Agnew's Mind He's got a long journey ahead of him.

Marathon Minutes

    by Matt

Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has arrived. A THIRD marathon training plan. After a tough training plan last time due to injuries I never encountered before (knee and outside of my foot) along with my usual injury (right shin), I was determined to be healthy and build some confidence going into my hometown marathon. The entire month of June and July were very, very focused. Running nearly every day and resting well, I logged 7 miles a day consistently building up my mileage base. I set my hopes and dreams on the very prestigious sub-four hour marathon. Yes, I am planning on 3:59:59. Can it be done? Well, sure. The first time around during training, I envisioned myself crossing the finish line. I could smell it, see it. I even day dreamed that I shocked the world and even won the whole thing. Well, that didn't happen. The second time around, I didn't visualize anything. I had been there before and been to the promised land. With my 3 injuries I mentioned, it was tough to get excited. If it wasn't for the experience I had running the first one, I would have never finished the 2nd marathon due to horrible knee pain. So now? During those June and July confidence-building months, I could see it and smell it again! Not bloody nips or black toenails....but me crossing the finish line with 3:59 on the clock above me. In order to do this, I need to be quicker, faster, and resemble a Kenyan. I'm on my way. Next, I'm following the 3:59 marathon training plan from Runner's World. If followed, I'm sure to break 4 hours.

Week 1 of 16..... let's go.

Monday: Day of Rest

Okay? First day of training a rest day? I'll take it. Normally, I would be running seven miles.

Tuesday: 4 miles, 10 min/mile

Easy enough. I'm also used to running 7 miles on Tuesdays. I ran 4 on the treadmill. The dream is still intact. It felt good knowing I was running the first of MANY miles in the training plan.

Wednesday: 4 miles, hills

I have this huge mile long climbing hill right by my house. I misread the plan and thought I was supposed to run them at 10/min miles as well. Nope! It doesn't specify. That was the fastest I've ever run up and down that hill. Plus, it was about 100 degrees and the most humid day of the week. I came home and had to lay down.

Thursday: Rest

Okay... I'll take it. Plus, I had a busy day.

Friday: 4 miles 10/min miles

What the hell happened to me? I have extreme soreness in my right leg. Not exactly my old friend shin problem. It's more of a sore spot instead of a pain. I only could finish two miles before limping off the treadmill.

Saturday: (Long Run substituted due to my Sunday morning needed for recovery from Ganter and Courtney's wedding) 9 miles

Ah, Kelly drive, my old friend. I will return. This is something I missed for the most part in my 2nd training. After popping some Advils, I feel that I will be ready. Update coming soon.

Here's a picture just for Jon:

Jon’s World Cups

    by Jon Hassinger

As long as I can remember, this was the standard size cup I required for nice glass of water. Perhaps a refill or two, but nothing more, nothing less.

Then I traded glass for plastic, due to the safety factor.

This and the next 2 cups were taken from the Koons' residence, after blurry Sunday-Funday exits.

And this is from Renee's short stint at a West Virginia University Sorority.

But now, I have found my true love:

Safe-Time Continuum

    by Jon Hassinger

Growing up in the Hassinger House, being late wasn't always your safest bet.

Breaking curfew, or not meeting back up with Mom in the Montgomeryville Mall, at the EXACT time we agreed upon two hours earlier, meant a huge guilt-trip along with a slight punishment.

Also, after several accidents and speeding tickets throughout my teen years, I have become a very safe and cautious driver.

I was 20 minutes early, on my drive into work, enjoying the local AM Sports Talk Station, 790 The Ticket, and a cup of High Test. I then saw cars in the lane to my left, on I-95, all begin to slam their breaks. I heard tires skidding from behind me. I immediately slowed to a crawl, and braced for impact.

A tiny 2002 Honda Civic, driven by a Jon H, from Pittsburgh, PA, merely months older than I, smashed into my life.

Two rental cars and Renee's Pathfinder later, it's still in the shop, exactly 2 weeks ago, today. Luckily, it wasn't my fault.

Let this be a lesson to all you teenagers out there:

"Being on-time, doesn't always mean you're safe."

UP NEXT:

Renee's take on the Buddy-Porch Incident...

Valore.

    by Jon Hassinger

Every once in a while, I'll pick up the mail for work...

I don't really mind, since it gives me time, to walk outside, and enjoy the beautiful weather.

The pretty palm trees. The clear blue sky..

Sometimes I'll just stand still, and breathe in the fresh air.

I mean c'mon, nothing like a nice stroll outside to get the blood flowing, before a long day's work.

Ahhhh... It's good to be alive.

Rocky III

    by Mike Agnew Jr.

Welcome to the world
Rocco Louis Danio III
8.8 lbs

It’s easy being Green.

    by Jon Hassinger

In these times, when everyone is doing their "best" to save the world, last Sunday, Renee and I decided to give these "Green Bags" a test.

The idea that a specific environmentally safe plastic-type bag, is not only safer for the planet, but keeps produce fresher, longer.

So we used grapes and strawberries, which as you know can have a short shelf-life.

Obviously you do the same prep-work you would do for all your fruit.

Clean and dry.

Don't these grapes look so damn good? Like in Ancient Egypt.

And then they are stored.

I must admit I had my doubts. But I was able to have 5-8 strawberries everyday at work for a mid-day snack, with no sings of mushiness. Renee actually finished off the last of them today, by the pool.

The grapes have barely been touched, only for a tiny bit I enjoyed last Wednesday, and the rest of the bunch, in perfect form.

Consensus: Worth it. Plus they are reusable.

HAPPY Birthday, to Me.

    by Jon Hassinger

Around 2 years ago, back in the Manayunk days, Renee decided to throw a whole bunch of veggies, some boneless pork chops, and a homemade broth, into a slow cooker. She let it simmer for around 3-4 hours.

Afterwords, what I ate was the most delicious meal I have ever tasted. Since then I have asked and asked for her to re-make this wonderful dish. But she refused, for fear of being unable to reproduce what I called "My favorite dinner, ever".

So yesterday, I used my birthday as a loop-hole to ONCE AGAIN, FINALLY, feast upon the Pork Chop Stew.

And like always, my fiance did not disappoint...

The Story of Sick-Jon Continues

    by Jon Hassinger

I used to make fun of germ freaks. I mean, if you don't build some sort of tolerance, a simple cough could kill you!

I ate from the community bowl of nuts Ben Stiller warns Jennifer Aniston about in "Along Came Polly". I used public rest rooms, and port-o-potties. And I still tried to shake people's hands during the "sign of peace" at Mass, even when everyone else was terrified of the swine flu. Now we all just wave, which I actually prefer because it's easier to connect with more people. But during the swine flu scare, I was not afraid!

I was never afraid of germs, until now. Until this:

This damn germ-trap has taken down 4 of my fellow Nature City employees over the past 2 weeks!

Sitting atop the water-cooler that everyone uses multiple times a day,this bowl comes in contact with our germ-ridden hands, a lot.

I'd grab some every morning when filling my water bottle, to start the day. Next thing I know, I had a 103 degree fever.

When I finally returned to work, first thing I did was fill my water bottle. And, as if by some habit, went to grab some of these unnamed candies. I stopped, and it all made sense.

I am terrified of all said situations previously stated.