire course would be full of them. I guess this is the second year for the Rock n Roll here in Raleigh. They changed the course due to the complaints about all the hills. I wonder what last year was like?!

Any way it was a well attended run and of course I got the opportunity to chat with a few people regarding running and diabetes. More about that later. Lots of support along the race from locals. It was a lot of fun hearing all the cheering fans. I intended on pushing up each of the hills. I can usually make some pretty good time by doing that while others mostly walk up the hills. I think running up them is easier.

Unfortunately I began to feel some knee pain earlier on at mile three......yeah, I know mile three. Not good. I thought maybe it would go away after a while and I would run out of it. Not so much, it was there for most of the run. I just gritted my teeth and ran through it. I actually was able to keep up my pace pretty well for the first 20 miles which I somewhat expected I would be able to do. This was not planning on being a PR race. I just intimate on running and having a good time. My wife was running a half marathon at the same time. This was her second of the year.

Over all a decent run. After mile 20 they're just really wasn't a whole lot of energy left in my body to climb anymore hills. I did the best I could and then when I got to mile 23 I decided to push up one of the longer hills that was in front of me. I was determined to beat this particular hill on the race. As I'm chugging up the hill there was a patron sitting in his lawn chair along the side cheering us on. He clapped his hands and yelled out to me telling me that I was doing a great job and keep pushing on and off the top of the hill and leveled off for "a little while". I hollered back, "only a little while?" His response was deflating, "oh yeah dude, you have hills to climb all the way into the finish line."

Well that was just wonderful news. I kept on trucking away. A little running a little walking getting my self a little closer to the finish line with each step. Ultimately that's all that matters anyway. Sure enough I don't think it leveled out until about mile 25.75 maybe. I ran past the Flying Saucer Draft Emporium and as they cheered me on I told them I would be back for a beer, I had my UFO card. That is a whole other story in itself. I turn the last corner and tried to muster up a sprint but there just wasn't that much left inside me. I finished the race in 5 hours 35 minutes. Not my best of course but not bad considering the hills.

Did a little test on this race to check on a few things about how my diabetes was reacting to the running. First of all I checked to see how pasta would do on a pre-race. I don't usually eat pasta and I certainly don't "carb up". I don't react very well to that type of carbs. My blood sugar skyrockets. I was careful not to overdo it the night before but regardless my blood sugar was 147 in the morning before the race. So as soon as I cross the finish line I have my wife bring my glucometer, or to check on my blood sugar. I was 73 at that point. I definitely needed to eat something.

Afterwords I went to grab a quick shower. Took my medicine and then went downstairs to the Jimmy V lounge. It was a neat place and we had a nice late afternoon snack at the bar area. I had burned over 4100 calories during the marathon. I could afford a few bites to eat. However afterwards I really was craving ice cream so we decided to walk around to see if we could find any in downtown Raleigh. No luck but did make it all the way back to the Flying Saucer.

My wife and I were both pretty sore but managed to hobble up-and-down the few streets. We both fell asleep pretty early that evening as I have a morning meeting at a construction site the following day. All in all I was pretty pleased with myself. It wasn't an easy race at all.

Oh yeah, my story about diabetes. It was a couple of guys that I talk to you at the Jimmy V bar that we chatted with regarding diabetes and running. I was pleased that I had the opportunity to share my story and advice. Again that is the reason why I'm doing all of this anyway. To help others. Others so that they can understand the great risk of this disease.

Nothing wild and crazy on this adventure just a pretty decent run and a great success. To all my friends that are out there are you need to do is tell yourself that you can do it. Don't except failure, settle only for success. And in the words of Jimmy V: Don't give up… Don't ever give up!

Till next time my friends, Run Eugene Run.

Please help and support my cause allowing me to continue racing and sharing the word. Here's a link to my funding website. I'm working on a few things that will allow me to expand this past time into more of a foundation agenda. Your support helps this greatly. Thanks again for reading and sharing.

UPDATED SCHEDULE & COMPLETED RACES

 

I appreciate everyone's support of RUN EUGENE RUN. I appreciate all of my friends that have given. It really means a lot to me. I share and talk with others about the cause and effects of diabetes. Someone you know probably deals with diabetes....even if they don't know it yet! It sneaks up on you. Did you know Russell Wilson (of the Seahawks) lost his father to the effects of diabetes a few years ago. Please share my link with others and always look back here for updates and news regarding my success. Always success......never failures.

