Pictures....thanks to Mom for the photos.

About to enter the stadium


Just hitting 13 miles


8 mile, Eminem holler.


8 miles


3 mile point. Note, this is one of the worst photos I've ever taken, yet I'm still posting it, because hey, I was running.



Sign from Julia. She's cute.

Finish time

1:52:09.

I will be hard pressed to duplicate that in Madison.

Don't have official results,

but I know I was between 1:52 and 1:53. I think around 1:52:20 or so. So, easily a new PR for me. I'm pretty happy, and will post more tonight if I can.

Time to run again....

I'll be getting up in a little over 12 hours for the Half Marathon. I wanted to give everyone an update on where you can keep track of me.

Click on this link, and you can get online results:

My last name is Cation

I'm bib number 6565.

My goal is 1:55. That will mean a pace of about 8:46 per mile. I'm hopeful after a great last couple of weeks of training, with minimal pain. I'm going to get some wonderful ice treatment right afterward at Atkins, and all things considered, this couldn't be much better.

We've got a video for you today....

As a note, when filming this two months ago, I was in the midst of my bronchitis, and you can tell.
The CrackMonkey volleyball team defeated all challengers, and is once again the champion in our league. After playing three competitive games last night (and one not so competitive game), my feet and right knee are killing me, with just days to go before the half marathon. I'm going to ice the hell out of them all today. And get my last run in today, a two miler.

Also, just a week away from Julia meeting my Dad's side of the family. This is a note to my family...everybody stay calm. Dad, I'm looking at you.
:)

Laura and I cooked up a surprise for it too, so we're excited about that.

Finally, I'm going to leave with you with this debate sparked by one of my favorite all time players on the Illinois Soccer team. Goalkeeper Lindsey Carstens came up with this question:

Are pancakes bread.

Feel free to discuss.

Lots of Love.
Mike

WHAT'S UP

You know what, kids? The New Kids in Block were in town last night. Julia and Leigh both went, sitting second row, courtesy of yours truly. And they had a great time. Unfortunately, and I can't say I blame them, their excitement (and the fact that the NKOTB went long) woke me up when they got home. So as a result, on this Monday, I'm spent. Absolutely spent. But not surprised about it.
Lots to get to this week. Big race on Saturday. I'm still healthy. I did 7 miles on Sunday, at a much faster pace than I'll be running on Saturday. (8:21 as compared to 8:45, hopefully). I'm just hopeful I can find my pace on Saturday, and that it's above 40 degrees. 50 would be spectacular.
Incredibly fun night on Saturday. For a recap, please visit http://thecrackmonkeys.blogspot.com, to hear from Tony Cappa.
And by recap, I mean not a recap at all. But it was great fun to spend time with Julia, Leigh, Glenn, Tony, Alex and Michelle, Beef, Sarah, Liz, and Brittany. And Tyler. And Echo Love. Yes, there is a person named Echo Love.
I have next Monday off. What should I do with my time?
Also, we're less than two weeks away from the Wisconsin marching band concert. I hope Madison is ready for us.

In the mean time, please enjoy this wonderful video from Craig Mack. I would like to see him perform this live, instead of having the NKOTB come back.

Dream Update #10ish

Had a lousy dream today, in terms of its timing. Basically, there was a massive power outage at work, and so we all got to hang out outside (it was warm) instead of having to work. At 5:15 in the morning. Mind you, Sarah wasn't there, because she overslept through her 9 snoozes. There were fun activities to be had, including whiffle ball, but the most interesting disturbing involved my good friend James "Big Poppa" Morton. Apparently, all he could do was talk like the LOLcats. He refused to speak like a normal person, only saying things like "Oh Hai" and "I can has cheezburger?" This confounded me, and so I left him with a cat to pet.
Nearby, on a giant screen television at the back of the parking lot, we were watching Jennifer Ketchmark on Channel 3, as we were asked to decide which hairstyle we would like to see from her. We all called often to vote for "bald", which was going to force her to shave her head on the air.

Fine'

I declare myself fit enough...also, thoughts on Jim Carrey.

to run the Illinois Marathon.
I did 11.1 last night. I was about 2 seconds off my pace that would get me at my goal time of 1:55. Part of that was due to the fact that I had to stop twice for traffic. In theory, that won't be a problem during the actual race. So, it'll be very close. I will be hoping for some spectacularly OK weather. I mean, just something close to 40-50 degrees, with light winds. And SUN. If that happens, we've got a chance.

OK, so, over the last month, it's come up multiple times: Jim Carrey. I hate him. I refuse to watch any of his movies. I do not find him funny. I do not enjoy his style of humor. Mind you, I like some really stupid crap. But for God's sake,I do not like Jim Carrey. So there. I'm sorry I don't understand your references to Dumb and Dumber. But he sucks! HE SUCKS!
Yet I feel like I'm letting everyone down by not watching these (apparently) quintissential movies.

Feel free to chime in. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks he sucks.

Random thoughts....

I've got the poker bug again. Thanks to Tony and Jill for again providing amazing hospitality on Saturday night (and Macey too), and although Tony beat me heads up (damn that 6!), I'm again truly wanting to play more poker. Two things will get in the way of that:
1) time
2) money

So I think i'm safe for now. But dammit, I wanted to play more, except for the fact that I was exhausted, and nobody else wanted to play.

-I'm supposed to run 11 miles today. We're less than 2 weeks away from the Illinois (Half) marathon, and I feel woefully underprepared. We'll see how I do today. Have to stay positive.
-Jennie Garth. Oh man. Let's see, I'll just put the photo here. You'll probably have to click on it to make it bigger. That's what she said.


-Another busy week ahead. Soccer, baseball, baseball, baseball, baseball.
-Netflix is completely gone now. Saddens me.
-Love you though.

Jennie Garth

Alright, so Jennie Garth is coming on the show tomorrow.
O
M
G.

OMG OMG OMG.

So, it should be pointed out that while in college, my friend Laura and I had weekly viewing parties to watch 90210. I missed out on the first couple of years of the show, but quickly caught up.
For those wondering why in the hell Jennie Garth might just pop on the show for no reason...she's actually from the area, and was born at Carle Hospital in Urbana, and lived here until middle school age.
The reason she's in town is for a $50,000 donation to the American Heart Association. Her father died last year in Urbana, and she's donating the money in his name. Great cause, and we're lucky enough to have her hop on the show.
Now, the biggest issue we're going to have here is that everyone in the building wants to meet her. So, we're going to do a group picture with her in the conference room.
Unfortunately, due to limitations of space in our studio, I do not get to be in the room when she's being interviewed. So, I don't get to ask her any of the pertinent questions that are on my mind, such as:
1) The Midwest has a reputation of keeping kids humble. How did that help you deal with the pitfalls of being a teen star in Hollywood, and how are you adjusting your parenting with your kids being raised, essentially, in 90210?
2) How has your approach to working changed from the first series to the current series?
3) WHY IN THE EFF DIDN'T YOU COME AND DATE ME WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE YOU JERK!?!?

Feel free to shoot me a question or two if there's something you'd really like to know, and I'll pass it on to K&S. No guarantees that they use it.
You can also listen live at roughly 8:35ish on www.mix945.com.
All for now.