Race updates that I just finished.
DISNEY 1/2 MARATHON 2:47 read the story....1/2 MARATHON
DISNEY FULL MARATHON 5:33:50 PR read the story....FULL MARATHON
ROCK N ROLL NEW ORLEANS 5:42......still have to write that one. :(

2015 RACE SCHEDULE UPDATED again as of 2/2/2015

10 January   Disney 1/2 Marathon - Orlando Florida SIGNED UP

11 January   Disney Marathon - Orlando Florida SIGNED UP

25 January   Rock n Roll Marathon - New Orleans LA SIGNED UP

15 March     Newport News One Marathon - Newport News VA SIGNED UP

21 March     Shamrock 8K - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

22 March     Shamrock Marathon - VA Beach VA SIGNED UP

11 April        Swamp Stomp 1/2 Marathon - Chesapeake VA

12 April        Rock n Roll Marathon - Raleigh NC SIGNED UP

18 April        Flying Pirate 5K - OBX NC SIGNED UP

19 April        Flying Pirate 1/2 Marathon - OBX NC SIGNED UP

25 April        Rock n Roll Marathon - Nashville TN SIGNED UP

3 May           Kalamazoo Marathon - Kalamazoo MI

31 May         Rock n Roll Marathon - San Diego CA (under consideration)

6 Sept           Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon - VA Beach VA

3 Oct            Wineglass 5K - Corning NY

4 Oct            Wineglass Marathon - Corning NY

18 Oct          Rock n Roll Marathon - Denver CO

31 Oct          Wicked 10K - VA Beach VA
1 Nov           NYC Marathon - (entering the lottery)

7 Nov           Rock n Roll Marathon - Savannah GA SIGNED UP

14 Nov         Anthem Marathon - Richmond VA

6 Dec           Rock n Roll Maration - San Antonio TX

If anyone knows any races that I should consider please send the information and link to me. Thanks again for all the encouragement!

Eugene Thompson

RUN EUGENE RUN gofund.me/idg4vk

ET This I Believe

The End is Here

No this is not some sort of prophetical assessment of the end of time. It's just the realization that the calendar now gets flipped to a new start and that all the things, goals, agendas and plans that were established in 2014 are now gone.

I was thinking this morning as I was running around the loop in my neighborhood that this would be the last time I would run it......this year. I finished 600 miles of running this morning contemplating how many times I began that route. Probably close to 200 times, (42 times in one day).

During my run I tried to lift my head and look around and see what I so often probably miss because my eyes are focused on the road ahead. How much am I missing? Who have I not seen? I realized this while I was running in Colorado. Such a beautiful sight, it would be a shame to run thru this country and not be aware of my surroundings. I should always be at the forefront of my attention and focus.

There are many lasts:

It was the last time I would go to work.......in 2014. 

It was the last time I would eat pizza.....this should be so true but it is so good!

It was the last time I would wake up......sounds morbid, just recognizing.

It was the last phone call, last email, last text message, last Skype, last blog post, last voicemail, the last piece of digital communication in 2014. How will I communicate in the new year?

It was the last time I would kiss my wife, hug my wife, tell her I love her, tell her I'm sorry, tell her a silly story, make her laugh, make her cry, be grumpy towards her, hurt her feelings, lay down beside her, wake up next to her, stare into her eyes and hold her hand. A painful thought if it couldn't exist in the new year. How will I do these things tomorrow......and the next.......and the next......and forever?

At the office there are many last times. Last time to drive to work, last time to sign in, last time to log in, last meeting, last phone call, last project, last invoice, last check, last bill, last time I clean my desk (okay I don't do that now), last time to doodle an idea, the last time to make a difference, last time to leave the office. What will we do different at IONIC tomorrow? And the day after? How will I feel when it really is the last time?

It will be the end of our silly doggie greeting us so energetically when we arrive home. Whether we have been gone all day or just five minutes, we get the same loving greeting.

It will be the last television show, last movie, last article to read, last scripture to recite, last broadcast to hear, last song to sing, last time to wake up to birds chirping, last time to go to sleep with fireworks blasting off (illegally) by the neighbors, last time to fall asleep before my wife making it difficult for her to sleep due to my snoring......sorry :(

It will be the end of tasting food......oh so tasty food, not cardboard but really good stuff. Why waste our palettes on things that are not really worth it? It was the end of eating out, the end of warming up leftovers, the end of counting calories, the end of taking my meds, the end of checking my insulin, the end of poking my finger, the last cookie, the last piece of candy, the last time I eat healthy, the last time I cheat on my diet and the last time I step on the bathroom scales.......the last time to be dissappointed.

It will be the end of talking with my children, the end of hearing their voice, no more reading their texts, no more hugging them, no more telling them I love them, no more picking up their babies (our grand babies). It will be the end of sharing my advise, my wisdom (is there any?), my stories, my goofiness, my seriousness, my sorrow, my encouragement, my struggles, my triumphs, my failures, my care, my concerns, my shortfalls, my wishes, my dreams......my regrets.

It is the ending of picking up my clothes off the floor, the end of missing the hamper, the end of folding them and putting them away (okay, I don't do that now), the end of washing the dishes, the end of wiping off the counters, the end of sweeping the floor (okay, I don't do that now.....Rosie the Romba), the end of mowing the lawn, planting flowers, trimming the hedges, mulching the beds, fixing what is broken (okay, I don't do that now), the end of making the bed, of fluffing the pillows, of hanging up my coat, of throwing my coat on the sofa, of trying on clothes that don't fit.....too tight...too big....too old.....too ugly.....never did like it anyway.

It is the end of taking a shower, the end of brushing my teeth, the end of shaving my face, the end of combing my hair (okay I don't do that now), the end of using mouthwash, the end of splashing on colognes, the end of having to go to the bathroom room, the end of sitting on the pot without any toilet paper and having to text my wife in the other room to bring some from the other bathroom......okay, TMI.

If it was truly the end and there were no more opportunities I think it would truly be sad. Just writing some of these was sad. How often do we miss opportunities today that present themselves right in front of our faces that we don't take advantage of? How much time and opportunities do we waste? As time continues to march along in my life I have been given more opportunities to reflect on my mistakes and my misses. Age and wisdom has that effect.

Fortunately for nearly everyone of us we wake up every morning with those opportunities still in front of us. Still the ability to act and react. We use the new year as our RESET button, a time to start over, to change what we do and how we do it. In reality we shouldn't have any RESOLUTIONS. We should be doing the things we are supposed to already, only adjusting them, to do them better than before. It doesn't take a new year to hit the reset, we have one every morning if it is needed. What you did yesterday is in the past and the future is before you to make a difference.

The real question is........will you?

My friends, do not waste the chances you have been given. Do not forget about all the little things we take for granted...........and I will see you in the morning.

ET This I Believe

Eugene Thompson

Run Eugene Run

A clean slate to run again in 2015. All that I did in 2014 doesn't matter, it is what I do tomorrow that counts.

Christmas Theme

It isn't any secret what my goals and motivation has been in 2014. Run. Run. Run. And then run some more. There can be a lot healing, motivation, reflection, self-understanding as well as the health benefits. So it comes as no surprise that our Christmas theme has those elements woven into it. Last night we spoke with our son in Texas and he figured something about our decorations was going to be reflected in our gifts to them. (On a side note, grown up kids are hard to buy for!) 

Our son s worried that I was going to buy running shoes for everyone this year. I told him he should really worry that I signed them all up for a marathon. Lol........now there's an idea!

I didn't but I did share our full theme with him. 

Life is short and precious. Never let a day go by without letting your loved know how much they mean to you. (LOVE)  Feel good about yourself by feeling strong. (EXERCISE) Take time to smell the roses and to appreciate the taste of life. (EAT RIGHT)  And never forget the most fun you had as a kid should still happen everyday as an adult. (PLAY)

That is all the hints my kids get before they open their gifts this year. But with that said, why don't we all remember some of the best sayings from those stories we heard as a child.

A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Dr Seuss, Horton Hears a Who

Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse

A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Roald Dahl, The Twits

Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You’ll Go

Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

L. Frank Braum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Shel Silverstein

Roald Dahl, The Minpins

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins

Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

There many times in our lives......while living our lives......that we forget about our life. Never forget my friends. Always remember to live your life.

Have a happy holidays with your loved ones my friend, and remember to hug them tight.

ET This I Believe

Eugene Thompson

PS. I know why my wife loves Winnie the Pooh so much.